Fear Factor

UPDATED. Seems to be a change of heart of sorts from the Ten Network, with their programming for former 24 hour sports channel ONE for rhw first week of ratings. Burn Notice has been re-instated back in the schedule – still at 8.30pm Wednesdays (Thank you!) while Monday night comedy will cotinues with Straussman Live – Get Chucked on Monday Feb 13 at 8.30pm.

On Sunday Feb 12 ONE airs Mighty Movers at 6.30pm, followed by premiere series Dangerous Drives at 7.30pm. Then, at 8.30, is the movie Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Monday: UPDATED Who’s Line Is It Anyway continues with two episodes from 7.30pm, Straussman Live – Get Chucked at 8.30pm. That is followed by the movie Land of The Dead at 10.00pm.

Tuesday is the new series of Black Gold at 7.30pm (in HD), followed by the usual one hour installment of COPS from 8.30pm. The movie for the night, from 9.30pm is Predator 2.

UPDATED: New Psych remains on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm. Burn Notice continues at 8.30pm Wednesdays, including Feb 15. Previously, Mike & Fiona were out in favour for a yet to be named movie at 8.30pm. Now, the movie 12 Rounds will start at 9.30pm.

The movie for Thursday night remains TBA, while Extreme Fishing remains at 7.30 Thursday Feb 16.

Onto Friday night (Feb 17), new series LA Hard Hats airs at 7.30pm while the 2007 movie Bra Boys (pictured) is at 8.30pm.

Saturday night (Feb 18) again features Fear Factor at 7.30pm, preceded by The WWE Experience at 6.30pm. That nights’ movie is yet to be advised. Three movies for the week to be confirmed.

Typically, a well chosen movie can help the shares for a digital channel, without detracting from programming on the main channel. Like GO!, movies on ONE, Ten and ELEVEN tend to repeat frequently.

Whether the move to air movies every night on ONE pays off in ratings is to be seen.

Programming correct as at February 2, 2012 and subject to change.

If you’re not out with family or at a Christmas function of some description, and find yourself stuck in front of the TV, there is plenty on offer, despite the fact we are deep in summer non-ratings TV. A mix of Chritsmas themed episodes of regular shows, Christmas movies, and regular programming across our networks should provide something for most people.

The following were our picks for the day – as usually seen in our regular “What to Watch on TV Tonight” posts:

The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special, Seven, 6.30pm
Supermodel Rachel Hunter pays an unexpected visit to the village of Dibley. Geraldine celebrates her 10th year as the vicar and, as usual, nothing goes to plan. The Christmas carol-writing competition is a disaster, and Geraldine heads off a plan to have a stripper at the Christmas Eve cocktail party.

The Queen’s Christmas Message 2011, ABC1, 7.20pm
HM Queen Elizabeth gives her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth.

Christmas Movie Triple – Nine from 6.30pm
First up is Deck the Halls at 6.30pm, then National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at 8.30pm followed by Billy Bob in Bad Santa at 10.30pm

Little Shop of Horrors, GO!, 10.30pm
Another 80′s classic. A monster musical black comedy about an extraordinary triangle involving a flower shop employee named Seymour, his whimsical co-worker and a plant.

Fear Factor, ONE, 11.10pm
Christmas Episode. In each pulse-racing episode, contestants recruited from across America must decide if they have the guts and determination to face their most primal fears and confront a series of challenging stunts.

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol, UKTV, 8.00pm AEDT.
2010′s Christmas special. Amy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way the Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser. But is Kazran Sardick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve?

But wait… there’s more…
Many regular shows over most channels will air Christmas episodes. On ELEVEN, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Simpsons and Futurama are Christmas episodes. Older shows on that channel like Cheers, Family Ties and The Brady Bunch also fit the festive theme. GEM has Black Adder’s Christmas Carol at 6.30pm while ABC1 has a Christmas episode of My Family at 7.30.

If you want to escape Christmas altogether, try SBS ONE and SBS TWO – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon airs on SBS ONE, followed by Kung Fu Hustle at 10.50. SBS TWO plays Jean De Florette at 7.30 hailed as a modern classic that won 4 BAFTA’s, followed by its sequel Manon Des Sources at 9.40pm.

Over on Seven, once they are done with the Vicar Of Dibley at 7.40, programming is the same as any Sunday night with Dog Patrol and Coastwatch first, followed by Bones and Castle. 7mate is also a Christmas-free zone with Mythbusters at 7.30 and the movie Smokey and the Bandit III at 8.35pm.

Meanwhile, It’s a Knockout Continues on Ten – airing at the later time of 7.50 – thanks to a late finishing Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation Christmas Special, followed by the movie There’s Something About Mary. Movies on GO! include Flight of the Navigator at 6.30pm, then Stormbreaker at 8.30. GEM has Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day in glorious HD.

Merry Christmas from Throng Australia.

Body Body Of Proof, Seven, 8.30pm
Tonight we have 2 episodes of this US hit. A female jogger is found floating in the Schuylkill River Was her death an accident or will Megan and her colleagues have to track down a killer? When a young, interracial couple is found shot and killed, detectives are ready to chalk the case up to a murder-suicide. However, Dr Megan Hunt finds evidence on the bodies that sends the case in an entirely different and shocking direction.

Hot in Cleveland, Nine, 8pm
Elka’s behind bars and sharing her cell with a very familiar face. The other ladies try to raise bail money, but are faced with issues of their own. The sensational Betty White stars as Elka.

24, ONE, 8.30pm
This is a show I had never seen and am now addicted, is full of adrenalin and suspense. Teri and Alan track Janet down at St Mark’s Hospital, Kim’s kidnappers deliver her to Gaines, and Palmer confronts his son about the death of Lyle Gibson.

Fear Factor, ONE, 7.30pm
This show has just been renewed after a lapse in the US. In each pulse-racing episode, contestants recruited from across America must decide if they have the guts and determination to face their most primal fears and confront a series of challenging stunts. Make sure you are not eating dinner as they eat bugs, scorpions and pigs eyes.

Unlikely Animal Friends, Seven, 7.30pm
What happens when a sheep befriends an orphaned baby elephant? Do dogs get along with polar bears? Can a leopard and a golden retriever grow up together? Find out what makes these unlikely animal friendships so unique.

Tyler and Jackson returning to Idol

Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson have confirmed they will return to American Idol as judges again next season. There is no word yet on Jennifer Lopez.

Rogan in for Fear Factor revival

Joe Rogan has been confirmed to return as the host of the rebooted Fear Factor reality series. The series will return for an eight-episode run and is said to embrace technology in a way that the original series couldn’t.

Patel joins new Sorkin series

Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel has landed a role on Aaron Sorkin’s new HBO series entitled More As the Story Develops that centres on a bunch of people working in a broadcast newsroom. Jeff Daniels, Olivia Munn and Emily Mortimer are also on board.

New Rob Dyrdek series coming to MTV

Rob Dyrdek of Rob & Big and Fantasy Factory is launching an all-new MTV series entitled Ridiculousness that will focus on amateur viral videos in a similar fashion as Comedy Central’s Tosh.0. Drydek will comment on clips in a range of segments such as ‘Redneck Good Times’ ‘Hot Mess’ and Worst Case Scenario’.

Modern Family leads Critics’ Choice nominations

Modern Family leads the nominations for the upcoming Critics’ Choice television Awards with a total of six nominations. Mad Men has picked up five nominations with Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife and Justified each receiving four nods.

Joe Rogan wanted as Fear Factor host

American network NBC is looking to reinstate Joe Rogan as the host of the new Fear Factor series. The network announced last week that they would be re-launching the reality series five years after it was last seen.

Sheen’s character will not be killed off

Reports are suggesting that Charlie Sheen’s Two and a Half Men character will not be killed off to make way for Ashton Kutcher but instead will relocate to Paris. Producers will reportedly use Sheen’s final scenes as Charlie Harper to explain his absence from the sitcom.

Scherzinger officially replacing Cole

Nicole Scherzinger has been officially confirmed as the new judge on the American version of The X Factor, replacing Cheryl Cole. The judging panel will now comprise of Scherzinger, Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul.

Parsons to guest on iCarly

The Big Bang Theory actor Jim Parsons will make a guest appearance on Nickelodeon series iCarly. The actor, who plays Sheldon Cooper on the sitcom, will take on the role of a psychiatric patient on the teen series.