Here is something I found on the Microsoft Site… I hope you enjoy.
Network Ten has confirmed its often controversial reality TV program will be axed after eight years on the air.
The current series, which wraps up on July 21, will be the last.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ten’s chief programming officer, David Mott, confirmed the speculation which emerged on a Big Brother-related internet website on Sunday.
“After eight successful seasons and 1,316 episodes, Ten today announced that Big Brother will not be returning in 2009,” the Network Ten statement reads. “The 2008 season finale will air on Monday 21 July.”
Mr Mott also said the series was “ending on a high” despite flagging viewer numbers, and persistent questions by fans over the selection of radio personalities Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O to compere the 2008 series.
They replaced Gretel Killeen, who had hosted the show since the first episode.
“Big Brother is the undisputed grand-daddy of modern, commercial reality television in Australia,” Mr Mott said.
“Today’s reality dramas have all, on some level, been inspired by Big Brother. We are immensely proud of the show and the incredible success it has enjoyed since premiering in 2001.
“We’re ending the season on a high, largely thanks to the talents of Kyle and Jackie O, who have presented yet another successful season.”
Sandilands and Jackie O had come under fire from hundreds of fans on Big Brother forums and websites, with many calling for Killeen to be reinstated.
Speculation of the show’s axing started late Sunday on the internet website, Behind Big Brother.
“Our sources inside the Big Brother compound tell us the announcement was unexpected for the BB producers, who did what they felt was in the best interests of the show and believed this year would be a season benchmark,” the website said.
“We have also been informed the Big Brother concept will return to Channel 10. However, this won’t be seen until at least 2010. No word on whether this project is part of the Endemol Big Brother franchise.”
In Big Brother, a group of people are locked inside a house and filmed 24 hours a day at Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast before being voted off week by week over about three months. The concept runs in a number of countries, starting in the Netherlands in 1999.
The ratings for Big Brother have dwindled this year, although the introduction last week of sex symbol Pamela Anderson gave it its best results of the season.
This blog post comes from our sister blog, The Journal.
A Chinese primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN, owned by Time Warner, in New York over remarks that they have insulted China and it’s people.
It is also seeking compensation of US$1 for every person in China, or $1.3 billion in total, according to a Honk Kong newspaper.
This lawsuit, directed at Time Warner and Jack Cafferty, the “offending” commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing, saying that the commentator’s remarks violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.
The people at Microsoft have decided that they would expand the range of choice of things to do by hiring famous Hollywood producer, one “Mr Safran” in a hope that it would bring in more people onto xbox live and to give those already a new dimension of how to use there Xbox.
There is currently 10 million people currently playing on Xbox live with 18 Million consoles sold through out the world. This will be a big step for Microsoft as they look to take a leap in front of the other gaming giant Sony and Nintendo.
The Producer has been signed first and fore most to produce short 10 minute stories looking to target gamers interests like comedy and the ever growing genre of Horror. The Producers from Safran Company are looking to sign big filmmakers with the likes of Spielberg and Lucas thrown into the mix. Although they have said that they aren’t expecting big name actors.
The one downside is that this will of course cost, and will be through microsoft points, the idea looks to go through in americas autumn our spring
It seems that the 14 week long writers strike in Hollywood could be coming to an end. The decision was made by 92.5 percent of the 3775 people who are signed with the Writers Guild of America in a private ballot.
The vote seems to have eased tension with reports saying that some 10,000 writers will be going back to work as soon as Wednesday.
“The strike has certainly go through to the suites in Hollywood” says Michael Smith, a current writer for Back To You. The strike has caused the delay of several shows including Desperate Housewives and the Emmy Awards being cancelled. The strike also threatened to cancel the Academy Awards.
So for you TV nuts out there you can look forward in the next month or two for the flurry of television shows that will be reappearing.
