underbelly

Small Screen

An Open Letter To news.com.au

4:30PM Jess McGuire | Dear news.com.au, Yesterday you asked me a question and I forgot to answer it. Let me address your query now. More »
Small Screen

Underbelly Producers To Turn ‘Cloudstreet’ Into TV Miniseries

10:44AM Jess McGuire | News that the producers of Underbelly have set their sights on the acclaimed (well, not by everyone) Tim Winton novel Cloudstreet and are planning on turning it into a six hour miniseries struck me as… well, probably good news for Australian actors sick of making lattes and crying over broken dreams. More »
Small Screen

Ooooh, The Logie Nominations Announcement! How Thrilling!

12:48PM Jess McGuire | Nothing gets me more revved up than the Logies. Remember Defamer Australia’s highly entertaining live blogging of last year’s ceremony? Good times. And now the list of nominations for the 2009 TV Week Logie Awards have been announced, and I’m pretty much shitting myself with glee. TELEVISION’S! NIGHT! OF! NIGHTS! More »
Small Screen

Dieter Brummer’s Post-Underbelly Career Going Great Guns

8:49AM Jess McGuire | When I was a whippersnapper gaily spending my precious and limited funds on copies of Dolly Magazine, Dieter Brummer was king of the world. He won Dolly’s Most Dateable Guy competition like, three times. And whenever I think of him, I immediately remember the celebratory photoshoot he did with the magazine where he wore leather pants, something that struck me as not quite right even as a naive youth. More »

You Will Never Read About Madeleine West’s Blissful Family Life In Woman’s Day

10:35AM Jess McGuire | She may be up for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s AFI Awards after a star turn as Danielle McGuire in Underbelly, but former Neighbours starlet Madeleine West doesn’t appear to be the type of television thespian chasing fame for the sake of it, or at least that’s the conclusion we can safely draw after she spoke to the Herald Sun over the weekend. Underbelly and Satisfaction star Madeleine West has left little to the imagination in her on-screen roles this year, but she’s determined to keep her private life under wraps. The stunning former Neighbours actor has rejected numerous offers from women’s magazines to sell the story of her life with longtime partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, and their two young children. She’s done a rather good job of keeping her home life under wraps, if you ask me. I am an idiot savant when it comes to knowledge of celebrity babies (no matter how C-list!) and I was only aware of the West-Bennett union resulting in one offspring. Back to her craft, then! It’s unsurprising to learn that Madeleine is chuffed to be up for a major award. More »

Bang Bang, You’re Not So F–ked: Bana For ‘Underbelly 2′?

11:30AM Clem Bastow | While Underbelly was definitely critically acclaimed and loved by the plebs who actually got to watch it, the Victorian court order ruling us southerners wouldn’t be able to watch it definitely rained on Channel Nine’s (admittedly fairly tragic) parade, so you can imagine that they’re really trying to get everything firing on all cylinders for the “sequel” they are planning to shoot, starting next month – which would explain their hankering to get Eric Bana onboard (though not to play Chopper, geniuses): Eric Bana is being courted for a key role in the second series of Underbelly. More »

Bang Bang, You’re STILL F–ked: Victoria’s ‘Underbelly’ Gets The Pixel Treatment

1:00PM Clem Bastow | As though Channel Nine hasn’t been dragged back and forth over metaphorical hot coals and then metaphorically whipped with branches before being metaphorically urinated on when it comes to what was to be 2008’s saving grace, the beleaguered “real life” drama series Underbelly, the pity party never stops: now Victorians are finally able to see the show, which will begin screening this Sunday night, only they’ll be getting a version that the censors and Supreme Court have had their sticky paws all over. The face of an actor who plays an accused criminal will be pixelated. Victorians will see only the first five episodes of the 13-part series after a Supreme Court ruling yesterday. More »

Bang Bang, You’re F–ked Again: Nine Greenlights ‘Underbelly’ Prequels

12:04PM Clem Bastow | Evidently Channel Nine is hoping to create another star-studded drama serial that they won’t be able to show in Victoria, so they can spend a few more dollars on court costs, because network head honcho David Gyngell has given the “make rocket go now” nod to an Underbelly “prequel” series. Provided it involves lots more swearing/killing/punching on/boobs, we’re happy! Speaking exclusively to Confidential yesterday, the ironically media-shy boss said that he was “really excited” about the 13-episode series scheduled to begin production in September. “The best television drama always warrants a second season and Underbelly is no exception,” he said. “It was the best television many of us have seen in a very long time.” Involving most of the stellar cast from the first gangland epic series – with a heavy focus on Vince Colosimo’s character Alphonse Gangitano – the prequel will converge on building the background to the colourful characters. And it will show their involvement in the Melbourne underworld before the arrest of Carl Williams in 2004. But will the real life Carl Williams write sooky letters to his mother from jail about how this one makes him look like a “dickhead”? Will Roberta Williams take her top off again? Will we still enjoy mimicking Vince Colosimo’s hilarious Lygon Street twang as we yell “I’M ALPHONSE GANGITANO!” at no one in particular? Only time will tell! More »

Bang Bang, You’re F–ked: Chopper Not The Only Convicted Killer Unimpressed With ‘Underbelly’!

2:48PM Clem Bastow | Things are looking up for the producers of Channel Nine’s gangland drama series Underbelly: not only does Chopper reckon there should be “more shooting less rooting” on the show, now Carl Williams has announced he’s unhappy with the way the series has portrayed him! Writing to his mum, from Barwon Prison where he is serving three life sentences, Williams complained that the show had painted him out as an idiot. “I don’t mind them telling the truth about me, but telling lies and painting me out like some kind of d**khead who is brain dead – well that’s just bulls**t,” he stormed. More »

Bang Bang, You’re F–ked – No, Seriously: Chopper Didn’t Like Your Show

12:02PM Clem Bastow | If there’s one person in the world that you probably don’t want to get on the bad side of, it’s Mark “Chopper” Read, ex-con, hitman, rapper and artist (in roughly that order). Not that we’re suggesting Chopper’s planning to take a shotgun over to Channel Nine because he didn’t think much of Underbelly, but still – wouldn’t you rather he really, really liked the drama? Actually, maybe not. We’re scared, hold us. “I’m enjoying it, but there should definitely be more shooting and less rooting,” he told the mag. More »