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TV Tonight Awards: Underbelly wins Best Drama
TV Tonight readers have voted Underbelly the Best Australian Drama of 2008. Channel Nine’s gangland mini-series polled ahead of Seven’s Packed to the Rafters and City Homicide. TEN’s Rush came in...
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ABC to Stitch up comedy
A new comedy initiative has been jointly announced by ABC TV and Film Victoria designed to stimulate more comedy television. Announced at the National Screenwriters Conference in South Australia,...
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A gold year for Rebecca
Last night Julie and Dave Rafter, Australia television’s favourite new mum and dad, decided to keep the baby. At age 44 ‘Julie Rafter’ faces a number of health challenges that were laid out to her by a...
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ABC: “Edgier” drama & 24/7 News
The ABC will press on with plans to develop a 24/7 news and current affairs channel, despite doing so without new funding. “We’re demonstrating the investment being made in ABC News nationally and...
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Top ABC executive quits
The ABC has lost a key creative executive with the resignation of Courtney Gibson, Executive Head of Content Creation. She will take up the position of Director of Programmes at Southern Star...
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‘Untitled Chris Lilley HBO Project’ casting
An “Untitled Chris Lilley HBO Project” is looking for several US actors to appear in the comedian’s new television series. A casting call for the HBO series, to be made in conjunction with the ABC,...
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Chris Lilley lands joint ABC, HBO, BBC series
The ABC has confirmed the finer detail on Chris Lilley’s next series, to be titled Angry Boys. And it’s very bloody impressive. Lilley has landed a co-production with ABC and HBO -not only an...
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Second season for Tangle
It’s official. Showtime has commissioned a second season of Tangle, the acclaimed Australian drama about two generations of families in suburban Melbourne. Minor Spoiler: Justine Clarke, Catherine...
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Tangle adds new cast members
Tangle begins shooting its second season today and announces new cast members in Kick Gurry (Speed Racer, Looking for Alibrandi), Tim Draxl (Red Canyon, Swimming Upstream), Adam Zwar (Wilfred,...
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‘Slap My Elbow’
Filming continues on Chris Lilley’s Angry Boys series, the follow up to Summer Heights High (pictured). The comedy is already one of the most anticipated new shows of 2011, in which he explores ‘what...
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iQ2 enabled for internet TV
From today Foxtel enables its iQ2 for internet connection, giving subscribers the option of television and movies on demand via home broadband. Subscribers with an iQ2 set-top-box and broadband can...
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Outlandish humour in gay sci-fi geeks
Another series begins filming tomorrow: the 6 part ABC series Outland, exploring the lives of openly gay science-fiction geeks. Where do you go if you grew up unpopular and pimply, having unrequited...
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Outlandish humour may shock some
If anyone knows about producing fearless content it is Laura Waters. Her company Princess Pictures has been responsible for Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, John Safran’s Race Relations, The Ball...
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Angry Boys glimpse coming soon
Chris Lilley fans should be getting their first sneak peek of Angry Boys within the next 11 days. The highly anticipated comedy is Lilley’s follow-up to Summer Heights High, produced in conjunction...
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Angry Boys: first look
The ABC has released its first peek at Angry Boys, Chris Lilley’s new 12 part comedy series, his follow up to Summer Heights High. And by the looks of things, Lilley is back to being satirical,...
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Controversial Lilley says it’s all about the story
One thing is certain: when Angry Boys debuts it will push buttons. But Chris Lilley is no stranger to controversy, having already been at the centre of debates about his comic tone. ABC management was...
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Chris Lilley keeps cards up his sleeve
When it debuts in May, Angry Boys will mark the return of Chris Lilley’s amazing skills at social observation and characterisation. But there is a subtle format change this time round. Unlike We Can Be...
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Angry Boys to screen in the US in December
Chris Lilley’s Angry Boys will air on HBO in the US from December. The series has already screened in the UK where it has been well-received. The Brits have proven to be fans of Lilley’s S.mouse rapper...
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Inquiry told there’s less money for ABC entertainment
It’s enough to make you. Think. A Senate inquiry into ABC cuts has been told the public broadcaster’s budget for commissioning entertainment shows has been impacted by the cost of running ABC News 24...
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AWGIES to honour small screen writers
The annual AWGIE Awards will be held this week in Sydney, recognising the best in Australian performance writing. The Australian Writers’ Guild will honour three writers of the small screen: Chris...
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Outland to premiere in Seattle film festival
Upcoming ABC1 comedy Outland is set to have its World Premiere at the Seattle Gay & Lesbian Film Festival later this month. The comedy about a group of friends in a gay sci-fi club features Adam...
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Somewhere, out there….
ABC’s newest comedy series Outland very nearly didn’t happen at all, according to star and co-creator Adam Richard (pictured, far right). The comedy about a gay science fiction club was originally...
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Southern Star exec joins Nine
Courtney Gibson, Director of Programmes at Southern Star Entertainment, has joined Nine’s Programming and Production Team as a Programming Production Executive. Gibson is well-regarded amongst the...
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Greg Kinnear attached to US adaptation of Rake
Another Australian series looks headed for American development, with ABC legal drama Rake eyeing an adaptation with Greg Kinnear. Kinnear is attached to star in the role made famous by Richard...
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Maggie Beare our favourite sitcom character
Maggie Beare played by Ruth Cracknell in Mother and Son is out most beloved Australian sitcom character. She edged out Kath Day Knight (Jane Turner) from Kath & Kim, Mike Moore (Rob Sitch) from...
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Promising start for Redfern Now, but Nine wins Thursday.
When it comes to choosing between powerful Indigenous stories and a geek makeover, alas it was the geeks that won. ABC’s Redfern Now was down on the finale for Rake (850,000) but it still put in a...
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Is Chris Lilley reviving Ja’mie?
EXCLUSIVE: Is Chris Lilley set to revive Ja’mie King? Maybe… TV Tonight understands Lilley’s secret ABC project includes a principal character of a private school female student who has the hots for a...
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ABC TV farewells Head of Publicity
ABC TV farewelled Head of Publicity Lesna Thomas last night at a function at its headquarters in Ultimo. Thomas (centre, in pink) leaves the ABC after 14 years in the role, during which time she has...
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Rumour: ABC double dips with Chris Lilley
Chris Lilley is quietly working his new secret comedy project. He has been tweeting hints recently, including photos about a trip to Nadi in Fiji, and making some pom-poms whilst editing (pictured). If...
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Chris Lilley back in new Ja’mie series
Revealed on ABC TV’s social media channels today, the six-part half-hour comedy series will air later this year on both ABC and HBO. ABC has finally confirmed Chris Lilley’s next project will see a...
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Airdate: Ja’mie: Private Schoolgirl
ABC1 has confirmed the launch date for Chris Lilley’s upcoming series Ja’mie: Private Schoolgirl. The six part series follows Ja’mie in her final year of school at Hillford Girls Grammar School, far...
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Ja’mie: Private School Girl
The good news is, if you like Ja’mie there’s plenty of her in Ja’mie: Private School Girl. The bad news is, if you don’t like Ja’mie there’s plenty of her in Ja’mie: Private School Girl. Chris Lilley’s...
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Why have our networks abandoned locally scripted Comedy?
EXCLUSIVE: Can we talk? Aside from the ABC, when was the last time you saw a locally-produced scripted comedy on Australian television? I’m not talking panel shows or travel specials with comedians,...
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BBC confirms closure of BBC3, moves to online channel.
The BBC has confirmed its plans to close youthful channel BBC Three as a broadcast TV channel in autumn 2015, and move it to an online service. It is the first time in the history of the BBC that it...
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Comedy Channel returns to local comedy
One announcement by Foxtel at their Upfronts last week was almost overshadowed, and deserves a little more attention: the Comedy Channel is finally returning to producing some local comedy. Executive...
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Stan adds ABC titles
Stan has added more content to its upcoming SVOD launch with ABC Commercial supplying comedy, drama, factual and children’s programming in a multi-year deal. Library titles will include Summer Heights...
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Magda Szubanski & Marg Downey join Foxtel comedy
Magda Szubanski will make her return to TV comedy in Foxtel’s 2015 sketch comedy project. She will be joined by former Fast Forward cast mate Marg Downey in the unnamed series, produced by Rick McKenna...
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Airdate: Open Slather
Foxtel’s upcoming local sketch comedy finally has a name, Open Slather. The series, under the watch of Rick McKenna (Kath and Kim) and Laura Waters (Summer Heights High, It’s a Date) will premiere...
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Fast Forward comes full circle
If Monty Python can do it, why not the Fast Forward team? Yes Magda Szubanski, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Marg Downey, Michael Veitch and Glenn Robbins are getting the band back together -joined by...
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Revolution School
If you weren’t concentrating you could be forgiven for thinking Revolution School was Summer Heights High. The drone shots flying over Kambrya College are reminiscent of Chris Lilley’s opening...
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Princess Pictures developing comedies from South Australia
Princess Pictures (Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, It’s a Date, Open Slather, My Year 12 Life) has optioned three projects from South Australian writers following a seminar and pitching...
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Princess Pictures appoints senior producer
Princess Pictures is appointing Screen Australia Investment Manager Mike Cowap as a senior producer across its scripted and unscripted departments. Cowap has been with Screen Australia since 2008 and...
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Lunatics
Chris Lilley has a track record for being very very funny and at the same time, being utterly offensive. Underneath it all is a sharp eye for detail and class comedy. But the biggest offence in his...
View ArticleNetflix no comment over Lunatics likeness
Netflix representatives declined to comment on suggestions Chris Lilley’s Lunatics includes scenes which bear similarities to a YouTube character created in 2012. As news.com.au reported viewers have...
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Frontline tops list of Australia’s all-time TV comedies
The critics have spoken. Frontline is Australia’s all-time best TV comedy. TV Tonight has asked some of the nation’s top TV critics to choose their favourite Australian comedies* -either sitcoms or...
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Princess Pictures in first-look animation deal
Laura Waters Melbourne-based Princess Pictures has entered in a first-look animation development deal with FOX Entertainment’s animation studio Bento Box Entertainment. Bento Box and Princess will...
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Netflix removes Chris Lilley comedies
Netflix is removing four Chris Lilley comedies from its platform in Australia and New Zealand. Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, and Jonah From Tonga, have been removed according to...
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ABC next to review content for removal
The ABC is next to review the content it has available, after streaming platforms began removing titles such as Summer Heights High and Little Britain. The Age reports ABC is undertaking a “harm and...
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“I feel like I’m responsible for this stereotype”
Back in 2008 I noted an ABC documentary Our Boys (broadcast in 2004) may have been the inspiration for Chris Lilley’s Jonah character, which first appeared in the acclaimed Summer Heights High (2007)....
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Princess Bento Studio animation boost for Melbourne
A new animation house joint venture has been announced by US animation studio Bento Box Entertainment and Victorian-based Princess Pictures. Princess Bento Studio will create 150 full-time technical...
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