Dave Gee: Entertainment Now

Ice is Back... with new friends Jedward!

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:10:00 +0000

American rapper and singer Vanilla Ice (real name Rob Van Winkle) is back in the charts in the UK, thanks to a couple of identical twins.

Young Irish singers John and Edward Grimes shot to fame last year on TV talent show The X Factor. The duo attracted criticism for their unusual performances and their crazy "big hair". But the pair - dubbed Jedward - caught the public's imagination and kept getting voted through to the later rounds.

Dismissed by many critics, Jedward were offered a recording deal through X Factor judge Louis Walsh. The twins' debut single Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) has just gone straight in at Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart (just pipped at the post by US group Owl City).

The single's a mash-up of Queen and David Bowie’s song Under Pressure with Vanilla Ice’s breakout hit Ice Ice Baby, and features Mr Ice himself in the second half of the song...

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ Jedward feat. Vanilla Ice - Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)
^ Backstreet Boys - Bigger (Max Martin/Shellback/Amber) ]

Doctor Who's Eleventh Life as Tennant Departs

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:30:00 +0000

After five years as TV's most popular Time Lord, the tenth Doctor Who David Tennant has said goodbye to his alter ego for the final time.

Tennant had 48 adventures as the time-travelling alien from Gallifray, taking over from Christopher Eccleston who launched the new series. His time as Doctor Who ended this week in the BBC's 2-part holiday season story 'The End of Time', with a look back at some of his friends and foes of the past few years.

The hectic episode saw the tenth Doctor team up with arch enemy The Master (John Simm) and Donna's grandad Wilf in a battle against their own kind, as the Time Lords returned with bad intentions.

(The civilisation of the Time Lords had largely been absent from the modern series, after losing the great Time War).

The 2-parter was also the final episode for the sci-fi show's Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who successfully revived and relaunched the Doctor for a new generation.

Fellow Executive Producer Julie Gardiner is also leaving, with Steven Moffatt taking over as EP and showrunner as the story continues with the Eleventh Doctor.

As is tradition in Doctor Who folklore, his alien body was regenerated after the death of tenth doctor (David Tennant), with 27-year old Matt Smith taking over the Tardis.

The youngest Doctor yet, Smith's version of the character is eccentric, with a quirky taste in clothes (bow-tie, tweed jacket, slim trousers, Doc Marten boots), and big hair to boot.

Moffat admits the writers were originally looking for an actor "in their thirties or forties", but were impressed with the Northampton actor's "dynamism and swagger".

Smith's incarnation is described as being "old and young at the same time, a boffin and an action hero, a cheeky schoolboy and the wise old man of the Universe”. The Doctor's new companion is Amy Pond (Karen Gillan).

The team began shooting new episodes of Doctor Who in Cardiff around the middle of 2009. The 13 episode series will be the fifth since being revived by the BBC, and is due to hit UK screens in the Spring (March/April 2010)

* Check out the first trailer of the BBC's new season of Doctor Who below. (There's a few spoilers, including the return of old (and upgraded) foes, along with some familiar faces...)

"Shocking" storylines planned for renewed Primeval

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:06:00 +0000

The writers of British sci-fi series Primeval have plenty of "shocking" storylines in store for fans of the revived tv show, according to lead actor Andrew Lee-Potts.

The show follows a team of Government scientists, investigating "temporal anomalies" (portals or dimensional holes through time) across Great Britain. The team must stop or retrieve prehistoric dinosaurs and futuristic creatures from entering the present time through the portals.

The UK series first screened in 2007 on ITV, and is also broadcast in other 35 international markets. However, ITV announced in June 2009 that the television network was cancelling the series at the end of its third season (despite its cliffhanger ending).

Reasons suggested for Primeval's axing included a slight fall in ratings, and the high cost of production due in part to its heavy use of CGI and special effects. (Although ITV didn't pay the full cost of the Impossible Pictures-produced show, the broadcaster had earlier revealed a company-wide loss of £2.7 billion).

However, in late September ITV announced the series was being recommissioned for another 13 episodes, under a new co-production deal which will see Primeval shared between the free-to-air broadcaster and satellite/cable operators.

The new episodes will be split into shorter fourth and fifth seasons, with shooting due to begin in March 2010. However fans will have to wait until 2011 to see new episodes of the show onscreen.

Under a somewhat complicated deal, ITV1 gets to play series four (7 episodes) of Primeval first, early in 2011. UKTV's general entertainment channel Watch (pay tv) gets the first UK screening of series five (6 episodes) later in the year.

ITV1 will have second run rights to the fifth season of the show. BBC America and German channel ProSieben are also involved in the complicated deal.

Andrew Lee-Potts (Connor Temple) is returning for the new episodes, along with co-star and real life fiancée Hannah Spearritt (Abby Maitland). Jason Flemyng (Danny Quinn) and Ben Miller (James Lester) are also confirmed as being back for the next two seasons of the sci-fi action show.

It's also understood there are ongoing talks about an American version of the series, as well suggestions of a spin-off show, and a a possible Primeval film.

Changes at One Tree Hill... Austin Green In, Lucas-Peyton Out

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:11:00 +0000

TV teen drama star Brian Austin Green is considering a move to One Tree Hill...

The actor's big tv break came with the original Fox series of Beverly Hills 90210, but Green most recently starred in the sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was recently cancelled after two seasons.

Green would become a regular cast member of The CW's hit teen drama One Tree Hill, which is losing some of its top stars for the next (seventh) season.

Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott) and Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer) are both leaving the show, after reports the pair couldn't reach a new deal with the network (apparently over money and potentially more creative control).

Brian Austin Green is set to play Clayton, a sports agent and close friend of Nathan Scott. Austin Nichols was recently promoted to series regular in his role as movie producer Julian Baker (boyfriend of Brooke Davis).

One Tree Hill producers are planning to introduce two more characters to replace their exiting stars. Haley James Scott is expected to get an older sister, while Brooke Davis will be hiring a model-actress to front her clothing line.

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ Carolina Liar - Show Me What I'm Looking For
^ Linkin Park - New Divide ]

Diversity dancers pip Susan Boyle at the post

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:34:00 +0000

With the world watching on, unlikely internet singing star Susan Boyle found herself surprisingly pipped at the finish-line in the UK television talent show, Britain's Got Talent.

48 year old Scotswoman Susan Boyle attracted international media attention after her rousing rendition of the Les Miserables song I Dreamed a Dream in the heats of the competition (which she repeated in the final). The original video clip is closing in becoming the most viewed clip of all time.

In the British final, Boyle found herself up against a couple of 'child prodigy' singers including blubbering 10-year old Hollie Steele, Saxophone player Julian Smith, father & son comedy-dance act Stavros Flatley ("two little pudgy fellows" doing their version of Michael Flatley's Riverdance), and a couple of dance troupes including Diversity.

Boyle made it into the final three, but young East London dancer troupe Diversity were the surprise winners on the night, scoring 24.9% of the final vote, ahead of 2nd placed Susan Boyle with 20.2% of the vote.

The result surprised and pleased the bookies, who were facing multi-million pound payouts if Boyle had won, despite the short odds. UK bookmakers Ladbrokes says they've "couriered a crate of bubbly to Diversity."

Boyle was gracious in defeat, but has reportedly since been admitted to London private medical clinic The Priory, suffering from exhaustion.

Boyle loses out on the £100,000 first prize, but is still set to sign a lucrative record deal with Sony BMG (through Simon Cowell's Syco Music). The company is now offering her legal advice, psychiatric counselling and management services.

But before she can record her debut album, she has to prepare for the upcoming 18-date Britain's Got Talent tour. The UK tour with other finalists is a condition of competing in the show, and begins on June 12. Participants are bussed between venues, and paid just £500 a night (less tax and agents' fees).

Scottish spinster Boyle is due to fly to the Czech Republic as soon as the BGT tour is over, and under the watchful eye of Simon Cowell, she is scheduled to record an album of show tunes over three days with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

Given the international interest in Boyle, Cowell believes she can be even more successful that former BGT Opera find, Paul Potts. Cowell reportedly believes Susan is capable of scoring a US #1, with earnings of up to £10million in her first year. (Potts made almost £5 million). A number of high-profile personal appearances are already booked in, along with an autobiography offer.

Check out the winning announcement from Britain's Got Talent 2009, and Diversity's encore performance (HQ version)...

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ Cast of Glee - Don't Stop Believin'
^ Cast of Glee - Rehab ]

US TV Networks Reveal New Season Schedules

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:24:00 +0000

It was decision time in the United States as the major TV networks confirmed their programme lineups for the coming Autumn season.

Last year the big 4 network (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox) pre-sold US$9.6 billion in advertising slots for the autumn and winter seasons, but those numbers are expected to be well down this year.

That will put more pressure on the networks' programming budgets, with more reality and talk shows set to fill up primetime.

NBC has renewed spy show Chuck for a third season, despite it failing to ignite the ratings in the United States (although it is more popular overseas). However Chuck producers have denied rumours that NBC demanded big budget cuts or a smaller cast to cut the cost per episode (although signing a last-minute sponsorship deal with Subway probably helped).

NBC's former-hit-show Heroes is back, as is the 20th(!) season of Law & Order (matching Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime tv drama series). The spinoff show Special Victims Unit also returns, along with a new season of Celebrity Apprentice.

Jay Leno's new talkshow will fill the 10pm timeslot during the week, forcing some shows to move to earlier in the night. However NBC has cancelled Medium, My Name is Earl, The Chopping Block, and gameshow Deal or No Deal. The network also has substantial coverage of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver over February.

Over at Fox, executives have axed low rating series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which lasted two seasons but was expensive to make, as well as long-running animated show King of the Hill.

However Fox surprised many commentators by renewing its other big-budget Friday night sci-fi series, Dollhouse (from Buffy/Angel creator Joss Whedon) for a second series.

Fox also has new seasons of hit shows American Idol, 24, So You Think You Can Dance, The Simpsons, and House (albeit with a shorter season of 18-20 episodes) to hold the network steady.

It's also launching five new comedy series, including an animated spin-off from Family Guy called The Cleveland Show, following slow-talking Cleveland Brown, and a heavily-hyped High School Musical-style comedy called Glee (about a high school glee club - basically a choir).

Meanwhile a former pro-footballer moves home with his Mom in Brothers, while Sons of Tucson sees 3 brothers hiring a man to impersonate their imprisoned father. Comedian Wanda Sykes also gets her own Saturday night show.

ABC is hoping the return of old sitcom favourites will bring viewers back to its network, and is dropping shows like Samantha Who? and According to Jim. In their place is former Frasier star Kelsey Grammar as an out-of-work corporate hotshot in Hank, while former Everybody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton becomes a small-town family Mom in new comedy series The Middle.

Former Friends star Courtney Cox (Monica Geller) meanwhile is playing a newly single Mom in Cougar Town, while former Married with Children Dad Ed O'Neill heads up Modern Family, a sitcom filmed in the documentary-style of The Office.

Scrubs will be back for a 9th season (although only its second on ABC, after 7 seasons on NBC), but star Zach Braff will only appear in a few episodes. Paul Gross replaces Jack Nicholson as the devil in Eastwick, a small screen adaptation of the film Witches of Eastwick. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? gets a special "10th Anniversary" run over the US summer.

Also on ABC's slate is V, a mini-series remake of the 80's lizard alien invasion series, and Shark Tank, a Dragon's Den-style show from reality tv expert Mark Burnett.

Desperate Housewives is renewed for a sixth season, while Lost will return for its sixth and final season in early 2010. Ugly Betty gets a fourth season, but has been relegated to late Friday nights after a ratings decline.

* Digital Spy - 2009-10 US TV Season

* NZ Herald: Networks face grim future as advertising lifeline shrivels

Eurovision '09 wind-down...

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:38:00 +0000

If you're even a slight fan of the Eurovision Song Contest, you've probably seen by now the 2009 winner, fresh-faced singer and violinist Alexander Rybak who won for Norway with the song Fairytale.

Ryback was the clear runaway winner of the 54th annual contest, crushing the competition and scoring a record 387 points with his modern folk tune.

Unfortunately the 23-year old managed to drop the coveted Eurovision trophy just minutes after he received it, accidentally shattering the crystal microphone-shaped statue when he put it down on the stage.

However his single Fairytale is expected to top the charts across Europe following the win...

Finland and Greece were our favourites, although Norway was also in our catchy top five. Here's Waldo's People from Finland with their entry Lose Control, which didn't deserve to finish in last place in the final...

The UK managed its best finish in years, with Jade singing well to finish in 5th place, with the Andrew Lloyd-Webber/Diane Warren-penned ballad It's My Time. Sweden's multi-octaved singer Malena Enman didn't set the voting lines alight, with her soaring Opera-pop song La Voix.

Here's the song we would have preferred to have seen represent Sweden, the "boy band" trio E.M.D. with Baby Goodbye, from Melodifestivalen 2009...

Repeat Melodifestivalen finalist Måns Zelmerlöw would also have been a good choice for Sweden with Hope & Glory...

Here in New Zealand, the Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow was broadcast on television for the first time in a few decades, on satellite channel Stratos and Auckland community station Triangle. The show screened just 12 hours after the live European broadcast, and encouraged kiwis to vote for their favourite songs from the contest.

The New Zealand "jury" results were...

1 point for Portugal (Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor)
2 points for Albania (Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams)
3 points for Sweden (Malena Ernman - La Voix)
4 points for Turkey (Hadise - Düm Tek Tek)
5 points for Finland (Waldo's People - Lose Control)
6 points for the United Kingdom (Jade Ewen - It's My Time)
7 points for Iceland (Yohanna - Is It True?)
8 points for Azerbaijan (AySel and Arash - Always)
10 points for Germany (Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang)
12 (Douze) points for Norway (Alexander Rybak - Fairytale)

Susan Boyle's Dream Video set for Internet Record

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:22:00 +0000

The year's most unlikely singing sensation, Susan Boyle, is poised to break an internet record. Boyle's performance on UK tv talent show Britain's Got Talent is on its way to becoming the most watched online clip of all time.

Videos of her rendition of the Les Miserables song 'I Dreamed A Dream' have been viewed over 100 million times in just over a week.

The videos easily beat other "hit" web events like Barack Obama's Victory Speech, which has received around 18.5 million hits on YouTube. The most popular internet video of all time is 2006's Evolution of Dance (comic Judson Laipply), which has been received over 118 million views.

Susan Boyle's story has gone far beyond the British tv viewing public, where she is now favourite to win the 100,000 prize for the current season of Britain's Got Talent.

She has been courted by American talk shows and breakfast television, and garnered international news coverage for her "inspirational story", as the "podgy woman with a frumpy frock, a wiry hairdo and heavy brows" who blew away the judging panel and the audience with her voice.

Boyle claims she has never been kissed, but now has an offer for a romantic dinner with show judge Piers Morgan. Another judge, Amanda Holden, says she doesn't want to see Susan undergo a big makeover for the purposes of the tv show, because that would ruin some of her original charm.

Susan herself says she's happy about the way she looks, but doesn't plan to lose any weight... "I looked like a garage on TV and it was mortifying to see", she told Star Magazine. "I didn’t realise I could reduce people to tears and I hope it wasn’t because of that." (At least she's got a sense of humour about it all ;-)

The 47 year old volunteer church worker lives alone with her cat Pebbles in Bathgate. She is the youngest of nine children, and was originally encouraged to audition for the ITV talent show by her mother, who died in 2007.

UK newspapers say Boyle has already met with bosses from Sony BMG about a possible record deal. She is keen to work with Simon Cowell (she trusts him apparently), and is believed to have been promised a deal, even if she doesn't end up winning the ITV1 talent show.

* Mirror.co.uk - Britain’s Got Talent: Susan Boyle set for internet world record

* Stuff: How did Susan Boyle do it?

High School Musical 4 in the works for 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:32:00 +0000

High School Musical was a surprise mega-smash-hit... High School Musical 2 continued with fun in the sun... and High School Musical 3: Senior Year blasted it out of the park on the big screen, grossing $250 million+ in the worldwide box-office, as Troy and Gabriella graduated from East High.

* High School Musical 3: Senior Year (DVD)*

But the High School Musical story isn't over... As well as the films finding a new life on the stage, Disney has already begun work on the next sequel in the High School Musical franchise.

High School Musical 4 (full name still to be confirmed) will return to the small screen, with the film set to premiere on the Disney Channel in 2010. (The 2007 US Disney Channel premiere of High School Musical 2 remains the #1 basic cable telecast of all time with 18.6 million viewers).

The new film will feature a new cast and introduce a new generation of characters at East High. Most of the major stars of the original trilogy (like Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens) are unlikely to appear, but the original tv movie is expected to feature some of the new cast members introduced during High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

* Order High School Musical 3 DVD (Extended Edition) here now... *

Peter Barsocchini - who wrote the original 3 HSM movies - is again screenwriter on the fourth instalment. Details of the storyline are still sketchy, but fans can look forward to a “classic love triangle set against the cross-town school rivalry between the East High Wildcats and West High Knights”.

In the meantime, have a chuckle over this "teaser trailer" put together by an enthusiastic fan, for 'Beverly Hills HIGH SCHOOL Chihuahua Road Trip MUSICAL 4' ! ;-)

** Click here for High School Musical 3 DVDs, CD and a huge range of High School gear and gifts...

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ Britney Spears - If You Seek Amy
^ Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You ]

Kelly's Life Would Suck Without Dr Luke & Max Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Kelly Clarkson should have learned a life lesson this month... The former American Idoler's comeback single My Life Would Suck Without You recently rocketed to the Number One spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, setting a new record for the largest leap in the chart's 50 year history.

The lead single from Clarkson's upcoming 4th album All I Ever Wanted has returned the singer to the top of the pops. My Life Would Suck is her first Top 20 since 2006's Walk Away, which peaked at #12 on the Hot 100.

It's no coincidence that Kelly's comeback single is penned by hit-makers Max Martin (Swedish writer/producer behind the Maratone hit factory) and Dr Luke (former Saturday Night Live guitarist, turned hit song writer/producer), who wrote her worldwide smash singles Since U Been Gone, and Behind Those Hazel Eyes.

Clarkson's 3rd album My December saw an attempt by Miss Independent to head in a new "serious" direction, embracing an artistic indie sound, writing or co-writing every song on the album. Her songwriting abilities didn't appear to match her large vocal talents... the new sound turned off fans, and caused controversy with her record label.

Clive Davis - head of RCA (Sony-BMG) - was very unhappy with the album and Kelly Clarkson's change in direction. Davis reportedly wanted to dump the entire album, and urged her to record all new material, even offering her US$10 million to record some "radio friendly" tracks with previous pop/rock collaborators like Dr Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) and Max Martin.

After a very public standoff, the record company eventually gave in and My December was released. (It was reported that Clarkson pledged to Clive Davis that if he agreed to release the album "as is", she would do exactly what he and the record company wanted for her 4th album).

Davis' take on the album ultimately proved correct. My December sold just 782,000 copies in the United States, and 2 million albums worldwide... compared to sales of over 20 million for her second pop/rock album Breakaway.

Just two singles were released from the album (Never Again and Sober). Following disappointing sales, Clarkson cancelled her US tour, and fired her manager Jeff Kwatinetz and band.

Following that up with another "artistic" album could have been a career-ender for Clarkson, and the singer probably realised that herself. Clive Davis asked the reliable Dr Luke and Max to come up with a "smash comeback" single for Kelly, the hit-making pair returning with a song that almost sounds like a sequel to 2004's Since U Been Gone.

Dr Luke says he and Max tailored the lyrics especially for Kelly... One has to wonder how she feels singing lyrics that sound suspiciously like an admission that she needs their help to be a superstar, and seem to offer an apology to Clive Davis and Gottwald for the public feud, and for trying to do things her own way...

"Guess this means you're sorry, You're standing at my door,
Guess this means you take back all you said before...

Maybe I was stupid for telling you goodbye
Maybe I was wrong for trying to pick a fight
I know that I’ve got issues, But you’re pretty messed up too,
Anyway, I found out I’m nothing without you

Cuz we belong together now, yeah
Forever united here somehow, yeah
You got a piece of me, And honestly,
My life would suck without you..."

Yup, got it in one Kelly. The history of pop music is littered with singers who believed their own hype, but quickly discovered their fans weren't into their self indulgent "serious" material. Kelly's want the catchy pop/rock Kelly Clarkson they had previously voted to the top of the charts.

The massive worldwide chart success of My Life Would Suck Without You will ensure solid sales of her upcoming fourth album - All I Ever Wanted - due for release in mid-March. The album also features the work of Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), and rock producer Howard Benson.

Doctor Who to make a Youthful Regeneration

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:30:00 +0000

26 year old Northampton actor Matt Smith has been named by the BBC as the 11th incarnation of TV Time Lord, Doctor Who. Smith will be the youngest actor to step into the Doctor's shoes in the show's 45 year history, replacing Scottish actor David Tennant (37).

Smith will begin filming for Season 5 in the (UK) summer, but won't appear on screen in the new role until 2010, Tennant has just appeared as the Tenth Doctor in the BBC show's Christmas special, "The Next Doctor", and will continue in the role for 4 more Doctor Who "special episodes" in 2009 (replacing a regular season of the tv series).

Head of Drama at BBC Wales, Piers Wenger, said the team had not set out to cast the youngest Doctor, but described Smith as "the obvious choice", claiming "It was abundantly clear that he had that 'Doctor-ness' about him".

Smith's previous television roles include the 2006 adaption of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke, where he played opposite former Doctor Who companion Billie Piper. He also appeared in the BBC Two political drama Party Animals.

The previous youngest Doctor was Peter Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor in the BBC television series, from 1982-1984.

The show's executive producer (and new lead writer, following the departure of Russell T Davies) insists the role in the safe hands with Matt Smith...

"The Doctor is a very special part, and it takes a very special actor to play him. You need to be old and young at the same time, a boffin and an action hero, a cheeky schoolboy and the wise old man of the universe.

“As soon as Matt walked through the door and blew us away with a bold and brand new take on the Time Lord, we knew we had our man. 2010 is a long time away but rest assured the 11th doctor is coming – and the universe has never been so safe.”

The popular British sci-fi drama series began on the BBC in 1963, but was dropped by the network in 1989. A tv movie/pilot was made in 1996, but that didn't lead to a revived tv show. It was relaunched as a tv series in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston playing the Ninth Doctor.

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ 3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me
^ The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid ]

Pop music making a comeback with Same Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Genuine unadulterated pop music may be finally making a comeback, with Britney Spears returning to her dance/pop roots with songs on her comeback album Circus, and UK brother and sister pop group Same Difference preparing to release their debut single and album.

Sarah and Sean appeared as a duo on the British tv talent competition, The X Factor. Written off by snooty critics and music journalists as "naff", Same Difference ended up being the surprise hit of the show, keeping out of the bottom two places throughout the entire 4th series.

Order the new Same Difference album "Pop" here through Amazon UK...

The pair originally signed for a 1-single deal, but that was soon replaced by a rumoured £1 million full album deal. They've spent most of the year working on their debut album "Pop", with top writers and producers from the UK and Sweden.

Their debut single We R One has just been released in the UK. Written by long-time hitmaker Jörgen Elofsson together with Pär Westerlund, the song is produced by the experience team of Quiz/Larossi (Andreas Romdhane and Josef Larossi). (B-side "The Miracle" also comes from the Swedish pop factory).

Order 'We R One' here through Amazon UK

We R One is an unashamably upbeat slice of pure pop, with shades of Steps, Pop!, and Six, with a dash of High School Musical thrown in for good measure.

The choreographed music video (shot in an American car yard, in retro 60s outfits) borrows elements from the big US teen movie-musical hits like Grease, Fame, and HSM. (Their album also includes a cover version of the hit HSM 1 song "Breaking Free")...

Melrose Place to follow return of hit new 90210

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:05:00 +0000

The CW TV network in the United States has confirmed plans to revive the hit 90s soap/drama Melrose Place, following the success of its revived 90210 tv show.

90210 - a remake of the Fox network's original series Beverly Hills, 90210 - has been a big hit for the young CW network. (The show's 2 hour premiere last month was the CW's highest rated scripted debut).

Melrose Place was itself a spin-off show from Beverly Hills, 90210 and starred the likes of Courtney Thorne-Smith, Andrew Shue, Thomas Calabro, Rob Estes, and Heather Locklear. It ran on Fox from 1992 to 1999, following the goings on around a West Hollywood apartment complex.

The original series was created by Darren Star, and produced by Aaron Spelling. CBS Productions are expected to produce any new series, as they are already responsible for the CW's new 90210 series.

Plans for a relaunched Melrose Place show are still in the early stages, but it's understood the series could make it onto the CW's television schedule for the 2009/10 season.

There is no word yet on the return of any former cast members from the original 90's show, but there is a strong possibility, given that 90210 has featured cameos by former Beverly Hills stars Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty.

Who to replace Tennant as Doctor Who?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:50:00 +0000

David Tennant has announced he will leave the hit UK sci-fi show Doctor Who, after he completes shooting on 4 special episodes scheduled for screening in 2009/2010.

Tennant is the Tenth incarnation of the Time Lord, taking over the role in 1996 from Christopher Eccleston who starred as the Ninth Doctor in the revived BBC series.

Tennant is currently taking a break from the show to pursue his stage theatre career, but has already filmed this year's Christmas special "The Next Doctor", which co-stairs David Morrissey as a man who also claims to be the Doctor.

A 2-minute teaser clip from the 2008 Christmas episode, which features the return of the Cybermen, will screen during the BBC's Children in Need telethon event on Friday November 14th.

Speculation now turns to who might play the Doctor's 11th incarnation when he regenerates in 2010. The BBC has already commissioned a 5th series (or 31rd series, for fans counting since the show's inception in 1963), with veteran writer Stephen Moffett taking over from Russell T Davies as Executive Producer and Head Writer.

Fun Music Videos for Smash Hits have Swedish Link

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Things have changed a lot over the years with the old "Music Video"... Once ambitious mini-movies in their own right (Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, etc), now all too often music videos are simply cheap clips featuring the artist singing the same song in a few different locations.

So it's nice to see a few recent music videos with some clever and funny storylines... and coincidentally, both songs are co-written and produced by Swedish music genius Max Martin!

First up is hot new artist Katy Perry, who has followed up her smash breakthrough hit I Kissed a Girl with an even better Max Martin/Dr Luke song, Hot N Cold.

The music video for Hot N Cold begins at a wedding, where Katy and her fiance are about to exchange vows. However the Groom suddenly does a runner, with Katy and her gal pals chasing him across town (the baseball bat scene is a particular favourite ;)

Noted UK Pop Music website Popjustice described the clip "a masterpiece" and I agree that it's Katy Perry's best song... Popjustice singles out "the choreography as being of particular note"... and is also impressed with "whoever sneaked in the Nokia product placement"!

The second great music video of recent month's was for Pink's comeback song, So What... her first solo #1 in the USA, and a smash hit around the world.

The tongue-in-cheek video clip features her ex-husband Carey, and shows Pink driving a lawnmower down Sunset Boulevard, sitting in a bar after losing to her table to Jessica Simpson, and doing choreography from Michael Jackson's Thriller video naked...

[ Right now I'm listening to:
^ Katy Perry - Hot N Cold (Katy Perry/Dr Luke/Max Martin)
^ Pink - So What (Pink/Max Martin/Shellback)]

High School Musical 3 Soundtrack & Camp Rock DVD

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:12:00 +0000

Disney is continuing its hot streak, with the 3rd film in the hit High School Musical franchise about to hit the big screen, and the Jonas Brothers' Camp Rock film, (set at a summer camp for budding rock stars) launching another hit series of Disney tv movies.

A sequel to the popular Disney Channel Original Movie - currently titled Camp Rock 2 - is already being written with filming expected to begin in mid-2009.

The new film will again star the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, and be filmed at Camp Wanakita in Haliburton, Ontario and Kilcoo Camp in Minden, Ontario (where the original Camp Rock was shot).

Order the Camp Rock DVD here and save...

Meanwhile the veteran hit, High School Musical 3: Senior Year is out in cinemas in late October, but the first snippets from the movie are already hitting tv screens and the internet, and the HSM3 CD soundtrack is now available for pre-order at Amazon...

Amazon.com currently has a "Rock the Summer with Disney" Sale, featuring great deals on all your Disney music favourites, including Camp Rock, the Jonas Brothers, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Hannah Montana, the Cheetah Girls, Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale, Disneymania, Radio Disney Jams, and more...

* Check out the new High School Musical 3 CD Soundtrack and High School Musical toys, clothing, gifts, and books at the online High School Musical Shop

High School Musical 3 trailer released; Movie on track for October

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:11:00 +0000

Disney's hit High School Musical is on track to graduate to the big screen in October, following 40 days of shooting in Salt Lake City, Utah for HSM3.

The third instalment in the trilogy, High School Musical 3: Senior Year follows the same main characters as in the original two hit films, as they complete their senior year at East High School. With the high school seniors preparing to graduate and head in new directions, they stage a final musical "reflecting on their experiences, hopes and fears about the future".

All the stars from the original High School Musical TV movies have returned for the final part of this trilogy, including Zac Efron (Troy Bolton), Vanessa Hudgens (Grabiella Montez), Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans), Lucas Grabeel (Ryan Evans), Corbin Bleu (Chad Danforth), and Monique Coleman (Taylor McKessie).

High School Musical 3: Senior Year features 10 new songs, and is due to hit cinemas in the United Sates on October 24th this year, although it will be released in some countries (including Great Britain) around a week earlier.

The film has an official budget of $13.3 million, and is the first of the franchise to be released directly into cinemas (rather than as Disney TV movies as with High School Musical 1 & 2).

HSM 3 is the final instalment with the current cast, but its believed Disney is considering a High School Musical 4 "spin-off" movie, following a "new generation" of students at East High School. The original High School Musical tv movie was a surprise smash hit for the Disney Channel. Its estimated HSM1 has been seen by over 200 million people worldwide.

Meanwhile, Disney is cleverly promoting the HSM3 big screen movie through its own reality tv show, High School Musical: Get in the Picture.

Hosted by Nick Lachey, the ABC show follows teenagers across the United States, as they compete for spots at the "HSM Campus", with the ultimate prize of appearing in a music video which will play during the end credits of High School Musical 3. Open calls were held at Disney World, as well as some surprise auditions for performers nominated by friends and family.

Watch the High School Musical 3 trailer below... (Credit: HSM3Channel)

* Pre-order the High School Musical 3: Senior Year Soundtrack CD, or the High School Musical 3 novel now at the High School Musical Store...

Superbad star Jonah Hill moves to 21 Jump Street

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:21:00 +0000

Teen police drama series 21 Jump Street is the latest 80s television show to be selected for the update treatment.

Superbad film star Jonah Hill has signed up to write and executive produce a new film version of the hit Fox TV show, following youthful police officers who go undercover in high schools and colleges.

Hill recently pulled out of negotiations to star in the Transformers movie sequel because he didn't like the script. However it hasn't yet been decided whether he'll appear on-screen in the 21 Jump Street movie.

The project will be produced by Neal Moritz (I am Legend), along with Stephen J Cannell, co-creator of the original tv show. The original 21 Jump Street tv series ran from 1987-90 on the US Fox Network, and starred Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson, Peter DeLuise, and Richard Grieco.

Sneak peak: The CW's new Beverly Hills 90210

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:25:00 +0000

US TV Network the CW has released the first glimpses of its hotly anticipated new teen show, the relaunch of 90's "favourite zip code" Beverly Hills, 90210.

The original show signed off on the Fox network 8 years ago, with Donna, David, Kelly and Dylan making it to the end. Now the CW network is reviving the classic teen show for a new generation.

The new spinoff series - now simply named "90210" - has a very similar theme to the original, focusing on the Mills' family moving from Kansas to the world of Beverly Hills.

Original cast member Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor) is returning for the new series in a guest starring role, playing a guidance counselor at West Beverly High. Tori Spelling (Donna Martin) and Ian Ziering (Steve Sanders) are also keen to pop by in recurring roles.

Former Melrose Place star Rob Estes will play the head of the Mills family, Harry, who returns to West Beverly to take up a job as the school's new Principal. (Hit soap/drama Melrose Place was was itself a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210). Lori Loughlin will play his wife Debbie Mills.

Original head writer Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) has reduced his involvement in the project (He'll stay on as an Executive Producer), because of his work with two ABC shows, a revival of the show Cupid and a remake of the hit NZ television series, Outrageous Fortune.

The new 90210 begins on Tuesday nights this Fall on The CW, followed by another new teen drama Surviving the Filthy Rich, following a group of rich kids in Palm Beach.

Check out the CW's 90210 preview below...

The CW has high hopes for the show, which will complement its current teen dramas Gossip Girl and the veteran One Tree Hill. It says the new 90210 will be "cooler, sexier, and more provocative."

The CW network (launched in 2006 through the merger of WB and UPN) is struggling in the ratings this year, leading to speculation that one of its two parent companies could pull the plug on the network if things don't improve in the next year.

With its focus on viewers 18-34, the CW has been hit harder than other networks by the teen drift to the internet and gaming consoles. Its viewers have short attention spans, and are used to fast-forward through commercials with digital video recorders like Tivo.

The CW has experimented with multi-part commercials (called "content wraps") and very short commercials called "cwickies". The network is promising to increase its integration between TV and the web, although recently suspended its free internet streaming of Gossip Girl in an effort to improve its ratings.

* CW: Fall 2008 Sneak Peak - 90210
* Pantagraph.com: It’s no gossip: Ratings slip threatens young CW network

Summer season for High School Musical on ABC

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:41:00 +0000

Disney's smash hit High School Musical franchise is expanding its reach even more, with a new musical talent show due to hit network TV this July. High School Musical: Summer Session will debut on the ABC on July 20, and is described as a reality show spinoff, inspired by the hit teen High School Musical movies.

Producers are holding casting sessions around the United States for aspiring Troys and Grabriellas over the next few weeks, looking for budding stars aged 16-22. Finalists from the "nationwide search" will be invited to take part in a summer musical programme to "hone their singing and dancing skills".

Some of the stars of the original movies (possibly even Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens) are expected to make guest appearances as weekly judges and mentors. In traditional TV talent show fashion, competitors will be progressively eliminated each week, with the eventual winner receiving "the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming part of 'High School Musical' history"...

(This sounds suspiciously like an onscreen role of some sort in Disney's forthcoming big screen movie High School Musical 3: Senior Year (due to hit US theatres in October), but with producers able to adjust the size and scale of the part depending on the talent of their winner.)

Pop singer, Actor, and Reality TV star Nick Lachey (98 Degrees, Charmed, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica) will host HSM: Summer Session. Lachey is preparing to release a followup to his hit solo CD 'What's left of me' later this year.

* ABC - High School Musical: Summer Session - Casting Call Information

Jackson finds new Director for The Hobbit

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:39:00 +0000

Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has been confirmed as the Director for the forthcoming movie adaptations of 'The Hobbit'.

Two Hobbit films will be shot back-to-back in New Zealand (aka "Middle Earth" ;-), based on J.R.R. Tolkein's classic novel. The project is the long-awaited prequel-followup to the Lord of the Rings legacy.

Guillermo del Toro (Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy) has been in talks for many months with major studios MGM and New Line over the project, and will emigrate to New Zealand for four years to direct 'The Hobbit' and its sequel.

Tolkein's three-volume book The Lord of the Rings was brought to the big screen by New Zealand director Peter Jackson in three films, The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003).

Jackson felt he was too busy with other projects to again sit in the Director's chair, but will still be Executive Producer of the films. He'll also work on the scripts for the new movies with del Toro, along with his longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Jackson's creative teams at Weta Workshop (including and Wingnut Films (who worked on the original trilogy) will again work their magic on the two prequel movies.

Also hoping to return from Jackson's hit trilogy are Ian McKellen (Gandalf in Lord of the Rings) and Andy Serkis (Gollum). New Line and MGM will co-finance the films (estimated at costing up to US$150 million each), with shooting due to begin sometime next year, for likely release in 2011 and 2012.

'The Hobbit' and its as-yet-unnamed sequel cover the 60-year period before the Lord of the Rings trilogy. J.R.R. Tolkein's book was first published in 1937, introducing characters like Bilbo Baggins (and his family), the wizard Gandalf, and the land of Middle Earth.

Desperate Housewives going Back to the Future?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:29:00 +0000

ABC's hit TV series Desperate Housewives look set to get a major revamp and it heads into its fifth series next year. The series has slipped by a few million viewers in the US, after being off-air for 3 months because of the writers' strike, but still attracts a solid 16 million viewers.

The Desperate Housewives and their families have just been through a major shakeup, with a Tornado devastating homes and lives in Wisteria Lane in a special double episode.

But show creator Marc Cherry has an even bigger shakeup in mind for next year, but rumours growing that the show will make a "five year jump" in the final episode, continuing from that point next season.

There's conflicting views on whether the television jump will go forwards or backwards, but either option will mean the end of the road for some cast members.

The main four housewives seem safe... Gabrielle (Eva Longoria), Lynette (Felicity Huffman), Bree (Marcia Cross), and Susan (Teri Hatcher)... but Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) looks set to leave the neighbourhood.

Apparently Marc Cherry told Huffman that what he's got planned has "never been done on TV, and Wisteria Lane would never be the same"... That would indicate either a jump back in time, or simply that Cherry doesn't watch CW's teen drama One Tree Hill, which jumped forward in time by 4 1/2 years for its Season 5. (Meanwhile, another popular ABC Lost has used both "flash backs" and "flash forwards" in recent years).

A rewind of time would likely see series narrator Mary Alice "come back from the dead", but would also force the exit of the Lane's younger residents, and the suburb's more recent arrivals.

However, some entertainment websites remain confident Desperate Housewives is planning to leap 5 years in the future at the end of Season Four, with Bree's son Andrew to be seen shacking up with one of Wisteria Lane's house-husbands.

CW considers Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:45:00 +0000

US TV Network the CW is considering ordering a new blast from the past... a revival of Fox's hit teen series Beverly Hills, 90210.

The original primetime teen drama-soap (produced by Aaron Spelling) first screened back in 1990, running for ten seasons through until 2000. The show's original creator Darren Star is not directly involved with the new project, but Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas is writing the pilot.

The project has been put "on the fast track", with CW due to decide over the next weeks whether to order a pilot of the contemporary spinoff. The Beverly Hills, 90210 remake would feature a whole new generation of rich teens and their struggles in living the high life at Beverly Hills High.

The plot for new-generation show is similar to the original, revolving around a family with two teenage kids, who have moved to Beverly Hills from America's Midwest. Some of the new characters may be loosely connected to characters from the original show.

After a slow start, the 90's Fox tv series went on to become a massive international hit. The show made stars of Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, and Gabrielle Carteris.
(No word on whether any of the original stars will make a guest appearance).

In 1992 Beverly Hills, 90210 launched a spinoff primetime soap-drama, Melrose Place (stars included Heather Locklear, Grant Show, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Andrew Shue, Daphne Zuniga, Doug Savant, Thomas Calabro, Marcia Cross, and many others).

Melrose Place also spawned its own spinoff show, Models, Inc. (starring the likes of Linda Gray and Emma Samms) which unfortunately lasted just one extended season on Fox in 94/95.

* NZ Herald: First glimpse of '90210' spinoff hints at family ties

Cruel Intentions star for US Kath & Kim

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:03:00 +0000

American actor Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions; Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane) is due to star in NBC's US translation of the hit Australian tv show, Kath & Kim.

The Logie-award winning ABC comedy focuses on the love-hate dysfunctional relationship between a mother and her adult daughter, and has been a smash hit in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. (The first two Aussie seasons screened in America on cable channel Trio, with Sundance Channel playing the 3rd season.)

Molly Shannon (Pushing Daisies) is to play the role of Kath, with Blair portraying her adult daughter Kim. NBC has decided against ordering a traditional pilot, instead putting in an initial 6-episode order of the series.

King of Queens writer Michelle Nader has written the first episode, and is one of the Executive Producers on the show, along with Australian creators and stars, Gina Riley and Jane Turner. The US production of Kath & Kim is expected to begin shooting about six weeks after the writers strike is resolved.

Cross-country translations of tv shows have had mixed results over the years, but NBC are hoping their version of the quirky show Kath & Kim proves as successful as their adaptation of the hit UK comedy series, The Office (created by Ricky Gervais) and Columbian telenovela Ugly Betty.

New voice for Knight Rider's KITT

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Gee) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Batman Forever star Val Kilmer is taking over as the new voice of the talking car K.I.T.T., in NBC's updated version of the classic 80s tv show Knight Rider, which starred David Hasselhoff.

KITT's voice was originally going to be supplied by Will Arnett (Arrested Development), however the actor has been forced to withdraw from the project, due to an apparent "conflict of interests".

The 2008 version of KITT is a shape-shifting Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra 500GTKR, and the Ford company are a marketing partner of the project. However, Arnett already works as the "voice" of GMC Trucks, a brand of rival manufacturer General Motors, who have asked him to step down.

The new Knight Rider (which NBC is describing as a "sequel to the original 80's series) premieres in the US with a one-off tv movie on Sunday February 17th. However, the network is planning to order a new weekly series of the show if the movie succeeds in the ratings.

* For more "behind the scenes" details on the new tv-movie, check out The Deadbolt Interview: Inside Knight Rider with Justin Bruening and David Bartis