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Desperate Housewives actor for Outrageous Fortune remake
Former Desperate Housewives actor Neal McDonough will star in Scoundrels, the US version of Outrageous Fortune.
McDonough, who played Dave Williams, the psycho husband of Edie (Nicolette Sheridan), will play the patriarach of a family, who is sent to prison leaving the matriarch to try and steer her family back on the straight and narrow. The latter role is to be played by Virginia Madsen (Sideways, Candyman, Monk).
Scoundrels will be the second attempt by ABC to remake the NZ dramedy after Good Behavior, by Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, Dawson’s Creek) did not …
Supernatural back for TEN’s summer
New episodes of Supernatural, The Office, Numb3rs, Law and Order, Californication, Glee and Futurama are coming to TEN over summer.
The network has revealed its first week of programming for the non-ratings season, beginning November 29th.
It will premiere Family Guy spin-off, The Cleveland Show and launch new Jenna Elfman comedy Accidentally on Purpose.
White Collar, which premieres on November 25th, continues.
It will also repeat The Simpsons, Merlin, Little Britain USA, Bondi Vet, Lie to Me, Rules of Engagement, Law and Order: CI.
TEN airs US game shows Don’t Forget The Lyrics and, for the …
Airdate: Go Girls
Underbelly’s Anna Hutchison and Sea Patrol’s Jay Ryan will soon be seen on Channel TEN in the New Zealand drama, Go Girls.
They are joined by Alix Bushnell and Bronwyn Turei.
The series centres around four adult friends, Amy, Britta, Cody and Kevin, who live on the North Shore, Auckland. Dissatisfied with their lives, they make challenging promises to each other that they endeavour to fulfill throughout the series.
The show was created by Rachel Lang (Outrageous Fortune) and Gavin Strawhan.
The thirteen part series from TVNZ has also been approved to a second series.
Episode …
Producers to lobby against NZ content
The Screen Producers Association of Australia will lobby the Rudd Government to overhaul local content rules after an unprecedented number of New Zealand-made programs have flooded our television screens.
Under the current regulations, New Zealand-made shows count towards the networks’ Australian content quota requirement, which obliges broadcasters to devote at least 55percent of their programming to locally made shows.
SPAA executive director Geoff Brown said budget-conscious networks are taking advantage of the arrangement under the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Agreement to run cheap New Zealand imports instead of making more expensive …
Returning: Outrageous Fortune
Zany New Zealand comedy Outrageous Fortune sees its fourth season airing on the Arena channel next month.
The series has won something of a cult following in Australia thanks to its airing on both Nine and TEN.
Grant Bowler (Border Security, Lost) returns to play Wolfgang West once more, but its Robyn Malcolm as matriarch Cheryl West who is the star of this batty family.
The series is also due for a US remake under Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars).
It returns Sunday February 15 at 7.30pm on Arena.
No word on a free to air screening …
TV3 Drama Executive for SBS
SBS has announced New Zealand’s TV3 Head of Drama and Comedy, Caterina de Nave (left), as a new Executive Producer, Drama and Comedy.
de Nave has previously commissioned Outrageous Fortune, bro’Town, children’s drama Being Eve and New Zealand’s first prime time Asian show – A Thousand Apologies.
SBS Exec Matt Campbell said, “She’s got a terrific track record and a long career in film and television and will bring her experience in top class, internationally successful story telling to SBS screens. We look forward to introducing her to the Australian production community – …
Screen Australia head questions TV funding
Screen Australia’s new boss, Ruth Harley, starts her position today. The former head of the NZ Film Commission was the unanimous choice of the selection panel advising Arts Minister, Peter Garrett.
The super-agency Screen Australia was borne by the emerging of the AFC, Film Australia and the Film Financing Corporation in July.
But rather ominously, Dr Harley has questioned why Australian television needed Screen Australia support when it was paid for by broadcasters and performing so well.
A number of attendees at the Screen Producers conference on the Gold Coast have told The …
Foxtel rocks into 2009
Foxtel has joined the procession of new programme announcements, with a raft of Australian-produced and international shows, some of which launch as early as December.
The channels owned & operated by Foxtel include FOX8, FOX Classics, Arena, Comedy, Crime & Investigation, History, Biography and the W Channel.
The titles include 15 local productions, starting with An Aussie Goes Calypso in December and reality competition The Phone in January. Both will air on FOX8.
To be presented by Justin Melvey, The Phone sees two hidden mobile phones ringing somewhere in a city. When a stranger …