THE T.V GEEK - GENRE TELLY, CINEMA AND RELATED ITEMS IN MELBOURNE THIS WEEK (UPDATED WEEKLY)
27th Aug 10
ZERO-G'S T.V GEEK GUIDE- GENRE TELLY, CINEMA, THEATRE, & EVENTS THIS WEEK IN MELBOURNE
PERSONALLY, I RECKON EVERYONE IS A GEEK ABOUT SOMETHING OR OTHER, WHETHER IT BE FOOTY, SURFING, GOLF, CARS, FASHION, OR CROCHET- PUNK MORRIS DANCING GOTH TOASTER OVEN POLKA MUSIC. THOSE OTHER FAN GROUPS ARE ALREADY PRETTY WELL CATERED FOR ONLINE AND ON RADIO SO THIS GUIDE IS FOR THE SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY AND HISTORICAL BUFFS, AS WELL AS FOR THAT FAST VANISHING MINORITY OF GOOD OLD FASHIONED GEEKS WHO BITE THE HEADS OFF LIVE CHICKENS FOR FUN AND PROFIT IN CARNIVAL SIDESHOWS. (SO, GO LOOK IT UP!)
NOTES:
INCLUSION DOES NOT NECESSARILY CONVEY ENDORSEMENT OF THE ITEM LISTED.
ALL BROADCAST TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE BY STATIONS DUE TO WHIMSY, ENNUI, DISTEMPER OR INDEED, THE FLAP OF A BUTTERFLY WING, SAY, A CONTINENT AWAY. SCHEDULED TIMES FOR SOME SHOWS, MOST NOTABLY ONES COMMENCING AT ODD TIMES LIKE '12.47', '2.56' AND SO ON TEND TO JINK AROUND FROM ONE WEEK TO THE NEXT. ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK A DAILY GUIDE BEFORE PROGRAMMING AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR RECORDING.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE’S A LARGE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN’S TELEVISION, ESPECIALLY ANIMATION, THAT FITS RIGHT INTO THE CATEGORY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY OR HISTORICAL GENRES. I’LL LIST WHAT I CAN, WHEN I CAN, IF I CAN BE BOTHER-RED, FAIR NUFF?
I'M STILL PHASING IN LISTINGS FOR SOME SHOWS AND THEN THERE'S THAT HUGE BEASTY, FOXTEL, WHICH WOULD TAKE A TEAM OF COMMENTATORS TO ITEMISE....I'VE LISTED THE CURRENT CROP OF SCI-FI CHANNEL SHOWS AS A SEPERATE BLOCK SINCE THAT'S WALL-TO-WALL GENRE. THERE ARE 'TOO MANY' GENRE MOVIES SHOWN EACH MONTH ACROSS THE PAY CHANNELS TO PROCESS HERE WITHOUT MAKING A FULL TIME PAID JOB OF IT OR BLOATING OUT THIS GUIDE. THAT SAID, I MAY SELECTIVELY PICK OUT THE ODD SERIES, DOCUMENTARY OR MOVIE THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED ON FREE-TO-AIR OR ON THE SCI-FI CHANNEL.
LISTINGS OFTEN HOLD TRUE FOR OTHER AUSTRALIAN CAP. CITIES, BUT NOT ALWAYS!
LATE, LATE MOVIES ARE IN THE BRACKET FOR THE NEXT DAY, SINCE THAT'S PRESUMABLY WHAT YOU'D BE SETTING YOUR RECORDER FOR....SO DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THE FIRST COUPLE OF ENTRIES IN THE DAY AFTER, WHEN LOOKING AT "WHAT'S ON TONIGHT?"
FRIDAY- AUGUST 27TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
PARLOR, BEDROOM AND BATH - 1931 SILENT COMEDY MOVIE - CHANNEL 31 - FRIDAY 10.00 AM.
VALIANT - 2005 U.K ANIMATED FANTASY FILM - GO! - FRIDAY 6.00 PM
THE MASTER OF DISGUISE - 2002 U.S.A FANTASY COMEDY - GO! - FRIDAY 7.30 PM. Star Trek Next Generation's Mr Data, Brent Spiner, plays the villain in this one.
GHOST WHISPERER - 2000s U.S.A FANTASY SUPERNATURAL T.V SERIES - 7TWO - FRIDAY 7.30 PM.
COLLECTORS - AUSTRALIA COLLECTIBLES SERIES - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 8.00 PM.
LIFE ON MARS - U.K FANTASY T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - FRIDAY 8.30 PM.
AS IT HAPPENED: LIVING WITH THE ENEMY - EUROPEAN POST W.W.2 HISTORY DOCUMENTARY - SBS ONE - FRIDAY 8.30 PM.
CITY OF LIFE AND DEATH - 2009 CHINA HISTORY DOCUMENTARY - SBS TWO - FRIDAY 9.30 PM.
THE IT CROWD - 2008 U.K COMEDY T.V SERIES - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 10.55 PM. Repeats of a series that, at its best, reminded me of the kind of comedy gold spun by Black Books.
THE REAPING - 2007 U.S.A SUPERNATURAL HORROR MOVIE - FRIDAY 11.30 PM.
THE HAUNTING - 1999 SUPERNATURAL HORROR MOVIE - 7TWO - FRIDAY 11.40 PM.
SATURDAY - AUGUST 28TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
THUNDERBIRDS - U.K SCIENCE FICTION SERIES - GO! - SATURDAY 6.00 AM.
HEROES - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - CHANNEL SEVEN - SATURDAY 12.15 AM. Repeats.
IRON MAN: ARMORED ADVENTURES - 2008 U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION SUPERHERO T.V SERIES - ABC 3 - SATURDAY 6.43 AM. (SERIES REPEATS FROM EPISODE ONE)
THE SUPERHERO SQUAD SHOW - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION ANIMATED T.V SERIES - ABC3 - SATURDAY 7.05 AM. (SERIES REPEATS FROM EPISODE ONE)
7TH CAVALRY - U.S.A HISTORY MOVIE - 7TWO - SATURDAY 8.30 AM
K-9 - AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - TEN - SATURDAY 9.30 AM. Remote spin-off from the Doctor Who series features a re-engineered K-9 cybernetic tin dog..
STORMWORLD - AUSTRALIA/ CANADA SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - NINE - SATURDAY 11.30 AM.
A FINE MADNESS - 1966 U.S.A COMEDY - NINE - SATURDAY 2.00 PM. Comedy starring Sean Connery and Joanne Woodward.
MONSTER MOVES - U.S.A DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS 1 - SATURDAY 7.30 PM
MONSTERS INC. - 2001 U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE - SEVEN - SATURDAY 7.30 PM.
A HISTORY OF BRITAIN - U.K HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS TWO - SATURDAY 7.30 PM
SECONDHAND LIONS - 2003 FANTASY MOVIE - NINE - SATURDAY 7.30 PM.
BEETLEJUICE - 1988 FANTASY COMEDY MOVIE - GO! - SATURDAY 8.30 PM.
THE UGLY AMERICAN - 1963 U.S.A POLITICAL DRAMA - ABC 2 - SATURDAY 8.30 PM.
THE PRISONER - U.K SCIENCE FICTION MINI-SERIES - ABC 1 - SATURDAY 9.20 PM.
THE LOST BOYS - 1987 SUPERNATURAL HORROR (VAMPIRES) MOVIE - GO! - SATURDAY 10.25 PM.
GOLDENEYE - U.K SPY ADVENTURE MOVIE - SEVEN - SATURDAY 9.35 PM.
EAGLE VS SHARK - 2007 NEW ZEALAND COMEDY - SBS ONE - SATURDAY 10.10 PM. Geek comedy starring Flight Of The Conchords' Jemaine Clement.
THE SWIMMER - 1968 U.S.A SURREAL SATIRE MOVIE - ABC2 - SATURDAY 10.30 PM. I just like the sound of this one! Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) decides to swim his way home across the pools of an affluent Connecticut suburb.
THE PIANIST - 2002 U.S.A HISTORICAL MOVIE - TEN - SATURDAY 11.30 PM.
HIGHWAYMEN - 2003 U.S.A HORROR MOVIE - GO! - SUNDAY 12.25 AM.
SUNDAY - AUGUST 29TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
THE BATMAN - U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - GO ! - SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10.00 AM.
LEGION OF SUPERHEROES - U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - GO ! - SUNDAY 10.30 AM
DESPICABLE ME - 2010 U.S.A ANIMATED FILM MAKING OF DOCUMENTARY - 7TWO - SUNDAY 11.00 AM
CARE BEARS MOVIE II - U.S.A ANIMATED FANTASY - 7TWO - SUNDAY 12.30 PM.
OUR MAN IN HAVANA - U.K SPY COMEDY - 7TWO - SUNDAY 2.00 PM. A classic spy comedy with Alec Guiness, Maureen O'Hara and Noel Coward.
THE GREAT ST. TRINIAN'S TRAIN ROBBERY - 1966 U.K COMEDY - NINE - SUNDAY 2.30 PM. One of the series of comedies set in the disreputable St. Trinian's school.
BREAKING THE MAGICIAN'S CODE - U.S.A STAGE MAGIC DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - 7TWO - SUNDAY 6.30 PM.
LOST WORLDS - U.K ARCHAELOGY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS ONE - SUNDAY 7.30 PM.
TWO MEN IN A TRENCH - U.K HISTORY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS TWO - SUNDAY 7.30 PM
THE SHAGGY DOG -U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION COMEDY MOVIE - 7TWO -SUNDAY 7.30 PM.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN - 1998 U.S.A WORLD WAR 2 HISTORICAL MOVIE - 7TWO - SUNDAY 9.30 PM.
BONES - U.S.A CRIME DRAMA T.V SERIES - CHANNEL 7 - SUNDAY 10.00 PM. Particularly geeky crime series with David "Angel" Boreanz and the Spock-like Emily Deschanal. Repeats.
CASTLE - U.S.A CRIME DRAMA - CHANNEL 7 - SUNDAY 11.00 PM. Stars Joss Whedon stable actor Nathan Fillion...another particularly geeky crime show..he even wore his Firefly browncoat to a costume party once in this show!
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE - 2006 AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION OF G & S OPERETTA - ABC 1 SUNDAY 10.20 PM.
MONDAY - AUGUST 30TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
HEROES - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - SEVEN - MONDAY 12.00 AM Repeats. Double episodes.
RETURN OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL - 1938 HISTORICAL SWASHBUCKLER MOVIE - ABC1 - MONDAY 12.15 AM.
THE AVENGERS - 1960s U.K ADVENTURE T.V SHOW - GO! - MONDAY 4.00 AM
THE CASE-BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES-U.K
1980s VICTORIAN PERIOD DETECTIVE T.V SERIES - ABC1 & HD - MONDAY
12.30 PM. How very singular!! The acclaimed Grenda series that is the
benchmark for Sherlock Holmes adapatations. One of the finest period
dramas to ever come out of Great Britain and one of my all time
favourite television series. These later episodes have seldom, if at
all, been shown on Aussie t.v, although Brett's then ill-health was
beginning to show on camera he was still definitive as Holmes.
IN SEARCH OF - U.S.A POP SCIENCE SERIES - CHANNEL 31 - MONDAY 2.00 PM. I think this is the Leonard Nimoy narrated series..
M*A*S*H - U.S.A WAR COMEDY DRAMA T.V SERIES - SEVEN - WEEKDAYS 5.00 PM. The swords of time will Hawkeye Pierce our skin....
MYTHBUSTERS
- 2000s U.S.A POPULAR SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS & SBS
ONE - MONDAY 7.30 PM. Who ya gonna call when Buster’s busted?!!
THE GOODIES - U.K COMEDY T.V SERIES - ABC2 - MONDAY 8.01 PM. Repeats of the yum-yummy series..
GOOD GAME - AUSTRALIA GAMING NEWS T.V SHOW - ABC2 - MONDAY 8.30
SANCTUARY - 2009 U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - ABC2 - MONDAY 9.32PM. Season Two episodes.
COVERT AFFAIRS - U.S.A SPY ADVENTURE T.V SERIES - SEVEN - MONDAY 10.00 PM.
TORCHWOOD
- 2007 U.K SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - MONDAY 10.18 PM.
Repeated from the beginning. It gets better towards the end of first
season!
THE BLOOD BROTHERS - 1973 HONG KONG HISTORICAL MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE - SBS TWO - MONDAY 10.30 PM.
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL - JAPAN SUPERNATURAL HORROR ANIMATED T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - MONDAY 11.08 PM
SOUTH PARK - U.S.A COMEDY ANIMATED SERIES - GO! - MONDAY 11.30 PM.
THE WAR - 2007 WORLD WAR TWO MILITARY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - ABC 1 - MONDAY 11.35 PM
TUESDAY - AUGUST 31ST
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
THE PRISONER - 1960s U.K SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - 7TWO - TUESDAY 1.15 AM. This was billed in one telly guide as "A powerful, serial drama based around the inmates and staff of the Wentworth Detention Centre. Cast: Patrick McGoohan"...so wrong!!
THE MAN ON THE EIFFEL TOWER - 1950 U.S.A CRIME MOVIE - CHANNEL 31 - TUESDAY 10.00 AM. THis one stars Charles Laughton.
BLUE SMOKE - U.S.A CRIME MOVIE - SEVEN - TUESDAY 12.00 PM. I thought I'd mention this one because Scott Bakula (Captain Archer from Enterprise) has a part in it.
NEVER SAY NEVER - 2005 FRANCE HISTORICAL ADULT COMEDY - SBS ONE - TUESDAY 1.00 PM.
LOST WORLDS: THE ROMAN EMPIRE - HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY - SBS TWO - TUESDAY 7.30 PM
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS - 2007 ANIMATED COMEDY MOVIE - GO! - TUESDAY 7.30 PM.
KNIGHT RIDER - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - 7TWO - TUESDAY 9.00 PM.
BERMUDA TRIANGLE EXPOSED - DOCUMENTARY - NINE - TUESDAY 9.00 PM. I used to be really into this nonsense when I was in my teens, until I understood that ship and plane sinkings within the 'area' were merely in accordance with losses in other well trafficked regions. I don't know what tack this documentary will take, but I'd be willing to bet there will be lots of ominous music!
WALTZ WITH BASHIR - ISRAEL/GERMANY/FRANCE ANIMATED DOCUMENTARY - SBS TWO - TUESDAY 9.30 PM.
QI - U.K QUIZ T.V SHOW - ABC 1 - TUESDAY 9.35 PM. Stephen Fry hosts this frequently geeky quiz show.
DEADWOOD - U.S.A HISTORICAL WESTERN T.V SERIES - ABC2 - TUESDAY 9.30 PM.
One
of the finest Western t.v series ever made...find out why as Aunty
plays 'em all from the beginning....fair warnin', contains harsh
language, graphic violence, sex scenes and everything else...
WEDNESDAY- SEPTEMBER 1ST
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
DANIEL BOONE: TRAIL BLAZER - 1956 U.S.A HISTORICAL MOVIE - CHANNEL 31 - WEDNESDAY 10.00 AM. NOT a movie lengh episode of the Fess Parker series, this stars Bruce Bennett as Daniel Boone. Lon Chaney Jr plays a Native American chief!
THE QUIET AMERICAN - 2002 U.S.A HISTORICAL MOVIE - SEVEN - WEDNESDAY 12.00 PM. A strong adaptation of the Graeme Greene novel about covert U.S machinations in Vietnam before they sent troops into the country. Strong performances by both Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser, amongst others.
STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 1.00 PM
FIFTIES ANTHOLOGIES DRAMAS - 1950s U.S.A T.V SERIES - CHANNEL 31 - WEDNESDAY 2.00 PM.
HOW DO THEY DO IT? - U.K DOCUMENTARY - ABC2 - WEDNESDAY 6.00 PM. This is presented by Robert Llewellyn, who played Kryten in Red Dwarf.
THE NEW INVENTORS - AUSTRALIAN TECHNOLOGY T.V SERIES - ABC 1 - WEDNESDAY 8.00 PM.
THE BIG BANG THEORY - U.S.A COMEDY T.V SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 8.00 PM.
HUMAN TARGET - U.S.A SPY T.V SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 8.30 PM.
THE BIG BANG THEORY - U.S.A COMEDY T.V SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 9.00 PM
UNITED STATES OF TARA - U.S.A DRAMA T.V SERIES - ABC1 - WEDNESDAY 9.30 PM.
SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND - U.S.A HISTORICAL T.V SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 9.30 PM. The new Roman period series. Think Rome but with more BLOOD, SEX and SAND! And Lucy Lawless..
PICTURE: LUCY LAWLESS IN SPARTACUS
PICTURE ANDY WHITFIELD IN SPARTACUS
BLACK WAVE: THE LEGACY OF THE EXXON VALDEZ -ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY - ABC 2 - WEDNESDAY 10.30 PM.
THREE SUNS - HISTORICAL MOVIE - WEDNESDAY 10.55 PM - SBS TWO - WEDNESDAY 10.55 PM. The impressive saga of a tremendously plucky farm woman who journeys across a plague ridden country in order to rescue her husband who has fallen sick returning from the Crusades.
JEKYLL - 2000s U.K SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - ABC1 - WEDNESDAY 11.30 PM.
SOUTH PARK - U.S.A ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES - GO! - WEDNESDAY 11.30 PM.
THURSDAY- SEPTEMBER 2ND
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
AGATHA CHRISTIE'S PARTNERS IN CRIME - U.K HISTORICAL DETECTIVE SERIES - ABC1 - THURSDAY 12.30 PM.
LEROY & STITCH - 2006 U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE - 7TWO - THURSDAY 7.00 PM. A spin-off from the LiLo & Stitch t.v series.
CATALYST - AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE NEWS SERIES - ABC 1 -THURSDAY 8.00 PM
VISIONS OF THE FUTURE - SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - ABC1 - THURSDAY 8.30 PM.
HESTON'S FEASTS - U.K COOKING SHOW - SBS ONE - THURSDAY 8.30 PM. It's not often that I can tag a cooking show with genre content but last week's episode was based on a fairytale feast fantasy and this week's features a Titanic themed dinner....
OCTOPUSSY - 1983 U.K SPY ADVENTURE MOVIE - 7TWO THURSDAY 8.30 PM.
THE BIG BANG THEORY - U.S.A COMEDY T.V SERIES - GO! - THURSDAY 8.30 PM.
GARY TANK COMMANDER - SCOTLAND COMEDY SERIES - ABC 2 - THURSDAY 9.30 PM. A Scot's comedy based around a returned tanker from Iraq? That's odd enough to check out!
THE MUSIC INSTINCT: SCIENCE & SONG- SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - ABC1 - THURSDAY 9.35 PM.
GHOST WHISPERER - U.S.A SUPERNATURAL FANTASY T.V SERIES - SEVEN - THURSDAY 10.30 PM.
AMERICAN DAD - U.S.A ANIMATED COMEDY T.V SERIES - SEVEN - THURSDAY 11.30 PM.
THE PROFESSIONALS - 1970s U.K SPY ADVENTURE SERIES - 7TWO - THURSDAY 11.00 PM.
FRIDAY- SEPTEMBER 4TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
THE RED SHOES - 1948 U.K BALLET DRAMA MOVIE - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 12.30 AM. A classic film about artistic passion partly based upon the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale. Sir Robert Helpmann both appears in the film and choreographed at least one dance sequence.
THE GHOST GOES WEST - 1935 U.K FANTASY FILM - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 2.40 AM. A comedy about an 18th Century Scottish ghost transplanted (with castle!) to Florida. Quite a hit in Britain when it premiered. Elsa “Bride Of Frankenstein” Lanchester appears as Miss Shepperton.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE - 1974 U.S.A CRIME MOVIE - SEVEN - FRIDAY 12.00 PM. A near perfect example of a ‘caper’ movie that combined the talents of Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam. Not to be confused with later, inferior adaptations.
SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE - U.K IMPROVISED ENGINEERING GAME SHOW - ABC 2 - FRIDAY 6.28 PM. This is on several times a week. Teams of ad-hoc engineers must barnstorm working machines building against the clock.
GHOST WHISPERER - 2000s U.S.A FANTASY SUPERNATURAL T.V SERIES - 7TWO - FRIDAY 7.30 PM.
COLLECTORS - AUSTRALIA COLLECTIBLES SERIES - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 8.00 PM.
LIFE ON MARS - U.K FANTASY T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - FRIDAY 8.30 PM.
AS IT HAPPENED: LIVING WITH THE ENEMY - EUROPEAN POST W.W.2 HISTORY DOCUMENTARY - SBS ONE - FRIDAY 8.30 PM.
BREAKING BAD - U.S.A CRIME SERIES - ABC 2 - FRIDAY 9.30 PM. Season Two episodes of this first rate, bizaare show about a chemistry teacher dying from cancer who turns to cooking and selling drugs to provide for his family.
THE IT CROWD - 2008 U.K COMEDY T.V SERIES - ABC 1 - FRIDAY 10.55 PM. Repeats of a series that, at its best, reminded me of the kind of comedy gold spun by Black Books.
AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION - 1982 U.S.A HORROR MOVIE - GO! -FRIDAY 11.00 PM.
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 5TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
6IXTYNIN9 - 1999 THAILAND COMEDY THRILLER - SBS TWO - SATURDAY 12.30 AM. This macabre Thai comedy sounds off the wall enough to attract my attention..
THUNDERBIRDS - U.K SCIENCE FICTION SERIES - GO! - SATURDAY 6.00 AM.
HEROES - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - CHANNEL SEVEN - SATURDAY 12.15 AM. Repeats.
IRON MAN: ARMORED ADVENTURES - 2008 U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION SUPERHERO T.V SERIES - ABC 3 - SATURDAY 6.43 AM. (SERIES REPEATS FROM EPISODE ONE)
THE SUPERHERO SQUAD SHOW - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION ANIMATED T.V SERIES - ABC3 - SATURDAY 7.05 AM. (SERIES REPEATS FROM EPISODE ONE)
K-9 - AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - TEN - SATURDAY 9.30 AM. Remote spin-off from the Doctor Who series features a re-engineered K-9 cybernetic tin dog..
TRAPEZE - U.S.A CIRCUS MOVIE - 7TWO - SATURDAY 10.10 AM. Stars Burt Lancaster Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis.
STORMWORLD - AUSTRALIA/ CANADA SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - NINE - SATURDAY 11.30 AM.
QUEENS OF TERROR - ITALY COMIC BOOK DOCUMENTARY - SBS ONE -
SATURDAY 3.30 PM. THe story of Italian adult comic book Diabolik and the two sisters who created it in the 1960s.
ELEKTRA - GERMANY HISTORICAL OPERA - SBS ONE - SATURDAY 1.00 PM.
AGENT CODY BANKS - 2003 U.S.A SPY ADVENTURE MOVIE - SEVEN - SATURDAY 2.15 PM.
ME AND THE COLONEL - 1958 U.S.A HISTORICAL W.W.2 COMEDY - 7TWO - SATURDAY 12.20 PM. Rarely seen Danny Kaye and Curt Jurgens comedy.
BOMBERS B-52 - 1957 COLD WAR ROMANCE MOVIE - NINE - SATURDAY 2.00 PM. I always snicker when I see this one pop up in the listings. It combines a quite detailed (for aviation buffs) look at the 1950s Strategic Air Command (“Peace Is Our Profession”) with a trivial sub plot about romantic rivalries that make you wonder why they let these guys anywhere near atomic weapons...
MONSTER MOVES - U.S.A DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS 1 - SATURDAY 7.30 PM
A HISTORY OF BRITAIN - U.K HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS TWO - SATURDAY 7.30 PM
DEEP BLUE - U.K DOCUMENTARY FILM - SEVEN - SATURDAY 7.30 PM.
A magnificent feature length reworking of footage from the Attenborough series “Deep Blue Sea” .
MR MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM - 2007 FANTASY MOVIE - NINE - SATURDAY 7.30 PM.
THE PRISONER - U.K SCIENCE FICTION MINI-SERIES - ABC 1 - SATURDAY 9.20 PM.
TOMMORROW NEVER DIES - 1997 U.K SPY ADVENTURE MOVIE - SEVEN - SATURDAY 9.20 PM.
THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP - 2006 EUROPEAN FANTASY COMEDY - SBS ONE - SATURDAY Graphic artist has trouble seperating fantasy from reality when romance enters his life.
ASHES TO ASHES - U.K PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME DRAMA - ABC 1 - SUNDAY 10.10 PM.
DOG SOLDIERS - 2001 U.K HORROR MOVIE - TEN - SATURDAY 11.30 PM. Neil Marshall’s energetic take on the Werewolf genre stars Sean Pertwee (Jon Pertwee’s son and Rome’s Kevin McKidd. Marshall followed this up with the scarifying The Descent but so far has since disappointed with the average Doomsday and Centurion.
HEROES - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION SERIES - SEVEN - SATURDAY 11.50 PM.
SUNDAY - SEPTEMBER 6TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
4 FOR TEXAS - 1963 U.S.A COMEDY WESTERN - NINE - SATURDAY 1.45 AM. This is a Robert Aldrich directed comedy where several stars are thrown at the thin but sluggish plot to see if they stick: Includes:Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Ursulas Andress, Anita Ekberg, Charles Bronson and The Three Stooges.
THE BATMAN - U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - GO ! - SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10.00 AM.
LEGION OF SUPERHEROES - U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - GO ! - SUNDAY 10.30 AM
BREAKING THE MAGICIAN'S CODE - U.S.A STAGE MAGIC DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - 7TWO - SUNDAY 6.30 PM.
ROBOTS - U.S.A ANIMATED SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE - 7TWO - 7.30 PM SUNDAY.
LOST WORLDS - U.K ARCHAELOGY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS ONE - SUNDAY 7.30 PM.
TWO MEN IN A TRENCH - U.K HISTORY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS TWO - SUNDAY 7.30 P
BONES - U.S.A CRIME DRAMA T.V SERIES - CHANNEL 7 - SUNDAY 10.00 PM. Particularly geeky crime series with David "Angel" Boreanz and the Spock-like Emily Deschanal. Repeats.
CASTLE - U.S.A CRIME DRAMA - CHANNEL 7 - SUNDAY 11.00 PM. Stars Joss Whedon stable actor Nathan Fillion...another particularly geeky crime show..he even wore his Firefly browncoat to a costume party once in this show!
ELEPHANT BOY - 1937 U.S.A ADVENTURE MOVIE - ABC 1 - SUNDAY 11.35 PM.
MONDAY - SEPTEMBER 7TH
FREE TO AIR TELEVISION
HEROES - U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - SEVEN - MONDAY 12.00 AM Repeats. Double episodes.
THE AVENGERS - 1960s U.K ADVENTURE T.V SHOW - GO! - MONDAY 4.00 AM
THE CASE-BOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES-U.K
1980s VICTORIAN PERIOD DETECTIVE T.V SERIES - ABC1 & HD - MONDAY
12.30 PM. How very singular!! The acclaimed Grenda series that is the
benchmark for Sherlock Holmes adapatations. One of the finest period
dramas to ever come out of Great Britain and one of my all time
favourite television series. These later episodes have seldom, if at
all, been shown on Aussie t.v, although Brett's then ill-health was
beginning to show on camera he was still definitive as Holmes.
IN SEARCH OF - U.S.A POP SCIENCE SERIES - CHANNEL 31 - MONDAY 2.00 PM. I think this is the Leonard Nimoy narrated series..
M*A*S*H - U.S.A WAR COMEDY DRAMA T.V SERIES - SEVEN - WEEKDAYS 5.00 PM. The swords of time will Hawkeye Pierce our skin....
MYTHBUSTERS
- 2000s U.S.A POPULAR SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - SBS & SBS
ONE - MONDAY 7.30 PM. Who ya gonna call when Buster’s busted?!!
WHAT TIME IS IT? - U.K SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY - SBS TWO - MONDAY 7.30 PM.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - 2005 U.S.A COMEDY MOVIE - GO! - MONDAY 7.30 PM.
THE GOODIES - U.K COMEDY T.V SERIES - ABC2 - MONDAY 8.01 PM. Repeats of the yum-yummy series..
GOOD GAME - AUSTRALIA GAMING NEWS T.V SHOW - ABC2 - MONDAY 8.30
UNDERWATER DREAM MACHINE - U.S.A ENGINEERING DOCUMENTARY - SBS TWO - MONDAY 8.30 PM.
SANCTUARY - 2009 U.S.A SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - ABC2 - MONDAY 9.35 PM. Season Two episodes.
UNDERWORLD - 2003 U.S.A FANTASY MOVIE - GO! - MONDAY 10.00 PM.
COVERT AFFAIRS - U.S.A SPY ADVENTURE T.V SERIES - SEVEN - MONDAY 10.00 PM.
TORCHWOOD
- 2007 U.K SCIENCE FICTION T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - MONDAY 10.21 PM.
Repeated from the beginning.
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL - JAPAN SUPERNATURAL HORROR ANIMATED T.V SERIES - ABC 2 - MONDAY 11.08 PM
SOUTH PARK - U.S.A COMEDY ANIMATED SERIES - GO! - MONDAY 11.30 PM.
THE WAR - 2007 WORLD WAR TWO MILITARY DOCUMENTARY T.V SERIES - ABC 1 - MONDAY 11.35 PM
GO!
GO! (DIGITAL) SPECIALISES IN REPEATS WHICH HAVE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING GENRE CONTENT:
THE AVENGERS - ESPIONAGE
THE BATMAN - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
BEN 10 - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
BEWITCHED - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
THE BIG BANG THEORY - SCIENCE FICTION COMEDY
DANTE'S COVE- FANTASY SUPERNATURAL SOAP
F-TROOP - HISTORY COMEDY
THE FLINTSTONES - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
FRASIER - COMEDY (NOT GENERALLY GENRE BUT STILL ONE OF MY FAVOURITE TOP TWENTY COMEDY SERIES, AND HELL, FRASIER ONCE SPOKE KLINGON AND WAS CAPTAIN OF A FEDERATION STARSHIP, WHILE NILES IS HELLBOY'S SIDEKICK AND STINGRAY SAM'S NARRATOR!)
FRINGE -SCIENCE FICTION
GET SMART - SPY COMEDY
I DREAM OF JEANNIE - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
THE JETSONS - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS - COMEDY MUSIC (ANIMATED)
LOONATICS UNLEASHED - FANTASY COMEDY (ANIMATED)
MARINE BOY - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
NEW AMSTERDAM - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
PINKY & THE BRAIN - SCIENCE FICTION (ANIMATED)
SCOOBY-DOO GETS A CLUE - COMEDY DETECTIVE (ANIMATED)
THUNDERBIRDS - SCIENCE FICTION
THE VAMPIRE DIARIES - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
BE WARNED THOUGH THAT WHEN THEY "FIRST RUN" MOVIES THAT THEY OFTEN STACK THEM TO THE SKY WITH ADVERTISEMENTS...
ON THE PLUS SIDE, IF YOU MISS AN EPISODE OF A SHOW YOU MAY FIND THAT THEY WILL REPEAT IT EITHER LATER IN THE DAY OR AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THE SCI-FI CHANNEL
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOW POSSIBLE TO GEEK OUT ON GENRE TELLY BY SELECTIVE CHANNEL HOPPING DURING THE WEEK TOTAL IMMERSION CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED ON THE SCI-FI CHANNEL WITH ITS WALL-TO-WALL PROGRAMMING OF GENRE CONTENT. AS WITH MOST OF THE CABLE CHANNELS THE SHOWS ARE SHOWN ON SOMETHING LIKE MONTHLY ROTATION. SHOWS INCLUDE:
AMAZING STORIES - SCIENCE FICTION
ANGEL - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (REBOOT) - SCIENCE FICTION
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
CHARMED - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
DEMONS - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
EARLY EDITION - FANTASY
EUREKA - SCIENCE FICTION
FARSCAPE - SCIENCE FICTION
GEMINI DIVISION - SCIENCE FICTION
GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
IN THE QUBE - S.F NEWS
KINGDOM HOSPITAL - FANTASY HORROR
JACOB'S LADDER - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
JERICHO - SCIENCE FICTION
KNIGHT RIDER - SCIENCE FICTION
MEDIUM - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
MISSING - FANTASY SUPERNATURAL
THE OUTER LIMITS - SCIENCE FICTION
SANCTUARY - SCIENCE FICTION
THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN - SCIENCE FICTION
STARGATE SG-1 -SCIENCE FICTION
STARGATE ATLANTIS - SCIENCE FICTION
STARGATE UNIVERSE - SCIENCE FICTION
STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE - SCIENCE FICTION
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - SCIENCE FICTION
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - SCIENCE FICTION
STAR TREK: VOYAGER - SCIENCE FICTION
THRESHOLD - SCIENCE FICTION
QUANTUM LEAP - SCIENCE FICTION
V: THE FINAL BATTLE - SCIENCE FICTION
WAREHOUSE 13 - SCIENCE FICTION
WOKE UP DEAD - SCIENCE FICTION
WOLF LAKE - FANTASY HORROR
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS - FANTASY
THE X-FILES -SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
MOVIES ON THE SCI-FI CHANNEL INCLUDE:
TREMORS III
BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III
THE HISTORY CHANNEL, DISCOVERY CHANNEL, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, BBC KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL, ETC.
There are a stack of pay t.v channels available in Oz that are essentially wall-to-wall science, technology, and historical documentaries. Way too much content for me to list and I reckon if you've got access to 'em you'll know what's what anyway.
LOCAL CINEMA
THE ACMI AT FEDERATION SQUAR
NOTE: SOME MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL EVENTS ARE BEING HELD AT THE ACMI. CHECK THE FESTIVAL LISTING (LATER IN THE GEEK GUIDE) FOR DETAILS.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH - SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST
MARS ATTACKS! - SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST
BRIGHT STAR - MONDAY 30TH AUGUST
BATMAN - FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER
BRIGHT STAR - SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE - SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
ELEANOR'S SECRET - MONDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER (AND ALL WEEK)
BRIGHT STAR - SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
BATMAN/BATMAN RETURNS - TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE - THURSDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
BEETLEJUICE - FRIDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE - SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
CREATING THE GRIMSTONES (TALK) - SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER (PART OF BURTON SUNDAY TALKS)
BEETLEJUICE - SUNDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
NOTE: TIM BURTON EXHIBITION OPEN, PLUS MANY FILMS AND RELATED EVENTS.
TIM BURTON FILM RETROSPECTIVE INCLUDES PRETTY MUCH ALL OF HIS MAJOR AND MINOR WORKS.
THE ASTOR
PREDATORS/THE A-TEAM - FRIDAY AUGUST 27TH
ALICE IN WONDERLAND/ROBOCOP/BUCKAROO BANZAI - SUNDAY AUGUST 29TH
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS - WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST
PONYO/9 - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD
THE GREAT ESCAPE - SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH
GRINDHOUSE - WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH
HAMLET -THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH
BLACULA - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH (CINEMA FIASCO)
TOY STORY 3 - SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH
GENERAL RELEASE
(I TEND TO KEEP FILMS ON THIS LIST FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THEY POP UP AT THE
INDEPENDENTS, ART HOUSES AND SOME OF THE SUBURBAN FRINGE CINEMAS FOR SOME TIME AFTER THEY'VE LEFT THE GENERAL MULITPLEXES.)
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - FANTASY (ANIMATED)
AVATAR- SCIENCE FICTION. Yeah!
BENEATH HILL 60 - HISTORY W.W.1
THE BOOK OF ELI - FANTASY (POST APOCALYPSE)
CENTURION - HISTORY, 1 ST CENTURY A.D. Nah, maybe.
CLASH OF THE TITANS - HISTORY, FANTASY. Nah, maybe. Don't bother with the 3D version!
CREATION - HISTORY, SCIENCE.
GREEN ZONE - HISTORY, WAR. Yeah.
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE - SCIENCE FICTION COMEDY
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - FANTASY. Yeah!
THE HURT LOCKER - HISTORY, WAR. Yeah, maybe.
INCEPTION - SCIENCE FICTION. Hell yeah!
IRON MAN 2 - SCIENCE FICTION SUPERHERO. Hell yeah!
KICK ASS - SCIENCE FICTION SUPERHERO. Yeah!
LEGION - FANTASY
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS - FANTASY
PERCY JACKSON & THE LIGHTNING THIEF - FANTASY
PREDATORS - SCIENCE FICTION. Yeah!
PRINCE OF PERSIA - FANTASY
ROBIN HOOD - HISTORY, WAR. Yeah, maybe.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD - SCIENCE FICTION
SHREK #4: FOREVER AFTER - FANTASY ANIMATION.
SPLICE - SCIENCE FICTION
SHUTTER ISLAND - HORROR. Yeah.
THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE - FANTASY.
TOMMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN
TOY STORY #3 - FANTASY.
TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE - FANTASY
THE WOLFMAN - FANTASY HORROR. Maybe
EVENTS/THEATRE/EXHIBITIONS/FESTIVALS/CONVENTIONS
RUSSIAN RESURRECTION FILM FESTIVAL
29TH AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER 5TH
There are several films in this festival that float into Zero-G Space.
BLACK LIGHTNING - 9.30 PM FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER - CINEMA COMO SOUTH YARRA AN PALACE CINEMA COMO. A big budget science fiction/fantasy film, produced by director Timur Bekmambetov, who directed Nightwatch and Daywatch.
BELKA & STRELKA SPACE DOGS IN 3D - 3.00 PM SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST. PALACE CINEMA BALWYN. About the early Russian canine space pioneers...
There is also a retospective programme of W.W 2 era Soviet films.
http://www.russianresurrection.com/2010/sessions_melbourne.html
11TH MELBOURNE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
20TH TO 28TH AUGUST 2010
There are several films in this year's MUFF that fall within Zero-G's genre brief:
BAD BUSH - HORROR
BLONDES IN THE JUNGLE - FANTASY
BURLESQUE - HORROR
CINEMAPHOBIA - HORROR
DARK SOULS - HORROR
THE PAWN - HORROR
THE PURGE - SCIENCE FICTION
ROAD TRAIN - FANTASY
http://www.muff.com.au/films.html
THE OTHER FILM FESTIVAL 2010
25- 29TH AUGUST
Although this festival is really all about 'otherness' one item in particular sits squarely in Zero-G Sci-Fi space.
EYEBORG: The future is already here...
Which is about a filmmaker who has a camera/transmitter implanted where one of his eyes used to be..he lost the original in a hunting accident.
http://www.otherfilmfestival.com/
AUSSIECON FOUR: THE 68TH WORLD SCIENCE FICTION
CONVENTION 2-6 SEPTEMBER 2010 MELBOURNE
CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
STARK EXPO 2010 - BETTER LIVING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY!
MAY 7TH, 2010.
http://www.starkexpo2010.com/
CAN'T STOP THE SERENITY 2010
Presented By The Melbourne Browncoats
What: Screenings of: "Serenity" & "Dr Horrible's Sing-along Blog".
(+Prizes, Costume Competition, Merchandise, Charity Auction)
When: Saturday August 28TH August 1pm- 5pm
Where: Union Cinema Parkville
Tickets Available online at:
http://www.dramatix.com.au/cstmelbourne
MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL 2010
27TH AUGUST TO 5TH SEPTEMBER 2010
http://www.mwf.com.au/2010/content/mwf-2010-home.asp?
Because of the proximity to the World Science Fiction Convention being held here in Melbourne there ia a crossover of some literary guests.
There's a big line-up of Science Fiction and Fantasy guests at the Festival, including: Joss Whedon, Alastair Reynolds, China Mieville, Shaun Tan, Neil Gaiman (via video link), Cory Doctorow, Kim Stanley Robinson and Lucy Sussex. And don't forget the historical strand, as represented, amongst others, by Robyn Annear, one of the speakers commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Burke and Wills expedition.
-Joss Whedon gives a keynote address at 9.30 pm on Friday August 27th at The Melbourne Town Hall.
-Kim Stanley Robinson- In Conversation - 2.30 PM. BMW Edge, Federation Square - Sunday August 29th.
-China Mieville and Alastair Reynolds - Frontiers Of The Imagination - Acmi 2 - 2.30 PM. Saturday August 27th.
-Cory Doctorow- Seminar: The Amplified Author: Exploring New Business Models For Writers - The Wheeler Centre - Wednesday September 1st, 5.00 PM.
- Lucy Sussex - Saltwater In The Ink: Launch. Venue: Feddish. Sunday 27th August. Lucy launches her new collection of 19th century sea diaries and letters.
- Neil Gaiman (via video link) and Shaun Tan - Thursday September 2nd. 10.00 AM to 10.45 AM. BMW Edge.
REELANIME - ANIME MINI-FILM FESTIVAL 2010
September 2 - 15 2010
Cinema Nova - 380 Lygon Street
Films featured:
-Evangelion 2.0
-King Of Thorn
-Redline
-Summer Wars
MELBOURNE FESTIVAL 2010
It seems to me that there are a number of Melbourne Festival pieces this year that access a sense of Science Fiction and/or Fantasy 'otherness' that listeners may find mind expanding.
When: 8th -23rd OCTOBER
Where: Various Melbourne Venues
www.melbournefestival.com.au
K@OSMOS
High altitude acrobats from Spain and Argentina take their cue from court jesters and cosmonauts with free performances in the Alexandra Gardens.
When: 8th to 10th October at 9.00 pm.
Where: Alexandra Gardens, Engineers Lawn (Access via St. Kilda Rd.) 35 minutes, no interval.
TOMMORROW, IN A YEAR
Danish contemporary opera troupe Hotel Pro Forma and Scandanavia electro-pop group The Knife have created an 'electro-dance opera' celebrating Charles Darwin.
When: 20th and 23rd October, 7.30 pm. 1 hr 20 min, no interval.
Where: The Arts Centre, State Theatre
CARNIVAL OF MYSTERIES
Finucane & Smith present a fantastical carnivale of burlesque wonders featuring 30 unique artistes.
When: (See Festival website for details as there are lots of performances for this one.)
HIROAKI UMEDA - ADAPTING FOR DISTORTION AND HAPTIC
Choreographer and dancer Hiroaki Umeda immerses himself in a Science Fictional work that explores the concept of
Mankind's technology eclipsing the human race itself.
When: 14th October - 16th October at 8.00 pm, October 17th at 5.00 pm. 1 hr 5 min with interval
Where: The CUB Malthouse, Merlyn Theatre.
EPI-THET
Musicians and composers Madeline Flynn and Tim Humphrey use an algorithm to transform genetic data into sound to create
a science based individualised sonic composition.
Where: Arts House, Meat Market
When: 19th - 23rd October at 1.00 pm - 9.00 pm. Free.
Note: There is a connected discussion entitled The Exquisite Beauty In Science on 21st October at 1.00 pm at the Wheeler Centre.
www.wheelercentre.com