> Quicktime H.264
(116mb)
> iPod Compatible
(61mb)
> Watch in Flash
(32mb)

Elaborate, ambitious, dramatic and passionate are some of the words I find myself using when describing something that really impresses me.

Directed by Adam Berg, this beautiful commercial for Dulux ticks all those boxes.

> Quicktime H.264
(8.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(5.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.6mb progressive)

If there’s one thing I love more than a good cast photo (like the cast of the Sopranos on a boat, or the cast of Scrubs.. also on a boat), its a good cast promo.

Full or overly symbolic references and imagery, its the kind of stuff you can only get away with when your playing outside the bounds of the shows usual narrative (or at least a dream sequence) and quite frankly no one does it better than HBO.

Take for example the series return of True Blood, set to the Bob Dylan track “Beyond Here Lies Nothing” is a beautiful moving portrait, open to intrepretion of what we might be able to expect from the latest instalment of the vampire thriller.

Another show that was rampant in there use of seasonal teasers was Six Feet Under, watch some examples after the jump.

Season 5, featuring the song “Breathe Me” by Sia.

Season 4, featuring the song “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone.

Season 3, featuring the song “A Rush Of Blood To The Head” by Coldplay.

> Download Charlie Brooker’s Newswipe: Episode 5 (264mb *.zip)

Charlie Brooker has been entertaining us for years with his biting and satirical look at television through his own show Screenwipe. Earlier this year however he launched Newswipe, and focused his attention on the world of broadcast news. And while I was expecting Brooker to deliver a funny yet scathing look at television news, I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so profound.

Charlie Brooker continues to further define his niche, and along the way make some truly thoughtful observations on a subject we should probably all care a little more about… the quality of our news, and the effect it has on us.

And for the most tenuous of links.. today is World Press Freedom Day, an observance adopted by the United Nations since 1993.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

> Quicktime H.264
(15.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(12.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(11mb progressive)

One of televisions most iconic opening sequences got its most dramatic and permanent update today.

The Simpson’s have taken the leap into high definition, and used it as an opportunity to completely recreate the famous race home.

Sticking to the basic premise that debuted back in 1989, the new sequence see’s the addition of countless secondary characters and a few in-jokes from the shows over 400 episode history.

> Download Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe: Review of 2008 (267mb *.zip)

Ring in the New Year with a look back at the past twelve months of television through the genius that is Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe on BBC Four.

In his annual review of the year, Brooker takes you on a month-by-month recap of the year that was for television, the industry and the world.

And for a further trip down memory lane check out his review of 2007.

> Quicktime H.264
(57.2mb)
> iPod Compatible
(37.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(35mb progressive)

Since 1993 Channel 4 has been offering viewers an alternative to the Queen’s Christmas message. With the likes of Ali G, Jamie Oliver and even Marge Simpson delivering a speech it’s generally been a rather tongue-in-cheek event.

This year however Channel 4 decided to court controversy with their decision to approach Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (who was so beautifully satirised by SNL here) to deliver the address.

> Quicktime H.264
(22.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(11.2mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.4mb progressive)

At 6:29pm tonight Freeview came to Australia. The new digital platform (aka marketing ploy) launched across the five free to air networks in an effort to band together and promote the benefits of digital terrestrial television.

The Freeview concept has been a strong part of the digital take up in the UK since its launch in 2002, with New Zealand following with a similar campaign in 2007.

I’m sure Australia’s equivalent of Penelope Keith will be spruiking set top boxes and multi channel goodness to a confused public in no time.

> Quicktime H.264
(42mb)
> iPod Compatible
(10mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.3mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(38mb)
> iPod Compatible
(23mb)
> Watch in Flash
(19mb progressive)

Shot using 200 cameras, and costing £3 million, this new commercial from Toshiba employs a new filming technique dubbed “timesculpture“, an evolution of the “bullet time” method made famous by The Matrix.

Like any good ident, I like a commercial to be elaborate, ambitious, and just a little bit pointless. Toshiba ticks all the boxes with this new ad, and while clearly a play to get the kind of buzz generated by the brilliant Sony Bravia commercials, this spot is a notable effort, and reminded me that Toshiba actually made televisions.

And although I’ve suddenly find myself in the market for a TV, I’m not sure it will be a Toshiba yet. That said, I started drinking Schweppes after this amazing commercial, so maybe I’m more susceptible to advertising then I thought.

> Quicktime H.264
(5.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(3.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(5mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(11.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(6.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(4.8mb progressive)

Comparing the opening titles of the original Kath and Kim to the American remake, its clear this isn’t going to be a line-for-line remake. Most importantly though, for the millions of American’s who will meet Kath and Kim for the first time this Thursday on NBC, I think they might just enjoy themselves.

The pilot made its pre-air debut on iTunes not long ago. All you need to do to download a copy if you’re outside of the States, is get yourself an iTunes account.

> Quicktime H.264
(24.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(13mb)
> Watch in Flash
(11.5mb progressive)

In a rare show of solidarity, three of the big commercial networks in the US dedicated an hour of commercial free programming to broadcast the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon. With the usual mix of serious appeal and humour, the highlight of the night was Homer Simpson’s fantastic voyage into his own colon.

NBC, ABC and CBS simulcast the event Friday night with all money raised going to the translational cancer research, which “encourages scientists to collaborate rather than compete, translating basic science into applicable therapies for patients.”

> Quicktime H.264
(11.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(9.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.2mb progressive)

On the same day that Starbucks announced they were bailing out Australia, another iconic American brand is launching itself here, hopefully with better results.

TiVo, the personal video recorder that became a verb, went on sale around the country today. Backed by the Seven Network, and with no monthy fees, its being positioned as the anti-Foxtel, although slightly steep at $699, the theory is thats all you’ll ever pay.

Check out the iPod inspired commercial for the new device above.

> Download all 8 episodes of Posh Nosh in one swoop here (553mb *.zip)

Posh Nosh is one of the great parodies of recent times, a masterpiece of comedy, and although dreadfully too short, keeps getting funnier with each viewing.

Useful tip: if you can’t afford £16.80 for a kilo of Chipolatas, you shouldn’t really be starting a family.

Written by Jon Canter and Arabella Weir, directed by Chris Langham, and starring Richard E Grant with Arabella Weir, this faux cooking show from the BBC back in 2002 is nothing short of absurd genuis. The recurring themes around cooking, social status, marriage and sexuality are woven more deeply and eloquently in eight short episodes than most shows attain in their entire run.

A truly exceptional example of parody, Posh Nosh borrows the traditional conventions of the popular cooking show to mock and critique the genre, while also staying true to its own sensible nonsense, a stunning achievement for a show thats episodes last less than ten minutes.

> Quicktime H.264
(27.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(23.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(21mb progressive)

A few hours ago Channel 4 broadcast what The Guardian is calling Britain’s first ever live commercial during a break in the reality show Come Dine With Me. The three minute ad came live from the skies above Spain and featured a team of professional skydivers demonstrating Honda’s latest tagline “Difficult Is Worth Doing”.

The live nature of television is one of its biggest redeeming features, and while this commercial is certainly full of the novelty factor, its an example of the innovation that not only the advertising industry will have to adopt, but also the whole television sector in general.

For more advertising fun check out a new show that started this week on ABC1 called The Gruen Transfer, a very funny and interesting look into the industry. Or just check out some of my favourite ads, here and here.

- Thanks for the video Craig

UPDATE: Around 168,000 additional viewers tuned in to see Honda’s ambitious commercial go live to air, bringing the total audience to 2.2 million.

UPDATE 2: Various reports have suggested that the plane crashed after shooting the commercial, killing two. The Telegraph is now reporting that the same plane did in fact crash, but it happened the day after the advert was shot.

> Quicktime H.264
(27mb)
> iPod Compatible
(19.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10.6mb progressive)

At the intersection of comedy and tragedy lives documentary film maker Louis Theroux. His engaging, funny, heartbreaking and intelligent documentaries have only recently been introduced to me, but I haven’t been able to stop watching.

For the uninitiated (like myself until recently) Louis Theroux is a British broadcaster who started his television career on Michael Moore’s TV Nation before moving onto his own shows with Weird Weekends and When Louis Met.., and more recently a new series of one hour documentaries.

His programs generally involve investigating a curious subculture such as the life of swingers, rappers, televangelists, Thai brides, or white separatists. But what makes the programs so involving is Louis himself, who leads you into these sometimes abhorrent environments and allows you to see through his eyes, sharing the shock, laughter or heartbreak with him.

Although his style has been criticised as “faux-naïf” I find his disarming, often comedic, and sometimes baffled demeanor to be his greatest quality, he is almost Jim Halpert-esque at times, especially useful when entering as intense environments as San Quentin prison or the home of a Neo Nazi.

And while other film makers may chose to only observe, Louis often forms what appear to be quite genuine connections to the people he is investigating, whether it be his fondness for a particular prostitute in his program about a Nevada brothel, his impassioned attempt to bring clarity to a member of the Westboro Baptist Church or the truly incredible and bizarre turn of events that occurred during the filming of When Louis met the Hamiltons.

The comedic elements of his films are at times on par with the best of modern sitcoms, from the subtle to slapstick, the humour flows from the most unusual of situations, and is further intensified by Theroux’s own thoroughly likable self.

I haven’t been this taken by a personality or program since I first watched Top Gear or discovered The Office. His work transcends the gap between traditional documentary and scripted sitcom or drama, creating a narrative where at times I have completely forgotten I was watching real people.

Whereas many modern sitcoms are fake documentaries, at times Louis Theroux has managed to create the exact opposite, a real sitcom, or a real drama, an incredible achievement and a genre melding exercise that has left me giddy, enthralled and unable to think of anything else for days.

> Quicktime H.264
(17.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(8.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.3mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(24mb)
> iPod Compatible
(11.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8.3mb progressive)

Mitchell and Webb poke fun at the maddening world of television news “interactivity”, because really..

What possible reason could there be for you not to email us, certainly ignorance shouldn’t be a bar.

News parody has filled many posts on this site, including Jeremy Clarkson’s commentary on the state of news, Melanie Bellamy with the standing news, Dead Ringers high brow jab at Newsnight, and of course all that Chaser stuff.

> Quicktime H.264
(17.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(7.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(9.1mb progressive)

Captured at 10,000 frames per second, and shot in Australia, this ad for Schweppes by agency George Patterson Y&R is simply stunning. Accompanied by the track “To Build A Home” by The Cinematic Orchestra the 90 second spot creates the kind of inspiring, engaging, memorable and beautiful imagery that drove me to start this site.

Long time readers of this blog may have figured out by now that I have a strong belief that the commercial aspects of idents detract greatly from the creation of a successful spot. Which is why my most favorable comments are generally left to public broadcasters, or more progressive commercial stations who are willing to take the risk to create something beautiful and artistic.

From that you can probably gather that there are even fewer advertisements (purely commercial devices) that I feel strive for or attain the kind of artistic levels that some idents do. The “bouncing balls” of Sony Bravia for example is exceptionally well crafted, and traverses the gap between between ad and art, as does this amazing spot from Schweppes.

> Quicktime H.264
(34.6mb)
> iPod Compatible
(18mb)
> Watch in Flash
(9.4mb progressive)

While there isn’t an Oscar category for title design yet (the proposal was rejected in 1999) it shouldn’t stop us from looking at the Academy’s own opening credits.

Personally I think TCM’s creative and mesmerising take on the movie montage would have served as a much more eloquent introduction to the 80th Academy Awards.

> Quicktime H.264
(10.5mb)
> iPod Compatible
(9.1mb)
> Watch in Flash
(6.3mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(16.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(14.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(9.5mb progressive)

I’m not sure this tradition quite has enough traction for me to continue with it, but when I turned 21, and then again when I turned 22 I posted the latest Bravia ads.

Well I’m 23 today, so here it is, the two latest ads, Pyramid and Play Doh.

All these advertisements from Sony have always reminded me of the kind of installation art Christo and Jeanne-Claude are famous for, and if they weren’t ads they would probably make spectacular idents.

> Quicktime H.264
(45.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(24.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(12.4mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(65.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(33.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(17mb progressive)

This morning The Australian was reporting (on page one no less) that the ABC was set to drop the famous lissajous symbol from its on air broadcasts in favour of a new logo. It didn’t take long for the ABC to deny the reports however and assure us all that the new look will include the famous logo.

ABC’s midday and evening news’ covered the story, giving kudos to the blog that leaked it, and clarifying the ABC’s position on the rebrand, which will officially take place on February 8th. They also spoke to ‘media expert’ Harold Mitchell about the impending changes (second video).

Listen to what the director of ABC TV Kim Dalton has to say about the rebrand in the audio below from ABC Radio Melbourne from earlier this morning.

> Download in Quicktime H264 (99mb) or iPod Compatible (24.2mb)

It’s Australia Day today, which means its time to count down the 100 best songs of last year with Triple J. The hottest 100 is one of the largest song polls in the world, and while last year the amazing ‘One Crowded Hour’ took out the top spot, this year perhaps my favourite song of 2007 came in at number ten.

The song is ‘Don’t Fight It’ by Perth band The Panics, you might just like it too.

> Quicktime H.264
(146mb)
> iPod Compatible
(76.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(74mb progressive)

As boring as it is to watch fireworks on television, last nights coverage of Sydney’s NYE celebrations did have one saving grace.. they played “No Cars Go” by Arcarde Fire!

I first heard the song when it was used in a promo for Top Gear, and have been totally enamored by it ever since, listen to the song in its entirety below:

> Download Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe: Review of 2007 (272mb *.zip)

Today is December 23rd, and you know what that means? Yep, it’s Festivus! For the uninitiated (watch this clip), basically its televisions greatest commentary on this whole season, and was popularised during an episode of Seinfeld. The significance of the holiday is described as being “A non-denominational holiday to be celebrated by those frustrated or jaded with the commercialism and pressure surrounding the Christmas/Hanukkah season.”

To celebrate this largely fictional holiday I thought I’d share Charlie Brooker’s wrap up of the year in television that aired on BBC Four earlier this week, because really, who is more frustrated and jaded then him?

As I’ve mentioned before, Charlie Brooker is awesome, I love his take on all things television, and his show Screenwipe is genuis, enjoy!

> Quicktime H.264
(12.4mb)
> iPod Compatible
(4.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(7.9mb progressive)

Speaking of Simpson’s Halloween specials I couldn’t resist posting this. In an episode aired a few weeks ago, Marge gets sick of the Fox promos cluttering her screen and asks the very reasonable question ‘can’t anyone just watch the show they’re watching?’.

> Quicktime H.264
(85.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(38mb)
> Watch in Flash
(46mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(71.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(27.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(38.9mb progressive)

It’s 1959, and a screenwriter named Rod Serling is about to launch a show onto television called The Twilight Zone, it will not only bring veiled social commentary onto an unsuspecting world, but also provide the plots for many a Simpson’s Halloween special. Before any of that though, he has to convince the most important people in the world of television (no, not the audience)… the advertisers that his new show has legs, and that together they can make “product pushing that much easier”.

The first video, is Serling’s pitch that was played before viewings of the pilot episode, the second video is a series of sponsorship billboards “product pushing” everything from cigarettes to shaving cream… I guess not that much has really changed with television, except maybe the cigarettes.

> Quicktime H.264
(31.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(22.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10.8mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(35mb)
> iPod Compatible
(21.5mb)
> Watch in Flash
(12.6mb progressive)

Not surprisingly, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip reignited an interest in Saturday Night Live for me. Sure Studio 60 over romanticised the importance of late night comedy, and its place as a cultural institution, but I still wouldn’t change an episode.

Comedy and satire are important (as I went on about here), and although SNL isn’t perfect, its still pretty good. Locally however, while The Chaser may not have the long history that SNL does, it has been having the actual, tangible impact on Australian culture that Studio 60 claimed its show-within-a-show was having.

This week SNL was hosted by NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, who pokes fun at himself in this ‘digital short’, the second video is from an earlier ‘digital short’ this season where Andy Samberg serenades Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

> Quicktime H.264
(79.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(36.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(13.7mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(49.1mb)
> iPod Compatible
(22.4mb)
> Watch in Flash
(8.4mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(107mb)
> iPod Compatible
(49.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(18.2mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(59.8mb)
> iPod Compatible
(28mb)
> Watch in Flash
(10mb progressive)

The Emmy’s aired last night here in Australia, and while it was your usual awards show fare, I thought a few moments were worth sharing…

In order of video above we have; a Family Guy musical tribute to the current state of television (Scrubs fans watch out); the cast of The Office making fun of Steve Carell; Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert talking global warming; and finally the uncensored version of Sally Fields bizarrely censored acceptance speech.

> Quicktime H.264
(16.9mb)
> iPod Compatible
(12.9mb)
> Watch in Flash
(22.1mb progressive)

ITV1 had an unfortunately long technical fault the other day at the beginning of their live broadcast of Hell’s Kitchen. Fortunately for me though its the perfect chance to show off what happens to a network when everything goes to hell. For over seven minutes the ITV technical fault caption graced viewers screens, along with an announcer apologising for the problems.

Besides the rather cool graphic used during the downtime, I wanted to mention that I’ve never seen something like this happen in Australia, I’m not saying we’ve never screwed up a live TV broadcast, but what happens when their is a technical fault? I’ve certainly never heard an announcer come on and apologise for it, is that a purely British oddity or do I just not watch enough television?

Thanks Andy for the video, and check out ITV1′s idents collection here.

> Quicktime H.264
(48.3mb)
> iPod Compatible
(27.7mb)
> Watch in Flash
(14.6mb progressive)

For someone who makes quite as big a deal about The Simpsons as me, I have to admit.. I still haven’t seen the movie, although not through lack of trying.

Watch David and Margaret’s review above (and David’s virginity admission), or check out what Triple J’s resident critic thought about it here.

> Quicktime H.264
(85.7mb)
> iPod Compatible
(21.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(24.2mb progressive)

Channel 9 is no longer the one, the dramatic fall, the “spiritual death” if you will of Australia’s once favourite television network is the subject of Gerald Stone’s new book, Who Killed Channel 9? The Death of Kerry Packer’s Dream Machine.

Stone was on this mornings Weekend Sunrise talking about the book, the possible movie adaptation, morale at Nine and why it matters who owns and runs our television broadcasters.

> Quicktime H.264
(39mb)
> iPod Compatible
(22.3mb)
> Watch in Flash
(15.5mb progressive)

> Quicktime H.264
(103mb)
> iPod Compatible
(44.6mb)
> Watch in Flash
(40mb progressive)

The Chaser was again lambasted on Today Tonight last Friday over a stunt they did about mobile billboards. It was the lead story on that nights edition, filed by reporter Bryan “funny in a sad way” Seymour, and stirred this moving response from Anna Coren.. “it really is a negative war on everything”.

And last night Chris and Andrew appeared on The Nation to talk about their new musical Dead Caesar among other things.