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Just months after “Young Sheldon” aired its series finale, favorites Georgie and Mandy are back for yet another spinoff.

Titled “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” the new CBS sitcom will see Montana Jordan and Emily Osment reprise their “Young Sheldon” roles as Georgie and Mandy, respectively, as the young couple navigates marriage and parenting.

This time, Georgie and Mandy have packed their bags and headed to live with Mandy’s parents, played by Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones, who have both appeared in “Young Sheldon.” They will also be joined by some newcomers to the “Big Bang Theory” universe.

For the full breakdown on which “Young Sheldon” characters will be returning — and where you’ve seen them before — keep on reading.

Montana Jordan as Georgie in “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage” (Troy Harvey / 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

Montana Jordan as Georgie

Montana Jordan stars as Georgie Cooper, reprising his...

CBS’ Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage has cast Jessie Prez and Dougie Baldwin in series regular roles.

The series follows Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage.

Prez is Ruben, a long-time employee at McAllister’s tire store who’s less than enthusiastic about the shop’s newest hire, Jim’s son-in-law, Georgie. Baldwin is Connor McAllister, Mandy’s younger brother, a talented oddball with musical prowess who still lives with his parents. Coddled by his mother, Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones), and hassled by his father, Jim (Will Sasso), Connor doesn’t fit in even in his own family.

Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro and Steve Holland will serve as executive producers of the series, from Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Prez began his acting...

Mandy McAllister’s younger brother will look a little different when he resurfaces on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

The Young Sheldon spinoff has cast Dougie Baldwin (Disjointed) in the series-regular role of Connor, TVLine has learned. He succeeds Joseph Apollonio, who originated the role of Mandy’s sib in a Season 6 episode of the Big Bang Theory prequel.

More from TVLine<em>Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage</em>: Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones Join <em>Young Sheldon</em> Spinoff as Series RegularsWill Young Sheldon and Missy Appear in <em>Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage</em>? Iain Armitage and Raegan Revord Weigh In on...

Question Time

The U.K.’s cross-party Dcms Committee, which scrutinizes the spending, policies and administration of the government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, is set to interrogate BBC bosses on impartiality, the license fee and earnings.

The committee, which is chaired by Julian Knight, is set to convene on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to question BBC director general Tim Davie, BBC chair Richard Sharp and BBC COO Leigh Tavaziva. They will ask questions on topics including how the corporation “plans to remain relevant and effective in the modern media landscape,” “how the BBC’s offering is impacted by a more polarised political atmosphere” and the future of the license fee in light of soaring inflation rates.

Questions about impartiality will be particularly of interest to BBC watchers following a recent lecture by former “Newsnight” host Emily Maitlis at the Edinburgh TV Festival, where she used her platform to suggest the BBC was too objective.

Tim Franklin as Colby in and Maddy Jevic as Amber in ‘Home and Away.’

After playing a nurse in three seasons of Fremantle/Foxtel’s Wentworth, Maddy Jevic was delighted when she was offered the role of a carer in Home and Away.

The Seven Network soap was among her favourite shows when she grew up in Adelaide. As a huge fan of Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster, Maddy had wanted to be an actress since she was four or five.

Apart from the regular employment in Seven’s serial, another attraction for her was the chance to play a character who is very different from Wentworth’s nurse Lee Radcliffe.

On Thursday Jevic makes her debut as Amber, who helps wheelchair-bound John Palmer (Shane Withington) with his rehabilitation after he suffered a stroke.

Unlike Radcliffe, who hated her job in the prison, Amber is loyal, funny and tough. Viewers...

Robyn Nevin in ‘Relic’.

Former Australian Writers’ Guild president Jan Sardi and actor Robyn Nevin were among the screen professionals to receive Queen’s Birthday Honours over the long weekend.

Sardi, Oscar-nominated for Shine and whose credits also include Mao’s Last Dancer and Love’s Brother, was named an Officer to the Order of Australia (Ao) for distinguished service to the film and television industries as a screenwriter and director, and to professional guilds.

Co-collaborator Mac Gudgeon, who worked with Sardi on projects like Ground Zero and The Secret River, said: “It’s a richly deserved honour. Not only because Jan’s a bloody good writer, but because it’s recognition of his selfless service, generosity of spirit, and courage and persistence in fighting for performance writers’ creative rights and remuneration for over 40 years.

“And the timing couldn’t be more ironic given Jan’s passionate advocacy for what’s unique about Australian culture,...

Rick Kalowski.

The ABC’s highly respected head of comedy Rick Kalowski today announced his resignation after more than six years in the post.

After commissioning and overseeing the production of 80 titles, spanning pilots, series, digital content and podcasts, the executive tells If he is exhausted and needs a break.

He will stay in place until February to give the ABC ample time to recruit a successor and will pursue new career opportunities in the Australian and global screen industry. He’s having discussions about his next move but nothing is locked in.

Arguably he will step down after one of the ABC’s most distinctive and successful years in comedy, with hits such as Frayed, the fourth season of Utopia, the second of Squinters and the finales of Get Krack!n and The Letdown.

Among other shows produced under his watch, including several commissioned by his predecessor Debbie Lee, were Rosehaven,...

Michala Banas and Benson Jack Anthony.

A dysfunctional blended family who are addicted to their screens is at the heart of Fam Time, Seven Studios’ narrative comedy which is shooting in Sydney.

Hayden Guppy is directing the 6 X 30′ series created by Michael Horrocks, who joined Seven Studios a year ago as executive producer, comedy, with the remit to drive the production division’s expansion into comedy.

It’s the Seven Network’s first narrative comedy in more than 20 years since Bullpitt!, which starred Ross Higgins as Ted Bullpitt, reprising the character he played in the 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country.

Scripted by Erica Harrison and Jack Yabsley, Fam Time stars Michala Banas as the family matriarch Belinda Box. She runs a blog which chronicles her daily adventures as a modern mum with a busy blended family in the digital age.

Duncan Fellows is her second husband John, aka ‘Handy Andy’, an...

David Wenham on set of his directorial feature debut, 'Ellipsis'..

In the second part of his interview with If, David Wenham chats about his recent roles in 'Wake in Fright', 'In Like Flynn' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales'...

When David Wenham was offered the role of the police sergeant Jock Crawford in the miniseries Wake in Fright he initially recoiled at the idea.

As a passionate admirer of Canadian director Ted Kotcheff.s seminal 1971 movie based on the Kenneth Cook novel he thought the idea of a remake was ridiculous.

Wenham had watched the restored movie twice, at the Sydney Film Festival and at the Chauvel cinema, rating it as a visceral experience and an incredible piece of filmmaking.

However he changed his mind after reading Stephen M. Irwin.s script for the Network Ten two-parter directed by Kriv Stenders.

Sean Keenan.

Puberty Blues star Sean Keenan has nabbed the lead role in Ten's Wake in Fright two-parter, which begins shooting today..

Keenan will play John Grant, a young school teacher who descends into his own personal nightmare after being stranded in the small outback mining town of Bundanyabba.—.the role made famous by Gary Bond in Ted Kotcheff's 1971 original.

Keenan just worked with director Kriv Stenders, who's helming both episodes of the TV redo, on Foxtel telemovie Australia Day.

He's joined in the cast by David Wenham (Seachange, Lion), Caren Pistorius (Offspring), Gary Sweet (House Husbands), Alex Dimitriades (The Slap), Robyn Malcolm (Upper Middle Bogan), Lee Jones (The Bastard Executioner), Anna Samson (Winners & Losers), Hannah Frederiksen (Hunters) and Jada Alberts (Wentworth), with filming to take place in Broken Hill and Sydney.

Written by Stephen M. Irwin, the Wake In Fright mini is produced by Helen Bowden (The Slap,...

'Glitch'.

Production has kicked off in Melbourne on the second season of Matchbox Pictures'.Glitch, with directors Emma Freeman and Tony Krawitz at the helm. The shoot will continue on location around the city and in regional Victoria until the end of March.

The first season of the zombie drama, created by Louise Fox (Broadchurch, Dead Europe) and Tony Ayres (The Slap, Cut Snake, Nowhere Boys), followed seven people who had inexplicably returned from the dead.

The second season sees .the Risen. unravel the mystery of how and why they are back while contending with a lethal threat..

In October it was announced that Netflix was coming on board as a production partner for the second season, along with Matchbox and the ABC.

.We can.t wait for our audience to see where the story goes. We want to deliver on the promise of answers and keep the thrills and spills coming,...

Mel Gibson on the set of Hacksaw Ridge.. . Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge cleaned up at the 6th Aacta Awards ceremony last night, taking home five awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay. . Gibson was honoured for Best Direction, while Andrew Garfield won Best Lead Actor and Hugo Weaving nabbed Best Supporting Actor. . .I need to thank Australia for making this film,. said Gibson in his acceptance speech. . He praised the "homegrown" film.s cast and crew, .the calibre of which is as good or better than anywhere in the world.. . .I.m not the only one who wants to make films here all the time, Ridley Scott said the same thing,. Gibson said. .I.m honoured to receive this.. . . The five awards add to the four Hacksaw Ridge already picked up earlier this week at the Aacta Industry Luncheon. The film was nominated in 13 categories overall. . Odessa Young...

Mel Gibson on the set of Hacksaw Ridge.. . Mel Gibson's Hacksaw Ridge cleaned up at the 6th Aacta Awards ceremony last night, taking home five awards, including Best Film and Best Original Screenplay. . Gibson was honoured for Best Direction, while Andrew Garfield won Best Lead Actor and Hugo Weaving nabbed Best Supporting Actor. . .I need to thank Australia for making this film,. said Gibson in his acceptance speech. . He praised the "homegrown" film.s cast and crew, .the calibre of which is as good or better than anywhere in the world.. . .I.m not the only one who wants to make films here all the time, Ridley Scott said the same thing,. Gibson said. .I.m honoured to receive this.. . . The five awards add to the four Hacksaw Ridge already picked up earlier this week at the Aacta Industry Luncheon. The film was nominated in 13 categories overall. . Odessa Young...

Aussie actor Martin Dingle Wall has a long list of local credits, having appeared in 'Home and Away', 'All Saints', 'Satisfaction', 'Underbelly', 'Rescue Special Ops' and 2015 feature 'Strangerland'.

Dingle Wall has returned to Oz from La, where he's lived for the past four years, to promote 'All That Jam', a rom-com shot in Moscow for which the actor had to learn Russian.—.only days before the shoot began. The feature screened in Sydney last week as part of The Russian Resurrection Film Festival.

Next year Dingle Wall stars with Olga Kurylenko and Antonio Banderas in 'Salty', which has been drumming up interest at Afm. He also plays the lead role in indie horror feature 'Happy Hunting', co-directed by Louie Gibson, son of Mel.

How did All That Jam come to you?

It's really the quintessential Hollywood left-field scenario.

Glitch.

The second season of.Glitch will be co-produced by the ABC, Matchbox and Netflix.—.making it the closest thing to a Netflix Original produced locally..

The first season of the zombie drama streams on Netflix Oz and debuted on Netflix U.S. last week (October 15).

According to Chris Oliver-Taylor, MD of Matchbox Pictures and the show's Ep, "Glitch was something that Netflix were interested in very early as a result of the quality of series one."

"Matchbox always tries to produce programs that work for an international audience. The international deal was reasonably simple to construct; the more complicated piece of the puzzle was working with Netflix, NBCUniversal and the ABC to work out the local Australian arrangements, working through windowing and how to manage on-demand."

Oliver-Taylor is excited about what the deal might mean for the local sector.

"We think that by bringing on Netflix to be a...

Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope on the set of 2015 feature Now Add Honey.

Gristmill honcho, writer and producer Robyn Butler is currently in post on two Little Lunch specials (one due for Halloween and one at Christmas) as well as season three of Upper Middle Bogan..Last year Butler and her partner Wayne Hope released their first feature, Now Add Honey, directed by Hope and written, produced by and starring Butler. If catches up with her on a break from the cutting room.

You.re in the middle of sound mix, is that right?

I.m back in picture post today, but yeah, sort of all over the place. I.m doing both Upper Middle Bogan season three and two Little Lunch specials. Gone are the days where you just make television shows; [now] you have to make 400 versions of online content and deliverables, so we.ve got four edits and...

Exclusive: Australian actor Martin Dingle Wall has joined the cast of Simon West’s Salty opposite Antonio Banderas and Olga Kurylenko. Known for such Oz TV series as Upper Middle Bogan, Home And Away and Cops Lac, he also recently starred in feature Strangerland. Salty, which began principal photography last month in Chile, sees Banderas as an aging rock star and reformed sex addict married to a supermodel who is abducted by pirates while on vacation. The story is adapted…...

Little Lunch.

Filming is underway in Melbourne on comedy series Little Lunch, with specials filmed at St Kilda Primary School yesterday.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley met the cast and crew and toured the set with series creators Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope of Gristmill, the production company behind the series.

The creative and life partners have a long list of credits, including The Librarians, Upper Middle Bogan, Very Small Business, and 2015 feature Now Add Honey.

The specials are backed by Film Victoria and will air on ABC3 and iView later this year.

The original 26 episode series, .based on the popular books written by Victorian author Danny Katz and illustrated by Mitch Vane, premiered on ABC3 in July 2015 and has since sold to Canada and Hong Kong and to Netflix in the USA, UK and Ireland.

Foley called the show a .great example of Victorian creativity with universal appeal...

Little Lunch.

Filming is underway in Melbourne on comedy series Little Lunch, with specials filmed at St Kilda Primary School yesterday.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley met the cast and crew and toured the set with series creators Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope of Gristmill, the production company behind the series.

The creative and life partners have a long list of credits, including The Librarians, Upper Middle Bogan, Very Small Business, and 2015 feature Now Add Honey.

The specials are backed by Film Victoria and will air on ABC3 and iView later this year.

The original 26 episode series, .based on the popular books written by Victorian author Danny Katz and illustrated by Mitch Vane, premiered on ABC3 in July 2015 and has since sold to Canada and Hong Kong and to Netflix in the USA, UK and Ireland.

Foley called the show a .great example of Victorian creativity with universal appeal...

Wentworth has been sold to 90 countries around the world.

.

Australia.s audiovisual trade deficit has dropped for the first time in 5 years with exports growing by 41 per cent to $199 million..

This is a strong sign of acceptance of Australia television content around the world.

Cleverman, Upper Middle Bogan and Secrets and Lies can be added to the likes of Dance Academy, Go Back to Where You Came From, Wentworth and Bondi Rescue as some of the most notable and enduring examples of tape and format sales to come out of our market in recent years.

But what goes on in the negotiations behind these titles? What do producers need to know to ensure the best deals are being made?

Screen Producers Australia will present a masterclass for producers detailing the international business in television sales on May 17 at Fox Studios, Sydney.

The panelists will draw on their extensive commercial experience...

Wentworth has been sold to 90 countries around the world.

.

Australia.s audiovisual trade deficit has dropped for the first time in 5 years with exports growing by 41 per cent to $199 million..

This is a strong sign of acceptance of Australia television content around the world.

Cleverman, Upper Middle Bogan and Secrets and Lies can be added to the likes of Dance Academy, Go Back to Where You Came From, Wentworth and Bondi Rescue as some of the most notable and enduring examples of tape and format sales to come out of our market in recent years.

But what goes on in the negotiations behind these titles? What do producers need to know to ensure the best deals are being made?

Screen Producers Australia will present a masterclass for producers detailing the international business in television sales on May 17 at Fox Studios, Sydney.

The panelists will draw on their extensive commercial experience...

Robyn Nevin, Glenn Robbins, Robyn Malcolm and Annie Maynard in Upper Middle Bogan.

Filming has kicked off on season three of Upper Middle Bogan.

Created, written and produced by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, the eight-parter will again shoot in Melbourne.

.We're so excited to unleash the wild, loud and sometimes potty-mouthed world of Upper Middle Bogan", Butler said. "But enough about Robyn Nevin - we love all the cast and can't wait to make this season..

Series three will see the return of cast members Annie Maynard, Robyn Nevin, Michala Banas, Patrick Brammall, Glenn Robbins, Robyn Malcolm, Madeleine Jevic, Rhys Mitchell, Dougie Baldwin, Lara Robinson and Harrison Feldman.

.It took some prompting, but we.re beyond thrilled Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope agreed to give the country more of its favourite family comedy Upper Middle Bogan", ABC Head of Comedy Rick Kalowski said. "May the road from the Brights...

Furst Born

Quickly rising hunk Patrick Brammall ("Ruben Guthrie," "The Moodys") is set to reprise his leading role from the Australian sitcom "Upper Middle Bogan" in CBS' single-camera pilot U.S. remake of the show currently titled "Furst Born". Poppy Montgomery also stars.

'Bogan' creators Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope are teaming with Dan O'Shannon ("Modern Family") on the series in which the wife (Montgomery) in a successful family is shock to learn she's adopted. Brammell plays the husband, Swoosie Kurtz plays her mother while Katey Sagal and John Carroll Lynch have co-starring roles. [Source: ]

Scream

MTV has announced a May 31st premiere date for the second season of its "Scream" TV series. Six new actors, two of which will be regulars, have joined the cast of the new season which is currently in production in New Orleans. The series is undergoing a bit of a creative reboot for the new...

Patrick Brammall, who played the male lead Danny on the Australian comedy series Upper Middle Bogan, is set to reprise his role opposite Poppy Montgomery in CBS’ single-camera pilot adaptation Furst Born (formerly untitled Butler/Hope/O'Shannon). Written by Modern Family alum Dan O'Shannon and creators of the original Australian comedy Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, Furst Born is an extended family show that centers on Bess (Montgomery), a successful doctor, happily married…...

Now that Unforgettable is just a memory, star Poppy Montgomery has lined up her next TV gig.The actress will play the lead in CBS’ single-camera comedy pilot Furst Born, our sister site Deadline reports.

RelatedPilot Season ’16: Scoop on This Fall’s (Possible) New Shows, Who’s In Them

The potential series, inspired by Australia’s Upper Middle Bogan, follows Montgomery’s Bess, a doctor, wife and mother of twins as she learns she was adopted and that her birth parents are a flamboyant but loving family of drag-racers. The cast also includes Swoosie Kurtz (Sisters), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy...

Unforgettable star Poppy Montgomery is returning to CBS as the lead in Furst Born (form. untitled Butler/Hope/O'Shannon), a single-camera comedy pilot based on the Australian comedy Upper Middle Bogan. Written by Modern Family alum Dan O'Shannon and the creators of the original Australian comedy, Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, Furst Born is an extended family show that centers on Bess (Montgomery), a successful doctor, happily married to Danny, and the mother of fraternal…...

Drop Dead Diva's Brooke Elliott has been cast in the Upper Middle Bogan TV series pilot at CBS. A family comedy, this Us adaptation of the Australian series Upper Middle Bogan, still does not have an official title. Elliott joins Katey Sagal, Swoozie Kurtz, and John Carroll Lynch, who were previously cast.

The Upper Middle Bogan pilot comes from Modern Family‘s Dan O’Shannon and Robyn Butler, and from Wayne Hope. Butler and Hope created the original Australian series.

Read More…...

Katey Sagal is getting back to her comedic roots.

The Sons of Anarchy actress will star opposite John Carroll Lynch (American Horror Story) in an untitled CBS comedy pilot about an adopted woman named Bess who learns that she hails from a family of drag racers, our sister site Deadline reports.

RelatedPilot Season ’16: Scoop on This Fall’s (Possible) New Shows, Who’s In Them

Sagal will play Bess’ birth mother Julie, who took over for the family’s racing team after her husband (Lynch’s Wayne) lost an eye. She’ll likely butt heads with Bess’ adoptive mother Margaret,...

Katey Sagal will return to comedy in the CBS comedy pilot based on the Australian show “Upper Middle Bogan,” TheWrap has learned. The show follows a wife and mother who learns she was adopted and that her birth parents are a flamboyant but loving family of drag-racers. John Carroll Lynch will play Wayne Wheeler, the patriarch of Team Wheeler, a man whose life revolves around his profession and his extended family. Sagal will play his wife, Julie, who stepped in as the lead driver of Team Wheeler after Wayne lost an eye. Swoosie Kurtz will also appear in the pilot.

Sons Of Anarchy matriarch Katey Sagal is returning to comedy as a lead opposite John Carroll Lynch in CBS’ single-camera pilot based on the Australian format Upper Middle Bogan. Written by Dan O’Shannon, Robyn Butler and Dan Hope, the extended family show is about a wife and mother who learns she was adopted and that her birth parents are a flamboyant but loving family of drag-racers. Sagal will play Julie, the wife of Wayne (Lynch) and the matriarch of the family. After…...

CBS’ untitled comedy adaptation of the Australian comedy Upper Middle Bogan will be shot as single-camera, with the project’s executive producer Todd Holland directing the pilot. The untitled half-hour, from Modern Family alum Dan O'Shannon, the creators of the original Australian comedy, Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, CBS Studios and ABC Studios, was conceived, sold and originally written as single-camera. It was one of the few single-camera comedy scripts that CBS asked to…...

Upper Middle Bogan is set to be remade by CBS for American audiences.

The show's co-creator, Robyn Butler, told 774 ABC Melbourne's Jon Faine that the Us version would be "the same, but in America".

The redo is untitled, and presumably won't have the word "bogan" in the American title.

The original is available in the Us on streaming service Hulu and ABC iview in Australia. A third series will screen on the ABC later this year.

Butler and Wayne Hope, who made the feature Now Add Honey last year, will team with American writer Dan O'Shannon (Cheers, Frasier, Modern Family) on the pilot script.

CBS has ordered half-hour comedy “The Great Indoors” to pilot. The multi-camera sitcome follows an adventure reporter who must adapt to the times when he becomes the boss to a group of millennials in the digital department of the magazine. “Tosh.0” producer Mike Gibbons will write and serve as the executive producer on the project from CBS Studios. Also Read: Jason Katims Silicon Valley Hospital Drama Draws Pilot Order From CBS This pilot season, a new, modern take on “Nancy Drew” and hospital drama “Bunker Hill” are among CBS’ drama orders. On the comedy side, the network has picked up...

CBS kicked off its 2016 pilot picking campaign with a nod to one of its most buzzed about scripts, a drama based on the Nancy Drew character from the classic mystery book series. Along with Drew, CBS has handed out a pilot order to an untitled extended family hybrid comedy inspired by the Australian comedy Upper Middle Bogan. Drew is described as a contemporary take on the character from the books, with a diverse Nancy, now in her 30s, working as a detective for the NYPD…...

Nancy Drew is all grown up and headed to CBS.

The network has given a pilot order to Drew, a drama that finds the iconic crime solver — now in her thirties — putting her “uncanny observational skills” to work as a detective for the NYPD. But wait, she’ll also have to “navigate the complexities of life in a modern world”!

PhotosYour Guide to TV’s 50+ Reboots and Revivals: The X-Files, Gilmore Girls, Twin Peaks, Prison Break and More

“She is diverse, that is the way she is written,” CBS president Glenn Geller recently told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer, director and co-executive producer Douglas Petrie is heading to Australia for this year's National Screenwriters' conference.

Petrie joins emmy nominated writer and showrunner Alexa Jung and NCIS executive producer, Shane Brennan, for the biennial conference at Silverwater Resort, Phillip Island in Victoria from March 9-11 next year.

Petrie was also recently nominated for an Outstanding Miniseries Emmy for American Horror Story.

Actor, writer and producer Robyn Butler will also attend the event. .

Bulter is the co-creator of The Librarians and Upper Middle Bogan. She also acts, writes and produces in feature film Now Add Honey..

There will also be masterclasses, mentorships, panel discussions and networking opportunities to develop ongoing creative partnerships and concrete career prospects.

Click here to register for the conference.

Documentaries investigating Australia.s war in Afghanistan, the fight against the country.s ice epidemic and the state of the heath and school systems will screen on the ABC next year.

The comedy slate includes two series starring Utopia.s Luke McGregor and six pilots, with viewers voting to determine which pilot goes to a series.

The ABC also confirmed its flagship channel will be available to live-stream on iview from December and that it plans to broadcast all content in HD from next June.

ABC director of TV Richard Finlayson said at the upfronts launch: .As the national broadcaster we will continue our commitment to Australian content, delivering a high-quality, deep and diverse slate..

The factual slate includes Essential Media and Entertainment.s Afghanistan: Inside Australia.s War, which chronicles the raw experiences of Australia.s longest war, from private soldiers to prime ministers, written and directed by Victoria Pitt...

Word of mouth could not be stronger for The Dressmaker, judging by its superb second weekend takings in Australian cinemas.

However Wayne Hope.s comedy Now Add Honey misfired, perhaps illustrating the gulf in sensibility between TV and cinema.

Jocelyn Moorhouse.s The Dressmaker scored $3.6 million at 289 locations, a drop of just 3 per cent, which hoists its earnings to $8.26 million.

With that kind of stamina, the dramedy based on the Rosalie Han novel, starring Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth and Hugo Weaving, could be headed for $20 million.

The Universal release was a cut above the rest as none of the newcomers made an impression and nationwide receipts dropped by 7 per cent to $9.9 million, according to Rentrak.s estimate.

Ridley Scott.s The Martian advanced to $25.3 million after earning $1.4 million in its sixth orbit (off just 10 per cent), while Steven Spielberg.s Bridge of Spies took $973,000 in its third weekend (down 25 per cent), reaching $5.6 million.

Us writer, producer and showrunner Alexa Junge has been a writer or producer on Friends, Sex and the City, West Wing and United States of Tara.

Next year she will be one of the international headline guests at the 2016 National Screenwriters' Conference, Australia's premier gathering of film and television writers.

Junge has been an important figure in the screenwriting industry for two decades and is now leading the charge into online entertainment with projects including Netflix.s Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen.

The conference at Phillip Island in Victoria from 9-11 March next year will bring together screenwriters from around Australia together with international speakers and other industry luminaries from around the world.

Awg executive director, Jacqueline Elaine, said Nsc 2016 would be one of the major film and television industry events of the year and a must-attend for professional and aspiring screenwriters and...

Netflix has secured exclusive streaming rights to Chris Lilley.s Jonah from Tonga and the drama series Serangoon Road for its Australian and New Zealand service which launches March 28.

In a deal signed with ABC Commercial, Netflix gets non-exclusive rights to a slew of other ABC shows including Rake, Redfern Now, Upper Middle Bogan, The Time of Our Lives, Janet King, Jack Irish, Crownies and Australia: The Time Traveller's Guide.

The deal also covers Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (Australia only), Lilley.s Ja.mie: Private School Girl, Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes and kids shows Angelina Ballerina, Barney, Bob The Builder, Sesame Street, The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Last December SVoD rival Stan announced a non-exclusive deal with ABC Commercial encompassing the same content.

Netflix has also nabbed exclusive SVoD rights to British dramas Broadchurch and The Tunnel from Roadshow Entertainment, and the rights to Roadshow.s extensive library.

Patrick Brammall will make his Us screen debut in NBC.s pilot Strange Calls, a remake of the Australian series created by Daley Pearson.

The role won.t be a stretch for the actor as he is reprising the character of the macho but not overly bright Sergeant Lloyd,. whom he played in The Strange Calls.

Hoodlum.s Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield, who executive produced the original for ABC2, will work on the pilot with Aaron Kaplan of Kapital Entertainment and 20th Century Fox TV.

The original writer Donick Cary has departed and the pilot is being written by Blake McCormick (Cougar Town, King of the Hill).

"When I read the Us script I was struck by how faithful it is to Daley's original creation," Brammall told If today.. "Blake McCormick. has nailed the tone. It's extremely funny; I reckon the Us audience will love it. And I can't wait to play Sarge again.

The ABC has today announced that Deputy Head of Fiction, Greer Simpkin, will step down from her role on February 27.

Simpkin, who has held the role for just under five years, will move into the independent production sector and has been appointed as Head of Television for Bunya Productions, the film production company co-owned by producer David Jowsey and writer/director Ivan Sen (Mystery Road). The new position is supported by a Screen Queensland Enterprise grant and is based out of Queensland.

During her time at the ABC, Simpkin has been responsible for a number of award-winning and critically acclaimed shows, such as The Slap, Rake, Jack Irish, Mabo, Janet King, Upper Middle Bogan, Miss Fisher.s Murder Mysteries, Please Like Me, Carlotta, Paper Giants and Devil.s Dust.

She was also an Executive Producer for The Code, Parer.s War, Hiding, The Secret River and co-production Serangoon Road.

In...

The telemovie Redfern Now: Promise Me almost certainly won.t be the final chapter in the saga of the mostly indigenous residents of inner-city Sydney.

ABC TV head of programming Brendan Dahill hopes the creative team will get back together for another instalment in the franchise.

In a sense the drama produced by Blackfella Films. Darren Dale and Miranda Dear, which starred Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell, Aaron Pederson, Rarriwuy Hick, Lisa Flanagan, Kelton Pell and Kirk Page, is a victim of its own success.

Dahill tells If, .The first two series were so popular the cast members are in heavy demand. But we hope to get the team back together when they are available..

Due to air in the next couple of months, Redfern Now: Promise Me will explore the impact of a violent crime on two women and the fight for justice that ensues. Anthony Hayes, Daniella...

The first round of Aacta Award winners have been announced today at the 4th Aacta Award Luncheon held at the Star Event Centre in Sydney.

Celebrating screen craft excellence in Australia, 22 awards were presented, recognising the work of screen practitioners working in television, documentary, short fiction film, short animation and feature film.

The Luncheon was hosted by writer/actor/producer/director Adam Zwar, who was also joined throughout the event by a list of distinguished presenters. including Aacta President Geoffrey Rush, David Stratton, Damian Walshe-Howling, Alexandra Schepisi, Charlotte Best and Diana Glenn.

In the feature film category, Predestination took home the most Awards; with Ben Nott Acs taking out the prize for Best Cinematography, Matt Villa Ase winning the award for Best Editing, and Matthew Putland scooping Best Production Design.

Tess Schofield was honoured with the Aacta Award for Best Costume Design for her work on The Water Diviner while...

Director Russell Crowe Movie up for Best Film: Australian Academy Awards 2015 nominations (photo: Actor-director Russell Crowe in 'The Water Diviner') Aacta Awards: Feature Film Categories Best Film The Babadook Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere Charlie's Country Nils Erik Nielsen, Peter Djigirr and Rolf de Heer Predestination Paddy McDonald, Tim McGahan, Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Railway Man Chris Brown, Andy Paterson and Bill Curbishley Tracks Emile Sherman and Iain Canning The Water Diviner Andrew Mason, Keith Rodger and Troy Lum Best Director The Babadook Jennifer Kent Charlie's Country Rolf de Heer Predestination Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig The Rover David Michôd Best Actress Kate Box The Little Death Essie Davis The Babadook Sarah Snook Predestination Mia Wasikowska Tracks Best Actor Russell Crowe The Water Diviner David Gulpilil Charlie's Country Damon Herriman The Little Death Guy Pearce The Rover Best Supporting Actor Patrick Brammall The Little Death Yilmaz Erdogan...

Shaun Micallef as a fictional former prime minister who is desperate to stay relevant, a comedy series starring The Project.s Charlie Pickering and a modern re-telling of Anna Karenina.

These are among the highlights of the ABC.s 2015 line-up unveiled today by director of television Richard Finlayson. .The breadth and depth of our slate reflects the quality of Australian independent production,. Finlayson told If.

The executive acknowledges producers are fearful of the impact of looming budget cuts to be imposed by the federal government but says, .We know the cuts cast a pall of uncertainty but we are getting on with the process of commissioning as best we can. By and large it is business as usual.. Micallef will star in The Ex-pm as Australia.s third longest-serving Prime Minister who has far too much time on his hands and no one to waste it on in a Cjz...

Dave Eastgate, Lawrence Leung and Stephanie Son in Maximum Choppage.

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Head of ABC TV comedy Rick Kalowski has commissioned a stand-alone pilot, a prototype he intends to test for further pilots, and he.s developing a sitcom to be filmed in front of a studio audience.

In a further break from the traditional approach to comedy, Kalowski is developing several shows that are each built around an established performer-writer. All that is in addition to eight series which are either in production or post.

The stand-alone pilot deals with an unusual subject- mental illness. Details of that sitcom are under wraps but Kowalski tells If he.s looking for other projects that are suitable material for pilots.

The studio-based comedy could be the ABC.s first since Mother and Son, the Geoffrey Atherden-created classic which ran until 1994. The show is being developed with writer . producer Marieke Hardy and would...

The BBC has bought both series of Nowhere Boys, ABC3.s teen action-adventure created by Matchbox Pictures. Tony Ayres.

The show, which follows four mismatched teenage boys who cross over into another universe in which they were never born, will air on the Beeb.s kids channel Cbbc.

The first series took the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for best children.s TV drama and last night won a TV Week Logie Award for most outstanding children.s drama.

Production of the second series will begin in Melbourne in late June, produced by Beth Frey and executive produced by Michael McMahon. Peter Salmon is the set-up director and Craig Irvin, one of the writers on the first series, will be among the directors.

The young leads are Joel Lok (The Home Song Stories) as science nerd Andy, Dougie Baldwin (Upper Middle Bogan) as Goth Felix, Rahart Adams (Every Witch Way,...

The ABC is looking to commission a second series of It.s a Date, the narrative comedy created by Peter Helliar.

Brendan Dahill, Head of Programming for ABC1 and ABC2, rates It.s a Date and Upper Middle Bogan as the broadcaster.s stand-out comedy hits of last year. The shows aired back-to-back on Thursday nights.

Gristmill Productions. Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler are producing another eight episodes of Upper Middle Bogan.

Dahill says he is talking to the producers of It.s a Date, Princess Pictures, about a second series. The show explores the tension, expectation and complication of finding true love, with each episode following two self-contained dates as they head toward desire or disaster.

It had an all-star cast including Asher Keddie, Kate Ritchie, John Wood, Lisa McCune, Stephen Curry, Sibylla Budd, Shane Jacobson, Sophie Lowe, Nadine Garner, Pia Miranda and Helliar.

Helliar was lead writer with a team of Phil Lloyd,...

If the 3rd annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards could be categorised as a David vs Goliath battle between The Rocket and The Great Gatsby, Goliath is the hands-down winner.

Baz Luhrmann.s opulent romantic drama won six awards tonight, for best film, director, adapted screenplay, lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio, supporting actor Joel Edgerton and supporting actress Elizabeth Debicki.

That.s in addition to the six awards in craft categories plus the Aacta award for outstanding achievement in visual effects bestowed on Luhrmann.s film on Tuesday.

Kim Mordaunt's The Rocket, which had 12 nominations versus 14 for Gatsby, had to be content with just one trophy, for Mordaunt.s original screenplay.

The outcome is likely to reignite the debate about the near-impossibility of comparing a lavishly-mounted 3D film financed by Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures, which cost $160 million, with an independently-funded Lao-set film from a first-time director budgeted at about $2 million.