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Tue Mar 27

[SBS/7:30pm] Insight. Rates of sexually transmitted infections amongst young Australians are at record highs. Chlamydia is now the most common Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) in the country with teens making up nearly a quarter of all new cases.Young people are having sex earlier than their parents did. Half of today's teenagers have lost their virginity by the time they turn 16. And by the time they get married, they will have had many partners.
[SBS/8:30pm] Cutting Edge: Kill The Messenger - This documentary reveals how a foreign spy ring with links to Al-Qaeda has been discovered working within the FBI. Sibel Edmonds began work at the FBI translating wire taps in an investigation into a foreign spy ring operating in the US. She became suspicious of her colleagues after discovering some mistranslations and was then invited to join the spy ring which had evidently infiltrated the FBI itself. She went straight to her bosses and rather than being hailed as a hero she was promptly sacked. After going public on 60 Minutes she has been officially gagged. (From France, in English and French with English subtitles) (Documentary) M CC WS

[Seven/12:00pm] Movie: Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story Of Three's Company. A dramatised insider's look at the television network that created the hit series Three's Company. Starring MELANIE DEANNE MOORE, BRET ANTHONY, JUDY TYLOR, BRIAN DENNEHY, WALLACE LANGHAM, DANIEL ROEBUCK, MICHAEL DAVID SIMMS, GREGG BINKLEY and BARBARA GORDON.
[Seven/7:30pm] Dancing with the Stars.
[Seven/9:10pm] All Saints. BACK ON TRACK. Frank and Bart are instrumental in helping each other face up to their trauma. Cate, Heath and the ED Team fight to save the life of a young man who tried hurling himself from a horizontal bungee catapult. Sean treats a drunken reveller with a head injury, who leaves the ED not knowing he has a cerebral bleed. Starring JOHN HOWARD, JUDITH MCGRATH, CHRIS GABARDI, TAMMY MACINTOSH, MARK PRIESTLEY, ALEXANDRA DAVIES, WIL TRAVAL, CHRIS VANCE, JOLENE ANDERSON, ALLISON CRATCHLEY, VIRGINIA GAY, ANDREW SUPANZ, JOHN WATERS, ALLY FOWLER, MIKE SMITH, EMMA BOOTH and CELESTE BARBER.
[Seven/10:10pm] Crossing Jordan. SHATTERED. Special prosecutor William Ivers is brought in to investigate the practices of the coroners' office and specifically those of Jordan. Lu and Jordan bury the hatchet long enough to investigate the death of a teenage boy. When body parts are found all over a highway, Woody, Nigel and work to uncover the identity of the victim and to determine whether it was suicide or murder. Starring JILL HENNESSY, JERRY O'CONNELL, KATHRYN HAHN, RAVI KAPOOR, STEVE VALENTINE, LESLIE BIBB, MIGUEL FERRER, JEFFREY DONOVAN, WILLIAM RAGSDALE, RICHARD FANCY, WAYNE THOMAS YORKE and ETHAN SANDLER.
[Seven/11:10pm] In Justice. Series Return. COST OF FREEDOM. While investigating a case, Conti and Swain become suspicious and believe a federal informant is really a member of a far-right militia group who was involved in the bank robbery murder for which their client was convicted. Starring JASON O'MARA, KYLE MACLACHLAN, CONSTANCE ZIMMER, DANIEL COSGROVE and MARISOL NICHOLS.
[Seven/12:05am Wed] Mile High. Rpt.
[Seven/1:05am Wed] Undercover Angels. Rpt.

[Nine/12:00pm] Dr Phil. Bi-polar disorders.
[Nine/9:15pm] CSI Miami: Crime Wave. 90 min episode.

[Ten/1:00pm] Oprah. "One Week Later: The Reaction To "The Secret"
[Ten/6:30pm] Neighbours. In the UK! Susan puts the past aside to help out desperate Izzy. Natalie Bassingthwaighte.
[Ten/8:30pm] The All New Simpsons. Moe'n'a Lisa"
[Ten/8:30pm] NCIS. “Smoked.”
[Ten/9:30pm] Numb3rs. “Spree” Guest Stars: Lou Diamond Philips

[ABC/8:30pm] The Bill. Sgt Ackland and PC Stamp investigate a missing person's report that is not as it seems. CAST: Trudie Goodwin, Graham Cole
[ABC/9:20pm] Foreign Correspondent. Foreign Correspondent: your passport to the world of international journalism.

[ABC/10:00pm] Dance on Screen. Hosted by former Bangarra dancer and choreographer, Frances Rings, Dance on Screen - a two-part special - celebrates the wonderful world of dance. SWIFT. Swift is a powerful adaptation of dancer/choreographer Ros Warby's internationally acclaimed solo show of the same name. Filmed on an empty stage, Swift tells its story through fanciful characterisations, choreography and music. Through a series of vignettes the solo dancer transforms herself from the red runner, to the silent dancer, to diva, gremlin, innocent realist and finally, to gentle diva and aging woman. UNFED. Unfed will appeal to anyone who has ever lived in a share house. Inspired by a line from writer George Eliot - 'the painful eagerness of unfed hope' - director Jason Lam films his young dancers in the cramped confines of their bedrooms. Through the use of a split screen, Lam magnifies each character's frustration and alienation, as they struggle with being alone, in a house full of people. TRUST AND TRY! This playful film is inspired by vaudeville and the silent movie era. Choreographer and director Julie-Anne Long challenged her performers to invent little burlesque vignettes that were then filmed by co-director Samuel James in the grainy black and white of early cinema. Julie-Anne Long, a Sydney-based dance artist, has worked over the past two decades as a performer, choreographer and teacher.
[ABC/3:25am Wed] Wild West. (CC, Rpt, M *Coarse Language)
A mystery illness sweeps through St Gweep giving Mary and Angela the chance to play nurse to the community. CAST: Dawn French, Catherine Tate

[Arena/7:30pm] How To Find a Husband And What To Do If You Can’t.
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More on those Dancing votes

Seven today revealed a little more info on the proceeds it donates to charities, following media discussion last week on Dancing with the Stars nondisclosure.

Seven's Ian Johnston advised that 50% of the net profits from phone polling went to charities - a figure he put at about 18c in every 55c.

The remaining 50% went to Seven for licensing and production costs. This means that Seven is subsidising its high production costs from the phone votes.

Johnston also pointed out that other shows such as Big Brother, Australian Idol and Dancing on Ice didn't donate anything to charities.


Now that the figure is out in the open, perhaps Seven might include it in their Terms and Conditions on their website, instead of just stating:

15. The Seven Network will donate a percentage (%) of their share of revenue received from votes registered for each Celebrity, to the charity of each Celebrity's choice.

Johnston said t
he charity represented by the winner of the previous series, Anthony Koutafides, received $21,000 from about 118,000 calls over 10 weeks. In a surprising admission on Today Tonight on Friday, Seven said only $72 went to the charity of skater Steven Bradbury.

He also pointed out that the show, "didn't get as many calls as people might expect."

He acknowledged that the celebrities were paid to appear, but stated the fee was confidential. Fair enough.

But now somebody needs to ask whether Daryl Somers' contract includes a percentage of phone revenue going personally to him.

Just a simple yes or no will suffice, Seven!

- With thanks to 3AW Melbourne.
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Returning: 2&Half; Men, Til Death, Gurus. New: Entertaining Friends

A bunch of new titles coming in Nine's schedule, but still none of their bigger premieres promised for 2007.

The following shows are returning to our screen:

Two and a Half Men screens 8:30pm Tuesday April 10 replacing a CSI repeat.

The sitcom Til' Death will follow at 9pm.

On Sunday April 8 Entertaining Friends with AWW premieres at 6:30pm. That's the 'Australian Women's Weekly' in case it wasn't apparent to you. Deborah Hutton hosts a show in which 3 celebrities join up with chefs to create the "ultimate dinner party."

The phrase advertorial springs to mind here. Is this part of Eddie's cost-effective TV?

It's followed by The Gardening Gurus: Saving Your Backyard.

Now don't forget this is the same network that tolf Don Burke it felt the garden genre was exhausted.

Both Entertaining Friends and the Gurus show are specials. Be grateful they are being offloaded in non-ratings.
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Ban the Lie Detector!

This is really getting to be a pain.

How many times must current affair programs throw up the words "Lie Detector" as if it were some infallible system to justify ridiculous claims?

It's as bad as dreaded worm in those election debates.

Mercedes Corby! Jodi Power! The TT Private Detective! David Oldfield and Pauline Hanson! Who cares!

This is insulting abuse of technology which isn't foolproof anyway (Jodi Power failed 2 tests, the others haven't even tried). But interviewers trawl it out like it's a hard hitting question: "Will you take a Lie Detector test?"

Enough!

Last year Gretel Killeen hosted an entire episode of Big Brother based around a lie detector. The housemates weren't even tied up to a machine, it was all based on vocal responses. And it was all shot down in flames the next day.

If interviewers can't get decent answers without drawing upon a Lie Detector then maybe we need better journalists?

UPDATE 29 / 3: David Oldfield was found to be deceitful in answering "no" the question of whether he had sex with Pauline Hanson - Today Tonight 28 / 3.
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Film Masterclass series

The Ovation Channel will premiere a new film discussion show, in which leading actors and directors will sit down with a student audience from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

Masterclass: An Audience With Filmmakers premieres at 8:30pm on Wednesday April 4.

An Aussie Inside the Actor's Studio if you will....

The first guest will be esteemed director Phillip Noyce, who has steered successful films such as The Quiet American, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Patriot Games.

Others including Jack Thompson, Rolf de Heer, Bud Tingwell, Eric Bana, Gillian Armstrong and David Caesar will follow.

Press Release:

The WORLD TELEVISION PREMIERE of Masterclass: An Audience With Filmmakers goes to air on the Ovation Channel on Wednesday 4th April at 8.30pm, with director Phillip Noyce as the first guest on this innovative new series.

The Ovation Channel and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) have joined forces to produce this Australian first – a 12-part series in which prominent actors and directors are interviewed in front of a student audience – with the film students helping to research and produce the show.

Peter Thompson, who hosts the series, is one of Australia ’s most respected authorities on cinema. In he holds in-depth discussions with a selection of Australia ’s most prominent screen actors, producers and directors. The student audience gain insightful and compelling information on their chosen career, and participate in a q&a; session at the end of each interview.

Packed with anecdotal and relevant advice, guests talk about their careers and craft. The series showcases an impressive lineup of the best in the business, including director Phillip Noyce The Quiet American, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Catch A Fire, iconic Australian actor Jack Thompson, director David Caesar, actor Eric Bana, actor Bud Tingwell, director Rolf de Heer and director Gillian Armstrong. The audience gets the chance to participate in a question and answer session at the end of each program.

The series is produced by Paul Clarke, an award-winning executive producer and Shelly Horton, an experienced television producer and presenter.

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More Rove buddies sign up

Hamish and Andy have been added to the list of new Rove regulars.

The two comics, who previously appeared in the Rove-produced sketch series Real Stories, join earlier-announced additions including Dave Hughes.

I've already given a lot of blog promo to this show so I don't really have much more to add except I did like the reference in the publicity which promised more excitement, but "we'd just have to tune in between the Grey's Anatomy ad breaks."

Lol.
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Paul McDermott's new ABC big gig

The ABC has announced Paul McDermott as the host of its new Saturday Night variety show, The Sideshow which premieres at 7:30pm on April 21.

This is "the new Big Gig" that was reported two weeks ago.

McDermott is to be joined by Tripod and the Umbilical Brothers, plus several new performers, rumoured to include cabaret artist Eddie Perfect.
Sounds like fun!

There's certainly room for some live entertainment on Saturdays, and it's a surprise Nine hasn't moved on a Parky-style show with Bert Newton. But that's another story.


McDermott was also a regular on the original Big Gig.

Press Release:

Paul McDermott returns to television, whether or not television wants him to, as the Ring Master of a new one-hour comedy/variety show, THE SIDESHOW, which premieres Saturday April 21 at 7.30pm on ABC TV.

Each week, as he gives his own unique spin on the world, Paul will present a dazzling mix of local and international artists, from the worlds of comedy, music, cabaret, burlesque and good, old-fashioned freak shows.

The big question is, will he sing? Well, what do you think?

Paul will be joined by a troupe of regular stars, including The Umbilical Brothers, Tripod, and comedian Claire Hooper. And some of Australia's finest fingers will make sure singalongs around the piano are never the same again.

Produced by Ted Robinson (The Glass House, Good News Week), THE SIDESHOW will entertain, delight and surprise viewers of all ages. (It'll do other things to the viewers too, but we're not legally responsible for that).

"There's a whole new generation of brilliant performers out there, and it's time for them to have a home on television. And if you're going to put them in a home, there's nowhere better than ABC TV," says Ted Robinson, GNWTV Executive Producer.

"It's great to have Paul McDermott back centre-stage on ABC TV, fronting a show which dishes up topical comedy and cutting-edge musical satire. Australia needs a prime time performance program that's not hostage to a tiresome, tricksy reality/game format, with no judges and no voting-off, just top shelf acts that will captivate and confound," says Courtney Gibson, ABC TV Head of Arts, Entertainment and Comedy.

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Ratings Week 13

Friday:
Seven 31.3%
Nine 28.9%
Ten 17.9%
ABC 16.7%
SBS 5.3%

1 Seven News Seven 1,377,000
2 Today Tonight Seven 1,359,000
3 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,308,000
4 Swimming Championships Live Nine 1,152,000
5 Nine News Nine 1,131,000
6 A Current Affair Nine 1,069,000
7 Home And Away Seven 1,055,000
8 The Biggest Loser (Aus) Ten 1,036,000
9 ABC News ABC 986,000
10 Deal Or No Deal Seven 885,000

Thursday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.426
2. Today Tonight Seven 1.404
3. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.290
4. World Swimming Championships Nine 1.176
5. National Nine News Nine 1.153
6. Home and Away Seven 1.126
7. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.121
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.114
9. Law and Order: SVU Ten 1.041
10. How I Met Your Mother Seven 1.034
11. Bones – Double Episode Seven 1.002
12. The Footy Show Nine 0.997
13. Jamie At Home Ten 0.967
14. ABC News ABC 0.959
15. Saving Babies Ten 0.919

Nine: 30.3
Seven: 28.1
Ten: 22.7
ABC: 14.1
SBS: 4.8


Wednesday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.450
2. House Ten 1.448
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.368
4. Air Crash Investigations Seven 1.351
5, National Nine News Nine 1.243
6. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.229
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.193
8. Heroes Seven 1.189
9. The Chaser’s War on Everything ABC 1.172
10. World Swimming Championships Nine 1.167
11. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.157
12. Home and Away Seven 1.123
13. ABC News ABC 1.008
14. Prison Break Seven 0.949
15. Cold Case Nine 0.917

Seven: 29.2
Nine: 26.2
Ten: 23.9
ABC: 16.7
SBS: 4.0

Tuesday:
1. Dancing with the Stars Seven 1.856
2. All Saints Seven 1.576
3. Seven News Seven 1.448
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.307
5. National Nine News Nine 1.276
6. NCIS Ten 1.255
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.204
8. Home and Away Seven 1.167
9. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.162
10. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 1.142
11. The Simpsons – 8:00pm Ten 1.100
12. ABC News ABC 1.007
13. World Swimming Championships Nine 0.976
14. Deal or No Deal Seven 0.883
15. Ten News Ten 0.878

Seven: 36.3
Ten: 23.5
Nine: 23.3
ABC: 12.0
SBS: 4.9


Monday:
1. Desperate Housewives Seven 1.563
2. Seven News Seven 1.542
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.470
4. The Rich List Seven 1.381
5. National Nine News Nine 1.308
6. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.295
7. Bondi Rescue Ten 1.219
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.181
9. 1 vs 100 Nine 1.138
10. Home and Away Seven 1.102
11. World Swimming Championships Nine 1.075
12. ABC News ABC 1.037
13. Brothers & Sisters Seven 1.014
14. Ten News Ten 0.907
15. Supernatural Ten 0.897

Seven 31.8%
Nine 25.1%
Ten 21.9%
ABC 14.4%
SBS 6.8%


Sunday:
1. Grey’s Anatomy Seven 1.813
2. Ugly Betty Seven 1.620
3. Australia’s Got Talent Seven 1.588
4. National Nine News Nine 1.541
5. Seven News Seven 1.453
6. The Biggest Loser Ten 1.290
7. With Friends Like These Nine 1.105
8. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple ABC 1.090
9. Constructing Australia ABC 1.058
10. Thank God You’re Here Ten 1.056
11. ABC News ABC 1.009
12. What About Brian Seven 0.979
13. Ten News Ten 0.921
14. World Swimming Championships Nine 0.789
15. Sports Tonight Ten 0.775

Tsunami: 0.531m

Seven: 33.2
Nine: 22.0
Ten: 20.4
ABC: 18.8
SBS: 5.6

NB: Sunday figures, awaiting time adjustment and a possible re-release of figures by OzTam.
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