Throng

Scorsese series proves popular

The hottest show at the recent LA upfronts was the new Martin Scorsese-directed period piece set in Prohibition-era New Jersey. The HBO project, which screened its pilot at the annual LA event, has been hot property with international networks scrambling over each other to pick it up. SBS has nabbed it for Aussie viewers.

Bret Michaels for American Idol?

The latest rumour to be circling American Idol is that Celebrity Apprentice contestant and Poison rocker Bret Michaels is being considered to take up Simon Cowell’s spot on the judging panel. Michaels, who was hospitalised recently with a brain aneurysm, is no stranger to reality TV and has become a household name in the States due to the recent events so he may just be a perfect fit.

Extended Lost ending on DVD

There has been talk that the season 6 Lost DVD could include an extended finale. A source at ABC leaked the information, saying the box-set will feature an additional 20 minutes of footage. They went on to say that the producers of the show had wanted to include the additional scenes in order to answer some of the questions that fans may still have after the finale screens towards the end of May.

MacLachlan leaving Wisteria Lane

Another Wisteria Lane resident is set to leave, with news today that Desperate Housewives regular Kyle MacLachlan, who plays wheelchair-bound Orson Hodge, will depart the series. MacLachlan follows fellow cast members Drea de Matteo (Angie) and Dana Delany (Katherine) in leaving the show next season.

Olivia Wilde to leave House

House actress Olivia Wilde will be absent from the hit medical series for much of the next season due to commitments on a movie. Wilde, who plays the role of Dr. “Thirteen “ Hadley, is taking time out to shoot Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s next movie Cowboys and Aliens but will return to House in the future.

New villian for Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives has secured a new villain for the next season in Ugly Betty’s Vanessa Williams. The actress, best known for her role as Wilhelmina, will move to Wisteria Lane as of next season with producers looking to fill the gap left by departed housewife Nicollette Sheridan.

Heroes officially axed

Drama series Heroes has officially been axed by its American network NBC. After running for four seasons, the show has been given the boot by its network due to flagging ratings in the third and fourth seasons. Despite premiering strongly in 2006, Heroes suffered badly during the writers strike and subsequently never fully recovered in terms of popularity.

Napoleon Dynamite animated series

US network Fox is developing an animated series based on the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite. The majority of the original cast is on board the project including Jon Heder and Efran Ramirez along with the creators Jared and Jerusha Hess.

Heroes and Law and Order Cancelled

“Heroes” has officially been cancelled after 4 seasons by NBC, leaving fans without a definitive ending. In its first season it peaked with ratings of 14.5 million where in recent surveys it has dropped to just 4.4 million in the USA. There is speculation that NBC may do a one off movie for television to wrap up the series. The show launched movie careers for many of its stars with Zachary Quinto (Sylar) in “Star Trek”, Ali Larter (Niki) in “Obsessed” and Hayden Panettiere in “I Love You, Beth Cooper”.

In Australia, Heroes used to draw audiences as high as 2 million when it premiered in 2007 on Seven. Heroes also holds the record as the most downloaded TV show in history, prompting Seven to be one of the first networks to start “fast tracking” TV shows. The final episodes seen in Australia were on 7TWO, drawing figures of around 100,000 - a far cry from its beginnings.

Name change for Cougar Town?

The creator of Cougar Town would like to change the name of the series as he believes it has moved on too far from its initial premise. Bill Lawrence cited the fact that many people have been put off by the title despite enjoying the content of the show, which stars ex-Friend Courtney Cox.

Entourage producer's new show

The producers behind Entourage are planning a new show which would centre on a group of women. Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson are currently developing the concept alongside writers Leah Rachel and Emily Montague which will focus on a group of young women “working and finding romance in LA.”

Cowell lines up X Factor judges

In what may be a sign of shows to hit Australian television screens in the future, US network NBC has unveiled its latest batch of pick ups.

On top of J.J Abrams “Undercovers”, comes “The Event”, “Outsourced”, “Love Bites” and Jerry Bruckheimers action adventure “Chase” set to premiere this coming season.

The futures of “Heroes” and “Chuck” are still uncertain but it is thought that “Chuck” will get a fourth season and “Heroes” a final 13 episode wind-up.

Other pilots looking like strong contenders are David E Kelley’s (Ally McBeal) “Kindrids" and “Law and Order : LA”.

“UNDERCOVERS”
This espionage show by J.J Abrams (Lost) is about a couple in years into their retirement and are reactivated as CIA agents. Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will star as the married couple Stephen and Samantha Bloom. It’s the first association between J.J Abrams and the NBC network.

9:30pm - Thursday, April 1 on 7TWO

Tonight on HEROES Samuel's ultimate plan spells disaster for thousands.

In the climactic season finale, everyone bands together in an effort to stop Samuel (Robert Knepper) from taking the lives of thousands. Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) joins forces with his most unexpected ally to save Emma (guest star Deanne Bray). Meanwhile, H.R.G.'s (Jack Coleman) life hangs in the balance as he and Claire (Hayden Panettiere) find themselves trapped underground with oxygen quickly running out. Elsewhere, Hiro (Masi Oka) starts to come to grips with the decisions he has made and is called into action to help stop a disaster.

HEROES STARS: MILO VENTIMIGLIA, GREG GRUNBERG, ADRIAN PASDAR, ALI LARTER, JACK COLEMAN, HAYDEN PANETTIERE, MASI OKA, SENDHIL RAMAMURTHY, LEONARD ROBERTS, TAWNY CYPRESS, ZACHARY QUINTO, TIM KRING AND ROBERT KNEPPER. GUEST STARRING RAY PARK,

9:30pm - Thursday, March 25 on 7TWO

Tonight on HEROES Sylar's worst fears come to life as H.R.G. faces his past

Fueled by his vision of Emma (guest star Deanne Bray) in grave danger, Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) attempts to rescue Sylar (Zachary Quinto) from his worst nightmare. At the carnival, Samuel (Robert Knepper) reveals H.R.G.'s (Jack Coleman) secret past in order to bring Claire (Hayden Panettiere) to his side. Meanwhile, Lauren (guest star Elizabeth Rohm) makes a bold move to put a stop to Samuel.

HEROES STARS: MILO VENTIMIGLIA, GREG GRUNBERG, ADRIAN PASDAR, ALI LARTER, JACK COLEMAN, HAYDEN PANETTIERE, MASI OKA, SENDHIL RAMAMURTHY, LEONARD ROBERTS, TAWNY CYPRESS, ZACHARY QUINTO, TIM KRING AND ROBERT KNEPPER. GUEST STARRING LISA LACKEY, DAWN OLIVIERI AND ELIZABETH ROHM.

9:30pm - Thursday, March 18 on 7TWO

Tonight on HEROES the tables are turned as H.R.G. attempts to gain the upper hand

H.R.G. enacts his plan to take down the Carnival with the help of Lauren (guest star Elizabeth Rohm) and Suresh. Sylar visits Matt looking to understand his desire to make a human connection, but Matt has a plan of his own. Meanwhile, Peter warns Emma (guest star Deanne Bray) of Samuel's intentions after his grim vision of the future.

9:30pm - Thursday, March 4 on 7TWO

Tonight on HEROES H.R.G exposes Samuel's greatest weakness in an effort to stop him.

HRG recruits Matt to help him take down Samuel, as they use his long-lost love, Vanessa, to lure him to them, but Samuel has his own plans for Vanessa in the works. Meanwhile, Hiro and Ando go to extreme lengths to save Dr Suresh. Elsewhere Peter's introduction of Emma to his mother brings forth vision of a very grim future.

HEROES STARS: MILO VENTIMIGLIA, GREG GRUNBERG, ADRIAN PASDAR, ALI LARTER, JACK COLEMAN, HAYDEN PANETTIERE, MASI OKA, SENDHIL RAMAMURTHY, LEONARD ROBERTS, TAWNY CYPRESS, ZACHARY QUINTO, TIM KRING AND ROBERT KNEPPER. GUEST STARRING LISA LACKEY, DAWN OLIVIERI AND ELIZABETH ROHM.

9:30pm - Thursday, February 25 on 7TWO

Tonight on HEROES: The search for answers intensifies as final respects are paid to a fallen hero.

As Claire (Hayden Panettiere) becomes immersed in the world of the Carnival, she becomes increasingly suspicious of Samuel's (Robert Knepper) motives. Hiro (Masi Oka) is on a mission to rescue one of his own, but has difficulty communicating his intensions to Ando (James Kyson Lee).

HEROES STARS: MILO VENTIMIGLIA GREG GRUNBERG ADRIAN PASDAR ALI LARTER JACK COLEMAN HAYDEN PANETTIERE MASI OKA SENDHIL RAMAMURTHY LEONARD ROBERTS TAWNY CYPRESS ZACHARY QUINTO TIM KRING ROBERT KNEPPER. GUEST STARRING ELIZABETH ROHM.

9:30pm - Thursday, February 18 on 7TWO

- NEW EPISODE

Tonight on HEROES: The search for answers intensifies as final respects are paid to a fallen hero.

As Claire (Hayden Panettiere) becomes immersed in the world of the Carnival, she becomes increasingly suspicious of Samuel's (Robert Knepper) motives. Hiro (Masi Oka) is on a mission to rescue one of his own, but has difficulty communicating his intensions to Ando (James Kyson Lee).

HEROES STARS: Staring MILO VENTIMIGLIA GREG GRUNBERG ADRIAN PASDAR ALI LARTER JACK COLEMAN HAYDEN PANETTIERE MASI OKA SENDHIL RAMAMURTHY LEONARD ROBERTS TAWNY CYPRESS ZACHARY QUINTO TIM KRING ROBERT KNEPPER. GUEST STARRING ELIZABETH ROHM.

9:30pm - Thursday, February 11 on 7TWO

- NEW EPISODE

Tonight on HEROES: SAMUEL STARTS TO SEE HIS VISION TAKE SHAPE.

H.R.G (Jack Coleman) is greeted by some unexpected visitors and Samuel's (Robert Knepper) grand plan begins to come to fruition. Meanwhile Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) struggles to accept the truth and takes extreme measures to get what he wants. Elsewhere Claire's (Hayden Panettiere) journey leads her to an unexpected destination

9:30pm - Thursday, February 4 on 7TWO

SERIES RETURN - NEW EPISODE

Tonight on HEROES: THANKSGIVING UNITES FAMILIES AND BRINGS NEW REVELATIONS.

H.R.G (Jack Coleman) hosts an untraditional Thanksgiving dinner. Elsewhere, the Petrelli family gets a surprise guest at their table. Meanwhile Samuel (Robert Knepper) continues to hold Hiro (Masi Oka) hostage as Lydia (guest star Dawn Olivieri) goes in search for the truth.