Throng

Saturday, February 12 at 5.30pm, Seven News’ David Brown will present Wild Weather Unleashed as we study Victoria’s ever changing, ever unpredictable, cruel and sometimes deadly weather.

We live in a land of extremes. We battle conditions that can break our hearts and change our lives. Wild Weather Unleashed details stories from people who have witnessed and survived the most unforgiving weather events.

Recently Victorians faced the most frightening bushfires in our nation’s history, we also lived through some of the most terrifying floods. As the weather pendulum swings from one extreme to the other, Australians are reminded we are no match for nature’s fury.

Just a year ago Victorian’s were faced with severe water restrictions after more than a decade of drought, with water storages at a record low.  Today our catchments have had their highest rainfall in 15 years, and in some cases they’re overflowing.

Last weekend Melbourne was lashed by violent storms and widespread flash flooding. The sheer ferocity of the storm and the speed of the rising water surprised so many, causing chaos around the CBD and suburbs, flooding roads, homes, businesses, even train lines.

And with weather forecasters predicting more storms and more flooding for Victoria’s central districts over the coming months, we’re not out of the woods yet.

Seven News will also investigate the most recent natural disasters to hit Australia as Queenslanders recover from the damaging floods and the devastation caused by tropical Cyclone Yasi.

Join long range Weather Forecaster Ken Ring, Psychologist Dr Simon Crisp, UN Disaster Expert Andrew Macleod, and many more, as Seven News presents Wild Weather Unleashed.

Channel Nine opens the 2011 rugby league season with the live broadcast of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars showcase this Saturday at 7.30pm AEDT (6.30pm QLD).

The NRL All Stars will play the Learn. Earn. Legend! Indigenous All Stars at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, whetting the appetite of hungry rugby league fans with the start of the new season just a month away.

In last year’s inaugural Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match, which honoured the second anniversary of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generation, the NRL Indigenous side defeated the NRL All Stars 16-12.

Nine’s broadcast will commence with a pre-match entertainment extravaganza celebrating Australia’s indigenous heritage, featuring performances by Deadly Award-winning duo Busby Marou and two-time ARIA Award winner Dan Sultan. There will also be spectacular performances by the Bangarra Dance Theatre and Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts.

The fans have again selected an impressive NRL All Star lineup full of their favourite players in 2011. Over 37,000 fans voted for the 20-strong side, led by Australian and Broncos captain Darren Lockyer and chosen from every team in the NRL. The All Stars side includes Benji Marshall, Cameron Smith, Nathan Hindmarsh, the speed machine Michael Jennings and exciting young gun Josh Dugan.

North Queensland Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston will lead the Indigenous All Stars team which includes the big guns Scott Prince, Jamie Soward and Jamal Idris.

Nine’s expert team of commentators will call the match, headed by the voice of rugby league Ray Warren, with Peter Sterling, Phil Gould, Andrew Johns and Wally Lewis. Gold Coast Titan Preston Campbell, the architect behind the All Stars concept, and the Rabbitohs’ biggest signing in decades, injured Indigenous All Star Greg Inglis, will be special guest panellists.

Catch the live coverage on Nine on Saturday, February 12, from 7.30pm AEDT (6.30pm QLD).

Tuesday February 8, 2011

It’s all Seven’s night with Packed to the Rafters returning to nearly two million viewers and My Kitchen Rules enjoying its largest audience yet for 2011 at over 1.5 million. Home and Away was just over a million, while Parenthood following Rafters managed 769,000.

The return of Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation on Ten only managed 831,000 – perhaps a consequence of repeats being on air all summer causing both fatigue for the show and some viewers assuming it was still in repeats. The first episode of NCIS was watched by just under 1.1 million, with an increase for the second. The second won the 9.30 timeslot, the first, second behind Rafters.

Over to Nine, and new Big Bang only pulled 922,000, new Top Gear 939,000 – figures may be soft for the same reason they were for Ten’s Your Gen – repeat programming over summer. Bad news though for Ben Elton at 9.30 – just 482,000. There is an encore on GO tonight for those who missed it.

Seven well and truly won the night, Ten was second in primary shares while Nine was third. Nine became second in network shares, thanks to the digitals. With so many watching the main channels now, the best the digitals could manage was 3.2% for GO! Looking at the figures for shows on digital channels, Neighbours was top at 311,000, Are You Being Served on 7TWO next at 194,000, Harry Potter on GO just 166,000 – yes – no more 300,000’s for movies on digital channels on weekdays now we are in ratings!!

Finally, ONE HD’s ONE Adventure with documentaries last night only netted the channel a 0.8% share – better than 0.5% it has been, but no big change. Black Gold (9.30pm) reached 68,000, while Ax Men (8.30pm) 30,000.

Shares:
1 Seven 28.9% (nw 34.7%)
2 Ten 19.3% (nw 22.9%)
3 Nine 18.7% (nw 24.7%)
4 ABC1 9.3% (nw 12.1%)
5 SBS ONE 4.2% (nw 5.4%)

6 GO! 3.2%
7 7TWO 3.1%
8 GEM 2.8%
8 ELEVEN 2.8%
10 7mate 2.7%

11 ABC2 1.5%
12 SBS TWO 1.2%
13 ONE HD 0.8%
14 ABC3 0.7%
15 ABC News 24 0.6%

Top shows for the day:
1 Ch: 7 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS 1,943,000 604,000 600,000 297,000 246,000 195,000
2 Ch: 7 MY KITCHEN RULES-TUE 1,551,000 435,000 496,000 242,000 180,000 199,000
3 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 1,190,000 286,000 332,000 248,000 151,000 173,000
4 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 1,153,000 274,000 283,000 244,000 155,000 198,000
5 Ch: TEN NCIS EP 2 1,153,000 333,000 380,000 187,000 121,000 132,000
6 Ch: TEN NCIS 1,058,000 310,000 323,000 176,000 105,000 145,000
7 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 1,048,000 300,000 292,000 207,000 124,000 125,000
8 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 1,042,000 309,000 295,000 238,000 94,000 106,000
9 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 966,000 289,000 287,000 227,000 71,000 92,000
10 Ch: 9 TOP GEAR 939,000 274,000 314,000 190,000 75,000 86,000
11 Ch: 9 THE BIG BANG THEORY 922,000 279,000 276,000 224,000 65,000 78,000
12 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 871,000 214,000 275,000 142,000 96,000 144,000
13 Ch: TEN TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YOUR GENERATION 831,000 231,000 268,000 140,000 90,000 101,000
14 Ch: 7 PARENTHOOD 769,000 231,000 278,000 92,000 88,000 79,000
15 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 752,000 207,000 211,000 132,000 72,000 130,000
16 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 750,000 238,000 229,000 154,000 52,000 76,000
17 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 740,000 192,000 243,000 149,000 70,000 85,000
18 Ch: ABC1 7.30 REPORT-EV 688,000 170,000 236,000 126,000 52,000 103,000
19 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 555,000 146,000 148,000 176,000 47,000 37,000
20 Ch: ABC1 FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT-EV 531,000 160,000 166,000 91,000 37,000 77,000
21 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 482,000 141,000 116,000 91,000 67,000 68,000
22 Ch: 9 BEN ELTON LIVE FROM PLANET EARTH 455,000 140,000 159,000 67,000 33,000 57,000
23 Ch: ABC1 QI-LE 454,000 163,000 119,000 64,000 48,000 59,000
24 Ch: TEN TEN LATE NEWS WITH SPORTS TONIGHT 440,000 131,000 157,000 58,000 52,000 41,000
25 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 425,000 116,000 140,000 77,000 40,000 51,000
26 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 390,000 109,000 93,000 90,000 42,000 57,000
27 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 382,000 103,000 119,000 72,000 32,000 56,000
28 Ch: ABC1 MICHELIN STARS: THE MADNESS OF PERFECTION-EV 351,000 113,000 116,000 48,000 30,000 45,000
29 Ch: 7 COUGAR TOWN 314,000 102,000 111,000 29,000 38,000 34,000
30 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 311,000 77,000 130,000 47,000 24,000 33,000
31 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 310,000 66,000 97,000 57,000 33,000 57,000
32 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 285,000 75,000 82,000 54,000 31,000 44,000
33 Ch: 9 TODAY 283,000 77,000 97,000 62,000 20,000 26,000
34 Ch: SBS ONE WHY DOESN’T MATHS ADD UP? 282,000 83,000 75,000 45,000 28,000 51,000
35 Ch: TEN JUDGE JUDY 278,000 79,000 77,000 39,000 41,000 42,000
36 Ch: 9 NINE AFTERNOON NEWS 233,000 60,000 69,000 66,000 23,000 14,000
37 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS AT 4.30 228,000 54,000 51,000 69,000 27,000 28,000
38 Ch: TEN THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 217,000 45,000 75,000 35,000 28,000 34,000
39 Ch: 9 RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 217,000 62,000 76,000 31,000 24,000 23,000
40 Ch: ABC1 BEST OF COLLECTORS-EV 207,000 53,000 66,000 36,000 25,000 26,000
41 Ch: 7 SUNRISE-EARLY 198,000 58,000 40,000 54,000 15,000 32,000
42 Ch: 7TWO ARE YOU BEING SERVED? 194,000 48,000 53,000 39,000 27,000 28,000
43 Ch: 7 COUGAR TOWN-EP.2 191,000 63,000 67,000 21,000 17,000 24,000
44 Ch: SBS ONE WORLD NEWS AUSTRALIA 190,000 38,000 70,000 28,000 14,000 40,000
45 Ch: TEN TWO GUYS AND A GIRL RPT 187,000 46,000 51,000 29,000 26,000 35,000
46 Ch: ABC2 PLAY SCHOOL-PM 170,000 28,000 78,000 31,000 19,000 14,000
47 Ch: 7TWO TO THE MANOR BORN 169,000 58,000 47,000 24,000 25,000 16,000
48 Ch: GO! HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN -EV 166,000 42,000 61,000 30,000 17,000 16,000
49 Ch: 9 TODAY-EARLY 162,000 35,000 32,000 67,000 9,000 19,000
50 Ch: 7TWO SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM 161,000 37,000 48,000 25,000 26,000 25,000

Top shows in 16-39s:
1 Ch: 7 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS 629,000 222,000 199,000 76,000 59,000 73,000
2 Ch: 7 MY KITCHEN RULES-TUE 484,000 151,000 142,000 69,000 47,000 74,000
3 Ch: 9 TOP GEAR 364,000 126,000 114,000 63,000 25,000 36,000
4 Ch: TEN NCIS EP 2 322,000 110,000 113,000 47,000 25,000 26,000
5 Ch: 7 PARENTHOOD 313,000 103,000 100,000 35,000 36,000 39,000
6 Ch: 9 THE BIG BANG THEORY 285,000 87,000 90,000 66,000 15,000 28,000
7 Ch: TEN NCIS 280,000 91,000 82,000 47,000 29,000 30,000
8 Ch: TEN TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YOUR GENERATION 266,000 74,000 91,000 46,000 28,000 27,000
9 Ch: 7 HOME AND AWAY 262,000 79,000 80,000 45,000 19,000 39,000
10 Ch: TEN THE 7PM PROJECT 262,000 67,000 90,000 55,000 25,000 24,000
11 Ch: 7 TODAY TONIGHT 230,000 61,000 64,000 47,000 22,000 37,000
12 Ch: 7 SEVEN NEWS 202,000 51,000 48,000 51,000 16,000 36,000
13 Ch: 9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT 175,000 68,000 40,000 35,000 13,000 20,000
14 Ch: 9 NINE NEWS 172,000 62,000 47,000 34,000 10,000 19,000
15 Ch: 7 COUGAR TOWN 166,000 62,000 45,000 17,000 20,000 21,000
16 Ch: 9 A CURRENT AFFAIR 159,000 60,000 41,000 33,000 10,000 14,000
17 Ch: TEN TEN NEWS AT FIVE 158,000 49,000 40,000 30,000 13,000 26,000
18 Ch: 9 BEN ELTON LIVE FROM PLANET EARTH 142,000 43,000 57,000 16,000 7,000 18,000
19 Ch: ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 140,000 23,000 71,000 25,000 7,000 13,000
20 Ch: TEN TEN LATE NEWS WITH SPORTS TONIGHT 125,000 44,000 48,000 11,000 9,000 13,000
21 Ch: TEN 6PM WITH GEORGE NEGUS 119,000 39,000 31,000 19,000 7,000 22,000
22 Ch: TEN TEN EVENING NEWS 108,000 31,000 31,000 22,000 6,000 19,000
23 Ch: 7 SUNRISE 106,000 34,000 27,000 22,000 9,000 14,000
24 Ch: ABC1 ABC NEWS-EV 97,000 18,000 42,000 21,000 8,000 8,000
25 Ch: 7 COUGAR TOWN-EP.2 96,000 36,000 25,000 12,000 9,000 14,000
26 Ch: TEN THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL 90,000 25,000 34,000 19,000 6,000 7,000
27 Ch: 7mate HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-TUE 86,000 11,000 31,000 23,000 11,000 10,000
28 Ch: 9 RAMSAY’S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 86,000 25,000 31,000 12,000 10,000 9,000
29 Ch: ABC1 QI-LE 85,000 38,000 24,000 5,000 7,000 10,000
30 Ch: TEN THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 80,000 20,000 25,000 13,000 5,000 18,000
31 Ch: ABC1 7.30 REPORT-EV 80,000 15,000 35,000 17,000 5,000 8,000
32 Ch: 7mate FAMILY GUY-TUE 74,000 9,000 37,000 13,000 9,000 6,000
33 Ch: 7 DEAL OR NO DEAL 72,000 23,000 18,000 21,000 6,000 5,000
34 Ch: SBS ONE WHY DOESN’T MATHS ADD UP? 72,000 25,000 22,000 3,000 7,000 15,000
35 Ch: 7mate SCRUBS-LATE 70,000 7,000 20,000 27,000 9,000 7,000
36 Ch: ABC1 MICHELIN STARS: THE MADNESS OF PERFECTION-EV 67,000 20,000 21,000 8,000 9,000 9,000
37 Ch: 7mate AMERICAN DAD-TUE 67,000 8,000 29,000 15,000 5,000 9,000
38 Ch: 9 HOT SEAT 67,000 16,000 28,000 18,000 2,000 3,000
39 Ch: 7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 67,000 14,000 25,000 10,000 6,000 11,000
40 Ch: GO! HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN -EV 64,000 15,000 20,000 14,000 8,000 8,000
41 Ch: ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 60,000 8,000 30,000 9,000 5,000 8,000
42 Ch: ELEVEN FUTURAMA TUES 60,000 18,000 26,000 7,000 6,000 3,000
43 Ch: ABC1 FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT-EV 55,000 16,000 22,000 10,000 2,000 5,000
44 Ch: ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 55,000 11,000 23,000 10,000 7,000 4,000
45 Ch: TEN GOOD CHEF BAD CHEF 54,000 18,000 12,000 12,000 5,000 8,000
46 Ch: ELEVEN CALIFORNICATION 54,000 14,000 6,000 14,000 8,000 12,000
47 Ch: 9 THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW 54,000 11,000 24,000 10,000 4,000 6,000
48 Ch: 9 TODAY 54,000 16,000 24,000 8,000 4,000 2,000
49 Ch: 7 10 YEARS YOUNGER-NZ (R) 52,000 16,000 8,000 8,000 6,000 13,000
50 Ch: Gem FRIENDS -EV 51,000 11,000 13,000 12,000 7,000 8,000

Top shows on digital channels:
1 Ch:  ELEVEN NEIGHBOURS 311,000 353,000
2 Ch:  7TWO ARE YOU BEING SERVED? 194,000 256,000
3 Ch:  ABC2 PLAY SCHOOL-PM 170,000 224,000
4 Ch:  7TWO TO THE MANOR BORN 169,000 209,000
5 Ch:  GO! HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN -EV 166,000 284,000
6 Ch:  7TWO SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM 161,000 231,000
7 Ch:  ABC2 CLASSIC TALES-PM 156,000 172,000
8 Ch:  Gem THE ZOO -EV 156,000 216,000
9 Ch:  7mate HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER-TUE 146,000 221,000
10 Ch:  ELEVEN EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND 145,000 215,000
11 Ch:  ABC2 THOMAS AND FRIENDS-PM 144,000 175,000
12 Ch:  7TWO PORRIDGE 135,000 181,000
13 Ch:  7mate THAT ’70S SHOW 131,000 174,000
14 Ch:  Gem THE CLOSER -EV 129,000 184,000
15 Ch:  ABC2 HUMF-EV 128,000 139,000
16 Ch:  ELEVEN FUTURAMA TUES 125,000 178,000
17 Ch:  ABC2 CHUGGINGTON-PM 124,000 144,000
18 Ch:  ABC2 WIBBLY PIG-EV 123,000 142,000
19 Ch:  7mate FAMILY GUY-TUE 121,000 170,000
20 Ch:  ELEVEN THE SIMPSONS 121,000 181,000
21 Ch:  Gem THE CLOSER -LE 120,000 154,000
22 Ch:  ABC2 FIVE MINUTES MORE-EV 118,000 135,000
23 Ch:  ABC2 GRANDPA IN MY POCKET-PM 118,000 187,000
24 Ch:  ABC2 DIRTGIRLWORLD-PM 114,000 148,000
25 Ch:  7mate AMERICAN DAD-TUE 112,000 149,000
26 Ch:  Gem HOARDERS -EV 112,000 158,000
27 Ch:  ABC2 THE MR MEN SHOW-PM 106,000 130,000
28 Ch:  Gem FRIENDS -EV 103,000 150,000
29 Ch:  7mate SCRUBS-LATE 98,000 161,000
30 Ch:  ABC2 ADVENTURES OF BOTTLE TOP BILL AND HIS BEST FRIEND-AM 97,000 110,000
31 Ch:  ELEVEN THE OFFICE 96,000 137,000
32 Ch:  ELEVEN FAMILY TIES 96,000 171,000
33 Ch:  ABC3 PRANK PATROL INTERNATIONAL-EV 95,000 122,000
34 Ch:  ABC2 IN THE NIGHT GARDEN-EV 94,000 124,000
35 Ch:  ABC2 SPICKS AND SPECKS-EV 93,000 148,000
36 Ch:  ABC2 POSTMAN PAT SPECIAL DELIVERY SERVICE-AM 93,000 102,000
37 Ch:  ABC3 THE WANNABES-PM 92,000 121,000
38 Ch:  ABC2 OCTONAUTS-PM 91,000 145,000
39 Ch:  GO! THE BIG BANG THEORY -LE 90,000 140,000
40 Ch:  ABC3 THE TWISTED WHISKERS SHOW-PM 90,000 117,000
41 Ch:  ABC2 ANGELINA BALLERINA: THE NEXT STEPS-PM 90,000 114,000
42 Ch:  ELEVEN HAPPY DAYS 89,000 123,000
43 Ch:  GO! BEWITCHED -PM 88,000 128,000
44 Ch:  ABC3 SPLICED!-EV 87,000 128,000
45 Ch:  ABC2 BOB THE BUILDER: PROJECT BUILD IT-AM 86,000 100,000
46 Ch:  7TWO THE BENNY HILL SHOW 86,000 130,000
47 Ch:  7TWO HALE AND PACE DOWN UNDER 85,000 148,000
48 Ch:  ABC2 TIMMY TIME-PM 85,000 140,000
49 Ch:  7TWO BARGAIN HUNT 84,000 145,000
50 Ch:  GO! AUSTRALIA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS – DAILY EDITION -EV 84,000 120,000

OzTam Five city Live and As Live Preliminary Ratings Figures. Raw data sourced from TV Tonight. Five Cities are Sydney (S), Brisbane (B), Melbourne (M), Adelaide (A) and Perth (P). Figures are shown in order Total, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth. Shows not aired in certain cities denoted by 0 or n/a (not aired).  Does not take into account overruns or extreme last minute programming changes. Shares are 6pm – Midnight unless otherwise stated. Network abreviated to “nw”.

FOX SPORTS is delighted to announce that, 360 game Western Bulldogs champion and 6-time All Australian, Brad Johnson, will be joining FOX SPORTS as part of the growing commentary team in 2011.

The recently retired Bulldog will this year be commentating alongside the regular FOX SPORTS team including AFL greats Gerard Healy, Jason Dunstall and Alastair Lynch as well as newcomer to the team Paul Roos who announced his role with FOX SPORTS after retiring as Sydney Swans coach in 2010.

General Manager Melbourne, Rod Law said, “FOX SPORTS’ AFL offering is continuing to grow this season with our coverage now extending to 7 days a week and it is exciting that an absolute superstar like Brad has decided to join the FOX SPORTS team this year.”

“We have an incredible list of talented commentators and former players at FOX SPORTS which includes a Brownlow medallist, 16 Premierships, 5 Hall of Fame members and with Brad’s history of over 360 games and 6 All Australian awards he is the perfect complement to our expert team.”

Brad’s first match will see him commentate in week 2 of the NAB Cup as his former team takes on North Melbourne and Geelong on Sunday February 20, 2011 on FOX SPORTS 1HD and FOX SPORTS 1.

FOX SPORTS 2011 NAB Cup coverage commences this Friday night, when the Adelaide Crows, Melbourne and Port Adelaide kick-off the new look format at 7.00pm AEDST LIVE on FOX SPORTS 1HD and FOX SPORTS 1.

In addition to Brad, Paul Roos will commence his commentary with FOX SPORTS in Blacktown when Sydney Swans take on newcomers to the competition, Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast Suns LIVE from 4.00pm AEDST on FOX SPORTS 1HD and FOX SPORTS 1.

All 2011 NAB Cup matches will be available to FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers on FOX SPORTS from Friday February 11 2011. For further AFL news or results go to foxsports.com.au or tune into FOX SPORTS News.

This photo-shoot in an episode of Britain’s Next Top Model caused a bit of a stir in the UK when it was screened for the first time and now Aussie audiences have had the chance to see what the fuss was all about on FOX8.

The racy lingerie shoot for a line called Fred and Ginger was a hot topic in the UK last year when the episode screened, but are we all that bothered about it here?

By all accounts it wasn’t just the audiences in the UK that were a little shaken up by the shoot.

“It was a bit like a lesbian orgy… a bit creepy,” said one of the models, Kirsty.

Another said: “I felt as if the shoot was one big orgy… I felt some shots inappropriate but I had to do it because that’s what I was expected to do.”

One of the contestants went so far as to abandon the show after the shoot, saying that modelling is not for her.

Adam Hills brings an impressive line-up of guests to his debut episode of Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight, which screens Wednesday February 9 at 8.30pm on ABC1. 

First up, comedian Hannah Gadsby joins Adam to sort through the array of ‘set-warming’ gifts from the audience.

American stand-up comedian Arj Barker – who set the record for the most tickets ever sold at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – headlines the guest list, while Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon,  reveals how his childhood and an early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis directed his philanthropic life.

Australian actress and Golden Globe nominee, Melissa George, who’s career spans roles in Grey’s Anatomy, Mulholland Drive and In Treatment, joins us straight from the set of the new ABC TV series The Slap, and gets into some trouble with a ‘dancing cat’.

Over the years ABC TV’s Gordon St Studios have seen musical performances from some of the best Australian bands on shows like Countdown and Recovery. Each week, these classic numbers will be revived by invited musicians. This week Countdown legend himself, James Reyne performs the Dragon hit, April Sun in Cuba, while 2010 ARIA Award-winner Dan Sultan closes the show with his hit single Letter. And there’s plenty of unexpected fun and games with the studio audience.

Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight screens Wednesday February 9 at 8.30pm on ABC1, and is repeated Saturday February 12 at 7.30pm on ABC2.

Sheen returning to sitcom this month

Charlie Sheen has been confirmed to return back to work on Two and a Half Men later this month. The troubled actor, who spent a short time in a rehab facility, will begin work on the sitcom in two weeks’ time.

Top Gear presenters labelled “brilliant talents”

Equality and Human Rights Commission chairman Sir Trevor Phillips has labelled Richard Hammond’s recent comments regarding Mexicans on Top Gear as “a bit of schoolboy provocation.” Phillips refused to condemn the presenter’s actions and instead called them “brilliant talents.”

MTV confirms second RJ Berger season

MTV has confirmed the return of new series The Hard Times of RJ Berger for a second season this year. The network has announced that the likes of Paris Hilton, Weezer and Vinny from Jersey Shore will be making guest appearances in its second season.

Keys and Gray head to radio

Sacked British football commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray have signed a deal with TalkSport radio in the UK following their dismissals from Sky Sports. The pair, who were let go after they made comments on-air regarding female assistant referees, will now present a daytime football show on the radio network.

Ten have reacted swiftly to their abysmal Monday night ratings, which saw the network result in shares close to half of what Seven and Nine achieved.

As of next week, Undercover Boss will move to Friday nights at 8.30pm, leaving its Monday night timeslot to be replaced by new episodes of NCIS. That will mean, for now, anyway, there will be TWO new NCIS episodes per week – Monday at 8.30 and Tuesday at 8.30.

The Monday (Feb 14) episode is actually the one that follows the NCIS set air on Tuesday (why not leave them in order?) called Ships In the Night (S8E11). Tuesday (Feb 15) nights’ is False Witness (S8E10).

That aside, this change also means the planned season returns of Law & Order UK and Medium for Friday Feb 18 are now out.

Friday, from Feb 18, now has Undercover Boss at 8.30pm (Norwegian Cruise Line) and Law & Order at 9.30 (Memo From the Dark Side) S20E1 – season premiere.

Ten will be hoping that NCIS on Monday at 8.30 will be able to pull close to the over 1.4 million it achieves on Tuesdays – thereby giving Nine’s Underbelly Files and Seven’s Bones – which also now airs on two nights a week – a run for their money.

My guess is, that Ten will only do the Monday night NCIS episode while Nine has Underbelly Files on – they can only show two episodes of NCIS per week for a few weeks until we catch up with where the US are up to.

Better hope Ten are swift to promote the new Monday night NCIS episode, as people will not notice it is on.

Defending champions Sydney FC are set for another showdown with arch rivals Brisbane Roar in the W League Grand Final on Saturday, February 12th at 2.50pm on ABC1.

Hosted by ABC TV Sport’s Stephanie Brantz, the championship decider at Campbelltown Stadium promises an electric atmosphere with ‘State of Origin’ rivalry on display for the second successive season.

Sydney FC swept aside Melbourne Victory 5-1 last weekend, while Brisbane Roar needed penalties against Canberra United, to secure a third successive grand final appearance.

Saturday’s (February 12th) grand final brings together the cream of Australia’s women’s football talent with both Sydney and Brisbane teams peppered with Matildas players.

Stephanie Brantz says national team friendships and alliances will be left on the sidelines as the two teams battle for not just the championship trophy but for the distinction of being two time winners.

“There’s not much these two sides don’t know about each other,” she says. “They have met twice already this season and boast a win apiece. Brisbane looked to have had the wood on the competition for most of the regular season but faltered in the last couple of weeks to relinquish both the premiership and a home grand final. Sydney’s sky blues on the other hand had a consistent season, finishing strongly to be first past the post, ensuring back-to-back premiership crowns.”

ABC TV Sport broadcaster Peter Wilkins says Sydney will go into the game as favourites based on their prolific ability to create and score goals.

“Sydney possess the W-League’s two leading scorers this year (Kyah Simon (12 goals) and Leena Khamis (8 goals)) and boasts a robust defence marshalled by national team lynchpin Servet Uzunlar, and a creative midfield controlled by the experienced Kylie Ledbrook.

“The effervescent Brisbane striker, Lisa De Vanna, represents the greatest threat to Sydney’s chances of lifting the trophy for the second successive year.”

Join the ABC team of Stephanie Brantz, Peter Wilkins, Alicia Ferguson and Amy Taylor on ABC 1 on Saturday at 2.50pm for all the action in the W-League decider.

A unique alternative to the Logies has been launched by molkstvtalk.com which celebrates those shows and events that may not get a look in otherwise.

The 2001 Molkies gives us viewers the opportunity to have our say on what we have loved or hated about what we’ve seen on television of late.

Categories include ‘Best live TV interruption/bonehead’, ‘Worst performance by a guest’ and ‘Person you always change channel to avoid.”

Click here if you fancy getting involved.