It’s the final episode of the year! In the season finale we take a look back at some of our 2009 predicitions — what we got right and what we got wrong.

We discuss the latest television news, including the abrupt end of ‘Rove’, ‘Packed to the Rafters’ creator Bevan Lee’s assault on vampires, the government’s plan to introduce Aussie drama quotas on digital channels and the launch of ABC3.

We see what’s hot this summer, including ‘The Office’, ‘Accidentally on Purpose’, ‘White Collar’, ‘The 7PM Project’, ‘The Middle’, ‘The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Parks and Recreation’, ‘Reaper’ and ‘Private Practice’.

Finally, we look back at some television highlights from the past decade and a brief look at what’s in store for 2010.

Promo Songs

“GOOD TIMES’ by LATCH KEY KID
Featured in Seven’s 2009 season two promos.

Episode 1

“GOOD TIMES” by LATCH KEY KID
As featured at Rachel’s high school reunion.

“MONSTER” by PAROV STELAR
As featured at Rachel’s high school reunion.

“STARLIGHT” by NOLA GREY
As featured at Rachel’s high school reunion.

“CAN’T HELP MYSELF” by THE BAMBOOS
As featured at Rachel’s high school reunion.

“I SEE YOU BABY” by GROOVE ARMADA
As featured at Rachel’s high school reunion when Carbo and Rachel dance it out.

Episode 2

“LOST IN TIME” by WHITLEY
As featured throughout the episode as Dave struggles to understand what’s troubling him.

“SHE’S SO FINE” by THIRSTY MERC
As featured when Ben becomes jealous of Melissa’s new colleague at the boatclub, and when he decides to work out.

“SUBURBAN BOY” by CRAIG McLACHLAN
As featured when Dave and Warney bond over dinner at Warney’s.

Episode 3

“YIPPIYO AY” by THE PRESETS
As featured at the bar when Rachel has her first bad blind date.

“GET UP” by TZU
As featured at the bar when Rachel continues her first bad blind date.

“BOOM BOOM BOOM” by DRAPHT
As featured when Rachel flashes Jake and Camel in the street.

“LIP SERVICE” by REPHRASE feat. MERENIA & VINI SEBASTIAN
As featured when Rachel has her second blind date.

Episode 4

“EXHALE” by HERMITUDE
As featured when young Nathan tries his hardest to reach his prize
“GOOD TIMES” by THE VERONICAS
As featured at the Front launch party

“GUITAR BAND” by THE LIVING END
As featured at the Front launch party

“CUT YOU LOOSE” by KYLIE AULDIST
As featured at the Front launch party

“HOW BOUT US” by KATALYST feat. STEVE SPACEK
As featured in Rachel’s hot dream of Jake

Episode 5

“EVERYTHING GOES” by BOB EVANS
As featured when Dave and Julie have the nuchal fold test, and in the scene where Dave and Julie see the children with Downs Syndrome playing in the park

“SLIGHTLY MESSY” by SHADES OF GRAY
As featured at the Front offices when Nathan starts his new career

“JACK THE FREAK” by SHADES OF GRAY
As featured at the Front offices when Nathan starts his new career

“HOLD ON” by JAMES GREHAN
As featured when Dave considers the prospect of having a child with Downs Syndrome

“FOLLOW YOUR HEART” by BRETT DENNEN
As featured in the final sequence where the family are preparing dinner, happily reconciled

Episode 6

“LITTLE ARROWS” by KING CURLY
As featured in the opening sequence when Ted is preparing for his day with Marjorie, and in the closing sequence where Ted and Marjorie break up

“WE ARE THE PEOPLE” by EMPIRE OF THE SUN
As featured at the boatclub ‘Ladies Night’, when Ben meets Elly

“HORSES” by ABBY DOBSON
As As featured when Rachel and Jake find themselves spending the night together locked in the building site

Episode 7

“HERE WE GO AGAIN” by ANGUS & JULIA STONE
As featured at the start of the episode when Sammy struggles to find her place in the Rafters family, and at the end of the episode once she has found where she belongs.

“BIRDS & BEES” by BEN LEE feat. MANDY MOORE
As featured when Rachel and Jake stop fighting their attraction to each other.

Episode 8

“GREAT WALL” by BOOM CRASH OPERA
As featured at Ladies Day at the rugby

“HEARTS ON FIRE” by CUT COPY
As featured at Ladies Day at the rugby

“I GO CRAZY” by CHILI HIFLY
As featured at Ladies Day at the rugby

“EDEN WITH MY EVE” by JEN CLOHER & THE ENDLESS SEA
Licensed courtesy of Sandcastle Music As featured when Jake admits that yeah, he really likes Rachel

Episode 9

“SUBMARINES AND KAYAKS” by JOHN STEEL SINGERS
As featured at the start of the episode when Ben reflects on the three things you should never have to see, and at the end of the episode when he awaits an all-important response from Melissa

“ASLEEP ON THE LAWN” by THE HAMPDENS
As featured when Melissa prepares her surprise for Ben

Episode 10

“THE LIFE I KEEP” by WHITLEY
As featured at the start of the episode when we see Dave as a toddler with his mother, and at the end of the episode when Dave’s mother comes back into his life

“SILK SUITS” by KRAM
As featured at the Front office as Layla entices Nathan to try drugs

“NO LOOKIN’ BACK” by CUSTOM KINGS
As featured at the Front office as Nathan and Layle continue their partying

FORTUNE & FAME by DOWNSYDE
As featured at the Front office as Nathan again agrees to stay back for “just one drink”

AIN’T NO REST FOR THE WICKED by CAGE THE ELEPHANT
As featured at the front office when Layla kisses Nathan

Episode 11

“MY PEOPLE” by THE PRESETS
As featured at the Rampant Launch

“LIGHTS & MUSIC” by CUT COPY
As featured at the Rampant Launch

“MASTER MC” by DOWNSYDE
As featured at the Rampant Launch

“MIRACLES” by TAMARA STEWART
As featured at the end of the episode when the links that tie a mother to her child are explored

Episode 12

“TURN ON THE SUN” by NANA MOUSKOURI
As featured as the theme song of Artemis’s arrival, and Ben and Carbo’s friendship

Episode 13

“WILD THING” by TONE-LOC
As featured during Nathan’s fantasy of Layla, especially re-recorded for the series by Merenia

“THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING” by NICK WEST feat. MERENIA
As featured during Carbo’s fantasy of Artie and Lexie

“ROCKAFELLER SKANK” by FATBOY SLIM
As featured during Ben’s fantasy of Melissa

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU” by MADISON AVENUE
As featured when Lexie and Artie tease Carbo on the dancefloor

Episode 14

“FEEL SO FINE” by LATCH KEY KID
As featured at Chel’s surprise birthday party.

“ALL TURN TO LOVE” by GALLEON
As featured at the end of the episode.

Episode 15

“THE LUAU SONG” by ALVIN KALEOLANI ISAACS & HIS WAIKIKI BOYS
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s engagement party.

“KNOCK-KNEED NAPUA” by PRINCE KAWOHI & HIS ROYAL ORCHESTRA
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s engagement party.

“MY LOVELY LEI” by KALANI KININMAKA & HIS KANAKAS
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s engagement party.

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BELIEVE ME” by ERIC HUTCHINSON
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s engagement party when Sammy dances with Dermott.

“PERFECT NOW” by SARAH BLASKO
As featured at the end of the episode when Ben gives Melissa her engagement ring, and Nathan realises the extent to which he has stuffed up.

Episode 16

“I WAS MADE FOR YOU” by SHE & HIM
As featured when Jakes stays the night at the Rafters, and is sprung by Dave the next morning

“RED” by DANIEL MERRIWEATHER
As featured at the end of the episode when Nathan and Sammy are upset and alone in their separate beds.

Episode 17

“WOMEN” by THE EASYBEATS
As featured during the montage of Julie nesting

“SO MANY NIGHTS” by THE CAT EMPIRE
As featured at the footy club fundraiser at the boatclub

“I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU” by ANGUS McLAREN
As performed by Nathan in his karaoke dedication to Sammy

MOUNTAIN SONG by LEROY LEE
As featured at the end of the episode when Julie is looking towards the future

Episode 18

“FOOD CHAIN” by ERIC HUTCHINSON
As featured at the start and end of the episode, as Rachel contemplates what could unexpectedly disturb her unusually harmonious universe.

Episode 19

WEDDING RING by THE EASYBEATS

As featured when the boys head out for Ben’s bucks night

THAT WORD (L.O.V.E.) by NICK WEST feat. LINDA JANSSEN
As featured at Mel’s non-hen’s night

SOMETHIN’ WRONG by DASH & WILL
As featured when Kat begins her routine

BURY ME DEEP IN LOVE by LIOR with CODA
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s wedding

NOW THAT YOU ARE MINE by THE BAMBOOS feat. KYLIE AULDIST
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s wedding reception

SAY HEY (I LOVE YOU) by MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
As featured at Ben and Melissa’s wedding reception

Episode 20

“TIMES WE HAD” by THE CAMELS
As featured when Warney and Carbo are drunkenly listening to music

“INTO THE MYSTERY” by McGOWAN with the WILD HONEY ORCHESTRA
As featured at the end of the episode when Dave’s and Jellybean’s heartbeats are in sync

Episode 21

“LIFEBOAT” by MARK SHOLTEZ
As featured at the start of the episode, and during Nathan’s roadtrip

“CHARLESTON BUTTERFLY” by PAROV STELAR
As featured during Rachel’s baking debacle

“EPISTEMOLOGY” by M WARD
As featured at the end of the episode when Nathan decides to gamble on his future.

Episode 22 (Season Finale)

“NUMBER 1″ by CUSTOM KINGS
As featured when Nathan wins big at the casino

“NUMBER ONE” by TZU
As featured when Nathan loses at the casino

“HARMONY TO MY HEARTBEAT” by SALLY SELTMANN
As featured at the end of the episode when the Rafters welcome baby Ruby to the family

Source: Packed to the Rafters Production

The highly anticipated mini-series 'The Pacific' premieres in 2010 on Seven. From Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, producers of 'Band of Brothers'.

Seven will announce their complete 2010 programming line-up later in the coming weeks.

New Local Drama

• The Pacific (Miniseries) - Co-production with HBO, Playtone, Dreamworks

New Local Series

• Damage Control
• The Marriage Ref
• My Kitchen Rules

New International Series

• 100 Questions
• Cougar Town
• Day One
• Happy Town
• Hung
• The Marriage Ref (US)
• Parenthood

Sporting Events

• Australian Open
• AFL Grand Final

Returning Local Series

• Better Homes and Gardens
• City Homicide
• Deal or No Deal
• Double Take
• Home and Away
• The Morning Show
• New Idea TV
• Packed to the Rafters
• Sunrise
• Saturday Disney
• Thank God You’re Here

Returning International Series

• Bones
• Brothers and Sisters
• Castle
• Criminal Minds
• Desperate Housewives
• Family Guy
• FlashForward
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Private Practice

*Incomplete/subject to change

Meet the new Rafter, Ruby Louise Rafter.

In the season finale of Seven’s ‘Packed to the Rafters’, the tightly kept secret surrounding the gender of the ‘Rafters’ latest addition was finally revealed.

The momentous arrival of the new baby wasn’t the only drama for the Rafters. Summer brought even more heat to what was already set to be a trying few hours for the family.

Rachel found herself contemplating an non-proposal from a seizure induced Jake; Warnie continued to impose on Ben, Melissa and Carbo’s “comfortable” living arrangements; and Nathan and Sammy’s marrige took yet another hit.

After finally scoring a win in their favour — $14,000 in a game of roulette to be exact — it seemed things were finally coming together for the young couple, who were set on paying off their debts and finally finding their own apartment. But in true Rafters fashion, Nathan’s recklessness and lies caught up with him as his newfound gambling addiction took hold.

Add to all this Dave’s unfortunately scheduled vasectomy, it seemed timing couldn’t be worse to welcome baby Ruby into the world.

As the season came to a close, were left wondering whether Nathan and Sammy’s marriage could ever recover from this latest blow? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

‘Packed to the Rafters’ returns for its third season on Seven in 2010.

The podcast returns for ‘Episode 26: The Digital TV Episode’.

It’s all about what’s happening on Freeview and how the government isn’t educating Australians.

We also talk about the ‘Good Game’ debacle, ‘Rove’ being delayed until April/May for ‘The 7PM Project’ and ‘Top Gear’ making the move to Nine.

Our show discussions include: ’Celebrity MasterChef’, ’Beauty and the Geek’, ’Packed to the Rafters’, ’All Saints’, ’Hey Hey It’s Saturday’, ’Australian Idol’, ’Outrageous Fortune’, ’Go Girls’, ’Glee’, ’Curb Your Enthusiasm’, ’How It Met Your Mother’, ’The Big Bang Theory’, ’Cougar Town’, ’Community’, ’Ugly Betty’, ’Greek’, ’10 Things I Hate About You’, ’The Vampire Diaries’, ’FlashForward’, ’Eastwick’ and ’Melrose Place’.

Download the podcast now.

WATCH the video clip for “All About Me” here.

Hugh Sheridan's new single "All About Me" is now available on iTunes.

The new single from ‘Packed to the Rafters’ star Hugh Sheridan, “All About Me” is out now.

Get the new track “All About Me” on iTunes.

Hugh’s debut album “Speak Love” will be out November 27, through Sony Music.

Become a fan of Hugh on Facebook.

The 2009 AFI Awards will be broadcast Saturday, December 12 on Nine.

UKTV’s ‘False Witness’, Nine’s ‘Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities’ and SBS’ ‘East West 101′ lead the drama noms.

Former ‘Home and Away’ actress Kate Ritchie scored a nomination for her portrayal as Judi Kane in ‘Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities’, in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Seven’s ‘Packed to the Rafters’ was nominated for Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actress for Rebecca Gibney.

Meanwhile, the ABC were the kings of comedy with ‘The Librarians’, ‘Very Small Business’ and ‘Review with Myles Barlow’ all receiving  a nomination.

Here’s the full list of nominees for the television awards:

AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION DRAMA

• The Elephant Princess. Jonathan M. Shiff, Joanna Werner. Network Ten
• Time Trackers. Sue Taylor. Seven Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION ANIMATION

• The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry. Paige Livingston. Seven Network
• Classic Tales. Noel Price. ABC
• Figaro Pho. Luke Jurevicius. ABC1
• Zeke’s Pad. Avrill Stark, Delna Bhesania, Liz Scully, Leonard Terhoch. Seven Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION COMEDY SERIES

• Chandon Pictures. Rob Carlton. Movie Network
• Lawrence Leung’s Choose Your Own Adventure. Nathan Earl, Andy Nehl. ABC1
• Review With Myles Barlow. Dean Bates. ABC
• Very Small Business. Wayne Hope, Robyn Butler. ABC1

AFI AWARD FOR BEST LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION SERIES

• The Gruen Transfer, Series 2. Andrew Denton, Anita Jacoby,
• Jon Casimir, Debbie Cuell. ABC
• RocKwiz. Brian Nankervis, Ken Connor, Peter Bain-Hogg, Joe Connor. SBS
• Spicks and Specks. Anthony Watt. ABC

AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES

• East West 101, Season 2. Kristine Wyld, Steve Knapman. SBS
• Packed to the Rafters. Jo Porter. Seven Network
• Satisfaction, Season 2. Andrew Walker, Roger Simpson. Showcase
• Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Greg Haddrick, Brenda Pam. Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST TELEFEATURE, MINI SERIES OR SHORT RUN SERIES

• 3 Acts of Murder. Sue Taylor. ABC1
• False Witness. Greg Haddrick, Peter Andrikidis. UKTV
• The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce. Nial Fulton. ABC1
• Saved. Michael McMahon, Tony Ayres. SBS

AFI AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION IN TELEVISION

• East West 101, Season 2 (Episode 13, Atonement) Peter Andrikidis. SBS
• False Witness (Episode 1) Peter Andrikidis. UKTV
• Review With Myles Barlow (Episode 1) Trent O’Donnell. ABC
• Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood) Grant Brown. Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST SCREENPLAY IN TELEVISION

• 30 Seconds (Episode 4, Invisible Fault Lines) Tim Bullock, Justin Drape, Scott Nowell. Foxtel
• East West 101, Season 2 (Episode 13, Atonement) Michael Miller, Kristen Dunphy. SBS
• Review With Myles Barlow (Episode 1) Trent O’Donnell, Phil Lloyd. ABC
• Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood) Kris Mrksa. Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Robert Menzies. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
• Don Hany. East West 101, Season 2. SBS
• Dougray Scott. False Witness. UKTV
• Roy Billing. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Susie Porter. East West 101, Season 2. SBS
• Rachael Blake. False Witness. UKTV
• Rebecca Gibney. Packed to the Rafters. Seven Network
• Asher Keddie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Bille Brown. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
• Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV
• Richard Roxburgh. False Witness (Episode 2). UKTV
• Damian de Montemas. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 11, The Brotherhood). Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST GUEST OR SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

• Anni Finsterer. 3 Acts of Murder. ABC1
• Claire Forlani. False Witness (Episode 1). UKTV
• Kathryn Beck. Scorched. Nine Network
• Kate Ritchie. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 4, Business As Usual). Nine Network

AFI AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

• Robyn Butler. The Librarians, Series 2. ABC
• Phil Lloyd. Review With Myles Barlow. ABC
• Kim Gyngell. Very Small Business. ABC1
• Wayne Hope. Very Small Business. ABC1

The 6-disc set will be released on December 2 and will contain all 22 episodes from the show’s first season.

Bonus features include a behind the scenes look at the show and interviews with the cast.

The series stars Rebecca Gibney, Erik Thomson, Michael Caton, Jessica Marais, Angus McLaren, Hugh Sheridan, Jessica McNamee, George Houvardas and Zoe Ventoura.

Here’s an exclusive first look at the cover art.

Packed to the Rafters tells the story of the Rafter family. Parents Dave and Julie Rafter are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, enjoying the comfort and privacy of their family home. When unforseen problems arise, their three children Ben, Rachel and Nathan all move back home. Follow the ups and downs of the Rafter family as they learn to live together again as adults.

UPDATE: It’s official. Universal will release the 6-disc set on December 2. More details here.

After months of rumours and speculation, we’ve begun to hear more concrete rumblings that ‘Packed the the Rafters’ Season 1 will finally be released on DVD at the end of the year.

The apparent 6-disc set will be released on December 2.

While this hasn’t been confirmed, the news comes just over a week after the release of another recent Channel Seven drama, ‘City Homicide’ Series 1, which hit shelves September 3.

We’re currently chasing up confirmation and hope to find out more details such as bonus features, if any.

We’ll keep you posted.

'Packed to the Rafters' Vol. 2 out September 18

Meanwhile, the second soundtrack album will be released on September 18 from Warner Music, track listing as follows.

1. Latch Key Kid – Good Times
2. Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry
3. Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People
4. Ben Lee – Birds And Bees
5. Eric Hutchinson – You Don’t Have To Believe Me
6. Bob Evans – Don’t You Think It’s Time?
7. Kylie Auldist – Just Say
8. James Grehan – Hold On
9. Matt Costa – Miss Magnolia
10. Mark Sholtez – Too Late For Heroes
11. Lior – This Old Love
12. Whitley – Lost In Time
13. King Curly – Little Arrows
14. Sarah Blasko – Perfect Now
15. Abby Dobson – Horses
16. Rick Price – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Get it on iTunes.

Hugh Sheridan

He can dance, he can act, he can sing! It seems there’s nothing Hugh Sheridan can’t do.

Now, the 23-year old is set to take his vocal talents even further with the confirmation of a recording deal with Sony Music Entertainment Australia, which will see him release his debut album later this year.

“Music has always been a massive part of my life”, explains Hugh. “I am so excited to be able to partner with Sony Music to record this album and can’t wait to get my music out there!”

Sheridan’s debut single “Just Can’t Throw Us Away” is set to be released this Friday, followed by a live performance on Seven’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ finale on Sunday night.

“Hugh is an incredible performer” says Denis Handlin AM, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand. “I am thrilled to have him part of the Sony Music family — I know the Australian public are going to love his music.”

Sheridan will be hard at work over the next few months recording a number of songs he’s written for his as-of-yet untitled debut album.

Keep an eye out for the single “Just Can’t Throw Us Away”, hitting stores and online this Friday.

Source: Sony Music

We’re finally back after a few months and a couple of false starts due to technical difficulties.

We kick off with a half year ratings recap, discussions on MasterChef, Talkin’ ’bout Your Generation, Merlin, Mad Men, Ten Years Younger in 10 Days, Ponderland, Castle and Packed to the Rafters.

We delve into the Ramsay vs Grimshaw debacle, updates on Freeview, ABC3, SBS TWO and are astonished by the half a billion dollar Nine and Warner Bros. deal.

We also bring back Mystery Voice and a couple of other games to top things off.

'Packed to the Rafters' Jessica McNamee, Angus McLaren and Jessica Marais.

As we previously reported, ‘Packed to the Rafters’ will be returning 8.30pm Tuesday, June 30th on Seven.

Catch up on the last four episodes of season one, and see another new preview at Yahoo!7’s ‘Packed to the Rafters’ site.

According to TV Tonight, the Seven Network have left a TBA in their advanced schedule for 8.30pm Tuesday, June 30th.

This slot is currently filled by fellow Aussie drama ‘All Saints’, but the medical drama is set to wrap for the season a week earlier.

So can we expect the return of ‘Packed to the Rafters’ on June 30th? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

UPDATE: It’s been confirmed! ‘Packed to the Rafters’ returns 8.30pm Tuesday, June 30th on Seven.

Keep an eye out for wedding bells and baby booties on the upcoming season of ‘Packed to the Rafters’. In the meantime, check out a few more promos for the new season, including an extended version with clips from the show.

Which 'Rafers' character will tie the knot?

After reading the rather cryptic statement in the media release yesterday that we should “expect a wedding this season” on ‘Packed to the Rafters’, I began thinking about exactly which Rafters’ character would be getting hitched.

First off, there’s Ben (Hugh Sheridan) and Melissa (Zoe Ventoura). They’re the most obvious choice since they’re already in semi-stable relationship.

Do we really want to see Ben get married though? If the writer’s do make him tie the knot, then they’ll be killing one of their best characters. We all love Ben because he’s such a screw up. Plus they already have a young newly-wed couple on the show with Nathan (Angus McLaren) and Sammy  (Jessica McNamee), so we don’t really need a double up of storylines there.

Rachel (Jessica Marais) doesn’t really have any prospective partners on the horizon (as of the season finale), but who knows what’ll happen this season.

It’d be great to see Rachel in a proper relationship. After the hardship she endured during the first season, she definitely deserves a bit of love. But does she need to get married? I don’t think so. Not yet anyway.

Then there’s Carbo (George Houvardas) and Chrissey (Caroline Brazier), they broke off their bizarro-engagement in last season’s penultimate episode, but there is always the possibility of this relationship picking up again.

I’d love to see Carbo and Chrissy get hitched, if not just for the hilarity that will ensue. But how much comic-relief can two characters muster up without become two dimensional caricatures. We also don’t want to break up Ben and Carbo’s odd couple roommate situation.

So that leaves dear old Ted (Michael Caton) and his “lady-friend” Marjorie (Kate Fitzpatrick). Their relationship didn’t exactly reach “PDA gross-out” status last season, but the writers were clearly heading in that direction.

I think they’re probably the most logical couple to tie the knot. Their marriage won’t disrupt any of the existing-relationships we love so much. Plus there’s lots of possibilities for potential storylines, e.g. a rift between Julie (Rebecca Gibney) and Ted triggered by his new marriage, which is then amped up even more by her pregnancy i.e. hormones. Gold Logie 2010 anyone?

Anyway, there you have it. That’s my top pick for who I think will be getting hitched this season, closely followed by Warney’s shotgun wedding, but that’s a whole other can of worms.

What do you think? Am I right? Hit us up in the comments.

'Dancing With the Stars' hosts Sonia Kruger and Daniel MacPherson.

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday June 1, 2009 – Some of Australia’s most troublesome teenagers will find themselves facing a collision with culture in Channel Seven’s new fish-out-of-water series WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS, one of five new local new series to debut soon.

In this new series no family should miss, WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS will test the mettle of these kids with attitude when they are transported from their parents’ confines and sent to live overseas with a new family and a new set of house rules.

No swearing, no smoking, no wild parties, earlier curfews. Will this end in a life changing experience for these local teens that have gone off the rails?

WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS joins a new slate of new Australian-made programming, all coming soon to Seven.

NEW SERIES:

TV BURP: Comedian Ed Kavalee flips what we love and hate about our TV favourites on its head in this new comedy series. From soap operas to documentaries to reality TV, nothing is safe from TV Burp’s unique style of celebrating the week that was on TV. Based on the hugely successful and BAFTA award winning UK series, Harry Hill’s TV Burp.

ICU: From the crew behind the hugely successful Medical Emergency, this new series goes behind the scenes of The Alfred Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

AIR WAYS: An unprecedented look at the day-to-day running of a budget airline in Australia – all the stress and joy of travel come together in this series as passengers and the staff from Tiger Airways contends with misplaced luggage, delayed flights and even a wedding.

DOUBLE TAKE: A fast-paced collection of irreverent sketch comedy, DOUBLE TAKE focuses on parody and impersonation. Spoofs of your favourite TV shows (ones involving dancers, desperate farmers, losers and Sunrise included), movie send-ups and political trivialisation (think Julia
Gillard serenading K-Rudd).

WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS: And taking the tough line in the battle between teens and adults are the WORLD’S STRICTEST PARENTS, a documentary series which joins headstrong Aussie teens with strict parents from around the world in a bid to whip them into shape. These parents are tough but can they tame wild Aussie teens?

Seven’s Director of Programming and Production, Mr Tim Worner said: “A big part of our business at Seven is the development of local programming. The shows we are announcing today represent an investment made 12 months ago.

“We are tremendously thrilled to be launching fresh ideas and fresh faces into the mid year entertainment schedule. Audiences are making these shows the most popular on television – and that confirmation points to a very strong back half of the year. A second wave of local production is about to be commissioned. These projects will be announced in the coming weeks.”

Add to that the return of four favourite series, soon to Seven:

RETURNING SERIES:

SURF PATROL: A man dies f times on a Gold Coast beach and is resuscitated by lifeguards. Tom Williams joins the real heroes of Australian beaches, volunteer life guards, as host for the third season of SURF PATROL. A former life saver himself, Williams will follow the men and women who strive to keep the most popular and treacherous of this country’s 11,000-plus beaches safe.

PACKED TO THE RAFTERS: The Rafter family is back for season two – and things are getting to get a lot more packed…With Julie (Rebecca Gibney) revealing to the family she is pregnant, the Rafters are thrown into more chaos. Lucky Dave (Erik Thomson) keeps a level head and keep things on track. Expect a wedding this season.

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Daniel MacPherson and Sonia Kruger return to host this enduring series – the next line-up of celebrity hoofers will be announced soon, and expect the unexpected this year. Todd McKenney, Helen Richey and Mark Wilson will keep them on their toes from behind the judges’ desk.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Jennifer Hawkins, Ernie Dingo and Tom Williams return in new episodes, with the best budget travel within Australia and overseas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Channel Seven Publicity
(02) 8777 7250

The new promos for ‘Packed to the Rafters’ have only just started airing on Seven and we’re already getting a few visitors searching for the new track.

So for all your ‘Rafters’ music fans out there, here’s the catchy new tune from the season two promos.

“Good Times’ by Latch Key Kid

The song is also featured in the upcoming Paul Rudd comedy “I Love You, Man” in cinemas June 4.

Get the track as part of the “I Love You, Man” soundtrack, available online now.

Or just the single.

Rebecca Gibney and Eric Thompson

UPDATE: ‘Packed to the Rafters’ Season 1 arrives December 2, read more.

With the huge success that was ‘Packed to the Rafters’ last year, it’s curious that the Seven Network haven’t jumped at the chance to get the the first season out on DVD.

Similarly successful drama ‘Underbelly’ became the highest selling DVD in Australia last year when it hit retailers – smashing all DVD records even with a ban in Victoria in place. The second series also skyrocketed to the top of the iTunes store charts when it debuted in February.

So why haven’t Seven pushed the release of ‘Packed to the Rafters’ on DVD or iTunes at the least?

A fan of the series on the Yahoo!7 message boards contacted the ‘Packed to the Rafters’ production office back in December. Early indications lead us to believe we’d see the first season hit shelves mid-year.

I wrote a letter to the production office of Packed to the Rafters and asked them about the dvd. They said it will be released shortly after season 1 has finished airing in 2009. As there’s eight episodes left to air. So if they start Feb and finish season 1 around end of April, we may get the dvd’s end of May.

evieforever601 – December 22, 2008

However, more recently those rumours seem to have been debunked with another fan stating that the network have no intentions to release the show on DVD at all.

I just rang channel 7 and they said they have no intention to release season 1 of packed to the rafters on dvd. If everyone rings them up hopefully they will get the message!

janemstock – May 20, 2009

Upon further investigation, it appears that there were once plans for a release, with the first twelve episodes receiving classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification. However that was back in November.

It’s now, six months later and there’s still no official word on a release. So let us ask again, what’s the hold up Seven?

Could it be a music licensing issue? Or have plans for a release in fact been shelved completely?

All we know is that there is definitely a demand for the show on DVD and Seven better get their act together, or we might just see piracy of the series explode when the new season begins later this year.

If you hear any news about a release, let us know.

We’re still getting quite a few queries for the songs used in Seven’s new family drama Packed to the Rafters. So I thought we’d try and collate all the songs we recognise from the series. We’ll try to update the list weekly. If you recognise any other songs, or your simply want to query other readers of the blog, just leave a comment after this post.

For SEASON TWO songs, check here.

Promo Songs

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
Featured in Seven’s 2008 promos for the series

“Rock and Roll” by Eric Hutchinson
Featured in Seven’s 2009 promos for the series

“Good Times’ by Latch Key Kid
Featured in Seven’s 2009 season two promos

Episode 22 (Season Finale)

“This Old Love” by Lior
As featured in the closing montage of the Rafters, together

Episode 21

“Let Me Be There” written by J Rostill (performed by the Rafters)
As featured in the scene when the Rafters sing together at Nan’s grave

“Don’t You Think It’s Time by Bob Evans
As featured in the montage when Julie deals with the anniversary of her mothers death, Nathan and Sammy quietly celebrate their anniversary, and Ben tries to rekindle his relationship with Melissa

“Love Won’t Wait” by Machine Translations
As featured in the scene when Ben rescues Melissa’s bracelet

Episode 20

“Miss Magnolia” by Matt Costa
As featured in the opening and closing scenes where Julie loses and then regains her mojo

“No Longer There” by The Cat Empire
As featured is the scene where Carbo makes his decision about his future with Chrissy

Episode 19

“See You When We Get Here” by Lisa Mitchell
As featured in the scenes were the moon seems to work in mysterious ways

Episode 18

“Be Careful What You Pray For” by Vika & Linda
As featured in the opening when Ben is trying to summon the courage to confess to Melissa, and in the closing scene when the whole house of cards come crashing down and Carbo’s parents arrive home to a burgled house.

“Not What I’ll Be Missing” by Mark Sholtez
As featured at Julie and Dave’s date at the bar

“Falling” by Mark Sholtez
As featured at Julie and Dave’s date at the bar

“Croupier” by The Hampdens
As featured when Ben, Carbo and Melissa learn the truth about Kat

Episode 17

“Dumb Mistakes” by Faker
As featured when Ben gets drunk at the boatclub with Kat, and succumbs to her flirting

“In Our Nature” by Jose Gonzalez
As featured in the closing montage as Ben realises his actions of the previous night

Episode 16

“Neapolitan Dreams” by Lisa Mitchell
As featured in various scenes where Rachel is getting her groove back

“Just Say” by Kylie Auldist
As featured during the speed dating

“Beggar on the Street of Love” by Jenny Morris
As featured during the speed dating

“It’s Only Love” by Anny Dobson
As featured during the speed dating

“Sound Off” by The Basics
As featured during the speed dating

“Rock and Roll” by Eric Hutchinson
As featured in the cafe where Rachel and Rob have their first date

Episode 15

“So Long” by Cat Empire
As featured when Kat dupes Damian

“Down The Line” by Jose Gonzalez
As featured in the closing montage.

Episode 14

“Sunsetter” by Hermitude
As featured at Moniques party.

“I Don’t Wanna Lose You’re Love” by Love Tatoo
As featured at Moniques party.

“The Best Thing (2008)” by Hook n’ Sling
As featured at Moniques party.

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
As featured in the closing scene where Julie’s bath is continually interrupted by members of the family.

Episode 13

“Hello” by Cat Empire
As featured in the New Years Eve party at Carbo’s house.

“Too Late For Heroes” by Mark Sholtez
As featured in the scene where Ben is haunted by flashbacks of the break-in.

“Same Day” by Alex Lloyd
As featured in the scene where Ben remembers all the details of the break-in.

Episode 12

“This Boy’s In Love” by The Presets
As featured in the scene when Julie and Chrissy arrive at the club.

“Flaunt It” by TV Rock
As featured in the dance montage at the club.

“Have Yourself A Merry Little Chrismas” by Rick Price
As featured in the closing montage on Christmas day.

Episode 11

“Pick You Up” by Dash & Will
As featured in the scene where Sammy and Nathan chase each other through the house and end up smashing Julie’s favourite vase.

“Stronger Together” by Kahn Brothers
As featured in the closing scene where Julie and Dave discuss how things have turned out.

Episode 10

“Details In The Fabric” by Jason Mraz
As featured in the scene where Rachel makes her decision and goes to the women’s clinic.

Episode 9

“Suburban Boy” by Craig McLachlan
As featured throughout the episode, then ultimately performed at the RSL by Steve Wilson and the Front.

“Car Park”  by Craig McLachlan
As featured at the RSL before Steve Wilson and the Front begin their performance.

Episode 8

“Old Timer” by Rephrase
As featured during Carbo and Chrissy’s joyride.

“Good Feelin’” by Rephrase
As featured in the club that Ben and Melissa go to.

“Bass Pop” by Stafford Brothers
As featured in the club that Ben and Melissa go to.

“The Ultimate” by Funky Choad
As featured in the club that Ben and Melissa go to.

“I Know a Place” by Katalyst
As featured in the club that Ben and Melissa go to.

“Suburban Boy” by Craig McLachlan
As featured in the scene where Dave watches Steve Wilson perform on television.

“Smoke on the Water” by Erik Thompson
As played on guitar by Dave when he tries to impress Rachel with a song he “wrote…”.

Episode 7

“Burst Your Bubble” by Lior
As featured in the opening montage of Nathan’s struggle to fit in with his family, and in the closing scene where Nathan reconnects with Dave.

“One More Kiss” by Mark Sholtez
As featured at Tony Westaway’s 50th.

“Love Me For The Cool” by Mark Sholtez
As featured at Tony Westaway’s 50th.

“Feel The Love” by Cut/Copy
As featured when Dave and Julie dance at Tony Westaway’s 50th.

Episode 6

“Love (Part 1)” by Paraov Stelar
As featured in the scene when Rachel meets Daniel at the afterwork drinks.

“Fishies” by Cat Empire
As featured in the scene when Daniel announces he and Rachel are moving in together

“Drink To Get Drunk” by Different Gear Versus Sia
As featured in the montage of Rachel and Daniel’s relationship breaking down

“Hearts A Mess” by Gotye
As featured in the sequence when Rachel confronts Daniel

Episode 5

“La” by Old Man River
As featured in the montage where Dave distributes his flyers

“Everything Will Be Alright” by Missing Hours
As featured in the scene where Dave & Julie are tense after their argument, and reprised in the closing sequence.

Episode 4

“Love Me Like The World Is Ending” by Ben Lee
As featured in the scenes where Nathan and Sammy move in together, their wedding, and their final approach to Julie and Dave to confide.

“Say What You Feel” by Katalyst (feat. Stephanie McKay)
As featured at the bar where Nathan and Sammy first meet.

“Swamp Sauce” by Hermitude
As featured outside the bar where Nathan and Sammy kiss and decide to go to “his” place.

“Sweet About Me” by Gabriella Cilmi
As featured in the montage where Sammy attempts to fit in at the Rafters.

Episode 3

“LearnALilGivinAnLovin” by Gotye
As featured in the scenes where Ben gets his mojo on.

“Give Love” by Stafford Brothers
As featured in the scene where Ben, Melissa, and Rachel go bowling.

Episode 2

“Reckless” by James Reyne
As featured in the scene where Dave goes to confront Daniel.

“Slow” by Lisa Mitchell
As featured in the scene where Dave comforts a distressed Rachel.

“Memories & Dusk” by Josh Pyke
As featured in the scene of the family cricket match.

Episode 1

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
As featured in the scene where Julie & Dave enjoy their first moments alone together and in Seven’s promos for the series.

“Umba” by Stafford Brothers
As featured in the scene where Julie is woken up to the sounds of the party next door.

“Don’t Hold Back” by The Potbelleez
As featured in the scene where Ben and Carbo’s party rages on.

“Mu House” by Sister Madly
As featured in the sequence from Julie with Ted in the hospital, through to the closing montage.

Source: Packed to the Rafters Production

'7 is Heaven' will be the new name for daytime programming on digital channel '72'. While bizarre, not entirely unbelievable from the network with "Mr. TV Man" as their main mascot.

The Seven Network have finally put their money where their mouth is, and have announced their multi-channelling plans for the Freeview platform.

The network will launch with three distinct channels from November, including their current SD digital channel ‘7′, a re-launched ’7 HD’ and an all new ‘7 Extra’.

While speaking at the “Get ready for digital TV” forum in Sydney this morning, Seven’s CEO David Leckie said “the current economic crisis has put a lot of things into perspective. Our multi-channelling plans will address these issues.”

First up is the new HD channel. The network will continue using the ‘Seven HD’ moniker for channel ‘70′, which will be dedicate to all Australian content.

It will screen new first run lifestyle programs, time-shifted news and re-runs of Australian drama including ‘City Homicide’, ‘Packed to the Rafters’, ‘All Saints’, ‘Home and Away’ and older series like ‘Last Man Standing’, “HeadLand” and ‘A Country Practice’.

The channel will also show a simulcast of Seven’s regular channel ‘7′ in HD for select content, i.e., movies and other “must-see TV.”

Seven will re-launch ‘The Great Outdoors’, which has been MIA for some time now. Naomi Robson (‘Today Tonight’) and Charlie Delaney (‘Hi:5′, ‘Battle of the Choirs’) will be joining the travel show as globe trotting presenters.

‘Out of the Red’, is a new first run lifestyle program that will screen on the new 7HD. It will feature ‘Sunrise’ hosts, Mel and Kochie, as they help people bogged down by the current economic crisis. The new series will see the duo help families with their debts and give them tips for getting”out of the red”.

The network announced that they have several other new lifestyle programs in development which will be announced at a later date.

“Lifestyle programs are much more cost effective for us to produce in this current economic climate. The smaller budgets mean we can experiment with various concepts and ideas without breaking the bank” said Leckie. “We’ll offset our new lifestyle programming on the new 7HD with our large back-catalogue of great Aussie drama,” he added.

The network’s plans for their second standard definition channel, ‘7 Extra’ (‘72′), is a little more interesting.

In a bold move for the commercial broadcaster, the new channel will outsource its programming blocks to various content producers.

Deals have been struck with Walt Disney, Bloomberg Television, the Australian Christian Channel and various community television stations from around the country.

“By outsourcing the programming to different content providers, we’ll be able to create a diverse programming line up,” Leckie added. ”We’ve established a new shared advertising revenue scheme with the content producers, which will see lower up front costs for content.”

Each programming block will be themed depending on the content producer. The four banner names will be: ‘7 is Finance’, ‘7 is Heaven’, ‘7 is Adventure’ and ‘7 is Community’.

‘7 is Finance’ will run during the morning programming block (6 am to 11 am) and will feature non-stop finance reports from Bloomberg Television.

“Keeping people up to date with the markets is just another way we’ll be helping people during these troubled times,” said Leckie.

‘7 is Heaven’ will run during the daytime programming block (11 am to 5 pm) and will feature a schedule developed by the Australian Christian Channel. The ACC have several new programs in development including a new music program produced in conjunction with the Hillsong Church. It will be hosted by ‘Australian Idol’ winner and renowned Hillsong member Guy Sebastian.

Classic TV dramas including ‘Touched by an Angel’, ‘Joan of Arcadia’ and ‘7th Heaven’ will run throughout the week, while Sunday’s will feature live sermons from around the country.

“All of our daytime programming will be aimed at spreading hope and optimism to our viewers,” said Leckie.

“But the ‘adventure’ really begins on ‘7 Extra’ during prime-time,” he announced.

‘7 is Adventure’ will run between 5 pm and 1 am. It’ll feature content from the network’s output deal with Disney/ABC Studios. It will screen all of Disney’s classic animations like ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘The Lion King’, as well as more mature content from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles will include film franchises ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’,'The Chronicles of Narnia’ and ‘Kill Bill’, as well as box office hits like ‘Pearl Harbour’ and ‘Gangs of New York’.

TV series from ABC Studios will join the ‘7 is Adventure’ block, with ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Lost’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Brothers and Sister’, ‘Ugly Betty’, ’Scrubs’, ‘Commander in Chief’ and ‘Alias’ will all be getting a re-run on the new channel. ‘Night Stalker’, ‘Dirt’, ‘Kyle XY’ and ‘Greek’ will also make the move to free-to-air under the new ‘7 is Adventure’ block.

Disney channel movies and TV series like ‘High School Musical’, ‘Camp Rock’ and ‘Hannah Montana’ will air Saturday nights under the new ‘adventure’ banner.

From 1 am to 6 am, ‘7 is Community’ will screen, with original programming from Sydney’s TVS, Melbourne’s C31 and other community stations from around the country.

“We really want to embrace the community as a source of great entertainment,” said Leckie. “The new shared revenue scheme will really benefit independent content makers and allow them to create more ambitious programs.”

‘7 Extra’ will be broadcast on digital channel ‘72′.

“As the leaders in television, our mission is to bring viewers diverse and entertaining programs.”

“We believe that we’ve come up with a great strategy for our multi-channelling line up, which will provide both variety and quality,” Leckie concluded.

So after several long months, Seven’s digital TV plans have finally been unveiled and the all-Aussie channel and the outsourced programming channel are both pretty bold ideas for the network. It’s definitely the most comprehensive and unique plan we’ve seen from a free-to-air broadcaster so far.

Too bad we’ll have to wait until November.

Oh, and by the way…April fools!

The cast of Seven's 'Packed to the Rafters', Hugh Sheridan, Jessica McNamee, Jessica Marais and Angus McLaren.

The nominees for the 51st annual Logie Awards have been announced. Unsurprisingly, ‘Packed to the Rafters’ and ‘Underbelly’ have lead the announcements.

The awards will be hosted by Gretel Killeen at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne.

They will be televised on the Nine Network with performances by Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Grammy/Academy Award winning singer Annie Lennox.

Popular Awards

TV WEEK GOLD LOGIE – Most Popular Personality on TV
Natalie Bassingthwaighte
Andrew Denton
Rebecca Gibney
Adam Hills
Simmone Jade Mackinnon
Rove McManus
Kate Ritchie
Ian Smith

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Popular Actress
Rebecca Gibney (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Jodi Gordon (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Simmone Jade Mackinnon (McLeod’s Daughters, Nine Network)
Kate Ritchie (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Kat Stewart (Underbelly, Nine Network)

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Popular Actor
Gyton Grantley (Underbelly, Nine Network)
Todd Lasance (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Mark Priestley (All Saints, Channel Seven)
Ian Smith (Neighbours, Network Ten)
Erik Thomson (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Popular Presenter
Natalie Bassingthwaighte (So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Network Ten)
Andrew Denton (Enough Rope With Andrew Denton, ABC1)
Grant Denyer (It Takes Two/Australia’s Got Talent, Channel Seven)
Adam Hills (Spicks & Specks, ABC1)
Rove McManus (Rove/Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR NEW FEMALE TALENT
Kirsty Lee Allan (Sea Patrol, Nine Network)
Rebecca Breeds (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Ricki-Lee Coulter (Australian Idol, Network Ten)
Jessica Marais (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Margot Robbie (Neighbours, Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR NEW MALE TALENT
Dean Geyer (Neighbours, Network Ten)
George Houvardas (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Matt Lee (So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Network Ten)
Jordan Rodrigues (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Hugh Sheridan (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN DRAMA
Home And Away (Channel Seven)
McLeod’s Daughters (Nine Network)
Neighbours (Network Ten)
Packed To The Rafters (Channel Seven)
Underbelly (Nine Network)

MOST POPULAR LIFESTYLE PROGRAM
Better Homes And Gardens (Channel Seven)
Domestic Blitz (Nine Network)
Getaway (Nine Network)
Ready Steady Cook (Network Ten)
Top Gear Australia (SBS)

MOST POPULAR SPORTS PROGRAM
Before The Game (Network Ten)
The Footy Show AFL (Nine Network)
The Footy Show NRL (Nine Network)
Sports Tonight (Network Ten)
Wide World Of Sports (Nine Network)

MOST POPULAR REALITY PROGRAM
Australian Idol (Network Ten)
The Biggest Loser (Network Ten)
Dancing With The Stars (Channel Seven)
The Farmer Wants A Wife (Nine Network)
So You Think You Can Dance Australia (Network Ten)

MOST POPULAR FACTUAL PROGRAM
Bondi Rescue (Network Ten)
Border Security (Channel Seven)
Find My Family (Channel Seven)
RPA (Nine Network)
RSPCA Animal Rescue (Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
Australia’s Got Talent (Channel Seven)
Deal Or No Deal (Channel Seven)
Rove (Network Ten)
Spicks & Specks (ABC1)
Sunrise (Channel Seven)

Outstanding Awards

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie
Bed Of Roses (ABC1)
Packed To The Rafters (Channel Seven)
Rush (Network Ten)
Scorched (Nine Network)
Underbelly (Nine Network)

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Outstanding Actor
Dustin Clare (Satisfaction, Showcase)
Vince Colosimo (Underbelly, Nine Network)
Gyton Grantley (Underbelly, Nine Network)
Callan Mulvey (Rush, Network Ten)
Damian Walshe-Howling (Underbelly, Nine Network)

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE — Most Outstanding Actress
Julia Blake (Bed Of Roses, ABC1)
Rebecca Gibney (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Kat Stewart (Underbelly, Nine Network)
Claire Van Der Boom (Rush, Network Ten)
Madeleine West (Satisfaction, Showcase)

MOST OUTSTANDING NEWS COVERAGE
“Brisbane Storms” (Seven News)
“China Earthquake” (ABC News)
“China Earthquake” (Nine News Sydney)
“Financial Crisis” (Sky News Business)
“Nike Human Rights Investigation” (Seven News)

MOST OUTSTANDING PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORT
“Afghanistan: A Survivor’s Tale” (Foreign Correspondent, ABC1)
“Friday’s Child” (Australian Story, ABC1)
“Mugabe’s Calling Card” (Dateline, SBS)
“Out Of Control” (60 Minutes, Nine Network)
“Timor War Criminal” (Today Tonight, Channel Seven)

MOST OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY
Beyond Kokoda (The History Channel)
First Australians (SBS)
The Oasis: Australia’s Homeless Youth (ABC1)
Schapelle Corby: The Hidden Truth (Nine Network)
The Howard Years (ABC1)

MOST OUTSTANDING FACTUAL PROGRAM
Border Security (Channel Seven)
Family Fortunes (ABC1)
RPA (Nine Network)
Two In The Top End (ABC1)
Who Do You Think You Are? (SBS)

MOST OUTSTANDING COMEDY PROGRAM
The Hollowmen (ABC1)
Mark Loves Sharon (Network Ten)
Mr Firth Goes To Washington (SBS)
Review With Myles Barlow (ABC1)
Very Small Business (ABC1)

MOST OUTSTANDING SPORTS COVERAGE
AFL Grand Final (Channel Seven)
Beijing Olympics (Channel Seven)
Beijing Paralympics (ABC1)
Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (Channel Seven)
Tour De France (SBS)

MOST OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
As The Bell Rings (Disney Channel)
Dogstar (Nine Network)
Figaro Pho (ABC1)
H2O: Just Add Water (Network Ten)
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (Nickelodeon)

GRAHAM KENNEDY AWARD FOR MOST OUTSTANDING NEW TALENT
Lauren Clair (Underbelly, Nine Network)
Hanna Mangan-Lawrence (Bed Of Roses, ABC1)
Jessica Marais (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Hugh Sheridan (Packed To The Rafters, Channel Seven)
Ashley Zukerman (Rush, Network Ten)

It’s a news-a-palooza on TVAUSCAST Live. We delve into all the latest casting news and series renewals/cancellations. Plus we speculate about upcoming episodes of ‘Packed to the Rafters’, laugh over a Freeview spoof, answer the mailbag and of course recap on all the ratings and hot topics from the forums.

The already impoverished TV Week Logie Awards are set to be even lower-key this year with budgetary cuts and a trimmed invitation list.

If you’ve seen the Logies before, and let’s face it, who hasn’t. Then you probably know how much they pale in comparison to the Emmy Awards or the Oscars, if not purely just in star power.

Well it looks as though the current financial climate is set to take a bit of a toll on the Aussie awards show, with TV Week editor Emma Nolan confirming that the budget will be slashed for this year’s ceremony.

“We are now in the process of reviewing the invitation list and are also looking at budget cuts,” Nolan said.

“But it’s a very important year for the Logies as they’re the 51st, representing a new era for the awards in terms of the event, coverage and actual show.

Event companies have reportedly been challenged to “take it to a new level” on less money.

So while we’re unlikely to see any big stars this year, hopefully the top notch shows in the contention for awards, like Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and Packed to the Rafters, are enough to pull the show completely out of the gutter.

It has also been reported that Gretel Killeen may host this year’s event, making her only the second woman to host the Logies in it’s 51 year history.

The 2009 TV Week Logie Awards will take place in May at the Crown Casino, Melbourne.

Source: Hearld Sun, Sydney Morning Herald

The podcast returns with the first episode of 2009. We discuss all the new and returning series, including Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, Sunday Night, Life On Mars, Bondi Vet, Guerilla Gardeners, So You Think You Can Dance, LOST, Kyle XY, Packed to the Rafters and Ugly Betty. We also delve into the issues surrounding Freeview and make our predictions for the 2009 television season.

Packed to the Rafters returns 8.30pm Tuesday, February 3rd on Seven.

We’re live in the new primetime! Just like Prison Break, Heroes and Gossip Girl! However, like our friends in the same timeslot, we struggle to find an audience from the start. As the numbers grow, we dive into deep discussions on Freeview, Thank God You’re Here, This Is Your Laugh, Packed to the Rafters, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Prison Break, Gossip GIrl, How I Met Your Mother, Fringe, Dance Machine, American Gladiators, Rush and Don’t Forget The Lyrics. We also play three rounds of Mystery Voice and a challenging segment of Cameron’s Sixth Sense.

The landscape of television isn’t what it was fifty years ago, so why hasn’t Australian television really evolved?

In case you weren’t aware, the internet has arrived! And yes, that means television content is no longer restricted to the tube. So why haven’t the networks here embraced the internet like many others have overseas? If you find out the answer, let me know.

In the US and UK not only can you stream all your favourite shows online the day after they air, even in HD for some networks. You can also buy them online for as little as $US1.99 or as a season pass for $US29.99 on iTunes. There are services like BBC’s iPlayer which utilises P2P technology to share video content among users. And NBC/FOX’s Hulu.com which hosts shows from multiple networks that can even be streamed straight to your television with devices like the Slingbox. Yet here in Australia, like most things, we’re left behind scratching our head wondering “what does the internet do?”

Sure some of the networks have dipped their toes in the “new-media” pond, but most of their attempts have been pretty half baked. So let’s take a look at the five free to air broadcasters and see how much or how little they’ve embraced the internet.

Starting off with the worst offender, the Seven Network. Sure they’re winning the ratings race, but their internet presence is almost negligible. The only two shows they offer free streaming episodes of are Heroes and Make Me a Supermodel, and the image quality is terrible. You’re restricted to a small video window on their website and navigating to other shows is poorly implemented. Also, where are the free streaming episodes of Packed to the Rafters, City Homicide and All Saints? You know, the Australian shows that people actually want to watch (sorry Supermodel fans)!

Seven Network online presence: 2/10

Next up is Network Ten. They were the first network to jump onto the internet tv bandwagon a few years ago, with free episodes of Supernatural on their Windows-only DRM supported video player. It was a good start, but had limited potential.

Today they’ve more or less gone all streaming video. Almost all their Australian shows are available for streaming, even a couple of US imports. Unfortunately episodes are only up for a limited time, around two weeks. It’s also let down by the poor image quality and the lack of a streamlined video infrastructure. Meaning video content is spread all over their site, rather than in one place. Launching catch-up TV for one show could be on one page in a certain video player, while another show is on a different page in a different player. It’s messy and not very user friendly. You’re also restricted to watching content on your computer.

Network Ten online presence: 4/10

The Nine Network could have been one of the best, but unfortunately at the same time are one of the worst offenders. There’s no streaming video, but they provide every single episode of their current Australian dramas for free on their website through ad supported downloads, which are even legally allowed to be shared via torrents and other P2P services (which gives them huge brownie points). The image quality is great and the inserted ads are so minimal that it’s hardly an inconvenience to sit through them.

But it’s their paid content let’s them down. They were the first and only Australian commercial broadcaster to jump onto the iTunes store with episodes of Sea Patrol, Canal Road and McLeod’s Daughters, but it’s been nearly five months since TV shows hit iTunes in Australia and still Nine have only put less than seven episodes of each of these shows on the store, leaving purchasers in the lurch for the remainder of each series. It’s almost like they’ve forgotten that they even have shows on iTunes. It’s a real shame because the iTunes buying experience is so good, its easy to use and just works. Plus you have access to all your shows on your computer, iPod and even TV with Apple TV.

Nine Network online presence: 6/10

Now we’re left with the two public broadcasters ABC and SBS. Both have made huge strides to embrace television content via the internet. They seem to be the only two broadcasters that really understand where television is heading, they both have well designed online video players and have been providing free podcasts and downloads of their shows for years. Meaning content was free to played back on iPods and other devices for viewing on your television or on the go.

The ABC iView streaming video player is probably the best internet television service in Australia. It has a well designed, streamline interface in which you have access to almost all of the ABC catalogue. No need to search around for links to other shows. It’s all there in the iView player. Plus iView is quota free if you’re with iiNet, so it wont chew through your internet bandwidth. The ABC also have a reasonable selection of shows on the iTunes store, including: Summer Heights High, We Can Be Heroes, The Chaser’s War On Everything and Enough Rope. Like is said before, iTunes is so easy to use and it just works. Buying shows for playback on your iPod or TV couldn’t be simpler.

SBS online presence: 8/10
ABC online presence: 9/10

There is no doubt that tradition television view-ship is falling, but with such popular (not necessarily legal) alternatives available, the networks really don’t have an excuse for playing the “no one is watching tv anymore” card. The answer is sitting there in front of them. They just need to start embracing it, because clearly the internet is the future.

What it comes down to really is having the options available. Providing legal alternatives that hopefully over time audiences will embrace equally. We need to be given the option to decided on the way we consume our content, we can’t be forced into watching shows at a certain time or in a certain place. It needs to be flexible so suit our timetables – to suit our lives. Television is only one in a number of sources of entertainment these days, so it has to adjust with the times.

We need to see more online video content that is built on well designed and easy to use infrastructure. We need to see more online video content available for purchase from places like iTunes, so that we can take our shows with us and watch tv shows on our televisions. It even wouldn’t hurt to see an online web presence which hosts content from multiple broadcasters like Hulu.com, so that people know the one place where they can easily find content.

There’s nothing worse than clearing your schedule so that you don’t miss an episode of your favourite show, only to find out that the network had bumped the show to another night. Or going online to the shows website to catch up on the episode you missed, only to discover that the episode you wanted to watch has been taken down.

When the network’s are so unreliable, not only on air, but with their “new-media” services also, it’s no wonder people just go back to their illegal downloads, at least it’s reliable and it’s not going anywhere.

It’s our very first episode in front of a LIVE internet audience! Under the added pressure of the live listeners, we discuss all the major headlines of the last few weeks, including: One HD, the US Presidential Election, 111 Hits, Packed to the Rafters, 30 Rock, Recent Movies and IMAX Cinemas, plus a bunch of live audience interaction.

• Samantha Who? gets full season order, but only seven additional episodes due to ABC’s midseason being already over booked with Scrubs, According to Jim and several other midseason replacements.

• 30 Rock hits series high with third season premiere (4.1/10 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall), most likely attributed to Tina Fey’s increased exposure as Governor Sarah Palin on SNL.

• Packed to the Rafters picked up by international broadcasters in Belgium, New Zealand and several other countries at Mipcom.

Sources: Variety, Wikipedia

The Seven Network have officially commissioned a second season of this year’s break-out hit Packed to the Rafters. This clearly comes as no surprise as it has become the year’s top-rating drama, drawing audience figures of almost 2 million viewers a week.

But even with such strong figures, Seven’s Head of Drama, John Holmes was still surprised by the immense popularity of the Aussie dramedy, “The success of Packed to the Rafters has been extraordinary – we knew we had a great show and a brilliant cast but the response from audiences has been overwhelming.” 

Filming of the second season is expected to take place early next year.

We’re back again with another great episode of TVAUSCAST. This week we discuss the new 90210, Privileged, Fringe, Packed to the Rafters, The Strip, Rush, Taken Out, Australian Idol, Make Me A Supermodel and more. We also go into a long winded discussion on tech and other forum topics. We wrap up with some self congratulatory praise.

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!

Last night Packed to the Rafters aired for the second time on Australian television.  The majority of new shows peek at their first episode then slowly decrease to find a solid audience. Packed to the Rafters which last week premiered with 1.945 million viewers this week increased with 2.045 million viewers.  That’s an increase of 100 thousand viewers and a huge boost to Australian television drama. I think it’s official, Packed to the Rafters is an Australian hit. 22 episodes have been filmed for the first season.

Meanwhile Rush premiered on Ten last night at 9:30 following Ten’s popular US crime drama NCIS.  It’s opening numbers were solid with 1.61 million viewers. As long as it can keep those solid numbers for the rest of the season it too should be an Aussie hit.

It’s a new season of television! And boy is there a lot to talk about. In our first post-olympics podcast, we discuss Packed the Rafters, All Saints, Idol, Make Me a Supermodel, ABC Family, and plenty of Aussie Drama. The return of Cult Show of the Week and our new segment So You Think Concepts.  We wrap up by discussing the new season of Dancing with the Stars.

The Seven Network’s new family drama Packed to The Rafters premiered last night and it did so to an incredible audience on 1.945 million viewers across the 5 metro cities.

Is this the work of promotion or are Australian’s genuinely after another family drama?

Personally I want another Always Greener, I was a big fan of that show and I think that majority of viewers want the same thing.

The commercials for the show were incredibly cheesy and if I were basing my judgements to watch or not to watch based purely on the promotion, I’d say meh looks too cheesy, but as I frequent television sites and forums et al I knew something more about the show and was intruiged to tune in.

The everyday Australian does not frequent chat groups and news sites in relations to network television, so did the promotion really work?

The Olympics were a huge launch pad for channel Seven and the back half line up of their network so it doesn’t suprise me, though 1.9 is an extrodinary figure these days, I would’ve been suprised with 1.6 million given the advertising.

Only time will tell, and next Tuesday at 8.30pm the show continues….will Australia stick with it?

No, it’s not a reality series about Pat Rafter…and it’s definitely not another cop show.

After the failed attempt with “Last Man Standing” in 2005, its only natural for Seven to be cautious when bringing non-formulaic drama back to our screens.  It’s been a long time coming, but “Packed to the Rafters” is a new family drama, the first in a very long time to not rely on the hooks of law enforcement or medical surrounds (some even thought to tackle both, “Canal Road” much?).

“Packed the the Rafters” stars Rebecca Gibney, Erik Thomson and Michael Caton, from the team that brought us “Always Greener”.

“Packed to the Rafters” premieres 8:30pm Tuesday, August 26 on Seven.

(Source: TV Tonight)

UPDATE 1: Added another promo.

UPDATE 2: Check out a list of all the songs from the series here.

Promo No. 1

Promo No. 2