Amazing Race announces Series 12 teams

Here are the new teams in (Series 12) The Amazing Race which debuts in the US on November 4 following the demise of Viva Laughlin.

This season's teams include :
- Goth hair salon receptionists (that's them in pink, and yes one is actually male)
- Dating athletes
- Father and daughter Asian Americans
- 2 pretty blonde girls
- African American brother and sister engineers
- Grandson and Grandfather
- Lesbian Ministers.

No word on when Seven will air this series in Australia. It skipped Series 10 in favour of Series 11, the "All-Stars" edition.

One of my favourite interviews is still one I did with host Phil Keoghan, suitably as he was rushing to Tullamarine airport!

More info: Amazing Race official Possible spoilers.
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Stand Up too

Cameron Knight will host a second series of Stand Up Australia for the Comedy Channel, Foxtel has announced.

In a new format featuring four comedians, the series will be filmed in South Yarra's Moser Room and screen from Sat December 1st at 10:30pm.

Acts will include Scared Weird Little Guys, Fiona O’Loughlin, Tom Gleeson, Charlie Pickering, Lawrence Mooney, Lawrence Leung and Josh Thomas.

Press Release:

FOXTEL today announced the second series of the popular local comedy series, STAND UP AUSTRALIA, a one-hour feature on Saturday nights on THE COMEDY CHANNEL from December 1.

The home grown 37-episode series will return in a new timeslot on Saturday at 10.30pm and will be recorded at a new atmospheric location - the Moser Room in the inner-city of suburb of Melbourne, South Yarra .

THE COMEDY CHANNEL’s resident stand-up comedian, Cameron Knight, returns as host of the second series, which will also boast a new format featuring four performances each episode from the finest local and international stand up and musical comedians.

STAND UP AUSTRALIA series two will see performances from well-known and renowned comedians including the Scared Weird Little Guys, Fiona O’Loughlin, Tom Gleeson, Charlie Pickering and Lawrence Mooney. Plus recent award winners Lawrence Leung (Critic’s Choice Award MICF 2007) and Josh Thomas (Best Newcomer MICF 2007).

The format will give both big names and new faces an opportunity to perform their routines to a national television audience. It’s the stand up show that stand up’s watch.

The series is being produced in-house and will be overseen by Graham Burrells, FOXTEL’s Head of Entertainment." The first series of STAND UP AUSTRALIA provided both viewers and the talent with a wonderful comedic outlet, but with the new location, format and timeslot in series two, it will be even better,” Mr Burrells said.

STAND UP AUSTRALIA’s first record will be on November 12. Read more...

60 Minutes interviews dam death mum

60 Minutes will interview Cindy Gambino, the mother of three boys killed when their father drove them into a Victorian dam on Father's Day.

Peter Overton will talk to the former wife of Robert Farquharson, who was found guilty of murder on three counts. His plea hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.

But Gambino believes her former husband is innocent, and likens what she sees as a miscarriage of justice to the Lindy Chamberlain case.

Gambino has also told her story to Woman's Day in a story published this week. She declined to comment on whether she had been paid for the press interview.

Woman's Day is part of the PBL magazine brands.

Press Release:

Just watching the family's home movies is enough to break your heart. There they are – Jai, Tyler and Bailey, the three little boys. So carefree, so innocent. Now, they're dead. Murdered by their own father. This is the story of that terrible crime. Why a desperate man drove his car into a dam on Fathers' Day two years ago and drowned his sons. It's also the story of a grieving mother, still living her own personal nightmare, unable to accept what happened that night. This Sunday, Cindy Gambino reveals the dreadful truth – how jealousy and revenge destroyed her family.

60 Minutes airs 7:30pm Sunday on Nine.
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Rove finds romance again

Rove McManus has found romance again in actress Tasma Walton, according to his manager Kevin Whyte.

"It's still early days and we hope people will give them the space they need," he said in a statement.

Walton, a former regular on Blue Heelers, is believed to have been dating McManus for six weeks says the Daily Telegraph, but the Herald-Sun puts the friendship at four months.

The actress who last appeared in Nine's Little Oberon telemovie is spending time writing and has an acting gig on a US film.

UPDATED: "The couple are not living together in McManus' Richmond home, as has been reported, although Walton did reportedly move to Melbourne at the end of September for a script-writing job." -Kevin Whyte.

Photo: NineMSN
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Secret Life actor 'assaulted stranger'

Actor Sam Johnson will plead guilty to an assault charge laid after an incident at a Star City Casino in September.

Johnson is undergoing treatment for alcohol abuse, his lawyer told a Sydney court today.

A bar brawl he was involved with was a case of "mistaken identity" he said.

Police allege Johnson "launched" himself at a stranger before repeatedly punching him. He allegedly stomped on the head of the man .

Johnson contacted police the next day and admitted, "I kicked him in the head". He is said to have completed a seven-day alcohol rehabilitation in a Victorian hospital the week before.

He also contacted the Herald-Sun to admit of his mistake.

"My behaviour was completely unacceptable, I am disgusted with myself and I am genuinely sorry," Johnson said.

"I reacted badly when I should have walked away. I just wish I had walked away.

"I just wanted to put my hand up and take responsibility for my actions, out of respect for all the people who have shown me support over the years."

Johnson is known to have taken the death of his former partner heavily.

The former Secret Life of Us actor last appeared as host of SBS' Bluelist Australia series in June.

The case was adjourned until November 1.

Additional source: The Age Read more...

Kelsey Grammer sitcom greenlighted

Kelsey Grammer's new sitcom Back To You is the latest series to win a full season in the US.

Grammer appears alongside Patricia Heaton as squabbling news co-anchors. Under Exec Producer James Burrows it is a traditional sitcom with a live audience, something of a rarity nowadays. FOX's approval takes the series run to 24 eps.

It will air in Australia on the TEN Network.

Meanwhile, Samantha Who? has been given another 6 eps from ABC, a good sign it will win a full series. Starring Christina Applegate as a woman with amnesia, it is due to air here on Seven.

Source: Yahoo
Yahoo Read more...

TEN snips Californication scene

The TEN Network has made an edit to next Monday's episode of Californication in order to meet classification rulings.

The episode "The Devil's Threesome" includes a sizzling sex scene between David Duchovny, Evan Handler and a female.

The actress plays a character the two men pick up at a gym, and is invited back to the boys' pad.

Spoilers and adult content follow.

In a subsequent scene, Charlie, played by Evan Handler wants to have sex with the girl, but she is more interested in Hank (David Duchovny), who typically isn't much into anything at the time. So Charlie coaxes the reluctant Hank into a threesome.

What unfolds in its original form is eye-popping television.

While the girl performs oral sex on Hank, Charlie is having intercourse with her from behind. But as Hank gets bored, the girl lays on him, legs in the air and an enthused Charlie drops to his knees to then perform oral sex on her.

She becomes so excited that she ejaculates right into Charlie's face -just as his wife and Hank's ex walk in the door. A stunned Charlie bursts into laughter.

Needless to say it's one of Californication's more up-front scenes.

TEN says it has been edited slightly to adhere to Australian Broadcasting Standards. The program is currently under investigation by ACMA following pressure from religious and family groups.

TEN advised the edit is a few seconds less than in its original form. "The editing that has been made will not affect the synopsis or the flow of the program. It was, however, essential in order to keep in line with the classification guidelines," a spokesperson said.

Don't say we didn't warn you.

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

ABC chases ratings

The ABC put in another solid Wednesday performance last night, with Spicks and Specks, The Chaser and Summer Heights High all winning their timeslots and taking out the top 3 positions of the night.

The Chaser was the top show of the evening with 1.64m viewers.

In Sydney the network was less than 1% away from being the top network of the night. In Melbourne it came fourth in a close tussle with the other three commercial networks.

The ABC was so thrilled with the wins, it even sent out a Press Release crowing about the figures.

This is despite the network continually dredging up the line that the ABC doesn't care about ratings. I guess sometimes they do.

Meanwhile, Nine actually managed to win the night followed by TEN and Seven.

Press Release:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT A WINNER FOR ABC TV

Last night ABC TV screened the top 3 programs.

* The Chaser's War on Everything (1.6 million)
* Spicks and Specks (1.5 million)
* Summer Heights High (1.5 million)

* All 3 programs won their timeslots across the five cities combined.

SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH
8 episodes on Wednesday at 9:30pm

* Last night's final episode achieved a peak audience of 1.5 million on 24th October with a People Share of 33.5%.

* Achieved a series average of 1.3 million with a people share of 30.1%.

* The series captured a 47% viewing share among high school aged students (13-17 years) and a share of 37.3% among people 0-39.

* This is the highest rating comedy in the Wednesday 9:30pm timeslot this year on ABC TV.

* Among ABC TV Programs 2007 ytd:

* Ranked No.1 among People 0-39 years and 13-17 years across the 5 cities.
* Ranked No. 4 among total people across the 5 cities.
* Ranked No.3 among total people in Sydney and Melbourne.

Ratings Week 43 Read more...

Viva sings one last time.

Hard to know what's behind a last minute move to screen the second -and final- episode of Viva Laughlin next Monday night.

Nine has decided to screen its remaining ep at 10:35pm.

Two days ago it was going with Extreme Makeover but not anymore.

So if you missed all the fuss, you can check it out for one night only!

At least Weeds is back the week after.
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Aussie actor gets Restless

Former Home and Away actor Daniel Goddard is about to hit Aussie screens as a regular in The Young and the Restless.

Goddard plays the "mysterious and handsome Australian bartender, Cane Ashby, who arrives in Genoa City looking for his birth mother."

His debut will screen at 12pm Thursday November 1st on the W Channel.

Goddard also appeared in BeastMaster and guest roles in Monk.

Press Release:

Australian actor DANIEL GODDARD will make his Australian debut on the hit daytime soap THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS on Thursday, November 1 at midday, exclusively on the W. channel.

Daniel plays the mysterious and handsome Australian bartender, Cane Ashby, who arrives in Genoa City looking for his birth mother.

A native of Sydney , Goddard studied at the Ensemble Actors Studio before landing the role of Eric Philips on ‘Home and Away’ in 1988, playing Isla Fisher’s love interest.

Goddard was then cast as ‘Dar’ in the internationally syndicated cult series ‘BeastMaster’ and has since guest starred on series including ‘Wild Card’ and ‘Monk’.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS revolves around the powerful Abbott and Newman families in Genoa City .

The show premiered on US television in 1973. It has consistently been the number one rating daytime drama all around the world and has notched up more than 50 Daytime Emmy® Awards.

The show premiered in Australia on the Nine Network in 1975 before moving to W. in 2007. Read more...

Ten joins Austar platform

Network TEN is joining the Austar platform.

It follows an agreement to broadcast via Foxtel earlier this year.

"We are delighted to join AUSTAR in giving their customers simple access to TEN's crystal clear SD digital signal and all the benefits of TEN's full integration into the AUSTAR EPG and soon to-launch MySTAR service," said CEO Grant Blackley.

Meanwhile, the Seven Network has been eyeing the purchase of Austar as a way of getting back into the subscription TV market.


Press Release:

AUSTAR is to carry Network Ten (TEN)'s digital signal in the metropolitan / regional "overlap" markets AUSTAR services when its new MySTAR service launches.

Through AUSTAR's set top units equipped with dual digital terrestrial tuners, customers will be able to view TEN's standard definition (SD) digital service seamlessly.

They will also have access to TEN's schedule and program details via AUSTAR's electronic program guide (EPG).

And, when it launches, TEN will enjoy full functionality on the MySTAR personal digital recorder.

TEN's chief executive officer, Grant Blackley, said this was a further example of TEN's determination to make it as easy as possible for viewers to access TEN's signal.

"This will further drive take-up of digital television," Mr Blackley commented.

"TEN has always supported the concept of dual tuner set top boxes, particularly in regional areas where there simply isn't enough satellite capacity to carry the various terrestrial television services.

"We are delighted to join AUSTAR in giving their customers simple access to TEN's crystal clear SD digital signal and all the benefits of TEN's full integration into the AUSTAR EPG and soon to-launch MySTAR service."

Mr Blackley added AUSTAR would carry TEN's High Definition (HD) multi-channel, TEN-HD, if AUSTAR introduces HD services in future.

AUSTAR will also carry any additional Standard Definition digital multi-channels TEN may launch from 2009.

TEN’s signal will be available to AUSTAR subscribers in the "overlap" markets AUSTAR services that form part of TEN's licence area.

In those markets, Channel Ten will be found at number 10 on AUSTAR's EPG; Southern Cross Ten will be found at number 5. Read more...

First Review: The Librarians

Despite losing Kath and Kim to Seven and adjusting to the axing of The Glass House, ABC comedies have never enjoyed such fervour. The Chaser, Summer Heights High and Spicks and Specks have given the commercial networks a regular Thursday morning migraine.

But they haven’t come without cost. Controversial content has also attracted their share of media furores.

Its new comedy The Librarians also dabbles with a few social hot potatoes, but with slightly less malice than from Ja’mie or Mr G. Unlike Chris Lilley’s dark mockumentary these are clearly actors doing schtick. Remember that.

Robyn Butler plays Frances O’Brien, Head Librarian at the Middleton Interactive Learning Centre. She rules with a firm hand, constantly reining in her inept staff. Delegation is a dirty word. O’Brien never gives her underlings enough rope to ruin her reputation. She is the queen of the upward inflection and the rhetorical question. With a smile through gritted teeth O’Brien feigns support and answers every query with more condescension than a pissed-off Centrelink Officer.

Her kooky collection of municipal manpower includes a petty crim on community service (Bob Franklin), a cheerful, wheelchair-bound young woman (Heidi Arena), a dyslexic (Josh Lawson), a Lebanese Muslim (Nicole Nabout) and a young, gay Asian Australian (Keith Brockett). Kim Gyngell and Roz Hammond also appear.

The mix of minorities facilitates plenty of offensive cliches falling from O’Brien’s mouth. I suppose if racism and ignorance is still prevalent out there, it’s fair material to be mocked and disempowered. Isn’t it?

The point here is that lip service with a smile undercuts with as much effect as blatant abuse.

Newcomer Keith Brockett is bright and breezy as the amusingly-dubbed ‘Ky Lee.’ He’s smart and efficient, a breath of fresh air amid Keystone Cop colleagues. Thankfully the early eps don’t take too much license with either Ky’s race or sexuality. But the constant physical comedy gags of Dawn’s clumsy wheelchair steering will tire fast.

The Librarians is predominantly light stuff, relying heavily on Butler (also the show’s co-writer and co-creator) to considerable success.

The plot is complicated by more flashbacks than the Dewey Decimal Classification could catalogue. But there are some laughs to be had if you don’t read too much into it.

The Librarians premieres 9:30pm Wednesday on ABC. Read more...

Break for Seven's Prison series explained

Last week TV Tonight told you that Prison Break's fasttracking would be paused, replaced with Criminal Minds. In the US, the FOX drama had 2 weeks off air.

I also told you that Las Vegas was finishing up in the Wednesday 8:30pm timeslot.

Now I can tell you that from Wed Nov 7 Criminal Minds will appear regularly at the 8:30pm timeslot. This makes it a twice-weekly drama for Seven.

Prison Break returns to screen on Nov 7.

Meanwhile there is talk of a spin-off series, based in a women's prison. Under the tentative title Prison Break: Cherry Hill it will feature a new female character introduced into the current season named "Molly."

It's a bit like the old Prisoner / Punishment days in Oz!

To read more about the spin-off, including possible spoilers, go here. Read more...