New Stars ready to Dance

Corrine Grant, Bridie Carter, Jessica Rowe, Mark Beretta and David Hobson are a few of the names Seven has announced for the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars.

One of the more interesting names is Patti Newton -why? Because it could effectively pit Patti versus Bert if Nine continues to air 20 to 1 on Tuesdays.

Others in the series include Ahn Do, Elka Graham, James Courtney and Michael Klim.

Both Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger are confirmed to return to hosting duties.

No airdate as yet, but expect it later this month.

Press Release:

The glamour, excitement and magic of the ballroom is back with the new series of the smash hit variety show DANCING WITH THE STARS - returning to Seven soon.

This seventh series will showcase the fancy footwork of ten diverse stars from the world of sport, comedy, acting, journalism, even opera....the ten celebrities will put their fancy footwork to the test in this live ballroom dancing competition.

All have the drive and motivation but do they have the dancing skill?

The celebrities lined up to take on the dance moves are:

- ANH DO Comedian
- BRIDIE CARTER Actor
- CORINNE GRANT Comedian/TV and radio Presenter
- DAVID HOBSON Opera Singer/composer
- ELKA GRAHAM Olympic swimmer
- JAMES COURTNEY V8 Supercar driver
- JESSICA ROWE Journalist/News presenter
- MARK BERETTA Sunrise sports presenter
- MICHAEL KLIM Olympic swimmer
- PATTI NEWTON Entertainer

Will they be ready to rumba, shimmy and twirl their way through this demanding competition and escape elimination by the judges and the viewers week after week to become the DANCING WITH THE STARS champion of series seven?

Daryl Somers returns as host, with co-host Sonia Kruger again providing all the backstage excitement. Each week one couple will be voted off by a combination of votes from viewers and the judges.

Dancing with the Stars is a popular BBC format which has now been licensed to countries all around the world and produced by Granada Productions.

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Survey says... ACMA says...

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has cleared the Nine Network on sexual references in an episode of Bert's Family Feud.

On June 30 last year a question on "Name a gift that is hard to return," received the response:

"Look this is a pretty filthy answer but it's all I can think of and there are some dirty people out there in the audience, so I'm going to go with vibrator".

ACMA found: "The impact of the sexual references is very mild and can be accommodated within the G (general) classification".

But it did find Nine in breach of failing to respond to a complaint within 30 days and is awaiting details of a new complaints' handling process from Nine.

ACMA also found mild impact in the question and answer: "Name an activity that is enjoyed in nudist colonies".

The answer: "Sex."

Additional source: Yahoo. Read more...

Kath and Kim go Howard's IR

For the second time in an Aussie production, John Howards Work Choices have seeped into a storyline. Following on from a scene in McLeod's Daughters, the controversial employment amendments last night popped up in Kath and Kim. Brett staggered home from work late in the night, and had to explain to Kim that he had been fired:

BRETT: "I took an unscheduled toilet break. In the shop."

KATH: "Oh Brett! In the shop!

BRETT: "They've rehired me. Little less money, much worse conditions.

KATH: "Oh bloody Howard! I'd like to take away his toot breaks and see how he feels in his jolly lower house."

The incident has caused Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey to laugh it off, defending that viewers could, "understand the difference between fact and fiction."

Crikey, You Tube, Yahoo.

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AWGIE winners announced

The Australian Writers' Guild has dished out awards to writers of stage, television and film with TV wins for Bastard Boys, Love My Way, Constructing Australia, Home and Away, Stupid Stupid Man, Two Twisted and Blackjack.

Writers must submit their own work in order to be nominated, and on some occasions there is limited competition. Stupid Stupid Man was without any other nominees, as was Blackjack. Bastard Boys beat The Circuit. Love My Way managed wins over just All Saints and Dangerous. And in serials Home and Away only competed against Neighbours.

The full list of winners is:

Children’s Television (P Classification)
- To Catch a Thief, New McDonald’s Farm by Michael Miller

Children’s Television (C Classification)
- Lost in the Desert, Double Trouble (Episode 7) by Danielle MacLean

Documentary (Public Broadcast)
- Constructing Australia: The Bridge by Simon Nasht

Comedy (Situation or Narrative)
- Integrity, Stupid, Stupid Man, Episode 6 by Mark C. Burnett and Tim Pye

Television Original
- Call Back (Two Twisted) by Matthew Macknamara

Television Serial
- Home and Away (Episode 4212) by Sam Meikle

Television Series
- Cold Blooded Creatures, Love My Way, (Episode 2, Series 3) by Tony McNamara

Telemovie Original
- At The Gates: Blackjack by Katherine Thomson

Television Mini Series Original
- Bastard Boys by Sue Smith

Source: AWG.
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Ratings Week 36

Saturday:
1 Nine News Saturday Nine 1,201,000
2 Seven News - Sat Seven 1,187,000
3 Ten's AFL Finals 2007: Collingwood V Sydney Ten 1,036,000
4 Ten's AFL Finals 2007: Hawthorn V Adelaide Ten 943,000
5 M-Grease Seven 931,000
6 The Great Outdoors Seven 904,000
7 Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Nine 881,000
8 Rugby League Final Series Qf 2 Nine 826,000
9 ABC News ABC 826,000
10 Ten News At Five Sat Ten 766,000
11 Doctor Who ABC 740,000
12 Rugby League Final Series Qf 3 Nine 708,000

Friday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,375
2 Seven's Afl: Qualifying Final 2: Seven 1,271
3 Nine News Nine 1,171
4 A Current Affair Nine 1,159
5 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,095
6 Today Tonight Seven 1,076
7 ABC News ABC 1,010
8 Deal Or No Deal Seven 917,000
9 Ten News At Five Ten 892,000
10 Along Came Polly Ten 855,000

Thursday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,416
2 Home And Away Seven 1,385
3 Sea Patrol Nine 1,341
4 A Current Affair Nine 1,334
5 Today Tonight Seven 1,297
6 National Nine News Nine 1,271
7 Temptation Nine 1,213
8 So You Think You Can Dance Ten 1,153
9. ABC News ABC 1,142
10. Getaway Nine 1,142

Nine: 29.8
Seven: 27.0
Ten: 23.0
ABC: 15.5
SBS: 4.6

Wednesday:
1. Thank God You’re Here Ten 1.848
2. The Chaser’s War on Everything ABC 1.491
3. Home and Away Seven 1.468
4. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.417
5. RPA Nine 1.381
6. Seven News Seven 1.371
7. Today Tonight Seven 1.315
8. National Nine News Nine 1.295
9. A Current Affair Nine 1.279
10. Summer Heights High ABC 1.220
11. ABC News ABC 1.172
12. Without A Trace Nine 1.160
13. Temptation Nine 1.087
14. McLeod’s Daughters Nine 1.078
15. Most Shocking Seven 1.034

Las Vegas 0.843m

Nine: 27.4
Ten: 24.6
Seven: 24.0
ABC: 20.2
SBS: 3.7

Tuesday:
1. RSPCA Animal Rescue Seven 1.764
2. Medical Emergency Seven 1.707
3. Seven News Seven 1.453
4. Home and Away Seven 1.440
5. Today Tonight Seven 1.418
6. All Saints Seven 1.388
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.350
8. National Nine News Nine 1.309
9. Temptation Nine 1.245
10. Things To Try Before You Die Nine 1.201
11. ABC News ABC 1.141
12. NCIS Ten 1.095
13. The Simpsons – 8:00pm Ten 1.038
14. CSI: Miami Nine 1.022
15. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 1.013

Seven: 31.3
Nine: 28.0
Ten: 21.4
ABC: 14.7
SBS: 4.7

Monday:
1. Border Security Seven 1.904
2. The Force Seven 1.815
3. City Homicide Seven 1.717
4. Seven News Seven 1.542
5. Home and Away Seven 1.508
6. Today Tonight Seven 1.465
7. National Nine News Nine 1.406
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.386
9. Australian Idol Ten 1.272
10. Temptation Nine 1.247
11. ABC News ABC 1.108
12. Criminal Minds Seven 1.086
13. 1 vs 100 Nine 0.977
14. Enough Rope with Andrew Denton ABC 0.966
15. Australian Story ABC 0.964


Californication 0.950m
Secrets of the Crocodile 0.817m
ER 0.600m

Seven: 34.1
Nine: 22.6
Ten: 20.5
ABC: 16.7
SBS: 6.2


Sunday:
1. Kath & Kim Seven 1.767
2. National Nine News Nine 1.507
3. Midsomer Murders ABC 1.474
4. 60 Minutes Nine 1.396
5. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.367
6. Australian Idol Ten 1.327
7. Seven News Seven 1.323
8. Hot Property Seven 1.252
9. Australia’s Best Backyards Seven 1.239
10. Backyard Blitz Nine 1.098
11. ABC News ABC 0.994
12. Movie: Dodgeball Seven 0.954
13. Movie: Miss Congeniality 2 Nine 0.929
14. Rove Ten 0.849
15. America’s Next Top Model Ten 0.826

Nine: 25.6
Seven: 25.2
Ten: 21.4
ABC: 21.0
SBS: 6.8 Read more...

Local product still a winner.

Local drama premiere City Homicide helped Seven continue its "dream run year" with a win in Week 35 of Ratings.

Seven finished one point ahead of Nine, with a 27.4% and 26.4% shares respectively. TEN finished with 23.3%, the ABC 16.2% and SBS had 6.8%..

Kath & Kim was again the biggest show of the week, but down around 500,000 viewers on its noisy premiere. It was followed for Seven by Border Security, The Force, the first episode of City Homicide, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Medical Emergency, My Name is Earl, Seven News, Today Tonight, Home and Away and All Saints. Seven's success with local product continues to lead its ratings wins, but problems persist for Wednesdays which has seen the network announce the return of Las Vegas. Ghost Whisperer is also doing little to help on Thursday nights.

Nine's free to air screening of The King telemovie had its thunder stolen, first by Foxtel's premiere in May, and secondly by Seven unveiling City Homicide. The result was a disappointing return for Nine, although ACA benefitted from Bert Newton sharing his thoughts on Kennedy. Nine's top show of the week was Sunday News, followed by ACA, Sea Patrol, 60 Minutes, Temptation, Backyard Blitz (including a win over Australia's Best Backyards) and The Footy Show. Problems persist for Nine from Mondays to Wednesdays with no show past 7:30pm achieving big figures.

TEN's decision to air nightly finalist sing-offs of Australian Idol for the second year has again paid off. But it was House (and even a Making of House) gained huge interest. Also finishing well was the return of So You Think You Can Dance and NCIS. Meanwhile the show that is pushing buttons with purists Californication had a good premiere on a strong night. But Sundays are a concern, with TEN landing fourth behind the ABC (again!).

The ABC's Midsomer Murders continues to upstage the commercials while Spicks and Specks, ABC News, Worst Jobs in History and Australian Story were all good.

While media talk circled over SBS management, Thursday was its strongest night thanks to the IAAF Athletics.

Ratings Week 35
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No OK for A O'K

Andrew O'Keefe has been given the thumbs down for his own variety show by the Seven Network.

Two pilots were filmed of A O'K Tonight but the network has opted not to proceed.

The rejection by Seven executives follows a similar outcome for The Naomi Robson Show earlier this year. Again there was much excitement at the pilot, but O'Keefe who shoots Deal or No Deal, Weekend Sunrise and The Rich List for Seven, has had to cop it sweet.

Variety is doing well on television in a hybrid form on shows like Dancing with the Stars and Australian Idol, but Nine has quietly removed The Nation from its schedule.

Meanwhile, one of the best in the biz, Bert Newton is shuffled to clip shows....

Source: News.com.au Read more...