Nine wins Syd / Melb but Seven takes Oz

Channel Nine managed to win the week in Sydney and Melbourne in Week 32 of ratings, but it wasn't enough to stop Seven from officially taking the rest of the country, and therefore, the overall win.

Seven shaved in ahead of Nine 27.6% to 27%. TEN had 23.1%, the ABC 17.3% and SBS 5.0%.

Had Nine taken out the week it would have been is third win for the year, but it found out the hard way, alas, it is still not the one.

Seven's best for the week continues to be its observational series including Border Security, RSPCA Animal Rescue, and Medical Emergency. Next were Seven News, Surf Patrol, All Saints, Australia's Best Backyards, Better Homes and Gardens, Today Tonight, Hot Property and Home and Away. Seven had a lacklustre Wednesday night with a movie, and immediately switched its programming for the coming weeks.

Nine's strongest show continues to be Sea Patrol followed by News, Getaway, 60 Minutes, Cold Case, Backyard Blitz and A Current Affair. Nine's What A Year performed dismally and has been bumped for Queen's Castle as of this week.

TEN had some significant wins this week, including Thank God You're Here as the week's top show. Australian Idol started well, damaging Nine's Sunday night. House, The Simpsons and NCIS were all good performers. But Thursday night was dreadful filled with repeats and nothing inspiring.

Midsomer Murders was huge for the ABC sending Seven's Grey's Anatomy and Nine's CSI whimpering. Spicks and Specks and ABC News were both strong.

Top Gear crossed the finish line for SBS ahead of Nine's What a Year.

Ratings Week 32
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Molly: "I lost the plot"

A reflective Molly Meldrum has spoken about deaths of close music industry friends which saw him turn to alcohol and "lose the plot."

The period saw him lash out at Idol host Kyle Sandilands as "fat" and a "no talent." He now concedes the interview took place while he was partying in the lead-up to the Diana concert.

Meldrum told the Sunday Herald-Sun the deaths of Billy Thorpe, Lobby Lloyd and particularly, Lynne Randell had knocked him around.

Randell was a 60s pop star who became a personal assistant. "She was classy with everything and meticulous to a point," he said. "She was everything to me."

Meldrum, who will appear as a judge on Foxtel's Singing Office is now "on the wagon."

"Absolutely," he said. "I want to focus."
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SBS tests brainiac kids

SBS will air a new locally-produced spelling bee game show Hot Spell later this month.

Designed as an Idol for spelling, thousands of kids aged 9 -13 auditioned around the country for a shot at the finals in Sydney.

SBS plans to screen the series in an event format for ten consecutive nights from 6pm Friday Aug 24.

The show is hosted by Michael Tuohy, and pits brainy kids in round-robin style spelling puzzles before a live studio audience.

SBS looks likely to get the format to air before TEN's upcoming Are You Smarter Than a Fifth grader produced by Rove McManus.

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First Review: Star Stories

“Stay away from Madonna,” warns Warren Beatty to Guy Ritchie. “She’ll drag you down like she did to Sean Penn.”

So runs the loose narrative of the irreverent Star Stories, Britain’s newest jab at celebrity life. Taking no prisoners, each 30 minute episode abandons all decorum as a host of comic actors impersonate the lives of the rich and famous. Think Fast Forward, Spitting Image and a dash of Jennifer Saunders. The current series, which has already attacked David and Victoria Beckham, takes aim at Catherine Zeta Jones, George Michael and a Jennifer Aniston lampoon titled “The One Where Jen's Husband Dumps Her For A Total Bitch.'

Next series Take That appear in “Why Our Success Had Nothing to do with Robert Williams.” And I can’t wait to see how they take down Britney Spears, Simon Cowell and Tom Cruise.

The Madonna episode is framed as ‘The Wife’s Life. A Guy Ritchie Film.’ It kicks off as a trademark heist film, reminiscent of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Ritchie narrates the moment he met Madonna, at a dinner party with Sting, Stella “I’d still be a famous designer even if me dad wasn’t famous” McCartney, and sooky la la Gwynneth Paltrow. Madge arrives late having, “put my hip out doing yoga” and Ritchie, having no idea who she is, connects instantly with her.

Flashback to Sean Penn, dressed straight out of James Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause wardrobe, on the set of Material Girl. He is, at the time, recognised as “one of the foremost actors of his generation…either that or Patrick Swayze.” He and Madonna argue heatedly until the passion overflows into her insisting he, “fuck me you fucking A-Hole and leave those dirty boots on.”

So Madge dumps Prince (he’s too short), talks Penn into shooting Shanghai Surprise, puts up with his paparazzi tirades and in turn dumps him for Sandra Bernhard. “We’re lipstick lesbians for publicity!”

Deprived of Ab Fabs and Little Britains, Star Stories is a worthy substitute. Despite any Kaballah gags, the best moment is reserved for Lourdes, whose Omen-like appearances are punctuated with a ghostly choir and all the gormless wit of Wednesday Adams. As she hands Ritchie his script of Swept Away, she eyeballs him with, “I read your script. I believe your narrative is flawed.”

Got it in one, kiddo.

Star Stories: ‘Guy and Madonna’ airs 9:30pm Wednesday Aug 22 on ABC. Read more...

Airdate: So You Think You Can Dance

TEN's American dance show So You Think You Can Dance will return on Thursday August 30, very likely in the 7:30pm timeslot.

The show was previously used as summer filler, but TEN is struggling to pad out the second half of its schedule relying on Simpsons and Law and Order franchises.

TEN had previously announced it will produce an Australian version of the reality show next year, with rumours that Todd McKenney is considering jumping ship from the popular Dancing With The Stars to join TEN.

According to The Spy Report, “Todd is apparently demanding a large pay packet for this switch if it were to eventuate” but Ten is undecided about the demand.

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Kwanten lands new vampire series

Aussie actor Ryan Kwanten has landed a role in True Blood, a new vampire series to be produced by HBO.

Excitingly, the series is to be produced by acclaimed writer-director, Alan Ball, the creative force behind Six Feet Under and American Beauty.

Ball has penned the pilot and several episodes of the drama, set in small-town Louisiana. Based on Charlaine Harris' "Southern Vampire" novel series, it follows the world of vampires, who are able to co-exist with humans by drinking a Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood. The show contains a dose of humor alongside the horror.

New Zealander Anna Paquin has also scored a role.

No airdate is yet set.

Source: Variety.
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Rome burns

It may not have been built in a day but the set of HBO's Rome burnt for three hours yesterday, damaging temples, thermal baths, bordellos, and public buildings, all made using fiberglass panels, and other materials.

The lavish set at Cinecitta has also been used for Passion of the Christ, Ben Hur and Quo Vadis.

But the fire has also setback the fourth series of Doctor Who which was preparing for a Roman-themed episode.

According to one source, most of the crucial parts have been left untouched, and producers are still hoping to go ahead with their plans.

Source: Digital Spy Read more...