Jamie’s Family Christmas

With Rush, Neighbours and Recruits finished, the week leading up to Christmas on Ten is packed with encores, classic episodes and repeats.

First season episodes of Modern Family are back on Sunday nights from Dec 19, this time at 7.30, followed by Simpsons repeats at 8pm. The Sunday movie is Inside Man, followed by American Pie.

At 6.30pm weeknights from Mon Dec 20, is Jamie’s Family Christmas. Celeb chef Jamie Oliver shows simple ways to get the main elements of Christmas dinner absolutely perfect – the best turkey in the world, the best gravy, the best roast potatoes, the best stuffing.

Classic Glee continues at 7.30 Monday followed by the first episode of Undercover Boss Australia which saw applications to work for Dominos Pizzas explode.

For this week, Outrageous Fortune will air three episodes. One at 10.30 Mon Dec 20, the other two from 9.15 Sat Dec 25.

On Tuesday Dec 21, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation is back – well for a replay anyway. The episode of season 2 where each of the GENerals invited a member of their family to be part of the team plays from 7.30. NCIS: LA remains at 8.30, followed by Lie to Me.

Wednesday Dec 22 remains unchanged with classic Modenr Family from 7.30, new Raising Hope at 8pm, NCIS: LA at 8.30 and new White Collar at 9.30.

Thursday Dec 23 has two episodes of Bondi Vet from 7.30, followed by a double Law and Order: SVU.

Now – as we move into Christmas Eve Friday Dec 24 – Simpsons at 7.30 BUT – here is why I did not watch the Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation Christmas special when it aired in November – it is on again Christmas Eve at 8.30pm – seems to be a much more appropriate time to watch a Christmas special than November 23 was! TAYG Xmas is followed by the movie The Core.

And, finally, on the big day itself – Sat Dec 25. Video Hits at 10am, Celebrate Christmas 2010 special at 12 midday, the movie Miracle on 34^th Street at 1pm, and the Grinch at 3.05pm. After the news at 5pm, is the movie Garfield Two – a Tale of Two Kitties at 5.30, followed by Back to the Future 3 at 7pm. Outrageous Fortune, as mentioned before, from 9.15, then the classic movie The Blues Brothers at 11.15pm.

Quick points 4 Saturday December 5 2009.

Tool Academy. It’s getting to the point of being completely ridiculous the number and frequency of programming changes and both GO and Nine. The latest – now the third programming change for the Nine network (which of course includes GO) is to place Tool Academy on GO at 8.30 Sunday Dec 6 (thereby replacing South Park) and then continuing at 9.30 Tuesdays – putting the Bachelorette out. The show features Jamie Grubbs who claims to have had a two and a half year affair with Tiger Woods. No doubt an attempt to cash in on the story, but with such a last minute change, who would even know the show was on?

7pm Project. The 7pm Project will actually be off for a week from Friday Dec 25, with the show most likely not returning until Monday Jan 4 2010. 7pm will be replaced with Jamie’s Family Christmas – a Christmas cooking show hosted by Jamie Oliver mostly shown after Christmas. Weird. Guess that week is the peak of non ratings season anyway.

Carols By Candlelight. The annual Melbourne carols will be seen on Nine at 8pm Thur Dec 24. The night will be hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson. Guests include Guy Sebastian, the Jersey Boys, the Ten Tenors and Hi-5. More will be revealed closer to the date.

Flashforward. For those who did not know, the episode of Flashforward that aired on Seven last Monday (Nov 30) actually aired here before it did in the US. Over in the US, they have accused Australians of leaking the story to the US, even blaming the fact that we celebrate Thanksgiving in May for the fact that the show was able to be seen before it was in the US. Over there, Flashforward had a week off for the holiday. So – it’s OK for the US to have all the shows on before us and for them to be leaked by torrents or other means, but not the other way round??? Please!!! And someone remind me the date of our Thanksgiving so I can make sure I have the day off???

ABC3. Our 11^th free to air channel is now on the air. ABC3 launched at 6pm, Dec 4 after Kevin Rudd hit the big Three on the big remote and got things under way in a special “Countdown to 3” presentation featuring many of the 3 hosts that aired on ABC1 prior to the start of ABC3. Apparently, however, a threat – understood to be a prank – was made to the PM during the event. ABC security escorted a number of cleaners from the building following the incident. Police are investigating.

Sources: TV Tonight, Media Spy