News

‘Marie Antoinette’ Back On The BBC

The BBC has announced that it has acquired the second season of Canal+ Creation Originale Marie Antoinette. Sue Deeks, head of acquisitions for the BBC, said the first season of Deborah Davis’ drama had been a “great success” for the corporation. Marie Antoinette is produced by Claude Chelli and Margaux Balsan for Capa Drama, Stéphanie Chartreux for Banijay Studios France, as well as Bedside Productions. Season 2 is currently in production.

‘Planet Earth III’ Sells Around World

David Attenborough’s latest sweeping natural history epic, Planet Earth III, has secured sales around the world for BBC Studios. Co-produced by BBC America, Zdf, and France Télévisions in partnership with The Open University, the documentary series has sold to Australia (Nine), Belgium (Vrt), Czech Republic (Czech TV), Denmark (Dr), Italy (Mediaset), New Zealand (Tvnz), Spain (Movistar Plus+), and Sweden (Svt). Japan’s Nhk is co-producing and China...

Many aspiring actors only dream of landing a breakthrough role that gets them into the Hollywood circle. For Rebel Wilson, that project was 2011’s Bridesmaids. The film stars Kristen Wiig (who co-wrote the screenplay), along with an ensemble cast that includes Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey. Here’s how Wilson managed to land a role in the movie.

‘Bridesmaids’ was Rebel Wilson’s first Hollywood gig Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, and Rebel Wilson at the 2011 premiere of Bridesmaids | Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Prior to Bridesmaids, the Australian-born was mostly known for starring in TV shows in her homeland. These included shows such as Pizza, The Wedge, Thank God You’re Here, Bogan Pride (which she created), and Monster House. Her only Hollywood role to date was as a background character — credited as “Girl in Alley” — in 2007’s Marvel Comics adaptation Ghost Rider.

So landing a...

Foxtel has unveiled a 20-part comedy series from Rick McKenna and Laura Waters, an adult animation series from Working Dog and its first ever co-commission with Network Ten.

Among other new offerings flagged in Foxtel.s upfronts presentation are a local version of the international hit Pawn Stars, the second series of. The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Matchbox Pictures) and season 9 of Australia.s Next Top Model (Shine Australia) . The drama slate includes the previously announced Deadline Gallipoli starring Sam Worthington (Matchbox Pictures/Full Clip Productions); The Kettering Incident (Porchlight Films/Sweet Potato Films); A Place to Call Home (Seven Productions); and season 3 of FremantleMedia.s Wentworth.

Returning to The LifeStyle Channel next year will be series 8 of Selling Houses Australia (Beyond Productions), Grand Designs Australia series 5 (FremantleMedia) and River Cottage Australia series 3 (Keo Films/LifeStyle).

The untitled Waters/McKenna series for The Comedy Channel will feature some of the...

Some positive news for fans of NBC's Medium and Friday Night Lights. Whatever happened to ABC's Men in Trees? What happened to Andy Barker, P.I. last night?

And how about October Road? Is it cancelled? Wasn't it doing well? Will I be able to see the rest of the episodes of Six Degrees? How about the sitcom In Case of Emergency? Listener questions about The Class, My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss, Thank God You're Here, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Tune in!

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Can Pierce Brosnan's son and Jean-Claude Van Damme's daughter act hard enough to save the Earth – and, incidentally, this film?

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The poster for forthcoming UK sci-fi movie UFO is undeniably impressive. "Brosnan" it screams in massive letters, alongside "Bree" and "Phillips". How in the world did the producers manage to score a lineup like that? James Bond Pierce Brosnan? Founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company James Bree? La Bamba Lou Diamond Phillips? All in one film! That's astonishing, especially when you consider the fact that James Bree has been dead for four years.

Alas, that isn't exactly the case. Take a closer look and you'll see, written above the surnames in tiny letters, the real names of the UFO actors. The film actually stars Sean Brosnan (Pierce's son), Bianca Bree (formerly Bianca Van Varenberg, daughter of Jean-Claude Van Damme...

Kelly Ripa revealed Thursday on "Live! With Kelly And Michael" that she's learned after having three kids that it’s best to just kick her husband Mark Consuelos out of the delivery room. Although he tries to be helpful, Ripa observed that his tips leave something to be desired.

"Mark would say helpful things like, 'A contraction is starting now,'" Ripa reported to new co-host Michael Strahan. "I'm like, 'Really? Thank god you're here. If you weren't giving me these fascinating updates I would never know I was in labor,"' she quipped.

The former "All My Children" co-stars may butt heads in the delivery room, but their marriage appears to be going strong. On a recent family vacation to Hawaii, Ripa tweeted, "This is heaven on earth!"

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and...

Kelly Ripa revealed Thursday on "Live! With Kelly And Michael" that she's learned after having three kids that it's best to just kick her husband Mark Consuelos out of the delivery room. Although he tries to be helpful, Ripa observed that his tips leave something to be desired.

"Mark would say helpful things like, 'A contraction is starting now,'" Ripa reported to new co-host Michael Strahan. "I'm like, 'Really? Thank god you're here. If you weren't giving me these fascinating updates I would never know I was in labor,"' she quipped.

The former "All My Children" co-stars may butt heads in the delivery room, but their marriage appears to be going strong. On a recent family vacation to Hawaii, Ripa tweeted, "This is heaven on earth!"

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Jessica Chastain plays a burlesque dancer in Lawless

Born in California, Jessica Chastain trained at the Juilliard school in New York and made her name in theatre before her film career. In 2011, her performance in The Tree of Life brought widespread attention and since then she has been a striking presence in The Help, Take Shelter, The Debt and Coriolanus.

In Lawless, you play Maggie, a femme fatale, with a mysterious past. What attracted you to the role?

I love the relationship between Maggie and Forrest. Maggie is a woman who is very used to being around men – she was a burlesque dancer – and she's probably been hurt by a lot of men, physically and emotionally. When she shows up at this little town, she's an oddity for the brothers and especially Forrest. He's used to violence but not being around women. So she becomes almost the aggressor in the relationship,...

On this week's episode of popular game show Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, host Shaun Micallef asked actor Josh Lawson how his latest film Any Questions for Ben? was performing.

"Tremendously well," said Lawson, who was dressed as Romeo as part of the episode's Shakespearean theme. "Yeah, no, it's doing very well."

"I should explain," said Micallef quickly to the viewers at home. "We did pre-record this at a point before the film had opened. Can we do the alternative just in case?"

"Of course," Lawson agreed.

"Josh, how is the film doing?"

"People hate it," said Lawson promptly. "And they seem to specifically hate me in it."

The reality seems to lie somewhere in between these two extremes for the latest comedy from Working Dog. Audiences aren't united in their hatred of Any Questions for Ben?, but then again, not many of them have seen it.

The film grossed just...

One for the Money, the new Katherine Heigl vehicle based on the popular Janet Evanovich book series, is now playing at a local theater near you. Since One for the Money was not screened early for critics, Alison Willmore (of the A.V. Club and Movieline) plunked down United States currency to see One for the Money at an overnight midnight showing. As I read her review at Movieline, it became obvious that an obsessive chat was necessary. (Spoiler alerts, obviously.) Mike: I saw One for the Money at a junket screening, so your memory of this movie is going to be a lot better than mine. Alison: I suppose there are people out there somewhere who might enjoy this film, but I don't want to know them.‬ Mike: Were there any at your midnight screening? Alison: Well, there were probably about 10 people‬, including a couple who were actively complaining...

Actor Josh Lawson has joined the cast of political comedy Dog Fight, as reported by. Deadline. The Warner Bros film, which will be produced by comedian Will Ferrell and directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Dinner for Schmucks), centres around competing presidential candidates (Ferrell and The Hangover star Zach Galiflianakis). Lawson will play the brother of Galifianakis. According to Deadline, the script called for two brothers, but the roles were combined following Lawson's table read. Lawson, who is popular in Australia for his appearances on Thank God You're Here, was recently named Best Hollywood Newcomer at the Beverly Hills Film, TV and New Media Festival for his role in The Wedding Party - a local film which has been popular on the festival circuit but...

Shane Bourne has been revealed as the presenter of the 2011 Logie Awards. The Australian actor and comedy star, who is best known for his roles in City Homicide, Thank God You're Here and Hey Hey It's Saturday, said that he was flattered to be given the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of TV greats such as last year's presenter Bert Newton. Bourne told Aap: "I am genuinely thrilled to be involved in TV's night of nights. It's an honour to be following in the footsteps of such television luminaries as Bert Newton et al - and the timing couldn't (more)...

Bosses of Thank God You're Here have admitted that they are unsure if the show has a future on Australian television. The sketch show, which moved from Channel Seven to Ten in 2008, will not be broadcast in 2010 and may not even return to TV screens next year. Producer Santo Cilauro told the Herald Sun: "I just don't know. Nothing's ever definite with us. We do make decisions at the last moment. Our heads (more)...

NEW YORK -- Fox stayed on top by far in Wednesday primetime while ABC's Lost tied its lowest-ever adults 18-49 rating.

American Idol (27.4 million, 10.5 rating/27 share in adults 18-49) topped the night's primetime offerings, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday by Nielsen Media Research. But Idol was down week-to-week (28.7 million, 11.0/28) as it headed into its final weeks.

Meanwhile, Lost (11.9 million, 4.9/13) was on track to tie its lowest-rating ever in adults 18-49 while also having its second lowest household rating. It was beaten at 10 p.m. in viewership by CBS' CSI: NY (12.7 million, 3.6/10) while NBC's just-renewed Medium (7.8 million, 2.6/7) came in a distant third.

Fox won the 8 p.m. hour with Bones (10 million, 3.2/10) while the season finale of CBS' Jericho (7.8 million, 2.1/7) was about even with last week's episode, The CW's America's Next Top Model (4.9 million, 2.4/8) outperformed its rivals at NBC and ABC as neither NBC's Thank God You're Here (5.3 million, 2.1/7) nor ABC sitcoms According to Jim (6.3 million, 2.3/8) or Notes from the Underbelly (5.8 million, 2.3/7) managed to generate much excitement.

NEW YORK -- A two-hour competition/fundraiser American Idol was the night's top show in all key demographics, putting Fox atop the ratings heap for another night.

Idol averaged 26.4 million viewers and a 10 rating/26 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released Thursday by Nielsen Media Research. It rose from 21.6 million viewers at 8 p.m. to a peak of 30.2 million at 9:30 p.m.

Nothing else came close on its rival networks. CBS' drama Jericho (7.7 million, 2.1/6) came in a distant second place at 8 p.m. to Idol ahead of ABC's According to Jim (5.4 million, 1.8/5) and Notes From the Underbelly (4.9 million, 1.9/5), the CW's America's Next Top Model (3.8 million, 1.8/5) and a repeat of NBC's Thank God You're Here ( 4.4 million, 1.5/4).

CBS came in a distant second again at 9 p.m. with a repeat of Criminal Minds (9.8 million, 2.6/6), an original Crossing Jordan (6.4 million, 1.8/5) and a repeat of Lost (3.8 million, 1.4/3).

The newest Lost episode dipped slightly in viewership compared with last week, with 11.6 million viewers and a 4.9/13 in adults 18-49.

NEW YORK -- Sanjaya's dismissal highlighted Wednesday's American Idol and pushed Fox to an overwhelming win in primetime.

American Idol was the night's top show by far in all key measures, with 28.2 million viewers and a 10.9 rating/27 share in adults 18-49, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday by Nielsen Media Research. It topped out at 30.4 million viewers at 9:30 p.m.

Not much else caused many waves on Wednesday, with Lost (11.7 million, 5.1/13) winning 10 p.m., though it was down 16% from its prior season average in adults 18-49 (6.1/16).

NBC won the 8 p.m. hour in the demo with Thank God You're Here (7.2 million, 2.7/8), while Fox's Bones (7.9 million, 2.5/7) won in viewership and CBS' Jericho (7.8 million, 2.3/7) tied with ABC's According to Jim (6.7 million, 2.2/7) and Notes From the Underbelly (6.6 million, 2.4/7) in each of the half-hours in the demo.

It narrowly beat in viewers a repeat CSI: NY (11 million, 3.2/8), though Lost was dominant in the demo. NBC was far behind with a repeat Medium (6 million, 2.0/5).

NBC has given an early full-season pickup to rookie drama Heroes, veteran Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and comedies The Office and My Name Is Earl for next season.

The network has also ordered Thank God You're Here, an improvisational comedy starring David Alan Grier and Dave Foley, and is bringing back game show Identity.

Based on an international format, Thank God will showcase the improvisational skills of a group of celebrities. Grier will host and Foley will be the judge on the series, which has been picked up for six one-hour episodes. American Idol producer FremantleMedia North America is producing.

Identity, which had a week-long trial run in December, will return to NBC's schedule in March.