Logie contenders

For the GOLD

Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Andrew Denton
Rebecca Gibney
Adam Hills
Simmone Jade MacKinnon
Rove McManus
Kate Ritchie
Ian Smith

Ummm, I actually had to google Simmone Jade MacKinnon - how the hell did she get on the list? I thought McLeod's Daughters got boned last century?

As has been the tradition of late the person to have recently retired will get the gold (John Wood, Kate Ritchie) - so go Ian Smith who recently finished up on Neighbours where he's been on-again-off-again since 1987 as the bumbling "Harold" - although Kate Ritchie is seemingly trying to go for double or nothing and steal his glory.

In the other categories there are some sentimental favourites; Most Popular Actor, the late Mark Priestley of All Saints and Most Popular Presenter, Andrew Denton for the much missed Enough Rope.

I couldn't really care less for the nominees in most of the other categories - however I'm torn between SBS's First Australians and ABC1's The Howard Years in the doco category.

The comedy category looks good;

The Hollowmen, ABC1
Mr Firth Goes to Washington, SBS
Review with Myles Barlow, ABC1
Very Small Business, ABC1
Mark Loves Sharon, Network Ten (the notable 'crap one' of the category)

Who's missing??
Rockwiz - how the hell did Deal or no Deal get into the 'popular light entertainment' category and not Rockwiz? - Travesty.

I also think the best new talent who is nowhere to be seen in the noms is Zoe Ventoura of Packed to the Rafters - I fell in love with her on SBS's Kick in 2007 - she just lights up the screen.

Also missing; Newstopia - needs no explanation - Shaun Micallef is a comedy God.

Today Tonight Bollocks

A 36 year old woman with 15 kids was the opening story of today's episode of supposed current affairs show Today Tonight (channel 7, 7pm).

The story is of the "poor Aussie battler" variety - you see, the darling has had to ditch some of the kiddles because no home is big enough for them all ... get ready for the collective "ohhhhhhhhh".

She and the hubby don't believe in abortion you see - interestingly I didn't see any crucifix over the kitchen table and I doubt the woman is familiar with the story of the virgin Mary - so I'm wondering, ever heard of contraception?

Reminds me of a catchy Monty Python number;



I can't believe no one on the TT team didn't think of using that song! It's right up their alley and would save the gratuitous use of stock footage.

I'm looking forward to seeing the same woman in next weeks "Welfare Cheat" story where it's uncovered that she has been receiving Parenting and Families payments for the children not in her care.

Youtube Philosopher

It's been around for a while;



Worth another look.

Look-a-like?

I was just watching Red Dwarf (series 7) on ABC2 which features the brilliant Ace Rimmer ("Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast") and started thinking ... he looks remarkably like a certain host of ABC's Spicks and Specks, no?

... I even know someone who might suggest that Adam Hills is also a charming and handsome super-hero.

Meanwhile, I suppose it goes without saying that the less handsome, less endearing, suspiciously similar looking character of Arnold Rimmer has the same uncanny likeness ...


I'm not altogether sure if it's a compliment to Adam Hills or actor Chris Barrie, or both or neither.

Meanwhile, whilst I'm on the subject of Red Dwarf, UK digital channel Dave will be hosting a 3 part, 21st anniversary special over Easter - all new episodes! Here's more. (BTW, channel Dave is also the UK home of my beloved Chandon Pictures).

Got a Hunch this will be big ...

Caterina Fake, co-founder of photo-sharing website Flickr, has a new project in the pipelines and it looks fantastic!

It's called Hunch and is an interesting spin on question/answer type sites. It's not for the public yet but you can check out more here.

I can't wait for it to tell me I should quit my day job!! *wink*

Upcoming Film - Samson and Delilah

New Australian film, Samson and Delilah, (by Warwick Thornton) recently made waves at the Adelaide Film Festival and will be showing around the country from May 7th.

The film stars young indigenous actors Rowan McNamara (Samson) and Marissa Gibson (Delilah) who play two kids living in a remote community in the Australian desert. When tragedy strikes they turn their backs on home and embark on a journey of survival.

It's rare that a trailer makes your spine tingle - this film looks to be something really special.

For more info and to check out the trailer, click here.

VERDICT - see last post

Well - Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure is a triumph.

It is sweet, funny, entertaining and a little bit naughty.

Love it.

Soon my pretty ...

The anticipation is killing me. God I hope it's good.


If you don't know who this is you've been living in a cave - Lawrence has been spruiking his new show (ABC1, Wednesday 9:30pm) all over the place - it looks good - he seems lovely - I already know 2 girls that want to marry him - let's just hope the show is actually worth watching!!

John Farnham goes Banana's

Saw this last night in an ad break for Rove ...



Ummm, talk about trying to cash-in on Gen Y's new found appreciation of the awesomeness that is John Farnham (- a direct result of the Coldplay/Farnsy duet at the recent Sound Relief concert in Sydney).

The really annoying thing is that the audio and image are COMPLETELY out of sync!!

Here is the original Phil Collins version incase you've been living in a cave.

Channel 10 Promo's

While I'm on Channel 10, I absolutely love these new promo's;



and



The text is bollocks ("Life. Life without Trust" ... huh?) but the costumes and cinematography is beautiful. Nat. Bassingthwaite and the Neighbours girls look particularly gorgeous.

Britters Speech Impediment

I just switched on the teev and was affronted by the latest Britney Spears video clip for her new song "If U Seek Amy" (please note the artistic use of the letter 'U' replacing the word) ... which begs the initial question, "Who the fuck is Amy?" ... - but should it be "Who is fucking Amy?" - explanation; I couldn't figure out what she was saying and decided it was suitably stupid to make fun of here - so googled the lyrics and here's what I found;

Version 1:

La la la la la la la la
la la la la la la la la (2x)

Oh baby baby have you seen Amy tonight?
Is she in the bathroom? Is she smokin up outside? Ouuh
Oh baby baby does she take a piece of lime
For the drink that I’ma buy her
Do you know just what she likes so?
Oh oh tell me have you seen her
Cuz I’m so-oh oh
I can’t get her out of my brain
I just wanna go to the party she gon’ go
Can somebody take me home?
Ha ha he he ha ha ho

Love me, hate me
Say what you want about me
But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to If U Seek Amy
Love me, hate me
But can’t you see what I see?
All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to If U Seek Amy
Love me, hate me

(... and so on and so forth - I won't punish you with the rest).

The interesting thing is that a second version I found had a distinctly different message in the chorus;

Love me hate me, say what you want about me
But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to F U C K amy
Love me hate me, but can't you see what I see?
All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to F U C K amy

Either way, I vote second stupidest lyrics so far for 2009 (second to anything Lady Ga Ga pens of course).

Today Tonight in fine form

Well Today Tonight (Channel 7, 6:30pm weekdays) has been thrashing A Current Affair (Channel 9, 6:30pm weekdays) in the ratings and I'm just assuming that it's because of these kinds of stories that we have NEVER heard before and that are completely NEW and CURRENT as all "current affairs" stories should be;

Exhibit A:
Pie in the Sky: Takeaway Myths Tested
(how much "meat" is in a meat pie? - I remember this story on ACA circa 1995 ... then Today Tonight 2 years ago ... then ACA two months ago ...)

Exhibit B:
Supermarket Rip-Off
(good old "supermarkets ripping you off in rich areas" story - comparing supermarket prices in different postcodes ... also revolutionary).

But it's pearls like this one that really make the difference;

Click here for the full story (at your own risk).

I sometimes have a good laugh over TT and ACA stories but then the reality that (a) there are people out there that watch and believe this crap and (b) the people in the stories actually exist and may live near me sinks in and I have to take a valium.

"Dancing About Architecture" on C31

Great new show on Channel 31 - but if you're not in Melbourne, anyone can watch online here.

The show is described on the site as;

"A frequently hilarious, always vibrant, funny and engaging panel show, presented by some of Australia’s brightest voices in rock criticism, Dancing will find its hosts, well, dancing about architecture: talking about music. Whether it’s the latest or the greatest, from CDs to DVDs and MP3s, music blogs to boutique 7″ labels, Dancing wants to talk about it - and tell you all about it."



Hosted by the talented and gorgeous Clem Bastow (centre) and featuring Frankie's Mia Timpano and music critic Tim Finney it's hard not to love.

Check out episodes 1, 2 and 3 on the website.

Sue! sue! sue!

Re last post;

So Pauline will be taking legal action against the Tele and all media outlets that have published the pics due to her claiming that they are false.

If Pauline is telling the truth either (a) someone has photoshopped her head onto another body or (b) oh unholiest of unholies - there is another human being that looks like Pauline Hanson.

God help us all.

Meanwhile, the comments on this story are rather worrying ... I know that some people support Pauline's opinions and think she is great ... but it disturbs me greatly when they crawl out of the swamp and learn how to use a computer.

Pauline Pantsdown

Article: Daily Telgraph

Excuse me while I gouge my eyes out with a spoon.

Re family groups outrage over lesbians on H&A? Try explaining THIS to your kids!

No Gays in this Village

While we're on the topic of outraged Christians - this article made the front page of the Herald Sun today; Herald Sun - It's always good to know that the important news stories are prioritised accordingly.

Interestingly, in the short text in the picture box on the cover of the paper there was no mention of the saucy Skye Mangel of Neighbours (weekdays, 6:30pm, channel 10) having a pash with her bestie years ago in prime-time.

The seriously, dangerously, mind-bogglingly, infuriatingly insane part of this issue is that a kiss or a pash or a grope between two people of the same sex is, according to the Christian groups, is something that should not be seen by teens and children - it is being likened to sex and violence. Excuse the language but WHAT THE FUCK? Home and Away (weekdays, 7pm, channel 7) has near-naked teens having underage sex, taking drugs, commiting crimes and doing all manner of 'un-Christianly' things. What's a pash between friends?

This makes me feel rather ill - I can't believe that these archaic ideas can exist let alone warrant front page news. Interestingly, there were rumours that one of the Neighbours teens would be 'wrestling with their sexuality' this year - but the writers have dismissed this saying that it would be too difficult given the "family timeslot".

This reaction by the family groups is so dangerous; not only does it perpetuate the myth that homosexuality is wrong, but it is ESPECIALLY bad in that it encourages teens who might be tackling the issue of sexuality to believe that there is something wrong with them and that they shouldn't be able to express themselves. Many teen suicides can be attributed to this kind of bigotry.

Don't like it? Don't watch it. Don't want your kid to be 'gay' - lock them in the cupboard under the stairs (and swallow a cyanide pill for me).

Underbelly - too hot to handle?

Well, at least this weeks episode featured some male gratuitous nudity to make those lads that sit in their living room anxiously waiting for the next bit of tit (with their hand down their pants) feel a bit awkward. The thing is, Underbelly isn't porn - there's just a lot of sex and nudity in it. Compared to other countries Australia is pretty tame when it comes to sex on TV - and really, if you look at what is actually shown, a few frames of ass or tit in any other show would not be looked at twice, it's just that on Underbelly it's every third or fourth frame. The real shame about all the raunch on Underbelly is that the show is clearly targeted to a specific demographic - as we can tell from all the Zoo magazine ads in the commercial breaks - and is thus alienating those female (and other) viewers that might find all the sex and violence a bit offensive. Meanwhile, I can't imagine what the ratings would be if those people switched on as so far Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities has been ratings gold for Channel 9.

Here's the thing though - the story is a bit slow. The dialogue is a bit stunted. The characterisation is not all that good and they expect us to believe that EVERY woman in the 70's was attractive (including those that worked in the police force - give me strength!) But other than that it's not all that bad. Matthew Newton is stellar - although I can't watch him chop up bodies without thinking what his poor old dad would say.

If I was a right-wing Christian (and let's be honest, they're only complaining so they have an excuse to watch it) I'd be more upset about the violence than the nudity - but seeing as some of our top rating shows (CSI whatever and all those other 'forensic' type shows) are relative bloodbaths, it's only natural to find something else to be morally outraged about.

I would suggest that the moral panic has aided the shows popularity - because without it, it's just another average show - not good, not bad - but not worth the pages and pages of newspaper print debating its value.

Go Bazura Boys!

The Bazura Project

www.bazuraproject.com

Love these boys - give them a friggin' Logie already!

Media Watch story

Aussie Ladette to Lowbrow

Good LORD!! How have I ignored this all these weeks?!

Marieke Hardy in her Green Guide page of Feb 26th spoke about how the Aussie Ladette's (Ladette to Lady, Tuesdays 9:30pm on Nine) were at least 'real' women in a sea of fake, plastic fantastic "I'm excited about wallpaper" women on Australian TV ... well Marieke ... I don't know what the hell these creatures are but they are NOT women - I'm 5 minutes into tonight's episode and am having a strong urge to stab myself in the eye with a blunt object and to have any organs removed that might put me in the same category of the trash that is dirtying up my TV screen. I can safely say I don't know ANY women like these ones and they are not at ALL the kind of women I want to (a) see on television, (b) have as a role model for young girls or (c) meet in a dark alley.

You want a good, strong, intelligent female on Australian television?? Saturday, 9:20pm, SBS ... hello Julia Zemiro. As the sexy host of Rockwiz, Julia is a revelation. I am so besotted with her that not long ago I was on the verge of making a t-shirt that said "Julia for PM" - but thought better of it. And while I'm on the 'great Aussie women on TV' rant - how about the guests on Rockwiz? Last Saturday's "Tribute to the Bowl" episode had not one, not two, but THREE lovely young things (Adalita Szren, Ella Hooper and Patience Hodgson) to sigh over and which I would encourage any young girl to idolise.

Hmmmm, what would you rather hear from your daughter; "Mummy, I'm gonna be in a rock'n'roll band when I grow up!" or "Mummy, I'm gonna get a brazilian so the boys wanna root me and shit cuz I'm so hotter than that fugly slut Tegan."

Chandon Pictures

Chandon Pictures, the comedy series from Rob Carlton and Alex Weinress airs it's final episode on ABC1 this Wednesday the 11th of March at 9pm.

I've been following this show since episode 1 and have been really impressed with it. The thing is, everyone I talk to about it just doesn't like it - why?? I understand that the humour is a little dry and that the 'laugh-out-loud' moments are a little few and far between, but it is such a well-scripted, well-made series. The character development has been subtle but so revealing - and it shares something that has made everything Chris Lilley (for one) touches turn to gold; empathy.

Two weeks ago the 'Chandon Pictures' team filmed a mans living will and there was a scene where the man (John, played by Graeme Blundell) sends a heart-wrenching message to his sons - and it was unbelievably touching, (followed by a gag of course) but nonetheless that one moment was so human which is what a lot of situation comedy is missing. As with Chris Lilley's Summer Heights High, we wanted Jonah to succeed, we felt the humanity in his character - we empathised.

I am looking forward to this weeks finale and to the next series. I hope the Chandon crew succeed ... at ... ummmm ... making a good film ... among other things.