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Pilot approvals: FOX, ABC, NBC, AMC, Warners.
There have been a number of Pilots recently approved in the US.
They are as follows:
FOX
-Traffic Light from The Wedding Crashers co-writer Bob Fisher (Married with Children, The Trouble with Normal) revolves around three male friends in different stages of relationships.
- Breakout Kings from writers/executive producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora (Prison Break), a closed-ended procedural about a team of marshals and ex-cons who work together to apprehend criminals who break out of prison.
- Strange Brew, from Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick is set at a family-owned brewery.
- …
Second season for Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Little known Australian actor Andy Whitfield looks set for US stardom if this trailer for Starz Entertainment’s series Spartacus: Blood and Sand is anything to go by.
Whitfield, who has had guest roles in Packed to the Rafters, McLeod’s Daughters, The Strip, All Saints and lead role in the film Gabriel, looks very convincing as a hero in this trailer.
The series has already won a second season, provisionally titled Spartacus: Vengeance, and the first hasn’t even premiered yet.
Filmed in New Zealand, the series, co-produced by Sam Raimi also features Lucy Lawless, John …
Rumour: Logies for Queensland (again)
It was an idea first floated in January, but it could come true in 2010.
TV Tonight hears new whispers that the Logie Awards could be headed for Queensland after all.
Earlier this year Bligh Government representatives had informally offered to pay significant relocation costs to lure the country’s biggest awards night across its borderline. Other incentives were also believed to have been discussed at the time.
The Logies have been held in Melbourne’s Crown Casino for the past 11 years, but the last event hosted by Gretel Killeen was roundly criticised. A move …
Where to for Rescue: Special Ops?
Nine’s newest drama Rescue: Special Ops will have its season finale on Sunday October 25th.
As well as its weekly incident to resolve, it will also see a wedding placed in jeopardy for one of the central characters.
But for Nine the stakes are much greater as it faces decisions about the future of the show.
On Sunday night the show pulled 1.02m viewers, slightly less than some of its best figures of around 1.1m. The drama, produced by Southern Star, doesn’t come cheap. Reviews have been middling, word of mouth for the …
Directing accolade for Ken Cameron
TV director Ken Cameron will receive a special award for excellence in TV direction from the Australian Director’s Guild Awards next week in Sydney.
Cameron will receive the Michael Carson Award for his body of work which spans more than three decades.
Amongst his achievements are 1989’s Bangkok Hilton (pictured), 1991’s mini-series Brides of Christ and the two-part series My Brother Jack. These works won Logie and AFI Awards.
He has also directed episodes for The Strip, The Alice, Satisfaction, MDA, Stingers, Stringer, White Collar Blue, Police Rescue and Special Squad.
Other titles include Miracle …
Seven tops local content list
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released its findings on Australian content on commercial free to air television in 2008.
It found Seven, Nine and TEN all exceeded the minimum requirement of 55% local content be aired between 6am and midnight.
Channel Seven broadcast 64% Australian content while Nine’s PBL-owned stations on the East Coast aired more than 60% Australian content. TEN just cleared the minimum averaging 56%.
Seven was the only network to increase its local content from 2007.
2008 was a strong year for local content, particularly in drama with …
Libby to Nine’s Rescue
Last week Nine confirmed its casting for its newest drama, RESCUE Special Ops (yep more titles with CAPS!).
To be produced by Julie McGauran (Out Of The Blue, Home and Away) and Sarah Smith (The Alice) the 13 part series will feature Les Hill (Underbelly), Libby Tanner (Scorched), Peter Phelps (Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities), Daniel Amalm (Two Fists, One Heart), Gigi Edgley( The Starter Wife), Katherine Hicks (Out Of The Blue) and newcomer Andrew Lees.
Playing brothers Dean Gallagher and Chase are Les Hill and Andrew Lees: competitive alpha males, who …
Aussie actor becomes Spartacus
A little-known Australian actor by the name of Andy Whitfield has landed the lead role on a new US adventure drama alongside Lucy Lawless.
Whitfield will play the title role in the Sam Raimi-produced series Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Lawless will play Lucretia, who along with her husband Batiatus, owns Spartacus.
Spartacus which begins production today in New Zealand is set for a for a January premiere on pay TV network Starz, best known for the TV series Crash.
Whitfield has had guest roles in Packed to the Rafters, McLeod’s Daughters, The Strip, All …
A gold year for Rebecca
Last night Julie and Dave Rafter, Australia television’s favourite new mum and dad, decided to keep the baby.
At age 44 ‘Julie Rafter’ faces a number of health challenges that were laid out to her by a doctor, some of which could be life-threatening.
The episode capped off an extraordinary first season for the new Seven drama.
Less seriously, actress Rebecca Gibney, also 44, could be facing a challenge of her own, when the TV Week Logie nominations are announced next week.
Packed to the Rafters was one of the success stories of 2008, arguably …
Queensland one day, Victoria the next.
Despite yesterday’s news that the Logie Awards are being lured by the Queensland government, a statement from Premier Bligh’s office has denied there is any bid.
So who’s telling porky pies now?
The Australian reported that the Nine Network’s owner, PBL Media, had confirmed it had received approaches from the Queensland government to relocate the Logies to the Gold Coast. PBL Media chief executive, Ian Law said it was “a possibility” and there had been “some incentive” offered to relocate the event.
But a Bligh statement later yesterday said “The Queensland government has …
Carla Cametti, PD.
Quality local dramas on SBS have underlined the importance of the role of public broadcasters. Watching East West 101, The Circuit or RAN: Remote Area Nurse is like switching on an arthouse channel. East West 101 was even made by the same producers who ambitiously made The Strip, a stark difference between creative independence via a public broadcaster versus the demands of a controlling commercial network.
Carla Cametti P.D., stars Diana Glenn (Satisfaction, Canal Road) as a private detective in an Italian clan from inner Melbourne. Her family is entrenched in crime, …
The joy of independence
East West 101 deservedly snaffled the AFI Award for Best Miniseries, Telemovie and Short Run from Bed of Roses, Rain Shadow and Valentine’s Day.
In a slim category, it was SBS’ only award for the night, and sadly one that wasn’t featured in the broadcast by Nine.
Producer Steve Knapman says the series, currently in production on series two, doesn’t rely on tricks for its storytelling.
“There’s no real secret,” he said. “It’s research. It’s getting real advice from people with the life experience who are doing the job. So we’ve got a lot …