Latest news with #NewsatSix
The Herald Scotland
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
STV News at Six says good evening to glam new sets
DO you remember 'The Chair'? One evening last month, in what was the broadcast news equivalent of a Stephen King horror movie, viewers tuning in for Scotland Tonight were met with the sight of an empty studio and an equally unoccupied chair. Into what troubled waters had this Marie Celeste sailed? It was a bone-chilling sight - well, it was if you were the producer on duty. The flippant among us grabbed the popcorn and watched on as frantic efforts were made to resume normal service. They say the presenter's ghost still walks the ramparts of STV HQ at night, sobbing. Viewers do love a television blooper, and you can bet John MacKay's favourite tie that The Chair is heading for the next episode of It'll Be Alright On the Night. So well done STV for putting that awful experience to one side and launching new studio sets for STV News in Glasgow and Aberdeen. The revamp comes at a time when STV in general is repositioning itself for a groovy new future, complete with a radio station aimed at the 35-54 market. Consider the makeover of STV News, including the flagship News at Six, still Scotland's most watched news show, as the equivalent of mum getting Botox and dad having his nose hairs trimmed. Not that those splashing the cash would describe it as such. The press release speaks of 'dynamic video walls' to 'enhance storytelling and allow greater flexibility for presenters to move around the space'. Why are television news producers obsessed with moving presenters around? We've all known since Angela Rippon high-kicked her way out of a desk on Morecambe and Wise that presenters had legs. More space means reporters can now join the presenters on set to 'casually' chat through stories. Normally scruffy correspondents will have to up their shoe game now feet are likely to be in shot. So no more Garfield slippers for Colin Mackay. Why change a winning formula, you might ask? The reason is largely technical. You might sit down with your tea at 6pm to watch the news, but others are catching up on their phones and iPads when it suits. The new set should look better on Instagram, TikTok and other digital platforms. Plus, the Scottish Parliament elections take place next year, and STV will be competing with the tech bros at Sky and the BBC for the whizziest graphics. And finally, as they say, it's nice to have a refresh now and again. Everything was all right on the night. With their new clothes and haircuts, the lads and lassies looked like weans on their first day at school. No one was bold enough to do the walking-talking thing yet, though Raman the sports guy did some nifty pivots between anchor Kelly-Ann Woodland and the camera. Overall, it was lighter, brighter, and sharper with best of all a big new map for Sean the weatherman. Just a pity the news didn't match the sunnier outlook, with the usual mayhem and bams on the menu. In the words of young Mr Grace, you've all done very well. Spoilsports.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
STV News reveals major change from today
STV News at Six will have brand new studio sets in Glasgow and Aberdeen from Monday, August 18. The new look represents a significant investment in sets and supporting technology across both cities. READ NEXT: More details emerge following 'shock' death of Glasgow comedian Viewers got a sneak peek of new sets for STV News before launch on STV and STV player on MondayThe sets are constructed around three dynamic video walls in each studio to enhance storytelling and allow greater flexibility for presenters to move around the space. The enlarged studio spaces will also allow for reporters and correspondents to join presenters on-set, creating a more interactive viewing experience. The new sets will first be unveiled during the STV Lunchtime News at 1.55pm and later on STV's flagship news programme, STV News at Six. The title music and on-screen graphics have also been updated. Viewers got a sneak peek of new sets for STV News before launch on STV and STV Player on MondayLinda Grimes-Douglas, head of news and current affairs for STV, said: "It's important that we keep our output looking fresh and contemporary and our new sets are dynamic, flexible spaces which allow us to provide an even stronger storytelling service on Scotland's most-watched news programme. "The sets help to bring our reporting team closer together for viewers. The enhanced space and technology not only create a more engaging, interactive viewing experience for every bulletin, but they also provide the perfect platform for special events like the upcoming Holyrood elections." READ NEXT: Huge American band announce show at OVO Hydro in Glasgow Meanwhile, Bobby Hain, STV's MD of audience (news, audio and regulatory), said: 'These changes represent a significant investment in our news service – now available across 13 different platforms – enabling people to find news they trust whenever and wherever they want it. "Ofcom is currently progressing its review of Public Service Media and we welcome their recommendation that stable and adequate funding is required to sustain PSM content, and regional news in particular."
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
STV reveals major shake-up from today including new look to flagship News at Six show
The broadcaster has also refreshed its title music and on-screen graphics NEWS LOOK STV reveals major shake-up from today including new look to flagship News at Six show Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STV has announced a major shakeup for its news studios in Glasgow and Aberdeen. The broadcaster has revealed a brand new look after the sets in both cities underwent a massive revamp. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The revamped sets now feature three dynamic video walls Credit: Jamie Simpson 3 Audiences will get a first glimpse at the new studios this afternoon Credit: Jamie Simpson/STV 3 The broadcaster has also refreshed its title music and on-screen graphics Credit: Jamie Simpson/ STV A significant investment has been made to upgrade the studios in both cities and their supporting technologies. The revamped sets for Scotland's most-watched news programmes now feature three dynamic video walls which are designed to elevate storytelling and provide a more immersive experience for viewers. The larger studio spaces offer greater versatility, allowing presenters more freedom to move around and enabling reporters and correspondents to join them on set. Audiences will get a first look at the updated studio during the STV Lunchtime News at 1.55pm today, followed by the flagship programme, STV News at Six. In addition to the studio overhaul, the broadcaster has also refreshed its title music and on-screen graphics. Kelly-Ann Woodland and John MacKay present in the central region while Andrea Brymer and Norman Macleod are the faces of the STV North region. Linda Grimes-Douglas, Head of News and Current Affairs, STV, said: 'It's important that we keep our output looking fresh and contemporary and our new sets are dynamic, flexible spaces which allow us to provide an even stronger storytelling service on Scotland's most-watched news programme. 'The sets help to bring our reporting team closer together for viewers. 'The enhanced space and technology not only create a more engaging, interactive viewing experience for every bulletin, but they also provide the perfect platform for special events like the upcoming Holyrood elections.' Bobby Hain, STV's MD of Audience, added: 'These changes represent a significant investment in our news service – now available across 13 different platforms – enabling people to find news they trust whenever and wherever they want it. Lorraine fights back emotion as showcases new career move live on-air today 'Ofcom is currently progressing its review of Public Service Media and we welcome their recommendation that stable and adequate funding is required to sustain PSM content, and regional news in particular.' We told last month how STV viewers were left baffled after their screens showed an EMPTY studio.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘The Newsreader' review: The Australian series about TV news is as sharp as ever in Season 2
One of my favorite shows of 2024 was 'The Newsreader,' a biting Australian series about the TV news business in 1980s Melbourne. I likened it to an Aussie version of the 1987 movie 'Broadcast News,' with its winning combination of satire and pathos and a news team obsessed with beating the competition no matter the fallout. Season 2 picks up a year later, with fledgling anchor Dale Jennings (Sam Reid) now a more assured presence on the nightly 'News at Six' broadcast, alongside the more seasoned Helen Norville (Anna Torv). They are partners both on the air and off, and this juicy tidbit comes up when they appear on the station's talk show, hosted by a shamelessly cheesy Irishman called Gerry Carroll (Rory Fleck Byrne). Gerry is a great addition to 'The Newsreader' ensemble, both charming and likable, but someone who has also sold out at every opportunity possible. He's the kind of guy who performs a rendition of 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),' the George Michael and Aretha Franklin duet, surrounded by an array of 'Solid Gold'-esque dancers. Unlike his intense colleagues on the news side, everything rolls off his back and he can ad-lib a funny line with little effort. He also has no problem pandering to the audience, so he tees up Helen and Dale with this doozie: 'In 1986, you delivered us all a newsroom romance. In 1987, can we expect a newsroom wedding?' Helen passes the question off to Dale, who pauses awkwardly, then: 'Look, we're just focusing on this critical election that we have ahead of us this year.' Oh, Dale. As much as he's smoothed out his public persona, he can't fully mask his inner discomfort. He's no Gerry. This season, there's a new owner who sees their election night coverage as a network branding opportunity. 'And our network brand is backyard barbecue,' explains Dale and Helen's weaselly producer (Chum Ehelepola). The station owner wants the tone to be 'relaxed and irreverent.' Helen makes a face: 'Are you even listening to yourself?' Helen cannot hide her emotions, except when she's on the air, and that transformation is always divine. Dale, though, is more appeasing. And he's still obsessed with nailing an assured on-air persona (as with Season 1, we get to see more of him practicing in front of the mirror; Reid is so funny in these moments). Dale doesn't want to make waves but to work within the system and keep their bosses happy. That creates tension between him and Helen when she makes some questionable judgment calls and loses her cool during an interview. She can be a dynamo, but someone needs to keep her from going off the rails. Other complications arise. The secret of Dale's bisexuality looms like a ticking time bomb when a local gossip writer gets wind of the information. The same goes for Helen's teenage history of mental illness. There are plenty of people looking to sabotage them individually, and when their relationship begins to fray, it would be inevitable that they turn on each other too. They don't, and I have so much respect for that storytelling decision. The ensemble surrounding them is a rich melange of characters who give the newsroom its dysfunctional charm. The sweet but tenacious researcher promoted to producer (Michelle Lim Davidson, whose wardrobe is more late '70s/early '80s until she buys herself an effusive peach pantsuit) is now officially in a relationship with the station's well-meaning but dunderheaded sports anchor (Stephen Peacocke). The news director (William McInnes) remains a blowhard who alienates everyone around him (my one critique of the season is that his tirades have become perhaps too cartoonish) and his secretary (Caroline Lee) is the quietly efficient presence who sees all and knows where the bodies are buried. Then there's Helen's former co-anchor and nemesis (Robert Taylor), who now works for a competitor. His wife (Marg Downey) is one of the more intriguing women on television, a Lady Macbeth-type who is obsessed with appearances and elegantly schemes to advance her husband's career. She's also well-practiced at soothing his ego. When he complains about a snafu, she says smoothly: 'Honestly darling, it didn't seem that dramatic because you handled it with such professionalism.' Their adult daughter has returned home and she is struggling, which doesn't fit with the perfect family image they want to project. Though set in the '80s, 'The Newsreader' feels timely, especially in the way it portrays journalists wanting to do the right thing when it comes to holding power to account, only to be overruled by corporate bosses. It's also a show attuned to the smallest details of an actor's performance, from the way Helen adjusts her hair before they go on air, to the smallest facial expressions on Dale's face as he listens to another man leave a flirty phone message for Helen. These days, Reid is better known for his performance as Lestat on AMC's 'Interview with a Vampire,' but what he's doing here is just as layered and complex. It's quieter. Smaller. Dorkier. It really shows his range as an actor. Dale is hilarious. Dale is heartbreaking. Dale is a work in progress. Even the show's writing is delicious. When Gerry makes a subtle pass at Dale, this is how he phrases it: 'You strike me as a bit open to … possibilities. It's a compliment. The best people are.' Pause. 'I am.' Australia's bicentennial becomes a source of rich comedy, thanks to the beautifully absurd station promo they're forced to shoot, but it's also a way for 'The Newsreader' to delve into the way the Aboriginal population is rendered invisible in the station's coverage. (When Helen asks about this, everyone goes silent; it would be so much easier for them if she didn't bring up these complications.) I wish I could say the show's depiction of sexism and racism played like a time capsule, but it feels as relevant as ever. Visually, the show's palette is a mix of tans and browns, mauves and grays and light blues and cream. Nothing too bright or vibrant. The '80s details, especially when it comes to wardrobe and hair, are bang on without being over-the-top or camp. It's a snapshot that feels wonderfully alive and relevant to this moment. 'The Newsreader' Season 2 — 4 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: AMC+
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The best TV of the year (so far)
Saying goodbye to Helen Norville (Anna Torv) and Dale Jennings (Sam Reid) after three seasons was never going to be easy, but thankfully Newsreader creator Michael Lucas stuck the landing with an ending that was hopeful and emotionally satisfying. Over three seasons, Torv and Reid excelled as the complicated News at Six anchors at the heart of this drama, which dared to tackle big storylines (mental health, sexuality, racism and sexism) and the even bigger 1980s fashion (Helen's shoulder pads, always). They were ably supported by a cracking support cast – William McInnes as news boss Lindsay Cunningham always looked like he was on the verge of a heart attack, while Michelle Lim Davidson and Stephen Peacocke, as Noelene and Rob, just about stole every scene they were in. In a world where local drama is increasingly rare on free-to-air Australian TV, The Newsreader was a beacon of hope. Let's just hope there's more like it – and soon. LR Optics (ABC) Former co-stars from SBS's The Feed Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst (also known as sketch comedy duo Freudian Nip) co-created and wrote this comedy series with The Chaser's Charles Firth, centred on a crisis PR firm. Zerbst is Greta and Owen is Nicole (Kidman – a gag that is never explained), juniors in the firm that is run by middle-aged men. But when the CEO dies during a meeting, the firm's owner (Claude Jabour) promotes the girls to co-CEOs. Blissfully unaware this is a 'glass cliff' promotion, the pair, both chronically online 20-somethings whose rapid-fire banter is at once irritating and brilliant, actually manage, in most cases, to save their clients – wealthy entrepreneurs, footy players – from PR disasters. Delightfully cynical, Optics takes a swipe at just about everyone, and should, by rights, make Owen and Zerbst stars. I'm hoping for a second season of this one, but I also can't wait to see what they write next. KN The Pitt (Max) An old-school hospital drama, made by some of the key creatives behind ER, with a mammoth run of 15 episodes rolling out week-by-week. If the success of The Pitt is anything to go by, the future of TV looks a lot like its past. Spanning one day (a 15-hour shift, with each episode shot in real-time) in a Pittsburgh emergency department, this word-of-mouth hit won many fans this year for its emotional honesty, surprising medical accuracy and dedication to its characters. Though you'll shed tears over the patients – and squirm over a few particularly graphic moments – the heart of this show is the practitioners. Led by the warm and dependable Dr Robby (Noah Wyle), the overworked and PTSD-ridden doctors and nurses in The Pitt became close friends you felt compelled to check in on each week. Thankfully, we can expect another dose in January 2026. Meg Watson The Rehearsal (Max) The only show that's made me involuntarily scream this year (in a good way), The Rehearsal is unlike anything else on TV. And, honestly, if you haven't seen it, I don't know where to start. In the first season of this HBO docu-comedy, creator and host Nathan Fielder ostensibly helped people 'rehearse' for events by re-creating elaborate staging in which they could practise. This year he hoped to apply the same logic to end pilot communication issues, which result in fatal airline disasters. Naturally, that involved a fake reality singing competition, an intervention into several pilots' romantic lives and a re-creation of the entire life of Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger. This strange show isn't for everyone. It's often outright absurd, and perhaps even cruel depending on how much of the 'real' aspects you believe. But it's always saved by Fielder's seemingly genuine obsession with human connection – and the season ends with the lens turned squarely on himself. MW Severance (Apple TV+) For the first few episodes of the second season, I wasn't entirely convinced. But by the time episode four rolled around – with the Macrodata Refinement team finally getting to experience life outside the office, in a snow-covered vastness – I was utterly hooked. Creator Dan Erickson and producer-director Ben Stiller seem more interested in upping the surreal aspects of their dystopian psychological sci-fi puzzle than in solving it, which might eventually wear a bit thin. But right now, Severance is a perfectly judged and darkly funny conundrum that rewards repeat viewing. I can't wait for more. KQ The Studio (Apple TV+) The Studio deserves to be on this list for its cameos alone. From Martin Scorsese being strong-armed into making a movie about Kool-Aid, to Olivia Wilde posing as a difficult director (echoing the endless rumours about Don't Worry Darling), we haven't seen a group of A-listers being so willing to send themselves up since Ricky Gervais' Extras. But The Studio is more than a group of famous faces goofing around. Co-created by Seth Rogen and his longtime writing partner, Evan Goldberg, this slick and well-produced comedy is a sharp satire on the state of Hollywood. Starring Rogen as an idealistic studio head endlessly stressed by the grind of commercial reality, the show wrestles with IP, AI, diversity and tech takeover. But I don't want to over-intellectualise it. It's also simply very funny how Rogen finds a way to spectacularly fall over every second episode. MW The White Lotus (Max) Few shows arrived with as much hype as the third season of Mike White's eat-the-rich satire, which landed – and finished – with more controversy and eyeballs than the first two seasons combined. Set in Thailand, on the island of Koh Samui with an excursion to Bangkok, the mystery of the floating body unravelled over eight episodes, with a side serve of incest, toxic friendships, surprise Sam Rockwell, surprise Australians, surprise shady Greg and enough post-show gossip about stars Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood to fill the internet. And while the show may not have matched the heights of season two – when Tanya McQuoid uttered the forever line 'these gays are trying to murder me' – season three still kept us entertained, which, after all, is the point of the whole damn thing. LR
