The Office

The US 2012/2013 television ratings season returns Monday September 24, 2012. As the new season nears, here is the Throng guide to US premiere dates and when these shows are likely to air in Australia. Continue reading »

Things are about to be shaken up at Dunder Mifflin again, as James Spader will not be returning to The Office next season.

“James always wanted this to be a one-year arc, and he now leaves us having created one of the most enigmatic and dynamic characters in television,” Office showrunner Paul Lieberstein said in a statement. “He’s been a great friend to me and the show, helping us successfully transition into the post-Michael Scott years, and I’m grateful for that.”

 It’s one of three departures producers may be forced to contend with at season’s end, the second being Mindy Kaling (who has a pilot at Fox) and the third being Rainn Wilson (who is possibly doing his own spinoff).

The Office airs on Eleven at 9pm on Tuesdays

Smallville – a recent mainstay for Monday nights on ELEVEN soon comes to an end.

Double episodes air on Monday January 30 as well as Monday February 6 – with the seocnd episode for that night being part ONE of the final for the show.

Then, on Monday February 13, at 9.30pm, is the last episode ever of Smallville.

It follows NEW Supernatural which will, from February 13, settly into the Monday 8.30pm timeslot.

With Week 7 (Feb 12-18) being the first week of ratings for 2012, the reast of the week on ELEVEN remains much the same as it has been in recent weeks.

New content on ELEVEN includes Supernatural on Monday nights at 8.30 from Feb 13, new episodes of The Office Tuesday nights 9pm, followed by new (to free to air) episodes of Dexter at 9.30pm. Wednesdays at 7.30pm is All New The Simpsons. Friday nights now feature triple Simpsons followed by Sex and The City.

The Loop airs Saturdays from 9am, repeated 10.30pm the same night.

New Neighbours, as always, is at 6.30pm weeknights.

The rest of ELEVEN’s programming remains consistant as to how it has been since the channel’s launch January 11, 2011.

The Office, 8.30pm and 9pm, ELEVEN
Michael, about to leave for Colorado, wants a day without drama to say his goodbyes to each co-worker.

Commercial Kings, 9pm, ABC2 / ABC4
Internet stars Rhett and Link travel to North Hollywood to make local TV commercials for a presidential-themed carwash and a hot dog restaurant.

Who Do You Think You Are? 7.30pm, SBS ONE
Australian film and TV industry luminary, actress Sigrid Thornton has cornered the market in feisty leading roles. She is possibly best known for her role as the ‘starting life over again’ magistrate Laura in Sea Change.

Top 5 Eaten Alive, 7.30pm, Seven
A dramatic depiction of five of the most amazing stories of shark attack survival, told by the victims themselves. It takes the viewer into the experience of confronting the sea’s top predator and living to tell the tale.
   
Injustice (Premiere) 7.30pm, W
Barrister William Travers is reluctantly called back to London to represent his old friend Martin Newall, who is accused of murdering a young intern he was sleeping with.

Channel ELEVEN celebrates its first birthday this Wednesday 11 January as the highest rating multi-channel in all key demos, and things just keep getting better.

We couldn’t be more proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the past 12 months. From special events (Lady Gaga in concert) to Sci-Fi (Star Trek Next Generation, SGU); from animation (The Simpsons, Futurama) to the occult (American Horror Story), ELEVEN is the home of digital TV that not only entertains, but challenges the viewer.

Network Ten Head of Programming, Beverley McGarvey, said about ELEVEN: “Channel Eleven ended the survey year significantly ahead of our closest competitors, and in 2012 we plan on going from strength to strength.

We’re looking into some fresh ideas to bring to the table, as well as bringing back some of the best TV the US has to offer.”

Of course, where would we be without our Neighbours? Australia’s longest-running soap is now the highest rating program on ELEVEN, as big numbers continue to tune in to the dramas and daily lives of the residents of Ramsay Street.

Under the twinkling eyes of presenters Labby and Stav, Couch Time remains an integral piece of the ELEVEN puzzle. It is the key element that connects our viewers with the best of ELEVEN programming, and continues to grow in personality.

In 2012, ELEVEN promises to continue being awesome. We’ve got two exciting home-grown developments to celebrate, ELEVEN’s own mini-drama Micro Nation, and the launch of our weekly music and entertainment program coming at the end of January.

But before we get to all that, let’s party.

This week we’re bringing out the big guns. While we’re saying hello to Neighbours for the first time in 2012, we farewell Steve Carell on Tuesday night in back-to-back episodes of The Office. We’re celebrating the season return of The Simpsons, Supernatural and Smallville, and ramping things up in the penultimate episode of American Horror Story.

On Wednesday, we’re airing special birthday episodes of Futurama, Everybody Loves Raymond, The King of Queens, Cheers, Family Ties, Happy Days and The Brady Bunch! Couch Time will also be presenting a special birthday episode, that may or may not involve a giant cake.

New content on ELEVEN in its anniversary week.

For the week January 9-15, 2012, encompassing ELEVEN’s first anniversary on air of January 11, the channel delivers new episodes of many of its shows including The Simpsons, The Office, The Cleveland Show, Smallville and Supernatural.

Here’s when to find all that new content:

Monday Jan 9
8.30 Supernatural
9.30 Smallville

Tuesday Jan 10
8.30 The Office
9.00 The Office
9.30 American Horror Story (note – new episodes continue to air every Tuesday at the moment)

Wednesday Jan 11
7.30 All New Simpsons
8.00 repeats Futurama, Simpsons, Futurama
9.30 The Cleveland Show new
10.00 Cleveland Show rpt

The Middle, Nine, 8.00pm
Forced Family Fun (2). When Mike decides that the perfect family getaway is a camping trip, memories of their campsite honeymoon 19 years earlier, which was ruined, come flashing back.

The Office, ELEVEN, 8.30pm
Training Day. New. Michael’s replacement has arrived for training, and the staff are all lining up to curry favour with their new boss.

Mike & Molly, Nine, 9.00pm
Samuel Gets Fired. Samuel gets fired and also loses his apartment, so Mike lets him move in with him temporarily.

United States of Tara, ABC1, 9.36pm
The Good Parts. Final. Tara and Max decide to get Tara the sophisticated help she needs from a Boston specialist, but first the Gregsons have to once again put the pieces of their fractured family back together.

C.R.A.Z.Y. SBS TWO, 9.30pm
Featuring a sensational soundtrack, this drama follows the trials and tribulations of growing up gay during the turbulent ’60s and ’70s. Winner of 11 Genie Awards, including Best Film of 2006.

BBC Worldwide has announced that all episodes of The Office are now available to purchase and download in Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, France and Germany for the first time on iTunes (www.itunes.co.uk).

David Brent the awkward and unnerving boss of fictional paper merchants Wernham Hogg, first graced our screens back in 2001. The critically acclaimed series written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant is now celebrating its 10th Anniversary with a wealth of awards, international remakes and broadcasts the world over under its belt.

To date, video viewing of the seminal British comedy classic has been exclusive to DVD where global brand sales are almost 4 million. From today, The Office Series 1, Series 2 and all the Christmas Specials will become available to purchase and download from iTunes to own in Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, France and Germany.

Commenting on the announcement, writer and star of The Office Ricky Gervais said: “It’s been the most amazing 10 years of my life. Who’d have thought mucking around at work and watching docu soaps through the 90′s would be so lucrative”. 

For the past decade, this brilliantly observed and convincingly acted fly-on-the-wall mocumentary has kept us laughing, with all time classic comedy scenes from philosopher David Brent and his acute grasp on political correctness, the long-suffering Tim and engaged receptionist, Dawn, who keep themselves sane by playing childish practical jokes on the insufferable, army-obsessed desk mate Gareth.

Australia’s Next Top Model LIVE Finale, FOX8, 7.35pm AEDT
This season’s journey has been amazing as one hundred girls have been reduced to the final three. Now the winner of the show is revealed at the Sydney Opera House. LIVE BLOG tonight on Throng.

Packed to the Rafters, Seven, 8.30pm
Final for 2011. It’s not the actual season 4 final, but it is the last Rafters to air in 2011. I can say it will be a cliff hanger in the sense that you will want to know what happens in the next episode. Risky Business: Ben initiates a night on the town with the boys, and everyone is impressed by the up-market nightclub he takes them to. After the VIP treatment, Ben reveals that Tom put him in touch with Chris, a nightclub owner who is courting Ben as a potential investor in his next business venture, causing alarm bells to immediately sound for Nathan. At the club, Nathan realises how rusty he is at chatting to women and forces himself to take a chance. Meanwhile, Carbo and Retta reassess their own sex life and promise to always surprise each other. But a return to the club prompts them to take their own risks, which, funnily enough, become a little too public.

Modern Family, Ten, 7.30pm
Finally after a seas of repeats comes a new episode. Dude Ranch: Mitch and Cam plan to announce that they want to adopt another baby but realise that Lily might not want another baby in the house. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria disagree on how to discipline Manny.

The Office, ELEVEN, 9.30pm
The Seminar: With Andy’s sales at his lowest ever, he holds a small business seminar on site and invites Jim and Dwight to act as his guest speakers.

Survivor: South Pacific, Nine, 9.30pm
Free Agent: A player reveals a potentially game-changing secret, while another castaway threatens to leave the game because of a lack of loyalty.

Hot Docs: Fish! A Japanese Obsession, SBS ONE, 10.00pm
Charles Rangeley Wilson, author and journalist, travels to Japan to explore the Japanese people’s passionate relationship to fish. Of all the island nations on Earth, there is, perhaps, none quite so obsessed by fish as Japan. Whether for food or entertainment, fish are at the very core of Japanese identity.

Packed to the Rafters, 8.30pm, Seven
In a deeply moving episode, Ben opens up to Emma about Mel’s death, and the cathartic experience enables him to finally get some closure.

Mike & Molly, 9pm, Nine
When Vince tries to strike up a friendship with Mike by inviting him to a big basketball game, Molly isn’t pleased with their newfound bond. Series return.

SLiDE, 7.35pm, FOX8
In tonight’s final, schoolies is over and Tammy is still a virgin. Her desperate plans to fix this, at a festival, prove tricky when she somehow finds herself in the midst of a hostage drama at Luke’s house.

All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace, 8.30pm, SBS ONE
Has the onward march of progress come to a shuddering halt? For most of the 20th century science offered us and our leaders a powerful, optimistic vision: the promise of building a new and better world. That dream failed. Now new, powerful sciences have risen up that say it is dangerous to change the world, that we tamper with its natural balance at our peril.

The Office, 9.30pm, ELEVEN
Michael gets upset when Holly returns from holidays without an engagement ring but still together with her boyfriend.