Neighbours

   Kate is still being horrible to poor Sophie, even though she has clearly done nothing wrong. Time to move on Kate, I mean seriously…

   Luckily, Toadie has swooped in and organised a sleepover for Callum and Sophie (aren’t they getting a bit old for sleepovers with the fairer sex?) to give the sisters some space. But Kate is angry that Sophie is sharing their business around to anyone, but seems even more angry at the fact that nobody’s eating her stir-fry. Then Kyle shows up (of course) to “fix the shower”, and pretty much invites himself to dinner (“that stir-fry smells good”), but Kate doesn’t seem to take the hint. Selfish, much? Plus, her dreams about the back of Mark are still kicking on. I think it’s time for this storyline to progress a little bit…

   Toadie overhears at the police station that Brennan is “dead” (not too sure if he really is, or not) and is sworn to secrecy. Suddenly conflicted, he’s going to need to decide whether to tell anyone, especially Kate. Most likely, he will.

   Ah, Karl and Susan. Always reliable for a bit of light-hearted entertainment. Now that they’ve booked their trip to Peru, they’ve decided to get in training for the hiking and high altitudes. Karl had booked an abseiling lesson for them, but Susan never showed up because she was holding hands with the now-terminally ill Jim. That was the cliffhanger from last episode, and they showed Karl looking pretty pissed – but when Susan told him, he was OK with it. Thanks Neighbours, for the false advertising. Then Jade had them working up a sweat in the gym. LOL. And an even bigger LOL at Karl’s 80′s flashback tights. Somehow I don’t think they’re going to make it up and down the hills of Machu Picchu… 

Australian actress Dichen Lachman has found something new to sink her teeth into — the role of a bloodsucker, on Being Human.

The exotic onetime Dollhouse and Neighbours star, is joining the US Syfy drama in the series regular role of Izumi, “a reclusive, centuries-old vampire who causes upheaval” when she returns to her old Boston stomping grounds.

Being Human is about three twenty-somethings who share a house and try to live a normal life despite being a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire..

Since Dollhouse‘s doors closed, Lachman has guest-starred on NCIS: LA and Hawaii Five-0. She can next be seen on Torchwood: Miracle Day, which premieres July 9 on UKTV (fast tracked).

Being Human starts Monday, 9.30pm on ELEVEN

Source Variety

   Kate has gone ca-raaaazy. When Kyle and Jade start throwing some of Brennan’s stuff out to make way for a new housemate, Kate loses it, and starts keeping stuff for herself - she even went as far as smelling his shirts. Oooh yeah. She almost gives everything away when she lashed out at Jade – seriously, she needs to keep her mouth shut. And Kyle just seems to be hanging around, making sure all is well with Kate and Sophie, and making sure she doesn’t spill the truth. Clearly, he wants Kate. Baaad. 

   Karl spent most of his time at Harold’s store, and at that little shopping village everyone hangs out at. Even though Susan just returned home. He feels neglected, and thinks Susan is putting everything else above their relationship. Jeez, suck it up Karl. Boo hoo. I don’t see why though – he drops in and out of London to see Izzy and their illegitimate child every now and then, so what’s the difference? During his hours wandering, Sonya grills him about what his big plans are for Susan’s return. Which are…none. Karl also bought a newspaper from one of those coin dispenser things you always see in American movies – do they actually exist in suburban Melbourne?

   And Summer’s whinging about how all she does at her ‘internship’ (how do you get one of those while in Year 12, anyway?) is make coffee. I wonder why. So she decides to write a story anyway, and make it so good Paul can’t possibly refuse. So after making out with Andrew near the community garden, she decides to do a story on that. Convenient.

   I also couldn’t help but ‘awww’ at the little black kitten rolling around in their quick location shots. Never seen it before, and I couldn’t help but wonder – who’s cat is that? 

   Nothing like a good dream sequence to kick start the episode. Kate is actually starting to lose it – dreaming about Mark, in the distance, standing in the fog, with his back facing her – but I’m pretty sure that’s not even the same actor. After a lot of whinging, and a lot of failed coffee orders at work, she goes home and basically lashes out at Sophie. Apparently everything is her fault – she can’t help tripping over in the middle of the night! Besides, I think the fact that she even decided to run away with them in the first place should make up for it. Rude, Kate, rude!

   Tash is now Erinsborough High’s official ‘dirty skank’. Classy. As she walks through school, every random extra in a school uniform is looking, laughing and taking pictures on their phones (why?). Then Ivan decides to show up – I love the way that anybody can just walk into a school without permmision – and a showdown, er, goes down. The truth that Tash sent the photos to him herself comes out, and suddenly Michael is made to look the fool. Tash is in tears, and Ivan warns them that Michael has ‘more to lose’ than he does. All in the middle of school, with dozens of students watching. Nice.

   Sonya’s gardening thing provided some great comedic relief this episode – the fact that she is afraid of birds is actually hilarious in itself. But Callum and the rubber snake topped it all off nicely. Also, why is Callum and Sophie suddenly at the garden all the time? I highly doubt the school would let them be there every day.

   And is it just me, or did Erinsborough High suddenly get a logo? It was everywhere tonight – and people are even wearing blazers. There was even a shot of the outside of the school! Did I miss something…?

   Michael is definitely angry that his daughter sent nude pictures of herself to Ivan The Terrible. So angry, in fact, that he needed to go for a surf. (I thought that was a Home And Away thing…?)

   Tash tried to lie her way out of the whole thing initially –  ”some perve must have taken the photo when I was at the gym”. Smooth. Obviously, Michael didn’t buy it. Especially when he sees Ivan at Charlie’s showing his mates the photos. All class that man, especially the line “she is hot stuff!” Ugh. I was dissappointed that Michael didn’t knock him out right there and then (that came up later), but the dropping of the phone in the jug of beer was kinda funny. So after his random surf, Tash finally told him the (almost) whole truth, and attempted to call the police. But Ivan rocks up and starts arguing with Tash. Cue massive punch by Michael in the driveway. Yay!

   Lucas spent the episode deliberating whether or not to go to his father’s funeral. We first get to see him working his mechanic magic on a car, listening to some 80′s music that reminded him of his dad, with a suit hanging up in the garage (bad choice from the start). The editors of the show also got a bit of a workout. Couldn’t stop laughing at the 3-way split screen of Lucas, the suit and a clock. Riveting stuff. He decides to go to the funeral but oh no! He gets oil or grease or something on his shirt. He reckons its a sign from his dad telling him to not go. Then Paul says how he regrets not going to his father’s funeral, and makes some random Lassiter’s worker give the suit he was wearing to Lucas. Really. They didn’t show anymore, but what the hell did that guy wear instead? Lucas’ work clothes? So he finally makes it to the funeral, gets sad, and can’t go in. *Sigh*. So all of tonight’s suit-stealing was for nothing? Argh!

   Looks like in tomorrow night’s episode the truth about the nude photo scandal gets twisted around somehow, so suddenly Michael is being charged with assault. Of course!

   Lucas got to show off his best sad face tonight, at the news of his father’s death. Tash got to show off her regretful face at the news of her nude pic going viral. And Toadie got to show off his confused face after getting ‘non-alcoholic apple cider’ for Sonya, and wondering why Lucas suddenly got up and left. It’s her favourite drink after all.

   Lucas was conflicted most of the episode – even though he hardly spoke with his father, he still felt a sense of loss at the news of his death. He took his anger out on poor Chris, who was just innocently working in the garage. Eventually, they worked things out, but Chris is now working for Lucas like a puppy, afraid that he may snap again.

   Tash is up the creek tonight, that’s for sure. Her absolutely delightful, much-older boyfriend Ivan (who used to be Hazim in Home And Away, if I recall correctly?) sent around a private nude photo of her to his mates, who forwarded it to other mates, and then to the school - including Michael. Awwwwwwkward. Tash did her best to avoid her dad from checking his emails, but it was too late in the end. No amount of dinner could stop that freight-train from comin’. Add that to the long list of disappointments from Tash.

   As stupid as she is, the show has done a good thing by raising this issue, as I’m sure there are real situations like this occurring in our technology-fuelled era. On ‘ya writers of Neighbours.

   Looks like there will be a bit of a showdown between Michael and Ivan tomorrow night. Booyah.

   Poor Kate. Still reeling with Brennan’s exit, Pitbull returned to emphasize the fact that she is to tell noone about what actually happened. Plus, there’s really nobody for her to turn to. Except Kyle, as he’s the only one that knows the truth. And as Jade blatantly pointed out, he probably just wants to get with her anyway.

   Anybody else that tries to comfort her gets pushed away – even Lou the “older ear”, who was back in the kitchen, this time with freshly-baked cookies. Lovely man.

   I love the way that Sophie stood up to Paul. It was completely out of nowhere – I mean, did she really think that Paul Robinson, Paul Robinson, was going to make her feel better? But props for her trying to get the bitter old man to actually care.

   There was a bit of Sonya/Toadie/Callum action too. (Is it just me or did Callum’s voice get deeper overnight?) Anyway, Sonya discovered she was good at telling kids how to plant stuff, so she’s now a permanent kitchen-garden volunteer. However, she needs a working-with-children check, and because of her past, it might not be so easy to get. Which led to Callum’s friend’s mum cancelling a sleepover, because she was afraid to leave her son with Sonya. Which she explicitly told her. Must feel fantastic to be Sonya right about now. Best part was that while all this was happening, Karl was eating a sandwich from home to ‘save money’. Why go to Harold’s Store in the first place?

   To get some stability in their lives, Sonya then unromantically proposed to Toadie, who will most likely run the opposite direction, despite their already set-up family unit. Cue next episode…

   Tonight’s episode was entirely devoted to the abrupt departure of Detective Brennan. Who is apparently on his way to Coronation Street. (Well, the actor anyway.)

   I don’t know what was sadder about tonight – Mark being forced into protective custody, Kate losing the one she loves, Sophie being literally pressured by her sister to leave Erinsborough, or the fact that nobody got to eat Lou’s battered (or crumbed) fish which he seemed to have spent hours making.

   In true soapie style, Mark’s exit was sudden and disgraceful, but at least his had a legitimate reason behind it – unlike other classic reasons to leave like “I need to start my new job in Africa tomorrrow”, or “There’s only one bus leaving this month”, or simply just taking a holiday and never returning.

   I was surprised at how strong this episode was. I really felt for Kate and Sophie when they had to make the tough decision of leaving or not. Lucky they didn’t though, because their last words to Lou would have been “we need to get some chocolate”. Awkward.

   It was all topped off with an emotional run through the pouring rain, and a (unintentionally) hilarious face-plant by Sophie. The final text message from Mark – “I Love You” – was heartbreaking.

   And there it all ends for Mark and Kate. A bit dissappointing, as they were only a handful of TV couples who genuinely seem to like each other, and are not extremely annoying.

   We’ll just have to wait and see where Detective Brennan turns up next. After being whisked away by a scary bald man who looks a bit like Pitbull with a European accent, he may wash up in Eastenders somewhere down the track.

Lost actor joins new Sinbad series

Lost actor Naveen Andrews has been cast in a new British series, entitled Sinbad, that is based on the iconic mythological character but given a modern twist.

Neighbours to have first gay couple

Neighbours will have its first ever gay couple on the series later this year when a former Home and Away actor join the cast as a love interest for an existing character. While there have been gay characters on the soap in the past, as far as a couple is concerned it is a first for Neighbours.

NBC wins My Name is Earl lawsuit

NBC bosses have won a lawsuit against a writer who claims he created the concept for My Name Is Earl. The man sued the network back in 2008 after he alleged the sitcom was ripped off a script called Karma he wrote and shopped around to TV networks in 1995.

NSYNC member plans boyband reality series

Former NSYNC member Lance Bass has announced plans for a new boyband reality series. Bass has gathered together a judging panel made up of former members of boybands such as Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block and NSYNC.

Jersey Shore cast hold out for more pay

The cast of MTV reality series Jersey Shore will reportedly earn their highest salaries yet in the show’s fifth season after holding out for more pay. The network was attempting to sign them on the same contracts as the fourth season but lawyers for the cast members refused negotiations unless they were redrawn under new terms.

Former Home & Away star Bob Morley is set to join the cast of Neighbours as a homosexual character. Playing nurse Aidan Foster; he will become the love interest of current gay character, teen Chris Pappas played by James Mason.

Susan Bower, exectutive prodcuer of Neighbours stated that Chris Pappas’ natural progression as a now regular of the ELEVEN soap opera would eventually see him finding a love interest.

“To be true to the Chris character, now he is a regular in storylines, we knew at some stage he needed to meet someone,” she said. “How it unfolds, all will be revealed, however I think viewers will find the story compelling.”

Morely said about his character’s sexual orientation, “I don’t see it as a big deal that the character is gay…It certainly doesn’t define him and what the writers have planned is really interesting and authentic.”

Morely has been cast for six months with an option to extend.