First Review: The Biggest Loser

I must admit I was never a big follower of The Biggest Loser and I'm probably not likely to be again. It's just a concept I don't care for, but clearly plenty of Aussies do. The show was a surprise hit for Ten in 2006, and I for one doubted they could wring nightly storylines from what was previously a weekly show.

My personal taste doesn't mean I can't give a fair appraisal of this debut episode of Series Two. Because in fact, it's actually very good.

Minor spoilers follow. Here again are fourteen chubbies (sorry there just isn't any other way to say it when the show keeps focussing on their physique). Their personal stories are uniformly heart-tugging stuff. Lost a marriage. Ridiculed in public. Can't hold down a relationship. Or even fearing they are at death's door. This is not just an aspirational show, it's an empathetic one. There' a bit of us in all (?) of them. We'd all secretly like to look better.

It's also much nicer to see non-celebrities here. As their personalities emerge there is more to learn, unlike celebs who only share in dribs and drabs.

After the 14 arrive at the White House, the American style mansion that will be home for 11 weeks, they are whisked off to a feast. And what a feast. It's like a kids party and dinner party all in one, bursting with donuts, chocolate, chicken, lasagna, fairy bread, hot dogs etc. I couldn't believe this lot all sat down and gorged. Don't they know what show they are on? Where was the self-control? In any case they did exactly what the producers wanted. They looked like pigs.

After the weigh in (and a humiliating near-naked time for all on camera) they are divided into teams and given two Aussie trainers. That's right it's not the Americans. Yet. The Aussie male instructor, "Shannon," actually surpasses "Bob" as resident hunk. Expect to hear more about him.

The production values on this premiere are excellent. Nice camera shots, moody music, building of drama. This doesn't look el cheapo Ten at all.

I don't promise to watch every night, but I may well pop back from time to time based on this premiere.
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Thu Jan 25

[ABC/9:30pm] The Archive Project. The Realist Film Unit in Cold War Australia… A foundational moment in Australian independent film is explored through Melbourne's Realist film movement and the cultural cold war of the late 1940s and early 1950s. The Melbourne Realists were 'activist' filmmakers supporting labour movement, housing and peace campaigns. They introduced Australian audiences to world cinema at a time when cinema screens were dominated by the US and UK film industries. Their work was crucial to the emergence of film festivals in Melbourne and Sydney.

[Ten/7:30pm] Australia Day Live '07. The annual Australia Day Live concert on the lawns of Federation Mall in Canberra again delivers a stellar line-up featuring some of Australia’s best known musicians. Hosted by Gretel Killeen with performances onstage by The Whitlams, Guy Sebastian, Bobby Flynn, TV Rock and many more. TEN will be on its best behaviour after the NYE party. And is this where we see Dicko and Damien Leith naturalised? Maybe they should just call it Pommy Bastard Idol?

[SBS/10:00pm] Dogville Confessions – This documentary, directed by Sami Saif, is a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the creation of Lars von Trier’s drama Dogville (screening on SBS Television on Wednesday, 24 January at 10pm) starring Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgård, Ben Gazzara, Lauren Bacall and James Caan. This film combines exclusive interviews with footage shot on location in winter covered Sweden, as well as footage from specially made confessional boxes as seen in Catholic churches. In these ‘boxes of truth’ all the actors, along with von Trier talked, cried, laughed, sung and confessed directly to a camera during the whole shooting process. This documentary contains deleted scenes from the feature film, a look inside the mind and character of von Trier, Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany and other actors, and the many problems and successes that were encountered. (From Denmark, in English and Danish, English subtitles) (Documentary) M (A,S) CC WS

[SBS/11:00pm] Cult Movie: Baron Blood – (ORRORI DEL CASTELLO DI NORIMBERGA GLI) – The curse of a witch allows a bloodthirsty baron to be brought back to life by his misguided descendant. Directed by Mario Bava and stars Joseph Cotton, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girotti. (From Italy, in Italian, English subtitles) (Horror) (1972) MA (H,V,A) (Rpt) WS

[SBS/12:45am Fri] Movie: PTU. From director Johnnie TO, winner of best director at the Hong Kong Film Festival in 1999 for The Mission. This thriller follows the Police Tactical Unit (PTU) during one night in Hong Kong’s Tsimshatsui district. The portly sergeant of the Crime Squad, (nicknamed Fat Sergeant) snubs the local punks in a steamboat café and is teased by members of the gang lead by Ponytail. He is lured into a back lane and is beaten up and in the commotion he loses his gun. Since he is due for a promotion, he wants this to be covered up until he retrieves his gun from the gang. He suspects that it has been taken by the followers of Ponytail, whom he met at the cafe. In trying to retrieve his gun, Fat Sergeant unwittingly leads the PTU into a gangland battle that endures throughout the night. Stars Simon Yam, Suet Lam and Ruby Wong. (From Hong Kong, in Cantonese, English subtitles) (Thriller) (2003) MA (V,A) (Rpt) WS

[Movie Extra/10:30pm] Movie: Mysterious Skin.

[31/10:30pm] Studio Q. Bent Bingo pt 2. Rpt. Read more...

Foxtel gets Young & Restless

Foxtel wasted no time in nabbing The Young and the Restless after the Nine Network decided to let the show go.

Nine has had to make way for The Catch-Up and has ended 31 years of soap glory. The loss of the long running drama will be followed by the exit of Dr Phil after the shift of some CBS programmes to TEN.

Australian actor Daniel Goddard recently hit the screens in the US this month with Y&R.;

Better hope The Catch-Up really works, I guess.... Read more...

Judge rules Chaser not funny

A Sydney magistrate has ruled The Chaser's Chas Licciardello was only joking when he tried to sell fake weaponry at a Sydney football match. She threw the case out of court. But she also didn't find the joke very funny adding,"The fact that for some people the joke wasn't to their liking doesn't prove that it was offensive."

So it's official. The Chaser isn't very funny. Try telling that to a fairly big, sniggering audience.

The Chaser also got a lot of attention for continually popping up in group shots at the Logies, including even participating in an acceptance moment. And then there were those prank boarding calls for 'Mr Al Kyder and Mr Terry Wrist" at a Sydney airport.

But the best was test-roading the chihuhaha in the handbag on the car roof and showing Jackie O the remains. They oughta be locked up for making me laugh so much.
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