ABC2's blog

8:30pm – Friday, November 27 on ABC2

In this episode, when a local teenager disappears, Gwen is drawn into an investigation that reveals a darker side of Torchwood. Hundreds of people have disappeared without trace, but why is Captain Jack obstructing attempts to find them? The answer seems to lie in the rift. Literally. And as Gwen follows the trail, she makes a shocking discovery.

The guest stars in this episode are Ruth Jones (Nighty Night, Little Britain, Gavin & Stacey) as Nikki Bevan, and Robert Pugh (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness) as the Old Man.

Captain Jack (John Barrowman) returns, as the Torchwood team reunites to fight a rogue Time Agent.

Bigger and bolder than before, Russell T Davies’ hit sci-fi series returns for more fun, adventure and excitement with Captain Jack and his alien-fighting team. With fearsome new aliens, compelling new storylines, and amazing guest stars the second series takes the close-knit Torchwood team through dare-devil action, temptation, heartache… and a life-changing event for one of the team. http://abc.net.au/iview/

8:30pm – Wednesday, November 25 on ABC2

A group of Japanese children and their passionate and tenacious teacher, Fumiko Ishioka, help solve the mystery of a young Jewish girl whose name was painted on a battered old suitcase they received from Auschwitz.

Hana Brady and her brother George grew up in Poland in the 1930s and 1940s, but their lives and their tragic fate stretched 70 years through history and across three continents to touch the heart of contemporary young filmmakers. Their story, based on the book of the same name, blends documentary and dramatic techniques to bring a film of unspeakable sadness but also of shining hope.

This is a Holocaust tale like no other as it provides a modern contemporary global perspective and lessons to be learnt for a better future.

http://abc.net.au/iview/

9:30pm – Tuesday, November 24 on ABC2

In a city plagued by rampant crime, The Wire captures the routine world of the criminal underworld, offering a parallel bureaucracy that is in some ways more functional, if more brutal, than the system arrayed against it.

Tonight, made to look like a fool when his generous gift to a Polish-American Catholic parish is trumped by rival union leader Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer), Deputy Police Commissioner Stanislaus Valchek (Al Brown) begins a bitter feud with Sobotka.

Avon Barksdale continues to run his empire from a prison cell – counselling his nephew D’Angelo (Larry Gilliard) and going after a guard who is harassing the gang’s convicted hit-man, Wee-Bey (Hassan Johnson).

Meanwhile, on the waterfront, port Police Officer Beatrice Russell (Amy Ryan) gets stuck investigating the contraband found in a shipping container destined for ‘The Greek’ (Paul Ben Victor) but languishing on the wharf with its perishable cargo.

McNulty lends a hand with the investigation, albeit for vindictive reasons, and ultimately Detectives Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) and Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters) are assigned to help investigate the deaths.

The Wire is the brainchild of David Simon, whose years as a police-beat reporter for The Baltimore Sun has proved invaluable in the depiction of characters, protocol and anecdotes found in The Wire. Many of his ideas are culled from actual incidents and personalities in Baltimore.

http://abc.net.au/iview/

8:35pm – Tuesday, November 24 on ABC2

The first original series for television from award-winning Hollywood scriptwriter Joe Penhall, Moses Jones is an atmospheric and vibrant crime thriller set amongst London’s Ugandan community where nothing, and no one, is what they seem to be…

Shaun Parkes (Notes On A Scandal) plays Moses Jones in his first leading role for television, heading up a cast of new and established talent which boasts Matt Smith (the new Doctor Who), Eamonn Walker (Oz, Cadillac Records), Dennis Waterman (New Tricks), Indira Varma (Rome) and Jude Akuwudike (Touched By A Stranger), plus newcomers Wunmi Mosaku and Obi Abili.

The story begins when a wave of violence hits a London community following the discovery of the bizarrely mutilated body of a man in the Thames. First appearances suggest a witchcraft killing, but the dark reality is more complicated – and even more frightening.

Assigned to the case are young, hopeful Detective Sergeant Dan Twentyman and a disgruntled Detective Inspector Moses Jones, who has been seconded from Scotland Yard due to his supposed cultural links with the local African community.

Confronted with a wall of silence from the cab drivers, restaurant staff and other itinerant and casual workers populating the area, Jones and Twentyman become increasingly frustrated, but all roads lead to Joy, her friend Solomon and the Afrigo Club, where the ex-pat community go to unwind to the irresistible music of Solomon’s band.

As the search deepens, the violence escalates and the investigation grinds to a halt. But one name crops up again and again – Matthias Mutukula, a mysterious godfather figure rumoured to have both terror links and supernatural powers.

Forced to ask himself tough questions about his cultural identity, Moses Jones embarks on a frightening quest to track down his man and redeem himself before the community implodes…or takes revenge itself.

http://abc.net.au/iview/

8:00pm – Tuesday, November 24 on ABC2

Cleo’s latest attempts to fix up Alice (Tamsin Greig) with some of her sales rep friends have, predictably, ended in disaster. However, hope is on the horizon in the shape of the unnaturally charming and handsome Simon, a dashing young captain of industry whom Alice met at the local cash machine. Incredibly, Alice’s helpless infatuation seems to be perfectly reciprocated. Even when Simon takes her back to meet his sister and mother in the tiny country village where he grew up, the prospects could not seem brighter. Yet when a figure from Simon’s past returns to cast a shadow across their blossoming relationship, is fate once again cruelly steering Alice’s life, or is it actually Alice who is cruelly steering fate.

Meanwhile, a similar logistical problem seems to face Milly, who is keen to test the loyalty of her new boyfriend, Darren. Inspired by an American TV documentary, she and Cleo set up a honey trap to see if he can be tempted into a ‘long, hot night of animal passion’ with another woman. As events unfold, the two girls discover something about their unwitting victim that is to turn the tables on them both.

ABC TV announced today that the award-winning series, REVIEW WITH MYLES BARLOW will go into production for its second series in December.

The six-episode series, created by Phil Lloyd and Trent O’Donnell sees Myles Barlow cast his critical eye over life’s vast array of rich experiences and dilemmas such as racism, breast implants and cult leaders, and rates them out of five stars.

Gaining critical acclaim when it premiered on ABC2 last year, the series format has since been sold to a number of international territories including the United States, the UK, Scandinavia and Belgium and was nominated for a Logie for Most Outstanding Comedy. Recently it gained four AFI nominations including Best Comedy, Performance, Direction and Writing.

When told of the decision by the ABC to renew the series, Barlow said; “Apparently I signed some agreement forcing me to do a second series or face legal action. So well done ABC, I guess you have me over a barrel.”

Debbie Lee, Executive Producer said; “We are really happy and excited that Myles has legally agreed to do a second series of Review. I am sure he is secretly happy to be working again with his very talented collaborators Phil Lloyd and Trent O’Donnell.” The new series will air on ABC2 in late 2010.

9:30pm – Sunday, November 22 on ABC2

This little-known chapter of cinema history goes from the first independent Chinese American film produced in 1916 to Ang Lee’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain.

Stories of Chinese American film artists are punctuated with a treasure trove of clips from over 90 films to weave a rich and complex tapestry, one marked by unforgettable performances and groundbreaking films, but also one tainted by a tangled history of race and representation.

Hollywood Chinese at its heart is an expose on America itself and how it both exploits and rewards.

Hollywood Chinese: The Chinese In American Feature Film will be repeated on ABC1 – Sunday, November 29 at 4:00pm

8:30pm – Sunday, November 22 on ABC2

If you ask most people in the street today about the Hollywood legend Doris Day, they will probably say, “Is she still alive”? Yes, she is! She is now in her late eighties and living in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a Californian resort with the charm of San Francisco and the glamour of Hollywood.

Although Doris Day has not appeared in public for over 30 years, she is considered to be a cultural icon of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her films are shown regularly on TV worldwide. She still gets around 200 fan letters a week and is selling more records than ever before. All over the world, her songs are still known. To list a few: Sentimental Journey, one of her greatest successes while touring with the Les Brown band, Secret Love from the film Calamity Jane and of course, Que Sera from Hitchcock’s film The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Doris Day has written cinema history by simply playing the girl next door. So, who is the Doris Day of today.

This playful, tongue-in-cheek study of her fairytale career reflects the turbulent and successful life of Doris Day with footage of significant events in the USA. Extracts and trailers from some of her many feature films, stage and TV appearances, photos and material from private archives have been added to reveal and contrast the foibles and characteristics of her real life against the background of her screen and music life.

What A Difference A Day Made: Doris Day Superstar will be repeated on ABC1 – Sunday, November 29 at 3:00pm

8:30pm – Saturday, November 21 on ABC2

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, I Wanna Hold Your Hand is a fictionalised account of the day The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 and the extremes teenagers go to to meet the Fab Four.

The film stars Bobby Diciocco as Tony Smerko, Marc McClure as Larry Dubois, Nancy Allen as Pam Mitchell, and Susan Kendall Newman as Janis Goldman.

8:30pm – Friday, November 20 on ABC2

When an old cinema re-opens, past horrors emerge to stalk the streets of Cardiff. And as bodies are found, somewhere between life and death, Torchwood must act fast. Who are the Night Travellers? And how can Torchwood capture these mysterious killers.

Captain Jack (John Barrowman) returns, as the Torchwood team reunites to fight a rogue Time Agent.

Bigger and bolder than before, Russell T Davies’ hit sci-fi series returns for more fun, adventure and excitement with Captain Jack and his alien-fighting team. With fearsome new aliens, compelling new storylines, and amazing guest stars the second series takes the close-knit Torchwood team through dare-devil action, temptation, heartache… and a life-changing event for one of the team. http://abc.net.au/iview/