Earthflight

With Sri Lanka winning the second One Day Cricket Final, and Australia the first, there needs to be a third game to determine the winner of the series.

The third game will play on Thursday, March 8, at the Adelaide Oval and air on Nine from 2pm in the afternoon, at from 6.30pm in the evening (AEDT).

This means that regular Thursday night programming – ACA, Big Bang repeat, Earthflight and CSI is out for the night as the second session of the cricket takes over prime time.

For NSW & QLD, it means the NRL Footy show follows the cricket. In NSW, if the cricket runs late, it could be a very late start for The Footy Show indeed. No so bad in QLD, being one our behind.

In AFL states, the AFL Footy Show returns next Thursday, March 15.

An interesting point to make about the Third Cricket Final, was that Nine scheduled regular programming for the night, while most cricket web sites had the third final as a definite fixture, as opposed to an “if required” situation.

Thursday night – the last weeknight of the week – seems to be the night that features all the long running series – those that have been on TV for years – including Grey’s Anatomy in its 8th season, Desperate Housewives in its 8th and final season and Private Practice season 5. All on Seven – then there is 30 Rock taking you right up to midnight – one of those critically acclaimed shows that has never been given a real chance earlier in the night.

Nine kept a week of double episodes alive with double CSI – now in its 12th season, followed by new CSI: NY hanging in there on Nine still, after new episodes last year were played on GEM on Saturday nights. Meanwhile, Law & Order: SVU – season 13 [updated] – is Ten’s Thursday night mainstay.

Another classic episode of My Kitchen Rules last night (recap here) – with a new twist – an elimination round of more instant kitchens coming up over the next 6 episodes – who wants to guess which team will be eliminated? If those Victorians from the first group – Thomas & Carla – make another purple dessert, it could well be them!

Here’s an idea for a twist for season 4 – as each season they have to do something different – right? Mix up the bottom teams after the first instant restaurant rounds. Imagine Princess paired with Peter or Gary?!

Biggest Loser saw contestants having to run up a 60m hill of sand in their latest challenge (read more here) – it is hard enough walking on sand at the best of times, let alone up a hill in a competition environment. But note how easy it was for the trainers though. Like Leigh Westren last year, I think Hamish will hit a turning point and be one of the more successful contestants of this season.

Nine last night premiered Earth Flight – every time I flicked past it I saw birds flying. Oh – wait – that’s essentially what the show was about wasn’t it? Its one of those highly visual shows that would look mad in HD – I’ll wait for a reply on GEM for that one! Additional sound effects and 7.1 surround sound provided by the neighbours’ new budgie.

On ABC1 its The Straits is the only Australian drama offering for the night – well other than MKR which is becoming like a drama this season.

If there was one channel to leave on in the background last night, for me it was GO! They replayed 2 Broke Girls at 8, followed by two classic Big Bang episodes, then the classic 80′s movie Ferris Bueller’s Day off - so many lines and memories from that movie. GEM aired the movie Birdcage – not a fan of that movie.

7TWO had more Frost than you could poke a stick at with over two hours of hit British series A Touch Of Frost while 7mate was all about Swamp People, more Pawn Stars – which seems to be sneaking into their schedule on more and more nights lately and American Pickers – also on more than once a week now.

Speaking of 7mate – looking at the schedule for new Foxtel channel A&E I can’t help feeling this is Foxtel’s attempt to grab some of 7mate’s (and also ONE’s for that matter) blokey documentary audience. Even the fact the channel number is 607 may not be purely coincidental.

I am now officially going to put a call out to anyone who watches or drives up their phone bill by contributing to Psychic Live & Interactive – as seen on TV 4ME and Aurura and sometimes even on GEM. Just one question: Why?

Twas American Idol night on FOX8, with two hours of continuing Hollywood Week (part 3) – ” where some dreams will come true and others will come to an end.” It continues tonight. Meanwhile, showcase is replaying the complete series of Tangle – a brilliant Aussie drama – in the lead up to its season three premiere soon.

What did you watch last night, what did you enjoy, like, dislike, what would you recommend, advise against or generally just talk about? Let us know!

Earthflight, a stunning and wondrous series showing the world from an amazing new perspective, premieres on Channel Nine on Thursday, February 16, at 7.30pm, narrated by 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley.

Earthflight combines state-of-the-art technology, sophisticated camera techniques and astonishing aerial images to bring you the world as seen by birds. This extraordinary six-part series from the groundbreaking BBC Natural History Unit, which made the remarkable Frozen Plant series, was more than three years in the making.

Prepare to embark on an incredible voyage with the world’s birds, soaring across continents, watching spectacular animal migrations and great natural wonders unfolding below you, and swooping down to interact with life-and-death wildlife dramas on land and sea.

Each episode explores a continent through the eyes of different birds, providing a dramatic narrative of life on Earth throughout the seasons as they take viewers on a fantastic world of flight.

The giant condor is your guide to South America, revealing the wildlife marvels of the Andes mountain chain, while macaws explore the rainforest below.

Other fascinating episodes see Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia through the eyes of the crane, the barnacle goose, the swallow and the flamingo.

The final episode goes behind the scenes to reveal how this astounding, pioneering nature series was made.

EARTHFLIGHT: Thursday, February 16, at 7.30pm on Nine