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We’ve been promised a distinctively Australian version of Top Gear, so far though it resembles a distinctively franchised version of “regular” Top Gear.
As with the British version of the show, they’ve used the beginning of the first episode to tease us with what’s in the season ahead, which should give you a good idea of what kind of show we’re in for. As always, judge for yourself.
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Sky One, Two and Three launched a revamped look in the UK last month. All three networks now share the same set of idents, with just the colours and giant animated numbers setting them apart.
Each network is also embracing a “theme” in their design; solids, liquids and particles, with Sky Three taking on the latter. The new branding is a shift in the right direction, away from the old entirely CGI approach.
Have a look at the solids of Sky One, and the liquid Sky Two variations as well.
– Big thanks to Andrew for sharing.
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As television readies itself to enter an alternate universe, where Kath and Kim is acted by Americans, and Top Gear is hosted by Australians, the folks at SBS are prepping for one of the biggest launches in their history.
Top Gear Australia will be the first international version of the show, and makes its premiere September 29th. The new series is being referred to as “very Australian” by anyone who’s caught a glimpse. And good or bad, it should be interesting to watch, if for no other reason then to say how it can never stand up to the original…
Just like everyone does with The Office.
And the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Main Title Design goes to..
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True Blood is the latest creation from Alan Ball, the creator of Six Feet Under and American Beauty screenwriter. Just like Six Feet Under, the main titles for True Blood have been designed by Digital Kitchen, who also did the opener for Dexter.
The high concept premise behind True Blood revolves around the co-existence of vampires and humans in the southern US state of Louisiana. And from the pilot episode at least, it appears Ball intends to draw on vampires and their recent “outing” into mainstream society as an allegory for the struggle to achieve homosexual rights, racial equality and acceptance.
The gritty and compelling opening sequence, accompanied by the track Bad Things by Jace Everett, even goes so far to feature a sign saying “God Hates Fangs”, an obvious play on the famous protest signs of the Westboro Baptist Church.
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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.”
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I like to consider the old BBC One idents as the reason I started this site. And while this new set that launched in 2006 doesn’t grab me in the same way, they’re still some of the best television branding going around.
These three new additions stay true to the formula, with the spectacular ‘Helicopter’ spot being introduced on new years day this year, and the other two going to air for the first time just days ago in late August.
Check out the rest of the current set of BBC One idents here.
– Thanks to the combined efforts of Andy and Andrew for the videos.
Aaron Sorkin writing Facebook movie.