Back to reruns

Last week TV Tonight speculated that it was very adventurous of TEN to be planning Back to You across Easter when new episodes were in short supply.

One of the shows affected by the Writer's Strike, TEN was set to run out of new episodes just one week before new eps resume in the US. Just one more day up their sleeve might have allowed TEN to fast-track the flow seamlessly.

So try not to look to shocked to learn that TEN has suddenly pulled those fresh episodes for the Easter break.

Instead it will run repeats of the first two episodes starting tonight, Wednesday March 18, followed by March 26. New eps resume April 2nd.
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Gone: The Thick of It

The ABC said it knew about Chris Langham's conviction of downloading child pornography.

Earlier this month when TV Tonight contacted the ABC on plans to run Langham's sitcom The Thick of It, a spokesperson affirmed the network was aware of the situation. They confirmed it was proceeding with the programme.

But within days it issued an amendment indicating the comedy was gone from schedule.

It is now replaced with The Armstrong and Miller Show, a UK sketch show with comic actors Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller.

So did the network really know, or it has become nervous about the show going under the media spotlight? Maybe it should have taken a look at its own news archives before deciding on programming it was not prepared to uphold?
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All's fair in ambush journalism and dodgy game shows?

Foot-in-door and ambush interviews are the staple of early evening public affairs shows (both of them). When it comes to getting a good interview, or putting someone on the spot, both ACA and TT have made an art of this.

The game show contestants who today accompanied ACA (or vice versa) during a live Sunrise broadcast, are naturally upset over not getting their cheques from National Bingo Night. The show had questionable practices on a number of counts, including distributing bingo cards in newspapers for a show that was pre-recorded not live, and edit inserts that showed other numbers rolling down the bingo tube rather than the one that was pulled out.

But all game show contracts include a clause that says if an episode doesn't air then no money is awarded. Fair or not fair, it's been standard practice for years. In 2004 sorry participants on TEN's The Resort were left floundering after the reality show set in Fiji was pulled after a handful of eps. Their prize was supposed to be the funds supplied by guest bookings.

For ACA to confront David Koch and Melissa Doyle on air was more than cheeky. What would Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson have made if Today Tonight had dragged angry Mint viewers to one of their OB broadcasts?

But wait - Nine chose to axe The Mint on the very same day it attacked National Bingo Night's tactics. How timely. Could Nine have realised it too had a show that was less than exemplary?

As Today Tonight also pointed out, today was also the day that ACMA slapped ACA across the wrist for lack of accuracy on QTQ9.

Speaking of accuracy, the ACA website which plugged its own story tonight, had a few more inaccuracies too: National Bingo Night was not "a late night bingo rip-off." It was actually an early evening show at 6:30pm.

Must be thinking of The Mint? Read more...

Axed: The Mint

Channel Nine's late night game show, The Mint has been axed.

The final show will air on Saturday 29th March. It is to be replaced with dramas and movies.

The show, with host duties shared by Rob Mills, Lyall Brooks, Natalie Garonzi, Angela Johnson, Lucy Holmes and Katrina Conder was recently dropped by WIN TV. It is likely this had a significant effect on the revenue pool of the phone-in show. Produced in-house by the Nine Network, The Mint replaced the FremantleMedia produced Quizmania last year.

A Nine spokesperson told TV Tonight, "This style of show has a natural life cycle. The Mint will finish up at the end of the month. It's been a great training ground for new talent and our concentration is now focussed on new programming initiatives."

Late night quizzes in Australia recently were popularised via games on Big Brother Up Late, which led to TEN's Up Late Game Show with Hot Dogs. Seven also aired Midnight Zoo between July - October 2006.

But The Mint also attracted a growing swell of annoyed viewers, frustrated by seemingly never-ending games with cryptic answers that were as good as unsolvable.

Kindly link to this site when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks!

Photo: givemetheremote Read more...

NBC re-heats 'improved' Chopping Block

NBC has picked up the US rights to make a local version of The Chopping Block.

The Channel Nine reality show was created by David Barbour and Julian Cress (The Block), both of whom worked for David Gyngell when he was running Granada America.

Most curiously, there are a number of key changes for the NBC format that differ from the version currently screening in Oz.

Firstly, the series has a through-line, rather than the self-contained episodes (this was a strong feature of The Block). Eight couples will be split into two teams, with each team assigned side-by-side restaurant spaces in Manhattan. Rather than see restaurants compete for a mere $20,000 each week, teams of couples will fight to run their own restaurant.

There will also be weekly eliminations. Yep, it's 2 parts My Restaurant Rules and 1 dash Chopping Block.

The show will retain food critics who render a verdict the next morning. There will also be a panel of judges.

The US version will feature chef Marco Pierre White, cited as one of Gordon Ramsay's mentors. He even replaced Ramsay on Hell's Kitchen.

NBC reality chief Craig Plestis said snagging White was key because the chef gives the show "credibility times 25," as well as the larger-than-life personality so vital in reality TV.

"He's the original rock-and-roll chef," he said. "Food is his life, the core of his being. He won't accept second best from these contestants. And he made Gordon Ramsay cry, so he's going to make some of our people cry, too, I'm sure.

"The real novel twist is having couples," Plestis added. "That's where you're going to see all the drama."

Source: Variety
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ACA breached ACMA code

QTQ9 will be forced to run an announcement outlining how A Current Affair breached ACMA Codes of Practice when it broadcast a story on autism in 2006.

ACMA found that factual material was not presented accurately in five instances and QTQ9 had failed to correct these significant errors of fact at the earliest opportunity.

ACMA also found that there was one instance of a viewpoint not being represented fairly.

The ACA story on government support for children with autism was critical of the performance of the then Queensland Minister for Disability Services and his department.

This is the fourth investigation since 2005 finding that a broadcast of A Current Affair has breached clause 4.3.1 of the code, which covers accuracy and the fair representation of viewpoints.

Following discussions with ACMA, QTQ9 has offered to broadcast an announcement which will include an outline of the main findings of the ACMA investigation, the number of breach findings and a correction of the issues the subject of the breaches. The announcement, to be no less than 30 seconds in duration, will be aired shortly during A Current Affair in all Queensland licence areas in which the relevant editions were broadcast.

Senior Nine Network personnel will also meet with ACMA staff to review compliance with the code and reporters and producers of A Current Affair will be required to attend advanced training in code compliance which will include a review of all the findings of the report.

Earlier this month QTQ9 was also found to have breached a Code of Practice over the screening of the film Holy Smoke.

Source: ACMA Read more...

Pay TV pays up on local drama

The Australian Communications and Media Authority reports that the subscription television industry increased its expenditure on Aussie drama programs by 43% in 2006-07.

It was up from $18.4m the previous year to $26.4m.

Productions included The King, Satisfaction, Stupid Stupid Man and the third series of Love My Way.

ACMA found 17 drama channels had met their 2005-06 expenditure obligations, required for local content: Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Hallmark Channel, Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney, Fox 8, Fox Classics, Movie Extra, Movie Greats, Movie One, Nickelodeon, Showtime, Showtime Greats, TV1, SCI FI and UKTV.

‘The subscription television industry is a major supporter of Australian drama production,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘This investment in Australian drama enhances viewer choice and access to Australian drama. It also provides opportunities for Australians to create and participate in a wide variety of productions, including feature films such as Romulus My Father and September, telemovies such as The King and drama series such as Love My Way-Series 3 and Satisfaction.’

Source: ACMA
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"Channel Seven doesn't pay!"

Sunrise co-host David Koch today reckoned A Current Affair was behind a stunt outside 'Brekkie Central.'

Strolling outside the studio, Melissa Doyle and David Koch went to cross to Hollywood correspondent Nelson Aspen. But they were soon drowned out by protestors chanting “Channel 7 doesn’t pay."

After a few seconds, the audio was cut, and only Aspen's voice could be heard.

Once the cameras returned to the hosts, a security guard could be seen standing in front of the now-quietened crowd.

After an ad break, the pair appeared inside on the couch, with Mel downplaying the incident and promising the station would look into the protestors’ claims.

Kochie took it one step further however, claiming it was an ambush by rival station Channel 9’s A Current Affair about Seven’s show Bingo. He told viewers Nine had not even approached Seven for comment and that its ambush tactics were unfair.

Source: news.com.au
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Dancing on the rumour mill

When you can't publish a rumour as fact, what do you do? Publish the denial of a rumour -you've still spilled the dirt anyway.

And so QConfidential today has spuriously put into print the words suggesting that "one male So You Think You Can Dance Australia contender is having a fling with a male judge on the top-rating show."

But then it goes on to print a denial from TEN publicity.

"QConfidential put the rumour to a Fremantle Media spokesperson yesterday and the vehemence in the denial was palpable," it writes.

"'You don't expect me to respond to that do you? I'm just going to ignore it,'" snapped the flack. "'But if you print it, can I just say, you will have egg on your face.'"

"Consider us admonished" notes QConfidential.

Source: QConfidential Read more...

Pubs cancel Fox footy

The days of AFL football on the big screen in pubs is shifting with news that hotel magnate Bruce Mathieson has cancelled a contract with Foxtel.

Bruce Mathieson, who controls 260 Victorian pubs, has cancelled a deal worth more than $5 million a year when negotiations broke down after 2 months.

Under the AFL licence agreement, Fox Sports broadcasts four games each week -- half the round.

Bruce Mathieson Jr, who helps his father run the pub-and-pokies empire, told the Herald Sun the right to show AFL games had become far too expensive. He said showing footy games on Foxtel cost each pub more than $20,000 a year.

"For a pub it's in the thousands and it gets to one of those things, it's a question of value," Mr Mathieson said.

"Our fees go into the millions. We just didn't think we were getting value for money."

Mr Mathieson said Foxtel would be switched off on Friday. But free-to-air AFL games would still be shown.

"We get the best games on free-to-air and it's just a business decision we've made," Mr Mathieson said.

"They were trying to sting us a fair bit more. With all the new AFL broadcast deals they brought out a new price list and it's pretty expensive. We had a contract for two years. It was up for renewal and we went to negotiate and we didn't see the value in it."

An AFL spokesman said it couldn't comment on the issue last night. The Australian Hotels Association also declined to comment.

Source: Herald Sun
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Denton to interview Carey

Contrary to speculation that Andrew Denton had landed an interview with David Hicks, comes the news that the controversial figure for the first episode of Enough Rope is Wayne Carey.

The former AFL footballer has been in the news recently for issues of alleged domestic violence, as well as confessions of cocaine and alcohol abuse.

Enough Rope recently teased media that an "exclusive interview with this controversial figure will be the first time this person has been interviewed and Denton will ask the questions every Australian wants to know."

After a story in New Idea magazine this week it is no longer the first interview, but the first television interview since Carey's recent media headlines.

Press Release:

TV Exclusive
‘The King’ Wayne Carey to tackle the tough questions Premier talk show host Andrew Denton will conduct the first TV interview with disgraced former AFL footballer, Wayne Carey, when the 2008 season of ENOUGH ROPE returns to ABC TV on Monday, March 31st at 9.35pm.

Denton has vowed to ask Carey the questions Australians want answers to. Read more...

Airdate: Olympic Swimming Trials

Nine didn't manage to get the Beijing Olympics, so it has to settle for the Olympic Team Swimming Trials.

To air from March 22 to 29, there will be a number of live races from the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

The commentary and hosting team includes Ken Sutcliffe, Ray Warren, Nicole Livingstone, Giaan Rooney and Duncan Armstrong.

The Australian team for Beijing will also be announced live on air following the last final of the high-pressure meet on Saturday, March 29.

Press Release:

Tune in to see our Australian swimming hopefuls as they take to the pool for their one shot at qualifying for the Beijing Games when Channel Nine presents the Olympic Team Swimming Trials from Saturday, March 22 to March 29.

Nine will bring viewers all the action, drama and emotion of the Beijing build-up from the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

In a trials first, the Australian team for Beijing will be announced live on air following the last final of the high-pressure meet on Saturday, March 29.

Nine’s coverage will be hosted by the network’s sports anchor, Ken Sutcliffe, and the commentary team will be headed up by the “Voice of Swimming”, Ray Warren. Sutcliffe and Warren each have over 30 years’ experience in hosting prestige international sporting events.

Nine’s commentary team includes three Australian swimming champions who collectively have won two Olympic gold, two silver and three bronze medals as well as a host of other titles: Nicole Livingstone, Giaan Rooney and Duncan Armstrong.

The Olympic trials are traditionally known for creating new champions, breaking records, high drama and great emotion. Who could forget in 2004 when Ian Thorpe lost his balance in the 400m heats, or in 2000 when Susie O’Neill broke the world record for the 200m butterfly.

Then there was 14-year-old wonderkid Leisel Jones who came to light at the 2000 trials for the Sydney Olympics.

With world record holder Eamon Sullivan now promising to deliver more outstanding results and 14-year-old rookie Cate Campbell to watch out for, the Olympic Swimming Trials look sure to keep up the exciting tradition. Read more...

Personal dance space spilled

TV Week has run an article on the sexuality and personal lives of the SYTYCD top ten, which has been picked up by the Courier Mail.

Brisbane's Jack Chambers admits that, while he is straight, he hasn't ruled out the idea of switching camps. ``I've only been in relationships with girls but I believe you can fall in love with anyone you want,'' he says. ``It's about the person, not the sex.''

Demi Sorono is recently single after breaking up with longtime girlfriend Nikki. ``I don't want to sell myself short,'' she says. ``Love is love. I haven't always dated women -- I have been with men.''

Androgynous Rhys Bobridge hardly needs any spin, he was openly gay on camera from the first audition. The article says he was gay-bashed at a dance party in Adelaide two years ago.

Graeme Isaako, meanwhile 'confesses' that, as a Mormon, he would like to settle down one day with a ``nice Mormon girl''.

Rhiannon Villareal met her current boyfriend Cisco during the audition process but admits both she and her new beau were seeing other people at the time. Both left their former partners and Cisco is now employed as a choreographer's assistant on the show.

Next up: Natalie Bassingthwaighte tells, "My Top Secret Tour of Afghanistan."

Source: Courier Mail Read more...