Four's blog

9:30pm – Monday, January 28 on FOUR

Florence Henderson, Gayle King and Kermit the Frog all guest star in 30 Rock, continuing it’s latest, and final, season on Monday, January 28 th at 9:30pm on FOUR. This week’s 30 Rock sees Broadway legend, Elaine Stritch return in her recurring role as Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin’s) mother – and along with her comes another pair of legends: Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch) and Kermit the Frog. And if that isn’t enough, there is also a very special cameo by Gayle (Oprah’s BFF) King! Make sure not to miss all this when 30 Rock screens on Monday, January 28 th at 9:30pm on FOUR.

8:00pm – Monday, January 28 on FOUR

New Girl is getting a new guy when Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Family Stone) guest stars in the hit Zooey Deschanel comedy on Monday, January 28 th at 8pm on FOUR.

Dermot Mulroney is joining New Girl as a smart, rich and handsome love interest for Jess (Zooey Deschanel) – who also happens to be the father of one of her students.

Although the two don’t start off on the right foot, eventually their chemistry kicks in.

“I’m, naturally, a slightly older guy,” Mulroney explained following the filming of his first episode. “My daughter is one of her students… The romance hasn’t blossomed yet, but you can see that ‘do they like each other or not’ is already kicking in.”

Make sure not to miss this when New Girl screens on Monday, January 28 th at 8pm on FOUR.

8:30pm – Wednesday, January 16 on FOUR

A former professional wrestler, a grandmother-of-55 and ‘Santa Claus’ are among the contestants who will take part in the new season of The Biggest Loser, returning to our screens on Wednesday, January 16 th at 8:30pm on FOUR. Entering its 13 th season, this year will see another 20 contestants arrive at the ranch in the hopes of getting healthy and regaining their lives.

However, this season – which is themed “No Excuses” – will feature a major twist when the contestants, who will arrive in pairs, learn they will be separated and actually be competing against each other in the race to secure the $250,000 prize and title of “The Biggest Loser”. “They thought they were coming in as a team but no, you’re definitely on your own. No excuses… You should see their faces. It should be fun to watch,” The Biggest Loser trainer, Dolvett Quince explains.

“Eighteen of the 20 contestants will have arrived at the ranch knowing each other while one pair will be made up of strangers,” he adds.

So how will the contestants react to the series’ latest twist? Find out when The Biggest Loser premieres its 13 th season on Wednesday, January 16 th at 8:30pm on FOUR.

7:30pm – Tuesday, January 15 on FOUR

America’s Next Top Model is getting a makeover for its 19 th cycle, premiering on Tuesday, January 15 th at 7:30pm on FOUR. Returning to our screens with its first ever “College Edition”, this cycle will see a new judge, a new photo shoot creative consultant and a new viewer-voting component, among other additions.

Gone are former judges Nigel Barker and J. Alexander and photo director Jay Manuel. Joining the judges panel alongside host/executive producer Tyra Banks and fashion PR expert Kelly Cutrone is Rob Evans, a former boxer and model.

Stylist Johnny Wujek replaces Manuel, while fashion blogger Bryanboy and dancerchoreographer Jonte will also serve in a mentoring capacity. Adding to the changes will also be a new judge – the U.S. viewer! For the first time, viewers will have a say in which contestants stay or go home. And, in another new twist, eliminated competitors will be also be given the opportunity to return to the competition!

Make sure not to miss all of this when America’s Next Top Model: College Edition premieres on Tuesday, January 15 th at 7:30pm on FOUR.

9:00pm – Sunday, January 6 on FOUR

This week sees Futurama concluding its latest, seventh season with an episode which sees the hit animated series re-imagined in three different animation styles. Futurama screens on Sunday, January 6 th at 9pm on FOUR. Futurama was recently picked up for 26 new episodes, but when writers were mapping out the current season, they didn’t know if this would be their final, so they crafted the season finale as a potential series ender.

“The idea is that it’s Futurama reincarnated in three different animation styles,” says executive producer David X. Cohen. “One is in [Max] Fleischer black-and-white style, one in a 1980s video-game style and one in a Japanese anime style.”

“We’re going to go out in style,” adds Cohen. “And then we’ll be back next year.” Make sure not to miss the Futurama season finale, screening on Sunday, January 6 th at 9pm on FOUR.

7:30pm – Sunday, January 6 on FOUR

Returning to our screens with an encore screening of its second season, the series that sees the transformation from nerdy nobody to geek chic – Beauty and the Geek Australia screens on Sunday, January 6 th at 7:30pm on FOUR. Hosted by ex Home and Away star Bernard Curry, this week’s season two premiere sees the Beauty and the Geek Australia taut and tanned beauties and academic geeks thrown together in the ultimate social experiment.

Arriving at the show’s mansion for the very first time, the beauties and geeks have to choose their partners for the adventurous challenges ahead. But for most of the series’ geeks, this will be their first interaction with the female of the species.

“Picture a vast lifeless desert, then a tumble weed slowly rolling. That’s basically my love life,” explains season two contestant Marlon Dance-Hooi.

The episode will also see the geeks having to rely on their very limited knowledge of beauty and fashion to design and dress their beauties for a pageant before a panel of very special judges – former Miss Australia winners. So who will take flight and who will crash land? Find out in the season two premiere of Beauty and the Geek Australia, screening on Sunday, January 6 th at 7:30pm on FOUR.

6:30pm – Sunday, January 6 on FOUR

The masters are in for a treat this week when two high-profile celebrities visit the kitchen in Top Chef Masters, continuing its latest season on Sunday, January 6 th at 6:30pm on FOUR. This week’s unmissable instalment, titled “Everything Old Is New Again”, will see pop star and trained chef, Kelis, drop by to judge a very meaty quickfire challenge!

As well as Kelis, the episode will also see Mad Men actress, Christina Hendricks and her husband, actor Geoffry Arend enlist the help of the chefs in a special ’60s-themed Elimination Challenge.

Make sure not to miss this when Top Chef Masters screens on Sunday, January 6 th at 6:30pm on FOUR.

10:00pm – Tuesday, January 1 on FOUR

From Dan Harmon (The Sarah Silverman Program) and Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo (Arrested Development), starring The Soup’s Joel McHale and Chevy Chase, FOUR’s highly acclaimed comedy series, Community returns to our screens for an encore screening of its first season on Tuesday, January 1 st at 10pm on FOUR. Community follows Jeff (McHale), a lawyer who has to go back to school when the state bar suspends his license when his college degree is deemed “less than legitimate”.

While the series makes jokes about the community college and the students, the executive producer and creator of the show, Dan Harmon, says he attended a community college and he has no desire to insult the institutions or their students.

“I went to a community college when I was 32. That’s what this is based on. I can’t think of anything more heroic and noble than an open-admission system in the educational sector,” Harmon explains.

“The campus in the show, Greendale, is a character in and of itself,” Harmon continues. “It is a humble character. I continually compare it to Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. Its ambition exceeds its grasp. And therefore, it is heroic.” Make sure not to miss the return on Community when the series screens on Tuesday, January 1 st at 10pm on FOUR.

8:30pm – Tuesday, January 1 on FOUR

June (Dreama Walker) spends an awkward Thanksgiving with Chloe (Krysten Ritter) and her parents in this week’s Thanksgiving-themed Don’t Trust The B**** In Apartment 23, continuing its latest season on Tuesday, January 1 st at 8:30pm on FOUR. The instalment, titled “It’s A Miracle…”, sees Chloe persuade June to come with her to her parents’ house for the holidays – but under the most strange and awkward conditions. “[Her father] avoids June at all costs,” Ritter explains. “It’s so twisted and so crazy what she makes June do in order to convince her to go and be around her parents together, but it’s the funniest thing ever.” “Anytime Chloe is around her parents, she just regresses back to a really bratty teenager,” the actress adds. Make sure not to miss this when Don’t Trust The B**** In Apartment 23 screens on Tuesday, January 1 st at 8:30pm on FOUR.

6:30pm – Sunday, December 30 on FOUR

With 12 world class chefs, a new host and judge, and a guest list that includes Maroon 5, Kelis, and Christina Hendricks, this week sees Top Chef Masters return to our screens for its unmissable third season, premiering on Sunday, December 30 th at 6:30pm on FOUR. For the past two seasons Kelli Choi has been the host of Top Chef Masters, but this year Australian celebrity chef, Curtis Stone is taking her place.

“My entire world revolves around food and I love cooking and whenever I can, I’m in a kitchen. This was a really special opportunity for me,” Stone explains about joining the series.

Stone was also attracted by the concept of working with judges James Oseland and fellow series newcomer Ruth Reichl. “I got asked to not only be involved in a show, with some of the world’s best chefs, but also sit at a critics table with some of the world’s leading food critics.”

Of course having world class meals served by some of the world’s culinary superstars didn’t hurt either. “It was one of those experiences that I’ll never forget. I got to eat some fantastic food and get a real insight into how these guys judge their foods.”

But it’s not just the addition of Stone and Reichl that make the series’ third season unique – this time around the masters will no longer be judged on a scale, but in elimination style challenges just as the tried and true format of the original Top Chef.

In each episode, money will be at stake, with the winners of every quickfire challenge winning $5,000 and elimination challenges winning $10,000 for their designated charities.

Make sure not to miss all this when we get our first introduction to all 12 chefs in the Top Chef Masters premiere, screening on Sunday, December 30 th at 6:30pm on FOUR.