Aussie scriptwriter beats US giants

A writer from New South Wales has won a TV scriptwriting contest in the USA defeating comedy scripts from My Name is Earl, The Office, Monk, Medium, CSI, Family Guy, Entourage, King of the Hill, Without a Trace and Desperate Housewives.

Gabiann Marin's pilot script The White Cab Co: The Good, The Bad and the Not So Attractive took out the Grand Prize in the "Spec Scriptacular" contest run by Cloud Creek Creative Institute.

The pilot, described by Script Spectacular organiser and TV Writing Guru Larry Brody as “One of the best scripts I have ever read”, centres on the affable exploits of spiritual guru and cab driver Barry who, along with a motley crew of psychics, demi-gods and mystical creatures help the wayward find their true path. Brody wrote for Mike Hammer, Police Story, Baretta, The Fall Guy, The Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five-0, Medical Center, Ironside.

The series is under consideration by US producers.

Gabiann would love to develop the series in Australia but has so far found a lack of imagination and budget from producers here despite the great response the script has achieved overseas.

She can be reached via her agent markbyrne@markbyrne.com

For more information about the TVWriter Scriptacular competition check www.tvwriter.com

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Tues May 1

[Ten/1:00pm] Dr Phil. Premiere.
[Ten/2:00pm] Oprah. Exclusive: Bestselling Author Terry McMillan Confronts Her Gay Ex-Husband
[Ten/7:30pm] All New Simpsons. "Kill Gill Volumes 1 & 2"
[Ten/8:30pm] NCIS. "Sharif Returns"

[Seven/7:30pm] Dancing with the Stars. Grand Final. After weeks of hard rehearsals and live performances it's finally down to just two celebrities and their partners. As they take to the dancefloor for their final two routines... who will be crowned the 'Dancing with the Stars Champion'? Plus all the celebrities return for one last night to support the final two. Hosted by DARYL SOMERS and SONIA KRUGER.
[Seven/12:00am Wed] Mile High. Rpt.

[ABC/8:30pm] The Bill. Supt Heaton organises a raid on a crack house. Heaton's wife accuses him of having an affair. DS Nixon has a miscarriage and ends her relationship with DS Turner. CAST: Jo-Anne Knowles, Rebecca Charles.
[ABC/9:20pm] Foreign Correspondent. International current affairs through Australian eyes from ABC correspondents around the world.

[Nine/9:35pm] I Shouldn’t Be Alive. “Trapped Under a Boulder.”

[SBS/7:30pm] Insight. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, a state with an economy double the size of Australia is leading the charge in combating climate change. One of California’s most effective methods has also been the easiest to understand - use less.
[SBS/8:30pm] Patent for a Pig - The seeds of the world are now owned primarily by one company, Monsanto. Monsanto is aiming to extend its control to pigs by patenting and thus privatising gene sequences, many of which are found naturally in pigs. Monsanto is doing this despite the fact that the pig has not yet been genetically engineered. Betzelberger is travelling around Germany encouraging farmers to protest against this "sell-out of life". This happened in the 1990s when genetic technology was green lighted. Steven Druker, judge and civil rights activist, says "This, I believe, is one of the greatest frauds ever perpetrated by any government in history." (From Germany, in English and German, English subtitles) (Documentary) G CC WS

[Showtime/8:30pm] Movie: The King (2005) Gael Garcia Bernal
[Fox8/8:30pm] Australia’s Next Top Model Read more...

Old House. Old tricks.

The ad says "House and New Medium."

Which is as good as saying "Old House" this week on TEN.

It's a bit of an odd move by TEN when the ABC has edged ahead with Spicks and Specks and The Chaser's War on Everything.

And it's doubly frustrating when the current subplot of House on charges for drug-taking will be interrupted. It's a terrific arc, highlighting a character flaw and the way that House refuses to address it.

Logically Ten is trying to stretch out the episodes across the TV year, but you'd have thought that TEN would want to plug the drift to the ABC before it gets any bigger.

And unfortunately for TEN the audience is smart enough to know that the episode "The Socratic Method" is a repeat - in this case episode 6 from Season One.

For those who stick with House's return on May 9 the subplot resumes as does the standard of episodes.
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50 to 1? What The?

What the hell is Nine doing to Bert?

First his wig is setting off on tour.

Now not content with 20 to 1 we're getting a special: 50 to 1!

Fifty! Does the word 'overkill' mean anything to anybody?

Seriously, a two hour special 50 to 1: Great Movie One Liners sounds like a great way to tire the audience of the clip show format (if it hasn't already). Don't get me wrong, I love Bert on the right vehicle, but I can't say a clip show is exactly my idea of showcasing his best skills.

The special will air at 7:30pm Tuesday May 8, going up against the premiere of It Takes Two series 2.

It makes complete sense for Nine to move in while Dancing with the Stars is resting, but pardon my cynicism, I don't think they've come up with the best response.

The rankings on the 20 to 1 format are decided purely by Producers. It's probably dictated a lot by availability of stock footage. But shows about "Great Aussie Pop Songs" and the like aren't based on APRA sales. There's no polling or surveying of specific results to make up the rankings between one and twenty on the subjects the show profiles.

Again I would suggest that Nine's pushing of Bert has divided the audience into a "love" or "hate" camp and frankly this extended idea only aggravates that.

If you want to see the American Film Institute's All Time Movie Quotes save yourself two hours and just go here.

Meanwhile here's a 50 to One list I'd like Nine to read.

1. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
2. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
3. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
4. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
5. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
6. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
7. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
8. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
9. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
10. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
11. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
12. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
13. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
14. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
15. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
16. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
17. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
18. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
19. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
20. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
21. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
22. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
23. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
24. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
25. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
26. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
27. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
28. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
29. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
30. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
31. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
32. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
33. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
34. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
35. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
36. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
37. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
38. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
39. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
40. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
41. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
42. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
43. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
44. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
45. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
46. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
47. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
48. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
49. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.
50. Give Bert his own “Parky” show on Saturday nights.

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