September on Television

Today marks the end of August, which means a new season begins tomorrow. Usually, we associate Spring with colourful flowers and cute baby animals. These things are lovely, of course, but for those of us in Australia with a particular interest in US television there is another area where new and exciting things are blooming- the return of beloved series and the debut of new ones (which are hopefully soon to be beloved!).

Most exciting are the return of Gossip Girl and the beginning of Hart of Dixie- both brought to you by my television heroes, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (who were also producers of The O.C).

Gossip Girl is now entering its fifth season, an impressive feat considering its predecessor The O.C only lasted four- and fizzled out after Mischa Barton's departure at the end of season three (if not before). While season three of Gossip Girl left a bit to be desired (too many storylines, Blair's scheming getting somewhat old), in season four it actually seemed to get better. Likable new characters and surprising (but awesome) new love pairings seemed to save this show. The fact that a certain very annoying younger sister barely featured didn't hurt either! The final few episodes were as addictive as the earlier seasons had been- my battered bandwidth can attest to this. While every show has to end eventually, I think Gossip Girl will be around for a bit longer. It returns Monday, September 26th in the US.

On the same night, Hart of Dixie begins. It stars Rachel Bilson, who has probably fared the best post-O.C of all her counterparts. While I always preferred Marissa (read about that here), I still loved Summer for both her rage blackouts and trendsetting boho fashion. Bilson plays a young doctor, which should be a real change from her character in The O.C. This is hopefully a good thing, as a character similar to Summer would no doubt fall short. I have high hopes for this show- how could I not with Bilson, Schwartz and Savage. The O.C and Gossip Girl have something that other TV shows don't- it's than indefinable element that makes them more than just something you watch out of boredom. Let's hope Hart of Dixie doesn't disappoint. If it does, you can always try some more traditional Spring activities- go outside and smell some flowers/cuddle a baby lamb. It's good to have options!

Check out more info on The CW.

Ita!

I'm by no means an Australian Story regular, but the two part Ita Buttrose special over the past fortnight has been a source of much excitement. Like many fans of Paper Giants, since the telemovie I've developed an interest in the Australian media's leading lady. Years later, the story of her career and her time at Cleo is still an inspiration. Last night, we learnt about what happened after ACP. While it might not have always been as successful as the story we got in Paper Giants, it doesn't make Ita any less awesome. In fact, it probably makes her even cooler- she's human, and not everything she's done has changed the world.

Australian Story's 'Ita Tells Me So' showed many sides of an iconic Australian. The successful magazine editor, the journalist, the mother and the friend to Kerry Packer. The interviews and footage with Ita now, as well as flash-backs, added so much to the hint of an amazing life that was Paper Giants. Something tells me it satisfied my thirst for knowledge about Ita Buttrose only temporarily, and I'm guessing I'm not alone. Magazine lover or not, Ita Buttrose is the kind of person you just want to know more about. Maybe because you want to know how to be her, or maybe because you just want to know how she did it.

Check out Australian Story on iView if you missed it.

Have you read the book? *Awkward silence*... A Jane Eyre Review

Confession: I've never read Jane Eyre. This is pretty strange, when you consider that my mother owns six copies of the book itself as well at least three different Charlotte Bronte biographies (did i say three? I meant five). The thought of going to see the latest dramatisation starring Mia Wasikowska, without reading the book first, made me feel slightly inadequate and a bit like I was betraying the family bookshelf. Plus, how would I join in with the post-movie chatter without being able to groan "that didn't happen in it the book", or "Charlotte Bronte would be rolling over in her grave"? Still, I ventured out to the cinema last night with the Bronte-crazed mother as well as my intellectual inferiority complex. And once I got over my frustration at not being able to understand everything about the plot, I absolutely loved it.

The movie opens with Jane (Mia Wasikowska) running through the rain, sobbing, until she ends up being taken in and nursed back to health by a man and his two sisters. When asked her name, she answers "Jane Elliot". For those of us who haven't read the book, an understanding of why she lies won't come until much later in the movie. Disturbing flashbacks detail Jane's early childhood and schooling, and then a much longer flashback shows Jane working as a governess for the handsome, challenging and somewhat mysterious Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender). All this time-traveling is initially a bit confusing, but once the movie gets going it becomes easier to understand what's happening. The mystery of why Jane ran away slowly unravels as the love story develops, and soon enough it all makes sense.

Mia Wasikowska is brilliant as Jane. She looks quite different to how she's been in other movies and on the red carpet: much less glamorous ("that's how Jane is meant to be!" my mother insists). She portrays a powerful mixture of restraint and passion throughout the movie. Her acting is particularly impressive in the final scenes- some of her lines were said with such intensity that I found myself thinking I want to read that in the book! Now! The parts of the movie that were slightly unexplained are actually a good thing, as presumably it means that viewers will be treated to more than a reiteration of the movie plotline if they choose to read the book.

This is one of those movies that you think about for the entire day after you've seen it, pondering the actions and emotions of characters that really, you only knew for a few hours. All in all, this was definitely worth the bruised ego that comes with an 'I haven't read that classic novel' meltdown.

Please no! Sex and the City TV series 2.0?

Just when I thought Monday couldn't get any worse, out of the corner of my eye I noticed an article my friend was looking at: Sex and the City is rumoured to coming back as a new TV series. This is not good news. Here's why.

The ending to the sixth season of Sex and the City was good. Really, really good. In fact, I might even go so far as to say it is one the best series finales that I have seen. It was an episode that saw Carrie Bradshaw and the girls end up exactly where we all wanted them to be. After all the seasons of drama, things were finally working out, and the best part was that the four main characters had stuck together through all of it. The closing voiceover from Carrie encapsulated so much of what I loved about the show and what it meant: "The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love? Well, that's just fabulous."

It was all so perfect. An episode that could be rewatched again and again to just to relive the happiness. Then came the movie. As as a devoted fan of the TV series I found so many elements just plain wrong. After seeing Carrie and Mr. Big finally come to a place where they could be together at the end of the series, watching that be torn apart yet again was quite simply depressing. Not to mention Samantha and Smith breaking up, or Steve cheating on Miranda (who, by the way, was suddenly very glamorous in the movie. Just so not Miranda). Some happy endings just shouldn't be tampered with, and this was one of them.

Then we had to suffer through Sex and the City 2, a movie that was offensive on so many levels that I wouldn't even know where to start. Surely, that was the nail in the coffin that was the story of Carrie and the girls? Could I now just pretend the movies never happened and enjoy the sixth season in peace? I thought so, until this morning. It would be safe to say that after the movies, I hold no optimism about the quality of a new SATC show. The story should have ended years ago. Please, don't let it be true. The perfect ending has been tarnished enough as it is.

Terrible Teens: The Search for an Idol in Soapie-Land

As much i love love love my teen dramas (enough to refer to them as if I own them), as I get a bit older I become increasingly aware that the characters I adore and idolise are not always the greatest people to be looking up to. Take Marissa Cooper from The O.C, one of my very favourite TV teens. She often deals with her problems in a less than constructive way- 'Cosmo Girl's' magic flask, anyone? Or Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl, manipulative and at times, just plain cruel.

Then there's the other side of the coin: Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls, in case that wasn't obvious). In the early seasons at least, Rory maintains flawless grades, is unfailingly dedicated to studying, always has cute boy after her and is nice to everyone she meets. You would think Rory would make the perfect idol, but aspiring to that kind of perfection can be just as destructive as taking up vodka lattes or exposing the personal secrets of those in your social circle for fun. So what's a girl to do? Give up soapies once and for all?

Never. While there are aspects of Marissa and Blair's behaviour that should definitely not make the to-do lists of viewers, it is always comforting to find characters you can relate to in any small way. That's why I love those girls, and plan to continue to hold them in high esteem. As for who to idolise, I think I'll just pick the best parts of all my favourites. Brooke Davis' confidence, Jen Lindley's wisdom, Peyton Sawyer's creativity... all these characters give me things to aspire to. As long as we know what's worth trying to emulate and what's not, I think we can keep watching and loving the Marissas and Blairs of the world (or screen, technically).

The ABCs of Television

Our beloved public broadcaster has copped a lot of flak this week, as it announced it would be cutting Collectors, The New Inventors and Art Nation. These losses have upset a lot of people, if the editorial and vox pop in my local newspaper are to be believed. While not a regular watcher of either, I did appreciate the occasional look. I think it's sad to see them go, but the fact of television (and life) is that not everything you love can stay around forever. So today I'm looking at the positives we've seen on the ABC this week, just as a reminder that not all great shows have ended up on the cutting room floor.

Wednesday night saw the return of The Gruen Transfer, hosted by Wil Anderson and with a panel that didn't disappoint. As the show's regular Todd Sampson triumphantly tweeted, Gruen had the highest ratings for its timeslot. So what makes a show where a couple of people sit around and talk about ads so very enjoyable? Well, there's the obvious- Todd. Known for his witty and colourful t-shirts, his clever insights and (let's face it) dazzlingly good looks, Todd seems to have developed a cult following... in my social circles, anyway! His arguments with the other panel regular, Russel Howcroft, are always hilarious. It's actually disappointing when they agree with each other! Aside from being very funny, this show has something important to say- that we should always look at advertising critically, and think about what companies want us to take away from certain ads.

Last night saw another ABC success, in my opinion. The new series Crownies continued as the solicitor that leaked an important file to the media is yet to be discovered, and all the characters deal with cases that are nothing short of harrowing. On first watch I was slightly disappointed with Crownies, but a few weeks in I am a firm fan. I've come to like all the characters that I was turned off by at first, especially Erin (Ella Scott Lynch). While two hours seemed far too long in the first week, now one hour goes by in what seems like minutes and I wish there was another episode to follow. It's intriguing, clever, funny and human- all major prerequisites for a good ABC drama.

In short, the ABC might be saying goodbye to some valuable shows, but it's definitely not all doom and gloom. There's plenty of great stuff to look forward to.

Always Trust Claudia Karvan

When I first read about Spirited, the new show from the makers of Love My Way, I thought it sounded a little silly. A woman in the 21st century having a love affair with a ghost? I was pretty sure I'd read a book with that premise in my earlier teen years and it was silly then, so why would it be any different now? But hang on, I thought, the lead is played by Claudia Karvan. As my beloved Frankie in Love My Way, she was so brilliant that I couldn't imagine her in anything unwatchable. I didn't want to imagine it. Luckily, after giving Spirited a try I can say with confidence that my worst fears were unfounded.

Karvan plays a wealthy dentist, Suzy Darling, who is quietly dissatisfied with her life. One night, after a particularly humiliating dinner party, she changes her life just as quietly. Leaving her husband behind, she buys a penthouse with a view of the Harbour Bridge. While settling in, Suzy is startled by a fairly unique intruder- Henry Mallet (Matt King), an eccentric ex-rock star who just happens to be... well, dead.

Suzy then launches into a totally different phase of her life. She juggles kids, her job, potential friendships with her neighbours (though they might think she's a little bit crazy) and dealing with her insufferable husband, while also getting to know Henry and researching who he was when he was alive. As Suzy helps him figure out his identity, I get the feeling that Henry might just be doing the same thing for her. I have instantly fallen for both these characters, as they form a unique relationship that is somehow very believable.

Karvan really shows her acting and producing chops in this series (not that anyone ever had any doubts in that regard). It's sometimes difficult to watch an actor you loved as someone in particular play someone else, but here, it is effortless. The character of Suzy is completely different to Frankie, while still retaining those great Karvan facial expressions and that undeniable Karvan heart. Three episodes in, I can say without a doubt that this show is funny, warm and sweet, but it is not in the slightest bit silly.