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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - Page 17
www.MelbourneObserver.com.au
TV Times
7-DAY TV GUIDE LIFTOUT
Wednesday, August 22 - Tuesday, August 28
Cyclops
Paralympics next week
● Paralympic Games 2012
■ The Paralympic Games will be broadcast from next week on ABC1. Telecasts start with the Opening Ceremony, at 5.20am on Thursday, August 30. Highlights will be replayed at 6pm. ABC1 and ABC2 will have more than 100 hours of coverage of the 11 days of competition, including the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies (Sept. 10). The British band, Coldplay, will feature. ABC identity Adam Hills and sports presenter Stephanie Brantz will anchor the coverage from London. Karen Tighe will present each morning’s coverage on ABC1, with Stephanie presenting a night-time highlights package. ABC sports presenters joining the coverage include Amanda Shalala, Clint Wheeldon, Gerry Collins, Peter Wilkins, Quentin Hull, Peter Walsh and Darren Boyd. Former Australian paralympians Tony Sachs, Heath Francis, Amy Winters and Katrina Webb will provide expert commentary. There will be 21 sports, 503 medal events and 4233 athletes.
The Observer’s One-Eyed TV Critic ... He Has No Fear
So long Phyllis 2 mil. viewers
NEWSROOM RULES ● Lachy Hulme as ‘KP’ ■ Howzat: The Kerry Packer War attracted more than two million viewers when Nine debuted the series on Sunday night. It is the largest audience for a TV mini-series in recent times.
The GCB Story
● Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy in Newsroom (8.30pm Mondays, SoHo, Foxtel) ■ Just occasionally, once every few years, comes a program that grips you. Such is Newsroom, which started on Monday (8.30pm) on cable TV’s new station, SoHo. ■ There are rumours Newsroom stars Jeff Deniels as anchor Will McAvoy, that Ten’s Everybody who had lost his passion for his job, but finds it re-ignited Dance Now will be when Executive Producer MacKenzie McHale (played by moved to the network’s Emily Mortimer) arrives. secondary station, Monday night’s first episode was superb. The people Eleven. who brought us West Wing have assembled excellent castAndrew Cam, execuing, intelligent scripting and fine production. tive producer of EveryIt does an old newsman good to see such a show, mirbody Dance Now has left roring the passion for journalism that does still exist in the series hosted by Sasome quarters. It was like a blood transfusion. ● Sarah Murdoch rah Murdoch. - Ash Long, Editor
Everybody Dance Now
Media Briefs
Our favourites
JMH suspended
■ Would I Lie To You? airs on ABC1 at 9.40pm on Wednesday next week (Aug. 29) on ABC1. The UK comedy show enters its fourth season. ■ Male Hookers Uncovered will be broadcast at 9.30pm this Friday on ABC2. It is billed as a fearless investigation into the male escort business. ■ SBS One is featuring Rainman Goes tTo RocKwiz (11pm, Saturday) when Mark Boerebach visits the show. ■ André Rieu: Under The Starts is the latest in SBS One’s Friday afternoon two-hour concerts (1pm).
■ John-Michael Howson has been suspended for four weeks from his 3AW Sunday Mornings spot ... soon after he will be of on a New York tour, escorting Melbourne travellers in a group organised by Anne Rogers. And - while John-Michael is again making headlines - is there a Melbourne showbiz scribe trying to reignite a fued with JMH?
● John-Michael Howson
■ Has Cyclops’s TV screen grown - or is Peter Hitchener pinching Bert Newton’s lunch?
● Good Christian Belles ■ Seven debuted GCB at 9pm on Monday. Kristin Chenoweth (above) is one of the Texas belles to feature in the program which is variously being described as ‘eye candy’ ... or even ‘soft porn’. It’s botox and boobs galore, if that takes your fancy. “This new US super-soap is predicated more on its potential to be talked about than enjoyed,” wrote Fairfax critic Paul Kalina. And what does GCB stand for? Good Christian Belles ... or even Good Christian Bitches, according to
● Phyllis Diller ■ Yesterday’s news of the passing of comedienne Phyllis Diller, at age 95, comes as a blow. Diller was one of the last of the Hollywood breed, in the mould of Bob Hope. Diller retired at age 90, but maintained her library of gags, all written on cards at her Los Angeles home.
Up in the air
● Natalie Bassingthwaite ■ Are female talent quest feamle judges encouraged to throw their arms in the air to add movement to their static judging position. Nat Bass does it on X Factor. Dannii Minogue did it on Australia’s Got Talent. It’s not the most flattering look for a lady. ■ The Ten Network continues its woeful performance in the ratings. Can Of Worms premiered on Monday with just 590,000 viewers. Don’t Tell The Bride attracted just 583,000.
internet gossip.
TV Times Tele-Grams
Big Brother is not pulling the audiences that the Nine Network would ★ prefer. Sonia Kruger’s nightly audience dropped beneath the magic million mark at the weekend, but recovered to 1.2 million on Monday this week. Kruger has been appearing on the Breakfast and 3pm Pick-Up radio programs (Mix 101.1) hosted by former BB contestant Chrissie Swan. The X-Factor’s premiere show (Seven) topped Monday night’s rat ings with 1,598,000 in metro markets across Australia. Underbelly Badness attracted 1.2 million viewers for the Nine Network. Seven Network did well in the ratings last night (Tues.) with its double episode of Winners And Losers following X Factor.
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