News Archive:
« Older Entries Newer Entries »
Are we there yet?
It was the week that everybody said they had new toys to unwrap, TEN declared the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Aussie producers gathered on the Gold Coast for their annual gab-fest just as Nine decided not to revisit the only drama set there, TiVo dumped one of its key partners, the last original member of Hi-5 chose to retire, the axe fell on several shows in the US, network programmers tried to defend late amendments, Seven apologised for comments made by one of its stars, Nine was revealed as wanting “no …
Out of the Blue
If it isn’t already well-known that this new soap opera has been made to order for the UK market, it’s certainly obvious from looking at it.
It has a dash of Neighbours, spoonfuls of Home and Away, hints of Echo Point -maybe even a sprinkling of Fast Forward’s parody ‘Dumb Street.’ Like a slice of glorious suburban Australiana, all the ingredients for which Aussie soaps have become famous in the UK are here: a pretty, young, whitebread cast, a slim budget impossibly stretched (there are quite a few location scenes), pedestrian dialogue, …
Soaps to whiten your whites
Australian soap operas, notably Neighbours and Home and Away, are under fire once more for filling their casts with predominantly white Anglo-Saxon actors. This is an age-old criticism of the genre, but as Australia’s diversity continues to splinter, it doesn’t make it any less valid.
University of Queensland Aboriginal studies lecturer Sam Watson said the dramas were operating an “exclusive white family club” that didn’t reflect Australia’s true demographic.
“The producers and directors of these shows are very sadly harking back to the White Australia policy of the ’40s and ’50s,” he said. …
Guy and Shannon who?
Bit of a silly blunder from TEN publicity this week. In its info for the Australian Idol final, it reckons: “For the first time in Australian Idol history, the final comprises of two males.”
How quickly we forget.
In 2003 the very first Idol finale was a battle between Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll. After omitting Neighbours from the 2009 Programming Press Release it is the second proof-reading blunder this week.
Ah well… nobody (including TV Tonight) is perfect!
Press Release:
From over 38,000 people who auditioned for Australian Idol in 2008, two finalists remain. Both …
Biggest Loser’s biggest question
Sometimes network launches are as significant what they leave out as for what they announce.
In TEN’s 2009 programme launch one face was oddly absent from print, video and visual material: Ajay Rochester.
TEN’s official Press Release names trainers Shannan and Michelle, but neglects to mention Rochester.
Nor was her face included on the launch invitation (it had a montage of TEN personalities). During the media launch a video sequence of The Biggest Loser included moments from the last series, including Rochester’s voice announcing the winner -but no shot of the host.
This year Ajay …
Good Neighbours become good targets
Actor Ian Smith has told The Sun newspaper in Britain of strangers yelling insults at him and revving their cars outside his home. It all contributed to him wanting to quit Neighbours.
“You know it’s time to move on when you’re being hassled outside your home every night by drunk idiots screaming abuse,” Smith told the newspaper.
“I got so fed up I ended up calling the police. They were making my life hell. Every night at the same time they would drive up to my house and start revving their engines really …
Airdate: Elephant Princess
TEN’s newest kid’s series begins soon, Elephant Princess.
The 26 x half hour episodes follow Alex Wilson, played by 19yo Emily Robins (Shortland Street), as a girl who wants to make it in a band, until an exotic young man Kuru played by Miles Szanto (Love My Way) arrives to tell her she’s really a princess from the Kingdom of Manjipoor. He’s also come to bring her home to rule. But the last royal relative Vashan, Neighbours’ Damien Bodie, wants to stop her from claiming her inheritance.
Oh and there’s an elephant …
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 …
ONE HD bumps TEN HD into limbo
TEN’s “science fiction Thursday”, Neighbours catch-up, timeshifted News and documentaries on TEN HD could become a thing of the past with confirmation that there is no contingency plan announced alongside the launch of ONE HD.
TEN HD will continue on air until April when it is overtaken by TEN’s 24hr sports channel ONE HD. The current home of TEN HD, Channel 12, will broadcast the sports content in standard definition.
That leaves Smallville and other fan favourites in television limbo. Other shows including Torchwood, Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights …
Joe Mangel rules out return
And to think we were really worried it might happen too….
Mark Little has confirmed that he has no plans to return to a stint as Joe Mangel in Neighbours.
Little played the role from 1988 until 1991 and reprised it in 2005 for the show’s 20th anniversary.
“I think I’ve done my bit in Neighbours,” Little is quoted by The Press Association as saying. “Joe Mangel is just a fond memory, and he certainly is that for a lot of people who still remember Joe. I was only three years in that soap, …
Can you pick the face?
A little quiz today, to see how well you know your telly.
Does this face look familiar?
Leave a comment with your answer as to who you think this is.
Just so everybody gets a chance to have a stab at who it is, TV Tonight will hold off publishing your comments on this post until after midday today.
Extra brownie points awarded if you are able to name the new show he is set to appear in.
Damien Bodie, formerly of Neighbours is the correct answer. …
Out of the Blue gets a lifeline
EXCLUSIVE: Australian soap Out of the Blue is getting a second shot on UK television, despite slumping on the BBC earlier this year.
The Manly-based serial, commissioned by the British broadcaster, will move to Five in the UK alongside other Aussie soaps, Neighbours and Home and Away.
The lifeline for the 130-episode drama will see the show re-aired from Episode One in a bid to find a new UK audience. With an ensemble cast including Sophie Katinis, Zoe Carides, Diane Craig and John Atkinson, the plot kicks off with a murder amongst a …