Throng

Next on Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight, Adam will be joined by professional show-off Frank Woodley, motivational speaker and author of Life Without Limits Nick Vujicic, and journalist and TV presenter Jennifer Byrne. Music will be provided Sparkadia, and Sally Seltmann will lend her hand to a Gordon St Classic.

Frank Woodley is best known by some as one half of the much loved comedy duo, Lano and Woodley. In 2010 Frank launched his solo stand-up career and was soon performing to sell-out audiences in Australia and overseas. He’s a regular guest on Spicks and Specks, Good News Week and Thank God You’re Here, and will soon be appearing in his very own ABC TV comedy series Woodley.

Nicholas Vujicic is a motivational speaker and author who was born without arms or legs due to a rare disorder known as Tetra-amelia. Nick struggled throughout his childhood to come to terms with his disability, and at seventeen started his own non-profit organization Life Without Limbs. Nick travels the world as a motivational speaker on subjects such as disability, hope, and finding meaning in life.

Jennifer Byrne has had an extensive career in the media. Since starting out as a cadet with The Age in Melbourne, Jennifer has moved from newspapers to television, reporting for Sunday and 60 Minutes, to presenting roles on ABC Radio. Jennifer later took up the anchor’s job at Foreign Correspondent, while regularly hosting Radio National’s Breakfast program. Jennifer is currently host of ABC TV’s First Tuesday Book Club.

Previously known as New Buffalo, Sally Seltmann is the award-winning Australian songwriter behind albums such as The Last Beautiful Day and Somewhere, anywhere. Her latest album is called Heart That’s Pounding. Sally with be tackling the Gordon St Classic – Richard Clapton’s Deep Water.

Sparkadia is the project of alternative pop musician Alexander Burnett. The band first came into prominence in Australia with their debut EP Things Behind the Sun, before releasing their debut studio album Postcards in 2008. The band has toured across Australia, UK and Europe several times over the past few years with large fan bases in Britain and Germany. Sparkadia will perform their latest single China, from the album The Great Impression.

Screens Wednesday March 23 at 8.30pm on ABC1, and repeated Saturday March 26 at 7.30pm on ABC2.

For more information about the show visit abc.net.au/tv/adamhillsigst

Next Tuesday March 22, from 7.30pm, GO! will be airing the first two episodes Survivor Redemption Island – which premiered in the US back on Feb 16.

The double episodes, should they remain in the schedule, should mean we will catch up with the US.

For weeks, fans have been asking Nine when they will air the show, and why they have not been airing Survivor on GO! or even GEM if they could not commit to airing it on Nine.

This means, however, that Hellcats and Pretty Little Liars are now out of the schedule.

Ep 1: You’re Looking at the New Leader of Our Tribe: The 22nd season begins with 18 castaways, including Russell Hantz and “Boston” Rob Mariano, arriving in Nicaragua and learning that ousted players are sent to Redemption Island, where they live in exile and are given a chance to reenter the game if they can defeat other banished players in head-to-head competitions.

Ep 2: You Own My Vote. The first ousted player settles into Redemption Island while others enter into confrontations. A second person is voted out, destined for Redemption Island.

Almost half a million households across regional Victoria will make the historic transition to digital-only free-to-air television in fifty days’ time, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said today.

Launching the fifty day countdown to digital switchover for regional Victoria in Ballarat today, Senator Conroy said the switch to digital-only television represented a significant milestone in the history of television broadcasting in the State.

“In another fifty days, the analog signals used to inform and entertain regional Victorian households since the 1960s will be switched off for good, and all free-to-air TV will be transmitted in digital only,” Senator Conroy said.

Senator Conroy said regional Victoria was well prepared for the switchover to digital TV, which provides better sound and picture quality and greater program choice with access to new channels.

“By the end of 2010, 81 per cent of households across regional Victoria had converted to digital TV.  This represented a huge increase on the 45 per cent of households that were digital ready in early 2009,” Senator Conroy said.

“As of February 2011, the number of digital ready households across regional Victoria was closer to nine out of ten.”

“Indeed, households in places such as Bonnie Doon, Howqua, Hopetoun, Boolarra, Jeeralang and Yinnar have already switched to digital-only TV through the upgrading of their local TV transmitters in preparation for the switchover,” Senator Conroy said.

Almost 20,000 households have been converted to digital through the Government’s Household Assistance Scheme.

“This Scheme ensures that eligible households, including those in receipt of the maximum rate of the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension or Income Support Supplement, who need some extra practical help to switch to digital TV, are able to enjoy the benefits of digital TV along with other regional Victorian households,” Senator Conroy said.

The Government is also assisting households without any terrestrial TV coverage to be receive the full benefits of digital television through the new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service. This includes around 2,500 households who have relied on community-operated ‘self help’ analog transmitters that are not being upgraded to digital.

“These households are eligible for a $400 subsidy to help with the cost of moving over to the new satellite service, which will give them access to all of the free to air digital channels provided by the ABC, SBS and commercial broadcasters, as well as a dedicated local news channel,” Senator Conroy said.

Senator Conroy said four Digital Switchover Liaison Officers were working with their local communities across the state, and the Digital Switchover Taskforce in his department would continue to be active across the state to raise awareness about how to get ready for the switchover on 5 May 2011.

“I strongly encourage people who are looking for more information or advice on getting ready for the switchover to contact the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13 or visit www.digitalready.gov.au,” Senator Conroy said.

“In fifty days’ time, the way television is broadcast across regional Victoria will change forever, and we want to ensure that all households are ready for this important milestone.”

(From a press release)

Fancy a sneak peek at new Channel Nine gameshow The Million Dollar Drop which premieres 8.30pm on Monday?

Take a look here.

The rumours have already started spreading as to the possible replacement for departing X Factor judge Kyle Sandilands who announced yesterday that he was not returning to the Channel 7 series.

Delta Goodrem has been tipped as an early favourite, as the singer was in the running for the spot on the first season panel and has the right mix of star power and industry experience.

Other names to pop up are Sandilands’ radio partner Jackie O and Merrick Watts.

Sandilands made the announcement yesterday on his radio show, letting listeners know that he won’t be returning due to the time commitment the show requires.

He hinted that Natalie Imbruglia and Ronan Keating are both interested in returning alongside Guy Sebastian, who is already locked in.

Source: News.com.au

7.30 NSW will host a live one-hour debate special between the NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and the Leader of the Opposition Barry O’Farrell this Friday night – just one week before voting day in the state election.

Hosted by presenter and journalist Quentin Dempster, the debate will be broadcast on ABC1 (in NSW) and nationally on ABC News 24 at 7.30pm AEDT.

Queensland’s Artie and Johnny were knocked out of MY KITCHEN RULES tonight by NSW housemates Alex and Bill, who are fast becoming the show’s terminators after surviving their second sudden death cook-off in a row.

Both teams had to produce their best three-course menu for judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel and guest judges Tobie Puttock, Guy Grossi, Karen Martini and Liz Egan.

The Sydney boys – who’d ousted Queensland’s Mal and Bec only last week – won by four points. They scored 41/60 for their menu consisting of a scallop and blood sausage entrée, rabbit main and chocolate orange tart dessert.

The Sunshine Coast butchers couldn’t match them, scoring 38/60 for their menu consisting of a kingfish and tuna carpaccio entrée, beef cheek main and apple pecan and rum cake dessert.

Pete and Manu paid tribute to the butchers, telling them they’d done themselves and their state of Queensland proud. “Artie and Johnny have become big brothers to a lot of the teams,” Pete said afterwards. “They should both be very proud of the way they worked and the food they produced.”

Artie and Johnny – who’ve returned to work at the butcher shop Artie runs in Nambour – were disappointed by their elimination but remained upbeat. “I know I’ve become a better cook,” Artie said. “My experience on My Kitchen Rules has been unbelievable. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.”

Johnny added, “We’ve created some great friendships and what we’ve learnt from this competition we are going to carry with us for the rest of our lives.”

Next Monday night the remaining MY KITCHEN RULES teams must make the perfect picnic basket for the hungry hordes at an international food festival.

MY KITCHEN RULES airs Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm on Channel 7.

The Situation panned for Roast jokes

Jersey Shore’s The Situation has been criticised for his performance on the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump that screened last night in the US. Many of his jokes were cut from the final edit due to the racist nature of them, including this one aimed at fellow roaster Snoop Dogg: “Yo Snoop, what up dawg … you know you have so much in common with Donald Trump? Trump’s ancestors were into real estate … and your ancestors were considered property.”

Wipeout Xbox game on the way

A video game based on the TV series Wipeout has been announced for the Xbox 360 Kinect platform. The game will feature the obstacle courses seen on the show such as Big Balls and the Smack Wall Sweeper.

BBC denies plagiarism of Aussie series

The BBC has denied allegations of plagiarism relating to its comedy series Twenty Twelve which many have suggested was based on an idea by Australian network ABC. Writers of The Games in Australia have claimed that the BBC series was based on their series which initially ran before the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Philip Seymour Hoffman developing series

Philip Seymour Hoffman has started developing a new drama project for HBO in the US. The actor is working with Hung writer Brett C. Leonard on the project that centres on a recently unemployed man.

7mate will premiere new US series “The Cape” at 8.30pm on Friday April 1 in a double episode. The series was one of US network NBC’s new shows for 2011, which recently started airing there.

“The Cape” features Aussie star David Lyons (E.R.) as Vince Faraday, an honest cop working within a corrupt police force in Palm City. Vince finds himself set up and framed for a series of murders in this one hour series. He is presumed dead and therefore is forced into hiding, leaving his wife and son behind. The son (Trip) is played by Ryan Wynott (Flash Forward) and his wife (Dana) by Jennifer Ferrin (Life On Mars).

With a strong desire to reunite with his family, Vince decides to battle the forces that have overtaken Palm City. In retaliation Vince becomes “The Cape”. “the Cape” is his son’s favourite comic book hero and he begins to take the law into his own hands. James Frain (The Tudors) plays his nemesis who moonlights as the actual killer. Max Malini is the leader of a circus gang who mentor him and train him to be “THE CAPE”.

The show also stars Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) as Orwell an investigative blogger who wages war against crime and corruption in the city. David Lyons the star, is a NIDA graduate who has appeared in “Neighbours”, “Sea Patrol” and the TV movie “A Model Daughter-The Killing Of Caroline Byrne – as Gordon Wood”, and had a 2 season run on E.R.

New episodes of CSI: Miami are back.

Monday March 28, on Nine at 9.30pm.

In NSW and QLD, it returns with S9E10, in Victoria S9E14.

So far in 2011, CSI: Miami has been scheduled for Sunday nights and Thursday nights. To the frustration of fans, the show has popped in and out the schedule a number of times this year alone.