Astrid (Jasika Nicole) and Walter (John Noble).

UPDATE: According to Hitfix, the third season is go!

EW.com is reporting J.J Abrams’ sci-fi drama ‘Fringe’ has been picked up for a third season by Fox.

Since its move to the brutal Thursday timeslot the ratings have taken a hit but the sci-fi drama has performed well against repeats and with timeshifted viewers.

And in a further vote of confidence, when queried about the future of scripted programming on Thursdays, Kevin Reilly, president of entertainment at Fox, told The Hollywood Reporter:

“Yes, absolutely. I’m really looking at the back half of the year when we’ll bring the combo back on again. “Bones” hit highs in January. People haven’t abandoned “Fringe”; it’s just the only scripted four-way race, and frankly we’ve heard from fans it’s not they don’t want to watch it anymore, it just may have moved to their second choice; they’re picking it up on their DVRs or Hulu. When there’s wiggle room in time period, they come back.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly

According to MediaSpy, “Channel Mate” is believed to be the likely name of choice for Seven’s upcoming digital channel.

Five designs were registered for trademark by the network last Tuesday on IP Australia, each containing a variation on the word “Mate” or “Channel Mate”.

The final name and design still hasn’t been officially confirmed by the network with Seven’s head of corporate affairs, Simon Francis, saying “we’ll reveal our second channel shortly” when contacted by MediaSpy.

Should the name “Channel Name” become official at some point, it seems quite a peculiar choice for a new channel. Though, it could relate to something completely different entirely.

At this stage, all that seems to be confirmed is that the new channel will launch on digital channel 72.

The five designs submitted by Seven:

Source: MediaSpy

Mika

According to TV Tonight, London-based pop singer, Mika, is set to perform on the ‘Australian Idol’ grand final on November 22.

The TV blog quotes the singer as recently posting in his Twitter feed: “Yes am doing Australian Idol soon. Lokkin forward to going back to Aus.” — though this post seems to have since been removed by the singer.

Whether this was a premature announcement or simply a case of reps trying to keep this under wraps remains to be seen.

TV Tonight also speculates that the singer will appear as a guest judge before the finale. Possibly on “Disco Night” on October 25. However, he isn’t scheduled to perform at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney until November 24th. Take this with a grain of salt.

Source: TV Tonight

Tammin Sursok

According to The Daily Telegraph, former ‘Home and Away’ star Tammin Sursok has been dropped from US soap ‘The Young and the Restless’.

While it can’t be confirmed, it seems to support rumours that producers on the show are contemplating killing off her character.

Sursok joined the the show in 2007, taking over the role of Colleen Carlton, previously played by Adrianne Leon. During her first year on the soap, Sursok was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.

Sursok recently starred in the Nickelodeon musical movie ‘Spectacular!’, which aired on Network Ten last month. She currently has two films in post-production, ‘Flicka 2′ and ‘Husk’, both set for release in 2010.

Source: The Daily Telegraph, Suite 101

'MasterChef' judge Matt Preston.

According to B&T, the Seven Network are set to launch a cooking program aimed as a direct competitor to Network Ten’s ‘MasterChef’.

Details of the new series are being kept tightly under wraps, however a Seven executive confirmed that the network would launch something very competitive to challenge Ten’s smash hit by the end of the year.

The Nine Network are also believe to be looking into a ‘MasterChef’ competitor, though Nine’s sales director, Peter Wiltshire, wouldn’t confirm whether the program would be food related. He stated that cooking shows were “nothing new” and that the success seen in the ‘MasterChef’ format was due to the program’s drama, not the cooking.

But despite all the rumblings of potential competitors, Ten’s chief programming officer, David Mott, remains unfazed.

“It’s not a fear for Ten but I would say that it’s a desperate fear for them”, he said.

“It would be a very brave network to take on another food franchise and to spend that money. The risk is that people smell a me-too format, they smell a rat.”

Network Ten will launch a celebrity version of ‘MasterChef’ later this year in a reduce format and are also considering their options for a possible kids’ version or a professionals spin-off.

Source: B&T

For those who have given up all hope on a renewal for ‘Reaper’, here’s a little rumour to re-ignite your fire.

Sources say that ABC Studios is in talks with The CW affiliate stations to continue ‘Reaper’ next season as a syndicated series on Sunday nights.

While the show has failed to make a major mark on viewers this season, CW affiliate stations are said to be big fans of the show.

Since the series returned as a midseason replacement, ‘Reaper’ has been averaging a 1.0 rating in the 18-49 demo, coming in as the lowest-rated drama on The CW. However, these figures still trump what the network was scoring on Sunday nights during it’s short partnership with Media Rights Capital.

Now that The CW have dropped Sunday nights from their schedule, the prime-time programming block has reverted back to their local affiliates. This move is what has said to have triggered the preliminary discussions between ABC Studios and the affiliates.

Sources also say that ABC Studios are exploring a possible move to cable.

While both scenarios are considered a longshot, it does give us a little bit of hope in something we thought was all but dead.

According to this ‘Terminator’ fan’s blog, the set for FOX’s ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ has been completely taken down. Further more the show won’t “be back” for a third season.

This is hardly surprising news once it was announced ‘Terminator’ would move to Fridays mid-season. The show has averaged a lacklustre 3.5M viewers (plus another 1M via DVR) and 1.3 rating in the key adult 18-49 demo.

It is little wonder why some of the stars of the show have been auditioning for other pilots, Brian Austin Green (‘Body Politic’) and Stephanie Jacobson (‘Melrose Place’). And just to rub salt into the wound for die-hard fans, Shirley Manson (Weaver) has returned to Scotland for an undisclosed “Medical Procedure” with her agent claiming she won’t be back to the states anytime soon.

So enjoy the final episodes while you can.

As an added bonus, you can also enjoy an awesome montage of John (Thomas Dekker) and Cameron (Summer Glau).

With the new ‘Star Trek’ movie hitting theatres May 7, many have speculated that CBS Paramount may be tossing around the idea of a new television series.

Even ‘Pushing Daisies’ creator Bryan Fuller has vocally expressed an interest in bringing the sci-fi saga back to the small screen.

With so much buzz surrounding the J.J. Abrams’ reboot, would it be completely implausible?

The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd explores - go to article.

Meanwhile, Paramount have announced that the world premiere of ‘Star Trek’ will be held in Sydney, on April 20th at the Sydney Opera House.

According to TV scooper Michael Ausiello, we could soon discover the answer to ‘How I Met Your Mother’s’ main mystery.

‘Mother’ co-creator Carter Bays tells Entertainment Weekly that the sitcom’s central mystery is about to be solved. At least sort of.

“At the end of the season, we will address the title of our show,” says Bays. The last four episodes will feature “big events in the lives of our characters — specifically Ted. We’re going to wrap up some things that have been left dangling.”

This rather vague quote has lead many to believe that the m-bomb is about to be dropped.

While Bays wouldn’t confirm whether or not the mother would actually be revealed he did say “the season will end with a complete sentence,” he teases. “We’ve left some sentence fragments dangling in past seasons, but this year, there will either be a period, a question mark or an exclamation point. We will be giving the audience that.”

‘How I Met Your Mother’ airs 7.30pm Monday nights on Seven.

According to a few insiders, Mischa Barton (aka Marissa from ‘The O.C.’) is auditioning for a role on The CW’s ‘Melrose Place’ remake.

This comes as no surprise to us as Barton rejected the role of Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) on ‘Gossip Girl’ last season, citing it as “too teenish” for her.

So perhaps the older skewed ‘Melrose’ will be a better fit for the young actress.

If she does score a gig, she will work alongside Michael Rady and Katie Cassidy who were recently cast in the CW drama project.

Oh by the way, is anyone else excited about some of The CW’s shows this fall, ‘Melrose Place’ 2.0 and the “Twilight” wannabe ‘Vampire Diaries’?

The cast of 'Chuck' at WonderCon. From left: Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez, Zachary Levi and Adam Baldwin.

Everyone’s favourite spy might be back for another season claims executive producer and co-creator of ‘Chuck’, Josh Schwartz.

During an interview at WonderCon he revealed, the season two finale “will end in a way that’s going to launch the show into season three with a real—it’s a game-changer. I think that it’ll be immensely satisfying in its own right, but it also really, really launches the show in a way that, you know, we’re already breaking season three stories and can’t wait to start telling them.”

Schwartz is optimistic about another season for the series, which has won critical praise despite lackluster ratings.

“The network has been incredibly supportive of the show, and there’s a lot of internal support for the show,” Schwartz said. “Creatively, they’re really happy with the show. They recognize the challenges of the time period we’re in and all of the sort of hiatus impediments that have been thrown in our way. So I think, you know, on that level it’s very positive. But, you know, we still have several more months to go, and … it’s very competitive, (up against ABC’s) ‘Dancing With the Stars’ this year. Will Jewel out-dance Denise Richards? I know that I can’t wait. And Jewel’s husband also, go with the soft shoe, he’s in there. Yeah, yeah. So, um, so you know, I think we feel very, very optimistic, and we feel really, really good about the show creatively, and I think you know, everything that we can control, we feel very good about.”

Quizzed on if NBC has set a benchmark for renewal, Schwartz replied “If there is a threshold number, we have not heard it yet,” further adding “NBC’s been very good about (renewing) the shows that they love based on creativity alone.”

As for the show’s season finale, Schwartz said “This is our finale. This would be our finale whether we knew we were picked up, whether…we were picked up for next year or five years. This is what we’ve been wanting to do for a while, and we’ve had this planned since the beginning of season one.”

Entertainment Weekly’s TV scooper, Michael Ausiello, is reporting some pretty depressing news this morning.

Three of ABC Studios struggling dramedies (Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone) have been given the axe. While the network isn’t commenting, ABC insiders have said that “no additional episodes have been ordered — effectively cancelling all three series”.

The one positive in this giant bag of hurt, is that the network are still dedicated to finishing production on all 13 episode orders and broadcasting them throughout the remainder of the season.

Kobi Ghosh over at Zap2It had a chance to sit down with Privileged EP Rina Mimoun to ask a few fan questions. One interesting question that came up was regarding a possible crossover between Privileged and Gossip Girl. Here’s was Mimoun had to say:

“We would love to do a Gossip Girl crossover! We even came up with a really fun idea for Sage and Blair (because clearly they would be friends). The problem is scheduling. With Gossip shooting in New York and us being in L.A., it makes it really difficult. But I’m still hoping we could find a way to make it work…”

What are your thoughts? Does this sound like a good fit? Could this crossover give the struggling Privileged the boost it needs? I say yes, yes, yes! Bring it on!

This just in, EW.com is reporting that struggling NBC dramas Lipstick Jungle and My Own Worst Enemy have been cancelled.

It’s unknown at this stage whether or not both shows will continue to screen their existing episodes, but what is clear is that, producers of both shows have been informed that no additional episodes will be ordered of either series.

There are rumours Pushing Daisies creator, Bryan Fuller will join the Heroes crew once his time with Pushing Daisies is done. “I am exclusive to Daisies through the delivery of the 13th episode of our 13-episode order, which will be mid-January,” says Fuller. “If Daisies isn’t picked up by then, I will definitely be going back to play with my friends at Heroes.”

After walking out on Heroes to focus on Pushing Daisies, Fuller is set to return as a consultant to Tim Kring. Fuller was responsible for the most talked about episode in season one, ‘Company Man’. This is welcoming news after the annoucement of Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander’s exit from Heroes.

Meanwhile Pushing Daisies fans, brace yourselves for an imminent annoucement as there are rumours it has been cancelled. There is no episode this week due to the CMA Awards.

Source: EW

Lindsay Lohan’s stint on ABC Studios’ comedy Ugly Betty may be even shorter than originally planned after rumours fly of the Hollywood socialite’s inappropriate attitude of set.

Apparently it got so ugly on the set of between Lohan and Betty star America Ferrera, that Lohan was cut from an agreed-upon six episodes down to four.

One production source said, “It was a mess. Lindsay would show up every day with an entourage of people. She smoked 24/7, and after she left, they had to repaint her dressing room it was such a mess.”

In addition, Lohan “would obsessively cut pictures of herself out of the tabloids like she was creating some sort of scrapbook and refused to go on set until America was there — it was a power play.”

One episode, titled “Granny Pants,” was about how Lohan, playing Betty’s high school nemesis, would “de-pants” Ferrera. But Ferrera exacts her revenge and pulls down Lohan’s pants instead. “Lindsay wasn’t wearing any underwear,” the source said.

But a Lohan pal fumed, “Bull [bleep]! Lindsay wears underwear all the time now. She was wearing a G-string. And it was America’s fault. They were rehearsing the scene and America wasn’t supposed to pull Lindsay’s pants down — but she did. Lindsay was so embarrassed, she started crying.”

Basic cable network AMC has officially optioned a third season of Emmy award winning drama Mad Men, but behind the scenes things aren’t so hunky dory.

Production base, Lionsgate currently don’t have a deal in place with creator/executive producer Matthew Weiner for the third season. So while the show wraps up it’s second season over the next two weeks, negotiations will continue between the studio and the head honcho.

Sources claim, however, that Weiner is also fishing for a significant pay rise and over all deal with the studio, and with Mad Men’s increasing popularity and critical acclaim it seems rightly deserved. It’s also believe that Weiner made rounds with several other major studios leading up to/and after the drama’s Emmy win.

So the question is, will Lionsgate step up to the plate or will Weiner be forced to look elsewhere for a home?

For the sake of the show, let’s hope Lionsgate nail down that contract and sign Weiner up for several more years to come.

Mad Men concludes it second season next week on AMC.

Aussies rejoice! Jane Turner and Gina Riley haven’t completely abandoned ship since the American series of Kath & Kim premiered on NBC last week.

According to various sources, Rick McKenna, executive producer of both the original and the American version, said the Aussie creators were back in pre-production mode.

“They’re keen to do another Kath & Kim project,” he said. ”At the moment they’ve got 4 1/2 episodes in their heads.”

Even after six years, 32 episodes and a telemovie, the comedy duo still love to play mother and daughter and hope to have the new series on Seven in the not too distant future.

Bring home some of that American dosh and put it into another series of the Aussie comedy! Show those yanks how it’s done, ladies!

Australia’s Melissa George is reportedly in final negotiations to join the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. She will play an intern who’s being brought on board as a potential love interest for one of the female characters.

The character was initially only supposed to be a small patient role, but head honcho Shonda Rhimes was so impressed with the Aussie starlet, that she adjusted the role so that her character could have a more extended stay at Seattle Grace.

Grey’s Anatomy returned for its fifth season today in the states. It’s expected to return next year on Seven.

Source: EW

Your favourite Australian TV family, the Rafters, are about to get packed again. Rumours are circulating that the Seven Network has already commissioned a second season of the series only three episodes into its first season. 

While nothing is confirmed as of yet, its hard to ignore the stellar ratings the show has been scoring since its launch. Averaging a massive 2 million viewers a week. The cast have already been optioned to return for another season, should it be given the green light.

So what do you guys think? Are you up for another season of this family drama?

I sure as hell know that I am! Bring it on Seven! Down with cop shows!

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, the New Zealand comedy duo behind the HBO comedy Flight of the Conchords, recently told British music magazine Q, that the upcoming second season will likely be their last.

Despite the Emmy nominated show having a hugely successful run on HBO last season, the two hope to pursue other interests, including possible acting roles in some upcoming high profile films.

“The second series seems to me like it would be a good end to the show. I feel like another 10…That will be enough,” McKenzie said.

Flight of the Conchords returns for its second season next year on HBO.

Speculation spread like wildfire about a huge behind the scenes feud between the two starlets, after America Ferrera was televised rolling her eyes at Blake Lively’s comments about the upcoming season of Gossip Girl.

If you haven’t heard about this little video featuring Lively from Gossip Girl and Ferrera from Ugly Betty promoting their new movie Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2, then here’s a little reminder.

Of course like all things on the net these days, it seems things were blown way out of proportion, as Ausiello of EW reports.

This whole thing started out sounding like a story line from Gossip Girl didn’t it?

OMFG! Stop the press! Maybe Betty is Gossip Girl?

Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here…and I have the biggest news ever! One of our favourite tv scoop sources, Aussiello of Entertainment Weekly, sends us this: Spotted! In a secret meeting on the NBC Universal lot, Kristen Bell and Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas. Don’t believe me? Keep reading…

Okay, incase you didn’t get my completely clever wit, Kristen Bell also voices Gossip Girl on The CW hit. Dude, that totally rhymed!

Now that i’ve gotten that out of the way.  Word is, Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell have been in discussions with executive producer Joel Silver to bring the small screen super sleuth to the big screen. Can I just say…hell yes! After the blatant season finale The CW gave us before cancelling the show, I’m sure all Veronica Mars fans are in agreement that there are plenty of places to go for a big screen adaptation.

Joss Whedon’s Firefly made a smashing at the box office with Serenity, so there is no denying that even the smallest cult-following shows can reap in some serious cash at the box office.  So now I guess the big question is whether or not those jerks folks over at Warner Bros. will let Mars investigate?

What do you guys think? Should Veronica Mars come to the big screen? Let us know in the comments.

Buy all three seasons from our store, now on sale.

Tori Spelling has reportedly left The CW’s reboot of “90210″ over pay disputes.  The actor was officially signed to reprise her role as Donna Martin alongside fellow 90210 alumni Shannon Doherty and Jennie Garth, but has since left the zip because her co-stars Doherty and Garth are reportedly earning $35,000 – $50,000 an episode, compared to Spelling’s $10,000 – $20,000 an episode.

While she may have a point, let me ask, does anyone really want Spelling back anyway?  Wasn’t she only enlisted at first because no other original stars had signed on yet?  

Is she even worth $20,000?  I think $20,000 could be more wisely spent on building a soft padded room for Doherty…oh no I didn’t!