First Review: The Office

Ever seen the American version of Fawlty Towers? I’m not surprised. The Atlantic is floating in British TV formats that the Americans have sunk. Very occasionally they manage to get it right: Queer As Folk, All in the Family, Three’s Company.

When Ricky Gervais on-sold the rights to The Office he ensured producer Ben Silverman understood its charms. Silverman, who also has Ugly Betty and Kath & Kim, resisted multicam shoots, live audience and laugh tracks. The comic cast, particularly lead actor Steve Carrell, was also astutely selected.

The fact that the show hasn’t worked in Australia can be put down to two points: 1) that we had already bonded with the template original -a fate which befell our local Queer Eye- and 2) that Ten didn’t persist long enough with it when it had a sluggish start. So it’s pleasing to see them try again.

In ‘Gay Witch Hunt’ boss Michael Scott (Carrell) is taken to task for inadvertently calling his accountant Oscar, “faggy.” As it transpires, Oscar is not out to his workmates. Vacuously, Scott defends, “I call everyone faggy! Why would anyone find that offensive? I would have never called him that if I knew. You don’t call retarded people retards, you call your friends retards when they’re acting retarded.” With all the subtlety of a giant shovel, Michael digs himself a bigger hole.

Michael soon looks at everyone with homo-suspicion. “There could be others… I need to know so I don’t offend anybody else….Could Oscar and Angela both be gay and having a gay affair?”

Suddenly everyone is alert to political correction. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) tries to buy a personal Gaydar detector. “I think they sell it at Sharper Image.” And in their trademark monologues, one woman begrudgingly admits to watching Will & Grace. “But it’s so loud,” she moans. How true.

Eventually Michael fumbles through an apology to Oscar in front of his workmates. “Did you know that gay used to mean happy? When I was growing up it meant lame. And now it means a man who makes love to other men.”

Greg Daniels’ (King of the Hill) script is defiantly offensive, and a most delicious use of subtextual comedy to drive home points about acceptance and identity. But that’s beside the point.

First and foremost it’s a darn good laugh.

The Office ‘Gay Witch Hunt’ airs 10:25pm Monday August 27 on TEN. Read more...

Mary to sue SBS

In the developing drama that is Mary Kostakidis' walkout on SBS, she has secured Melbourne lawyer Julian Burnside QC to commence breach of contract proceedings against the broadcaster.

SBS has denied it is threatening its own legal action against the newsreader for failing to show for work.

"SBS management continues to value Mary's considerable contribution to the network. SBS will continue to respect Mary's confidence until this matter is resolved," a statement said.

Kostakidis is unhappy with changes to the World News Australia format which this year saw her sharing a desk alongside Stan Grant, advertisements, and an editorial shift.

Source: The Age. Read more...

The Nation shuts down?

It could be the end of the road for The Nation with Nine set to return Comedy Inc to the Wednesday 10:30pm timeslot from September 5th.

The show next week will be the 13th in the series, at least 5 episodes ahead of Mick Molloy's previous 8 week outing with the Nine Network on The Mick Molloy Show.

13 weeks is a typical series run, so it likely that this is where Nine's contractual commitments to the production end. For everyone involved, it may not be considered the "axe" specifically, so much as the "natural conclusion" to the series.

Either way it is unlikely Nine will renew or reschedule what has been a disappointing series.

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Survivor: China cast

An openly gay Mormon, a Christian radio host, a Chicken Farmer, a WWE World Wrestler (female), and a gravedigger, are just some of the contestants announced in the upcoming Survivor: China cast.

The series will be set in the southern province of Jiang Xi and has unprecedented network TV access to the Shaolin Temple and the Great Wall of China.

The Tribal Council set is a 100 foot tall replica of an historic temple.

It premieres in the US on September 20. No airdate has yet been announced for Aussie fans. Read more...

Denton vs Kyle

Audience members have spoken about hostile moments during the recording of Kyle Sandilands' upcoming interview on Enough Rope with Andrew Denton.

Denton was reportedly questioning the radio host and Idol judge about "playing with people's lives", including calling a man on-air to 'explain himself' for being caught by his son having sex with another man.

Sandilands also vowed to dish out some physical justice to comedian Dave Hughes for calling him a 'dickhead' at the Logies.

According to the audience source, the usually outspoken Sandilands was lost for words.

But a spokesman for Sandilands denied he was frazzled. "Denton always gets controversial but Kyle definitely wasn't upset or uncomfortable with the interview - he thought it was great,'' she said.

The episode airs Sept 3

Source: Herald-Sun.
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Mary quits SBS

Respected newsreader Mary Kostakidis has quit SBS after 21 years.

The decision follows months of speculation about unhappiness over the new format World News in which Kostakidis was made to share the desk with Stan Grant.

Kostakidis was part of the initial 0-28 team when the network was born.

She also took a sudden absence of leave several weeks ago, forcing SBS to clarify it was to care for her ailing parents.

According to a source speaking to Media Spy, “She feels it’s not even The Stan and Mary Show - it’s The Stan Grant Show. She’s personally offended by the money-grubbing commercialisation of the show, and feels management are abandoning the kind of principles with which SBS was set up, and she personally helped devise.”

SBS management have advised staff Mary is currently on leave on doctor's advice.

Stan Grant is also on leave.

Source: The Australian.
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