BB's full house twist

This weekend Big Brother 7 famously kicks off. As usual it is recorded on Saturday evening for broadcast on the Sunday -despite Channel Ten toying with the word "LIVE" in its guide. Frankly it's about as live as an episode of Bert's Family Feud. Pre-record means pre-record.

The Sunday papers will no doubt have leaks on the show, partly driven by publicists and partly as ambush journalism.

Once again the first nominations are on Monday week, meaning the Sunday episode on April 29 needs an idea to keep the show fresh. There is no eviction this night.

So TEN has a twist in mind...

That episode will be as follows:

Sunday 7:30pm April 29
Big Brother: Full House
Big Brother has introduced you to the housemates, but just one week in, who would have thought he'd pull this trick! A special episode of Big Brother that will make you realise that he means business.

It doesn't take much to see that one of the first twists in BB's master plan will be revealed in this episode. However, maybe this is just where he tells them there is no cash prize.

Big Brother watch

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Axe hovers over Law & Order

Dick Wolf, creator of Law and Order is trying to save two of the franchise shows from the axe in the US.

Wolf is trying to trim costs from the two shows to stop them from going under. At least one of them is unlikely to survive.

Law & Order: SVU is in no danger.

NBC, which has had its lowest networks ratings ever, is set to make a decision next month when it announces its new fall line-up.

According to this story Criminal Intent is the most-likely candidate for the chop. Read more...

Pirate Daddo's big gig

Cameron Daddo has won a plum role as the host of Pirate Master, the new reality series from Survivor / Apprentice mastermind, Mark Burnett.

In the series 16 contestants will live on a 179-foot-square rigger for 33 days while they search for buried treasure totalling $1 million.

Burnett is promising mutinies, castaways, walking the plank and dastardly tricks "Watch your back," he says. "Pirates have their own rules, and while they need to work as a group on the expeditions, you never know who's going to stab you in the back."

Daddo seems to be playing himself in a trailer preview, with his Aussie accent intact.

Guess this means Nine's With Friends Like These is put on hold?

It premieres May 31st on CBS in summer sweeps.

You can find the trailer on this website.
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Isaiah bows out of Emmy race

No surprises here, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is pulling out of Emmy contention, by not submitting himself for nomination.

All other cast members are.

After his homophobic behaviour on-set and his dubious comments at the Golden Globes, clearly the actor knows when to lay low.

But when will producers write him out?

With its predominantly-female audience his character will struggle to be seen sympathetically.

Washington's remarks caused actor T.R. Knight to out himself late last year.

Meanwhile in an attempt to rebuild bridges, Washington will play the role of a sexually-abused priest in the indie film The Least of These.

Story.
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ITV in pitch for Neighbours

Britain's ITV is trying to poach Neighbours from the BBC.

It has offered up to £20m. At £80,000 an episode this is four times the current amount paid to Fremantle Media. Word is the deal is just about done.

Injecting some cash into the show would be fantastic, because as we all know it's a bit light on for production values. Local producers have to make a little go a long way, and lately it's been looking pretty tired.

Neighbours could probably justify being produced for international markets alone, and doesn't depend on the Aussie audience. In the UK it attracts 7m viewers (which admittedly is a long way from its glory days).

Full story. Read more...