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First lady of Australian television dies aged 92

<p>Renowned Australian children’s presenter Dawn Kenyon has died aged 92.</p> <p>Kenyon, originally Dorothy Dingwell, was born in Toowoomba in 1932 and made her TV debut in 1956, the same year that it was introduced in Australia. </p> <p>She became the country's first female host of children's show, with her appearance on <em>Captain Fortune</em>, and was later referred to as the “first lady of Australian television”.</p> <p>Known affectionately as Miss Dawn, she hosted several early Australian children's shows and became a household name with her role on Channel Seven’s <em>Romper Room</em> in the late 1950s, almost a decade before <em>ABC’s Play School </em>made its debut in 1966.</p> <p>In addition to her on screen roles, she also made significant contributions behind the scenes as a producer and screenwriter. </p> <p>A year after she made her TV debut, she married Fred Kenyon, a British TV engineer, and they share three children, Steven, Peter and Anne. </p> <p>After her marriage she chose to step away from her presenting career and relocated to England when her husband accepted a job there. </p> <p>Her legacy endured, with her friends in the media industry paying tribute to her as news broke of her death. </p> <p>“Dawn was always a shining light,” Australian journalist Anita Jacoby said.</p> <p>“She was so often the first to greet us, introduce us to new families, and lead us deeper into that magic of the Merry Makers,” <em>60 Minutes’ </em>Jeff McMullen said.</p> <p><em>Image: National Archives of Australia/ news.com.au</em></p>

Caring

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8 fictional places you can visit in real life

<p>Step into the world of your favourite book, movie or TV show with a visit to these fictional locations that represented the original.</p> <p><strong>Hogwarts, <em>Harry Potter</em></strong></p> <p>You won’t see anyone playing Quidditch on the lawns, but Alnwick Castle in Northumberland in the UK played Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films (with a little digital trickery thrown in). The castle has been the home of the Dukes of Northumberland for more than 700 years and is in high demand with film and TV crews – it also stars in the <em>Downton Abbey </em>Christmas specials.</p> <p><em><strong>Jurassic Park</strong></em></p> <p>The lush jungle foliage and towering waterfalls of the island of Kauai in Hawaii served as the backdrop for Stephen Spielberg’s rampaging dinosaurs in all three <em>Jurassic Park</em> movies. You can rent a four-wheel drive and travel through the national park where the movie was filmed though, sadly, none of the dinosaurs remained behind after shooting wrapped.</p> <p><strong>West Egg, <em>The Great Gatsby</em></strong></p> <p>F Scott Fitzgerald modelled West Egg on Great Neck in Long Island, New York. This area on the north coast of Long Island was known as the Gold Coast because of the huge mansions, polo fields, golf courses and country clubs built there by America’s super wealthy (think Vanderbilt, Astor or Guggenheim). The very grand Oheka Castle in nearby Huntington partly inspired Gatsby’s house.</p> <p><strong>Amity Island, <em>Jaws</em></strong></p> <p>Don’t go in the water! The beach on Amity Island was the setting for the first scene in the classic 1970s horror movie, <em>Jaws</em>. As well as looking the part of the perfect American seaside resort, the shallow water of the bay made it easier for the crew to operate the mechanical sharks.</p> <p><strong>Hundred Acre Wood, <em>Winnie the Pooh</em></strong></p> <p>Just over an hour from London you can walk in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin through Ashdown Forest. There’s only about 25 square kilometres of wooded area left from what was once a mighty forest, but it is still quintessentially English and one could almost expect Pooh, Tigger and Piglet to come bounding around a shady corner.</p> <p><strong>Greenbow, <em>Forrest Gump</em></strong></p> <p>Life is like a box of chocolates in Varnville, South Carolina, which served as the fictional town of Greenbow in the Oscar winning movie <em>Forrest Gump</em>. The old Southern mansion that Forrest and his mamma lived in was a fake however, built just for production (and torn down right after), and even some of the Vietnam War scenes were shot around Varnville. Thank goodness for special effects.</p> <p><strong>King’s Landing, <em>Game of Thrones</em></strong></p> <p>The historic Maltese capital of Mdina played the part of Kings Landing in the first series of <em>Game of Thrones</em>. The medieval walled city is in the centre of the island and has a population of just 300 – many of whom weren’t happy about the series. Maltese officials complained about the damage done and filming moved to Croatia for the following series.</p> <p><strong>Hobbiton, <em>The Lord of the Rings</em></strong></p> <p>The three Lord of the Rings movies were such a smash hit that the village of Hobbiton was completely rebuilt in the original film location near Matamata in the North Island of New Zealand. You can step inside the tiny hobbit holes, visit the Green Dragon Inn and (of course) buy a souvenir at the gift shop.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

International Travel

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Seinfeld: how a sitcom ‘about nothing’ changed television for good

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-abrams-122305">Nathan Abrams</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/bangor-university-1221">Bangor University</a></em></p> <p>A quarter of a century ago, on 14 May 1998, the final episode of Seinfeld was broadcast, ending one of the most significant sitcoms of all time after nine seasons and 180 episodes. In fact the self-styled “show about nothing” was so important we can talk about the pre-Seinfeld and post-Seinfeld eras.</p> <p>Set in Manhattan, Seinfeld focused on the minutiae of daily life for four friends: Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), his best friend, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and his neighbour Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).</p> <p>Such a setup might sound familiar to fans of 90s American comedy shows. But Seinfeld abandoned the traditional sitcom structure of an A story and a B story and instead gave each character their own storyline, full of self-aware and metatextual jokes.</p> <p>While co-creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld wanted a single-camera, filmlike aesthetic, the network, NBC, forced them to adopt a multi-camera setup taped in front of a live studio audience to supply the laughter track.</p> <p>Eventually, David and Seinfeld subverted that by shooting more scenes using single cameras and externally so that they could not be taped in front of a studio audience. They also employed a rapid-paced, quick-cutting, music-led style that was then unusual for sitcoms.</p> <p>This created the opportunities for expanding the narrative and cinematographic possibilities we’ve seen since. Seinfeld was a forerunner of the cinematic television we watch today.</p> <p>Consider the elaborate single-camera set pieces of the comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime, or the epic, cinematic look of Netflix’s Better Call Saul.</p> <p>Seinfeld tackled a host of then-taboo topics, which were part of everyday life, including antisemitism, same-gender relationships and masturbation. But because censorship and social mores at that time would not allow the characters to say the word “masturbation”, instead they referred to who can be the “master of their domain”. Such topics are commonplace these days.</p> <p>All four characters are antiheroes. None of them is particularly likeable nor were they intended to be. They are morally ambiguous, malicious, selfish, self-involved and extremely petty. They refuse to improve themselves, evolve or even manifest the slightest desire for change. They learn no lessons and the arc of the entire series revisits those they have wronged.</p> <p>Similar characters can be found in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/">Arrested Development</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472954/">It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia</a>. Also, consider Walter White from <a href="https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70143836">Breaking Bad</a> and <a href="https://www.hbo.com/the-sopranos">Tony Soprano</a>.</p> <p>If all four leads in Seinfeld are bad, then George is the worst. Modelled on co-creator, Larry David, he is the epitome of male privilege. Such characters populate the televisual landscape today, not least in David’s later show, <a href="https://www.hbo.com/curb-your-enthusiasm">Curb Your Enthusiasm</a>, in which he stars as a version of himself.</p> <p>Elaine Benes stands out as a strong female character for the time. In one episode, in the face of a shortage of contraception, she judges whether her sexual partners are “sponge-worthy” or not. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays her with a tremendous physical comedy, as well as comic timing. She was unapologetic, and her sexuality and work life are foregrounded. Clearly, this set the template for her later series, <a href="https://www.hbo.com/veep">Veep</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1njzgXSzA-A?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Festivus is celebrated on December 23 each year, thanks to Seinfeld.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The show generated billions of dollars in revenue, making NBC US$150 million (about £93 million) a year at its peak. By the ninth and final season, Jerry Seinfeld was earning US$1 million an episode. NBC executives tried to get him to return for a tenth season by offering him US$5 million an episode, but Seinfeld turned it down.</p> <p>Among the show’s fans was the legendary director Stanley Kubrick. “He was crazy about The Simpsons and Seinfeld,” his friend <a href="https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/movies/kubrick-by-michael-herr/">Michael Herr recounted</a>. As a Kubrick expert, I even suspect that the set design influenced his final film, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120663/">Eyes Wide Shut</a> (1999).</p> <p>Watching Seinfeld again now – and I have re-watched every episode – some of it lands terribly today. Take the episodes with Babu Bhatt, a Pakistani immigrant who runs a restaurant across the street from Jerry’s apartment. He appears in three episodes of the show and is known for his catchphrase, “Very bad man!” which he uses to insult Jerry.</p> <p>The problem is that Babu is played by actor Brian George, who was born in Jerusalem to Iraqi Jewish parents, and is clearly wearing makeup and affecting a south Asian accent.</p> <p>At the same time, the lack of diversity in Seinfeld is striking. New York is represented by Manhattan alone, rather than any of the other four boroughs that make up the metropolis. Its image of the Big Apple is white and middle class.</p> <p>As journalist and screenwriter Lindy West has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/09/politically-correct-jerry-seinfeld-comedy-marginalised-voices">observed</a>, the series featured only 19 black people, 18 of whom were one-off characters such as “the waiter” and “the guy who parks cars”. There was only one recurring black character – Kramer’s lawyer, Jackie Chiles – whose mimicry of OJ Simpson’s lawyer, Johnnie Cochran, makes him look like a real shyster.</p> <p>So, while Seinfeld may feel like a dated product of the late 1990s, it was ahead of the curve aesthetically, structurally and in terms of narrative and characterisation. Today’s television would be unthinkable without it.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/201497/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-abrams-122305">Nathan Abrams</a>, Professor of Film Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/bangor-university-1221">Bangor University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/seinfeld-how-a-sitcom-about-nothing-changed-television-for-good-201497">original article</a>.</em></p>

TV

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"I just got brushed": Ally Langdon responds to greatest snub in Australian television

<p>An awkward exchange between Tracy Grimshaw and her rumoured A Current Affair replacement has been caught on camera and immediately went viral on social media.</p> <p>The media veteran bid an emotional farewell to ACA after 17 years of hosting. Of course, Channel 9 staff delivered a standing ovation after she signed off for the last time.</p> <p>However, the clip shows a very awkward exchange between Grimshaw and current Today co-host Allison Langdon.</p> <p>After hugging several other staffers, Grimshaw approaches Langdon, who has her arms outstretched ready for an embrace. Instead of acknowledging this, Grimshaw instead walks right past her, appearing to slightly shake her head before leaning in for a hug with a male colleague.</p> <p>The clip immediately attracted thousands of likes, comments and shares. “I’m actually second hand embarrassed for that lady,” one person wrote, while another added they “need to know the drama” behind the exchange.</p> <p>“In front of at LEAST 50 people as well,” another commented, while one TikTok user said it was proof “Allison is definitely taking her place!”</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@badassnewss/video/7169539767065955586" data-video-id="7169539767065955586"> <section><a title="@badassnewss" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@badassnewss?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@badassnewss</a> Tracy Grimshaw has signed off ACA for the last time and also regected a hug from Today Show host - Allison Langdon on the way out 😬 bit awks. <a title="tracygrimshaw" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tracygrimshaw?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tracygrimshaw</a> <a title="acurrentaffair" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/acurrentaffair?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#acurrentaffair</a> <a title="goodonyatrace" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/goodonyatrace?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#goodonyatrace</a> <a title="congratulations🎉" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/congratulations%F0%9F%8E%89?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#congratulations🎉</a> <a title="♬ another love sped up - avery" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/another-love-sped-up-7043057957856398126?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ another love sped up - avery</a></section> </blockquote> <p>Langdon and Stefanovic weighed in on the “snub” on Today describing the situation as “brutal” but explaining that there was a “reason” behind the apparent brush off.</p> <p>The pair revealed they had “managed to secure some never-before-seen footage from another angle of the shock snub”, with the new clip showing the excruciating moment in even clearer detail.</p> <p>“That’s the moment my heart breaks,” Langdon said.</p> <p>“Look how red my face is. I just got brushed. I don’t think Tracy knows who I am.”</p> <p>Stefanovic joked Langdon “didn’t have much sleep last night”, with his co-host teasing that she was “devastated” after being “brushed” by her “hero”.</p> <p>They went on to share a statement from Grimshaw herself clearing up the incident, with her confirming it had been a big misunderstanding: “I’m sorry I missed you, was so overwhelmed and obviously didn’t see your petite head once Karl’s big boofhead loomed into vision. Argh, big sorry x’’ the statement said.</p> <p>Langdon said she had accepted the apology and the Today co-hosts joked about it being “one of the greatest snubs in Australian television”.</p> <p>“Anyway, apology accepted Trace. It was a very big night. It was a beautiful night to be part of. I have decided I still love her,” Langdon said.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

TV

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Peppa Pig has introduced a pair of lesbian polar bears, but Aussie kids’ TV has been leading the way in queer representation

<p>Peppa Pig’s first same-sex couple, a pair of lesbian polar bears, were recently introduced after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/sep/08/peppa-pig-introduces-its-first-same-sex-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a petition to include a same-sex family</a> received nearly 24,000 signatures.</p> <p>Children’s television has often been a place to push the boundaries of diverse representations onscreen. In particular, Australian children’s TV has been a global leader in screen diversity, including gender and queer representation.</p> <p>Emmy-winning Australian series <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10614090/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Day</a> (2020-22) tells the story of a transgender girl starting high school.</p> <p>Another Emmy-winner, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8747140/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hardball</a> (2019-21) includes gay dads for one of the lead characters.</p> <p>Even recent updates to The Wiggles’ line-up has placed a greater emphasis on gender diversity, including <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/the-wiggles-announces-four-new-band-members-with-focus-on-diversity-gender-equality/news-story/dbc914965a83332c857e7665b3639ba0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding a non-binary unicorn</a>.</p> <h2>Diverse representation</h2> <p>Children’s TV is often less risk averse than programming aimed at adults.</p> <p>The ABC is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X16687400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">empowered</a> to take risks with representations of gender and sexuality in children’s programming because of its publicly funded role.</p> <p>But such progressive portrayals can sometimes chafe with outdated expectations of children’s television. In 2004, Play School <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07380560802314128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced controversy</a> for showing lesbian mothers.</p> <p>As social acceptance has progressed, Australian children’s TV has been able to achieve more queer representations.</p> <p>Talking to the Queering Australian Screens <a href="https://djomeara.com/phd-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research project</a>, television professionals often praised the genre for its openness to new ideas, representations and bringing in new talent.</p> <p>Tony Ayres, Creator of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_Boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nowhere Boys</a> (2013-18), observed those who commission children’s TV are “generally very open to diverse representation”.</p> <p>This representation happens behind the scenes, too, with Ayres describing how these shows often give new talent their first credit.</p> <p>David Hannam, who has written for several kids’ TV shows including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dance Academy</a> (2010-13), said children’s television “has led the way”.</p> <p>Speaking of his time at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Hannam noted the foundation had an “almost charter responsibility” to show diversity on screen, “with great caution and responsibility”.</p> <p>Julie Kalceff created First Day, which starred a young trans actor, Evie McDonald, as a trans girl starting high school.</p> <p>When she was developing the show, Kalceff shared that she was initially concerned about what would be allowed on children’s TV:</p> <p>There were no trans people on television. There were no TV shows with trans actors in the lead role. I thought there’s no way the ABC is going to do this. And there’s no way they’re going to do it with kids’ TV. But to their credit, the ABC was so supportive, and was so behind the project from the beginning.</p> <h2>What audiences want</h2> <p>It is not only TV producers who are eager to widen representation in children’s television. Audiences are also seeking out more inclusive content.</p> <p>Just like Peppa Pig in the UK, there have been calls in Australia for more diversity in animated hit Bluey, with the show adding its <a href="https://10play.com.au/theproject/articles/bluey-introduces-first-auslan-signing-character-in-a-new-special-episode/tpa220616bswgm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first Auslan signing character</a> in June.</p> <p>One of our research projects, Australian Children’s Television Cultures’ <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2022/05/new-research-shows-the-way-families-watch-TV-is-changing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 survey</a> found 90% of Australian parents believe diverse representation is an important element of children’s TV.</p> <p>As one father explained:</p> <blockquote> <p>Diversity on screen helps children learn about people with different upbringings from their own, expanding their empathy for and curiosity about other people.</p> </blockquote> <p>In contrast to the controversy Play School received nearly 20 years ago for its inclusion of same-sex parents, a mother praised the show for “doing a fantastic job” of depicting diversity in relationships.</p> <p>Not everyone believes Australian television is doing enough. One survey respondent praised the way shows like Bluey reflect Australian culture, but said he would “love to see more LGBT representation […] It would be nice as a kid to know you’re valid.”</p> <h2>Uncertain futures</h2> <p>The streaming era has changed how families and children watch TV. This raises concerns about the future of Australian children’s content.</p> <p>The recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/cheese-n-crackers-concerns-deepen-for-the-future-of-australian-childrens-television-147183" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removal of quotas</a> for Australian networks to air a minimum number of hours of children’s television, alongside the absence of quotas on streaming services, has led to <a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/09/producers-slam-hypocritical-networks-as-australian-childrens-tv-plummets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a reduction</a> in the production of local kids’ TV.</p> <p>From Play School to Bluey, children’s TV has reflected the richness of Australian cultural life. There is a risk that if Australian child audiences need to rely on international content, future generations will not see themselves on screen.</p> <p>With the loss of local voices, Australian kids’ TV may also lose its ability to push boundaries of diversity and inclusion.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/peppa-pig-has-introduced-a-pair-of-lesbian-polar-bears-but-aussie-kids-tv-has-been-leading-the-way-in-queer-representation-190648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Peppa Pig</em></p>

TV

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Patti Newton's first televised interview since losing Bert

<p>In her first televised interview since her late husband died, Patti Newton as revealed the sad question Bert asked her before he passed away. </p> <p>Appearing on <em>The Morning Show</em>, Patti recalled Bert's remarkable outlook on life, and shared a sweet conversation the couple had while he was in hospital. </p> <p>“I went in one day and he was very upset sitting in the wheelchair and I said, ‘What’s the matter? Has something happened?’ And he said, ‘No, I just want to know whether I have been a good person and whether you think I have done an OK job through all of this,’” Patti recalled.</p> <p>“And I had to say to him that out of everyone I know, all the people in his position and in his line of work, I do not know anybody else that would have handled having a leg amputated and being so, you know – not being able to move or go anywhere – so well.”</p> <p>She continued on, saying “I was so proud of him because, to be honest, it was a joy. I would go in every morning and I would ask how he was and he would say, ‘Oh, I had the most beautiful shower’. </p> <p>“I think that anybody who can be happy and feel so good about having a lovely shower, you know, you have got to admire that I think. It is finding the best out of nothing really.”</p> <p>Patti has previously shed light on how life has been since her husband died in October 2021, saying she feels his presence everywhere. </p> <p>“He is very much present in the house and everywhere we go … I think he is sort of here with me and he always will be.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <p>“It is not easy but it never is,” she added.</p> <p>Patti also went on to reveal how her beloved grandchildren have been coping with the loss of their grandfather. </p> <p>“Little Monte will come and say, ‘Nan, Nan, quick come look outside because Poppy is there.’ And I see the moon is up there with the face and he will say, ‘See, he is looking down on you Nan.’<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; background-color: #ffffff;">”</span></p> <p>Bert, affectionately known as “Moonface” in the entertainment industry, died in palliative care at a private clinic in Melbourne at the age of 83 after having his leg amputated due to a life threatening infection.</p> <p><em>Image credits: The Morning Show </em></p>

Caring

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What dogs see when they watch TV

<p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; margin-top: 0px; background-color: #ffffff;">Dog owners often notice their pets watching televisions, computer screens and tablets. But what is going on in their pooch’s head? Indeed, by tracking their vision using similar methods used on humans, <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="http://acid.uclan.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/is-my-dog-watching-tv.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research has found</a> that domestic dogs do prefer certain images and videos.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">This research indicates that dogs have a preference towards watching other canines – but our <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="http://acid.uclan.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ilyena-Thesis-ACI.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies have also discovered that sound</a> often initially attracts dogs towards television and other devices. Favoured sounds include dogs barking and whining, people giving dog-friendly commands and praise, and the noise of toys squeaking.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">How dogs watch TV is very different to the way humans do, however. Instead of sitting still, dogs will often approach the screen to get a closer look, and walk repeatedly between their owner and the television. They are essentially fidgety, interactive viewers.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">What dogs can see on the screen is also different to humans. Dogs have <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3730601/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dichromatic vision</a> – they have two types of colour receptor cells and see colour within two spectrums of light: blue and yellow. The use of colour within media is <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3730601/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">very important for dogs</a> and explains why canine TV channel, <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="http://dogtv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DogTV</a> prioritises these colours in its programming. Dogs’ eyes are also <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="http://redwood.berkeley.edu/bruno/animal-eyes/dog-vision-miller-murphy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more sensitive to movement</a> and <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="http://sciencenordic.com/do-dogs-see-what%E2%80%99s-happening-tv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vets suspect</a> that the improved flicker rate that has come from the shift from standard to high definition television has allowed dogs to better perceive media shown on TV.</p> <h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: mandrel-normal, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">But do they enjoy it?</h2> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Multiple screens have also been used in research to see whether dogs can pick what to watch. <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581916300611" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Early research has shown</a> that when presented with three screens, dogs are unable to decide, instead preferring to watch one screen no matter what is on it. This has still to be tested with two screens, and possibly more than three.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">While science has shown that dogs can engage with television and that they prefer certain programmes, it has yet to delve into the complex question of whether they actually enjoy it. We as humans will often watch distressing footage or videos that make us feel a range of emotions, from distress to anger and horror. It’s not always because it makes us feel good. We just don’t know whether similar factors motivate dogs to watch.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">What a dog does engage with, however, differs from dog to dog, depending on their personality, experience and preference. This is speculated to be influenced by what their owner watches, with dogs <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982211013935" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following their human’s gaze</a> and other communication signals, such as gestures and head turns.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">Dogs, unlike humans, will also often have very <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581916300611" target="_blank" rel="noopener">short interactions, often under three seconds</a>, with the media, preferring to glance at the TV rather than focus on it like humans. Research has found that even with media specifically designed for dogs, they will still <a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f76bb;" href="https://bit.ly/2bXeDkX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spend the majority of their time watching nothing at all</a>. The ideal television for dogs, therefore, should contain lots of snippets rather than long storytelling scenarios.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">But while dogs have their own TV channel, and have been shown to prefer to watch other dogs through short interactions with specially coloured programmes, many mysteries remain. Nevertheless, technology has the potential to provide entertainment for domestic canines, improving the welfare of dogs left home alone and in kennels. Just don’t expect a doggie version of the Radio Times just yet.</p> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff;">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-what-dogs-see-when-they-watch-television-65000">The Conversation.</a> </p>

TV

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David Campbell's emotional tribute to Bob Saget

<p><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p>David Campbell, host of<span> </span><em>Today Extra</em>, recently shared a tribute to Bob Saget, after the Full House star was found dead at 65 this week.</p> <p>“I was so excited and nervous to interview Bob Saget on the show," David shared on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Bob Saget and fellow host Sonia Kruger.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYiK7ICruM0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CYiK7ICruM0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by David Campbell (@davidcampbell73)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I needn’t have been nervous. He was charming and generous every time we spoke. He stayed in touch once in a while through socials and made you feel like a friend. We spoke again late last year," he continued.</p> <p>"Sometimes stars are so down to earth, you forget how many people they touched just by saying hi. Bob was one of those. My kids are now watching Fuller House.</p> <p>"Thanks for giving us joy Bob. RIP."</p> <p>Along with his iconic near 10-year role on<span> </span><em>Full House</em>, Bob Saget also hosted<span> </span><em>America's Funniest Home Videos</em><span> </span>from 1989 to '97 and made a name for himself with his raunchy brand of standup comedy.</p> <p>Fellow Channel Nine star Sylvia Jeffereys commented on David's post, also sharing her shock at the tragic news.</p> <p>"Oh no, this is so sad. Such a kind and generous, approachable man. May he rest In peace," she wrote.</p> <p>Tributes have been flooding social media since news of Bob Saget's death was confirmed.</p> <p>"I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby," John Stamos tweeted in a heartfelt tribute to his former<em><span> </span>Full House</em><span> </span>co-star.</p> <p>Co-stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen also shared a rare public statement, revealing they were “deeply saddened”.</p> <p>"Bob was the most loving, compassionate and generous man. We are deeply saddened that he is no longer with us but know that he will continue to be by our side to guide us as gracefully as he always has,” they said.</p>

Caring

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Michael K Williams and The Wire: how the show redefined television watching

<p><em>This article contains spoilers for The Wire.</em></p> <p>Emmy-nominated actor Michael K Williams has died aged 54, reportedly of a <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/09/06/actor-michael-k-williams-found-dead-in-nyc-apartment/">suspected drug overdose</a>. Early last year the actor <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8CCmkpBb2g/?utm_medium=copy_link">mused on instagram</a> “How will I be remembered and what will be my legacy?”</p> <p>Undoubtedly the actor will be remembered for his breakthrough role as <a href="https://www.hbo.com/the-wire">The Wire</a>’s Omar Little. The homosexual, morally ambiguous outlaw who hunts Baltimore drug dealers for fun was somehow larger than life yet authentically believable.</p> <p>Armed with his signature sawed-off-shotgun, facial scar, duster jacket, and grin, Williams’s sheer presence played a key part in HBO’s 2002 series about <a href="https://drugpolicy.org/issues/brief-history-drug-war">America’s “war on drugs”</a>. This was the federal government’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal drug use that increased prison sentences for all drug-related incidents. Twenty years on, we can see how the programme redefined television and its impact in multiple ways.</p> <h2>1. Television as Greek tragedy</h2> <p>Unlike the then-popular <a href="https://theconversation.com/farewell-csi-the-show-that-made-forensics-fun-40857">CSI</a>-style investigative American cop show, The Wire embraces the cold-hearted nature of ancient <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/447310">Greek tragedy</a>.</p> <p>Indifferent to individuals’ heroism and morality, the show demonstrates how the American dream remains unachievable for many. Internal politics within local government, an overworked police force and an underfunded education sector thwart individual talent and ambition. Characters are at the mercy of these institutions that stand in for traditional Greek gods.</p> <p>Omar may be the closest the show has to a heroic figure, but his attempts for redemption are rewarded by the barrel of a child’s gun as he is unceremoniously killed for a couple of dollars. He is the Achilles falling victim to Apollo’s eventual will, as envisioned by ancient Greek playwright Aeschylus.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9qK-VGjMr8g?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <h2>2. The visual novel</h2> <p>The show’s creator, David Simon, coined the phrase “<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/10/22/stealing-life">visual novel</a>” to describe the programme’s distinctive and demanding viewing experience. Instead of each episode neatly concluding with a captured criminal, The Wire made it impossible to simply tune in at any point in the season.</p> <p>One investigation stretches over 13 hours of television, so you have room for all the regular idiosyncrasies and nuance of how people relate and how institutions work, much like a Dickens novel. Put simply, “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2009/aug/29/david-simon-edinburgh-interview-full">Fuck the casual viewer</a>” as Simon once elucidated.</p> <h2>3. Streaming series</h2> <p>The Wire heralded the binge-watching revolution when DVD box sets made consuming 13 hours of television in one sitting possible and irresistible. Compared to HBO’s other quality television dramas from the period – including <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/the-sopranos">The Sopranos</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/09/rewatching-deadwood-still-the-most-extraordinary-rootin-tootin-tv-ever">Deadwood</a> – The Wire’s exploration of America’s war on drugs proved that television audiences had the patience and intelligence to consume a narrative that could be consumed as if it were one very long film.</p> <h2>4. Good guys or bad guys?</h2> <p>It’s difficult to imagine a universe where <a href="https://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones">Game of Thrones</a> could have been commissioned had The Wire not blurred the previously clear division between hero and villain.</p> <p>Baltimore’s police department and Barksdale’s drug-dealing crew are presented as two social structures in a pragmatic conflict with one another. A parallel ensues between Baltimore’s criminal justice system and the laws of the street and the equal pressure they apply to individuals.</p> <p>For instance, drug kingpin Stringer Bell’s (Idris Elba) brutal murder of Omar’s lover Brandon for robbing his stash house is depicted as a logically justifiable action similar to that of the US justice system’s treatment of criminals. Without such iconic episodes, would we have been able to empathise with the callous actions of the bloodthirsty Lannisters in Game of Thrones?</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420027/original/file-20210908-27-rd3frm.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Man in suit." /> <span class="caption">Idris Elba as drug kingpin.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.hbo.com/content/dam/hbodata/series/the-wire/character/the-street/russell-stringer-bell-1920.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.1200.675.jpeg" class="source">HBO</a></span></p> <h2>5. Challenging the war on drugs</h2> <p>Perhaps Williams’ and the Wire’s greatest legacy will be the key role it has played in making the world increasingly sceptical of America’s war on drugs. Season four received the <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-wire/season-4">strongest critical reception</a> for portraying how a host of school children could be forced into a life of drug abuse against their will.</p> <p>The series highlights underfunded social services, a lack of employment opportunities, “benevolent” drug dealers, and drug-addicted parents to compellingly reveal that not all addicts are addled layabouts through choice. Instead, these people have been worn down by a system and societal structure that was against them from the moment they were unlucky enough to be born black in the projects (the US’s social housing).</p> <p>A testament to just how much the show changed opinion, during his first presidential campaign <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=w2F3eLZHmoA">Barack Obama said</a>, “Omar’s a great guy.” While Obama was keen to point out he was not endorsing the character’s lawbreaking, The Wire nevertheless helped instigate a global debate as to whether America’s war on drugs is worth its escalating cost in terms of human lives and taxpayer money.</p> <p>David Simon <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2011/06/wire-creator-david-simon-has-counter-offer-eric-holder/351634/">has since vowed he will write a sixth season</a> if drugs are legalised nationally in the US. From new Portuguese laws to Cleveland police’s <a href="https://www.cleveland.pcc.police.uk/how-can-we-help/community/heroin-assisted-treatment-hat/">heroin assisted treatment programme</a>, drug addiction is now starting to be treated as a health problem, as the obituaries for <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58470253">Michael K Williams’ untimely death</a> attest. The Wire and Williams’ performance went a long way in showing that drug addiction is an illness that demands understanding and that those suffering from it need society’s help and support, not its condemnation.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/167480/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-lamb-453614">Ben Lamb</a>, Senior Lecturer in Media, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/teesside-university-1230">Teesside University</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/michael-k-williams-and-the-wire-how-the-show-redefined-television-watching-167480">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Moviestore Collection Ltd/Alamy</em></p>

TV

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Beloved Friends star passes away

<p dir="ltr">James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk manager Gunther on the long-running sitcom<span> </span><em>Friends,<span> </span></em>has passed away following a battle with prostate cancer. He was 59.</p> <p dir="ltr">A statement from his family reads, "The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh "Friend"), from the hit series "Friends," but Michael’s loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life."</p> <p dir="ltr">Tyler only revealed his diagnosis earlier this year, after appearing in the<span> </span><em>Friends<span> </span></em>reunion special via Zoom. He told Today that he chose to appear via Zoom rather than sit on the couch with the rest of the cast, "because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer.'"</p> <p dir="ltr">At the time, he also revealed that the cancer had spread to his bones, leaving him paralysed from the waist down. He was initially diagnosed in September 2018.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tributes flooded social media as the news broke, including one from the official<span> </span><em>Friends<span> </span></em>Twitter account that described Tyler as “a beloved actor and integral part of our FRIENDS family. Jeffrey Klarik, co-creator of<span> </span><em>Episodes<span> </span></em>and partner of<span> </span><em>Friends<span> </span></em>creator David Crane,<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyKlarik/status/1452399434625552393" target="_blank">tweeted</a><span> </span>that Tyler was a “was a lovely, lovely man.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Warner Bros. Television mourns the loss of James Michael Tyler, a beloved actor and integral part of our FRIENDS family. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and fans. ❤️☕️ <a href="https://t.co/9coGnT5BHz">pic.twitter.com/9coGnT5BHz</a></p> — FRIENDS (@FriendsTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FriendsTV/status/1452397247245651974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">One social media user<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/nataliebargery/status/1452397971618861057" target="_blank">shared a quote</a><span> </span>from the show itself, that in hindsight feels like a very fitting tribute. It’s spoken by Jennifer Aniston’s character Rachel Green as she’s politely rejecting Gunther’s advances, and she says, “And, and when I'm in a café, having coffee, or I see a man with hair brighter than the sun, I'll think of you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">While Tyler is best known for his work on<span> </span><em>Friends,<span> </span></em>owing to his appearance in 150 episodes, he also appeared in several popular shows throughout his career, including<span> </span><em>Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Scrubs,<span> </span></em>and<span> </span><em>Just Shoot Me</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Warner Bros. Television</em></p>

News

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Helen Mirren set to test your Harry Potter knowledge

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the first event of its kind, Dame Helen Mirren will be hosting a four-part television quiz event called </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">later this year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary since the release of the first film in the franchise, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The four-part quiz, which will air later this year, will see fans of the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harry Potter </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">franchise put their knowledge to the test and compete for the title of House Cup champion, much like the students at Hogwarts do each year. The quiz will feature hundreds of trivia questions, as well as special guest surprises and a play-along component for those watching at home.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Award-winning actor Dame Helen Mirren is joining the Wizarding World family to host an exciting four-part quiz competition, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses. Discover more: <a href="https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT">https://t.co/uemnzU9zoT</a> <a href="https://t.co/WW8ozPzU6y">pic.twitter.com/WW8ozPzU6y</a></p> — Wizarding World (@wizardingworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/wizardingworld/status/1438173666949443585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Mirren never starred in any of the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Potter</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> films, she will “add some British grandeur” to the proceedings, according to Tom Ascheim, Warner Bros. president of global kids, young adults, and classics. Mirren herself said, “I knew someday I’d get a Harry Potter role, and I’m so pleased to take part in the 20-year film celebration. The films inspired such enchantment and wonder for so many of us, and it will be such a treat to reignite that magic for the countless fans who continue to revel in this spellbinding world.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mirren, an Academy Award winner for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in 2013’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Queen, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">was appointed a Dame for services to drama as part of the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours. She also played the Queen in the 2013 play </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Audience, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">a role for which she won both a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The event will tape later this month and be broadcast later this year. Better start studying now if you want to try and beat Ravenclaw!</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTMvaG-KvPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTMvaG-KvPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Helen Mirren (@helenmirren)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images</span></em></p>

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Jessica Rowe's big television comeback

<p>It's been over three years since viewers tuned in to watch Jessica Rowe on our screens, and speculation mounts that she's ready for a comeback.</p> <p>And now, Woman's Day can confirm she's returning to TV on Australia's most popular breakfast show.</p> <p>Last week, the former Studio 10 star was spotted catching up with the executive producer of Sunrise, Michael Pell, and while the pair are close friends, a TV insider insists there was plenty of talk about business too.</p> <p>"He's her number one fan, and what Michael Pell wants, he generally gets. The seed has been planted to get Jess in a role that they are specifically creating for her."</p> <p>"Seven have been eyeing Jess off since she left Ten in 2018, and Michael would be the right person to court her back into the new mix at Seven's Brekky Central," the source tells Woman's Day.</p> <p>Jess quit Studio 10 in March 2018, later admitting that she had been close to breaking point towards the end of her time on the show.</p> <p>The 51-year-old has spoken candidly about her struggles with anxiety and depression in the past, and was looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Peter Overton, and their two daughters, Allegra, 14, and Giselle, 12.</p> <p>Despite the success she garnered from her Crap Housewife blog, Jess recently spoke about getting back in front of the cameras.</p> <p>"What I do miss is having an audience to play up to," says the Beyond Blue ambassador.</p> <p>"Nowadays I find myself doing a song and dance routine for my daughters – not that successfully!"</p> <p>According to an insider, Jess can be a liability given her shaky past with Today, Weekend Sunrise and Studio 10.</p> <p>"She can be polarising, and Seven will only bring her into the Sunrise and The Morning Show mix as a special reporter or presenter around current issues like mental health or parenting," the source tells Woman's Day.</p> <p>"But Jess reads a room better than anyone and she will only return to TV if the job and fit is right."</p> <p>Having walked from a high-profile, high-paying role before, Jess is also unlikely to sign on if there's any drama with her would-be colleagues.</p> <p>Adds the source, "The real issue Seven have is how a huge personality like Jess will be received by the morning teams. Jess is such a passionate person and can appear zany and over the top, while Nat [Barr] and Edwina [Bartholomew] are both very calm and measured."</p> <p>But despite it all, Jess has decades' worth of experience in journalism and TV, which will prove to be worthwhile in the long run.</p> <p>"If Jess comes on board, she can slot in anywhere – newsreading, presenting, even the weather!" says the insider.</p>

TV

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The Beast shows off slimmed down figure

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Mark Labbett, known as The Beast from the popular quiz show<span> </span><em>The Chase</em><span> </span>has shown off his incredible weight loss to fans.</p> <p>He shared a snap on Instagram of himself dressed in a suit.</p> <p>“What’s more likely? Bit part in next<span> </span><em>Kingsman</em><span> </span>or Oddjob in the<span> </span><em>Goldfinger</em><span> </span>remake?,” Labbett wrote.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8m38eslrk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8m38eslrk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Labbett (@markthebeastlabbett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fans were shocked by the 55-year-old's transformation.</p> <p>“Looking fabulous,” one commented.</p> <p>Labbett revealed that his type 2 diabetes diagnosis inspired him to lose weight.</p> <p>“My colleague Paul Sinha also got the diagnosis and he rapidly lost two stone (12.7kg) and he went from being diabetic to pre or non-diabetic,” he told<span> </span><em>Loose Women.</em></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLH2VnSsjMt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CLH2VnSsjMt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Mark Labbett (@markthebeastlabbett)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I’m still eating very well – I’m just cutting out sugar because of the type 2 diabetes.”</p> <p>Labbett has documented his weight loss on Instagram in previous posts, much to the delight of fans.</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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TV show Neighbours disgraced as alleged claims of racism leave set

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Neighbours star Shareena Clanton has slammed<span> </span><em>Neighbours</em><span> </span>and its production company for its "non-response" claims to racism on set.</p> <p>Clanton has revealed she has "evidence and documentation" to support the claims announced yesterday.</p> <p>She shared on Instagram saying that she has "clear documentation" of complaints she made to the show's HR department as well as incidents where other actors used the "N-word".</p> <p>Clanton also has evidence of another senior staff member calling himself a "slave-driver" in reference to their working relationship.</p> <p>Her condemnation comes after a second<span> </span><em>Neighbours</em><span> </span>star revealed racist incidents they experienced onset from 2014 to 2016.</p> <p>Clanton was furious about Fremantle Media's response, saying it was a "non-response" on Instagram.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSmYtLLcvl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSmYtLLcvl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Shareena Clanton (@shareenaclanton)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"The non-response from Fremantle Media held no accountability/action/remorse/reform," she said.</p> <p>“I did not “make up”/“allege” anything. These events happened. I have evidence and documentation that confirm the truth of these racist comments and ongoing disrespectful/inappropriate behaviours/crass comments on @neighbours.</p> <p>“I have no qualms critiquing such power structures. What do I have to gain here by speaking truth to one of the most powerful and multi-million dollar global production houses like Fremantle Media? I’m the one at risk of being blacklisted,” she pointed out.</p> <p>Meyne Wyatt played Nate Kinski and tweeted that the industry "needs to do better".</p> <p>He mentioned a specific incident during his time on the show where the "c-word" was used.</p> <p>“It involved the C word and I called it out and it didn’t happen around me again,” he said, but he added that he walked in on it, “so I have no doubt things were being said behind my back”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNUN7kcBbK0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNUN7kcBbK0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Meyne Wyatt (@meyneg)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Wyatt was the first Indigenous series regular after 30 years of Australia's best-known TV show and that racist attitudes were "prevalent throughout the industry".</p> <p>“I don’t see a lot of Indigenous actors on the show or on any prime time Television series, whether it be Neighbours, Home and Away, anything on Channel 7, 9 or Ten for that matter,” he added. “Stan and Netflix take note!”</p> <p>“The comments and jokes and innuendos were ridiculous!” he wrote. “It made for a very unsafe environment for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community and the s*** needs to be stamped out. Racism and Homophobia needs an active and present force behind it to be driven out! Neighbours do better! The Film and TV Industry do better! Australia do better!”</p> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

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Channel 7 dumps Andrew O'Keefe

<p>Andrew O'Keefe has been dumped from Channel 7 after a partnership of 17 years due to O'Keefe's alleged domestic violence charge on the weekend.</p> <p>A Channel 7 spokesperson told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/channel-7-confirms-it-dumped-andrew-okeefe/news-story/a0bf0ef9d06063df4de1f75222174658" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>: “Seven is obviously very concerned to read the reports regarding Andrew O’Keefe. Seven has had a 17-year relationship with Andrew across a number of programs, although he is no longer with the network.</p> <p>“As this is a police matter before the courts, we cannot comment further.</p> <p>“The program hosted by Andrew,<span> </span><em>The Chase Australia</em>, is not currently in production. The program is produced for Seven by ITV Studios Australia. Production will resume soon and a decision about who will host future series is still to be made.”</p> <p>O'Keefe was charged with common assault after he allegedly assaulted his partner, Orly Lavee, at an apartment in Sydney in the early hours of Sunday morning.</p> <p>He is due to face Waverly Local Court on Thursday and an insider told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts/tv-star-andrew-okeefe-vows-to-fight-domestic-violence-charges/news-story/6d01747773b88a924b8d051378ab6021" target="_blank"><em>The Daily Telegraph</em></a><span> </span>O'Keefe intends to fight the charges.</p> <p>“Andrew is receiving medical treatment in the wake of the incident,” a source close to O’Keefe said.</p> <p>“He will be defending the charge.”</p> <p>Lavee has tearfully spoken about the incident, saying that it "has been difficult".</p> <p>“It has been a horrible few days. I don’t want to go into it, I’m not feeling good about what’s happened.”</p> <p>O'Keefe has outwardly spoken about domestic violence in relationships and was previously aligned with White Ribbon Australia.</p> <p>“We are saddened to hear that Dr Orly Lavee has allegedly been assaulted by Andrew O’Keefe, a man who was previously aligned with White Ribbon Australia and is now charged with assault,” White Ribbon Australia executive director Brad Chilcott said.</p> <p>“There is never any excuse for violence or abuse.”</p> <p>Mr Chilcott continued: “We stand in solidarity with every victim and survivor of men’s violence against women, and believe men who use violence must be held to account. Every man should take this (allegation) as an opportunity to reflect on their own attitudes, behaviours and relationships with the women in their lives.”</p>

Legal

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Meghan Markle makes surprising television appearance

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Meghan Markle surprised royal fans when she appeared on CNN's annual Heros TV special on Sunday.</p> <p>The special honoured inspiring people who have helped out this year during the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>Markle thanked “individuals (who) stood up and made sure the most basic needs of our communities were met” this year, which she says has been “universally challenging for everyone”.</p> <p>“They made sure those around them did not have to suffer in isolation,” she said on the program.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIwswtgDvio/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIwswtgDvio/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by CNN (@cnn)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“In the face of this devastating reality, we ... saw the power of the human spirit and the remarkable ways that communities respond in challenging times.</p> <p>“We saw the good in people, in our neighbours and in entire communities coming together to say they would not stand by while our neighbours went hungry,” she said.</p> <p>The former Duchess continued to list all of the things she's witnessed this year.</p> <p>“These moments reminded so many that they are cared for.”</p> <p>Ending her message, Markle said that these individuals “showed us, all of us, that even in the darkest times, when we come together, we have the power to remind someone else that there is hope, and that we will be OK.”</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"></div> </div> </div>

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