On Sunday nights, ABC Comedy has been airing double episodes of Who Whose Line Is It Anyway US from 8.30pm. Its one of the newer episodes with Aisha Tyler as host (not the Drew Carey hosted one). I am glad that theyâre showing it, as I find it funny at times. But do wish that this station (or another) airs the Drew Carey version again. I find those ones more funnier for some reason.
Donât think theyâve been on free to air since One (or was that Eleven?) last had the rights
Would I Lie To You? - Season 13
From Tuesday 16 June at 8:30pm
Week 1: This week the guests joining Lee Mack and David Mitchell are Tom Allen, Geoff Norcott, Vicki Pepperdine and Esme Young.
It was One. I think it was Nine who had it before that.
Live From the BBC - Season 2
From Saturday 11 July at 9:30pm
This laugh-out-loud series presents the hottest new acts on the stand-up scene. Filmed as live in the historic BBC Radio Theatre, the series features the cream of the live circuit, with top-class comedians from around the globe, fresh from success at the worldâs best comedy festivals.
Live from the BBC is produced in close collaboration with the comics featured - itâs where the most gifted performers are given free rein to be funny and features an unbeatable line-up of budding superstars, including Josie Long, Sara Pascoe and Liam Williams.
Episode One:
Hilariously honest stand-up about love, sex and modern living, with Sara Pascoe. Also featuring comedian Jonny Pelham.
Motherland
From Thursday 16 July at 9:30pm
Motherland is a show all about navigating the trials and traumas of middle-class motherhood, looking at the competitive and unromantic sides of parenting - not the cute and acceptable public face of motherhood.
We meet the âAlpha Mumsâ headed by Amanda, who is very much the Queen Bee: everything is organised, clean and sparkly - even the kitchen cork board is a statement of success. Yet at the other end of the spectrum, we meet Liz, whoâs totally chaotic and feels the kids should enjoy free expression.
Somewhere in the middle is Julia, who, when she forgets itâs the school holidays, realises her organisational skills are nowhere near the level of the âAlpha Mumsâ. Also in the mix is Kevin. Heâs the stay at home dad, who, rather than fighting against that, is embracing it with gusto - much to the irritation of the other mothers.
Motherland isnât the public face of motherhood, itâs unromanticised parenting: competition, cafes full of kids, dog-poo bags standing in as replacement lunch boxes.
Control your excitement, Season 50 of Sesame Street commences 15 July.
The new season begins with Sesame Streetâs 50th Anniversary Celebration, a star-studded primetime special that offers a sweeping Look at fifty years on the Street Hosted by Joseph Gordon Levitt, the special reimagines classic segments and songs Like âPeople in Your Neighborhoodâ and âItâs Not Easy Being Greenâ as the Sesame Street gang gets ready for a big celebration.
Sesame Streetâs 50th Anniversary Celebration includes cameos from rarely-seen characters Like Roosevelt Franklin and Kermit the Frog, and visits from celebrity guests Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Elvis Costello, Meghan Trainor, Sterling K. Brown, Norah Jones, Nile Rodgers, and ltzhak Perlman.
This seasonâs celebrity guests include Chrissy Teigen; musicians Charlie Puth, Dave Grohl, and Maren Morris; ballet dancer Misty Copeland; comedian Michael Che; and Olympic athlete Chloe Kim. The season also introduces âBig Birdâs Road Trip,â a special segment that tours the United States and beyond to find out what kids Love about where they Live. In each instalment, Big Bird meets new friends - in person or via video chat - and Learns all about their families, interests, and neighbourhoods
Schittâs Creek - Season 6
From Tuesday 21 July at 9:30pm
In Season Six, the Roses are achieving huge success in their careers and personal lives. But as their pursuits push them closer towards their long-awaited escape, the Roses see how connected their lives have become to the town and its residents. When they finally face the decision to stay or leave, it is much harder than expected, especially for some.
The success of The Rosebud Motel has allowed Johnny (Eugene Levy) to think big picture; namely, to purchase another motel.Johnny attempts to woo local investors, but to no avail, until Roland (Chris Elliot) decides to buy in as a co-owner. However, it soon becomes clear that the new motel is a money pit in need of more than a light dusting, and on top of that, Johnny has promised to foot the bill for Davidâs (Daniel Levy) wedding catering. Johnny is almost ready to throw in the towel when Stevie (Emily Hampshire) reminds him of a brilliant idea he once had. Itâs a big risk, but it mightjust work.
After finding out that the Crows film was shelved, Moira (Catherine OâHara) is at an all-time low and back in the closet (literally). But her gusto is renewed when she learns the movie has been picked up by a streaming service. With no time to lose, she thrusts herself back into the showbiz world: engaging with fans on social media, attending a red-carpet premiere, and doing a live interview on a morning talk show.
Now that Moira has Alexis (Annie Murphy) on board as her publicist, the press floods in- she can finally see the light of Hollywood at the end of the tunnel. But when her old âSunrise Bayâ producers show up in town with an offer, Moira gets swept up in the past and takes a bold stance. Then, she almost immediately regrets it. Dejected, Moira goes back to the drawing board, but this time knowing that Johnny is her only hope of getting out.
David is in full wedding-mode, and in typical David fashion, he has taken over most of the planning in excruciating detail. Luckily, Patrick (Noah Reid) is by his side to remind him to stop and smell the roses. Whether they want to or not, theyâre learning a lot about each other. From a bedwetting incident to a botched fake tan, to discussing the possibility of children, these two leave no stone unturned as they approach the big day. But when the opportunity for leaving town presents itself, David and Patrick realize they might not be on the same page about where they see themselves in the future.
Final season.
The ABC announced today that under its 5-year plan, ABC Comedy would be rebranded to focus on programs relating to the arts, science, education and religion.
What a shame. It had some good content on there. Was always an easy watch to whack on ABC comedy if you canât be bothered with a streaming service.
So back to the original ABC2 then
Great news. About time they fixed it.
Personally I doubt the rebadged channel will be âABC2â though because in recent years thereâs been a shift away (at least here in Australia) from âchannel numberâ brands to names which are more friendlier to any potential transition to online-only services in the future.
I agree that âABC COMEDYâ wasnât really the best strategy for the relaunched ABC2 a couple of years ago though - not enough local content which I presume, may have had something to do with not wanting to dilute ratings of the main channelâs popular Wednesday night lineup.
I wouldnât mind some science/documentaries on the new ABC 2. Though these days, documentaries seem to make up 80% of SBSâs main channel line-up.
Perhaps we need a new name for the current ABC Comedy channel. ABC Vibe anyone?
Itâs just the Vibe of the thing.
Suggestion for the new name of ABC 2
Intelligence
From Monday 27 July 9.30pm
Created by British writer and comedian Nick Mohammed, and starring David Schwimmer (Friends) Intelligence is a workplace comedy set in the UKâs GCHQâa kind of weedier, geekier version of MI5, where they tackle international and domestic Cyber Crime from a desktop.
But when a pompous, egomaniacal, maverick NSA agent Jerry Bernstein (David Schwimmer) comes over from the U.S. to join the team, he enlists an inept and tactless computer analyst, Joseph Harries (Nick Mohammed), to help him settle in. While Joseph is particularly excited about Jerryâs arrival, Director of Cyber Security Christine (Sylvestra Le Touzel) is less keen with the shakeup and wants to know the real reason Jerry is over here. Meanwhile, Jerry looks to make his mark by leading a series of team building exercises.
Season 50 premieres 9.30am on 15 July. Before that, Sesame Streetâs 50th Anniversary Celebration airs on ABC KIDS this Saturday (11 July) at 9.30am.