ASTRA Nominees

In subscription TV's ASTRA Awards announced this week Love My Way, Stupid Stupid Man and Supernova topped the nominee list.

Steve Irwin has also been posthumously nominated for two awards.

Winners will be announced on April 23 at Hordern Pavillion. A public vote section is currently running online at www.astrawards.com.au

All the nominees are:

Category A1 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Outstanding Consumer Campaign for
Subscription Sales
1. Reaching Mums with Kids and Twenty-Somethings - AUSTAR
2. FOXTEL 'Nothing' Campaign - FOXTEL
3. Pricing & Packaging Campaign - FOXTEL
4. The Sci Fi Channel Launch - Sci Fi / AUSTAR / FOXTEL

Category A2 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Outstanding Consumer Campaign for
Subscriber Retention
1. New Repackage AUSTAR Digital - AUSTAR
2. Honeymoon Retention Campaign: Make the Most of Your FOXTEL Digital -
FOXTEL

Category A3 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Outstanding Creative Marketing
Campaign
1. Seven Deadly Sins - World Movies
2. FOXTEL iQ 'Freeze' Campaign - FOXTEL
3. Gotta Love Your League - FOX Sports

Category A4 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Outstanding use of Subscription
Television Medium for a Consumer Advertising Campaign
1. Sony Dedicated Advertiser Location - Multi Channel Network / Starcom
2. Toyota Dedicated Advertiser Location - Multi Channel Network / The Media Store
3. Seek Make Luck Happen Promotion - The Weather Channel

Category A5 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Creative On-Air Program Promotion
1. Image Spot - FOX Classics
2. An Aussie Goes Barmy - FOX8
3. Budgie Nation - MTV
4. Project Runway - Arena
5. French Open - FOX Sports

Category A6 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Creative Off-Air Program Promotion
1. Great BBQ Challenge - LifeStyle FOOD
2. Rock Star: Supernova 'It's Gonna Be Big' Campaign - FOX8
3. The Sci Fi Channel Launch - Sci Fi
4. Stupid Stupid Man - TV1
2

Category A7 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Outstanding Program Promotion
Campaign
1. Rock Star: Supernova 'It's Gonna Be Big' Campaign - FOX8
2. High School Musical - Disney Channel
3. Budgie Nation - MTV
4. Channel [V] ARIA Awards - Channel [V]
5. Entourage - Arena

Category A8 – Marketing & Promotions: Most Creative Use of Technology (for a
consumer application)
1. Eeeaster Frasier Interactive Marathon - TV1
2. High School Musical Dance Off - Disney Channel
3. Sky News - Anytime, Anywhere - Sky News
4. Supernova - UKTV

Category B1 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding International
Program or Event
1. Rock Star: Supernova - FOX8
2. Discovery Atlas: China Revealed - Discovery Channel
3. Deadliest Catch: On the Crab - Discovery Channel
4. In The Womb: Animals - National Geographic Channel

Category B2 – Programming & Production: Favourite International Program
1. Rock Star: Supernova - FOX8
2. Deadwood - Showtime
3. American Chopper - Discovery Channel
4. Entourage - Arena

Category B3 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Program Event
1. Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2006 - Nickelodeon
2. MTV AVMAs - MTV
3. Project Greenlight - Movie Extra

Category B4 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Short Form Program
1. Karaoke Dokey - TV1
2. Kids First - Nickelodeon
3. My Place - Disney Channel
4. Guilty as Charged - Jock Barnes - FUEL TV

Category B5 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Children's Program
1. Camp Orange: Slimey Hollow - Nickelodeon
2. The Upside Down Show - Nick Jr.
3. Weather Ed - The Weather Channel
4. Gardening for Kids with Madi - Nick Jr.

Category B6 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Music Program
1. Wolfmother LIVE - MTV
2. MAX Sessions: INXS - MAX
3. Rollin' with Dierks Bentley - Country Music Channel
3

Category B7 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Sports Program
1. Sportsline - Sky News
2. 2006 BMX Games - FUEL TV
3. Inside Cricket - FOX Sports
4. NRL on FOX - FOX Sports

Category B8 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Sports Coverage
1. Mundine Vs Green - Main Event
2. Wallabies Coverage - FOX Sports
3. Commonwealth Games 2006 - FOX Sports

Category B9 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Documentary
1. Fields of Fire: Seeds of Hope - Sky News
2. The Battle Of Long Tan - The History Channel
3. Headliners: The Peter Crimmins Story - Fox Footy Channel
4. Discovery Atlas: Australia Revealed - Discovery Channel
Category B10 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding News Program or

Coverage
1. A Week that Changed Australia: The Death of Steve Irwin and Peter Brock -
Sky News
2. Labor Leadership - Sky News
3. FOX Sports News and Views - FOX Sports News

Category B11 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Lifestyle, Reality or
Light Entertainment Program
1. Australia's Next Top Model - FOX8
2. An Aussie Goes Barmy - FOX8
3. Bills Food - The LifeStyle Channel
4. From here to maternity with Antonia Kidman - W Channel

Category B12 – Programming & Production: Most Outstanding Drama Program
1. Love My Way - W Channel
2. Stupid Stupid Man - TV1
3. Supernova - UKTV

Category B13 – Programming & Production: Favourite Program
1. Australia's Next Top Model - FOX8
2. Stupid Stupid Man - TV1
3. Croc Hunter: Big Croc Diaries (Special Edition) - Animal Planet
4. MTV AVMAs - MTV

Category C1 – Talent: Favourite International Personality or Actor
1. Tyra Banks (America's Next Top Model) - FOX8
2. Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) - The Comedy Channel
3. Paul Snr and Paul Jnr Teutul (American Chopper) - Discovery Channel
4. Jeremy Piven (Entourage) - Arena

Category C2 – Talent: Favourite Male Personality
1. Brendan Moar - The LifeStyle Channel
2. Jabba - LifeStyle FOOD
3. Steve Irwin - Animal Planet
4. James Mathison - Channel [V]
4

Category C3 – Talent: Favourite Female Personality
1. Shannon Fricke - The LifeStyle Channel
2. Antonia Kidman - W Channel
3. Brooke Forster - Sky News
4. Yumi Stynes - Channel [V]

Category C4 – Talent: Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Male
1. Ben Mendelsohn (Love My Way) - W Channel
2. Dan Wyllie (Love My Way) - W Channel
3. Wayne Hope (Stupid Stupid Man) - TV1
4. Rob Brydon (Supernova) - UKTV

Category C5 – Talent: Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Female
1. Claudia Karvan (Love My Way) - W Channel
2. Asher Keddie (Love My Way) - W Channel
3. Leah Vandenberg (Stupid Stupid Man) - TV1
4. Kat Stewart (Supernova) - UKTV

Category C6 – Talent: Most Outstanding Performance by a Presenter
1. David Speers (Agenda) - Sky News
2. Brendan Moar (Postcards from Home) - The LifeStyle Channel
3. Antonia Kidman (From here to maternity) - W Channel
4. Madi (Gardening for Kids with Madi) - Nick Jr.

Category D1 – Hall of Fame: Channel of the Year
1. FOX8
2. Sky News
3. Nickelodeon
4. FOX Sports
Read more...

Little Britain for Parkinson

Little Britain's Matt Lucas and David Walliams are the first guests in a new season of Parkinson airing soon on ABC. It's their second appearance with Parky.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin will also discuss their songwriting collaboration in the same episode.

And there's a swag of other exciting guests coming up including Dame Edna Everage, Helen Mirren, Liza Minnelli, Sharon Osbourne, Lionel Richie, Sheila Hancock, Shane Richie, Jeremy Paxman, Eric Idle, Joan Bakewell, Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Michael Caine, Tony Bennett, Ian McKellan, Take That, Peter Kay, Michael Palin, Patrick Kielty, Wendy Richard, Rod Stewart, Dustin Hoffman, Noel Gallagher, Daniel Craig, Ben Elton, Robin Williams, Rory Bremner, John McEnroe, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rea, Lenny Henry.

The series was recorded in late 2006.

Press Release:

In the first episode of this new series of Parkinson, Michael delves into two great partnerships. Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who have written together for nearly forty years, give an insight into how their collaboration has endured the tests of time. And Little Britain creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams talk about all their latest projects and reveal that their only argument on tour arose because David hadn't shaved before kissing Matt on stage.

Referring to a possible fourth series of their hit show Little Britain, Matt and David reveal that they are not averse to the idea despite some negative reactions to the last run.

Matt Lucas explains "People will let you know what they like and what they don't like, and the message we get from people is that they do want to see more… But maybe it's time to do, I don't know, a Lou and Andy sitcom, or maybe it's time to see the characters in a different way. But we wouldn't be averse to doing another series, and the BBC have said to us 'We'd love another series of Little Britain'".

Matt Lucas also discusses his impending marriage to partner Kevin McGee, while David reveals he has a wedding pact with Denise Van Outen.

David says: "I have a marriage pact with Denise Van Outen. We went on holiday together and we said that if we weren't married to anybody else in two years time we'd get married.

"I think when she said it she was pretty much hoping she'd be married in that space of two years, so I'd be pulling her down the aisle in tears!"

Matt Lucas: "She said it as a joke but you've taken it very seriously."

David Walliams: "I've taken it very seriously yeah, you could do a lot worse..."

Parkinson returns 10:20pm Saturday April 28 on ABC. Read more...

William McInnes as PM Curtin

Respected actor William McInnes will star as John Curtin in the ABC's new telemovie airing in late April.

Curtin became Prime Minister of Australia in 1941, just before Pearl Harbor was bombed and the Japanese were heading for Darwin. But he found himself at virtually at war with Churchill and his own cabinet, in a battle to defend Australia as he saw fit.

This biography written by Alison Niselle (Janus, Phoenix) and directed by Jessica Hobbs (Love My Way, McLeod's Daughters) will also feature Noni Hazelhurst who plays wife to McInnes for the second time, as she did in the ABC's 2006 telemovie, Stepfather of the Bride.

Press Release:

In the life of all Prime Ministers, comes the moment that tests the mettle of the man. In the life of every nation, comes the moment that tests the mettle of its people.

For John Curtin and Australia those two moments meet in 1941. This is where our story begins…

As Leader of the Opposition, Curtin (William McInnes) seems poised to reach out and claim his rightful destiny - the Prime Ministership of Australia. But he refuses to make a desperate grab for power. He waits for the government to self destruct. With the war against Hitler intensifying, the last thing the public wants is a weak and bickering government. Curtin is the only man deemed fit for the job. Power becomes his.

Curtin no sooner moves offices when the Pacific erupts. Pearl Harbour is bombed. For the first time, Australia lives in fear of invasion. The Japanese are working their way down through Asia with alarming ferocity. Australia is completely unprepared.

Blow by blow, we follow Curtin - our guide, our confidante, through a chilling and tumultuous ride over six months behind the walls of power. We pick up and run to get our footage, pry through half open doors, eavesdrop in the corridors - whatever it takes to keep our subject in focus.

Curtin lives and breathes his work and is forced to endure the deluge alone, while his wife Elsie, (Noni Hazlehurst) attends to her ailing mother back home. Then, Darwin is bombed. Australian defences are crushed.

Curtin battles via cables with the Empire's heavyweight, Churchill, to reroute Australian troops to defend home soil. It quickly becomes a monumental battle of wills with Curtin fighting both Churchill and members of his own government. Curtin's health deteriorates rapidly as he desperately seeks support.

This is a raw and intimate story of a driven and inspirational leader - a man who struggles to battle his own personal demons while serving and protecting a country at war.

Curtin premieres 8:30pm Sunday April 22 on ABC. Read more...

Grey's spin-off update

Dr Addison in Grey's Anatomy looks set to leave Seattle Grace for Santa Monica, if the latest gossip on her new spin-off prove true.

In May the American ABC network will air a 2 hour finale which is likely to set-up an exit for her character played by Kate Walsh.

According to the LA Times, Addison will seek some romantic advice from old friends who run the Oceanside Wellness Group, a health cooperative with a successful TV health guru, a widowed alternative medicine doctor, a self-doubting therapist and a male gynecologist.

Others in the cast include Taye Diggs and Merrin Dungey.

Grey's has been a big hit for Seven in Australia, gaining huge audiences in its new Sunday timeslot. Seven was also quick to schedule Season Three on the back of Season Two.

Season Four in the US will premiere in September.
Read more...

So what's happened to Smallville?

Smallville has been pulled from TEN's schedule.

TEN has advised that the programme, which is normally a summer filler, was extended this year, but has been dropped due to low ratings.

This was tactfully manoeuvred around the Easter non-ratings season when many shows are rested for two weeks.

But Smallville won't be returning when normal programming resumes.

After a long backlog of episodes, there are about 12 more which have aired in the US to date.

Kindly credit this website when posting in other messageboards, thanks!
Read more...