Chuck

Facebook creator going yellow

Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg will feature as himself on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons. The American will appear on the cartoon in an episode where he meets Lisa at an entrepreneurs’ convention and advisers her on how to run a bike company.

South Park critic arrested

The Islamic man who threatened the creators of South Park after they aired the controversial Mohammad bear episode, has been arrested. Zachary Chesser, who posted the death threat on radical Islamic website Revolution Muslim, was detained for providing material support for a Somali terrorist group with Al-Qaeda links.

Nicole Richie to return to Chuck

Nicole Richie is to make a second guest appearance on Chuck in the upcoming fourth season of the show. Richie, who first appeared in the second season, will reprise her role as Heather Chandler.

Imposter Stig stalks the UK

An imposter has been doing the rounds in the UK pretending to be The Stig from motoring series Top Gear. The unidentified man has been driving around in a convoy of cars branded with the Top Gear logo and stopping to pose for photos with fans in the famous white racing suit and helmet.

Ashes of Coro St cat sell at auction

The ashes of the cat who featured on the opening credits of Coronation Street have sold for NZ$1777 at an auction in the UK. The cremated remains of “Frisky” proved popular among bidders, selling for more than four times the estimate.

Kate Moss on new reality show

Kate Moss is the latest celebrity trying out the reality TV gig with news the model is featuring on a friend’s new reality hairdressing show. Moss will join hairstylist James Brown on the upcoming Great British Hairdresser which is also expected to feature the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Liv Tyler.

Flashforward to be revived?

Positive news for fans of axed drama series Flashforward with news that US network Starz is “aggressively seeking” the licence for the show which was cancelled by ABC after its first season. The network is reportedly interested in producing new episodes after ongoing public protests regarding its demise.

Daily Show actress for Chuck

The Daily Show correspondent Olivia Munn will make a guest appearance on the new season of Chuck this year. Munn, who regularly acts on a comedy series in the US, will play an intimidating CIA agent alongside Chuck.

Jersey Shore nears pay resolution

Production is expected to continue on the third season of Jersey Shore soon with news major cast members “The Situation” and “Pauly D” have both signed new deals. The cast strike which began earlier in the week looks close to being settled with the rest of the cast expected to sign in the near future.

Roberts to guest on The Middle

Former Everybody Loves Raymond actress Doris Roberts will make a guest appearance on new comedy series The Middle next season. Roberts will join fellow Raymond actress Patricia Heaton who plays Frankie on the second season of the show.

The office will continue - Carell

Soon-to-be-departed The Office actor Steve Carell has insisted the comedy series will still continue after he leaves at the end of next season. He says that although the main character is leaving the show has enough talent to survive once he departs.

Dustin Hoffman to star in new series

Dustin Hoffman is starring in a new series called Luck which has been picked up by HBO in the US. The horse-racing drama, which boasts a pilot episode directed by Michael Mann, begins shooting later this year in Los Angeles.

James May’s new show

Top Gear’s James May is launching a new BBC show which will look to test the manliness of his guests in order to teach men the skills and knowledge possessed by their male ancestors. The series, entitled James May’s Man Lab, will feature tasks such a s learning to diffuse a bomb and “woo a lady”.

Entourage casting

Illeana Douglas is set to appear on an upcoming episode of Entourage playing Ari Gold’s (Jeremy Piven) wife’s sister.  The actress has appeared on the likes of Ugly Betty, Law & Order: SVU and Six Feet Under.

Rocky star in Chuck

Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren is reportedly set to make an appearance in the upcoming season of Chuck. The actor, who played The Siberian Express in the boxing flick, will guest star in the season 4 premiere as a villain.

House named greatest character

House star Dr Gregory House has been voted the greatest television character of the past decade by a poll on the TV Overmind website. Hugh Laurie’s character topped the list ahead of the likes of Lost villain Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) and The Wire’s Omar Little (Michael K. Williams).

Big name for Glee Super Bowl ep

Glee creator Ryan Murphy has revealed the show is looking to land a big artist for the episode which will run straight after the Super Bowl in the US. Murphy said that although they don’t want to rely on too many big name guests for the season, the Super Bowl episode will be a major one.

Chuck fans rejoice!

Chuck is back on FOX8 for its third season from Thursday July 29, 7.30pm.

No More Mr. Nice Spy. Our favourite secret agent is back in this action-comedy series. Chuck Bartowski returns as a regular guy, working at a Buy More electronics store, who becomes the government‟s most vital secret agent.Chuck is transformed into the Intersect 2.0 after another data download into his brain. This time around, he not only knows government secrets, but he also is well equipped with deadly fight skills. Chuck has the potential to become a real agent, but he has one problem, his emotions. Now he faces the battle of keeping his emotions in check in order to protect himself and the people around him.

For those who have not seen Chuck on FOX8, or don‘t have Pay TV, the first season of Chuck is playing on GO! On Wednesday nights / Thursday mornings at 1am. The final three episodes of the first season will air on GO in the one week at 1am Monday night July 26, Tuesday July and the season finale Wednesday night July 28.

Alternatively, seasons 1 and 2 of Chuck are available to buy or hire on DVD. It is not likely that GO will show season 2, given how they have treated its first season.

Surely, given that Chuck had already been on Fox8, repeated a few times, and released on DVD, GO would not have expected the show to rate well, but they still could have treated it to a stable late night timeslot.

Chuck on FOX8 Thursdays, 7.30pm (eastern) from July 29. Also in HD on FOX8HD, and two hours later on FOX8+2.

Hot off the GO Facebook page:

GO! TV: GO! is making way for some new hot shows straight from the USA… stay tuned.

What could this be about?

What new hot shows could they be referring to… and will any of them be given enough chance for an audience to grow.

We have seen time and time again GO programming change at the drop of a hat in rapid response to unfavourable ratings. While it is well understood that the networks need to achieve good ratings to make money, it would make more sense to run a more stable schedule and allow shows to build.

The kind of shows that GO should GO for (pun intended!) are those not even seen on pay TV yet that appeal more to the original target audience of GO the 16-39 demographic.

While many people do not have pay TV, shows that have already aired on pay TV will never rate well due to the fact that a large proportion of the audience have already seen the show and thereby see it as nothing but a repeat on another channel. This is the fate that shows like Gossip Girl and Chuck have suffered on GO with neither rating well and both suffering excruciating schedule changes leaving viewers confused and bewildered.

Meanwhile, mass market repeats infiltrate GO like Top Gear, Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory. These shows continue to fill up the schedules on both Nine and GO for the simple reason that people like them and watch them. However, too many of each per week will result in over supply and thereby drive viewers away.

The Vampire Diaries was one of the few shows that have been on GO before being on anywhere else. Fast tracked from the US, the show did not set any ratings records, but had a loyal fan base of around 200,000 per week over its two or three weekly time slots. This show remained in the same timeslot through its entire series. Another example is Fringe – which was relatively stable in its Wednesday night timeslot.

If GO really do get some “new hot shows” that appeal to their target audience, then perhaps the programming mess the channel is in now could just be an interim issue. Although, without Nine having any ratings juggernauts now like Seven and Ten do, expect Nine to continue to use GO as a means to prop up their network ratings shares.

Than again, the statement “GO! is making way for some new hot shows straight from the USA… stay tuned” could simply be nothing but spin to appease the recent spate of disgruntled fans venting their anger with the channel in light of virtually impossible to keep up with programming changes.

Stay tuned indeed!

With the spate of programming changes at GO in recently, their face book page has been hit with numerous complaints from angry viewers wondering what is happening with all their shows.

This has prompted a response from GO in an attempt to maintain some peace for now, detailing when certain shows will air on the channel. That is, of course, if no further amendments are made.

Headed “Where did my show go!” the post can be seen on the discussion board of the GO Facebook page. Hopefully – unlike the GO website – they will keep that up to date. Already listed is some programming information not yet officially confirmed by the Nine network.

Here is the summary, some of which have already been published here at Throng:

Terminator continues the series Saturday 3rd July at 10:30 for 2 episodes, then concludes Saturday 10th at 11pm.

Hotel Babylon will continue at 11:30 on Sunday nights.

Community and Inbetweeners will remain Monday nights 8:30 and 9pm.

Nip Tuck will continue its final season on Monday nights at 12:00 midnight.

The Bachelor will continue its run on Tuesdays at 7:30, Hell’s Kitchen has moved to 10:30 on the 6^th (of July) then on the 13th is will be on at 12:00.

Eastwick on Tuesday 6th is on at 12:00 and then moves to Wednesday the 14th at 12:00.

The Bachelorette will remain at 8:30 Wednesday nights.

Chuck’s remaining 5 episodes (of season 1 – there is a second season already shown on FOX8, with a 3^rd to come on FOX8 first) will play out at 1am Wednesday Night, Thursday Morning.

The remaining 3 episodes of Gossip Girl season 2 will air Thursday Night 29th July at 11:30 with season 3 later in the year.

The Middle also returns Thursday 29th July at 9pm.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/gotvfanpage?v=app_2373072738#!/topic.php?uid=102483657962&topic=15025

It really is becoming farcical now.

GO makes more programming changes that mean movies replace regular first to free to air episodes of shows like Gossip Girl, Chuck, Eastwick.

The 9.30 episode of Eastwick on Tuesday July 6 will be replaced with more Seinfeld – making for 4 episodes in a row. Tuesday July 13 sees the movie Beauty Shop at 9.30pm. Eastwick will still play, but only at 12.30am those nights – which are usually the earlier episode repeated. Hell’s Kitchen will follow the movie.

On Wednesday July 14, Chuck at 10.30pm will be replaced by the movie When a Stranger Calls. Chuck (at this stage) remains on after the movie, after midnight.

On Thursday July 15, the same thing happens with Gossip Girl – bumped out for the movie Snakes on A Plane from 10.35pm. Again, the later repeat remains – BUT – with so few episodes to go until season two is finished, why not play them out – maybe the final few on the one night?

Based on GO’s treatment of Gossip Girl, I would not be holding my breath waiting for them to them to air the third season.

Note that even these programming changes may change again and again before the actual night.

Now there’s a new idea for a TV channel – No programming – you don’t know what is on until you tune in. GO is heading that way. Fast.

GO are at it again, rearranging their program for next week and hoping that people will just figure out what is on when – unless of course, you are kept up to date here…

Here’s the summary:

New Adventures of Old Christine and The Middle will no longer be seen on Tuesday nights. The two shows are out altogether although the Middle remains at 9.10 Thursdays for now. The Bachelor will now move to 7.30pm, with CSI: Miami repeat at 8.30pm.

On Wednesday, The Bachelorette moves to 8.30pm while Chuck falls back to 10.30pm.

In conclusion:

Tuesdays from June 22:
7.30 The Bachelor
8.30 CSI: Miami
9.30 Eastwick

Wednesdays from June 23:
7.30 Crash Course
8.30 The Bachelorette
10.30 Chuck

Some news about a number of US shows has come to light today.

Here’s the quick summary:

1. RENEWED:

Chuck for season 4. Seen here on FOX8 (yet to air S3) and GO – just started S1

V for season 2. Seen here on Nine and GO

Lie to Me for season 3. Seen on Ten and Arena.

Human Target for a second season. To be seen on Nine later this year.

2. AXED:

Flashforward. Seen on Seven

Scrubs – will not be renewed for another season. Also seen on Seven.

Better of Ted – seen on the Comedy Channel.

Romantically Challenged. Only 3eps have aired in the US on their ABC network.

These 4 shows are seen on ABC in the US, and the reports of their axing is not yet official, but has arisen from various sources.

3. DOUBTFUL:

Rumours afloat that NBC may not renew Law and Order for a 21^st season. Yet to be confirmed. Ten have the rights to the Law and order franchise.

Source: EW, TV Tonight

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.

“CHASE”
Bruckheimers “Chase” is about a group of elite US Marshals who hunt down the most dangerous fugitives in America. Kellie Giddish (All My Children) plays a boot wearing deputy with a Texan upbringing, named Annie Frost. The show will also star Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break), Rose Rollins (The L Word) and Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives).

“THE EVENT”
Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) investigates the dissapearance of his fiancee and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in US history, that could change the fate of mankind. Also Starring Blair Underwood (Dirty, Sexy, Money) as the President snd Laura Innes (ER) and Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls).

“OUTSOURCED”
The premise for this show sounds very familiar. It’s a culture clash comedy where Midwest America meets the exotic East. “Outsourced” is about an American novelty toy company whose call centre has been outsourced to India. The manager (Ben Rappaport) is sent to India to teach them about all things American. It sounds a lot like the Sanjeev Bhaskar show “Mumbai Calling” that aired on ABC (Australia). The show will also star Jessica Gower from The Secret Life of Us and All Saints.

“LOVE BITES”
This one hour romantic comedy, will rotate around three loosely connected stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. With an apparent edgy and irreverent spin, its writer is Cindy Chupack (Sex in the City). Annie (Becki Newton – Ugly Betty) and Frannie (Jordano Spiro) are 2 single girls after all their friends have married. These two characters will anchor the show, while the third romantically challenged character will be a different guest star each week. Guest Stars in the pilot include, Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Greg Grunberg (Heroes) and Jason Lewis (Sex in the City). This is the first “Working Title TV” production in the USA. “Working Title” are the people who did Love Actually and the Bridget Jones films.

Sources – IMDB.com and The Hollywood Reporter.com