Returning: The Wedge

Sketch comedy show The Wedge will return to TEN from Sunday September 16.

The show will be moved to the later timeslot of 10:25pm.

The series was recently rested following low ratings returns, but is still of value to TEN for its local content quota points.

These are available to networks which screen first-run scripted drama or comedy between 6pm and midnight, including Aussie films.

TEN will also air the movie Kenny and a Making Of show on the evening of Wednesday 19th September. Read more...

Airdate: Rain Shadow

Rachel Ward is to feature in a new telemovie set against the backdrop of the Australian drought for ABC TV.

Rain Shadow will depict Ward as a veterinarian with an attitude, who is at odds with her new assistant played by Victoria Thane.

The story takes place in the small farming community of Paringa, SA, and was shot south-east of Adelaide. The ABC claims "Rain Shadow is a story that resonates with the situation presently faced by farming people all across Australia, and tells the strong personal story of hope and renewal."

It screens Sunday October 7 at 8:30pm.

Press Release:

Dr Kate McDonald (Rachel Ward) is married to the small farming community of Paringa, where she’s been the vet for 15 years. For most of that time she’s been hiding a secret, and as a result, refuses to allow anyone to get close to her. Needless to say, she has problems keeping an assistant, something she desperately needs.

Kate’s newest assistant, Dr Jill Blake (Victoria Thaine), is 24 and keen to widen her veterinary experience with farm animals. She’s ‘by the book’, enthusiastic, and ready to try new techniques.

But it doesn’t take her long to realise that she’s made a huge mistake in leaving the city for Paringa. Her boss is the rudest person she’s ever met and Paringa is not exactly the idyllic country town of her dreams. Somehow, these two opinionated women must find a way to come to terms with each other and the difficulties they encounter in supporting the failing district and Kate’s overstretched veterinary practice.

In the community, well established farmers face ruin as they gamble on re-stocking and re-development. The prolonged drought creates emotional and financial strain on families and people are leaving the land because of financial failure, or because they cannot take any more. As the economic future of the district moves towards crisis, Jill, young, idealistic and direct, becomes increasingly aware that Kate’s stoicism and determination mask the emotionally consumptive effects of a tragic past life.

Rain Shadow is a story that resonates with the situation presently faced by farming people all across Australia, and tells the strong personal story of hope and renewal. The series is set in a dry-land farming area, marginal at the best of times, and struggling after 12 years of drought and in the face of climate change.

Rain Shadow was filmed in the dry country south-east of Adelaide , which is in a natural rain shadow, and has a 150-year-old farming culture similar to the one presented by the story.

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Number 4 for Australia's Next Top Model

Foxtel has announced it is greenlighting a fourth series of Australia's Next Top Model for 2008.

Jodhi Meares will return as host along with the judging panel of Charlotte Dawson, Alex Perry and Jez Smith, and stylist Jonathan Pease. The show has been a growing hit for Foxtel, as well as proving one of the darlings of the media set. Tantrums on the show have made for good gossip column copy.

It has been so successful that TEN has jumped on the bandwagon airing the American series with host Tyra Banks -but these episodes have already aired on subscription TV long before free to air.

A search for new contestants will start later in the year.

Press Release:

FOXTEL today announced its most successful local production, Australia’s Next Top Model, will return for a fourth series in 2008.

Fashion icon Jodhi Meares will return to host one of the most-talked about shows on Australian television.

Produced by Granada Productions exclusively for FOX8, Australia’s Next Top Model is a reality series that chronicles the transformation of everyday young Australian women into potential supermodels as they are initiated into the high-stress, high-stakes, high-profile world of fashion and modelling. The format is based on supermodel Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model series which also premieres on FOX8.

The third series of Australia’s Next Top Model (airing March through June this year) became the highest rating general entertainment series ever on local subscription television.

Series three winner Alice Burdeu’s prize package included an eight page editorial shoot for Vogue Australia, however the prestigious magazine was so impressed with the results they elevated her to become the covergirl of the September issue – a first for Vogue and the Top Model franchise.

FOXTEL Executive Director of Television and Marketing Brian Walsh said: “Australia’s Next Top Model is a channel defining program and we are thrilled to commission another series for our viewers. It is the first of many exciting programs for FOXTEL’s 2008 production slate.

“When we first signed Jodhi as the host of series three she brought her own style, glamour and determination to be a mentor to the girls and, in doing so, she absolutely enhanced the hit factor of the series.

“We are also thrilled to be retaining last season’s judging panel of Charlotte Dawson, Alex Perry and Jez Smith, as well as stylist Jonathan Pease who was such an integral part of the success of series three.”

Tigerlily fashion designer and former model Jodhi Meares said: “Working on Australia’s Next Top Model has been a wonderful experience, allowing me to draw on my knowledge of the modelling and fashion industries and become part of a great television entertainment brand.

“I’m so proud of the girls who have learned from the opportunities we gave them via the show and I’m really looking forward to a fresh search for Australia’s Next Top Model.”

The nationwide audition tour to select the finalists for series four of Australia’s Next Top Model will commence later in the year, with principal production slated to commence over summer for a 2008 premiere on FOX8.

For further information on the new series of Australia’s Next Top Model, viewers can visit FOX8.tv Read more...

Chaser charged on APEC stunt

Those pesky Chaser boys have been at it again, this time creating a stunt during APEC which will see crew members charged with entering a restricted area without justification.

The ABC crew were part of an alleged breach of APEC security zones and will appear in a Sydney Court on October 4.

In a statement the ABC has said, "The Chaser team had no intention of entering the APEC restricted zone. Prior to being detained the Chaser team had no knowledge that they had entered a restricted zone. The motorcade proceeded down Macquarie Street with the permission of police. When the Chaser reached the perimeter of what they thought was the APEC restricted zone, they voluntarily turned around. The police only detained the Chaser motorcade when it was turning around and after Chas Licciardello emerged from a car dressed as Osama bin Laden."

This isn't the first time the comedy team has been in trouble for their pranks.

Previous stunts involving fake weaponry at a Sydney football game, and stunts challenging airport security have landed the team in hot water too.

Their show rated highly amongst viewers this week with nearly 1.5m viewers, as the ABC's best success story of 2007.

Source: Yahoo. Read more...