UK Edition
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Kevin Brew: "I guess Americans didn't appreciate Threshold the way we did here in Britan. I understand that it's been axed in the US, but have heard rumours that it may get picked up with it being more successful outside of the US? Or is that just wishful thinking?"
Neil: Wishful thinking. Next...
Andy: "Any news of five's new channels? Do you have any news for us? And do you know when FilmFour will come to Freeview?"
Neil: Five.2 will be primarily aimed at women but will also feature an increasingly-popular kids block as part of its schedule. We're talking a late summer/early autumn launch. The third Five channel will follow in 2007. FilmFour goes free in July.
D: "I'm one of the biggest Lost fans and have somehow avoided all spoilers for Season 2, however this is getting harder to do. Do you have any updates as to when it will be back on the box? I've been led to believe that it is May although many of us are campaigning for it to be shown earlier. What do you think are the chances of it being on before May and do you know when they will announce their spring schedule?"
Neil: The Spring schedule was announced earlier this week but Lost was still down as "month tbc". There isn't any immediate need to bring it back before May - C4 is actually doing very well in terms of share for the year so far and would probably be better using it around the launch of BB7 to help fend off ITV.
Karen Meek: "Will the 5th season of the West Wing be shown on C4?"
Neil: No plans.
Annette: "Is there any truth in the rumour that sky one has commisioned a 3rd series of the Match where celebs take on footballing legends? If so any idea when it will be and will Jonathan Wilkes be captain for a 3rd time?"
Neil: Yes, this is true - expect a third series in the Autumn.
Time for a brief intermission as we unearth some more screen celebs switched at birth. This week, reader Chris Rushworth notes the suspicious similarities between esteemed film actor William H. Macy and CSI: Miami's David Caruso. Uncanny, no?
Keep your nominations coming to the usual address.
Darren: "Great that 4400's is coming back for a third season on USA Network and SKY, any news of a second season of Kojak on the USA Network?"
Neil: Not too long to wait for The 4400 now; we're talking a July premiere in the US and here. No such luck for Kojak, meanwhile, which has been officially declared a failed experiment. Ving has now signed on to a pilot for new network The CW, Aquaman.
Derek: "The Simpsons any scoop on upcoming eps? When is the Ricky Gervais ep being shown here and US?"
Neil: The Gervais episode - 'Homer Simpson, This Is Your Wife' - will air March 26 on FOX and towards the end of April on Sky. In it, Homer and Marge go on a Wife Swap-style reality show in order to win a widescreen TV. Gervais plays Charles, the husband of the other couple, who falls head over heels for Marge when she moves in with him.
Jonathan S: "Do you know if the reality TV program The Salon will ever be on TV again because they have made two fantastic series and I heard the ratings were really good."
Neil: I'm not sure where you heard that - they were decent, but not spectacular and unfortunately, not decent enough to warrant a third series. It's not all bad, though - Coach Trip is back for a second lap around Europe soon enough!
Brekkie Boy: "A few questions for you about More4.
1: Do More4 plan to introduce an extra repeat episode of Countdown and Deal or No Deal as currently they only screen episodes on weekdays while C4 have added an extra episode on Saturdays?
2: Anything of interest coming soon to More4, especially regular series? With The West Wing coming to an end after the new series they'll be a big hole to fill. Could perhaps shows like ER or Without a Trace move from E4?
3: Finally, on a similar note any news on if C4, More4 or even E4 may ever show the final few series of NYPD Blue?"
Neil: Too many repeats and too little time. The extra Deal Or No Deal gets another window on More4 beginning Sunday, March 19 but there's no sign of the extra Countdown yet. First-run ER won't be moving from E4 in the near future as it's a big contributor to the channel's share. It emerged this week that More4 has snapped up the second run rights to Commander-In-Chief and is priming it as a West Wing replacement. Of course, you can always catch it on abc1 first (the series premieres with a double-bill at 9pm on Tuesday, April 4). As for NYPD Blue, I get asked that an awful lot but as for now, there are no plans.
Keela: "I love Surface! How many episodes are left to air?"
Neil: Glad we have another fan on board - anyone else..? There are six episodes left to go out, and you absolutely must not miss next week's (Mar 11) episode as a major character is going to die.
Bubble and Squeak
Before I sign off for another week, some leftover news snippets from the Spring schedules:
More next Saturday. Look out for the long-awaited return of the ratings roundups to DS this week and an imports ratings special as part of next week's Tube Talk.
(*) "Technical difficulties" may have delayed the arrival of this week's instalment for a minority of readers.
