Mary on leave

SBS World News Australia presenter Mary Kostakidis is taking six weeks leave from Tuesday April 17.

Stan Grant will remain in the chair to be joined by either Janice Petersen or Amrita Cheema.

Kostakidis will return from Tuesday May 29.

The announcement follows speculation that there was more to her absence following stories earlier this year that she was unhappy with some of the changes to the SBS News.

Following an earlier post on this site (now deleted) that asked if her absence was related to earlier grumblings, an SBS spokesperson told me there were no conspiracy theories.

SBS has advised the 6 week vacation is for personal reasons and she will return to the desk to resume normal duties.

SBS Amendment:

Weeks 16, 17 & 18, 2007
Monday - Friday:

6:30 pm DELETE: World News Australia - …with Mary Kostakidis, Stan Grant and sport with Janice Petersen.

6:30 pm INSERT: World News Australia - … with Stan Grant and Janice Petersen. Read more...

Big Brother watch

Original Housemates:
Aleisha, 20 (VIC) Winner
* Andrew, 29 (VIC) Evicted
Bodie, 24 (WA) Evicted.
Emma, 24 (NSW) Evicted
* Hayley, 24 (VIC) Evicted
Jamie, 29 (VIC) Evicted
Joel, 24 (SA) Evicted
Kate, 25 (VIC) Evicted.
Rebecca, 23 (QLD) Evicted
Theresa-Jane (TJ), 22, (NT) Evicted.
Thomas, 27, (WA) Evicted
Travis, 32 (VIC) Evicted

* boyfriend / girlfriend

Additional Housemates:
Susannah, 30 (VIC) Evicted
Zoran, 23 (QLD) Evicted
# Billy, 23 (NSW) Evicted
Nick 25 (Vic) Golden Key winner. Evicted.

Intruders:
Danielle Evicted
Laura Evicted
Zach Runner Up
Michelle Evicted

White Room:
Cruz, 23 (QLD) (took $750 and quit)
Demet, 25 (VIC) (enters the House) Evicted
Harrison, 20 (NSW) (out)
Kara, 18 (NSW) (out)

Prize Money: $450,000

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

bigbrother.com.au
http://www.behindbigbrother.com/ Read more...

Dancing: so where's the twist?

When Seven announced the sixth series of Dancing with the Stars earlier this year there were two new elements to the show. One was disco.

The other was a "surprise twist."

So where is it?

In fairness perhaps it is still coming. Or perhaps, as has been hinted to me by those behind the scenes, it may no longer be coming at all. Hmmmm.

Here's the line from the Seven Press Release on Jan 31:
For the first time ever disco will be added to the dance styles performed and there will be a big twist during the series for the celebrities.

In the last series of the UK original Strictly Come Dancing the celebrities were in uproar over a plan to bring back an eliminated dancer. Apparently Producers didn't proceed with this idea. But could it be a tactic planned for the Aussie version?

The twist can't be a double elimination either, because it would offset the timeline of the planned Grand Final in May.

Ratings for Dancing with the Stars have been low compared to series 2, 3 and 4 but many series are finding a generally lower rating in 2007. DWTS remains a number one rating show for Seven.

Perhaps the remaining celebrities had better start learning the Twist quick smart. It may be the only way producers can explain away a change of heart.

Kibldy credit this website when posting in other messageboards, thanks.
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Vale: Kevin Crease

Legendary Adelaide newsreader Kevin Crease has died of cancer, aged 71.

Crease was the first face to appear on Adelaide television in 1959.

He continued on air for 48 years, retiring in February this year.

He had been reading Nine's Adelaide News since 1987.

Full story.
Read more...

Aussie crew in Real World wage fight

MTV's ultimate reality show, The Real World has come under fire by the Media and Entertainment Alliance of Australia for failing to pay its crew enough.

The series is shooting in Sydney at the moment but is paying its Aussie crew members via Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) while the American crew receive MPPA rates, which are recognised by all other Aussie productions.

Some crew members are paid less than $15 an hour.

The series, which has been in production since 1992, is a fore-runner to Big Brother and houses a bunch of frat-house kids in a house together and watches them interact. Unlike BB the participants are not confined to the household. MTV practically invented the reality genre via this show and Cops.

The Sydney shoot is the third time the series has travelled outside the US.

According to the MEAA:

"Australian crew on this production, if they sign the AWAs, will have lost all entitlements to normal working conditions on set such as -

• Night loadings
• Higher duty allowances
• Public Holiday pay
• Saturday and Sunday loadings
• Overtime being paid at double time or triple time
• Turn around times
• Any travel, accommodation or per diem allowances
• Safety code"

More info. Read more...

Thu Apr 12

[Nine/7:30pm] Getaway.

[Nine/8:30pm] Missing Persons Unit. Series return.

[Nine/9:30pm] The Footy Show.

[ABC/8:30pm] Thanks For The Memories. Heart transplant recipients experience remarkable changes in their lives as they inherit the memories, habits and desires of their donors.
[ABC/9:25pm] Big Enough. In this intimate portrait, several dwarfs who appeared in Jan Krawitz and Thomas Ott's 1982 film, Little People, welcome the camera into their lives once again.

[Seven/8:00pm] My Name is Earl. BORN A GAMBLIN' MAN. Earl tackles number 146 on his list. He decides to make a ton of bologna sandwiches for Kenny because he stole them from him in school when they were kids. While delivering the sandwiches, Earl moves onto a new mission, to teach Kenny how to gamble. Joy goes to group therapy for her anger management issues. Guest starring MARLEE MATLIN.
[Seven/8:30pm] Lost. NOT IN PORTLAND. Jack is in command as the fate of Ben's life literally rests in his hands. Kate and Sawyer find an ally in one of 'The Others'. Juliet makes a shocking decision that could endanger her standing with her people.
[Seven/9:30pm] The Amazing Race. New Series. I Told You Less Martinis And More Cardio. Reuniting some of the most memorable, entertaining and controversial teams from previous seasons, who will travel more than 45,000 miles, span five continents in 28 days - battling the best of the best for their second attempt at the million dollar prize. Hosted by PHIL KEOGHAN
[Seven/10:30pm] Family Guy. BARELY LEGAL. Due to a sudden shortage of police officers in Quahog, Joe is forced to recruit Peter and his buddies into the Police Academy. Brian feels sorry for Meg when she can't get a prom date so he agrees to take her, resulting in a 'fatal attraction' type crush of the most inappropriate kind. With the voices of SETH MACFARLANE, ALEX BORSTEIN, SETH GREEN and MILA KUNIS.
[Seven/11:00pm] Con. Premiere. SKI DAY Con artist SKYLAR STONE demonstrates his unique talent by navigating his way through life, for free! Hollywood movie premieres, getting out of a parking ticket, scoring a burger for free or scamming a free makeover. You can only guess where he'll turn up next.
[Seven/11:30pm] Stargate Atlantis. THE HIVE. McKay attempts to rescue Sheppard, Teyla and Ronon from the Wraith hive ship that Ford wanted to sabotage and destroy. Starring JOE FLANIGAN, TORRI HIGGINSON, RACHEL LUTTRELL, DAVID HEWLETT, PAUL MCGILLION and JASON MOMOA.

[SBS/7:35pm] Inspector Rex - No Kissing The Police - When Marc discovers that the sexy roller-blading female he has been pursuing is his new colleague, things get a little bit sticky. However, they will need to combine both their professional and personal relationships in order to solve the latest murder case. (From Austria, in German with English subtitles) (Drama Series) PG CC
[SBS/8:30pm] The Eagle: A Crime Odyssey – Codename: Ares - The enriched uranium seized by the Copenhagen police is enough to make a small bomb. Once again Sergei has the answers that Hallgrim and his team seek. Hallgrim tries to lure the information from him, promising him extradition to Russia if he assists with the investigation. Meanwhile, Frandsen’s life hangs in the balance as he is checked for radiation sickness. (From Denmark, in Danish with English subtitles) (Drama Series) (Part 5) M (A,V) CC WS
[SBS/10:05pm] VH1 Illustrated - This animated sketch-comedy takes delight in sending up celebrities and American politicians. In tonight's episode the Time Pervs visit the future and Axl Rose gets a new job at McDougals 2. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) MA (L,A,S) CC

[Ten/7:30pm] Jamie At Home
[Ten/8:30pm] Law & Order: S.V.U. Rpt.
[Ten/9:30pm] Law & Order: Criminal Intent Rpt

[31/10:30pm] Studio Q. Interviews with several community groups active in Victoria, including CAN (Country Awareness Network), The Matrix Guild, The Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus (and the youth chorus), The Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force, and The Melbourne Rainbow Band. The groups give a run-down on what they do, the services they offer, and what their objectives are for their involvement with the queer community.

[Ovation/10:30pm] Elaine Stritch at Liberty
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