Punk’d

The first week of summer TV sees a few changes to the 7mate schedule as well, but much of the program is the same as usual.

That 70’s Show remains at 7pm Sunday – Friday on 7mate. It also airs on Seven late night Tuesday and Thursday. Scrubs – another show seen on Seven late nights as well, has a double episode from 7.30pm Sunday Nov 28. With Damage Control now out of the schedule, Sunday movies on 7mate move to 8.30pm.

There will be no more new episodes of Family Guy or American Dad – only repeats. Stargate Atlantis fills three hours on Thursday nights while the is a double episode of the Shield on Monday nights. Documentary Engineering Disasters premieres at 6.30pm Saturday nights and former Seven show Australia Smashes Guinness World Records premieres on 7mate, with all new episodes.

Here is the summary – all are repeats unless otherwise stated:

Sunday Nov 28
7.30 Gene Simmons Family Jewels (changed from Scrubs, new episodes)
8.30 Movie: Stuck on You
11.00 Boston Legal

Monday Nov 29
7.30 Australia Smashes Guinness World Records – NEW
8.00 Whacked out Sports
8.30 Family Guy
9.00 American Dad
9.30 The Shield
11.30 The Sopranos

Tuesday Nov 30
7.30 How I Met Your Mother
8.00 Scrubs
8.30 Family Guy
9.00 American Dad
9.30 My Name is Earl
10.00 Punk’d (new to 7mate)
10.30 Russell Brand’s Ponderland
11.00 Nitro Circus (new to 7mate)
11.30 Strikeforce

Wednesday Dec 1
7.30 How I Met Your Mother
8.00 Scrubs
8.30 Family Guy
9.00 American Dad
9.30 The Drew Carey Show
10.30 Chapelle’s Show (new to 7mate)
11.00 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
11.30  Strike Force

Thursday Dec 2
7.30 Gene Simmons Family Jewels (new to 7mate)
8.30 Stargate Atlantis
11.30 The Event encore

Friday Dec 3
7.30 The Boneyard (new to 7mate)
8.30 Ax Men (new to 7mate)
9.30 Movie: Submerged
11.30 Strike Force

Sat Dec 4
6.30 Engineering Disasters (new to 7mate)
7.30 Air Crash Investigation
8.30 Mega Disasters (new to 7mate)
9.30 The Universe (new to 7mate)
10.30 7mate Playboy movie: Shame, Shame, Shame (new to 7mate)

New to 7mate means new episode that has never been on 7mate before, but may have aired on another channel.

Punk’d to be revived with Justin Bieber?

Deadline is reporting that MTV is set to revive reality prank series Punk’d with Justin Bieber attached to host. Original host and creator Ashton Kutcher is said to be producing the revival with plans to premiere next year.

Spartacus producers begin recasting

The producers of Spartacus: Blood & Sand have started the recasting process to replace lead actor Andy Whitfield. They are looking for a male in their mid to late 30s with an authentic British accent and who is willing to commit to a three-year deal. Entertainment Weekly has reported that their pick for the role would be Australian actor Grant Bowler.

Home and Away actor returns

Actor Zac Drayson will return to Home and Away next week to reprise his role as foster child Will Smith after leaving the show in 2002. Drayson featured on the soap for four years from 1998 before leaving after marrying Gypsy Nash.

Vergara to develop new comedy series

Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara is finalising a deal to produce a new comedy series which is based on popular Spanish series Aqui no hay quien viva, which loosely translates to I Hate This Place. The series follows a father and son who share an apartment with their eccentric family and who work together to manage their outrageous antics.

Kardashians to launch new reality series

Sisters Kourtney and Kim Kardashian are set to launch a new reality show which will centre on the pair in New York. The sisters previously featured together on E! reality series Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

8:30pm – Saturday, September 25 on 7mate

PREMIERE – NEW SERIES

Ashton Kutcher hosts an elaborate practical joke show that makes today’s biggest stars suffer for your viewing pleasure

Punk’d is a breakout hit and has set the new standard by which other hidden-camera shows are judged. It is a reality format with a twist, where the reality gets really funny when pranks are played on unwitting celebrities and friends. The series’ creator and executive producer, Ashton Kutcher, who actually coined the word “punk’d,” masterminds and directs the devilish pranks. Kutcher sets out to prove that no one in Hollywood is safe from his devious and hilarious antics. From behind the scenes, he has a host of henchmen performing his dirty deeds. The celebrity victims don’t suspect a thing — until it’s too late, and they’ve been punk’d.

The pranks typically take place in and around Hollywood, in restaurants and hotels, film and music-video sets. There is also a regular “red carpet” feature in which celebrities at premieres and parties are “hit” with nonsensical and off-putting questions from seemingly “innocent” reporters such as a teenage boy and an overseas journalist.

Targeting a long list of unwitting celebrities from film, music, sports, and television, the vast list of Punk’d victims includes Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Katie Holmes, Zac Efron, Jewel, and John Cena.

8:30pm – Saturday, September 25 on Seven

PREMIERE – NEW SERIES

Ashton Kutcher hosts an elaborate practical joke show that makes today’s biggest stars suffer for your viewing pleasure

Punk’d is a breakout hit and has set the new standard by which other hidden-camera shows are judged. It is a reality format with a twist, where the reality gets really funny when pranks are played on unwitting celebrities and friends. The series’ creator and executive producer, Ashton Kutcher, who actually coined the word “punk’d,” masterminds and directs the devilish pranks. Kutcher sets out to prove that no one in Hollywood is safe from his devious and hilarious antics. From behind the scenes, he has a host of henchmen performing his dirty deeds. The celebrity victims don’t suspect a thing — until it’s too late, and they’ve been punk’d.

The pranks typically take place in and around Hollywood, in restaurants and hotels, film and music-video sets. There is also a regular “red carpet” feature in which celebrities at premieres and parties are “hit” with nonsensical and off-putting questions from seemingly “innocent” reporters such as a teenage boy and an overseas journalist.

Targeting a long list of unwitting celebrities from film, music, sports, and television, the vast list of Punk’d victims includes Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Katie Holmes, Zac Efron, Jewel, and John Cena.

It is the primetime schedule which promises to clear backyard sheds across the nation. Channel Seven today released the evening line-up for its bloke-friendly second digital channel, 7mate.
 
The schedule is dominated by first run episodes of popular reality programs including GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS, PUNK’D and NITRO CIRCUS, top comedies AMERICAN DAD, FAMILY GUY, PARKS AND RECREATION and sci-fi dramas CAPRICA and WAREHOUSE 13 alongside factual hits FIFTH GEAR and MEGA DISASTERS.
 
7mate will launch on Saturday, September 25 at 6pm after the high definition coverage of the 2010 AFL Grand Final, which starts at 12.15pm.
 
7mate entertainment on game day kicks off with THAT 70’s SHOW at 6pm followed by the premiere of GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS at 6.30pm (then double episodes Thursdays at 7.30pm), featuring the controversial KISS guitarist and his LA-based family.
 
Ashton Kutcher’s prank series PUNK’D, featuring today’s biggest celebrities caught out in elaborate set-ups, premieres at 8.30pm on September 25 (featuring Justin Timberlake) and continues Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10pm.
 
Jesse James’ MONSTER GARAGE revs up with brand new episodes five nights a week Monday to Friday at 6pm alongside premiere episodes of UK motoring  bible FIFTH GEAR on Mondays at 7.30pm (from September 27.)
 
Premiere episodes of cult comedy hit PARKS AND RECREATION starring Amy Poehler will air Mondays at 10pm (from September 27).
 
Fearless freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana brings his NITRO CIRCUS to Tuesday nights at 10.30pm (from September 28) presenting insane and entertaining stunts from around the world.
 
Brand new episodes of animation hits FAMILY GUY at 8.30pm and AMERICAN DAD at 9pm will feature in Wednesday night’s line-up (from September 29).
                                                                           
Tune in Thursday nights (from September 30) for the new paranormal series WAREHOUSE 13 at 8.30pm, followed by the premiere of sci-fi series CAPRICA at 9.30pm, starring Eric Stoltz.
Friday nights on 7mate feature the documentary series THE BONEYARD at 7.30pm (from October 1) followed by the reality series AX MEN at 8.30pm, which takes a look the daily dangers faced by loggers in North America.  Friday night is also the home for big action movies including HOT FUZZ, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, X MEN 2, THE KINGDOM, TRANSPORTER 2 plus the premieres of THE STRANGERS and PRIMEVAL.
7mate heads to the high seas on Saturday nights with the fast-paced reality hit MILLION DOLLAR CATCH at 6pm followed by MIGHTY SHIPS at 6.30pm. MEGA DISASTERS at 8.30pm asks the “what ifs” of natural and man-made disasters, from volcanoes to methane gas explosions.
 
Also screening on 7mate’s primetime schedule; THAT 70’S SHOW, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, CHAPPELLE’S SHOW, ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, SCRUBS, 30 ROCK, MY NAME IS EARL, CRANK YANKERS, WHACKED OUT SPORTS, AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION, HIGHWAY PATROL, DESTROYED IN SECONDS and LAST COMIC STANDING.

Stay tuned for full programming details so you know when to wtahc all these shows.
 
To receive 7mate from 25 September, you will need to tune into channel 73 on an HD
capable Digital TV, PVR or set top box.  If you have an analogue television you will need to connect your TV to an HD capable Digital set top box, PVR, or Digital recorder and tune in to channel 73.

A somewhat partial program for the first week of 7mate has been released, revealing that day time programming is mostly a mix of old TV shows and the odd old movie – yes great use of a HD channel that is – and NBC Today show at 9am.

The typical weekday looks like this:

6.00am Wagon Train
7.00 Virginian
8.30 McHale’s Navy
9.00 NBC Today
12.00pm Situation Critical
1.00 Quincy M.E.
2.00 Magnum PI
3.00 The Rockford Files
4.00 Knight Rider
5.00 The A Team

Programming for 7mate’s first full day of independent programming Sunday Sept 26 is the same as the above weekday line up from 2pm, with movies at 10am at 12pm.

From 6pm to midnight, only highlights have been released so far, with a lot of TBA’s to be filled in. note these are all new episodes.

Saturday Sept 25
6.30pm Gene Simmons Family Jewels
8.30pm Punk’d

Sunday Sept 26.
No details at all yet.

Monday Sept 27
6pm Monster Garage (Ep 12)
7:30pm Fifth Gear (S9E8)
10:00pm Parks and Recreation (S2E6)

Tuesday Sept 28
10:30pm Nitro Winter Wonderland. (Ep 1)

Wednesday Sept 29
8:30pm Family Guy (S9E11)
9:00pm American Dad (S6E6)

Thursday Sept 30
7:30pm Gene Simmons Family Jewels (S1 E2 / E3) (premiere Sept 25)
8:30pm Warehouse 13 (S1E1)
9:30pm Caprica (S1E1)

Friday Oct 1
7:30pm The Boneyard (Ep 1)
8:30pm Ax Men (S2E1)

Saturday Oct 2
7:30pm Mighty Ships (Ep 5)
8:30pm Mega Disasters (Ep 1)
9:30pm The Universe (Ep 1)

At this stage, the rest of the prime time content is yet to be revealed. Some of the gaps could be movies, as well as other shows they are yet to decide.

At midnight, Lost will be played. From 1am to 5.30am, are repeats of some of the day time shows with Quincy M.E first at around 12.50, then Magnum PI, The Rockford Files, Knight Rider and The A Team. Deal or no Deal repeats can be seen at 5.30am.

The only exception to the early morning day time repeats is Wednesday nights (Thursday mornings)where Home Shopping is scheduled for 2am. At least it is only one night, but the question is why bother – surely we deserve one channel completely free of Home Shopping?

The 7mate schedule is only the first release. It is subject to change, and as we have seen every time a new channel launches, there will be changes both in the lead up to the September 25 launch, as well as possibly more as the channel is on air as the network reacts to ratings.

At this stage, it looks like 7mate ratings will not be separated from those of Seven when it launches. There is no date from OzTam for the channel to count as its own, meaning, initially at least, 7mate ratings will be part of Seven’s.

Some programming information from TV Tonight.

7mate starts broadcasting on September 25 with HD coverage of the AFL Grand Final.

After the AFL, 7mate launches into its own programming.

The full TV guide for 7mate will be available soon, but  Seven have released highlights indicating that Gene Simmons Family Jewels will premiere at 6.30pm that night, and Punk’d will air at 8.30pm with a new series.

Gene Simmons Family Jewels.

Shannon Tweed hates surprises.  Gene Simmons loves them. On his way out of town to attend the Grand Opening of the Hooter’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, he asks Nick and Tracy Tweed (Shannon’s sister) to plan a surprise birthday party for Shannon on his behalf.  While in Vegas, he gets roped into attending the wedding of a male fan and his fiancé, and even gives the bride away.  When Shannon inadvertently finds out that Gene was not only planning a surprise party for her AND that he attended someone else’s wedding, she decides to turn the tables on him, and give him a little surprise of his own – an ambush wedding!  When “Mr. Happily Unmarried” for 23 years shows up to what he thinks is Shannon’s surprise birthday party, he gets the biggest surprise of his life.

6.30pm, Saturday Sept 25 on 7mate.

Punk’d

Ashton Kutcher hosts an elaborate practical joke show that makes today’s biggest stars suffer for your viewing pleasure

Punk’d is a breakout hit and has set the new standard by which other hidden-camera shows are judged. It is a reality format with a twist, where the reality gets really funny when pranks are played on unwitting celebrities and friends. The series’ creator and executive producer, Ashton Kutcher, who actually coined the word “punk’d,” masterminds and directs the devilish pranks. Kutcher sets out to prove that no one in Hollywood is safe from his devious and hilarious antics. From behind the scenes, he has a host of henchmen performing his dirty deeds. The celebrity victims don’t suspect a thing — until it’s too late, and they’ve been punk’d.

The pranks typically take place in and around Hollywood, in restaurants and hotels, film and music-video sets. There is also a regular “red carpet” feature in which celebrities at premieres and parties are “hit” with nonsensical and off-putting questions from seemingly “innocent” reporters such as a teenage boy and an overseas journalist.

Targeting a long list of unwitting celebrities from film, music, sports, and television, the vast list of Punk’d victims includes Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, Kate Beckinsale, Katie Holmes, Zac Efron, Jewel, and John Cena.

8.30pm, Saturday Sept 25 on 7mate.