Price isn't Right for Rosie

Rosie O'Donnell has passed on an offer to host The Price is Right.

On her blog she says, "I'm in a weird position. I don't need the money," she said. "So to get my entire family uprooted from their lives and move them across the country so that I can have a fantasy childhood indulgence, you know, job... just doesn't seem fair."

O'Donnell is based in New York but the production, whch is looking for a new host after the retirement of longtime host Bob Barker is in LA.

Rosie said if the show were in New York "it would be a different story.....it looks like it ain't gonna happen."

Frankly her talents are too hot to waste on a game show.
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TiVo boss quits

TiVo is searching for a new Chief Financial Officer, its second in as many years.

Company president and CEO Tom Rogers said, "I want to reiterate my confidence in the potential of TiVo and our current business prospects and look forward to attracting someone to the organisation to continue to help us achieve our objectives."

In the US TiVo has only a 30-40% market share of a total DVR market of roughly 10-12 million systems and is yet to turn a profit.

Last month the Seven Network announced a deal to introduce TiVo to Australia and New Zealand.

Source: Digital Spy
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BBC acquires All Saints

The BBC has picked up Seven's All Saints for screening during its afternoons.

BBC head of series, Sue Deeks, said the show had "engaging" characters, "compelling" storylines and "superb" production values.

Deeks added: "We are delighted that BBC viewers are finally going to have the opportunity to see this multi-award winning series."

No word on where the Beeb will pick up the series from. It's been on air since 1998.

BBC recently lost the rights to Neighbours which went to Channel Five. Read more...

Freedom!

Free at last.

Free at last.

Thank God Almighty (and my dog Tinkerbell) I'm Free At Last!
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Open Day in Ultimo

Andrew Denton, Kerry O’Brien, James O’Loghlin, The Chaser boys, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough from Spicks and Specks, the team from Collectors, Aunty Jack’s Grahame Bond, Adam Spencer and Peter Berner are amongst some of the ABC's personalities throwing open the doors of the ABC in an Open Day to celebrate its 75th Birthday.

A two hour children's concert featuring Play School, Bananas in Pyjamas, Fifi and The Flowertots, Captain Feathersword and Postman Pat will also be staged followed by a Triple J gig featuring Youth Group, The Cockroaches, Troy Cassar-Daly and Jane Rutter.

Other celebrations will follow in other cities.

Press Release:

The ABC will open its doors to Sydneysiders on Sunday 1 July, from 10am to 4pm – 75 years to the day, from when Prime Minister Joseph Lyons proclaimed the launch of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

Roads around the Ultimo headquarters will be closed to create an ABC precinct for the day, with concerts, open studios, live broadcasting, exhibitions and nostalgia – all to say thank you to the audiences who have supported the ABC over the last 75 years.

ABC presenters such as Andrew Denton, Kerry O’Brien, James O’Loghlin, Peter Cundall, The Chaser boys, Myf Warhurst and Alan Brough from Spicks and Specks, the team from Collectors, Aunty Jack’s Grahame Bond and Rory O'Donoghue, Geraldine Doogue, Adam Spencer, Peter Berner, James Dibble, Margaret Throsby, Tony Eastley and many more will be on hand answering questions about their programs and what it takes to get them to air.

See a news studio in action and have a go at reading the news. Meet Kerry O’Brien and other ABC News journalists and presenters from ABC Radio and TV. Wander through Studio 22, the biggest digital television studio in the southern hemisphere, and see what The Chaser and New Inventors set looks like when they are ready to record a show.

Some of our best and brightest talent, both past and present, will feature live on the big stage at Aunty's 75th Big Birthday Gig. There is a two-hour children's concert hosted by Play School’s Jay Laga’aia from 10am to midday with Bananas in Pyjamas, Fifi and The Flowertots, Captain Feathersword and Postman Pat providing entertainment for the youngsters. ABC stars from TV and Radio will then take to the stage from 2 – 4pm, along with great Australian acts like Youth Group, presented by triple j, The Cockroaches, Troy Cassar-Daly and Jane Rutter.

The walkway behind the ABC will host live broadcasts from local radio throughout the day starting with ‘Macca’, everyone’s favourite Aussie, who will broadcast Australia All Over live from 5.30am – 10am. 702 ABC Sydney will then present a special live Weekends broadcast hosted by Simon Marnie, featuring all the 702 presenters – Adam Spencer, Virginia Trioli, James Valentine, Richard Glover and James O'Loghlin, between 10am and 12noon.

The ABC Science Lab will feature a series of presentations from some of our favourite experts including Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki; Paul Willis from Catalyst; Bernie Hobbs from The New Inventors; Surfing Scientist Ruben Meerman and Natasha Mitchell, presenter of Radio National’s All In The Mind.

Catch up with your favourite ABC magazines Delicious, Life Etc and Limelight at the magazine tent, or sample some of the more recent offerings from abc.net.au, including music from dig, dig Jazz or dig Country at the ABC Innovation Pod.

The ABC Exhibition Trailer will also be stationed at the Harris Street entrance of the ABC,featuring an ABC TV and Radio studio, which is used to demonstrate the magic of chromakey and feature junior radio broadcasting – that means kids can come on board the trailer, be a junior TV or radio presenter, and take home their free disc as a souvenir.

ABC Managing Director Mark Scott, who will help cut the ABC’s birthday cake on the day, said that for 75 years the ABC has been a distinctive part of the Australian way of life.

"This open day is a chance for people to celebrate the history of the ABC and to experience their ABC in a unique way," Mr Scott said.

"With 60 Local ABC Radio stations across the nation, from Broome to Hobart, Cairns to Newcastle – the ABC is at the heart of many local communities, whether it's listening to one of our 4 national radio networks, 3 internet radio stations, watching ABC TV or ABC2, or downloading content from ABC Online – the ABC is there informing and entertaining local audiences."

A special 75th anniversary website, abc.net.au/75years, has been created to give audiences a snapshot of the ABC's contribution to Australian life during the past 75 years, with an interactive timeline, featuring video footage, stills and audio clips of some of the critical moments of the ABC’s history.

For the full program of the ABC's 75th Birthday celebrations, including the free concert program, go to abc.net.au/75years

When: Sunday 1 July 2007
Where: ABC Ultimo, 700 Harris St Ultimo
When: 10am – 4pm Read more...

Footy telemovie for ABC

Rhys Muldoon will feature as a "footballer who has fallen on hard times" in a new ABC telemovie, Valentine's Day.

The feelgood telemovie, which sees the player lumbered 200 hours of community service, will film in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Producer Tony Wright says “When we first asked novelist Peter Temple to write Valentine’s Day we wanted to tell an uplifting story set in rural Australia. A simple story about the little guy getting to fight another day. A story of great hope and redemption. Peter Temple’s sense of humanity just shines through in the script.”

Press Release:

Filming starts this week in Melbourne on the new ABC TV telemovie Valentine’s Day, a feelgood film to make us all believe it’s possible to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Valentine’s Day tells the story of Ben Valentine who drifts into a small Victorian country town of Rushworth. He quickly finds himself in trouble with the law. As a famous Aussie Rules footballer fallen on hard times, he is given 200 hours of community service coaching the town’s ‘no-hoper’ football team. But is he in fact who he seems to be?

Starring Rhys Muldoon in the lead role of Ben Valentine (Bastard Boys, Blackjack), Freya Stafford (All Saints, The Bali Project) and Anita Hegh (Last Man Standing, MDA, Stingers) the 90-minute telemovie is a co-production between ABC TV and December Films (Carbon Cops, Family Footsteps, Revealing Gallipoli).

Written by one of Australia’s most acclaimed writers Peter Temple (Bad Debts, Black Tide) and directed by award winning Peter Duncan (Unfinished Sky, Hell Has Harbour Views, Children of the Revolution), Valentine’s Day is a story about footy, about a close knit community and the fate of the local pie factory.

ABC TV’s Head of Drama Miranda Dear says, “I'm so pleased that we have director Peter Duncan back working with ABC TV Drama. It's a gem of a story about how a little faith and a good season of Aussie Rules can pull a community together. And I can't wait to see Peter bring it to life, not to mention the brilliance that Rhys Muldoon will bring to the role."

Producer Tony Wright says “When we first asked novelist Peter Temple to write Valentine’s Day we wanted to tell an uplifting story set in rural Australia. A simple story about the little guy getting to fight another day. A story of great hope and redemption. Peter Temple’s sense of humanity just shines through in the script.”

The telemovie will be shot on HD and filmed over four weeks in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Read more...

Age of Scud

Seven will air Age of Love featuring Mark Philipoussis next month.

The dating reality show which forces the tennis player to choose between women in their 20s, and women in their 40s, will screen from Thursday July 12.

Airtime is 9:30pm in Melbourne, Adelaide and perth and 8:30pm in Sydney and Brisbane.

Press Release:

Premiering on Seven Thursday July 12, Age of Love features a timely, unique twist on the reality dating show format. More than just a dating competition, it's a social experiment based on the question: When it comes to falling in love, does age matter?

Australian tennis star, Mark Philippoussis, will date 13 women from two very different groups - the “Kittens”, six fun, enthusiastic women in their 20’s, and the “Cougars”, seven beautiful, sophisticated women in their 40’s. Overall, the women’s ages range from 21 to 48 years old. As the episodes unfold, Mark and the women eventually learn that they are all living in the same luxury high-rise building. In the end, both Mark and viewers will discover if love is truly ageless.

Despite the fact that the 31-year-old had never previously dated a woman who wasn't younger than him, Philippoussis insists he doesn't care about age. "Until now, the oldest woman I've ever gone out with was four years younger than me," Philippoussis recently told People. "Age doesn't matter to me. All the women are beautiful."

Mark’s aggressive style of play soon helped him dominate Australian tennis and burst onto the international scene. By 1999, Mark had cracked the Top 10 in the world, becoming a household name almost overnight.

Mark turned professional in 1994. The next year, at the age of 19, he was the youngest player in the history of the sport to end the year in the top 50. In 1996, he upset Pete Sampras in the Australian Open, and in 2003, Mark advanced to the final at Wimbledon to face Roger Federer.

A self-professed “adrenaline junkie”, Mark has a penchant for all things fast - horses, planes, motorcycles and cars. All of Mark’s success hasn’t insulated him from the pitfalls of love. The lifestyle thrust upon him by his success - the travel, the instability - prevented him from solidifying a recent relationship.

He’s hoping that’s all about to change with Age Of Love. Read more...

Seven tells fans "the wait is over."

The Seven Network has indicated its programming department is taking notice of fansites and blogs.

In announcing the return of Prison Break and Heroes in 2007, Seven's Director of Programming and Production, Tim Worner said, "From the feedback we've been getting from fansites and blogs, the message has been very clear. Now from Seven we're sending a message back - the waiting is over."

"We'll be running Prison Break and Heroes as close to their US telecast dates as practically possible.

"Sure, we have to change the way we take delivery of the materials but it's more than that - we have to change the way we think and the way we sell these shows and at Seven we've shown we can do that," he said.

Kingdom, Murder Squad, and the miniseries Flood are amongst new titles announced by Seven for its second half of programming in 2007. Seven also confirms the launch of Shark next month, plus the return of Dancing with the Stars, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Las Vegas and Bones.

Other shows previously announced include Kath and Kim, Surf Rescue Patrol, Border Security, City Homicide, Australia’s Best Backyards, RSCPA Animal Rescue, Medical Emergency, The Force and Michael Palin's Europe.

Kingdom features Stephen Fry as a solicitor who is getting on with life after the mysterious disappearance of his brother. The ITV production aired in the UK earlier this year. Flood stars Robert Carlyle. Seven will also air Diana - Her Life In Pictures and The Last Days Of A Princess.

Press Release: (edited to avoid spoilers)

After winning 16 weeks of the 2007 TV season, Channel Seven is showing no signs of slowing down for the remainder of the ratings year – unveiling its second half line-up. Foxy ladies Kath and Kim will join a line-up of fresh new Aussie TV - including the drama City Homicide and Jamie Durie's new show for Seven, Australia's Best Backyards.

The shows Australia loves - Dancing With The Stars and Border Security - will return for new seasons...and in a bold programming move, Seven will screen the next series of Prison Break and Heroes later this year - directly after their US screenings.

Seven's Director of Programming and Production, Tim Worner said: "From the feedback we've been getting from fansites and blogs, the message has been very clear. Now from Seven we're sending a message back - the waiting is over." "We'll be running Prison Break and Heroes as close to their US telecast dates as practically possible.

"Sure, we have to change the way we take delivery of the materials but it's more than that - we have to change the way we think and the way we sell these shows and at Seven we've shown we can do that ."

In a casting coup, Aussie star Chris Vance – best known as All Saints’ Dr Sean Everleigh – is joining the next season of Prison Break – and fans won’t have to wait until 2008 to see him in action.

--- edit ---
New US series Shark will join Seven’s long list of US hit series – starring James Wood as a charismatic, cut-throat defence attorney turned prosecutor. Shark will debut on Seven next month. New seasons of other US hits Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, Las Vegas and Bones will also screen on Seven later this year.

New Australian series will include:

RSCPA Animal Rescue – an observational documentary series about the high-pressured work faced by the RSPCA, and hosted by blue Wiggle Anthony Field.

City Homicide – Seven’s new police drama series – starring Shane Bourne, Noni Hazlehurst, Daniel MacPherson, Nadine Garner, Damien Richardson and Aaron Pedersen.

Australia’s Best Backyards – hosted by Australia’s favourite landscaper Jamie Durie, taking a peek into some of the most remarkable backyards across the country.

Kath and Kim – Australia’s best loved foxy-morons return to Seven for series four of their worldwide smash hit series – starring Gina Riley and Jane Turner.

Surf Patrol – an observational documentary series that follows the tireless work of the volunteers of the Surf Life Saving Association – across Australia.

After an incredible season earlier in the year, Dancing With The Stars will return for series seven later this year - a new line-up of dancing celebrities will be announced soon. Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger will return to host the smash hit series.

Last year's number one series Border Security is back for a full new season, moving to a new night - Mondays - starting July 2. Border Security is joined by the return of its factual stablemates - the top-rating Medical Emergency and The Force .

Michael Palin's Europe - his new BBC produced travel series leads a stellar line-up of UK stars and programming to debut on Seven this year.

Other new series include Kingdom, starring Stephen Fry; a new cop series Murder Squad; the big-budget mini-series Flood - starring Robert Carlyle; and, soon on Seven, two specials to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the life of Diana - Her Life In Pictures and The Last Days Of A Princess.

Kindly link to this website when sourcing or posting, thanks!
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