TV Talk

Let’s be frank, I watch a hell of a lot of TV. And I have a lot of stuff to say about it. So now I will!

Summer GayThere has been a lot made of the simmering lesbian storyline between Charlie (Esther Anderson) and Joey (Kate Bell) on Home and Away. This is lame. And a beat-up, drummed up by Seven publicity (or at very least Today Tonight). Long-time viewers will recall several lesbian storylines in the past – there was even a girl-on-girl kiss three weeks ago between Nicole (Tessa James) and Freya (Sophie Hensser) that slipped by with nary a mention from “parents groups” (also read: ultra conservative life haters). Gyspsy (Kimberley Cooper) had a fling with a girl and Shannon (Isla Fisher) left the show to move to Paris with her girlfriend Mandy (Rachel Blake)! And let’s be honest, we all loved the Bay's first lesbian... Bobby (Nicole Dickson). But when will a gay male (who gets more than a token few lines) move to the Bay?

Channel OneYesterday Channel Ten launched its new 24 hour HD sports channel, One, replacing Ten HD. Why we needed another sports channel when Fox Sports already has three is unclear. Why Ten, who aside from the AFL seem to have rubbish sports, are the ones to do it is also unclear. Why I sat through their tedious “Welcome To One” presentation (choice quote: “A lot of people don’t realise just how exciting netball really is!”) I have NO idea. Most infuriating was that the channel launched on the first day of the AFL season – and didn’t even play the first game live. It wasn’t even live in the "AFL states" – despite it being sold out. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. But the worst thing about One? You can no longer see Ten shows in HD. Even shows the network paid big money converting such as Neighbours and Australian Idol. EPIC FAIL!

Up The Rafter
I loved Packed To The Rafters when it started, but I have a short attention span so really struggled a bit (but still watched) this year – and now they go and reveal Julie (Rebecca Gibney) is pregnant in the season finale! Is this a shark jumping moment or genius? Genius until the baby actually arrives, methinks. Either way, the new season is months away.

Rebecca Gibney et moi ... paternity test pending

American Idol miming scandal!
It turns out that they still do those tragi-tastic group performances on American Idol. This week was more tragi-tastic than most, when the contestants were still able to be heard singing without their mics… magic!!! Turns out they mime to a pre-recorded track for group songs. How YTT of them. But why?

Tune in next week for my run-down of the TV Week Logie Awards nominations!

Bad News Of The Day
Blender, the most awesome music mag in the world, has closed. Launched in 2001 as a music-based sister mag to Maxim, we have been devout readers since day one. Always funny, always on the pulse, and punching above it's weight for breaking stories, Blender will be missed. Aside from being robbed of an awesome magazine we have to wonder what will happen to our subscriptions now… First Smash Hits and now this. Is there room for awesome magazines in the world?
Update: Taylor Swift just Tweeted; "I'm really upset that blender magazine closed.. They gave me my first big cover. :( RIP, wonderful magazine." Agreed.

Buh-bye Blender, our lives will suck without you

Scott Keenan
Is it Neighbours o'clock yet? o'clock