TT vs ACA

What a mess.

He said this. She said that. They lied. We're telling the truth.

How did our current affairs programs get to be this way, and why should we put up with it?

As the fallout from the latest Corby incident ricochets, both and Today Tonight and A Current Affair went for the jugular, accusing one another of deceit.

The poor viewers are left in the middle shaking their heads. The irony is that there are no winners in this. Even short-term ratings wins by the programmes are offset by long-term cynicism from the audience. And who can blame them? The last time the audience was dubious about TT it led to a new host moving into the seat. Suddenly Naomi doesn't look quite so clumsy anymore.

But why is ACA stooping to shooting TT? Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

Somehow I don't think the audience believes ACA has an entirely unblemished record.

In ACA's audio recording messages to Mercedes Corby's phone there was no mention of the words "Liz O'Neill." So did that mean they weren't used, as claimed by Corby? Not necessarily.

According to a News Limited article (now itself the subject of dispute) the private investigator hired by TT admits to lying as part of his straegy to coax Corby into an interview. But he says he never used O'Neill's name.

All of this, supposedly, is over a lie-detector test that Corby promised to take but never did. The Australian reported that weeks ago, and it's a claim ACA will need to defend. But let's not forget Jodi Power failed a lie detector test twice herself.

And now the private investigator is promising to take a lie detector test himself to prove he never used O'Neill's name. He says he can't take one until he is off medication.

So let me get this right....we're now taking a lie detector test to prove we never used someone's name in order to get Mercedes Corby to take a lie detector test?

I can't keep up!

What does seem clear is that Nine has aligned itself with the Corbys (a union it forged when Ray Martin interviewed Schapelle quite some time ago). Seven has fallen down on the side of Jodi Power. Who you choose to believe in any of this brawl is up to you. The detail is now a tabloid smokescreen.

I think there is only one clear outcome for this.

Let's get Anna Coren and Tracey Grimshaw saddled up to one great big lie detector, preferably the one used so shonkily by Big Brother last year, with Gretel Killeen as the referee.

Then we can all get some sleep.

Disclaimer: David Knox has appeared as a Media Commentator on A Current Affair.
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Madonna, Nicole for Nip / Tuck

The third season is still on hold here in Australia, but season five of Nip / Tuck is gearing up with big names champing at the bit.

According to Producer / Creator Ryan Murphy, "Nicole Kidman's coming. I don't know when but that's my scoop. People say, ‘Is she coming or is she not? She wants to do it so we're trying to make it work."

And now there is talk Madonna could be next.

"I'm going to write something for Madonna, who is a fan of the show and I would love for her to do something with Rosie," he said. Rosie O'Donnell appears in Season 4 in a steamy sex scene with Julian McMahon.

Meanwhile Nine has remained silent on the conclusion of Series 3 in Australia, keeping fans in limbo over the identity of The Carver serial attacker. On its own website it even plugs the show as "a disturbingly perfect drama."

Just not perfect enough to air?

You can see more comment from Murphy and stars in a video found here (contains some spoilers).

UPDATE MAR 16: Nicole's reps have now denied stories that she will appear!
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Hot Tip: Lost Tribes

The ads are running on Nine with the words "Coming Soon."

But where will Nine schedule The Lost Tribes?

Based on the European format Ticket to the Tribes, the show promises to pick up 3 Australian families and plant them in tribal villages in South Africa, Zululand, Namibia and Indonesia. The families spent two weeks living with villagers which will screen over six weeks.

With exotic locations and its culture shock premise it certainly has a lot of potential, in the same way as Survivor had in its early days.

I'm tipping Nine to premiere it at:

6:30pm Sunday March 25

Nine's upcoming schedule has a TBA opening in the timeslot, and I reckon this has a family feel to it. It could help Nine attack Seven's renewed Sunday programming.

If Nine has cast this right it could have the potential to be a new Block -the watercooler show of 2003.

MAR 14 UPDATE: Well I was wrong and we'll be waiting a bit longer.

In that timeslot Nine has announced:

With Friends Like These, hosted by Cameron Daddo, promising old mates incl Anthony La Paglia, a celebrity reunion, tears, laughter and a surprise twist. Seriously.... Read more...

L Word gets Season 5

US Cable network Showtime has greenlit a fifth series of The L Word.

The series will air in the US in 2008.

Only two series have aired in Australia on the Seven Network. After some good ratings for the first season, plus some controversial criticism from family and religious groups, the second season was less-successful and bumped to late-night screenings.

Season four in the US has included Cybill Shephard and Eric Roberts. Season 3 is currently available on DVD in the US but not Australia.

Importing is probably a better option for fans than waiting for another Free to Air screening (Foxtel are you hearing this?).

"The L Word is a signature franchise for us and one of our most popular series," said Robert Greenblatt, president of entertainment at Showtime. "Since its launch in 2004, the zeitgeist has never been the same."

Zeit·geist: noun German. The spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time.
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New Head of Drama at ABC

No surprises in ABC announcing Miranda Dear as it's new Head of Drama. She is formerly of SBS where she commissioned terrific productions like RAN (Remote Area Nurse) and the films Harvie Krumpet, Look Both Ways and Somersault.

Dear joined ABC TV in August 2005 and co-executive produced the dramas The Silence, Stepfather of the Bride, Curtin, Bastard Boys and the upcoming Valentine's Day, Rain Shadow, Librarians and East of Everything. She replaces the position vacated after the hurried exit of Scott Meek in 2006.

Meanwhile 2007 is shaping up as a great year for local drama. We're seeing more in production and development across all networks for quite some time.

Just feast your eyes upon this list:

ABC:
Curtin. Stars William McInnes airs in April.
Bastard Boys. Jack Thompson, Colin Friels.
Rain Shadow. Gary Sweet, Rachel Ward.
Librarians comedy with Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler.
Plus, East of Everything, Valentine's Day and Bed of Roses.

Nine:
Sea Patrol starring Lisa McCune and Ian Stenlake. Rumoured to be the second half of the year.
Underbelly. 13 part Melbourne gangland miniseries. Late this year or next year. Eddie McGuire personally took an interest in developing this with Nine before he was appointed as CEO.
Canal Road. Legal / crime series.

Ten:
Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback. Airs this Sunday.
The Informant. New crime series.
TEN is also developing dramas on the Norfolk Island murder case (a perfect Agatha Christie-like tale, it had to be told), plus the murder of Sydney model Carolyne Byrne and a story on tug-of-love mother Melissa Hawach.

Seven:
City Homicide. There have been rumours that Seven would not greenlight this pilot, but they promise to make an announcement soon.

SBS:
The Circuit. Gary Sweet, Aaron Pedersen.
Kick. Maria Mercedes, George Kapinariis.
Major Crime. William McInnes.

The ABC Press Release on Miranda Dear follows:

ABC Director of Television Kim Dalton today announced the appointment of Miranda Dear as ABC TV's new Head of Drama.

Miranda joined ABC TV in August 2005 and co-executive produced the dramas The Silence, Stepfather of the Bride, Curtin, Bastard Boys and the upcoming Valentine's Day, Rain Shadow, Librarians and East of Everything.

In announcing Miranda's appointment Kim Dalton said, "Miranda brings a fresh perspective and energy to our drama, at a time when we are significantly increasing our level of production. Miranda has a long association with the development and production of diverse and high-quality film and television drama."

Miranda Dear said, "There's a fantastic energy currently evident in Australian television writing and I'm looking forward to working with both established program makers and new voices to build on ABC TV's rapidly expanding television drama slate."

Miranda came to ABC TV from SBS Independent, where she spent five years as Senior Commissioning Editor, Drama, responsible for the commissioning of film and TV series from Australian independent producers: amongst them the Academy Award-winning animation Harvie Krumpet and award-winning feature films Look Both Ways and Somersault.

There, she was also responsible for commissioning the series RAN (Remote Area Nurse), and the feature film Ten Canoes, both multi-award winners at the 2006 AFI Awards.

Other projects include the feature films Australian Rules, Walking on Water, Tracker, Oscar-nominated animation Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello, and the AFI nominated animation Safe House. Television programs include the award-winning short features So Close to Home, Jewboy, Roy Hollsdotter Live and Martha's New Coat, as well as a number of Indigenous drama initiatives including the award-winning Green Bush and Djarn Djarns.

Prior to her role at SBS Independent, Miranda was the Senior Film Buyer at Channel 4 Television in the UK, before moving to Australia as Film Four's Acquisition and Production Consultant, where she negotiated the channel's involvement in a number of film funding and acquisition schemes.

Thanks also to Daily Telegraph. Read more...

Ratings Week 11

Saturday:
1 Seven News - Sat Seven 1,124,000
2 Nine News Saturday Nine 1,103,000
3 Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Nine 948,000
4 Around The World In Eighty Treasures ABC 900,000
5 The Bill ABC 866,000
6 2007 Brand Name Cup Grand Final: Carlton V Brisbane Lions Seven 830,000

Friday:
1 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,275,000
2 Seven News Seven 1,261,000
3 Today Tonight Seven 1,103,000
4 Nine News Nine 1,028,000
5 A Current Affair Nine 1,008,000
6 Nine's Live Friday Night Football Nine 991,000

Thursday:
1. Missing Persons Unit Nine 1.240
2. Seven News Seven 1.236
3. Law and Order: SVU Ten 1.208
4. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.149
5. Lost Seven 1.148
6. Today Tonight Seven 1.139
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.108
8. National Nine News Nine 1.106
9. The Footy Show Nine 1.036
10. Getaway Nine 1.029
11. Home and Away Seven 0.981
12. Temptation Nine 0.974
13. The Biggest Loser Ten 0.972
14. ABC News ABC 0.958
15. How I Met Your Mother Seven 0.956

Nine: 30.5
Seven: 27.0
Ten: 23.8
ABC: 13.1
SBS: 5.6

Wednesday:
1. House Ten 1.486
2. McLeod’s Daughters Nine 1.321
3. Seven News Seven 1.286
4. Police Files Seven 1.263
5. Today Tonight Seven 1.257
6. National Nine News Nine 1.127
7. SCU: Serious Crash Unit Seven 1.121
8. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.110
9. Heroes Seven 1.096
10. Temptation Nine 1.082
11. A Current Affair Nine 1.076
12. Cold Case Nine 1.053
13. Home and Away Seven 1.030
14. Without A Trace Nine 0.981
15. Medium Ten 0.976

Seven: 28.0
Nine: 27.5
Ten: 23.9
ABC: 16.6
SBS: 4.0


Tuesday:
1 Dancing With The Stars Seven 1,866,000
2 All Saints Seven 1,357,000
3 Seven News Seven 1,338,000
4 The Biggest Loser (Aus) Ten 1,177,000
5 A Current Affair Nine 1,175,000
6 Today Tonight Seven 1,166,000
7 Nine News Nine 1,148,000
8 20 To 1 -Rpt Nine 1,119,000
9 NCIS Ten 1,118,000
10 Home And Away Seven 1,111,000
11 The All New Simpsons Ten 1,097,000
12 The Simpsons Tues Ten 1,063,000
13 ABC News-Ev Abc 1,058,000
14 Numb3rs Ten 944,000
15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -Rpt Nine 920,000

Seven 35.3%
Nine 23.5%
Ten 23.3%
ABC 13.6%
ABC 4.4%

Monday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.529
2. Today Tonight Seven 1.447
3. Desperate Housewives Seven 1.435
4. 1 vs 100 Nine 1.293
5. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.272
6. A Current Affair Nine 1.270
7. National Nine News Nine 1.238
8. The Rich List Seven 1.228
9. CSI: NY Nine 1.210
10. Home and Away Seven 1.172
11. Bondi Rescue Ten 1.093
12. Brothers & Sisters Seven 1.075
13. Temptation Nine 1.006
14. What’s Good For You Nine 0.991
15. ABC News

Seven 31.2%
Nine 27.3%
Ten 21.0%
ABC 13.6%
SBS 6.8

Sunday:
1. Ugly Betty Seven 1.503
2. Grey’s Anatomy Seven 1.498
3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine 1.402
4. Seven News Seven 1.318
5. Australia’s Got Talent Seven 1.307
6. CSI: Miami Nine 1.279
7. National Nine News Nine 1.231
8. 60 Minutes Nine 1.194
9. 20 to 1 Nine 1.117
10. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.104
11. Planet Earth ABC 1.083
12. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple ABC 0.994
13. ABC News ABC 0.939
14. What About Brian Seven 0.901
15. Movie: School of Rock Ten 0.771

Seven: 28.8
Nine: 28.7
Ten: 20.2
ABC: 17.5
SBS: 4.9 Read more...

Mon Mar 12

[Seven/8:30pm] Desperate Housewives. SWEETHEART, I HAVE TO CONFESS. Susan professes her love for Ian. Gaby and Carlos try to rekindle their love. Bree is confronted with Orson's past. Nora and Lynette go to war.
[Seven/9:30pm] Brothers and Sisters. FOR THE CHILDREN. The most private personal and business struggles of the Walker family are exposed as the seams of their fragile relationships begin to come apart at a benefit Nora forces them to go to every year.
[Seven/10:30pm] Boston Legal. FINE YOUNG CANNIBAL. Alan and Shirley defend a homeless man, on trial for eating his dead friend to stay alive. Alan's pleas to Denny for permission to sleep with Shirley result in a bizarre contest. Denny helps Bethany in her first big settlement. Guest starring KATEY SAGAL.
[Seven/11:30pm] Scrubs. New Series. MY MIRROR IMAGE. J.D. addresses the news that he's going to be a father. Dr. Cox is worried about how his anger is going to impact on his offspring. Carla and Turk prepare for the impending arrival of their new baby. Elliot feels left out because she's childless. Series Six.
[Seven/12:00am Tue] Huff. RADIO SILENCE. Huff has become ill, both emotionally and physically, because of his relationship with Beth. Russell fails to keep a promise that he made to Kelly. Guest starring TOM SKERRITT.
[Seven/4:00am Tue] NBC Today Show. Cyndi Lauper performs.

[Nine/5:30pm] Bert’s Family Feud. Male vs Female Swimmers.
[Nine/7:30pm] What’s Good For You? Does exercise make you hungry..Slats works up a sweat, but will he work up an appetite? We all love a manicure, but have you ever wondered what's lurking under your nails? Leila is horrified by the results. We all want to live longer but what's the real secret to longevity..you may be surprised. Is it safe to re-use plastic water bottles? Guest reporter Jessica Rowe discovers water isn't as clean as it looks and Brooke tackles the painful problem of muscle cramps.
[Nine/8:30pm] 1 vs 100.
[Nine/9:30pm] CSI: NY. “People with money.”

[Ten/11:45pm] The Late Show With David Letterman

[ABC/8:00pm] Australian Story
[ABC/8:30pm] Four Corners How should Australians face the prospect of increasingly frequent megafires? Will firefighters have to change strategy? And how do we best manage the landscape to reduce fire risk?
[ABC/9:20pm] Media Watch
[ABC/9:35pm] Difference Of Opinion. We put to our panel of former senior defense personnel and strategic analysts the questions of Australia's involvement in both Iraq and Afghanistan - when will be the right time to bring our troops home, how will we know we achieved our aims?

[SBS/7:30pm] Top Gear. Final. The Challenges Special - In tonight’s episode, the team have another look at some of their favourite most far-out challenges. With Jeremy, James and Richard being egged on by a studio audience, the seventh series features even more wild and wacky motoring feats. The series continues to test drive and brutally appraise the world’s most popular cars with startling honesty.
[SBS/9:00pm] Drawn Together. Final. Captain Girl - Hero tells the housemates his sidekick Captain Girl is dead and allows Wooldoor to become his new sidekick. But as Wooldoor tries to solve the mystery of his predecessor’s death, he discovers Captain Hero's dark secret. Meanwhile Toot decides she wants to become a mother in order to solve her emotional problems, so Xandir and Clara give her a Nicaraguan baby to look after. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) MA (A, S) CC WS
[SBS/11:05pm] Movie: Anatomie (Germany 2000)- Paula Henning is a clever young medical student from Munich who wins a place in a prestigious anatomy course at Heidelberg University. When a colleague turns up one day on her dissecting table with "rubbery" blood, Paula becomes curious and starts investigating. Her investigations lead to a clandestine medical society which carried out unethical research during the Third Reich. When another of her friends disappears, Paula realises that she too is in danger. Directed by Stefan Ruzowitsky and starring Franke Potente from Run Lola Run and Benno Fürmann. (From Germany, in German with English subtitles) (Thriller) (2000) (Rpt) M (V, L, S) WS
[SBS/12:50am Mon] Queer as Folk. It's the annual King of Babylon contest - throwing everyone into speculation about who will enter, who has the best body and who will win. There are a few surprise entrants and the winner wins more than the title. (From the US, in English) (Drama Series) (Rpt) MA (L, S, A) WS CC

[Showtime/8:30pm] Love My Way. Double episode. Read more...