Here we come.. walkin' down the street

In the 1960s they were a television phenomenon.

The Monkees were arguably the first manufactured pop band, made specifically for the television show of the same name. But fans blurred actors with pop musicians, despite the fact they famously never played their own instruments on recordings.

Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz appear in this documentary that charts their rise and fall, and promises to shed light on the early traces of boyband phenomenon.

It screens on ABC1 Thursday March 27 at 9:35pm.

Press Release:

In 1967, four unknown actors in a kids TV show become the biggest pop band in the world. In America they outsold Elvis and The Beatles combined. They were… The Monkees.

But The Monkees were not a real band, they were a man-made money-making machine, driven by ego and ambition, a machine that would ultimately crash and burn. This is the inside story of pop music's first manufactured band.

Labelled the pre-fab four, The Monkees were the first manufactured pop group. And with the radical TV show and contagious pop songs, they attracted a cult following that survives to this day.

But behind the sugary smiles and bubblegum pop of The Monkees lay a cut-throat business enterprise, one fuelled by money, ego and the ambition of some of the biggest names in Hollywood. And one that, ultimately, was to end in tears.

With access to Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz as well as The Monkees archive, Making The Monkees is the inside story of the rise and fall of this unlikely group. It is the story of four young men who were hand picked to become overnight superstars melting the hearts of teeny-boppers worldwide and lining the pockets of their creators.

But it's also the story of how The Monkees - and the men who pulled their strings - created the blueprint for the boy-band phenomenon that is so prevalent today - from the prototype casting and marketing, to the inevitable tantrums over artistic control and the ensuing commercial failure.

And as Making The Monkees reveals, it is the manufactured pop phenomenon - even more than their songs - that is the real enduring legacy of The Monkees.

Making the Monkees airs 9:35pm Thursday March 27 on ABC1. Read more...

Gordon Ramsay. Superstar.

He's the biggest British thing since the Supernanny or Simon Cowell. Gordon Ramsay last night scored a whopping 1.5m viewers with Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, and was the #1 show of the night.

Last night was his best performance so far, due to the fact that Nine had been scheduling different editions of Kitchen Nightmares USA / UK in Melbourne (blame Underbelly) and as such denying him one big whopping figure. That changed last night.

He also helped deliver Nine a kingsize 32% Thursday share over Seven's 24% and TEN's 22%. Just what the network needed as it seeks to take out the 'deciding 5th week of ratings' -currently a 2 all tie between Nine and Seven. Whether it falls their way or not remains to be seen.

The Ramsay cult is winning over viewers despite, or because of, his loud and obviously profane character. Many see his passion for improving restaurants as driving his frequent use of the F (and occasionally the C word). Ramsay doesn't hold back in wanting to get the job done, fast.

Ironically he continues to attract figures The Chopping Block would kill for. Matt Moran is obviously good at what he does too, it's just a different approach to Ramsay. But Catriona Rowntree needed to do more than post-production voice-overs and wandering in to hand over a cheque (she even wears the same outfit for those congratulatory scenes as when she is announcing the winner on video.... why didn't she just walk in and say it?).

Nine took off Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen last year, annoying many fans of Gordon Ramsay. Now it is they who are voting with their eyes and proving they knew better than Nine. Read more...

Don't touch that dial

As most of us know several of TEN's key shows have disappeared due to the writers' strike, House and Supernatural to be specific. Both return to US schedules late April.

Seven on the other hand has wisely held off the shows it fast-tracked in 2007 including Heroes, Prison Break and My Name is Earl.

So it's a brave move to continue with Back To You through non-ratings. It's a bright sitcom that is doing well for TEN, perhaps they don't want to lose the momentum. But running new eps in non-ratings throws a bit of a spanner in the works given the last completed ep, the #10th, air will logically air on April 9.

New eps in the US return on Wed April 16, which would have been perfect for TEN were it not for that damned dateline. In Australian terms that's the equivalent of about midday Thu April 17.

So what's the answer? A double dose of Rules of Engagement somewhere? TEN might as well.

And where are new Simpsons? Bondi Rescue doesn't look like moving anywhere soon -another winner for TEN. Though there will soon be a new half hour to fill at 8pm Thursdays when Saving Kids with Damien Leith concludes Thu April 10.

Read more...

60 Minutes reporter slams show

A farewell function for Ray Martin is today making news for all the wrong reasons.

There are reports 60 Minutes journo Liam Bartlett dumped a bucketload on colleagues over a "shit" return of the long-running series last Sunday.

During the rant, which colleagues said "came out of nowhere" he is said to have referred to McGuire's interview with his AFL friend Sam Newman as "not a story," claims the Daily Telegraph.

Bartlett is also believed to have taken aim at the ratings: "If you guys are satisfied with 1.2 million (viewers), you're f. . . . ." Bartlett apparently told colleagues.

"You could say the feeling was just that everyone was gobsmacked," one guest said. "It's one thing to bag out a crew member or a production even, but this is your own camp."

Rumours of the rant were rife around Nine's Willoughby camp last night but if the claims turn out to be true he will reportedly be "in big trouble" with management, a source said.

Bartlett, who colleagues yesterday said had a reputation for being "a bit prickly and difficult" when dealing with 60 Minutes talent and producers, would not comment yesterday.

If the Telegraph story does have any basis, it will put Bartlett in a precarious position. It is well-known that the handling of Newman's story was put together by McGuire and David Gyngell.

Bartlett did not have a story in the year's first episode, with features covered by Liz Hayes, Peter Overton and Eddie McGuire.

Source: Daily Telegraph
Read more...

Sam Who where?

If you find yourself, like the title character, a tad forgetful over where to find Samantha Who on Seven, don't be too hard on yourself.

It's undergoing a bit of a scheduling headache at the moment.

The show has now moved from Sundays to 7:30pm Thursdays, effective as of next week. On Thursday March 20 it's followed by new eps of How I Met Your Mother.

But it isn't on the week after, when Seven has decided to go with double eps of HIMYM in non-ratings.

Given the messing around with the show, Seven would arguably be better placed just holding off on Sam Who until ratings return in the week of March 30. Anything's possible, the networks still seem to be tweaking their non-ratings schedule.

To keep up with what's going on check the updated Easter non-ratings guide.
Read more...

Nick shows off shorts

Well, aren't these just the cutest little fellas...?

The Nickleodeon Channel will have a world premiere on Friday of Aussie-made animations, including these guys from Splode.

Last year Nickleodeon, SPAA and the NSW FTO sought 2-3 minute animations to screen under the Nick Shorts banner.

There are 10 shorts from various production companies which will air across the schedule as interstitials from today with special screenings on Wednesdays & Fridays at 6.30pm.

Press Release:

Nick Shorts is a Nickelodeon Australia initiative designed to showcase and celebrate Australia’s animation talent.

In May 2007, Nickelodeon Australia, in association with the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) and the New South Wales Film and Television Office, invited producers from around the nation to submit their creative concept for a 2-3 minute animated short film to screen exclusively on Nickelodeon.

“We are thrilled to showcase Australia’s production talent to both our children’s audience and out international colleagues. As a body of work, the films celebrate imagination, creativity and humour. Everything we look for at Nickelodeon!” said Deirdre Brennan, Director of Programming, Nickelodeon Australia.

‘The support we received from the Screen Producers Association of Australia and state funding bodies, such as the New South Wales Film and Television Office, demonstrates that this form of initiative has great potential. We are delighted with what we have achieved so far and are committed to continuing our close work with the independent sector”.

The Nick Shorts films include:

Curious Tales of a Singular Nature Halo Pictures
Splode Kapow Pictures
Louie’s Lunch Sticky Pictures
The Iddy Biddy Show Finkle Productions
Hair Hares Kapow Pictures
Ghastly Gourmet Cooking Show People’s Republic of Animation
T-Vault Drawing Room One
Herb and Ray’s Yum Sticky Pictures
I Was A Teenage Butterfly People’s Republic of Animation
Dirk Breaka! Renmotion

Reflecting the media usage of children today, Nick Shorts can be viewed via Nickelodeon’s multi-platforms – television, online (TURBO Nick) and mobile. Nick Shorts will premiere on Nickelodeon Friday March 14, with special screenings on Wednesdays & Fridays at 6.30pm from March 14 – April 16. Read more...