Throng

Our very own Flight of the Conchords have officially been given the Simpsons treatment ahead of their debut on the cartoon.

This picture has been released of Kiwis Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie who will be immortalised in yellow in an upcoming episode of the show which screens in the US on September 26.

The duo will appear in the new season premiere alongside Glee cast members Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Amber Riley in an episode which see Lisa enrol in a band camp where Jemaine and Bret are free-spirited counsellors.

According to a TV3 spokeswoman, the episode will screen here in NZ sometime next year.

TVNZ has decided to dispose of hundreds of its employees’ company credit cards in order to avoid “misleading” publicity.

Chief executive Rick Ellis has put in place the change which will see hundreds of credit cards cut up in order to change the image of the state broadcaster after bad publicity regarding spending over recent times.

Big-name presenters and senior executives will be hit by the change which will reduce the number of company cards to around 50.

Currently more than 470 of TVNZ’s 900 or so staff hold company credit cards including Ellis himself who racked up more than $140,000 on his card over two years, $32,000 of that on entertaining.

The new system will have staff applying to receive work-related expenses reimbursed, with only a select few holding company plastic.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said that the change will not affect what staff could charge to the company.

"We've had absolutely no concerns about improper or reckless spending, contrary to popular opinion. We've had it under very tight controls," Ms Richards said.

Having struggled to get anything to rate in the Thursday night slot, TV3 may finally have found something that delivers eyeballs to advertisers.

The two and a half hour premiere of The X Factor debuted last night with a 7.9 in the 5+ with 317,270 viewers but was still soundly beaten by TVNZ. Police Ten 7 had a 13.1 (524,680 viewers) while the Netball had 11.4 (455,350 viewers) in the build up and then a 14.3 (573,540 viewers) for the actual game. 

In TV3's coveted 18-49 demographic, The Netball still reigned supreme pulling a 9.9 to The X Factor's 9.3.  However, once the Netball finished, The X Factor picked up viewers giving them wins over The Vampire Diaries and This is Not My Life.

All in all, TV3 should be happy that they're didn't repeat Top Chef's 2.9 rating and in fact, had more people per capita watching in New Zealand than they did when the show aired in Australia.

Most watched

1. One News: 643,970 (TV ONE, 6:00pm - 7:00pm)
2. Shortland Street: 594,940 (TV2, 7:00pm - 7:30pm)
3. Intl Netball: 573,540 (TV ONE, 7:55pm - 9:15pm)
4. Police Ten 7: 524,680 (TV2, 7:30pm - 8:05pm)
5. Close Up: 487,220 (TV ONE, 7:00pm - 7:30pm)

Most watched evening (7.30pm - 11pm)

1. Intl Netball: 573,540 (TV ONE, 7:55pm - 9:15pm)
2. Police Ten 7: 524,680 (TV2, 7:30pm - 8:05pm)
3. Intl Netball Pre Game: 455,350 (TV ONE, 7:30pm - 7:55pm)
4. Motorway Patrol: 446,580 (TV2, 8:05pm - 8:35pm)
5. Intl Netball Post Game: 438,740 (TV ONE, 9:15pm - 9:20pm)

Most watched daytime (9am - 5pm)

Abrams working on Alcatraz series

J.J. Abrams is currently developing a new drama series based around the infamous prison island Alcatraz. Abrams will team up with a former Lost producer on the project who will also write the pilot episode.

Lie To Me loses Phifer

Lie To Me will be without series regular Mekhi Phifer for the show’s third season after the actor was forced to leave for creative reasons. Phifer’s character Special Agent Ben Reynolds will no longer be involved due to a shift in the direction of the storyline.

Official data detailing August’s viewing behaviour shows 3 News has lost to ONE News in its own target demographic for the first time since the Beijing Olympics.

The average audience across the month of August 2010 shows that ONE News had 205,190 viewers aged 18-49 watching the main 6pm bulletin every evening compared to 198,650 viewers in the same age group watching 3 News.  July data showed ONE and 3 News were neck and neck with ONE News just slightly behind in TV3’s own target demographic.

The last time ONE News beat 3 News in 18-49 age group was in August 2008 (during the Beijing Olympics).

Total viewership data for all news and current affairs television programmes during August on FTA is detailed below.

AVERAGE TELEVISION NEWS VIEWERSHIP FOR AUGUST 2010

Another week, another New Zealand's Next Top Model drama.

This comparison popped up on Twitter this week, showing a Bulgari campaign featuring Julianne Moore on the left and NZNTM's Elza on the right.

Coincidence...?

ONE News:

1. Armed robbery at Westgate (Breaking news, Kim Vinnell by phone)
2. Child support system overhaul (Live cross, Jessica Mutch)
3. Legal aid costs (Heather du Plessis-Allan)
4. Westin Hotel problems (Garth Bray)
5. Middle East peace deal (Tim Wilson)

3 News:

1. Rugby World Cup promotion in Australia (Exclusive, Amanda Gillies)
2. Rugby World Cup - motel response (Simon Shepherd)
3. Warren Jenkins drink driving conviction (Melissa Davies)
4. Chlld support system overhaul (Dan Parker)
5. New dog law

Commentary:

ONE News had the breaking news (with an update at about 6:30pm) but it wasn't mentioned on 3 News (as of posting this at 6:40pm).