TV Lounge

UPDATE: October 2007: The second TV Lounge will now replace the first which is archived here.

The TV Lounge is an open forum for you to add comments or ask questions on topics that you can't see anywhere else on the site.

So if there's something you've been meaning to get off your chest, or there's a question that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else, or comments on the site.... here is where it goes!

Comments policy: Keep it nice people. There's nothing worse than a site where people anonymously sledge off others. I'm moderating the site still so comments may not appear immediately. If you cross a line that is defamatory I may opt not to approve it. Know that I can only approve or reject comments, I can't edit. Please also refrain from promoting websites that aren't TV related and contain spoilers.

Other than that, pull up a beanbag, lay back and fire away!

This section will delete earlier comments as a way of housekeeping.
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Kath & Kim US kasting

Molly Shannon, from Saturday Night Live has been announced as America's answer to Jane Turner.

Shannon will play the role of Kath Day-Knight in the US version of the Aussie sitcom.

The sitcom, under development by NBC executive Ben Silverman (Ugly Betty, The Office, The Biggest Loser), has yet to declare its own 'Kim.'

The show is now being put together by Michelle Nader (Dharma and Greg, King of Queens) after earlier announcing it would be writer Nancy Pimental ('The Sweetest Thing'). The show has suffered several production delays as producers seek to put together the right creative team, and Silverman has moved up the ladder to a top role at NBC after he had optioned the sitcom.

Turner and Riley remain as Producers on the US version.

Source: Coming Soon.
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First Review: George Michael: Road to Wembley.

I can’t figure out if it’s his birthday, or the 10th anniversary since he was bust in an LA toilet, but for some reason this Saturday afternoon there is more George Michael on the telly than a visit to Hampstead Heath. Sorry, somebody had to say it.

The MAX Channel marathon is built around one enticing feature, George Michael: The Road to Wembley.

Playing to 90,000 Brits in June of this year, the Wembley gigs were part of 25 Live, his first concerts in 15 years. Michael was the first artist to perform at the newly-refurbished Wembley, an honour he pitched to win. In hindsight, he admits his fear of live performances had lingered far too long. But it was all he could deal with. As we well know, Michael’s recent life has had plenty to contend with: the LA arrest, a public outing, the death of a lover, legal fights with Sony, the wholesale rejection of his anti-Bush “Shoot the Dog”, driving offences, drug abuse and that walk in the park...

Despite these, his audience has rarely wavered.

The sell-out tour proved the boy still had that magic from which Wham! was born. You can easily spot those same, euphoric teenyboppers, still brandishing ‘Choose Life’ t-shirts, if perhaps a slightly larger size.

Sporting his trademark 5:00 shadow, and the odd grey hair, Michael chats about Live Aid, the Freddie Mercury Tribute and Andrew Ridgeley. Hilariously, one of the security guards refuses to allow his limousine in, because Michael has no ID pass. “I know what George Michael looks like and that’s not George Michael!” he insists. George just laughs.

Only 4 songs feature in this 60 minute doco: “Outside” (oh dear, 25 years on and he still tries to dance?), “Spinning The Wheel”, “Freedom ‘90” (complete with a blow up Statue of Liberty fellated by a British Bulldog) and Elton John’s “Idol” –when those pure, velvet vocals really come to the fore.

A mammoth “video scroll” serves as both stage and live backdrop, and a circular catwalk jutting into the audience allows the popstar to float on a sea of hands. This is but a mere appetiser of a concert any George Michael fan will demand to see in full –preferably at a stadium near us soon!

The Road to Wembley airs 1:30pm Saturday Oct 6 on MAX Channel along with ‘Style Icons’, ‘In and Out’ and ‘I’m Your Man’ specials. Read more...

Home and Away too racy as G classification

The Australian Communications and Media Authority had found the Seven Network has breached the 'G' classification rulings with three episodes of Home and Away earlier this year.

In episodes broadcast on 21st February, 23rd and 26th March, the storyline content and depiction was found to be of a 'PG' nature rather than the 'G' classification under which it airs.

The storyline in the March episodes involved Martha (Jodi Gordon) being coerced into pole-dancing by Cam (Ashley Lyons) against her will. She is shown in a crop top and short skirt to an audience of enthusiastic males. In another scene she is shown in a two piece leotard. Seven defended the depiction is being commonplace on dance floors and ballroom competitions.

ACMA disagreed.



It found the content excessive for a G classification, and as having more than a mild impact on children. It concluded that children watching unsupervised may be disturbed by the sexual exploitation of a woman by a man with whom she is romantically involved.

It also found that ten scenes on 21 February depicted a post-coital storyline between two teenagers. Half of these involved a direct discussion, in which a female character regretted having sex.

Seven will amend Home and Away to a default classification of PG as a result of the ACMA findings.

Episode synopses:

Monday March 26 Episode 4381
• The guys get more than their fair share of surprises on Peter’s bucks night.
• Kelli’s plans for Amanda are almost blown out of the water when a letter arrives from their mother.

Friday March 23 Episode 4380
• Martha falls into Cam’s trap and deeper into a darker world…
• Kelli resorts to near fatal measures to keep her plans under wraps…
• Kitty sacrifices her daughter’s happiness to save herself…

Wednesday February 21 Episode 4358
• A jealous Belle makes a hasty decision.
• Ethan continues to blackmail Amanda.
• Besotted, Lucas remains oblivious to Belle’s feelings for Drew.

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Big Brother crew host new show

The crew from Friday Night Live are returning to a new Friday programme that showcases clips and pranks from the internet.

Friday Night Download will air at 7:30pm from Friday October 26, with Mike Goldman, Bree Amer and Ryan Fitzgerald back in the hosting chairs. The announcement puts to rest some rumours that Fitzgerald was looking to step away from future work with his sidekicks.

Friday Night Live was a successful franchise for TEN, sometimes outrating other Big Brother programming.

Admittedly the idea is not dissimilar to Nine's short-lived I-Caught though with a local hosting panel.

Jamie at Home and It's Me or the Dog which currently screen on Friday nights will conclude next week.

Press Release:

Network TEN and Endemol Southern Star today announce they are bringing back Mike Goldman, Bree Amer and Ryan Fitzgerald for a new Friday night series – Friday Night Download!

From Friday October 26 at 7.30pm on TEN, Mike, Bree & Ryan will share with their fans the best of everything that’s wired, weird and on the web! From stupid jokes to hilarious bungles, pranks and parodies - Mike, Bree, Ryan and the FND crew will find the funniest, naughtiest and probably the most disturbing material found on the web and deliver it right to your television screen!

Friday Night Live was a huge runaway success this year with over 1 million viewers every Friday night tuning in to see Mike, Bree & Fitzy host the wacky Friday Night challenges faced by the Big Brother Housemates.

Soon becoming an institution for housemates and fans alike, Friday nights haven’t been the same since! Now with Friday Night Download, Mike, Bree & Fitzy promise to bring laughter, possibly tears and definitely some screeching to every viewer's Friday night! Read more...

Judges announced for Think you can Dance

The former wife of America's So You Think You can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe is one of three judges announced by TEN for the Australian production.

Bonnie Lythgoe, a British-born dancer, will be joined by Sydney choreographer Jason Coleman, and dancer Matt Lee for the reality show which airs on TEN in February next year.

Lythgoe was a judge and producer in the first series of SYTYCD. Coleman was a judge on Popstars (2000) and Lee is a seasoned young performer in Australian musicals.

TEN's chief programming officer, David Mott said, "I am so pleased to have such a vibrant and wellr espected judging panel for the Australian series of SYTYCD. The judges have achieved enormous success both in Australia and overseas and will be really valuable and inspirational to the contestants."

Press Release:

Network Ten and FremantleMedia Australia are pleased to announce the judging panel for the much-anticipated Australian series of So You Think You Can Dance [SYTYCD] will include international producer and acclaimed choreographer Bonnie Lythgoe, events-guru and choreographer Jason Coleman and one of Australia's brightest talents Matt Lee.

Bonnie, Jason, and Matt bring with them a wealth of dance and television experience. Bonnie Lythgoe was a producer for series 1 and 2 of SYTYCD [US] and judge for series 1, as well as producer for American Idol [US series 1, 2 and 3]. Jason Coleman is one of the Australian dance community's most respected stars having choreographed the opening and closing ceremonies for the Sydney Olympic Games and worked with Kylie Minogue, Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra.

Matt Lee has been a professional dancer all of his adult life, having played Jonno in the Aussie film Bootmen, worked as motion sensor principal on the animated hit film Happy Feet, choreographed music videos and performances for a string of Australian artists including Guy Sebastian and Marica Hines and is currently touring nationally with the musical stage show Miss Saigon.

TEN's chief programming officer, David Mott said, "I am so pleased to have such a vibrant and well respected judging panel for the Australian series of SYTYCD. The judges have achieved enormous success both in Australia and overseas and will be really valuable and inspirational to the contestants."

SYTYCD judge Matt Lee said, "I can't wait to get started and begin to unearth the fantastic dance talent we have in this country. Australia has some amazing dancers and now we have the chance to make them household names!"

Bonnie, Jason and Matt head to Adelaide on Sunday 7 October, to kick off the auditions. Dancers skilled in every genre from the 'street' styles of hip hop, to the best of ballroom, salsa, quickstep, jive and more are invited to come along. Auditions will then continue around the country.

SYTYCD judge Jason Coleman said, "This series offers Australian dancers an unprecedented opportunity. They will have the chance to learn from some of Australia's most respected choreographers and perform for the Australian public. I am thrilled to be a part of it and look forward to discovering Australia's favourite dancer."

The Host of SYTYCD will be announced in coming days.

For more information about the series please log onto www.ten.com.au/dance Read more...

Singing Bee launches

Last night I attended Channel Nine's launch of The Singing Bee, its new music game show which premieres this Sunday night.

Two episodes were recorded by American host Joey Fatone in Melbourne. The show combines karaoke and pop culture skills where contestants must complete musical phrases played by the resident band.

I always make it a habit not to review shows where I am in the audience, it's just never the same as watching it through the TV screen. But I will say the colourful set is identical to the NBC production (pictured here) and the audience gave a lot of enthusiasm to the simple rules and format of the show.

Fatone, who must have had little preparation for the Aussie version of the show, seemed pretty keen to get everything right and fit in with the local dancers, band and production crew.

It's not a demanding game by any means, nor is it intended to be, and it thrives on audience participation -even if the studio crowd were banned from singing the answers out loud. Most of the songs were readily identifiable so as to allow home viewers to play along.

Unlike music shows with bitchy judges, The Singing Bee is a lot more tolerant of bad singers. Just not bad lyrics.

The Singing Bee premieres 6:30pm Sunday on Nine. Read more...