Main Menu

 

Follow Mediaweek
Search
Latest Headlines
Staff Top 5 Picks

Brian Watson's Daily Top 5 Picks: Friday

1. The Place Beyond The Pines stars Ryan Gosling as a stunt motorcyclist who turns to robbing banks to pay support for his illegitimate son and Bradley Cooper as the cop who becomes his deadly adversary. Fifteen years later their sons wind up at the same high school and the movie shapes up as an epic drama. Full marks to the teen actors Dane DeHaan and Emory Cohen but especially to Eva Mendes and Rose Byrne as their mothers.

2. Remember Bon Iver, the indie group whose eponymous second album enjoyed worldwide success two years ago and won two Grammy Awards? Many of their fans still prefer their first album, For Emma, Forever Ago (2008), which included their original version of “Skinny Love”. Imagine my surprise to find one of its tracks, “The Wolves (Act I and II)”, plays right through the end credits of The Place Beyond The Pines. The music supervisor certainly had good taste.

3. Another surprise this week was the name of Bart the Bear in the end credits of this week’s episode of Game of Thrones, “The Bear and the Maiden Fair”. Bart, an Alaskan Kodiak bear, appeared in many movies and TV shows before he died in 2000. This week’s Bart is another Alaskan Kodiak, born in 2000, raised by the same trainers, with a similarly long Hollywood career. If you haven’t already seen it, be prepared for his terrifying appearance in this week’s episode.

4. I’m excited about an ad on TEN for their upcoming show The Americans. A dozen or so episodes have been shown on the US FX network and the premise is intriguing. Keri Russell from Felicity and Matthew Rhys, who played the gay brother in Brothers & Sisters, are highly trained Russian KGB agents posing as a American couple in suburban Washington DC in the early 80s. Also in the cast are Richard Thomas, who won an Emmy as John-Boy in The Waltons, and Margo Martindale, who won an Emmy as the villain in season two of Justified. Critics say it’s a gripping spy thriller.

5. The Music Is You is a newly released tribute to John Denver. Artists including Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Amos Lee, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dave Matthews perform his songs and the most successful tracks tend to be the biggest hits – some of the others are pretty forgettable. My favourite is “Leaving on a Jet Plane” with My Morning Jacket breathing fresh life into Peter, Paul and Mary’s hit.

Hansika Bhagani's Daily Top 5 Picks: Thursday

1. PolitiFact has launched in Australia, and in the lead-up to September's Federal election, is sure to get a workout. So far the site proves interesting reading, with some media commentators claiming some of the fact-checking is being selective. Find ex-SMH editor Peter Fray's new venture here.
2. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution has gone global and this weekend there will be events to celebrate the chef's Food Revolution Day. You can participate by cooking and sharing your fresh homemade food at the Love Real Food Picnic at Centennial Park this Saturday. As the food revolution is all about fresh, homemade tucker – and being equipped to prepare it yourself – the organisers are challenging people to home-make "absolutely everything for their picnic loot – crackers, dips, thermos soups, salads, meats, home-made lemonades. EVERYTHING!! No packets."

3. It's taken eight long years but How I Met Your Mother has revealed the identity of Ted Moseby's wife and the "mother" of the series. Cristin Milioti showed her face for a fleeting minute in the season finale, buying a train ticket to Barney and Robin’s wedding in “Farhampton,” the show’s fanciful, fictitious stand-in for the East Hampton. Milioti will appear regularly next season, the show’s last, beginning in September.

4. The John Singleton/Gai Waterhouse saga has been given ample coverage in Sydney's daily papers but Four Corners on Monday night will be worth watching for exclusive insights and historical background. Marian Wilkinson reports on Four Corners, Monday at 8.30pm on ABC.

5. Head On Photo Festival opens tomorrow as part of Vivid Sydney. Head On is Australia's largest photo festival and the world's second largest festival. With over 200 events at 100 venues, the 2012 festival was a resounding success for everyone who participated: galleries and other venues, photographers, Head On partners and the viewing public and the 2013 festival is already looking like being even bigger!

Lauren Barripp's Daily Top 5 Picks: Wednesday

1. One by one, stars are arriving in the south of France for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which is held from May 15-26. CEO of the invitation-only festival, Thierry Fremaux, describes the purpose of the event as a way to “draw attention to and raise the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide and celebrating cinema at an international level.” The president of the jury at this year’s event is director, Steven Spielberg.

2. Aussie comedian Rebel Wilson has landed herself her own TV series on the US Network ABC, called Super Fun Night. The series will revolve around three nerdy women friends on a "funcomfortable" quest to have "super fun" every Friday night. The show will be co-produced by Connan O’Brien.

3. Despite the predicted debut weekend sales of $US30 million, The Great Gatsby has outperformed expectations by taking $US51.1m on its opening weekend in more than 3500 cinemas across the United States. The movie, shot in Sydney, is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.

4. The British Academy of Television and Film Arts Awards (also known as The BAFTAs) were held in London on Sunday night. Sheridan Smith won best actress for her role in Mrs Biggs, and my guilty pleasure, Made In Chelsea, won best reality or constructed factual show. As per any awards ceremony, the fashion stakes were high and as glamorous as ever, despite the typical wet British weather.

5. Olympic gold medallists and Celebrity Splash judges Matthew Mitcham and Greg Louganis will get a chance to show off their credentials as the pair have a chance to dive together during tonight’s grand finale which will air at 8.45pm on Channel 7.

 

Entries in MCM Media (8)

Monday
Mar042013

MCM Media launches 2013 digital showcase

DateMarch 4, 2013

A new weekly TV series about the LA celebrity scene to be hosted by Maude Garrett, a stripped back Take 40 Live Lounge and a short-form online series from VEVO about music and dating are among the content highlights for 2013, announced by MCM Media.
Director of Content Marketing Greg Tremain said, “There has been a surge in marketers and agencies turning to content marketing to help engage consumers and there is no better way for a brand to connect with audiences than through music, which is deeply personal and one of the strongest drivers of emotional connection. Whether its building a live event around a brand or creating something unique, music can deliver. As the producer of Australia’s leading music and entertainment brands, we know how  to make content that works. And our  unrivaled scale across our digital and radio networks means we can ensure the content is seen by the targeted audience”..

Click to read more ...

tagged , , ,
Thursday
Sep062012

MCM Media's My Generation regenerates

DateSeptember 6, 2012

This weekend, My Generation, the radio show that pays tribute to music, people and events, will revitalise itself – changing its focus from a specific year each week to showcasing the music and moments of the current week spanning a number of years.
Legendary Aussie rocker Doc Neeson makes an exciting new addition to the show, as the new voice of My Generation. The focus on ‘this week’ naturally sees an increase in music variety as well as more topical content.

Click to read more ...

tagged , , ,
Thursday
May312012

MCM Media celebrates 700 episodes of My Generation

DateMay 31, 2012

My Generation, the radio show that pays tribute to the music, people and events of the 60s, 70s and 80s, will mark its own timeline this week when it broadcasts its 700th episode on Saturday 2 June.
Each week hosts Amanda Keller and Brendan ‘Jonesy’ Jones reminisce about a particular year - revelling in the music, news, fashion and culture of the time.

Click to read more ...

tagged , , , ,
Tuesday
Mar062012

MCM Media and ARIA back together for Take 40

DateMarch 6, 2012

MCM Media and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) have announced a new partnership deal that will see Australia’s most popular music countdown show, Take 40 Australia relaunch this Saturday March 10, counting down the ARIA singles chart across its radio, website and mobile platforms.

Click to read more ...

tagged , , ,
Thursday
Nov032011

MCM's Jono and Dano sign off

DateNovember 3, 2011

After three years hosting their drive time radio show, Jonathan ‘Jono’ Coleman and Ian ‘Dano’ Rogerson will bid the Classic Hits listeners farewell at the end of 2011.
The Jono & Dano Show currently airs on 32 radio stations across Australia including ARN’s Classic Hits Network: WSFM Sydney, GOLD FM Melbourne and 4KQ Brisbane and is produced by MCM Media, a division of MCM Entertainment Group.

Click to read more ...

tagged , , , ,
Friday
Jul292011

Sam Thompson joining MCM Media

DateJuly 29, 2011

MCM Media has today announced the appointment of Sam Thompson to the newly created role of Group Content Director, reaffirming the company's commitment to producing leading multi-platform entertainment content for its radio, digital and television partners.
Thompson joins MCM Media from dmg Radio (Australia) where she spent eight years, commencing as Group Promotions and Marketing Director and two years later moving to General Manager of Melbourne stations Nova 100 and 91.5FM. Her media career spans over 20 years, originating at Austereo in integration and content, and has seen her work all over the country.

Click to read more ...

tagged , ,
Thursday
Jul212011

MCM Media launches first music app

DateJuly 21, 2011

MCM Media has announced the launch of Australia’s first music video application, the Take 40 app, offering iPhone users over 10,000 music videos on demand and the ultimate mobile music experience, anywhere, anytime.
The free-to-download app from MCM Media’s renowned cross-platform entertainment brand, Take 40 Australia, will give advertisers a content-rich, highly engaging mobile environment to reach the nation’s music and entertainment fans, on the go.

Click to read more ...

tagged , ,
Friday
Jun032011

A 'monster' media collaboration for Lady Gaga

DateJune 3, 2011

Vodafone has partnered with Universal Music Australia, MCM Media and Austereo via media agency Ikon to deliver global superstar Lady Gaga to Sydney for the launch of Vodafone All-Time prepaid in a one-off event ‘Your All-Time Exclusive GAGA LIVE at Sydney Monster Hall.’

Click to read more ...

tagged , , ,