News Archive:
Jacobz wins Seven dance
Actor Luke Jacobz has won the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, defeating boxer Danny Green.
The Home and Away star landed a perfect score as did footballer Paul Licuria, who was the first to be eliminated from an all male 3-way battle. Licuria also did a “Tom Williams” and danced shirtless, in an exhibition (or exhibitionist?) dance, despite the fact he had been cut from the title earlier.
Violinist Andre Rieu also appeared. With shirt intact.
The eighth series has been the lowest rating ever for Seven, with a new host and …
The race that tops the nation
It was the week a Pay TV spokesperson called broadcaster feuding “juvenile” while another exec wanted better inclusion at the digital switch table, a TEN programmer conceded it had massive timeslot problems, Nine axed production staff, Sonia Kruger was criticised for an on air joke, a former soap star said he didn’t really enjoy soaps, belated guide amendments left viewers confused, an ABC journo pleads guilty to charges in Singapore, drug charges against a Seven personality were dropped, Seven revisits its C7 case against Pay television, the ABC launches its new …
A case of delayed reaction?
A joke by Sonia Kruger made during last Sunday’s live to air edition of Dancing with the Stars has made it into the press -six days after it happened.
In comments referring to her Melbourne Cup dress, Kruger said a “sweat shop of illegal immigrants” was slaving away on her wardrobe, before turning to musical director Chong Lim asking “How is the family Chong? Alright?”
Admittedly it might not have been the smartest thing to say. While Kruger and Lim may have a boisterous friendship after eight seasons on the Seven show, it …
Returning: Where Are They Now?
Once Dancing with the Stars finishes, Seven has a new Where Are They Now? special hosted by David Koch and Melissa Doyle (note: there’s actually no “?” on the title but there will be on this site).
It airs at 7:30pm Sunday November 16.
The special features a reunion of the long-running soap, Sons and Daughters, with appearances by Rowena Wallace, Peter Phelps, Ally Fowler, Tom Richards, Ian Rawlings and Belinda Giblin.
As some fans will remember, this was a show produced by Grundy Productions with families based in both Sydney and Melbourne, as …
TV Forums report card
Since the advent of online, television fans have had ways of letting networks know what they think. No more writing letters to newspapers, it’s as easy as logging onto a network website anonymously and speaking your mind.
TV Tonight has been looking at how our networks embrace free and open discussion. Here’s how they stacked up.
ABC:
Within the ABC site there are individual show pages, many of which have open forums. Shows including Enough Rope, Compass, Can We Help?, At The Movies, Life at 3, Good Game, Media Watch, Spicks and Specks and …
All-male fight for Idol crown
Australian Idol lost its last female contender tonight as Chrislyn Hamilton was voted off the show.
17yo Hamilton went out in style showing sportsmanship and good humour, singing up a storm with “Get Ready.” She hugged the remaining contestants and kissed the judging panel while singing her swansong, even managing a boogie with Kyle Sandilands. It contrasted with other younger performers who had left the reality series in tears.
Hamilton’s exit leaves Idol for the first time with 4 males competing for the title: Wes, Luke and tonight’s other “bottom two”, Teale and …
Returning: CSI: Miami. Bumped: Rugby World Cup (Vic)
Channel Nine is pushing the telecast of its Rugby League World Cup game this Sunday on GTV9 from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. There is no change to TCN9 or QTQ9.
Instead it will bring CSI: Miami back at 8:30pm with “All In” (S6E16) and follow with a repeat at 9:30pm.
Last night the game attracted just 158,000 viewers in Melbourne and 900,000 viewers nationally, beaten by Dancing with the Stars and Rove. Nine also lost its prized Sunday crown to Seven, although it was first in 18-49 and 25-54. TEN won 16-39.
The semi final …
Drug charges dropped against McKenney
A drugs charge against Dancing With The Stars judge Todd McKenney has been dropped, NSW police said today.
Mr McKenney had previously indicated he would plead not guilty to one count of possessing the illicit drug GHB.
The charge was laid after he was found unconscious in Rushcutters Bay Park, in Sydney’s east, on the afternoon of April 25, allegedly with a vial of GHB in his pocket.
He has publicly stated that his drink was spiked at a party the night before and the drug planted on him.
A NSW police spokeswoman today said …
Kellie bids high five to Hi-5
Another original member of Hi-5 is bowing out.
Kellie Crawford is quitting the group after 10 years to pursue an acting career.
Crawford, 34, said she has been thinking of leaving for the past year and had decided Christmas Eve carols would be the right time for her swansong.
“I’m getting older and I just wanted to try and do as much as I can with my life because I can’t be a kids’ performer for my whole life,” she told AAP.
“I guess I just wanted to open more doors so when I eventually …
Packered by the Rafters
It was the week the Packer family parted ways with Nine causing David Gyngell to vow to prove James Packer wrong, TEN announced a new channel, Pay TV launched another three, Minister Stephen Conroy signalled support for increased ABC & SBS funding, commercial networks (briefly) found a conscience but upset David Leckie, WIN sat down at the gambling table, Kath & Kim (US) got a greenlight for a full season, Andrew Denton announced the end of Enough Rope, David Tennant set his exit from his iconic role, Rove visited …
Nice work if you can get it
Interesting to note that this Sunday’s edition of 60 Minutes has only one story by a regular member of the team, Peter Overton.
There are also stories by Michael User and Ben Fordham, one on Mexican drug barons and another on surfers. Both reporters have previously filed for the show, but like Ray Martin, are occasional journos for 60 Minutes. As they say, nice work if you can get it!
Tara Brown of course is to take maternity leave.
60 Minutes continues to win its timeslot on Sunday Nights, despite the tough compeition from …
Rice says no dice to Dancing
Well this is gonna make life interesting. Following Grant Hackett’s lead, now Stephanie Rice reckons she isn’t going to appear on Dancing with the Stars.
Or warbling on It Takes Two either.
“Definitely not,” she told news.com.au.
“I am just not into that kind of scene. A lot of people have said I am apparently doing Dancing With The Stars but I am like ‘no way’.
But, I like the fact I am not just a swimmer and not just known for my swimming.
“I love what I am doing in (TV). I love swimming …