Champ tempted by $590,000

Only five people have won Temptation's entire showcase, and tonight Queenslander Blair Martin has a shot at $590,188 in goodies.

On Friday he turned down a cash incentive to return for the lot.

If he loses on Monday, the 44yo Queenslander will go home with $44,000 in prizes and cash.

Press Release:

Blair Martin is set to play the game of his life on Monday, June 11, when he stands to take home more than $500,000 in cash and prizes on Channel Nine’s top-rating quiz show, TEMPTATION.

Martin, a 44-year-old Queensland business owner and actor, has won seven nights so far, edging closer to becoming the first TEMPTATION grand champion of 2007.

Tempting Martin, and driving him to victory, will be the allure of winning $400,000 in cash; a home entertainment package worth $10,097; furniture worth $14,700; an outdoor swim spa worth $21,000; a $30,000 Harley Davidson; and a Volvo C70 convertible valued at $69,950.

If Martin loses he will take home the booty he has accumulated so far from the TEMPTATION Gift Shop, Fame Game and Vault – cash and prizes worth $44,091.

On Thursday night Martin turned down all his acquired prizes in order to return on Friday night, and tonight he rejected the cash lure for the chance to return to TEMPTATION on Monday.

Playing against him on Monday will be Evan Sharpe, a robotics engineer, and Minnette Rummel, a personal assistant, both from Victoria.

Only five people have won the entire showcase in TEMPTATION history. In March 2006, Yolanda Stopar became the biggest winner, taking home cash and prizes worth $932,577. Other grand champions include Brigid O’Connor ($664,638), Stephen Hall ($672,357), Rob O’Neil ($701,241) and most recently in October last year Tracey Korsten, who took home $865,655 in cash and prizes.

Temptation airs 7pm Monday on Nine. Read more...

Mon June 11

[Bio/10:00pm] 61st Annual Tony Awards. Live.
[Ovation/8:30pm] The Queen Phenomenon.
[Ovation/10:00pm] Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story.

[Seven/8:30pm] Desperate Housewives. LIAISONS. Tom feels threatened by the interest a new Scavo's Pizzeria employee shows in Lynette. Susan considers leaving Wisteria Lane for good. Victor is confused by Gabby's odd choices. A neighbour's darkest secret is revealed. Guest starring JASON GEDRICK.
[Seven/9:30pm] Brothers and Sisters. THREE PARTIES.Sarah accompanies Kitty to Senator McAllister's hometown. Rebecca asks Justin to attend a house party with her. Chad makes a surprising decision to come out. At the advice of her best friend, Nora asks her professor out on a date.
[Seven/10:30pm] Boston Legal. THE BRIDE WORE BLOOD. When an old girlfriend shows up at the courthouse wearing a wedding gown covered in blood, Alan decides to help her defend charges of murdering her groom. Claire finds it difficult to take her client seriously when he is accused of stealing a cell phone. Denny tries to win back Bethany by going to rehab. Guest: Megan Mullally
[Seven/11:30pm] Scrubs. MY LONG GOODBYE. The staff say their goodbyes to one of their friends, except Carla, who stoutly refuses to accept what's happening. Meanwhile, Dr. Cox and Jordan are welcoming a new life into the world and J.D. lobbies to be named the baby's Godfather.

[Ten/1:00pm] Oprah. "NBA Legend Magic Johnson On Aids In America" Rpt.
[Ten/7:30pm] Big Brother: Live Nominations
[Ten/8:30pm] Supernatural. "Folsom Prison Blues"

[Nine/3:30pm] Hi-5. New Series. “Babies.”
[Nine/7:00pm] Temptation. Champ plays for $590,188
[Nine/8:35pm] 1 vs 100

[ABC/3:25pm] Dorothy The Dinosaur. Premiere.
[ABC/6:30pm] Talking Heads : Marina Prior. Peter Thompson, one of this country's most respected interviewers, invites along some of the most fascinating people in the country and records their conversation in the stunning Brisbane Powerhouse.

[ABC/8:00pm] Australian Story
[ABC/8:30pm] Four Corners
[ABC/9:20pm] Media Watch
[ABC/9:35pm] More Than Enough Rope is a five-week season of our favourite interviews as never seen before. All five have been renovated and refurbished, with stunning new views and prestige fittings. All feature previously unscreened material - in some cases as much as 50 per cent has been restored. Each of the five people has been chosen to represent a particular type of guest or challenge. This themed approach allows us to examine broader issues, and to delve further into the rich ENOUGH ROPE archive. Fleshing out each program, we've collected moments from other interviews that put the main guest in context and draw illuminating parallels. Finally, and most significantly, More Than ENOUGH ROPE takes the viewer inside the interview, pulling back the curtain to uncover the thought processes and preparation behind ENOUGH ROPE'S successful interview style. Using the wonders of modern technology (and the pause button), host Andrew Denton freezes proceedings to comment during the interviews, explaining what he was thinking and how it feels to sit in his chair. This week: CATCHING MERCURY.A short lesson in attempting to pin down the unpindownable, focusing on one of Australia's greatest and most playful actors, Cate Blanchett. With support from Daniel Johns, the late Rene Rivkin and Don Chipp.

[SBS/7:30pm] Mythbusters - Ming Dynasty Astronaut - Tonight Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman go deep into the Mojave Desert and use Buster to test the truth of a myth about a 15th century Chinese astrologer who launched himself into space. They then tackle a myth about obtaining free energy, as well as the possibility of decapitation by a ceiling fan. (From the US, in English) (Documentary Series) (Rpt) PG CC
[SBS/8:30 pm] South Park - All About The Mormons? - A Mormon kid moves to South Park and Stan feels the need to beat him up. But when Stan and his dad meet their new Mormon neighbours, they become fascinated with how genuinely nice they are. Meanwhile the other boys mock Stan relentlessly for wimping out. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) (Rpt) M (L) CC WS
[SBS/9:00pm] Drawn Together - Xandir considers coming out to his parents and asks housemates Toot and Captain Hero to play the roles of his parents. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) MA (A,S) CC WS
[SBS/10:55pm] Oz - God's Chillun - The pressure on Glynn and McManus increases when the governor threatens to bring in the FBI to investigate the two unsolved murders in Em City. Warden Glynn says the boys need to be kept quiet or else he'll lock the prison down. However, the tension increases following a visit from Governor Devlin, who is responsible for the bans on smoking and conjugal visits. O'Reily introduces Beecher to the drugs that make life in Oz bearable. Meanwhile, Said converts Keane to Islam and Keane finds religion at the same that the vengeful Latinos find Keane. O'Reily has found out that Beecher is a lawyer and gives him his case file. Beecher becomes Sister Peter Marie's assistant and learns that his wife Genevieve is going to divorce him. (From the US, in English) (Drama Series) (Rpt) MA (L,V, A)

[Bio/7:30pm] 2007 Tony Awards. Rpt.
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BB Producers address Emma issues

Big Brother producers Southern Star Endemol have released a statement regarding the exit of Emma and the news of her deceased father.

Press Release:

Because Housemate Emma had been nominated and faced possible eviction tonight, last night, with the full support of her family, Emma was told in private that her estranged father had passed away.

Her brother Matt conveyed this news to Emma in the company of Big Brother’s resident psychologist.

That meeting will remain private.

Big Brother has taken advice from the psychologist, with the full support of Emma’s family, that she be told of her father’s death last night so that she would have time to process the news in the event she was evicted tonight.

Big Brother also wanted to ensure Emma had sufficient time to consider whether she wished to go on stage with Gretel during tonight’s Live Eviction show.

Emma was offered counselling and was given the option to leave the house immediately if she wished.

She chose to stay and will again meet with the psychologist and her family tonight.

Fans will recall that Emma’s late father and her family had requested that she not be informed of her father’s passing.

Big Brother was unaware that Emma’s father had passed away until several days after his funeral.

Big Brother understands the concern the public has expressed for Emma’s welfare.

This has been a very difficult situation in which there has been no perfect answer.

Big Brother has held Emma’s best interests paramount at all times and in doing so has drawn on the advice of the people best placed to give it – her family.

Like all Emma’s supporters, Big Brother looks forward to hearing Emma tell her own story. Read more...

Sopranos last encore

The final episode of The Sopranos will air on Sunday night in the US (Monday morning AEST).

After 86 episodes Tony Soprano, played by actor James Gandolfini, will be no more. The HBO hit has enjoyed six seasons, winning rave reviews, a slew of industry awards and a reputation for pulling no punches.

Gandolfini has said, "The character has been with me for so long it's a relief to let him go."

There is much speculation about what fate awaits Tony Soprano, prison, death or some sort of escape. Fans of the show who don't want to know should be wary of internet spoilers on key entertainment websites (none will be printed here).

Meanwhile, no word from Nine on when it may screen here. The last series was relegated to a late-night, dead-zone timeslot. Read more...

Seven win is familiar News

Another week and another win for Seven.

Final figures for Week 23 were Seven 28.7 to Nine’s 27.4, Ten’s 21.7, ABC’s 16.8, and SBS’ 5.5. Seven won Monday, Tuesday and Friday while Nine took the rest. Seven took out all cities save Brisbane, which fell to Nine.

In a week where PBL lost its chance to buy Channel Nine Perth and plug the audience leak to its National News figures, Seven News managed to take first place in six out of seven nights. Together with Today Tonight, Seven has cemented its place as national favourite for the news hour, and dented Nine’s brand pride as the news leader. Seven now enjoys a seemingly unstoppable grip on the all-important early evening viewing.

Seven News boomed as high as 1.7m on Tuesday (but with averaging will unlikely beat 60 Minutes as the week’s top show). Other tops shows were TT, It Takes Two, Grey’s Anatomy, All Saints, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Police Files - Unlocked, and My Name is Earl.

For Nine 60 Minutes remains the top pick. It’s followed by National Nine News, Shrek 2, 1 vs 100, RPA Where Are They Now, Getaway, McLeod’s Daughters and Temptation. Nine’s revamping of Tuesdays isn’t working, with the premiere of The Nation attracting a disappointing 772,000.

TEN continues with local problems only offset by American imports. A new episode of House was its strongest performer. Next was NCIS and The Simpsons. Barely any Big Brother offshoot passed the million mark, and Rove was the same. A repeat of Hamish and Andy’s Real Stories performed surprisingly well late on a Sunday. Teen Fit Camp slipped lower, now under 700,000 –close to the sort of figures Yasmine had.

ABC again triumphed with again The Chaser, Spicks and Specks and The New Inventors (are audiences bored by 8pm Wednesday alternatives?). ABC News was next best.

Mondays was the best night for SBS though it did enjoy a Sunday surge thanks to Big Love.

This week NRL is back on Wednesday which saw Nine win the week last time. Read more...

More on that 6:30 change

It is now quite clear that the "6:30 change" we have been teased with is not a new show for Channel TEN, but the rumoured makeover of Neighbours.

Producer Ric Pellizzeri has told News Ltd. that renovated sets and storylines were not 'a last-ditch attempt' to save the show.

"I certainly don't think the original template for Neighbours has worn itself out. Every show has ups and downs but we're trying to get it back on track," he said.

This is despite other key sets being introduced in the last 3 years.

Neighbours ratings have languished between 700,000 - 800,000, which are well behind the two current affairs shows between 1.2m and 1.4m. Home and Away also attracts around 1.1 - 1.3m. In truth, Neighbours figures are not too far out of step with TEN as the third-tier network anyway. It remains competitive in its youthful demographic. The show would still be produced if it were pulled off air in Australia tomorrow. It recently won a huge license increase when it signed from the BBC to Channel Five.

Pellizzeri says the show will return to suburban tales and avoid shock-stories of bombings and kidnappings."We're calling it 'Heartland Neighbours'" he said. "We want to get back to telling the stories we think we're good at, which is strong emotional stories, involving multi-generational families living on a street. We had shifted away from that. I agree our stories were becoming a little too extraordinary."

Neighbours' best storyline in the last ten years was a fairly simple but devastating split between Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodburne), twice visited, once with Izzy (Natalie Bassingthwaite). There wasn't a special effect in sight, just emotional jeopardy and darn good performances.

One of the other challenges for the show is in being landlocked by the houses of Pin Oak Court (Ramsay St) itself. Those exteriors were aspirational McMansions twenty years ago. Now they are the domain of lower-middle class, student and renters market (not that there's anything wrong with that). But it does change the tone of the show over time.

Neighbours casting director Jan Russ will talk to TV Tonight this Tuesday between 5 - 6pm on JOY 94.9 Read more...

Intruder Zach

This is Zach, 24, a Victorian corset maker who will enter the Big Brother house tonight as an Intruder.

He is described as a drama queen who loves attention and doesn't take criticism well. According to the Herald-Sun, friends say he is "condescending", "sly" and "tough as Tonka".

He will be joined by WA mother, Michelle, 33, described as "woman out of control" whose pet hate is being told she's loud and annoying.

On the subject of Intruders, what impact did the last two have on housemates?

Meanwhile one of the new UK BB males has also told housemates he is gay.

Big Brother Watch
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Sneak Peek: Viva Laughlin

Here's a look at Viva Laughlin the American version of Viva Blackpool.

In the clip you'll see Hugh Jackman singing the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil." Nine has the rights to air this in Oz, which it should do in 2008.



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