Neighbours Additions Revealed

With the recent departure of many Neighbours regulars and the annoucement of more to go it is with relief that I can actually show some of the new Erinsborough residents! Replacing the void after Caitlin Stasey's departure is Sunny Lee, appearing in Episode 5663 at newcomer Hanny Lee.

The new Ramsey's set to arrive a few months later are Will More (Harry Ramsey), Ashleigh Brewer (Kate Ramsey) and Kaiya Jones (Sophie Ramsey).

Photo & information courtesy of The Perfect Blend

Terminator, Sarah Connor Chronicles - Season 2, Episode 15, Desert Cantos

Most series pull in the viewers with dramatic stories set to a standard formula, Six Feet Under started with a death every week, Desperate Housewives has the incessant narration of Mary Alice but not The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In a refreshing mix up of television format the TV terminator series seems to subtly change its boundaries each week whilst still providing a compelling story. In Episode 14 we had a glimpse of Sarah’s husband, a guardian angel as he followed her through the episode. In other past episode we’ve flipped between present and future and for Episode 15 we have our story unfold throughout broken down segments of the mass funeral following Catherine Weavers’ murdering spree at the warehouse.

As the residents of the local town draw together in comfort after the death of so many of their loved ones and friends, Sarah, John, Derek and Cameron set about trying to find just what was going on in the warehouse, knowing only too well that it wasn’t an air vent manufacturing plant. Sarah’s vision of the flying bot is still clear in her mind and though the others don’t necessarily believe her they are encouraged to seek to the truth as to what was happening.

Crashing in on the funeral John sets about extracting information from the daughter of a murdered man whilst, seeing the picture of the man who had shot her, Sarah begins a similar treatment on his widow. In the procession John is taken to a scene where cows lay dead surrounding a pool of water by teenage girl, whilst at the funeral Derek realises that they are not the only ones digging for information as he spots someone, sent by Catherine Weaver, to clear up one last mess. Sarah, soaking up information from Diane, another widow, is given a set of keys to a storage box that Diane never knew about and upon entering it finds bloody rags and boxes of belongings – belongings that were a mother and son’s who dramatically vanished after she broke her terms of contract at the warehouse.

At the following wake, with input from Cameron, John & Derek soon realise that the teenage girl John’s been talking to is hiding something – her father isn’t dead after all. Whilst they try to discover why his whereabouts are being covered Sarah is on the trail of the company man, leading her into a basement where she discovers camera feeds and links to all of the company employee’s houses and a tunnel connection two of houses together.

Drawing the family of the non-deceased employee together they set about getting information of his whereabouts and just exactly what was happening at the facility only to met with ignorance and a sense of “never ask, never tell”. Realising that there are not going to gain any valuable information John takes his mother to where the cow carcases are, only to find the dead body of the company man, followed by an eruption from the pool when the bot that Sarah saw explodes out of the water and flies away, entering a truck and being shut down and driven away by the only surviving man from the facility. In no uncertain terms the team now know that there is indeed an AI flying about the skies, but where is Skynet?! Who is Skynet? And whatever happened to finding the Turk?!

Calling All Shorties

Whilst we in England are still enjoying Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model Tyra's empiric show snowballs on as it announces the casting call for Cycle 13 with just one difference, all models musn't be taller than 5'7"!!

Tyra's enforced a height restriction, none over 5'7" should apply

In a motion to turn the modelling show on its head Tyra announced "There have been top supermodels in the past that weren’t as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss. So we are changing up ‘Top Model’ for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!”

It seems that girls over this height will not be considered for the Cycle which leaves me wondering, with the apparent lack of success of any of the previous winners within the supermodel world can this only be a marketing ploy to get more viewers rather than an actual attempt to create supermodels? You decide.

ANTM - Cycle 11, Episode 5

After their new locks last week the show turned to the next crucial part of any models artillery – her walk. Arriving at a bowling alley Miss J quickly thrust a pair of high heeled bowling shoes at each girl and barked for them to strut the alley like never before. With Isis up first feeling confidant and with something to prove it was only a matter of time before she skidded on the shiny surface and nearly toppled over. Many of the girls seemed to have it this year and the only outrageously awful show was put on by Hannah who was so stiff she looked like she should be creaking each time she moved a limb. With no idea what to do at the end of the runway she whirled around and stomped back to the beginning, the rest of her competitors in hysterics.

 Returning to the house Isis and Analeigh went out of their way to try and help the struggling Alaskan but it was all too late when they discovered they were doing a fashion catwalk the following day. With much excitement the girls turned up to a vintage bank to find they would strutting down the catwalk as catburglers – and blindfolded! But, in a series twist, they also discovered that one of the girls would be leaving post catwalk, no photoshoot, no panel, no Tyra.

It wasn’t long before nerves set in and whilst some – Joselyn, McKey excelled through their first showcase, Hannah lost her nerve and all she’d learnt was swept away, whilst Sam embarrassed the designer by hoisting her skirt up at the end of the runway. It was a fairly obvious cut and after the two J’s announced their decision a teary Hannah left the competition.

In an ANTM first Hannah gets cut with no panel, no photo, no Tyra.

 But what next? Would there still be a cut? Was there still a photoshoot? What was happening?! Well ANTM went back to normal with the girls attending their next photshoot comfortingly in their own pool, shot by their own judge Nigel Barker. A water shoot the girls were to be immersed with only their nose up being shot.

Analeigh, fearing she was to be cut from the competition stepped up her game and proved some outstanding photo’s, with Sam and McKey and Clark continuing their upward rise. Joselyn, not able to swim couldn’t keep her nerve, a previous stunning Elina lost all focus and floundered and Isis, once again in a swimsuit, found her mind ill prepared for the photoshoot.

At judging Lauren Brie was called first, with Analeigh straight from last week’s bottom two coming a close second. Samantha, although with a stunning photo was viciously berated for disgusting the designer with her end of catwalk moves and ended up in the bottom two along with a sinking Isis. In the end Sam had the better picture and the transgender queen from Maryland crashed out of the competition.

The transgender queen sinks out of the competition

With Tyra cutting two this week, does it mean a reprise in the next episode or is it simply a tactic to spice things up?

Living - Mondays at 21.00

NEW SERIES - The Beast

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2009 our minds have been ever presently concerned with Patrick Swayze’s health rather that his acting credentials so it’s nice to see him once again taking the lead, this time in a undercover FBI role.

As far as this opening episode and pilot went it was far from original but if you like this genre of television it still had enough to suit everyone. With rookie agent Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel) becoming Charles Barker’s (Swayze) handpicked undercover partner the two set about bringing down a black market weapons gang, amidst a cover of punches, blown up cars, wrong doings and a general air of hostility. As always wanting to cause intrigue to further the series there was the inevitable first “drink” with a new girl, the problems of a rookie’s inexperience fitting in with his new partner, and the rookie’s over excelling confidence that he actually knew how to run the show already.

Swayze’s Barker is the FBI agent with his new rookie side kick

Trying to crack the weapon’s gang it was the duo’s responsibility to “borrow” a RPG (rocket launcher), find the appropriate contacts, set up the meeting and then capture the buyer alive whilst not trying to become worm food themselves. Ellis, on a mission to get the RPG activity keys, entered a den of meth and madness and found himself in a situation where he had to either smoke meth or take a risk of blowing a hole in his foot with a gun. He chose the meth option and soon found himself trying to focus through a haze of drug taking whilst still getting the job done.

All ended well as they took the gang down in style but it was the final moments that took an unexpected twist and made me want to see more. Returning home for the day Ellis found himself surrounded by a number of offices, some of whom he’d seen before throughout the operation but as other people. It seemed that his whole partnership with Barker was built on a lie, he’d been hand picked by them to ride alongside the FBI agent and discover whether he was crooked or not. I didn’t see that coming and it added a great twist.

It was also refreshing to see Ellis, as he looked across at the bar where his new date was waiting, realise that life was too difficult and he couldn’t include her, walking away and turning his life to focus on the undercover job in hand. This isn’t the usual plot, normally the girl is quickly drawn into the mix of danger, so it was refreshing to see Ellis take an unusual but appropriate turn. However, she does live in his building so whether this stays that way I’m not sure is likely.

I’m looking forward to see where this series goes, it may become original and fresh, it may die a traditional and obvious death, the next few weeks are sure to tell.

Five USA – Wednesday’s at 10.00

Terminator – Sarah Connor Chronicles, Season 2, Episode 14, the Good Wound

After what seems an eternity Sarah and John are back in our lives with the continuation of Season 2. With initial rumours that the series was to be scrapped to relieve fears for a flagging Prison Break, now that the latter series has been cancelled perhaps we will see a reprieve?!

The Good Wound opens with Sarah in hospital after she’s been shot in the leg at the desert warehouse. She slowly comes too and realises what’s happening, worried to see police outside her room, and feeling like death itself. John is currently tied up with Riley who has slit her wrists while Derek is trying to find Sarah and warehouse and Sarah finds herself completely alone until the vision of John’s dad, Kyle Reese who says “come with me”.

Yanking the IV from her arm and shattering the window as to lure the guard into her room she quickly takes him down, takes his gun and hobbles out of the hospital. But the wound is worse than she thinks and taking action she kidnaps a doctor at gunpoint. Checking into a motel and still with the doctor – Felicia – at gunpoint she directs the surgeon to remove the bullet. Again Kyle Reese appears, asking her to calm down, to take the gun off of Felicia, to accept help and not always be so wary. Following her advice she starts to answer the doctors question, talking about John, talking about how there are people after her, wanting to kill her. Felicia says that Sarah isn’t the only one and as she starts to dig deep into Sarah’s leg the pair discuss John.

Coming to half an hour later Felecia tells a drained Sarah that she can’t remove the bullet, its too close to the femoral artery and one small knick would mean 4minutes of life left. Summoning all her energy Sarah, with the help of the surgeon, travel to a hospital and breaking into the morgue prepare to do surgery with more equipment.

Meanwhile John questions his priorities when it comes to his mother and Riley. After Riley does a running act, he asks Cameron to help find her to have response “We don’t need to” and he finally starts to see what is truly important.

Back in the morgue Felecia successfully removes the bullet moments before Derek arrives and points a gun at her. Grabbing Sarah’s gun off the counter Felecia comes to the conclusion that Derek must be the man after her patient and the pair eye each other up carefully…that is until the senior police man and seemingly Felecia’s partner arrives. Whilst Sarah’s been having surgery the police force have been busy trying to track her down and clear up the mess as Derek has systematically destroyed all their evidence. It becomes apparent that the deputy has attacked Felicia in the same way she believes Sarah has been treated and pulling the trigger by accident the doctor ends up shooting and killing him. Making a swift exit with Derek the pair say to blame the death on them, but Felecia says she’ll tell them he attacked her, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t done it before.

At the basement lab Ellison is shocked to discovered that John Henry has accessed the internet and found out everything there is know about his new body. It seems John Henry’s intelligence is growing and telling Catherine Weaver that she is not human he relates to her a non encrypted message he found on the internet covering a conversation in relation to the chemical makeup of his body. Catherine Weaver visits the warehouse in the desert, obviously the source of the phonecall conversation, and kills everyone there before blowing it up.

Just what is she up to?

Just what is Catherine’s game? Is she creating John Henry to out do Skynet? Is John Henry skynet? When is Ellison going to realise there is something far more sinister going on here than he ever imagined? And will Sarah and John ever get a break from saving their skins to actually focus on bringing Skynet down?

I sincerely hope this series continues, even for those who weren’t original terminator fans it has drama, action, intrigued and actually attempts to characterise its cast rather than had 2D action heroes. The scene’s of the post apocalyptic Earth are great as well as the weave of characters from passed and present. Long may it continue.

Lost, Series 5, Episode 5 - This Place is Death

As Ben desperately tries to convince the members of “The Oceanic Six” to return to the island Sun takes her chance to take down the man that she blames for the death of her husband and points a gun at Ben. Shocked to learn that Jin is still alive she agrees to go with him when Ben offers to show her proof but to the coordinators dismay only Jack follows. He fails to reunite the Oceanic Six for their trip back to the island and as they three of them pull up outside a church they are surprised to also to see Desmond, on his quest to find Daniel Faraday’s mother. Upon entering the church they are met by a woman lighting candles, she is Daniels mother, she has the knowledge of how to return and dismayed at the turnout she agrees that is too late and that the four of them, including Desmond has to be enough.

Back on the island Jin is still trying to come to terms with what is happening. Rousseau and her team convince him to accompany them towards the radio tower purely because its in the direction of the Oceanic camp but upon entering the jungle they come across their old foe the smoke monster. Dragging one of their team down a hole Jin knows only too well what is happening and stops a heavily pregnant Rousseau from following knowing that she is very much alive in the future. A glaring in the sky and a painful screech to his ears and Jin jumps through time to find himself alone in the tree’s again.

Continuing to make his way towards the beach he hears voices and running around the corner see’s Rousseau pointing her gun directly at her boyfriends head. He pleads with her, tells him that he’s the father, that she knows who he is and just as she lowers her gun he takes aim ready to fire. Rousseau, being the better shot, takes him down with a bullet to the head and turning to see Jin sets him scrambling for the jungle through a line of bullets. Another time jump and Jin once again here’s voices but this time it is that of Sawyer and Locke, he has jumped to the correct time period and he is relieved to join his lost comrades.

After fleeing Rousseau’s bullets Jin is relieved to find his comrades

Things are getting worse for Charlotte, most of the team are now experiencing nosebleeds but as they take several sequential time jumps the red headed Brit collapses to the ground, her mind rambling through different times, her body not able to cope with the haemorrhaging. Letting the team go on Daniel stays behind with her as she alludes to the fact that she grew up on the island, that she had spent her life trying to return and that as a child she had been scared by a man on the island who told her never to come back again lest she wanted to die. In a moment of clarity she realises that is was in fact Daniel who told her before finally succumbing and dying in Daniels arms.

Charlotte finally succumbs but not before some time travel rambling

At the Orchid Station they are pleased to see it standing, until of course, another time jump. Arriving in a time where it didn’t exist John rushes down a bank to find a well, a well that Charlotte had mentioned in her ramblings. Taking the rope he starts to make his way down, only to time jump halfway through and plummet to the base of the well where he shatters many bones.

He is met by one of the others, someone that tells him that Ben shouldn’t have moved the island, that is was meant to be moved only by John and that he had to correct the mistake. Stumbling his way to the wheel with bones sticking through his leg in grisly fashion John summons all of his strength and starts to push the wheel.

With John now at the island’s helm is about to save our island survivors from fatal haemorrhaging? I sure hope so otherwise by the time the others arrive there’ll actually be none left to save and their entire reason for returning will be wasted. With Kate, Aaron, Sayid and Hurley all out of Ben’s mix will they actually be able to return and what will happen to those members that stay in the real world? And think of Penelope! She’s only just found Desmond again, they’ve had a child and now it looks like she’s going to lose him all over again!!

Heroes - Series 3, Episode 15 - Trust and Blood

With the aircraft plummeting to earth after Claire’s attempt at freeing the Hero hostages at the end of last episode we were left with a horrible thought that this may be the end for some of our characters.

Taking a slightly different method to the usual episode Nathan relates the story of incidents down the phone to his mother. As the plane crashes and victims scurry away from the crash site Nathan’s forces are quickly sent in to clear up the huge mess that’s been created by his daughter. With Hiro, Matt and Mohinder dashing one way and Claire and Peter another it’s hard to choose who to follow.

As the trio make a break for freedom Matt once again is overcome with the desire to draw and with his eyes glazed over lumbers off in a random direction, Hiro and Mohinder unconvincingly in tow. Stumbling across a seemingly abandoned caravan Matt takes the opportunity of paper and crayons to sketch the future, only horrified to see that he’s drawn Daphne, back at the crash site, being shot. Along with Hiro’s will to do good and his own desire to save his love they convince Mohinder to go back to the plane to try and save her.

Meanwhile Claire and Peter are also trying to make a quick exit just as Noah Bennett arrives and points a gun at Petrelli’s head. Now only able to hold onto one power at a time he is pretty much defenceless against Horn rimmed glasses though he has one major advantage to himself – Claire, who quickly pulls the daughter card and allows Peter to escape.

Running into a scared Tracy in the bush the pair quickly establish that they need to try and pull Nathan in, get him to stop his crusade, get him to see sense. Using her feminine charms Tracy calls Nathan and asks him to meet her. However he turns up with backup and though Noah has Peter in clear shot he fails to shoot and Peter once again escapes capture by pulling Nathan’s power and whizzing away. An unlucky Tracy is once again caught, failing to change Nathan’s mind, and is quickly drugged and shackled.

At the crash site Daphne and Ando have arrived in a bid to save Matt and Hiro. The speedster quickly pulls a recaptured Claire to safety but as the team decide what to do she is shot and we believe killed in front of Matt. Losing control of his mind the future visionary takes power over one of the advancing troops, turning him on his colleagues and shooting them all dead. They once again escape the clutches, all apart from Claire who is now, tiresomely, captured again and sent back to her mother to live a “normal” life.

Daphne’s down as another female Hero is killed.

Meanwhile Sylar is still busy trying to track his family down and taking a mother and son hostage decides to pursued his kidnapped SAS to talk by torturing the hostages in front of him. He doesn’t get what he bargained for though as the son seems to have powers of his own and just as we think Sylar is about to kill again, the teenager miraculously saves his life as the SAS throws a bullet. Seeing himself reflected in the boy Sylar is convinced to take the new power with him on the promise that the boy can unearth where Sylar’s true father is.

With this new spin on things I’m intrigued to see what happens next. Our crew of Heroes have now become a rogue gang, out to seek justice, revenge, truth. With Nathan quickly turning into his father we wonder if any of the insiders are likely to be swayed – will Angela come good for Peter, will Claire give up always doing as her father says and turn into the slaying catsuit seductress of the future that we have glimpsed in the past and with Sylar now teamed up do we have a new, stronger force on our hands?

ANTM - Cycle 11, Episode 4

It’s here, hurrah, makeover day! This is by far probably my favourite episode of every series and though I continue to berate Tyra Banks when it comes to the makeovers she sure knows what she’s talking about. Its often that she’ll give a model a radial new look that you think couldn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of working but when the camera starts snapping the new image is pure genius. Whilst most of the girls had the usual treatment of adding to their already luxurious locks and simply adding or changing colour a follicle there and wispy strand there were several that had radical new looks.

Favourite Elina went from her Angelina lookalike to a big, red, bushy hair – it works like a dream. Meanwhile McKey & Samantha had dramatic shortening of the their locks to crisp and short styles whilst Clark went from blonde to dark and Hannah had a glorious fringe put in with an edgy straight cut shoulder length background.

McKey, Eline and Samantha had dramatic reductions

The newly cropped girls were given a cover girl cosmetic challenge at Walmart. Using the makeup lines products they were to deliver a non scripted 30second piece to camera to sell the product – they’re starting the girls off early this season with their advert delivery. Hannah won by delivering a stunning, friendly and warm performance.

 At the photoshoot the girls were once again started off early in the season as J Manuel left them in the capable hands of Russell James, the photographer responsible for Tyra Banks famous Sports Illustrated bikini shot, and the designer of the bikini’s the girls were to wear, supermodel Susan Holmes. Whilst some excelled with the new looks others flopped as Analeigh clawed her way up a rock, Brittany was stiff even walking and Hannah had no clue where to place her body.

 At judging Elina, rocking her new red hair was called first whilst Lauren-Brie and another stunning photo became a close second. Though the challenge winner Hannah lagged in third place but it came down to Analeigh, the figure skater who had to bring more to her shoots and Brittany, the beautiful girl who simply looked vacant on set and in her photo’s. It was a pretty obvious choice and Brittany was sent packing.

The beach leaves Brittany feeling vacant.

Living - Mondays at 21.00

Corrie "May be sold off by ITV"

The Sunday Express reports that the longest running soap may be sold off by Granada Television due to a crisis with funding brought about by the dire economy. Instead of being produced by ITV's production company it would be sold to an independant company to save costs.

This comes only days after it was reported that Emmerdale was likely to be retracted to filming in Manchester rather than Yorkshire...spelling almost definate closure for Yorkshire TV.

Skins - Series 3, Episode 4

Continuing its march through teenage adolescence, gang violence, bad language and an immense mixed cauldron of drugs and sex season 3 of Skins is still managing to hold my attention. I spent the first half hour of this episode, featuring one of my favourite comedians, Sally Phillips as Pandora’s very straight mother, with a huge beam on my face, such that the story was so funny and acted out so fantastically.

With Pandora’s birthday looming, she and Effie hold host to the scene of yet more cameo roles with Harry Enfield, Effie’s father, finally finding out about his wife’s affair as her lover, David Badiel, arrives at their house to express his undying love. With Effie at breaking point she questions’ why she and Pandora are friends to which the loopy lass replies “Because I’m stupid and will do anything you say.”

 Pandora’s birthday is just what they need, though Effie along with Naomi, Katie & Emily when they arrive at her house, are rather aghast to find out that it’s a pyjama party, they have to play twister and Pandora’s mum has actually made them all customised evening wear. There is a hysterical scene where the party goers are made to bake brownies in the kitchen whereupon Pandora’s mother starts singing “London’s burning” in canon, insisting the other’s all join in. Katie soon realises they need something drastic to spice the party up and before you know it she’s spiked the brownies with MDMA and Effie along with Pandora’s mother are soon in a world of their own (try watching Pandora’s mum gazing into a bowl of wobbling jelly without smiling).

Everyone except Pandora is far from impressed

 It doesn’t stay this way for long, as Pandora’s mum passes out, Pandora locks herself in the toilet in tears and Cook’s climbed through the window much to JJ’s horror. Creeping through the house to drag out a vodka filled Cook he see’s Emily and Naomi kissing in the living room and gets thoroughly frightened, especially when Katie’s footballer boyfriend and friends gatecrash the party, taking over and soon descending the quiet suburban pyjama party into complete chaos.

Emily manages to catch another kiss with Naomi

 Emerging from her safe house in the early hours of the morning Pandora’s met with a scene of destruction. Freddie has saved JJ, the party goers have all but vanished and only Cook remains, rummaging through the revellers trash in an attempt to find more to drink. A saddened Pandora is cheered up immensely after he agrees to a game of twister to complete her night and the pair, driven by Cook’s “brain” and Pandora’s desperation at losing her first love Thomas, end up sealing their friendship with some sunrise nuptials on the living room floor. Horrendously, as Pandora says goodbye to Cook, who should come running up the street shouting “mother let me back” but a jubilant Thomas, straight back into the arms of his devoted Pandora.

With Thomas a seemingly not one hit wonder I wonder if Pandora, or Effie who only too well knows the secret, will let on or try and hide the complexity of the situation. Only time will tell!

 E4 - Thursdays at 10pm

Desperate Housewive bids farewell to Wisteria Lane

Today is a day of mourning for Desperate Housewives fans as Nicolette Sheridan, who plays feisty man eating Edie Britt confirmed that she is to leave the show currently in its fifth season. Her spokesperson revealed to People.com that she is ready to leave saying "she had a great time on the show and is looking forward to her next project"

Nicolette plays man eater Edie Britt

Currently filming its fifth season Desperate Housewives is set for its finale in May, with Edie making her grand exit in April. Creator Marc Cherry had previously hinted that there were going to be dramatic plots for the character mentioning that Edie would be crossing a moral boundary that "will have devastating consequences for her and lead to a shocking conclusion to her time on Wisteria Lane"

Desperate Housewives - Season 5, Episode 14 - Mama Spent Money When She Had None

The Scavo’s are broke. Tom’s sports car has to be sold and as Bree glides by in her new Lexus, gushing about all of its fabulous features, there’s no doubt that there will be trouble. Word quickly spreads through the women of Lynette’s dire situation and taking matters into her own hands as only Bree does best, the stressed out mother and pizzeria owner soon finds a cheque for $20,000 thrust upon her. Aghast by her friends generosity Lynette quickly determines that though the money would save her financial situation she cannot accept it as a gift and Bree quickly becomes a 15% shareholder in the Scavo’s food outlet.

Bree’s generosity quickly comes between friends

Elsewhere the other housewives also have financial matters on their minds – Susan finally gets a place for MJ into the private school she’s been bugging for months only to discover that the fee’s are far more than she and Mike can afford. Finding Katherine wearing a brand new and beautiful pearl necklace gift from Mike, Susan becomes angry and attempts to steal the necklace back. Confronting Mike over the situation he embarrassingly reveals that he couldn’t afford a real pearl necklace and so bought Katherine a fake, and that he is working all the hours that god sends to try and put money by for his son. Humbly Susan repents and realises that it is she who must work harder and grovelling at the school’s office convinces the head to give her an art assistant post at the school, thus affording her the discount needed for MJ’s school fee’s to be met.

Money is not a problem however for the newly wealthy Solices and as a celebration Carlos arranges to take Gabrielle out to an expensive restaurant. Seeing the need to make it extra special Gabrielle takes it upon herself to try and fit back into the gown she wore when Carlos first proposed, it however no longer fits as well as it did and managing to get an invite to Edie’s extreme workout class she sets about losing the weight. However, after reading the work out class’s contract and discovering that words such as “can’t”, “donut” and “cake” are banned and partaking in the first session with the angry and fierce ex Israeli army instructor Gabby decides to quit. That is until the class arrive on her lawn at 6am, the instructor blowing his whistle and forcing her out of the house. After refusing to take part Edie gives Gabby a few home truths telling her that they as a group had decided to come over because they knew how important getting into the dress was for the latino. That Gabby was fast turning into the self conceited bitch she used to be, and that Edie much preferred the dumpy, poor housewife of the last few months. Realising that Edie was actually speaking truth Gabby returned to the group, a smile from the instructor and the other women, and realised there was more to the training group than pain, lactic acid and shouting – there was friendship.

Gabby’s back to being trim but needs to do some re-evaluating

At the pizzeria Lynette threw a party to celebrate Bree’s becoming a shareholder but things got off to a bad start when the red headed regimented queen of food discovered the Scavo’s were dishing up pizza from her best selling book without using the correct ingredients. Taking matters into her own hands Bree threw out the old pizza’s and started over, much to the anger of Lynette who drove off from the party, bumping Bree’s new Lexus in the meantime, and leaving the foodie alone at her own book signing. Things became worse when Lynette later angrily gave Bree a cheque for the damage to the car and stated that money had truly come between them.

With our current economic crisis it is nice to see it being portrayed, though with some delusion, through Desperate Housewives. How Susan ever managed on her book illustration I’ll never know so it’s with some relief that she finally gets a job and equally its nice to see Gabby, though richer than of late, not reverting to the money grabbing, shallow minded bitch she was originally. With the undertones of Dave still ever present – Tom Scavo discovers that it was Dave that put Preston into the firing line for arson – there are still rumblings of a big explosive final but it is refreshing to see this season return to some of the more common, but by no means lesser, suburban storylines rather than relying on big, complicated and unrealistic plots to thrill the viewer.

Neighbours - Ramsey's coming home, Parkers out?

Australia's TV week is reporting the arrival of Ramsey's back in Erinsborough. The trio of children, 18, 16 and 12 are rumoured to be the offspring on Paul's half sister, a previously unknown Jill Ramsey. With the Ramsey's and Robinson's always willing to cause their fair share of trouble I'm sure these new additions' will quickly start causing havoc on the street.

It is also reported that Steve Bastoni (Steve Parker) has quit his role as the street vet 2 years after he arrived. With Bridget's current future looking far from stable are we about to lose all of the Parkers in one fail Ramsey replacing swoop?

Steve Bastoni is rumoured to have quit his role as Steve Parker

UPDATE: The Herald Sun is now fuelling rumours of the Parker's departure reporting that it was decided to axe the Parkers when Eloise Mignon (Bridget Parker) decided to leave to return to university studies. The Parker trio will film their final scenes in April, to appear on Australian screens in July.

ANTM - Cycle 11, Episode 3

Modellicious booty is back tonight and with the emphasis on posing and shapes Benny Ninga was back on the scene to teach the girls what was fierce and what was not. First off the girls had to model inside stretchable elastic tubes and then this was continued the following day with their first official task – posing with Tarina Tarantino’s rage of handbags and accessories.

Whilst some girls rose to the challenge others flopped considerably with Hannah placing a handbag in a light, Sheena placing a leg behind her head and proceeding to put the bag between her legs and Nikeysha telling all who was watching that she needed to pee before straddling the accessories like never seen before. With some fierce moves Elina stole the show and won herself a bag of jewellery and the place of first ever task winner for cycle 11.

Back at the house the girls threw off the stress of the day by plunging themselves into the pool and playing truth and dare. Breaking the moment Hannah brought celebrations to a stand still as she pushed Isis away from her before trying to defend herself by calling herself a stereotypical white girl, rubbing all the ethnic girls in the house the wrong way and portraying herself as a racist – much to her complete denial.

At the photo shoot their task was put to the test as they were asked to pose on a rope ladder hanging from a crane and look as fierce and ethereal as possible. Whilst Lauren-Brie, Elina and Marjorie killed it, others including Isis failed to impress.

At judging Lauren-Brie received rave reviews including the panel saying her photo was a top five photo out of all the series, whilst Isis, Nikeysha and Brittany bombed. Sheena was questioned over her breasts, saying there were indeed real but later stepped forward to admit they weren’t. Lauren-Brie was top photo of the week whilst bottom two were Isis and Nikeysha, the latter who was sent packing.

Don't fall Nikeysha

Living - Mondays, 21.00

Lost, Series 5, Episode 4 - The Little Prince

Kate, still fleeing from an unknown menace who’s trying to take custody of Aaron, finds comfort in fellow island survivor Sun. Leaving her son with Sun she embarks on a trail to try and reason with the lawyers and to find out just who is trying to take custody, only the island survivors know the true identity of Aaron. With the lawyers not repenting she decides on a stake out after discovering that a meeting is planned with the applicant later that day.

Meanwhile Sun receives a packet which, disappearing quickly into the bedroom, is revealed to contain a gun. At hospital Jack continues to care for Sayid after his run in with the would be assassins. Called into the corridor by an angry colleague he runs in Ben as he comes to assist. Upon re-entering the room where Sayid is being treated they discover their friend rummaging through the pockets of his latest victim, another would be assassin. Jacks fears are raised as a card with Kate’s address is found and rushing to meet her on her stake out he agrees to follow the lawyer alongside her.

 

Kate is out to find who is trying to attain custody of Aaron

 Pulling up at a hotel the door answerer is a familiar face, that of Claire’s mother. After a brief meeting with the lawyer Jack convinces Kate to let him speak to her, after all he has met her before at his father’s funeral where he discovered that Claire was in fact his half sister. It becomes quickly obvious that Claire’s mother knows nothing of Aaron, expecting him to have perished along with her daughter on ill fated flight 815 and is only in town to collect her compensation cheque.

Convincing Kate to come with him Jack takes her to the rendevous location where Kate comes face to face with Ben who confides to her that it is in fact he who was trying to get custody of Aaron. He, along with the others must all return to the island otherwise certain peril faces those that they left behind. This includes Hurley who Ben has now spoken to the authorities about, dispelling truths that he murdered the man outside his mental home, and who will soon be released.

On the island Charlotte’s haemorrhaging is getting worse and though she’s up and about again things are looking pretty grim for her. Another time trip takes them back to several months after they arrived on the island and Sawyer, hearing voices, see’s Kate helping Claire give birth in the jungle, but before being able to say anything disappears again in another time jump. John realises that it all started with Ben at the orchid station and that they should make their way back there, something which is made slightly easier when they get back to the beach to find that the camp has returned and though their motorised boat isn’t there a canoe has replaced it. Trouble follows though as the owners of the canoe soon come following armed with guns, and though a lucky time trip saves them from the bullets it soon places them in the middle of a storm causing them to wash back on shore still far from the orchid station where both Juliette and Miles.

As other's start getting nosebleeds Charlotte's future looks pretty grim.

A body floats face down in the water and is soon pulled into a rubber dingy by a group of people speaking French. Turning the man over they are shocked to see a Korean man – Jin – and after arriving on the beach and realising that one of the French woman is pregnant it becomes obvious that she is Rousseau.

I’m not sure how shocked we’re supposed to be at this…after all, they are tripping back and forth through time so unless she says something completely startling then I’m not sure we’re in for a discovery here. However, I do want to see how on earth Ben convinces Sun to come with them, especially since she’s intend upon killing him.

Skins - Series 3, Episode 3

A different flavour this week as Thomas lands on our screen, a Congo immigrant who has travelled to England for an optimistic new start. Taking up residence in a vacant and somewhat dilapidated flat Thomas sets about carving out a place for himself – he tidies his new home, he stands up to a gang of children trying to rob a newsagents and he carries home a very stoned Pandora after bumping into her and Effie at a bus stop.

Everything seems to be going well for Thomas until an unwanted and unpleasant visitor arrives at his flat in the form of gangster Johnny White. Soon thrown into a scary and what looks like a torturous setting Johnny warns Thomas that he has moved into his patch, that the flat is his flat and that if Thomas wants in anyway to stay in the area he better listen up and pay up fast.

Thomas has an optimistic outlook on life - even when Johnny White turns up

Optimistic as always Thomas quickly sets about trying to find a job and though, whilst at the job centre they determine he has no skills of use, he soon finds himself as a cleaner at the local college, a scene where he soon once again spots the alternatively loopy Pandora. Embracing each other’s eccentricities Pandora invites him to her aunts (a wonderful cameo by Maureen Lipman) who serves up “special” tea and scones and whereupon we soon find out that she is in fact – and drawing upon one of my favourite films Saving Grace – naively growing vast quantities of cannabis in her greenhouse.

Thomas, quickly bringing an also naïve Pandora up to speed, sets upon drying, weighing and bagging up the drug, realising that if he can sell it he can easily make the money that is being demanded by gangster Johnny. A quick phone call later and our entire skins cast are on hand and at the ready to pedal the drug at an underground rave venue. Moments later they have made all the cash that Thomas needs, Emily has finally admitted that she was the one that kissed Naomi not the other way around, and Johnny White is once again on the war path after spotting the gang pushing drugs on his patch.

This time around the gang aren’t quite so lucky as the gangster and his mob catch up with them, recognising both Thomas and Cook immediately and threatening inevitable violence. However, at this point, a so far quiet and rather timid Thomas steps in, it seems the gain of friends has brought out a fire in him and he challenges Johnny White to a one on one fight – if the gangster wins then he takes all of Thomas’s money and does what he wants, if Thomas wins he leaves him and all his friends alone for good. After showing his strength of character earlier by eating an entire pot noodle at boiling point Johnny’s challenge is chillies, to eat as many as possible without flinching. After consuming one with a smirk on his face the gangster is stunned as Thomas grabs a handful and admits that he used to eat these all the time as a child, winning the challenge and ensuring his friends are never bothered again. In their ecstatic state the gang celebrate back at Thomas’s flat – the usual concoction of booze, drugs and sex – unfortunately for Thomas though his mother appears on the scene and sends him packing back to the Congo.

How will Pandora cope with the departure of her Thomas?

Continuing its brilliant new series Episode 3 throws us a slightly different style than usual with the episode focussing on a previously unknown character with very little to do with the rest of the skins gang. Thomas’s outlook on life is refreshingly bright, even when he is put in a dangerous environment and it’s a real sense of friendship survives all that champions through the episode. With Thomas sent back to Congo will we see him again? How will Pandora cope with the departure of her first kiss? And is Johnny White really going to leave the gang alone?

E4 - Thursdays at 10.00

Heroes - Series 3, Episode 14 - A Clear & Present Danger

Things in the Petrelli household are getting sinister – I know, could they really get more sinister? It’s several months since Arthur Petrelli was killed and Sylar was presumed dead after trying to outdo Claire and Angela. Things have changed. Matt & Daphne are trying to live normal lives, Peter’s back to work as a paramedic, Angela’s helping Claire choose schools and Nathan’s getting a little too friendly with the White House. Tracy’s plan of getting Nathan to the top seems to be working and as we watch him in a TV interview something is not right. Tracy goes to her bathroom, the window is open, and before long she’s surrounded by SAS, weapons pointed at her in all directions, and even with her power she’s taken down.

 At the Petrelli’s Claire is also feeling the unease. As Angela hurries her along to choose colleges Claire’s mind is too busy with questions on Sylar’s whereabouts, on disappearances of people, of why her father (biological) keeps going on secret business trips, to be persuaded into any kind of educational direction. Her mind made up to leave and be a hero, with or without help, she packs her bags, not before overhearing a conversation between her grandmother and father discussing the take down of Matt Parkman and Peter.

 As she rushes to protect Matt, informing Peter on the way, Mohinder is in similar trouble. Cornered on a roof top he manages to fight his way from the SAS and is graciously saved by Mr Bennett…..who of course, in true Heroes way, promptly delivers Mohinder back to the very people he’s trying to flee. Another one down.

 At Parkman’s Matt is going through a new transformation as his spirit guide appears in visions and before long he’s the newest in a line of visionaries who are able to paint the future. Not understanding his drawings, until Claire arrives and the pair discover a drawing depicting that she would do just that, Matt has no time to discover the true meaning of this new power as once again the SAS arrive, another two Heroes down.

Arriving in an aircraft hanger we see many taken down Heroes, by this time also including a powerless Hiro, shackled, hooded and drugged being trudged towards an aeroplane. Nathan, overseeing the entire operation is shocked to find Claire amongst the mix and quickly gives her a way out, bundles her into the back of a car and tells it to take off. She quickly takes out the driver of the car and as the plane is taking off manages to stow herself in the cargo hold….once aboard releasing as many of the prisoners as she can. Heroes released she dashes to the cockpit only to find Mr Bennett happily at the helm whilst all hell breaks loose in the hold as Peter, sucking up Tracy’s power, accidently manages to freeze half the plane off.

With the plane going down with half our cast on it, Peter holding on for dear life and perilously close to being sucked out, I was hastened to wonder if we were about to see a massive cull of cast which has been secretly kept under wraps. Will Ando be able to save Hiro? Will Sylar, who obliterated any attack on his life by the SAS, try to help his captured Heroes?

Heroes is still as attractive as ever but whilst famous for blurring the lines between good and evil, hero and villain, it is starting to become stale with the inevitability that in each series all that were bad previously will show good sides and vice versa, Mr Bennett is typical for this. Peters increasing whinge about saving the world and doing everything to save people is starting to annoy and I’m starting to wonder if they’ve gone one twist too far.

America's Next Top Model, Cycle 11, Episode 2 - Final 14

Tyra Bank’s “Look at how fabulous I am” show returns to our screens in Cycle 11 with the obligatory Monday night slot on Living for us British viewers. Rumours of supermodel quitting the show after having a showdown with series creative director Jay Manuel seem to have been unfounded and she is back with the fake smiles, attention seeking scripts and unfaltering belief that she really is the next thing to god. This being said, I can never draw myself away from the screen so it was with much anticipation that I waited for the new series.

 Things have changed a little this series. The girls have headed back to LA for their homebase and the house set up is as normal. In an unprecedented turn of events Tyra this year has actively sought out a pre-op transsexual for the final cut after seeing her as a background extra in one of the Cycle 10 photo’s. Naturally this causes certain havoc within the house and group, 101 questions, a number of the more traditional girls taking great offence, immediately causing hatred in viewers and endearing Isis, and those that befriend her, to us. Whether her inclusion was done for effect or because she actually is a good model remains to be seen but it makes good viewing. I particularly like the footage of slightly sleezy Nigel Barker eying her up and down before he knew, I wonder if he still feels the same (though I am hastened to think that Nigel would actually chat up anything that moved).

It was with sadness that we saw Isis, on her first photoshoot, being taunted by Sharaun behind the scenes (ooh, what’s all that hair, he needs to shave, is that stubble rash?) though Isis dealt with it very well.

When it came to judging Isis’s photo was stunning, she was called second (only because I think the judges didn’t want to further an already residual bias towards the wannabe model) and Sharaun was in the bottom two. Haha! The bitch is gone, that’ll teach her.

Bye Bye Sharaun, good riddance

The panel remained Pauline Porizkova, Miss J, Tyra and Nigel Barker, though they lacked a guest judge in this first round which I wonder whether will continue. The first person called in the callout also has their photo displayed in the house for the week – this week is was a stunned and nervous Marjorie. Also for a first all the judges met with the girls initially for a one on one which, though hasn’t been included up until now, gave a good spin on things.

Can’t wait for more bitching next week….oh, and maybe some good photo’s.

Living, Mon - 9pm.

Demons, Season 1, Episode 5

Demons continues its intermittent ride this week as Luke, now starting to adjust to life as a “half life” slayer, finds himself in mortal danger. Mina, back to her normal state after last week’s vampire outing, sets her sights on unearthing the death of a teenage boy….only to have her vision flash the image of Luke’s dead body on a rooftop into her mind. Galvin proceeds to tell Luke to stay safe, at home, out of harms way which is just what a rebellious 18 year old wants to hear right?

In typical horror fashion Luke doesn’t listen to Galvin’s pleas, is soon socialising at school and trying his best to attract the attention of the newest girl in town – the very attractive but somewhat hostile Alice .

Whilst Luke continues to ignore any threat to his life Galvin and Mina set about trying to discover just what is after their slayer. The solving of a manuscript clue in the vision leads them to the conclusion that it the would be assassin is on a revenge killing, an old slay of the Van Helsings has come back to haunt them. After being chased through a tunnel by a dragon like creature & a ball of fire they soon discover that the perpetrator is in fact a Harpie, a woman come monster who lures her victims to a siren death. 2 of the three Harpie sisters were cut down by a Van Helsing forbearer, it doesn’t take a genius to work out just who’s come back.

Luke by this time is smitten with his new found love, he’s shown her around London, they’ve had ice creams on the beach, she’s been on a killing spree and is gently luring Luke in. Irate at even the slightest possibility that Galvin might be correct Luke decides to test it himself by bringing Alice to his flat and trying to induce her transformation. Being an ancient being she however is slightly intelligent and switches the drinks but before long Luke discovers the truth, after another bloody death and a wonderful transformation as Alice bone shatteringly and painfully transforms into her true self and along with Galvin and Mine tracks her down and smites her.

The success of ITV’s Demons has been sporadic with some great episodes alongside poorly written scripts and cameo castings. Whilst enjoyable it still remains to be a poor mans Buffy, a wannabe Supernatural. It remains to be seen whether the series can pull out of its nosedive but so far it doesn’t bid well for a second season.