No, wait, this is more interesting than you’d think, I swear.

From todays Brisbane Times (and reported by the lovely Georgina Robinson):

Ben Ikin’s Origin boycott
Georgina Robinson
June 3, 2009 – 3:28PM

Channel Nine has confirmed former Queensland rugby league star and regular Sunday Roast presenter Ben Ikin will not commentate on tonight’s State of Origin match in Melbourne.

It’s been reported that Ikin quit his regular commentating spot because Nine’s A Current Affair program will tonight air an investigation into a furniture business his father owns.

A Nine spokeswoman confirmed Ikin would not commentate on tonight’s Origin clash but would not say why, instead suggesting “you watch the program tonight”.

The incident follows the controversial sacking of Footy Show regular Matthew Johns last month following revelations of his involvement in a group sex scandal seven years ago.

By running this story with the knowledge that it will upset one of Channel 9′s key on-air identities, this may possibly prove that ACA does in fact have some level of journalistic integrity. The mind boggles.

Naturally Today Tonight will also be running a variation on this story tonight.

Around here we also say “Dan, you used to be fat, greasy, and weird, but now you’re just greasy and weird”.

Luckily for us Brooker is still fat, weird and angry. This analysis of Jade Goody’s death has to be one of the best things you’ll watch this week, and really shows you what broadcast television can do.

Also don’t feel bad about watching Brooker on the Youtube, he twittered this week that we could because they will never ever come out on DVD. If that’s not legally binding, I don’t know what is.

In a media-scape with Youtubes, RSS, Twattering (the verb form), do we have a thousand different ways to keep everybody engaged and watching …. nothing at all?

If you are on the Twitter, you can add us @TV_Rev. If you’re not on Twitter, you shant miss a thing. On the right hand side of this here website is a Twitter badge which displays any comments being made from the @TV_Rev account.

Is Twitter just a fad? Maybe. But, it’s a mighty functional fad, which is why we have taken to it. Feel free to join the discussion on yet another platform.

US$125 is all that it takes to get TV From Hawaii running on your TV set.

Too much value? Heavens no.

Matt Smith, of whom many of you may have seen on the BBC series Party Animals (currently screening in Australia on ABC1), has been announced by the BBC as the new time lord. While I’m sure he’ll be a fine Dr Who, it’s a bit disappointing that he seems so darn similar to David Tennant. I really do prefer the casting of Dr Who against type.

Video: First million-dollar winner crowned on ‘Deal’

After three years on the air, somebody finally won a million bucks on NBC’s “Deal or No Deal.”

Here’s a 5-minute video clip showing the climax of Monday night’s game, where 27-year-old Utah housewife Jessica Robinson opened all the briefcases and won the grand prize (note: all the celebrating at the start of the clip is for Robinson clearing a hurdle leading up to the final offer).

While there are several hours of worthy viewing coming up over the next month. this Friday’s double feature of The Wild World of Batwoman and the Turkish Star Wars knock-off will be an evening to behold. Do yourself a favour and tune in. Beer and commrades are a must!

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Friday 25th April: POP CULTURE GONE TROPPO FAMOUS MOMENTS IN FILM THIEVERY #1: Infamous Z-producer/director Jerry Warren takes on DC Comics with The Wild World Of Batwoman (1966) – and is sued almost out of the film industry! FAMOUS MOMENTS IN FILM THIEVERY #2: “Turksploitation” producers believe they can edit footage from the original Star Wars into their own version (Dünyayi Kurtaran Adam or “The Man Who Saves The World”)… and nobody would ever notice! Luckily Schlock Treatment has, and we’re proud to present a subtitled version of one of the wildest reworkings of George Lucas’ universe EVER, affectionately known as The Turkish Star Wars (1982).

Friday 2nd May: YOUNG DENNIS HOPPER DOUBLE SEE Dennis Hopper practically out of nappies as he takes on a sinister mermaid in the moody, forgotten Curtis Harrington minor masterpiece Night Tide (1961)… and SEE Dennis, John Saxon and an alien vampiress on board a spaceship to hell in the 1966 Queen Of Blood!

Friday 9th May: MORE MEXICAN MADNESS Neutron vs The Death Robots (1962) Wrestling/science fiction/horror from South of the Border starring Wolf Ruvinskis as the Man in the Black Mask/The Living Head (1963) One of our most insane Mexican horrors yet featuring Abel Salazar, German Robles and an evil severed Aztec head!

Friday 16th May: THERE WERE NEVER ANY ?GOOD OLD DAYS? Maniac (1934) Dwain Esper?s notorious and certifiably nutzoid zero-budget shocker/Sex Madness (1938) Esper returns with a treatise on the wages of sin: Disease! Insanity! Death!/She Shoulda Said No! (1949) Anti-pot schlocktacular starring disgraced Hollywood starlet and Robert Mitchum?s busted squeeze Lila Leeds!

Friday 23rd May: MEET MY FRANKENSTEIN Jesse James Meets Frankenstein?s Daughter (1966) What?s in a film title? EVERYTHING! A western horror classic from William ?One Shot? Beaudine/Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster (1965) No budget nonsense with James (Return Of The Living Dead) Karen, and Crispin Glovers father Bruce as the titular Space Monster!

Friday 30th May: MAD, BAD KUNG FU Bruce Lee vs Supermen (1975) Outrageous Bruceploitation starring Bruce ?Li? as the Green – ahem, RED Hornet/Swordsman With An Umbrella (1970) We?ve been promising this one for a while: prime Taiwanese chop-sockey action with hands down the WORST dubbing ever!

Channel 7 are on the lookout now for both Gladiators as well as contestants for the show. I’ll be sure to see you at the auditions.

http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/aunz/tv/gladiators/

Channel Seven has announced television phenomenon Gladiators will return to our screens in 2008.

Gladiators premiered on Seven in 1995 ? and launched to massive ratings. The show pitted everyday contestants in a variety of physical events against the ?Gladiators?. The likes of Predator, Commando, Vulcan, Storm, Glacier and Flame presented a spectacle of human endurance each week as they battled an inexhaustible procession of challenges such as hang tough, pyramid, powerball and swingshot.

The search now begins across Australia for a new generation of Gladiators and contenders. Are you ready to be part of the next generation of Gladiators on Channel 7 in 2008? If you think you have what it takes, apply now to be on the show!

To Apply
1) Email gladiators_7@yahoo.com.au
2) Include your name, age, weight, height, full address, contact details and why you want to be on the show!
3) Attach a photo of yourself.