News Archive:
ABC’s Specky-tacular Xmas
A cast of thousands gathered at Ripponlea on Thursday night for the filming of A Very Specky Christmas, to air on Sunday December 21st.
The extra-long show of one hour includes many favourites in the specially-themed games, set in a Dickensian-style show.
Host Adam Hills even had his parents in the audience, as he filmed the first show to go before the cameras since the middle of the year.
Joining Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst were panellists Frank Woodley, Ella Hooper, Meshel Laurie and UK DJ Carl Cox.
By the time the a festive finale …
Final week (almost) a Seven sweep
It was the last week of ratings for 2008, and the week all the free to air broadcasters bonded (temporarily) for Freeview with 4 of 5 metro CEOs there for the party, Nine scrambled to refinance its loans, an Australian actress was trapped in international terror, Seven sacked a reporter, former Sunday journos won the Gold Walkley, Nine let go another network celebrity, ACMA slapped Nine three times for A Current Affair, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Spiderman, TEN dumped 90210 and rearranged its summer schedule again, a gangster’s wife was at …
Spicks & Specks & Stale?
Adam Hills says Spicks and Specks has become “ridiculously comfortable” and wants to make sure it stays fresh heading into its fifth year.
“I would imagine we’ll try and change it up a little bit for next year,” Hills told AAP.
“The main thing is just fighting getting stale, which I don’t think any of us have yet.
“We’ve got to constantly keep ourselves interested because if we start getting bored then the audience will start getting bored.”
Hills said both Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough will stay with the show.
“We’re certainly not bored with …
Freeview. Free party.
At last night’s Freeview launch at Parliament in Canberra there were CEOs, stars, buses and booze. And a lil thing about digital telly too.
Network stars and bosses mingled with politicians in the Mural Hall including Spicks and Specks’ Myf Warhurst, All Saints’ Kip Gamblin, the Bananas in Pyjamas and Gladiators’ Tom Williams. Also in attendance were Underbelly’s Les Hill, Underbelly II’s Dieter Brummer, The Chaser’s Julian Morrow, and Packed to the Rafters stars George Houvardas and Hugh Sheridan, as well as Good News Week’s Paul McDermott.
According to Mediaweek, Nine was represented …
You better smile. It’s Nine.
It was the week that the industry took action on piracy against an ISP, news crews were assaulted by angry locals, a regional broadcaster axed its entire news department, a court ruled regional licenses must be sold, a reality host pleaded guilty to welfare fraud, another reality show mucked up correct voting information, Screen Australia’s new CEO signalled a smoother ride for film over television, a daytime soap would be destined for primetime, the axe fell on more US shows and an old sitcom face left for the bus depot in …
Hamish & Andy to TEN’s rescue
After weeks of ailing Wednesday nights, it was Hamish & Andy who came to TEN’s rescue last night. Their Re-Gifted special nabbed 1.13m viewers, second in its slot. It was light years ahead of recent shows including Big Cat Diary, Futurama, Jamie’s Ministry of Food and Bondi Rescue: Bali. They frequently hovered between 500,000 - 700,000 viewers.
The success of the two might well prompt TEN to look at more for the Austereo duo in 2009, which would be ironic given their previous attempts at a TV show haven’t fired and it …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
ABC jumps into summer
The ABC has announced its summer programming highlights under the banner “FesTiVal of Entertainment.”
From November 16 until January 27, it has lined up a host of dramas, specials, documentaries, music events, movies and more. Culled from Australian and international broadcasting, most are first-run and there are some repeats of old favourites too.
Australian highlights include The Howard Years, Adam Hills Live, Humpbacks: From Fire to Ice, Destiny in the Alice, Nigger Lovers, The Eternity Man, Hairtales, Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts the finals of The Einstein Factor and The …
Do yourself a favour
Television fans lucky enough to attend the recording of the one-off Countdown special, as part of the launch of the 111 Hits channel, relived some old memories yesterday.
Filmed in the same ABC studio where it began, Molly Meldrum was again introducing old friends including John Paul Young, The Angels (how will they edit around the audience chanting to “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?”), The Models along with Bonnie Tyler and Jermaine Jackson.
The softly-spoken Jackson chatted with Meldrum in a scene reminiscent of the famous Humdrum segment. Jackson again …