ABC Television Articles

[mish]

The Australian, 28/11/02

Denton returns to head Aunty's line-up

By Patricia Karvelas, Stephen Brook

COMEDIAN Andrew Denton will return to the ABC next year to spearhead the national broadcaster's new line-up.
Denton's first television series in seven years will be an interview program as yet untitled.
Announcing its television schedule next year, the ABC revealed programming would be dominated by comedy, including the return of Denton to the network where he cut his teeth writing and performing in shows such as The Money or the Gun and Live and Sweaty.
Also returning will be a new series of the hit show Kath & Kim, while Shaun Micallef's new legal comedy, Welcher And Welcher, will screen alongside a new series of The Chaser, The Fat and The Glass House.
Comedian John Doyle, who wrote the mini-series Changi, returns to the writing credits with the four-hour long Marking Time, the story of a country boy who falls in love with an Afghan refugee. Another mini-series will be the adaptation of Robert Drewe's book The Shark Net.
Also returning will be medical legal drama MDA and Grass Roots, the comedy drama about a local council.
While the ABC was trumpeting its new-look schedule yesterday, some old-style industrial relations problems were brewing as staff yesterday voted overwhelmingly to hold a 24-hour strike on Tuesday after rejecting management's offer of 11 per cent over three years.
It is expected most radio, television and online programming will be hit by the industrial action, which is due to begin at 11pm on Monday night.
Staff have given management until 2pm on Monday to make a better offer.

[wannabepixies]

It is expected most radio, television and online programming will be hit by the industrial action, which is due to begin at 11pm on Monday night.

thats weird, those that mean Wil and Adam and all of the J's is gonna be a bit on the chaos side of things? Or is everyone just not gonna show up and then we'll have to listen to some auto tracks from the ABC's old classic station? ...i mean, yay! though they'll prolly through some poor ol'bugger on that has little or no experience with the desk, like Wil!

[wannabepixies]

It is expected most radio, television and online programming will be hit by the industrial action, which is due to begin at 11pm on Monday night.

thats weird, those that mean Wil and Adam and all of the J's is gonna be a bit on the chaos side of things? Or is everyone just not gonna show up and then we'll have to listen to some auto tracks from the ABC's old classic station? ...i mean, yay! though they'll prolly through some poor ol'bugger on that has little or no experience with the desk, like Wil!

[Fiona Rohana]

oh no, not industrial action! Playing Classic FM on JJJ was baaaaad. The time they repeated the Hottest 100 CD was ok but got very tedious. The time they played The Money or the Gun' Stairways to Heaven was torture. Even though the Dougs popped up regulary throughout the day, there is only so many times you can hear that song.

[Munchkin]

Aussies reclaim the ABC
By David Dale
November 26, 2003

Bye bye bonnet melodramas. Bye bye BBC comedies. Bye bye cheeky English chappies cooking fine French fodder. For the ABC next year, it will be Aussie, Aussie, Aussie predominantly through prime time television.

Despite evidence that Australians are losing interest in local drama, and budget cuts that make cheap overseas buy-ins a plausible option, the ABC's director of television, Sandra Levy, yesterday announced "a significant increase in the level of Australian content in 2004".

"Mondays to Fridays at 8pm and weekends at 7.30 pm will be all Australian for most of the year," she said.

This news may shock fans of the British cooking shows that often grace the 8pm Wednesday slot, comedies that have graced the 8pm Thursday slot, and the British documentaries and dramas usually shown after the 7pm news on Saturdays and Sundays.

From next February, such shows will move to less attractive times, and their slots will be filled by 50 new and returning Australian programs, such as:

 Fireflies, a drama series about the adventures of the rural fire service in the town of Lost River "over one hot summer".

 The 1860s House, in which modern Australians will recreate the living conditions of a 19th-century squatter and his servants and station hands.

 Mondo Thingo, with Amanda Keller examining "people, events, ideas and unexpected twists" in popular culture.

 Wicked, with Australian and British chefs cooking their favourite dessert recipes.

 The New Inventors, in which "backyard boffins" present their ideas for making life easier to host James O'Loghlin.

 Our Boys, a documentary series that follows students and teachers at John Howard's alma mater, Canterbury Boys High.

 The Einstein Factor, a game show hosted by Peter Berner, which "pits ordinary Australians with a devastatingly deep knowledge of a speciality subject against a brains trust".

ABC sources said not all these programs would be fully funded and made in-house by the ABC. The network has slipped past its budget restrictions by engaging in co-productions with independent program makers allowed to sell the shows overseas.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...522607332.html

[credence]

Well that sounds very cool...however somewhat lacking in comedy shows. The only thing that shits me about that is the 8pm timeslot on wednesday - pommy cooking half hour...it's what gets me through the week, what on earth will I do now?

It's good to see the abc doing it's job though - the tv station owned by Australians should most definately contain more Australian content.

[The Comic's Lounge]

RE: Comedy on ABC

Keep an eye out for Eagle & Evans which goes to air in Feb. It's a brand new aussie comedy, filmed here in Melbourne, and it's going to smash the competition out of the water. No need to believe me, just watch it when it airs and you'll see for yourself.

There will be another live studio taping of the show in Jan. Tix are scare but I'll let you all know if any become available.

[Stevie Goss]

They've got funding for all this now?

I can hear the sultans of suburbia screeching now, "Whaddabout Behind The Nooos??!?"

[Mythor]

It's sad that the ABC bigwigs don't have the gumption to admit that axing BTN was a purely political move. Announcing all these "new" shows when they "can't afford" to keep one of their cheaper budget shows going is tacky.
It's a shame Media Watch has finished for the year. Or perhaps that's why all this is only being announced now...

[Edit: Additional]

Back on the topic, "Mondo Thingo" and "The New Inventors" (Amanda Keller's and James O'Loghlin's shows) both sound interesting.

[Munchkin]

From the Herald Sun

Paul dancing
NOTHING has been confirmed yet, but sources told The Eye that Paul McDermott will be back on the ABC next year.
McDermott will be the host of new reality show Strictly Dancing, which will see 36 dancing couples compete in one big dance-off.



I'm not sure which is funnier, that it could be true or that someone has thought it up and is spreading it around.

[Beckslee]

Originally Posted by Munchkin

I'm not sure which is funnier, that it could be true or that someone has thought it up and is spreading it around.

I can imagine it being mentioned in a gud show as a joke, and then someone taking it seriously

well I hope that if it does happen he'll be swanning around the dancefloor in a big red cummerbund

[Munchkin]

AbFab comeback
27 NOV 2003
From The Eye, Herald Sun

IT looks like being a big year for the ABC in 2004, with 50 new and returning Australian shows scheduled, but a couple of big-name shows might not be back.
At the programming launch in Sydney on Tuesday night, there was no mention of drama MDA or news comedy CNNN.
The Eye understands that talks are yet to decide the future of MDA, and it still could be back, perhaps in a telemovie format.
The boys of CNNN, however, are unlikely to be back. They have had enough, and the ABC wasn't interested in picking it up again.
One source said the cast could easily approach another network.
The ABC's three stars of 2003 – Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Andrew Denton – were at the launch to announce new series of Kath and Kim and Enough Rope With Andrew Denton.
All the overseas favourites, such as The Bill, will be back, plus six new episodes of ABC favourite Absolutely Fabulous.
In this series all the cast are back, including famous friends Emma Bunton, Sir Elton John and Minnie Driver.
As well as the international product, the ABC has high hopes for a range of new Aussie programs.
A 20-part drama starring Libby Tanner and Jeremy Sims called Fireflies will air next year in the 7.30pm Saturday timeslot.
There is already a buzz surrounding the new show, which focuses on fire fighters and bush fires.
One of the quirkier programs will be Strictly Dancing, which will see 36 of Australia's best dancing couples from all genres compete in massive dance competition.

[Munchkin]

Making the right moves
A bit of a buzz around the ABC's Ultimo studios about the pilot to be made there on Tuesday night for new series Strictly Dancing.
Peter Faiman is creative consultant on the series, a co-production between the ABC and Southern Star Entertainment, which will showcase 36 of Australia's most competitive dancing couples. Everything from salsa to jive, cha cha to swing, will be demonstrated.
The host of the show is tipped to be Paul McDermott. Also playing a role will be actor/choreographer John O'Connell, whose film credits include Moulin Rouge, Muriel's Wedding and Strictly Ballroom.
Daily Telegraph 11/12/03
Still

Originally Posted by Munchkin

Making the right moves
A bit of a buzz around the ABC's Ultimo studios about the pilot to be made there on Tuesday night for new series Strictly Dancing.
Peter Faiman is creative consultant on the series, a co-production between the ABC and Southern Star Entertainment, which will showcase 36 of Australia's most competitive dancing couples. Everything from salsa to jive, cha cha to swing, will be demonstrated.
The host of the show is tipped to be Paul McDermott. Also playing a role will be actor/choreographer John O'Connell, whose film credits include Moulin Rouge, Muriel's Wedding and Strictly Ballroom.
Daily Telegraph 11/12/03
Still

I wonder how long that will last, give it amounth and he'll quit.

SoS

[Abundance]

There's an audience call for The New Inventors hosted by James O'Loghlin for Friday 20 February at 12.30pm. Contact the ABC or the website. I can't go but it sounds pretty good.