Stellar cast promises plenty of tension between rival teams and ratings gold for The Amazing Race
THE clever casting of Seven’s returning reality series The Amazing Race should make it a solid ratings starter for the network this month.
THERE’S already plenty of tension between the trans-Tasman rival teams from New Zealand and Australia, but it’s the clever casting of Seven’s returning reality series The Amazing Race that should make it a solid ratings starter for the network this month.
Among the contestants who began their global trek from Uluru earlier this year are Kiwi foster parents Cat and Jesse, who will be known to NZ audiences as a final four singer from the 2005 season of the country’s Idol series, and Perth body builders Sally and Tyson, who has been nicknamed the Incredible Hulk by other competitors.
For the first couple the new reality challenge is their third grab at 15-minutes of TV fame after they became drawn into a pregnancy drama when Jesse first entered the New Zealand Idol series in 2002.
While the quirky pair had reportedly made producers aware of the looming birth of their first daughter, Carmel, prior to the start of the contest, it played out more sensationally on screen when Jesse was “forced” to pull out at round 16 stage to support his wife.
Two years later, he was approached to audition again with the competition airing as Cat was carrying their next child, Joel.
Promising there were no plans to add to the clan during their latest overseas adventure, jester Jesse said the lure of reality TV was too great for these fans, joking that the “break between TV appearances was too great so we had to find something, and I can’t cook”.
Meanwhile, looks could prove deceiving for fitness fanatics from WA with Sally, a veterinarian, almost falling at the first hurdle, collapsing at a pre-production boot camp.
Devoted to the blood-type diet, the world champion bikini body builder fainted after her finely tuned metabolism went into mini-meltdown.
Apparently pushing herself to breaking point is a common occurrence for Sally.
“People at my gym know that’s how much I push myself, so that’s normal,” she said.
And if his partner does fade in a critical moment in the race, Tyson plans to carry on with Sally over his shoulder.
RACHEL STEPS UP BEHIND CAMERA
HER star turn on House Husbands isn’t doing much to lift the Channel 9 drama series ratings. Now Australian actress Rachel Griffiths is chancing her hand behind the camera making her TV directorial debut on ABC3’s critically acclaimed series Nowhere Boys.
Filming of the second season has begun in Melbourne, with the Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters star set to direct the third block of episodes in late August.
Matchbox Pictures producer and series creator Tony Ayres said despite her lack of experience at the helm “Rachel brings a wealth of experience as an actress, which I think will be an invaluable asset to our show”.
“She is articulate and passionate about directing and Matchbox is thrilled to continue our working relationship with her,” he said.
The children’s drama series, starring Matt Testro, Dougie Baldwin and Rahart Adams (pictured with Griffiths left), won both the AACTA and Logie awards for best children’s program.
MORE GRIEF FOR OFFSPRING FANS
JUST as Offspring fans might feel it’s safe to put away the Kleenex, the Channel 10 drama is set to bludgeon their audience with yet another heart-breaking death during Wednesday night’s episode.
With viewers already taking to the show’s social media accounts to plead for relief from this year’s painful storylines, after nationwide mourning over the killing off of Matt Le Nevez’ character Patrick Reid, another tragic twist will surely test fans’ loyalty to the popular series.
While lead actress Asher Keddie urged the show’s writers and producers to allow the audience to go on her character Nina Proudman’s journey with grief, the tragedies have just kept coming — from sister Billie’s marriage ending to a major health scare for her nephew Archie.
On behalf of the blubbing brigade out there, can I just say: ENOUGH!
BILLY CONNOLLY FINDS AUSSIE CURE
BRITISH funnyman Billy Connolly gives a nod to the chance encounter with an Aussie doctor in a Los Angeles hotel, which led to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, in a compelling documentary about death.
It’s no laughing matter, but Connolly notes the serendipity in meeting Launceston orthopaedic surgeon Gary Fettke, who was holidaying with his family when he noticed Connolly’s “strange gait”.
Approaching him discreetly, Connolly recalls in Billy Connolly’s Big Send Off (Wed, 8.30pm, ABC1) the Australian medico said: “I don’t want to depress you or anything but I’m a surgeon from Tasmania and I think the way that you walk ... suggests early onset Parkinson’s, so please see your doctor.”
He did and the diagnosis was confirmed, on the very same day that he was told he had prostate cancer.
Ever-chipper, the seasoned comedian and TV presenter set off to make a documentary, exploring attitudes towards death (including a singalong with his Monty Python mate, Eric Idle).
One to watch: packed rafter-high with talent
THE impressive post-series success of the Packed To The Rafters cast continues, with Hannah Marshall, aka Retta Schembri or Mrs Carbo, winning the best actress award at Canada’s Niagara Film Festival.
The Kiwi-born beauty wowed movie crowds with her turn as Lana in the Aussie feature The Infinite Man, a time travel comedy
due for cinema release locally in September. In another trans-Tasman triumph, Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush also bagged the best actor gong for his performance in The Best Offer.
TV gossip: Wipeout for Hawaii Five-O
IT should be a crime. No, not Alex O’Loughlin shirtless but the decision by Channel 10 programmers to strip local fans of watching the Aussie heart-throb in US police drama Hawaii Five-O midway through its fourth season.
While filming of the rebooted series continues in Oahu this week, and with season five due to air overseas in September, a Ten publicist confirmed the network “has no plans for (the show) to return in the near future. Viewers will be notified if and when season four returns.”
Don't Miss: House Rules the reality roost
CHANNEL 9 programmers will be cheering the loudest to see the back of Seven’s rampaging reality series, House Rules, with the winner of season two to be decided tonight (6.30pm).
After building a solid audience last year on debut, the DIY series took a sledgehammer to Nine’s The Voice, pulling an average audience of two million-plus people (metro and regional viewers). And happily, both challengers for the grand final prize would be worthy winners. We just can’t go past Adam’s million-dollar grin.
$14k a clip: NSW YouTube stars making more than you
YouTube stars in NSW are raking in thousands of dollars per video but it’s what they do in their clips that will drive traditional workers mad. Check out the rich list.
Glamming it up for a return to the racecourse
The first official racing carnival featuring the new $46.6m WINX stand at Randwick Racecourse is kicking off, with model and new mum Ksenija Lukich among those dressing up for the occasion.