Tag Archives: FOXTEL

Comedy, Drama, FRONT, TV

Orange Is The New Black Pulls No Punches

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Laura Prepon and Taylor Schilling

Tonight’s second episode of Orange Is The New Black (airing on Showcase 8:30pm) is funnily enough titled “Tit Punch”.  It’s not often you find shows willing to be so blatant about it’s episode titles.

For those still yet to tune in, think Wentworth but not as dark and with stereotypical male prison guards (sleazy and greasy) yet has some insanely graphic scenes that may make you squirm.

After last weeks episode, “Tit Punch” still wants to remind us that Red (played wonderfully by an almost unrecognizable Kate Mulgrew) served Chapman (Taylor Schilling) a tampon in her lunch.  It was a VERY full-on scene and the fallout of Chapman’s rant against Red’s cooking continues on tonight.  We finally also get a little insight into ‘Reds’ back story leading up-to how she found herself in prison.

The best scene in tonight’s episode is another showdown between Red and Chapman.  She’s still being starved out by the prison chef and has had enough!

Orange Is the New Black airs tonight on Showcase, 8:30pm

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Comedy, Drama, FRONT, TV

First Look: The Carrie Diaries Season Two

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AnnaSophia Robb as Carrie Bradshaw

Carrie Bradshaw is back for an all-new season of The Carrie Diaries and it looks like the fallout from Sebastian’s (Austin Butler) hookup with Maggie (Kate Findlay) in the first season finale will be playing a major part in season two.

In the season two promo below, not only do we see Sebastian and Maggie dealing with the fallout, we also get a first glimpse of Lindsay Gort in action as a young Samantha Jones doing everything we knew and loved about Samantha in Sex and the City.

What can we expect for this up-coming season?  The Carrie Diaries director Norman Buckley let us in with some details that while the relationship between Sebastian and Carrie will be frosty to start off with, there will be a reunion between the two to look forward to!  Until then though, we can expect Carrie to move onto a new love interest in the form of Adam Weaver (Chris Wood) – a ‘wunderkind playwright type’ in New York.

Along with new character Samantha Jones, another Sex and the City alum will be popping in, in the form of Stanford Blatch!  While it was slyly announced during season one that Stanford and Bennett were roommates, it appears we’ll finally get to meet Carrie’s BGF (best gay friend) thanks to the evolving relationship between Walt and Bennett.

The Carrie Diaries season two begins Tuesday October 29th @ 8:30pm.

 

 

FRONT, Local TV, Reality Television

Embarrassing Bodies Down Under Sets Premiere Date

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Dr Ginni Mansberg, Dr Sam Hay and Dr Brad McKay

It’s the show everyone loves to watch then talk about the next day and now, the Australian version of the popular medical lifestyle show Embarrassing Bodies has finally been given an air date!

Along with Dr Christian Jessen, medical proffessionals Dr. Ginni Mansberg, Dr. Sam Hay and Dr. Brad McKay have all been checking out our lumps, bumps, oozy bits and wobbly sections all for our viewing pleasure!

Check out the synopsis below of whats to come:

From inverted nipples and ‘bingo wings’ to testicular cysts and anal warts, these are just some of the issues faced by the everyday Australians featured on Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, a new local production premiering Tuesday October 29 at 9.30pm AEDT on LifeStyle YOU.

Following the same core principal “there’s no shame, we’re all the same”, the local incarnation of this daring and provocative health series will feature the charismatic Dr Christian Jessen from the UK version, alongside three straight-talking Aussie GPs – Dr Ginni Mansberg, Dr Sam Hay and Dr Brad McKay.

Together, these doctors will tackle the obscure medical conditions of the Australian public in an attempt to dispel myths surrounding these sensitive issues, while also spreading important health messages.

Embarrassing Bodies Down Under will showcase an array of highly embarrassed patients, young and old, who suffer from visually shocking and personally mortifying conditions, and are all desperate for some much needed medical attention.

In episode one, on Tuesday October 29 at 9.30pm AEDT, viewers will meet a man suffering from pilonidal sinus or “two bum holes”; a young woman with an abnormally high-pitched voice; an older woman with excessive skin flaking; and a man whose quest to be hair free has left him with multiple sebaceous cysts on his scrotum.

The series will give an intimate insight into not only the patient’s treatment, but also their attempts to cope with the emotional and psychological impact of their illnesses.

How fabulous!  “Multiple sebaceous cysts on his scrotum”

Speaking with Dr. Brad McKay, he says “All the patients are amazing but I nearly cried watching the ‘girl with the high pitched voice’ tell her story.  Also, keep an eye out for my public service announcement on chilies!”

The 8 episode Embarrassing Bodies Down Under is set to begin on Tuesday, October 29th @ 9:30pm on Lifestyle YOU!

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Comedy, Foxtel, FRONT, PayTV, TV

Review: The Crazy Ones

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Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar – Photo Credit: Robin Williams Twitter

You know how Robin Williams can sometimes be a little too Robin Williams?  It’s annoying isn’t it?  What starts out funny turns into a 10 minute gag with multiple characters and accents and lots of uncomfortable laughter from those on the receiving end. Thankfully, Robin Williams is only slightly Robin Williams in The Crazy Ones.

This show seems like the perfect fit for Williams’ return to series television.  As legendary advertising agency exec Simon Roberts, he still gets to flex his funny bone but there are some serious undertones in Roberts’ back history (divorce and possibly depression) that keep Williams grounded enough to ensure he doesn’t fly too much into the crazy Robin Williams category.

Playing the perfect polar opposite is Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Simon’s straight-laced and all professional daughter and co-partner Sydney Roberts.  Gellar easily holds her own with grim professional determination playing opposite Williams and the two bring a believable father/daughter relationship on screen.

There’s also some great casting in the co roles with Hamish Linklater (The New Adventures of Old Christine), James Wolk (Mad Men) and Amanda Setton (The Mindy Project) who all get their fair share of laughs.

This first episode brings us straight into the action with a wayward Simon and a worrisome Sydney desperately trying not to loose their biggest client in McDonald’s.

The Crazy Ones premier’s on Sunday October 20th on FOX8 via Foxtel.

BTW  – keep and eye out for singer Kelly Clarkson playing herself in this episode.  She’s piss funny and should be brought back for more!

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Comedy, FRONT, Local TV, PayTV, TV

FOX8 Picks up The Crazy Ones

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Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar star in the new comedy The Crazy Ones

I had been waiting to hear which free-to-air channel would pick up new comedy The Crazy Ones due to premiere in the USA shortly and in a surprise move, Fox8 have picked up the rights to air the comedy starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar.  The comedy set inside an advertising agency sees Williams playing father to Gellar and is William’s return to series television since Mork and Mindy.

Oscar-winner Robin Williams returns to his television roots with his signature brand of humor in the inspired workplace comedy from 20th Century Fox TV, The Crazy Ones. As a renowned advertising genius whose unorthodox methods would get him fired – if he weren’t the boss – he heads a powerful agency with the biggest clients and brands in the world. The office is staffed with an eclectic group intent on keeping his antics in check, including his daughter Sydney (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who often questions her father’s sanity while trying to make a name for herself in the advertising world.

The Crazy Ones is set to premiere Sunday October 20th on Fox8

 

Drama, FRONT, Local TV

Wentworth Back for Season 2

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Nicole Da Silva as Franky Doyle in Wentworth

FOXTEL announced that it’s popular prison drama Wentworth has been picked up for a second season.

It’s no surprise considering the pilot episode of Wentworth was the most-watched non-sports program in Australian subscription television history, with a total average audience of 631,000 viewers.  Throw in gritty story-lines, a fantastic all-star cast and the fact it’s actually a great remake of a classic Aussie TV series – A second season was bound to come.

The show has already been sold to New Zealand and the UK.

Season one, which concludes after 10 episodes on July 2nd, followed Bea Smith’s (Danielle Cormack) first foray into an all-women’s prison after being charged with the attempted murder of her abusive husband.  Her struggles to cope within the sometimes violent confines of prison provide some ups and downs for Bea and before she knows it, finds herself in the middle of a war between Franky Doyle (Nicole Da Silva) and Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade) and their followers.

The season one finale will finale reveal the truth behind the riot that saw the murder of the Wentworth Correctional Centre’s Governor Meg Jackson (Catherine McClemments), leading a confrontation between Bea Smith and a killer ending in a deadly result.

Season two begins production later this year and is set to air in 2014.

Wentworth airs Wednesday Nights 8:30pm on FOXTEL (SoHo Channel)

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FRONT, Local TV, Reality Television

Embarrassing Bodies; The Down Under Version

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Embarrssing Bodies Doctors; Dr. Dawn, Dr. Christian and Dr. Pixie

There’s no denying that UK based medical reality show Embarrassing Bodies is addictive TV viewing.  The show which gives us the chance to witness the embarrassing lumps and bumps and rashes and gashes of the everyday person (sometimes through closed eyes) has garnered itself a mild cult following among viewers….and it’s coming to Australia.

Titled Embarrassing Bodies Down Under (I’m sure there’s a pun to be had there) is being commissioned by Foxtel for the Lifestyle YOU channel and is currently filming outside Parramatta Town Hall (today May 28th and tomorrow Wednesday May 28th).

UK host Dr Christian Jessen will be joined by three Australian doctors.

“The first stop is Parramatta, with the clinic located outside the Town Hall on Church Street, Parramatta. Potential patients can simply drop in for a consultation with one of the doctors. Alternatively, they can head to the website for more details: http://www.lifestyle.com.au/embarrassingbodies.”

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FRONT

Heather Locklear’s Return to TV, Talks Melrose Place Remake.

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Heather Locklear Returns to TV in FX’s Franklin & Bash

FX Channel’s courtroom drama series “Franklin & Bash” starring Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar is to add a new name to it’s cast list with Heather Locklear joining the drama in season three.

Locklear helped boost flagging 90’s drama Melrose Place when she joined as a guest star and earned herself the reputation of a ‘show booster’ and when talks of a Melrose remake began surfacing, Locklear was the first person approached to sign on.  She declined and instead Laura Leighton was the first to sign, on reprising her role as hooker with a heart of gold Sydney Andrews.

The show lasted only one season and when asked about the ill-fated Melrose remake, Lockear says “I think they should have brought some of the older characters back a little more, to introduce the new kids.  It’s a little tougher just having a new cast and calling it the same thing. I think people get mad.”

“Franklin & Bash” is aiming for extra attention by hiring Locklear as Rachel King, the take-charge new partner in the title characters’ law firm.

Rankling & Bash airs Thursday nights on FX at 7:30pm on FOXTEL

Original Source: Zap2it.com
Drama, Local TV

Reborn: Prisoner becomes Wentworth

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Danielle Cormack as Bea Smith in Wentworth.

Television, in the last few years, has not delivered well in the area of classic remakes.  Straight off the bat, Aaron Spelling soapie Melrose Place was rebooted by the CW network in the US back in 2009 and failed miserably.  Even with the addition of original cast members such as Laura Leighton, Josie Bissett and Heather Locklear, the show dived into a sinkhole that had no hope of survival.  Beverly Hills 90210 also received a reboot a year before by the same network and while after 5 seasons, it’s still on the air, it does not hold the same following as the original show once did.

Aussie classic Prisoner is about to get the same treatment thanks to Foxtel and the SoHo Channel in the form of Wentworth.  Prisoner was a game changer for television back in the 70’s and 80’s in how women were depicted in scripted television yet was a slightly dodgy and kitchy classic with larger than life characters and memorable one liners

By all reports, from those who have been lucky enough to see the first episode, we, the general public, are the suckers for having to wait until Wednesday to catch the pilot episode.  Gone are the dodgy cardboard sets and the over-the-top melodrama that Prisoner was known for, instead, we get a steely eyed head first decent into the hard edged world filled with hard edged women, living a life in Wentworth.

Those familiar with the original will apparently notice subtle references to the original and characters including Doreen, Lizzy, Frankie Doyle and Vera Bennett return headlined by Bea Smith played this time round by Danielle Cormack.  Along with Cormack, familiar faces including Catherine McClements and Kate Atkinson all appear.

From all accounts read, Wentworth appears to be a diamond in the rough that is not only for reborn classic television, but also for Australian drama.

Wentworth premieres this Wednesday, May 1st, on Foxtel’s SoHo Channel.

Drama, FRONT, Soap Opera, TV

Dumped: Channel 9 Drops Days Of Our Lives

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Cast members of long-running soap Days Of Our Lives

Long-running daytime soap opera Days Of Our Lives, has, after 45 years, been dropped from the schedule on Channel 9.  A regular in the long list of daytime soaps aired, Days Of Our Lives (or DOOL for short) was dropped for ‘commercial reasons’ according to Channel 9.

It is anticipated the series, which is averaging 120,000 viewers a day and often wins its time slot, will be picked up by pay-TV.  Back in 2007, Channel 9 also dropped popular soap ‘The Young and the Restless‘ from it’s lineup only to have the show snapped up by Foxtel.

While the network may claim ‘commercial reasons’ for dumping the soap, it is believed that 9 dropped the show in a bid to re-vamp it’s daytime lineup after success with the networks ‘Mornings‘  show at 9am plus the addition of the steady stream of advertorial revenue available in breakfast and morning television is ripe for the return of local midday or afternoon programming.

DOOL will have it’s final airing on commercial television, Friday April 26th.  The NBC Network in America has commissioned the show to at least September 2014.

Update: Feb 2014 – Foxtel picks up Days Of Our Lives