AU News: Misfits S2, Friday Night Lights S1, Miranda Coming to ABC2

A day after the Green Guide sung the praises of the "multichannels", the ABC2 have made a slew of announcements letting people know why these channels have enjoyed a surge in popularity.

Your Gen Returns for 2011

In a rarely seen occurence in modern day Australian TV, a non-Underbelly, non-Rafters program has returned for another season.

Yes, Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation has returned for 2011.

Tuesday night's episode returned with Leisel Jones, Julia Zemiro and Kevin Harrington in their respective generational teams.

Now in its 3rd season, it remains quirky quiz show which is, essentially, a vehicle for Shaun Micallef. And let's face it- and it's been said before- Josh is annoying in his ignorance and constant squirming, Charlie is annoying in his smugness and his eyeball-vessel bursting laughing at Shaun and Amanda, well, never comes across as side-splittingly funny.

But it's Australian after all, and still not a bad way to pass the time. However, as we all know, no Shaun = no show. Well, at least not a good show.

Well, after 44 episodes and a celebrity list boasting nearly every network personality (well, almost) and most B-grade Australian celebrities, what's changed?

Well, there's a new chair.



Yup, on with 2011.

Talk Show Guests: Week of February 6, 2011

Take a look at the guests popping up on Australian and US talk shows this week.

Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight (ABC): Melissa George, Arj Barker, Simon McKeon, Dan Sultan and James Reyne.

The Late Session (SBS ONE, Tuesday 10:05PM): Jenny Kee, Ross Wilson, Benjamin Law, Libbi Gorr and Kamahl.

These are the dates that these US shows will air in AUSTRALIA on Free to Air TV.

Monday 7th

David Letterman (Channel Ten): Martha Stewart Justin Bieber, Robert Plant

Craig Ferguson (Eleven): Matt Lucas

The View (Channel Nine): Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Hasselbeck, Dr. Jerry Gliklich

Ellen DeGeneres (Channel Nine): Amy Adams, Channing Tatum, Bethenny Frankel

Tuesday 8th (US Monday)

David Letterman: Martin Lawrence, Steel Magnolia

Craig Ferguson: Dominic Monaghan, Gabrielle Union, Kurt Metzger

Conan O'Brien (GEM): Jeff Bridges, Nick Swardson, Far East Movement

The View: Nancy Grace

Ellen DeGeneres: Allison Janney

Wednesday 9th (US Tuesday)

David Letterman: Adam Sandler, Chris Colfer, Ty Burrell, Gang of Four

Craig Ferguson: Emily Blunt, Dr. Kara Cooney

Conan O'Brien: Craig Ferguson, Kevin Hart, RED

The View: Ed Helms, Timothy Olyphant

Ellen DeGeneres: Matthew Perry, Ray LaMontagne

Thursday 10th (US Wednesday)

David Letterman: Elton John, Elton John & Leon Russell

Craig Ferguson: Carl Reiner, Cat Cora

Conan O'Brien: 50 Cent, Chris Elliott, Ray LaMontagne

The View: Ty Burrell, Michael Fazio

Ellen DeGeneres: Justin Bieber, James Blunt

Friday 11th (US Thursday)

David Letterman: Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Bryan Ferry

Craig Ferguson: Jennifer Beals

Conan O'Brien: Seth MacFarlane, Brooklyn Decker, Dana Gould

The View: Jennifer Aniston, Michael Oher

Ellen DeGeneres: Rob Lowe, Ben McKenzie

Source: www.interbridge.com

Preview: Signs good for Ten's Traffic Light

Coming to TEN later this year is FOX sitcom Traffic Light.

On the outset, the set-up seems awfully similar- two couples plus a charismatic womaniser seems awfully similar to every other romantic sitcom on TV at the moment. Have a look at these plot summaries from wikipedia and see if you can spot the difference.

"Perfect Couples revolves around three unique couples at various stages in their relationships, yet who face similar problems."

Better with You: "The series revolves around three different relationships that are tightly intertwined in one family"

Rules of Engagement: "Two couples and their single friend deal with the complications of dating, commitment and marriage. It looks at different relationships in various stages."

Now let's see if Traffic Light is any different...

"Mike, Adam and Ethan have been friends since college, and the trio has seen each other through highs and lows.

Wow, this seems interesting...

"Now in their 30s, these men find themselves at very different stages in their lives.

Oh, right...

"Mike is a married lawyer...

"Adam recently moved in with his girlfriend...

"Ethan is the perpetual bachelor.

Yup... sounds the same. However, the title lends it a kind of uniqueness, in the way that it's like a metaphor for where they're at in their lives... yeah?

The only problem is, this means we have to endure a very crappy title.

Originally titled Mixed Signals, critics have also criticised (who woulda thought?) its bland title. It is also the latest in a long line of comedies trying to re-emulate the success of ABC's Modern Family, a show which, really, has reinvented The Office's mockumentary style to make a more accessible, more sitcom-styled show. However, it has been said to be better than some other current sitcoms, with Eric Deggans from the St Petersburg Times saying

"NBC'sPerfect Couples and ABC's Better With You are much, much worse."

Paige Wiser from Chicago Sun Times goes further to say

"The first episode’s a little stiff as the guys mark their territory, but by the fourth the show feels sweatpants-comfortable. “Traffic Light” deals mainly with trivialities, so the stakes are low. It’s easy to watch."

And there's no shortage of familiar faces, with David Denman, best known from his role as Roy in The Office (Seasons 1-3, with a guest appearance in an upcoming episode of Season 7!); Nelson Franklin also stars, who also found mainstream fame on the Office as the short-lived character, IT guy, Nick. Interestingly, he also joins the ranks of actors who have played two different characters on the same show (he first appeared as "Graphic Design Guy" in Season 4's Job Fair).

You would recognise Liza Lapira from NCIS, and Aya Cash is a relative newcomer on the scene.

Kris Marshall also stars, who starred in 2003's Love Actually. He joins the ranks of Jane Leeves of Frasier fame among others as English actors playing English characters in American sitcoms.

In Australia, it will be a good fit for Channel Ten, with its style matching Modern Family. However, don't expect any fast-tracking, unless it is a certified hit in the US.

WATCH/AVOID

 

 

Ben Eltons wants sitcom, pony, Jupiter, etc.: An education in Australian TV

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Ben Elton has already been floating ideas for an "all-Aussie sitcom" in the Herald Sun, even before the first episode of his "live sketch comedy show" goes to air.

Talk about getting ahead of yourself... or counting your chickens before they're hatched... or something. Either way, Elton isn't quite well-versed in the way of Australian TV yet. Here's a quick rundown.

If you want to have any chance of pitching a show, you need to become an established success, a proven ratings winner. You can do this one of two ways; the Shaun Micallef approach.

Pretty much the only person on commercial TV at the moment who could pitch a sitcom would be Shaun Micallef. However, this has been after years of hard work on smaller projects, such as Newstopia, Welcher and Welcher, the Micallef P(r)ogram(me), etc. You even have to endure slight ratings failures such as Micallef Tonight. However, he can lay claim to having something called "integrity". Now, he has shown that he can produce a show that rates in Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation. He is now the most powerful man on TV.

Him and Charlie Sheen.

Unfortunately.

Yes, this is the other approach you can take. But hey, that's Australian TV, you've got to accept the good with the bad and the bad and the bad.

I am almost certain that if CBS wanted to send some sort of vague message by canning Charlie Sheen/Two and a Half Men that he could fly to Australia and produce a miniseries in which Sheen just lies on the ground, a là Hasslehoff's hamburger-eating stylings. Just Call it "One Man".

If you add in another line like "One Man: It's Like Underbelly", and feature strobe-like flashing of breasts, it's already got another million viewers before you can say "Matthew Newton". Oh, and don't forget celebrity guests, or "friends", as Shane Warne likes to call them. For that matter, Shane Warne would be the perfect guest.

He would almost certainly give them their first exclusive by showing some choice videos off his mobile that he has filmed with Elizabeth Hurley.

So, if he wants to go talking up the next big sitcom, I suggest first making sure his current show Live From Planet Earth is a hit.

And just one thing, I'd suggest not to start posing with schoolgirls (or actors dressed as them). Sometimes context is important.

30 Rock Wrap - Season 6 to be Last?

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With 30 Rock returning to Australian screens this Thursday, February 10 at 11:30pm on Channel Seven, there is no better time to wrap-up the past 4 stellar seasons.

The show could be seen as a vehicle for its two central actors; Tina Fey- arguably Hollywood's funniest woman- and Alec Baldwin- whose deadpan delivery perfectly complements the beautifully frazzled Fey.

According to Wikipedia, its first 4 seasons have averaged 5.8, 6.4, 7.5 and 5.9 million viewers, respectively. So far, its fifth season has averaged 5.4 million viewers.

However, despite being its lowest rated season to-date, it seems to have regained its spark that was somewhat lacking during the fourth season.

This is despite both of the main characters (Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy) being in successful, stable relationships- usually classic shark-jumping material.

Most importantly, it has been renewed for a sixth season, which many speculate will be Baldwin's last, due to his none-too-frank revelation in Playboy magazine;

"I’m done in 2012"

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