Controversial Bali film to screen

The controversial dramatisation of the 2002 Bali bombing will air on the History Channel this Friday night, the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

Made last year in Indonesia, Long Road to Heaven seeks to illustrate the different points of view by the main players. It will dramatise the terrorists from Jemaah Islamiyah and al-Qaeda, the victims and the Balinese community.

Despite having an Indonesian director, it has been banned from screening in Bali for fear of "reopening old wounds." The cast includes Water Rats' Raelee Hill.

Long Road to Heaven airs 8:30pm Friday October 12. Read more...

Ewan's motorbike travels for SBS

Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman tonight chat to Andrew Denton about trekking the work on their motorbikes for the documentary series, Long Way Round.

But SBS will actually screen the series next month.

The two friends travel through France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska and Canada.

The series features music by Radiohead, Coldplay, Stereophonics and Blur.

Press Release:

Ewan McGregor and his best friend, fellow actor Charley Boorman, are about to take the Long Way Round on SBS Television from Saturday November 3 at 8.30pm.

Long Way Round is a seven part series following the pair on an intrepid motorcycle journey from London to New York City – via Kazakhstan.

Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge, Star Wars) and Charley Boorman (Deliverance, Excalibur, Emerald Forest) met on the set of Serpent’s Kiss, became mates and then hatched a plan to ride motorbikes halfway around the world.

It was to be a once in a lifetime adventure, with two men on two bikes tackling 20,000 miles. Long Way Round tracks their expedition through nine months of planning and the three month trip itself. It shows the challenges of securing sponsors and visas, then learning how to overcome medical crises and mechanical breakdowns - before traversing some of the most beautiful and, at times, dangerous terrain on earth.

Filmed by a cameraman who travelled with them and with cameras attached to their helmets and mounted on their motorcycles, Long Way Round is an exhilarating, entertaining and touching account of a great adventure and a great friendship.

Intimate and honest video diaries add to the storytelling, giving incredible insights into the magnitude of the venture.

After Ewan and Charley leave London, they cross over into mainland Europe and ride through France, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska and Canada.

The series features music by Radiohead, Coldplay, Stereophonics and Blur.

Long Way Round premieres 8:30pm Saturday November 3. Read more...

Third series for Blue Water High

The ABC today began shooting the third series of Blue Water High on Sydney's northern beaches.

The show has been a quiet achiever for the ABC, picking up awards and doing well in international sales. It was originally co-produced by a German broadcaster.

Executive Producer Noel Price said, "We weren't expecting to do a third series of Blue Water High but the huge demand for it both locally and internationally has been impossible to resist."

Set at the Solar Blue Surf Academy, the show will again focus on three males and three females all hoping for a shot on the professional surfing circuit.

Press Release:

Today, ABC TV and Southern Star Entertainment begin production on a third series of the award-winning teen drama, Blue Water High. The 26-part series will be shot on Sydney's northern beaches.

Beautiful beaches, crystal clear water, long sunny days... Blue Water High follows six, lucky 16-year olds, selected for an intensive, 12 month residential surfing and schooling program at Solar Blue Surf Academy.

Fresh from working on a new film alongside Guy Pearce and Miranda Otto is Kate Bell, who returns as Bec for series three of this hit surf drama. She is joined by Craig Horner (H20, Two Twisted, Totally Wild, Blurred) who plays Garry. Bec and Garry are in charge of the new Solar Blue pupils: Guy (Kain O'Keefe - Swimming Upstream, Fireflies); Charley (Lachlan Buchanan - Newcastle); Adam (Eka Darville - Nim's Island); Bridget (Cariba Heine - H20 Just Add Water); Lauren (Amy Beckwith); and Cassie (Rebecca Breeds).

These aspiring pupils are all competing for that elusive wild card to get onto the world pro-surfing circuit. But things aren't quite the same at Solar Blue. The Academy has been taken over by new management, and they've instigated major changes. The waves still roll in as big as ever though, and for a 16-year-old, life at Blue Water beach is about as good as it gets.

Southern Star Executive Producer, Noel Price says "We weren't expecting to do a third series of Blue Water High but the huge demand for it both locally and internationally has been impossible to resist. While the new season will maintain many of the fundamentals of previous series, we are using the opportunity to introduce some fresh elements and different story telling techniques which we hope our very enthusiastic audience will find as engaging and entertaining as ever."

ABC TV's Executive Head of Children's, Tim Brooke-Hunt says "I am delighted that this highly popular show will continue on ABC. Its proven appeal with the teen audience both in Australia and overseas will ensure that this new series will be a highlight of our future schedule." Read more...

ACMA slaps Today Tonight. Again.

For the second time in four days the Australian Media and Communications Authority has found reason to criticise Today Tonight.

This time a story broadcast on Southern Cross Tasmania in 2006 about a father paying child support unnecessarily identified a 12yo child as not being the man's biological son.

According to ACMA TNT9 aired a story which had "no identifiable public interest reason for the material to be broadcast."

It also found that "the licensee failed to exercise special care before using material relating to a child’s personal and private affairs."

ACMA claims the story invaded the privacy of the child's mother.

The Seven licensee has undertaken to extensively discuss the breach with its staff and management and include the incident in future training.

ACMA hasn't been happy with Seven lately. On Friday it ruled Today Tonight "misleading and deceptive" and on Thursday it found Home and Away guilty of being too racy for its G-rated timeslot.

Source: ACMA
Read more...

Seven set to drop the balls

When Kath and Kim finishes up next week it will be replaced by the premiere of National Bingo Night.

The show hosted by Tim Campbell will premiere at 6:30pm on Sunday October 21.

Studio contestants will compete for $50,000 cash, with audience members chasing $5,000. If someone in the audience gets Bingo then the contestant loses and gets nothing.

Home viewers can compete for $10,000 via a card available in Sunday newspapers or online via Yahoo7.

The show will be taking on Nine's new Singing Bee production and TEN's Australian Idol.

Press Release:

Everyone get your game cards ready! NATIONAL BINGO NIGHT is rolling into Channel 7 soon and viewers are guaranteed to have a ball playing.

Never before has there been a TV game show offering so many Australians the opportunity to play and win. Hosted by Home and Away star Tim Campbell, NATIONAL BINGO NIGHT is bingo but with a twist.

Three high-action bingo games are played in each episode. A contestant will try their luck, racing against the studio audience as balls numbered from 1-75 are randomly selected from a giant bingo sphere.

Unlike the 200 audience members, contestants don’t actually have a bingo card. Instead, they participate in various games where they must guess if the next number drawn will be higher or lower than the one in play, red or black, or odd or even depending on the game.

The studio audience will track the numbers on their own bingo cards for their chance to win big and send the contestant home empty-handed. The race is on as contestants try to reach their target before anyone in the audience calls ‘Bingo!’ $50,000 cash, luxury cars and overseas trips are all up for grabs.

All the action takes place in a high-tech "Bingo Plex" arena, which is home to a massive two-and-a-half-storey, one tonne bingo sphere.

Proceedings are monitored by the Bingo Commissioner Tanny, hilariously played by comedian Tanveer Ahmed. Dressed in a black and white referee’s uniform, he checks the cards of audience members who think they have the winning numbers. If they don’t, he proclaims, “Noooooooooooo bingo!” and the studio contestant plays on.

Joining Tim as co-host is former Girlband member Renee Bargh. The talented singer/model turned TV presenter will call the bingo numbers as they drop from the bingo sphere.

The show’s contestants and studio audience aren’t the only ones who’ll have fun playing. Viewers will also be able to play along at home by downloading free game cards via yahoo7.com.au/tv

Game cards will be distributed in all News Ltd newspapers nationally on October 21 (episode 1 game card) and October 28 (episode 2 game card). With $10,000 up for grabs each week, viewers won’t be able to resist the urge to join in the fun.

NATIONAL BINGO NIGHT is a fun, truly interactive game show and host Tim Campbell invites everyone to play along for a shot to win.

“Everyone, whether it’s the contestant on stage, the studio audience or those at home, is in the game with a chance to win big,” he says. “It all comes down to luck and the bounce of the ball so anyone has the chance to win.”

It’s addictive and easy to play. Become a bingo-head when NATIONAL BINGO NIGHT premieres on Channel 7 on Sunday October 21 at 6.30pm. It’s the game the entire nation will be playing.

NATIONAL BINGO NIGHT is a Fox format produced by Fox World Australia for Channel 7. Read more...

Denton nabs Helen Mirren interview

Helen Mirren will appear as a guest on the ABC's Enough Rope with Andrew Denton.

The Oscar winner will appear on Monday October 22.

Tonight Denton has more good guests including Ewan McGregor and friend Charley Boorman who will talk about their world travels on motorbikes.

Pamela Stephenson also appears.

Winner of of an Academy Award (2007), four BAFTAs, and three Golden Globe Awards (two in in 2007), and named Best Actress at the 2006 Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, Mirren is one of the most admired actresses of our time. Her career has spanned four decades - she made her first film in 1967.

After an already impressive theatre and film career, Mirren came to the attention of many television viewers as Detective Supintendent Jane Tennison in the very successful British TV drama series Prime Suspect.

Enough Rope with Andrew Denton airs 9:35pm on ABC TV. Read more...

Ratings Week 41

Saturday:
1 New Tricks ABC 1,336,000
2 Australia's Funniest Home Videos Nine 1,182,000
3 Seven News Seven 1,170,000
4 ABC News 1,142,000
5 National Nine News Saturday Nine 1,003,000
6 The Bill ABC 856,000
7 Movie: Tarzan Seven 790,000
8 Gardening Australia ABC 702,000
9 Ten News At Five Sat Ten 697,000
10 Judge John Deed Seven 670,000

Seven: 27.4%
Nine: 26.0%
ABC: 22.9%
Ten: 17.3%
SBS: 6.4%

Friday:
1 Better Homes and Gardens 1.35m
2 Seven News 1.26m
3 Home and Away 1.21m
4 Today Tonight 1.17m
5 Wire in the Blood 1.14m

Seven: 31.3
Nine: 24.4
ABC: 20.6
Ten: 18.9
SBS: 4.8

Thursday:
1. Bionic Woman Seven 1.417
2. Home and Away Seven 1.353
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.298
4. Seven News Seven 1.295
5. Ghost Whisperer Seven 1.278
6. Missing Persons Unit Nine 1.198
7. Getaway Nine 1.135
8. Heroes Seven 1.124
9. ABC News ABC 1.103
10. Temptation Nine 1.100
11. The Gift Nine 1.084
12. So You Think You Can Dance Ten 1.073
13. A Current Affair Nine 1.071
14. National Nine News Nine 1.064
15. Law and Order Ten 0.967

RPA Where Are They Now 0.942m
Futurama 0.796m

Seven: 30.5
Nine: 28.5
Ten: 22.7
ABC: 13.5
SBS: 4.9

Wednesday:
1. House Ten 1.570
2. The Chaser’s War On Everything ABC 1.536
3. Seven News Seven 1.499
4. Today Tonight Seven 1.490
5. RSPCA Animal Rescue Seven 1.484
6. Spicks and Specks ABC 1.470
7. Home and Away Seven 1.467
8. Medical Emergency Seven 1.459
9. National Nine News Nine 1.203
10. Summer Heights High ABC 1.192
11. Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? Ten 1.164
12. A Current Affair Nine 1.126
13. Life Ten 1.115
14. ABC News ABC 1.112
15. Temptation Seven 1.102

McLeod’s Daughters 1.076m
Cold Case 0.878m
Prison Break 0.795m
Las Vegas 0.748m
Damages 0.463m

Seven: 27.2
Ten: 26.1
Nine: 22.0
ABC: 20.7
SBS: 4.0

Tuesday:
1. Dancing with the Stars Seven 1.906
2. Home and Away Seven 1.409
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.385
4. Seven News Seven 1.367
5. All Saints Seven 1.306
6. A Current Affair Nine 1.246
7. National Nine News Nine 1.211
8. The Simpsons – 8:00pm Ten 1.200
9. Temptation Nine 1.190
10. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 1.149
11. NCIS Ten 1.080
12. ABC News ABC 1.071
13. CSI: Miami Nine 0.828
14. Deal or No Deal Seven 0.810
15. Surprise Surprise Gotcha Nine 0.801

Seven: 38.1
Nine: 22.3
Ten: 22.0
ABC: 13.8
SBS: 3.7

Monday:
1. The Force Seven 1.948
2. Border Security Seven 1.934
3. City Homicide Seven 1.635
4. Seven News Seven 1.527
5. Home and Away Seven 1.510
6. Today Tonight Seven 1.399
7. National Nine News Nine 1.251
8. A Current Affair Nine 1.241
9. Criminal Minds Seven 1.202
10. Temptation Nine 1.105
11. ABC News ABC 1.074
12. Australian Idol Ten 1.042
13. Law and Order: SVU Ten 0.947
14. Deal or No Deal Seven 0.881
15. Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding Nine 0.848

Californication 0.842m
Enough Rope 0.834m
Commercial Breakdown 0.816m
Just For Laughs 0.654m

Seven: 36.8
Nine: 21.8
Ten: 19.6
ABC: 15.5
SBS: 6.3

Sunday:
1. Kath & Kim Seven 2.069
2. Seven News Seven 1.636
3. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.538
4. Hot Property Seven 1.413
5. Bathurst 1000: Post-Race Seven 1.383*
6. Bathurst 1000: The Race Seven 1.335*
7. Australian Idol Ten 1.321
8. Australia’s Best Backyards Seven 1.277
9. National Nine News Nine 1.246
10. Singing Bee Nine 1.196
11. 60 Minutes Nine 1.187
12. Rain Shadow ABC 1.111
13. Hitch Nine 1.053
14. Thank God You’re Here Ten 1.040
15. ABC News ABC 1.023

Rove 0.957m
Dirty Jobs 0.955m

* Preliminary data subject to amendment to reflect actual race running time.

Seven: 29.1
Nine: 27.1
Ten: 22.9
ABC: 16.8
SBS: 4.0 Read more...

Scary strike could cripple US TV

October 31 is renowned as Halloween in the US.

But its also the same date the current contract between the Writers' Guild of America expires with studios.

Since July both sides have engaged in a battle over residuals, DVD profits, and fees in reality and cable. If the dispute isn't settled the industry could be crippled by the end of the month.

The last WGA strike in 1988 lasted a staggering 22 weeks.

As a result studios have been frantically filming and stockpiling scripts in readiness for a worst-case scenario.

“The WGA leadership is hidebound to strike. We are farther apart today than when we started, and the only outcome we see is a disaster,” said the president of the motion picture alliance after six unfruitful table discussions.

Source: The West
Read more...

An unholy current affair

Last week Today Tonight ran two stories claiming Australian Idol was being hijacked by the Hillsong Church, stating that five of its nine finalists were church members: Matt Corby, Tarisai Vushe, Daniel Mifsud, Ben McKenzie and Mark da Costa.

Yesterday the Sunday Age wrote that "none was a devotee," a fact that Idol producers told TT before the story aired.

While the religious beliefs of previous contestants including Guy Sebastian and Dean Geyer have been well-documented, this sounds more and more like another current affairs show jumping on the bandwagon of another hit show.

The Chaser, Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars anyone?

For the record, Mark de Costa was voted out last week, with no divine intervention saving his pop dreams. Read more...