Mon Mar 5

[SBS/7:30pm] Top Gear. Behind the Scenes Jimmy Carr takes us on a tour of the presenters and producers offices, focusing on the disorganisation, untidiness and casual approach of cast and crew. Jeremy tests the AUDI RS4 in the south of France by racing two mountain climbers to the top of a 1200-foot-high cliff, but he has to take a 60-mile route while the two climbers tackle the cliff without safety ropes. We also have a look at the Ford Transit van on its 40th birthday. Jeremy tests his speed in a Porsche in the Eastmere army base in Norfolk. Jeremy will drive the car around the village while an elite eight-man sniper squad from the Irish Guard tries to shoot him, using laser beams instead of real bullets. (From the UK, in English) PG CC WS

[SBS/9:00pm] Drawn Together – Terms Of Endearment – In tonight’s episode, Captain Hero enjoys spying on his roommates in the bathroom using his X-ray vision. Unfortunately, the radiation from his X-ray vision is so powerful; it makes one of the roommates very ill. Distraught and guilt ridden, he attempts to give up his super powers. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) MA (A,S) CC WS

[ABC/8:00pm] Australian Story. Craig Lowndes is motor racing’s young triple crown champion. His trademark has been his wide winning smile and easy-going nature. But rivals insist that the smile masks a tough, fearless and competitive nature.

[ABC/8:30pm] Four Corners. Who’s tough on crime? It’s an election season ritual: the law and order auction to see which party will put more cops on the streets or increase sentences or build more jails.As the stakes are raised in the law and order debate, billions of dollars are fed each year into a nationwide prison boom that’s seen the captive population nearly double in a decade. But could there be a relatively cheap and cost-effective way to stop prisoners reoffending?

[ABC/9:20pm] Media Watch. Australia's leading forum for media analysis and comment hosted by multi-award winning broadcaster, Monica Attard.

[ABC/9:35pm] Difference Of Opinion. Australians are working some of the longest hours in the world, but at what cost? Are we working too hard, at the expense of our health, our families and personal happiness?

[Seven/7:30pm] The Rich List. How many animals beginning with the letter 'A' can you list? In the first of its kind, test your skills against the contestants in this addictive list game where limitless amounts of money can be won. Hosted by ANDREW O'KEEFE.

[Seven/8:30pm] Desperate Housewives. Angry Spoilt Danielle makes a half-hearted attempt to suicide, which Bree takes seriously. Hello, she was slashing her wrists with a spoon. Carlos has another woman over, so Gabby brings a guy over. He’s a fake. But then she brings home A HUNK. Pity all he does is lay there shirtless for sixty seconds. Susan wheelchairs Mike down Wisteria Lane to jog his memory. Oh and is his nurse that girl from Dobie Gillis?

[Seven/9:30pm] Brothers and Sisters. Date Night. In an effort to move on following William's death, Nora's date with a younger man is marred by several surprises. Kitty decides to go on a very awkward double-date with Jonathan and Warren, and Kevin connects with Scotty on their date together. Special guest star TREAT WILLIAMS.

[Seven/10:30pm] Boston Legal. Desperately Seeking Shirley. Alan shocks the firm when he decides to represent Ivan Tiggs, as he sues Shirley for creating an iron-clad pre-nup in his marriage to Missy. Jeffrey Coho continues his unethical practices, determined to discover the truth behind the murder of Judge Hooper. Denny Crane comes to an agreement with Bethany. Special guest star TOM SELLECK. Also starring WILLIAM SHATNER, CANDICE BERGEN, JAMES SPADER.

[Seven/12:30am Tue] Huff. A Cornfield Grows In L.A. Huff and Beth end up getting into a major fight at their therapist's office. Teddy and Alyssa's relationship begins to heat up. Special Guest Star ANJELICA HUSTON. Also starring HANK AZARIA, PAGET BREWSTER, OLIVER PLATT, BLYTHE DANNER and ANTON YELCHIN.

[Nine/8:35pm] 1 vs 100
[Nine/9:35pm] CSI NY. “Charge of this Post.” 2006 Season Finale.

[Ten/6:30pm] Neighbours. Rosie and Pepper learn that others know about their kiss. And watch for the badly staged pool accident at the end.
[Ten/7:00pm] The Biggest Loser.
[Ten/8:00pm] Bondi Rescue.
[Ten/8:30pm] Supernatural. "Crossroad Blues"

[Showtime/8:30pm] Love My Way.
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Returning: Scrubs. Repeating: Mile High.

Those crazy interns at Scrubs are about to return to our screens.

Seven will air the sixth series from 11:30pm Monday March 12.

The comedy is still in production in the US in a prime 9pm timeslot.

One of the episodes this series is staged almost entirely as a musical with songs written by the Broadway composers of "Avenue Q."

And Mile High is getting a rerun too.

From 12:30am on the evening of Tuesday March 13 (ok technically that's actually Wed morning) @ Seven.
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Adam for Logies gig?

Adam Hills is being mooted as a possible Logies host. The Sunday Mail says he has emerged as a front runner given that Eddie and Bert are likely to be ruled out as possible contenders.

Hills currently fronts the popular Spicks and Specks on the ABC and had a backstage role in the 2005 ceremony. His name is being put forward given Nine couldn't possibly draw upon a Seven or TEN personality. Admittedly Hills is a great talent, and a name I should have added to our Logies Host poll on this very site.

But what sort of message would offering the gig to Hills send out? The "still the one" network doesn't have anybody capable of hosting? I don't agree. I think there's a way Nine can turn a negative into a positive. The job should go to...

Kerry-Anne Kennerley!

If Bert isn't given the job Nine should announce give the job to a female. Kennerley works well live, and let's face it she's kitsch enough for a kitsch night.

She's also been a frequent nominee for the Gold.

Last year was rightly John Wood's year.

I vote 2007 marks a push for the KAKster. And let her sing the opening number goddamit! "I lurrrrrve yewwwwwwwwwwww"
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Pat the Rat back?

Gold Logie winner Rowena Wallace, best known as "Pat the Rat" in Sons and Daughters is joining Neighbours.

Wallace will have a 2 month stint as "Mad Mary" on screen from April.

There's certainly been a shortage of mature female characters in Erinsborough since the exit of Lynne (Janet Andrewartha). Poor Susan (Jackie Woodburne) has been left to carry the matriarch role almost single-handedly while a swathe of young lookalike blondes pad out the female roles.

Wallace was in the news not so long ago for defrauding Centrelink of $30,000 in benefits she has since paid. She received a six-month suspended jail sentence with a two-year good behaviour bond.

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Mind the gap. Seven's win narrows.

Once again Seven has taken out the ratings week, but with a slimmer lead over Nine.

Seven won Week 9 with a 29.6% share to Nine's 27.4% and TEN's 21.3%.

The ABC had 16.7% and SBS 5.0%.

Seven's win was again led by Ugly Betty which dipped from it's strong opening to 1.8m. Several of Seven's strongest shows were heading south rather than north. After it's lowest-ever premiere Dancing With the Stars fell to 1.72m, but it was still strong enough to be the week's second best show. Heroes (1.21m) was beaten by House (1.5m) and Lost (1.15m) was beaten by Missing Persons Unit (1.35m). It shows the American dramas are vulnerable, particularly those that are deemed "slow burners". And Seven's favourite Border Security packages had it's final week with a strong 1.6m.

Nine won two nights, Monday thanks to the Oscars and it's strengthening Thursdays. But Nine still has problems with it's post-7:30 shows. 1.1m seems to be a popular result amongst many of its stable programmes. 20 to 1 looks particularly wobbly. Last week Nine also dropped another clip show Kings of Comedy after only two weeks. It is ironic that Nine's strongest show, RPA (1.5m) is scheduled late in the evening at 9:30pm when bigger shows are generally slated early to build flow-on audiences. The show has one more episode before the return of The Footy Show, unlikely to attract the same figures.

TEN's schedule is far from ideal, although it can take comfort from the strength of House which seems to have lost momentum to Heroes only briefly. The Con Test has also grown modestly over three weeks, but has a lot of building to do. It is still languishing in figures that matched Yasmine's Getting Married. What is the network to do when it's rising? A confusing message. And where oh where is Thank God You're Here? If only TEN could programme the American version which kicks off in early April. The Biggest Loser is holding well against other 7pm shows and so is Medium.

1 Ugly Betty Seven 1,881,000
2 Dancing With The Stars Seven 1,726,000
3 Grey's Anatomy Seven 1,683,000
4 Border Security (Rpt) Seven 1,606,000
5 House Ten 1,506,000
6 RPA Nine 1,505,000
7 SCU: Serious Crash Unit Seven 1,478,000
8 Seven News Sunday Seven 1,432,000
9 Australia's Got Talent Seven 1,426,000
10 All Saints Seven 1,381,000

Daily breakdown here. Read more...