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The BBC pulled out all the stops for the UK leg of the Heroes world press tour, booking the top two floors of London's iconic Gherkin for a press conference and swanky reception.
Click here to watch the conference in full. As you can see, the UK (and European) media is awful at scooping. There was practically no season two dish - the cast was under the false impression that viewers in the UK had yet to see the first season in its entirety - although we did get to see a brief promo for the new season. Among the scenes, (select text to right to read) a very bearded Nathan is being shouted at by his mother about Peter's death, Mohinder pins a man up against a wall and demands answers, Claire is seen cutting off her own toe with a pair of scissors... and Peter is back.
If that's not enough to whet your appetite, click play below to watch an awesome new promo for season two:
High School Musical fever has once again taken over as the cast spends time in the UK promoting the second film. But as you know, here at Tube Talk we're always one step ahead of the game (#we're always, always, always one step ahead of the game#) so we're already looking ahead to High School Musical 3.
Screenwriter Peter Barsocchini told us last week that plans were already well advanced for the gang's third outing. "I am deep into the story - I'm spending a lot of time working on [it]," he says. "This is the third time around for Kenny Ortega (director/choreographer) and myself so we have a lot of shorthand now. We'll have a script certainly by the end of the year. The third movie is a big feature film so there's a bigger budget and it's a little more complicated."
Peter also confirmed that there "will be more" films beyond the third - although whether the current cast will remain is still up in the air. "What it becomes is dictated by the marketplace, but if I were a betting man down at Ladbrokes, I'd definitely put money on there being a High School Musical four and five in some form."
Check in with DS on Monday for exclusive interviews with the stars - including leading man, Zac Efron - direct from the European Premiere!
Time now for some of your questions:
First up, Zone Romantica, a channel that is bound to please several long-time campaigning Tube Talk readers as it boasts not one, but THREE US soaps in its lineup. Airing from tomorrow (Monday, Sep 3) on Sky channel 146, it features Days of our Lives (weekdays at 9am, 3pm, 9pm and 1am, omnibus Saturday at 10am; begins with the 2001 season), Young and the Restless (weekdays at 8am, 1pm, 7pm and midnight, omnibus Sundays at 10am; begins with the 2003 season) and Guiding Light (weekdays at 10am, 2pm, 11pm and 2am). Also in the lineup are Ally McBeal, David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope and the UK premiere of Snoops.
Although the launch lineup for Virgin 1 has yet to be officially finalised and confirmed, I have had a sneek peek at what's in store and, aside from the major new acquisitions already announced, the schedule mostly comprises series from other VMTV channels. That includes The Unit, Criminal Minds, That '70s Show, Knight Rider, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Boston Legal, Ultimate Fighter, Real Football Factories, Take It Or Leave It, Fresh Prince, My Wife and Kids and Brits Behind Bars. Anything missing you'd liked to have seen? Drop me a comment below to let me (and them) know!
More soon. Don't forget to scroll down to read previous editions you may have missed!
Additional reporting by Nick Levine
Click the link below to add your comments to this entry. If you have any questions for the column please instead use the link at the top of the page.
Click here to watch the conference in full. As you can see, the UK (and European) media is awful at scooping. There was practically no season two dish - the cast was under the false impression that viewers in the UK had yet to see the first season in its entirety - although we did get to see a brief promo for the new season. Among the scenes, (select text to right to read) a very bearded Nathan is being shouted at by his mother about Peter's death, Mohinder pins a man up against a wall and demands answers, Claire is seen cutting off her own toe with a pair of scissors... and Peter is back.
If that's not enough to whet your appetite, click play below to watch an awesome new promo for season two:
High School Musical fever has once again taken over as the cast spends time in the UK promoting the second film. But as you know, here at Tube Talk we're always one step ahead of the game (#we're always, always, always one step ahead of the game#) so we're already looking ahead to High School Musical 3.
Screenwriter Peter Barsocchini told us last week that plans were already well advanced for the gang's third outing. "I am deep into the story - I'm spending a lot of time working on [it]," he says. "This is the third time around for Kenny Ortega (director/choreographer) and myself so we have a lot of shorthand now. We'll have a script certainly by the end of the year. The third movie is a big feature film so there's a bigger budget and it's a little more complicated."
Peter also confirmed that there "will be more" films beyond the third - although whether the current cast will remain is still up in the air. "What it becomes is dictated by the marketplace, but if I were a betting man down at Ladbrokes, I'd definitely put money on there being a High School Musical four and five in some form."
Check in with DS on Monday for exclusive interviews with the stars - including leading man, Zac Efron - direct from the European Premiere!
Time now for some of your questions:
Maryam: "Is Weeds ever going to be shown on UK TV? I mean we have the greats: Desperate Housewives, Heroes and Brothers & Sisters... please tell me someone is going to show Weeds!!!"
Neil: Oh dear, Maryam; it looks as if Sky One promotions have betrayed you. You can catch what's left of season two in double bills, Sundays at 11.30pm.
Ronan O'Flaherty: "Ahhhhh!!! Please don't tell me its true that The IT Crowd's second season has been cut down to 6 episodes?"
Neil: Sorry Ronan, it is true. Season two was supposed to be eight long but was cut back by two due to some disputes over the writing.
Robert: "I've just read your report on CH4 and their reduction of the acquisitions budget, you said that they were not renewing some of their acquisitons. Do you know which ones that might be (my fingers are crossed for Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty)?"
Neil: I think Ugly Betty is safe for now, although Desperate Housewives may be in danger beyond the next (fourth) season if Sky attempts another aggressive attempt at poaching it away. E4 head Angela Jain said recently that the broadcaster would now be "cherry-picking" the best from the LA screenings in future years. So while this year Channel 4 picked up four new shows- as many as ITV - next year it may have to make do with just one or two. As for its other series, who can say? It will be of concern for E4, a channel which is mostly reliant on US imports to populate its schedule (although it should be noted that E4 will NOT have its budget cut, meaning more UK programmes will be commissioned).
Berni: "I am a newcomer to House and have been watching season 1 re-runs on Five US! Are there any channels planning to show season 2 & 3 from the beginning in the near future, ready for my Sky planner series link?"
Neil: Five has the repeat rights to House for Five US, so expect to see future seasons after season one finishes. Hallmark also has multichannel rights to the series so keep an eye out there too!
Robin Browne: "With Channel 4's decision to air Ugly Betty within a few weeks of the US showings, and of course the same thing increasingly happening on UK pay-TV channels, are we going to be seeing an end, soon, to having to use 'illegal' downloads to see our favourite shows in good time for free? Will we perhaps even see the great American shows on the same week or even day as the Yanks? And has the question of 'illegal' downloads been in any way responsible for Channel 4's decision regarding Ugly Betty? And will we perhaps even see the gap of years between the first runs on pay-TV and the "repeats" on Freeview channels begin to close to a few months?"
Neil: Same week is a reality, same day will never happen because of the time difference (technically, it would have to air here a few hours before the US audience saw it). The closest you'll probably get is a day or two difference, such as American Idol on ITV2 (or if we're being really pedantic, a few hours' difference like E! News on E!). Whether this practice becomes more commonplace over here depends on how US scheduling patterns continue to change. If, as is becoming the trend, a show airs Stateside in one, two or three blocks of continuous episodes, then the greater the chance it will air here in a similar fashion. For example, Ugly Betty will air this season as two blocks of eleven episodes, so Channel 4 will follow suit. Desperate Housewives is still all over the place so Channel 4 will likely wait until January and then air the 22/23 episodes straight. On that note...
Michael Anderson: "Hey, Neil, love Tube Talk and the new blog. Do you know if the third series of Prison Break will run until Christmas then take a couple of months break like Lost on Sky One, or will it air the first 6 episodes then take a break? They can't break it after only 6 episodes!"
Neil: As I understand it the first thirteen episodes will air on Sky One from September 24, with the final nine following in March 2008.
Luke: "Hi there Neil; glad to say the new Tube Talk is the best ever version! I was just wondering if you had any news on the sixth series of Spooks - the fifth series was the best yet, and I can't wait for the next one! Any chance of an air date?"
Neil: The sixth series airs on BBC One from later this year, in a new, ten-part "serial" format. "For the first time ever, we've chosen to explore one theme throughout the series," producer Katie Swindon told me. "It's one which is an ongoing concern in today's world affairs agenda - the relationship between Britain, Iran and the US." More on the new season in the coming weeks!
Tom W: "I was wondering if you now when Charlie Brooker's ScreenWipe will be returning to BBC Four?"
Neil: The show is back for a new series this autumn, but no word on an air date just yet.
AJ: "I know new channel Zone Romantica is going to be airing three US soap operas, but do you know if any channels that more of us can watch (i.e. on Freeview) will be
following suit? Especially Virgin 1, do you know if it has plans to carry any American soaps in their schedules?"
following suit? Especially Virgin 1, do you know if it has plans to carry any American soaps in their schedules?"
Neil: One step at a time, AJ! Read on for news on both the Zone Romantica and Virgin 1 schedules...
First up, Zone Romantica, a channel that is bound to please several long-time campaigning Tube Talk readers as it boasts not one, but THREE US soaps in its lineup. Airing from tomorrow (Monday, Sep 3) on Sky channel 146, it features Days of our Lives (weekdays at 9am, 3pm, 9pm and 1am, omnibus Saturday at 10am; begins with the 2001 season), Young and the Restless (weekdays at 8am, 1pm, 7pm and midnight, omnibus Sundays at 10am; begins with the 2003 season) and Guiding Light (weekdays at 10am, 2pm, 11pm and 2am). Also in the lineup are Ally McBeal, David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope and the UK premiere of Snoops.
Although the launch lineup for Virgin 1 has yet to be officially finalised and confirmed, I have had a sneek peek at what's in store and, aside from the major new acquisitions already announced, the schedule mostly comprises series from other VMTV channels. That includes The Unit, Criminal Minds, That '70s Show, Knight Rider, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Boston Legal, Ultimate Fighter, Real Football Factories, Take It Or Leave It, Fresh Prince, My Wife and Kids and Brits Behind Bars. Anything missing you'd liked to have seen? Drop me a comment below to let me (and them) know!
More soon. Don't forget to scroll down to read previous editions you may have missed!
Additional reporting by Nick Levine
Click the link below to add your comments to this entry. If you have any questions for the column please instead use the link at the top of the page.
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Your Responses
Liliana, London, on September 6th, 2007
I was really please when I saw what shows Zone Romantica has on their line-up but it was short lived when Virgin Media advised that they would not be showing this channel! Why not???
I was really please when I saw what shows Zone Romantica has on their line-up but it was short lived when Virgin Media advised that they would not be showing this channel! Why not???
Iain, London, on September 5th, 2007
Only multichannel viewers, downloaders and people who ordered the US box set have seen all of Heroes S1 so far. Now, I agree that means a reasonable number of people, but none of them are the BBC's audience for the current season. Since it's clearly the Beeb's coin paying for it, it's not surprising they're playing by BBC2 broadcasting schedules.
Only multichannel viewers, downloaders and people who ordered the US box set have seen all of Heroes S1 so far. Now, I agree that means a reasonable number of people, but none of them are the BBC's audience for the current season. Since it's clearly the Beeb's coin paying for it, it's not surprising they're playing by BBC2 broadcasting schedules.
Michael, Whitley Bay, on September 4th, 2007
Ooohh... Fresh Prince comes to Freeview!! Yay!
Ooohh... Fresh Prince comes to Freeview!! Yay!
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Re:Charlie Brooker's ScreenWipe. I'm one of his Myspace 'friends' and he wrote a new blog a couple of days ago and it said the new series of ScreenWipe starts on Tuesday September 25th on BBC4 for 5 weeks and there'll also be a 'Review of the Year' show around December 31st.