Category: TV Shows

  • Brokeback Mountain, Wedding Crashers shine at MTV awards

    Brokeback Mountain, Wedding Crashers shine at MTV awards

    MUMBAI: Comedy Wedding Crashers and Oscar-winning drama Brokeback Mountain have bagged five top awards at the MTV Movie Awards held in California.

    Jim Carrey won a lifetime achievement award. Actor Steve Carell won the award for best comedic performance for his role in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.

    Jake Gyllenhaal stole the limelight by bagging the best performance prize for Brokeback Mountain and the best kiss recognition for the one in the movie with co-star Heath Ledger.

    Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger beat Brad Pitt and Angelina Joline in Mr and Mrs Smith. Pitt and Jolie won the award for the best fight in the same movie.

    Wedding Crashers was named best film and collected best screen team and breakthrough performance awards, voted for by MTV viewers.

    The show, hosted by actress Jessica Alba, will be broadcast in MTV USA on 8 June.
     

  • Mega finale of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ‘Dwitiya’ airs on 23 June

    Mega finale of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ‘Dwitiya’ airs on 23 June

    Mumbai, June 23, 2005: Its time to roll out the red carpet; blow the trumpets & applaud the ‘best of the best!’… After weeks of laughter clubbed with high levels of anticipation, the much-awaited MEGA FINALE of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ‘Dwitiya’ is here… where the 7 final contenders Khayali Saharan from Chandigarh, Rajkumar Javkar, Dr. Tushar Shah, Rajeev Nigam from Mumbai, Pratap Fauzdar from Agra, Rauf Lala & the comic duo Ali Hasan & Irfan Malik from Pakistan gear up to clash in the nationwide comic talent hunt for the coveted ‘Hasi Ka Shahenshah’ Title and win the Chevrolet Aveo! And hotting up the MEGA FINALE on Friday, June 23, 2006 at 10 p.m. would be the gorgeous & scintillating Bipasha Basu as the race for the title reaches its finish line!

    Last week (part 1 of the finals), saw macho actor Suniel Shetty as the celebrity judge who was enthralled by the rare performances and brilliant comic antics!

    The temperatures will soar & the anticipation will rise during the MEGA FINALE, as the final episode will witness the clash of the 7 Finalists (unlike season 1 which had 6 contenders) who will perform to prove their talent to garner maximum viewers’ votes.

    The countdown has begun… Whether it’s Dr. Tushar Shah’s subtle style of comic delivery or Rajeev Nigam’s political sattire. Not to forget Khayali’s witty gags, one-liners and punches or Rajkumar Javkar’s heroic muppet Ranchoo. The perfect laurel and hardy, Ali Hasan & Irfan Malik with their perfect chemistry hailing from across the border are worth a watch! An exciting tie in the 3rd semi-finals also saw Rauf Lala making it to the Finals with his spontaneity and comic timing. And last but not the least Pratap Fauzdar who has managed to tickle everybody’s funny bone and is one of the favourites in this competition. From 60 contestants to 13 and now 7, the race to win the coveted title – Hasi Ka Shahenshah has just gotten tougher.

    The show has been a phenomenon in itself, bringing the entire nation to a groundbreaking experience that has taken millions of Indians voting for their favourite contestants. In its second avatar this year, the show also created a grandeur platform for upcoming comedians from India and across the border who demonstrated their creativity and gained phenomenal recognition amongst the comic aficionados. The show also witnessed high celebrity quotient such as Sameera Reddy, Soha Ali Khan, Koena Mitra, Priyanka Chopra & heartthrob Hrithik Roshan amongst others as a part of the discerning panel of judges.

    After 16 weeks of non-stop entertainment, laughter & tough competition, the countdown has begun! And now its time for the final verdict…as the fate of these 6 finalists will depend equally on the decision of the judges and the viewer votes. So gear up for the GRAND FINALE and vote for your favourite contestants…

    Tune into STAR ONE for fun, laughter and entertainment this Friday, June 23, 2006 at 10:00 p.m. for the battle between the best!

  • Roller coaster ride on Reality TV this June

    Roller coaster ride on Reality TV this June

    New Delhi, June 1, 2006: Throughout June a series of exciting and gripping shows will be premiered on Reality TV – a 24-hour entertainment channel that showcases programmes on real people with true stories. The interesting line-up for the month includes shows like The Great Shark Hunt, The Repossessors, Video Vigilantes, Cheaters Series 4, Daring Capers, Dr G Medical Examiner and Patient Files.

    Reality TV has been captivating audiences worldwide through an eclectic mix of real life programmes that portray myriad experiences, feats, idiosyncrasies, aspirations and sentiments. Each programme captures events as they actually happened.

    Announcing the new shows, Flecka Picardo, Marketing Manager of Reality TV – Asia, said, “It has been Reality TV’s conscious attempt to provide meaningful, real life entertainment filled programmes to our Indian viewers. We are confident that these new programmes will further strengthen the position of the channel in India and will be appreciated by our viewers.”

    The Great Shark Hunt documents the struggle for regulation of the shark meat industry in order to maintain the shark population. The programme promises an extensive new footage of sharks in their natural habitat.

    The Repossessors will take you to the front lines of the ongoing war between car lenders and delinquent debtors. Witness firsthand behind-the-scenes planning and successful execution of a wide variety of auto repossessions. Follow a variety of other repo men from different parts of the country as they prepare for and carry out their high stakes missions. Surveillance, hidden cameras, disguises, extensive planning, sheer instinct and sometimes partnering with Federal Marshals are all a part of the process of devising the perfect hit.

    Video Vigilantes is a show that showcases curtain twitching into the 21st Century. The camcorder revolution has taken Neighbourhood Watch to new extreme levels. From shopping kerb crawlers and drug dealers to nabbing knicker thieves and randy rozzers, video vigilantism is rife and it’s here to stay.

    Reality TV Channel continues with some of its popular programmes like Cheaters Series 4, Daring Capers, Dr G Medical Examiner and Patient Files in June.

    Cheaters, a popular part of the Reality TV schedule continues with new episodes in June, with presenter Joy Greco uncovering yet more infidelity. Cheaters follows Joey and his team of private investigators as they sneak their way into suspects’ houses and plant surveillance cameras to keep a beady eye on what the mice get up to when the cat’s away. Discretion and tact are never allowed to get in the way of a good catfight on this show, and Grand’s clients are always shown the steamy evidence against their naughtier halves before being led by the crew to confront them.

    Enticingly dangerous and devilishly clever: Daring Capers involves con artists to cat burglars, who tiptoe through the high-stakes world of the cunning crooks who mastermind the world’s most daring capers. Daring Capers reveals a rogue’s gallery of bank robbers, art thieves and debonair con artists who tried to steal their way to wealth through brilliant ploys and slick transactions.

    One of America’s most respected and charismatic forensic pathologists, Dr. Jan Garavaglia takes viewers on an unprecedented look behind-the scenes at the world of science, mystery and justice in Dr G: Medical Examiner. Each one-hour episode will include actual, in-depth examinations and autopsies, as well as the exploration and investigative filed work conducted by Dr. G and her team at the Orange-Osceola County Medical Examiner’s office in Florida. With extraordinary 24/7 access to the medical investigators, the morgue staff, Dr. G reveals the intimate, inner workings of an extraordinary forensic pathology lab. This gripping medical series is currently number-one in prime time for Discovery Health. Audiences can’t seem to get enough!

    Patient Files is a dramatic documentary series that explores the world of an emerging generation of medical pioneers and their patients. The stories are set in North America’s renowned Sunnybrook & Women’s College Hospital — one of the first hospitals in the world geared towards the research and treatment of women’s health. Each episode will feature patients as they make critical journeys from illness and treatment to recovery – all at the hands of courageous and compassionate medical teams dedicated to women’s medicine. It will portray the challenges patients and medical professionals face in receiving and delivering care differently. The series will draw audiences into the dramatic stories of women facing everything from cardiovascular disease to cervical cancer; from high-risk pregnancy to facial reconstruction and more.

    About Reality TV
    Reality TV is an entertainment channel that tells stories of real people in real life situations and events as they actually happened. Reality TV is successfully reaching all corners of the globe providing thrills, spills and unbeatable round-the-clock entertainment 365 days a year. Zone Vision’s Reality TV channel was first launched in Europe in late 1999 and has gained distribution in more than 120 territories in just four years. The most significant recent launches were in the UK, where the channel is now available to more than 8 million cable and satellite subscribers and consistently rates in the top 50 channels in a 300+ channel market, and in the US where the channel launched in December 2003 on the Dish Network satellite platform. Worldwide, Reality TV is now broadcast in 16 different languages and is available to over 35 million subscribers.

    Reality TV has a viewership of over 15 million Indian households across the country. The channel is distributed by Zee Turner and is also available on the DTH platform, Dish TV.

    About Zone Vision Networks
    Based in London, Zone Vision Networks is a leading international broadcaster and distributor of thematic television channels. The company was founded in 1991 and today has 18 offices and studios throughout Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America.

    In addition to its operating group in London and international headquarters in Amsterdam, Zone Vision also has 18 regional offices. With over 250 specialist personnel, the company’s commitment to understanding and addressing the unique business needs of international broadcasting is unparalleled. Activities conducted by the Group include channel creation and management, channel representation and program sales.

    Zone Vision Networks owns and operates four thematic channels: Reality TV, Europa Europa, Romantica and Club, which are broadcast in over 125 countries in 18 languages, with over 135 million paying subscribers. ZVN are also equity affiliates in the studio blockbuster movie entertainment channel, Showtime (Turkey). In addition, Zone Vision has a successful channel representation business and currently represents over 30 international channels from such companies as Discovery, Viacom, Turner, Hallmark and Eurosport, managing over 60 million subscribers. Zone Vision also has a program distribution business and continues to acquire formats, series and specials from leading producers around the world.

    Zone Vision Networks is 87.5% owned by chellomedia, a division of UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. (“UGC”) (NASDAQ: UCOMA).

     
  • China celebrates 80th birthday of cartoon & animation industry

    China celebrates 80th birthday of cartoon & animation industry

    MUMBAI: The second edition of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival was kicked off in China on Thursday. The highlight of the festival is the 80th birthday celebrations of China’s cartoon and animation industry.

    The week-long festival has chosen “cartoon and animation make life wonderful” as its theme. The event is co-sponsored by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and Zhejiang provincial government.

    Eminent cartoon producers from France, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong and Croatia are participating in the festival.

    The festival will take a look at the progress made by China international cartoon and animation industry, apart from debating on the prospect the industry. A competition on cartoon and animation works in China will also be held.

  • Banff Outstanding Achievement Award goes to CBS

    Banff Outstanding Achievement Award goes to CBS

    MUMBAI: CBS Television will be the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award at the Banff World Television Festival. CBS Paramount International Television president Armando Nuñez, Jr., will be accepting the award on the company’s behalf.

    The Banff World Television Festival takes place 11 to 14 June at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta.

    According to a Banff press release, CBS is being honoured for “its groundbreaking programming, consistently solid ratings and overall contribution to the television industry.”

    Nuñez said, “I am pleased to accept the award on behalf of Leslie Moonves and the entire team at CBS. This honour reinforces the high regard to which the international community holds for CBS’s legacy of high quality and successful programming.”

  • Yahoo launches ‘Go for TV’ to record TV shows

    Yahoo launches ‘Go for TV’ to record TV shows

    MUMBAI: Yahoo Inc. has unveiled software ‘Go for TV’ that helps people to record television shows on their personal computers and use Yahoo services through televisions.

    It has launched a test version of Yahoo Go for TV and the software is now available for download at Yahoo’s website. Users should have computers equipped with a TV tuner circuit board and cables to connect to a television.

    The launch emphasises Yahoo’s plans to move beyond PC-based services. The company already offers photo and e-mail software for some mobile phones.

  • Daytime Emmies to feature an interactive fan zone

    Daytime Emmies to feature an interactive fan zone

    MUMBAI: This year’s Daytime Emmys in the US are filled with firsts. For the first time in its history, the show will be broadcast from Hollywood, and for the first time ever, the telecast will interact with its enthusiastic fans during the live broadcast.

    The show takes place on 28 April.

    The Luminous Colour Glaze Fan Zone is a new feature to the 33rd edition of the show and will be hosted by actor Cameron Mathison who plays Ryan Lavery in All My Children. The Zone will serve as an interactive element incorporated into the live ceremony

    Fans will have the opportunity to watch, interact with and meet the night’s Emmy Award winners immediately following their acceptance speeches from bleachers that will line Babylon Court in the Hollywood and Highland Complex.

    n addition, the telecast will open from this exciting new amphitheater-like setting with a rock-the-house performance by General Hospital actor and musician Rick Springfield (Jesse’s Girl), as he sings a mix of his best songs. During the show, fans won’t miss a moment as they watch live feeds of the ceremony taking place in the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

    ABC president daytime programming Brian Frons says, “Daytime fans are the most dedicated viewers in all of television. ‘The Luminous Color Glaze Fan Zone’ will allow them to share Emmy night with the stars they love in a way that has never been done before. In the past you have only heard the fans’ enthusiastic screams from the balcony. This is a chance for the viewers to connect with their energy and passion.”

  • MTV Movie Awards nominates ‘40-Year Old Virgin, ‘Wedding Crashers’

    MTV Movie Awards nominates ‘40-Year Old Virgin, ‘Wedding Crashers’

    MUMBAI: More than an award show, but a film unto itself! MTV in the US has announced the nominees, of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards.

    The comedies 40-Year Old Virgin and Wedding Crashers each received five nominations. The event will air in the US on 8 June.

    The show will have new categories of Best Hero, Sexiest Performance and the mtvU Student Filmmaker Award. And, in another first, all of this year’s categories, including Best Performance will make no distinction between male and female. Breaking the gender barrier and award show tradition, both actors and actresses will be vying for the same coveted golden popcorns.

    MTV US president Christina Norman says, “This year’s Movie Awards will be more than an awards show — it’s an experience completely inspired by the movies, and everything we love about them. This year’s cast of movies and stars are all deserving nominees, and there is no doubt this year’s Movie Awards will in itself, be a movie to remember.”

    Competing for best film are The 40 Year old Virgin, Wedding Crashers, Sin City, King Kong and Batman Begins. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall who play gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain have been nominated for best kiss. Their heterosexual competition consists of Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard for Hustle and Flow, Anna Faris and Chris Marquette for Just Friends, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt for Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Rosario Dawson and Clive Owen for Sin City.

    For on screen sexiness Beyonce Knowles for The Pink Panther, Jessica Alba for Sin City, Jessica Simpson for The Dukes of Hazzard, Ziyi Zhang for Memoirs of a Geisha and Rob Schneider for Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo have been nominated.

    Showing the huge gap between what critics consider a great film and what the youth want, critically acclaimed films like Crash which won the Best picture Oscar, A History of Violence, Capote, Munich and Syriana have all been shut out.

  • Ekta Kapoor launches talent hunt for ‘Kyunki…’ cast

    Ekta Kapoor launches talent hunt for ‘Kyunki…’ cast

    MUMBAI: Indian television’s most successful television soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is set for a 20-year leap and the next generation of actors will be chosen from a talent hunt.

    Walk-in auditions have been planned in three northern cities: New Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla and the hunt will kick start on 29 April.

    The leap makes way for a host of new characters to make their appearance on the small screen. The Ekta Kapoor headed creative team of Kyunki…. is stepping out of Mumbai to search for these new faces, informs an official release.

    “The highlight of this talent hunt is the search for “Krishnatulsi” who takes over the mantle of Tulsi from Smriti Irani as she takes over the mantle of Baa,” says Balaji Telefilms creative director Ekta Kapoor.

    “We are always on the look out for fresh talent but this time around it is very special. We are looking for the next generation of the Virani family. We started Kyunki… five years back with a large part of the cast selected from the masses and most of them, today, are well established artists with their own fan following. It therefore makes complete sense for us to go back to the masses to look for the next generation of the Virani family,” says Kapoor.

    The dates for audition in each city are:

    New Delhi — 29 and 30 April at Marwah Studio Noida.
    Shimla — 1 May at Chaura Maidan College.
    Chandigarh — 2 May at Dev Samaj College for Girls.

    The auditions are open to professional actors, models, theatre artists and the general public in the 18 to 25 years age group. Good diction, brilliant attitude and acting skills are factors critical in being short-listed, states the release.

  • Crest Animations’ ‘Jakers!…’ wins Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding children’s animated program

    Crest Animations’ ‘Jakers!…’ wins Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding children’s animated program

    MUMBAI: Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks has won a Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. Crest Animation Studios provided all the overseas services like modelling, rigging, texturing, animation, lighting, rendering and compositing for this series.

    Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks is a 3D, computer animated series that follows the adventure of a spunky eight-year-old pig named Piggley and his friends Dannan the Duck and Ferny the Bull, who live on a farm in Ireland.

    The award was conferred at the 33rd Annual Creative Craft Daytime Emmy Awards on 22 April. The 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is a presentation of the National Television Academy in cooperation with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

    Crest Animation Studios CEO A K Madhavan said, “It is a matter of great pride for us to be recognised for our quality of work by one of the most powerful body representing the American Television Industry. We have won accolades in the past like the BAFTA award and an ANNIE nomination for our work in Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. We have also won the Apsara Award for Tenali Rama; it is a special feeling, to be one of the best among the international players.”

    Crest is moving ahead on its way to become a globally recognized Computer Graphics Imaging (CGI) animation studio. Crest’s US-based subsidiary, RichCrest Animation (RCA), and Lions Gate Entertainment (LGE) have announced a three-picture co-production and co-financing arrangement to produce three state-of-the-art animated feature films for worldwide theatrical release.

    RCA and LGE would equally share the cost of production, as well as the profits. The rights to the first film under the agreement – Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, based on the Caldecott Medal-winning story by William Steig (the creator of the blockbuster Shrek) have been acquired, and the film is in development.