Airdate: South Side Story

Russell Crowe's football team South Sydney will feature in the new ABC observational series South Side Story.

It premieres at 8pm on Tuesday August 7.

In the series, Crowe and his business partner millionaire Peter Holmes a Court seek to lift the fortunes of The Rabbitohs.

Investing $3m in the club saw the two given four seats on the club's board of eight.

Cameras follow the club "from the change rooms to the boardroom, from the terraces to the bar, on the training track and the playing field."

Press Release:

The dream is straight out of Hollywood - the gladiatorial movie star and the hugely successful businessman - together they restore the faith to the legions of long-suffering fans and take their beloved team - The Rabbitohs – on to Grand Final Glory - but can the dream become reality?

Together Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe, and multi-millionaire Peter Holmes à Court, have dared to dream they can take a club that personifies the Australian battling spirit - South Sydney Football Club - the Rabbitohs - and restore it to its former glory. Having invested three million dollars the new co-owners of the bunnies have staked both their money and reputations. Russell and Peter have become the driving force of the "new South Sydney" but only the final siren will determine whether their dream was courageous, vanity or simply misguided faith.

South Side Story - produced by Beyond Productions for ABC TV - is a six-part observational documentary series that closely follows the intimate goings-on behind a famous rugby league club as it prepares to re-invent itself leading into its centenary year. From the change rooms to the boardroom, from the terraces to the bar, on the training track and the playing field, South Side Story is an in-depth look at two bold men's attempt to transform a historical and cultural phenomenon into a superclub fit for the 21st century.

In the past 99 years Souths has made 33 grand final appearances, 20 of them victorious - no other club comes close. But their last success was in 1971 and with three wooden spoons in the past four years, every time the players take to the field they are fighting for survival.

The club itself faced extinction in 2000 when Souths was deregistered and any divisions within the club were swamped by the need to fight for reinstalment. But those divisions returned with a vengeance, when on March 11th 2006, an extraordinary meeting of one of Australia's most famous sports clubs was held to decide its future... Read more...

BB's final weeks

Big Brother will end on July 30, probably with two more double evictions to come.

There are still 7 housemates in the house and two 90 minute episodes loom on Sunday 22 and 29.

With a single eviction this weekend it suggests we are in for two doubles before the finale on Monday July 30.

The only real spanner in the works is a one hour episode on Tue July 24, but this will possibly just be a filler in the place of a new Simpsons in much the same way as some previous Wednesday daily shows.

Travis remains the favourite to win, and frankly, he is the only one that could provide any memorable finale television. His "gosh, golly mate" charisma seems quite sincere and it would be terrific to see his reactions at winning the thing. It would be the nearest the show has come to the down-to-earth charm of the only female BB winner, Reggie Bird.

I'd be tipping Billy as his likely competition and Zach to go this Sunday.

Apart from that, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.....

Big Brother Watch

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Kath & Kim nearing

The Seven Network is ramping up the publicity on Kath & Kim with a media preview due on August 1.

In security moves similar to blockbuster movies, the invite insists there will be no preview discs, no extra screenings and no transferable-invites.

No tip of a likely airdate yet. But the preview date signals August as a dead-cert for when viewers will see Series 4 of the Foxy ladies.

The sitcom characters started life on a Seven Network sketch comedy, hence this profile series being plugged as their return.

The invite also includes a lovely keepsake, a fluffy pink toiletseat.

Noice. Unyewsyewal. Diffrent.

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Returning: Veronica Mars

TEN will return Veronica Mars to its schedule in the Friday 10:30pm timeslot from August 3.

It returns with S3E6 "Hi Fidelity."

The end of Big Brother will allow some shuffling of the schedule which will also move America's Next Top Model to a 7pm timeslot on the same day.

Kindly link to this website when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks! Read more...

Fake Week vs Kyle

In the UK Big Brother they've been having Fake Week all week.

As many readers will know this has involved a "fake Aussie" entering the house, an actress named Thaila Zucchi. Passing herself off as 'Pauline' she stayed for 3 days.

The latest deceit involved BB flying a plane over the compound with a sign announcing "There Is Another House!" and then urgently calling all the housemates indoors. As a result the housemates were bamboozled about what was really going on.

The next trick will be even better. BB will evict a housemate and allow the housemates to watch them spill their guts to host Davina McCall only to then send them back INTO the house. By then everyone will know how they feel about them!

Meanwhile Aussie Big Brother plans to entertain us all by sending in cranky Idol judge and radio jock Kyle Sandilands. This week housemates have also been auditioning and filming a music video -another nod to the upcoming Idol, TEN's hopeful salvation to sinking Sundays and Mondays.

The UK has a better handle on creating drama rather than imposing it. They even made housemates perform punishment including cutting the lawn with nail scissors, and another was literally forced to sit and watch paint dry.

Channel TEN has their audience do that instead. Read more...

'Her only f***king credit was Survivor'

Rosie is at it again!

During her current G&L; cruise, Rosie O'Donnell dragged out a huge pic of former View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck telling the audience, '“Her only f--king credit was Survivor. Come on!”

The dig was part of Rosie's cabaret / comedy on her Bahamas cruise.

After that she got stuck into Donald Trump.

Source: US Magazine.
Read more...

Sea Patrol leads the pack

It was good news and bad news for Nine's Sea Patrol last night, with the show topping the night as the #1 programme but losing just over 300,000 viewers.

The show attracted an average audience of 1,663,000 viewers. Last week it had 1,971,000. To put this in some perspective, the new drama was always likely to lose a few hundred thousand in its second week anyway. To have finished with 1.66m viewers should be considered a good result.

By comparison our top rating local drama, All Saints has around 1.5m viewers on the back of the popular It Takes Two or Dancing with the Stars. How the show fares without these across the next few weeks remains to be seen.

Meanwhile Seven's debut for Age of Love with Mark Philipoussis attracted 849,000.

More worrying was the evening for TEN, which landed fourth behind the ABC. Pirate Master isn't digging any gold at only 641,000. Expect a change here soon.

The ABC's Great Global Warming Swindle did well with 1.21m.

Week 28 Ratings. Read more...

Gay? Sure. Snob? No way!

It Takes Two and Australian Idol pocket rocket Anthony Callea has spoken about his outing earlier this year thanks to a clumsy radio traffic reporter.

But now that the fuss is all over, the relieved singer says he's not so angry about the outing as much as being called a snob.

Callea said, "I can't even remember him coming up to our table that night we met," according to Confidential.

"I was out with a group of people. I didn’t know who he was and he didn’t introduce himself to me.”

Callea now says he is relaxed about his sexuality and happy with his partner Paul.

He certainly copped some unnecessary flak at the time, given his age and the pressures of pop fame. It must have been impossible to have any clarity on the subject at the time.

Anthony's anger at being called a snob over being called gay shows we've all come a long, long way!

Footnote: Confidential sourced the quote from SSO.
Read more...

Fri / Sat / Sun / July 13 / 14 / 15

FRIDAY 13
[Nine/12:00pm] Movie: The Growing Pains Movie (US 2000)
[Nine/8:30pm] Movie: Win a Date with Tad Hamilton (US 2004) Rpt.

[Ten/7:30pm] Big Brother. Friday Night Live.
[Ten/9:30pm] America’s Next Top Model

[ABC/8:30pm] Taggart. Final. When a research student is found dead in a university science lab following a severe anaphylactic shock, the evidence suggests that her food had been deliberately contaminated. Traces of highly concentrated nut oil are found at the scene, but there seems to be no clear motive for her murder. When another student dies in a suspicious accident, Burke (Alex Norton) and the team realise that a calculating killer is at work within the university.
[ABC/9:40pm] Ghost Squad. Final. Amy (Elaine Cassidy) meets with McKay (Emma Fielding) and Pete (Jonas Armstrong) to go over the evidence. If Gus (Adrian Lester) is sleeping with his informant Geeta (Samantha Schefele) then the other allegations may also be true. Amy feels betrayed and angry. If he's found guilty, she's going to destroy him. Her fears are compounded when she learns that Gus has been interfering with the suspects in Terry's (Shane Attwooll) murder. He's been to see Pedro Collins (Ricci McLeod) and Mickey Borne (Johann Myers) in their cells, unaccompanied and without Murder Squad permission. Then Amy discovers that photographs of Gus and Geeta were doctored by The Ghost Squad itself, and suddenly she doesn't know who to believe or trust. Are Pete and McKay trying to frame an innocent man? Is The Ghost Squad itself a corrupt unit?

[Seven/11:30pm] Movie: Code 11-14 (US 2003). DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT stars as Kurt Novack, an FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer. Kurt's receives word that the Australian police have a suspect in custody and he is sent to Sydney to assist in the interrogation and his wife and young son accompany him for a family holiday. As the family fly home to L.A. a fellow passenger on the flight is found murdered and Kurt realises that the real killer in on board the plane and targeting them. Also starring TERRY FARRELL, STEPHEN LANG, NANCI CHAMBERS, SANDRA BELL, JESSICA BETTS, JANE HALL, BEN HARKIN, BRUCE HUGHES, MYLES JEFFREY, GERARD MAGUIRE and ROBIN MENZIES.

[SBS/8:30pm] As It Happened: Hitler's War On America - In 1937 Hitler was shown the prototype of a long-range bomber. He believed such a plane could bring America to its knees. When engineers were unable to solve the problem of how to get a plane to America and back without refuelling, Messerschmitt presented a stopgap solution whereby bombers would be refuelled mid-flight with the help of another aircraft. The Americans had by now, however, entered the war and were building their own bombers. Another idea was to send men on suicide missions. Large cargo planes would carry small planes over the Atlantic. The fighter planes would then disengage and their pilots would steer them into the skyscrapers of New York - a 9/11 scenario contemplated half a century earlier. (From Germany, in English, German and Russian, English subtitles) (Documentary) PG WS

[Ovation/8:30pm] Sex Censorship and the Silver Screen

SATURDAY 14
[Nine/11:00am] Make Poverty History.
[Nine/7:30pm] Movie: Harry Potter & The Prison of Azkaban (US 2004) Rpt.

[Seven/3:10pm] Movie: The Love Bug 3: Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo (US 1977) DON KNOTTS stars in this hilarious comedy as THE LOVE BUG heads off to Monte Carlo and turns the great race into a Herbie-Derby! After an international spy ring hides a priceless gem in Herbie's gas tank, the exciting race is on. To further complicate matters, Herbie falls in love with a sleek, sporty Lancia. Also starring DEAN JONES, JULIE SOMMARS, JACQUES MARIN, ROY KINNEAR, BERNARD FOX and ERIC BRAEDEN. Rpt.
[Seven/8:30pm] Movie: Die Hard 2 (US 1990) BRUCE WILLIS returns as LA cop John McClane because old habits DIE HARD. A major international airport becomes the arena for terror as Detective John McClane is drawn into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with an elite special forces unit that have seized a bustling airport in Washington, D.C. Led by a maniacal former U.S. military officer, the group plans to intercept the extradition of a Central American strongman as he is brought into the United States for prosecution on drug charges. Their plan is swift, brutal and brilliant... but they didn't count on the presence of John McClane. Also starring BONNIE BEDELIA, WILLIAM ATHERTON, REGINALD VELJOHNSON, FRANCO NERO, WILLIAM SADLER, JOHN AMOS, DENNIS FRANZ, ART EVANS, FRED DALTON THOMPSON, TOM BOWER and SHEILA MCCARTHY.

[SBS/1:00pm] Eugene O'Neill - Eugene O'Neill was born in 1888 to a celebrated actor of Irish background. His childhood which inspired the writing of some of his greatest plays (e.g. Long Day's Journey into Night) was one of loneliness. His mother became a morphine addict following the death of his older brother in infancy. After a suicide attempt in 1913, he became prolific and, during the 1920's and 30's, won three Pulitzer Prizes and the Nobel Prize. His private life, however, remained one of "seeking flight", until he married the actress Carlotta Monterey, who remained with him until his death. O'Neill was posthumously awarded an unprecedented fourth Pulitzer Prize. The documentary offers readings of various excerpts from his plays, as well as a fundamental analysis of American theatre and O'Neill's role in its transformation. (From the US, in English) (Masterpiece) PG WS
[SBS/7:30pm] Nerds FC - Removing the nerds away from their technologies was a big change, but in this episode they are also ripped from the comforts of Sydney. The team, along with coach, Craig Foster is flown to remote Gove in the Northern Territory where they will get to immerse themselves in a very different culture. They learn something of Australia's indigenous culture, going hunting with spears, playing didgeridoos, exploring aboriginal art and experiencing traditional dance around the camp fire. To cap it all off, the nerds introduce the game of soccer, with the help of Craig Foster, to the local community before playing a game against some very athletically gifted indigenous children. (Commissioned by SBSi, in English) (Documentary Series) G CC WS
[SBS/8:00pm] Kick - Love The One You're With – There’s big time chemistry between Miki and Ravi - Joes tearaway younger brother. Joe is irked and jealous and refuses to attend a party which Ravi has arranged in the Mangeshkar backyard. Jackie meets the Salim family, and Layla is terrified her cover will be blown. When Hoas plans are appropriated by a crooked businessman, he thinks Amen has betrayed him. Tatiana tries to form a breakaway soccer team but, with Ozzie’s help, the Hoperoos are reunited. After the wild party, Joe is certain that Miki and Ravi have had a one-night-stand. Miki isn't telling. She’s shocked to find out that Ravi is expecting his sixth child. (Commissioned by SBSi, in English) (Drama Series) PG CC

[ABC/7:30pm] Doctor Who. The Doctor (David Tennant) offers Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) a trip into the future to visit another planet and the Tardis lands in the year five billion and fifty three in a dark alleyway in New New York in New Earth. Meanwhile, the face of Boe sits in a room with Novice Hame (Anna Hope) and tells her to find the Doctor before it is too late.The Doctor and Martha find themselves in a run-down street where pharmacists try to sell them patches that dispense moods such as "happy", "forget" and "sleep". Suddenly a young couple abduct Martha. The Doctor chases them but they escape in their car. The Doctor asks the pharmacists for directions to the Motorway, they tell him, but warn him that he may never see his friend again. As Martha's abductors try to get to the Fast Lane, the Doctor follows - first with Brannigan, a Cat Person (Ardal O'Hanlon) and his family then a succession of travellers all heading in the same direction. Can the Doctor and Martha Jones survive the ordeal of the mysterious Motorway and discover the terrible secret at the heart of the city?
[ABC/8:30pm] The Bill. Just about all of the Sun Hill team turn up when a man is reported naked and chained to a goal post in the park…and then a girl from the same house-warming party is found collapsed in the garden pond of a neighbour. As she is taken off to hospital, party-goers hand over her small baby.
[ABC/10:15pm] Parkinson. On this week's show comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner talks politics and how the end of Tony Blair's time as PM will affect his work. Infamous tennis legend John McEnroe attempts to explain his temper, and how compulsory anger-mangement courses didn't really help. He also tells what he thinks of tennis today. Finally Cameron Diaz brings a touch of Hollywood glamour to the show and explains how fate, the theme of her latest film The Holiday, has helped her find success throughout her career.
Cameron talks about her early modelling career, and how she wishes she was more voluptuous. She also explains how fate brought her and Justin Timberlake together.
[Bio/8:30pm] Aaron Spelling.
[TCM/8:30pm] Movie: Cool Hand Luke (US 1967)
[Movie Greats/10:05pm] Movie: Bonnie and Clyde (US 1967)

SUNDAY 15
[Seven/1:05pm] Movie: Battle For The Planet Of The Apes (US 1973) RODDY MCDOWALL returns in the fifth and final episode in the Planet of the Apes series. After the collapse of human civilization, a community of intelligent apes lives in harmony with a group of humans, but mutants who reside beneath a destroyed city try to conquer those whom they perceive as enemies. Also starring CLAUDE AKINS, NATALIE TRUNDY, SEVERN DARDEN, LEW AYRES, PAUL WILLIAMS and AUSTIN STOKER.
[Seven/6:30pm] Where Are They Now? Mel and Kochie track down the only surviving member of disgraced pop duo, MILLI VANILLI. They catch up with BARBARA EDEN and LARRY HAGMAN, the stars of I DREAM OF JEANNIE and meet the clever minds behind the Aussie inventions we know and love. The show also looks back on the INTERLAKEN SWISS CANYONING TRAGEDY which claimed 14 Australian lives. Tonight's mystery guest was the lead singer of one of the biggest bands of the ‘70s (Bay City Rollers). Hosted by MELISSA DOYLE and DAVID KOCH.
[Seven/7:30pm] Ugly Betty. PETRA-GATE. After seeing her working relationship with Daniel, her close friendship with Christina, and her chance to date Henry all fall apart, Betty is left with no choice but to turn her back on all three. Meanwhile, Alexis catches the attention of a guy and he asks her out. Amanda flirts with a designer who she believes is gay. Wilhelmina finds her latest advances very tiring.
[Seven/8:30pm] Grey’s Anatomy. TIME AFTER TIME. Izzie faces her past and finds comfort in George. Alex becomes more attached to Jane Doe. Meredith and Derek question their own status. Cristina resolves to fight for her relationship with Burke - despite her past with Colin Marlow.
[Seven/9:30pm] What About Brian? WHAT ABOUT ALL THAT GLITTERS... Deena's mother comes for a visit. Brian gets separate invitations from his two attractive downstairs neighbours. Against Natasha's wishes, Brian assigns a big presentation to Dave. Adam and Nicole deal with the aftermath of their unexpected tryst. Meanwhile, the friends get a surprise when they visit Ivy and Jimmy's home for the first time. Guest starring TIFFANI AMBER THIESSEN and MEREDITH BAXTER
[Seven/10:30pm] Alias. OUT OF THE BOX. Sydney and Tom discover that Renee has stolen the cryogenic-type container and find themselves under siege by mercenaries who want the container's contents. Meanwhile, Sloane is forced to take matters into his own possibly devious hands to get himself reinstated into APO and to continue his quest to find a cure for daughter, Nadia. Starring JENNIFER GARNER, VICTOR GARBER, RON RIFKIN, CARL LUMBLY, KEVIN WEISMAN and BALTHAZAR GETTY.

[Ten/12:00pm] Teen Fit Camp. Final
[Ten/7:30pm] Big Brother. Live eviction.
[Ten/8:30pm] Rove. Tonight's guests include: Robin Williams and Regina Spektor.

[Nine/6:30pm] Backyard Blitz
[Nine/7:30pm] 60 Minutes.
[Nine/8:30pm] CSI. “Meet market”
[Nine/9:30pm] CSI Miami. “Internal affairs” Guest: Rob Estes.
[Nine/10:30pm] Survivor Fiji
[Nine/3:00am Mon] Living with Fran.

[ABC/7:30pm] The Worst Jobs In History : The Georgians. New Series. From the personnel in Nelson's navy to the workers who endured the employment nightmares of the Industrial Revolution, the Georgian era provides a rich hunting ground for the worst jobs in history.
[ABC/8:30pm] Midsomer Murders : Dance With The Dead. More murders and mysteries in the quintessential English countryside, based on the award-winning Inspector Barnaby novels by mystery writer Caroline Graham. CAST: John Nettles, Jason Hughes.
[ABC/10:05pm] Compass : The Quiet Revolution: Pt 1: New Prophets. In this ground-breaking three-part series of Compass we reveal a big untold story in world religion, meeting some radical religious thinkers who are pioneering new ways of believing in the new millennium.

[SBS/7:30pm] Voyages of Discovery - Circumnavigation - Ferdinand Magellan sought to outdo his heroes Columbus and Vasco da Gama. In 1519, he sailed from Spain as the captain of the Victoria. He arrived at Patagonia, and looked for the passage across to the Pacific Ocean, which he believed existed, although there was no evidence for it. He survived a mutiny attempt. In 1521 he found the passage and sailed thousands of kilometres in the Pacific Ocean before arriving in the Philippines. Here, he intimidated the natives using his ship's cannon, and managed to turn them into Christian subjects. He miscalculated the resistance of one native chief. Outnumbered, they fell on the beach, and Magellan was slaughtered. Elcano sailed on and reached the Spice Islands. Most of his crew had succumbed to scurvy by the time they arrived home. Scurvy could have been easily prevented had the men known that the cloves they had collected in the Spice Islands contained vitamin C. (From the UK, in English and Spanish, English subtitles) (Documentary Series) *New Series Premiere* PG (V) CC WS
[SBS/8:30pm] Big Love - Eviction - Bill is mulling over an expensive new ad campaign for Henrickson's Home Plus, one that will re-brand it as "Utah's family superstore," and include testimonials from employees and subliminal signals that they're entirely "home-grown". Roman sends Alby to rob Bill's office. Joey calls Bill with some worrisome news. He signed a piece of paper a few months back thinking it was a permit for a fish farm. But Roman explains the paper designated him the agent for Deseret Properties. Ben is in a car accident, and bulldozers are tearing down Lois's, Frank's and Joey's houses, as well as the gas station. (From the US, in English) (Drama Series) M (L,S) CC
[SBS/9:30pm] The Circuit - In Country - A flurry of racist leaflets and a lack of faith in him, on the part of the people he is trying to help, put Drew in a bad temper. Sam and Drew seem determined to remain on different sides of the fence. Necessity places them in a position where they find out more about each other, as a courtroom decision has tragic consequences. (Commissioned by SBSi, in English) (Drama Series) (Part 2) M (L,S,A) CC WS

[National Geographic/7:30pm] Japanese Cowboy
[Arena/8:00pm] Gay, Straight or Taken? Read more...