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Chicago Tribune
4 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+
The Advertiser
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
'It fills my cup': there's no place like home for Teresa Palmer
It's not surprising that Teresa Palmer agreed to work on an Australian television series that explores themes of motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity. Palmer, an Australian actor whose credits include Ride Like A Girl, Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, Lights Out, The Fall Guy, The Clearing and Mix Tape, loves working on Australian productions. She loves Australian screenwriters and directors. She's pregnant with her fifth child, and she co-hosts a podcast (The Mother Daze) that talks about motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity (among other things). Her latest project, The Family Next Door, is a female-forward story led by Palmer alongside Bella Heathcote (The Moogai, Pieces of Her), Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader), Ming-Zhu Hii (Prosper, La Brea) and Jane Harber (Offspring, In Limbo). It's peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when a stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As she charms her way into her neighbours' homes and lives, she finds out that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide, and, in her relentless quest for truth, she pulls the rug from under this seemingly harmonious beachside community. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel of the same name, The Family Next Door is a mystery that blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman's (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. In the real world, Palmer is down-to-earth and kind. Content. A deep thinker who speaks with warmth and laughs easily. She has a firm grasp on who she is, what she wants, and where she wants to be in life. Living in Byron Bay and working in Australia suits her just fine, at least for now. "I love this show," she says. "Sometimes it is difficult for me to be objective, to rip myself out of it and see it as an audience member, but this one I was able to watch in a way that none of the usual self-critique was coming in. "I could just enjoy the show, and that, to me, is a sign of Emma Freeman working her magic." The acting, too, is magic; the darkly funny neurotic edge to Heathcote's character, for example. And the way it is filmed captures the essence of a laidback Australian coastal town, transporting the viewer to that hot, bushfire-prone summer of 2019-20. You can hear the cicadas and almost smell the smoke in the air. "You tend to elevate each other when you're in a scene with someone and they're bringing their absolute best work. You can't help but try to dig as deep as possible," Palmer says. "Everyone is working collectively to elevate it, to ground these characters in colours and nuance, and it was really exciting to work with a group of actors who all felt the same way." Some scenes were filmed at Hepworth's favourite local cafe and beach, bringing her book to life in more ways than one. "I loved that, and what it meant for her to be able to shoot it in that way," Palmer says. "Often when you have a book and it's turned into a TV adaptation, the book isn't folded in so much. They just take it and run with it. But Sally was really folded into this process, and her opinions and ideas really mattered, and that was just another beautiful part of bringing this story to life. "You know, I can't help but come back home and work here. The quality of the storytelling is next level, and working with Australian crews, there's such familiarity there. It just fills my cup. "And it's a win-win situation - getting to be in the country that I love, working here, and then seeing a lot of these shows getting picked up for America and the UK. I'm proud to help the Australian film industry because that's where I started." Living permanently in Australia also "works" for her family. "My children are getting older now. We were the travelling circus; we'd live in Wales and shoot something for three years and then move to America and shoot something there, and then go to England and Europe," Palmer says. "But I had a yearning for them to have the experience that I had growing up in Adelaide, of going to school and having regular friends and being part of the basketball team or the AFL team, grounding them, rooting them, in one place. And for us, that place was Australia. "If we can be based in Australia and I can still work relatively locally, that's what works for our family. That's not to say we won't go back to America, but this has been a really important choice that we have made for the family." Talking about her movie roles to date, Palmer says her favourite is the 2021 psychological thriller Berlin Syndrome, directed by Australian screenwriter Cate Shortland. "It was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my career. We would sit together, me, Max [Riemelt] and Cate, and talk about our comfort zones and what we wanted the film to be, and we talked about our own history, our own desires ... we brought everything into it," she says. "All those hours and hours of discussions, we weaved them into the script, and it made for such a good movie." What about Lights Out, the 2016 supernatural horror made on a budget of $US4.9 million that grossed close to $US150 million at the box office? "You have no idea when you're acting in it how they're going to do the special effects, and how the creature is going to look, but it was really well done in this movie," Palmer says. "But also, at the heart of that one was a family drama. We were talking about mental health, and it was scarier, more heightened, because at the core of it was this believable family dynamic." And her most challenging acting experience? Restraint (2008), an Australian movie co-starring Travis Fimmel. "It was one of my earliest movies, and I was so in over my head," she says. "I didn't really know how to act yet, I was young and impressionable, and I felt really lost. I remember going home every night and crying, thinking, 'Don't mess this up Teresa, this is your dream'. And then you go from job to job to job, and you get better and better. My peers were my acting school, I learnt on the job. "Watching it now, I wish I could just reach through and grab the younger me and go, 'Guess what, it's going to get easier and better, and trust your instincts, you're doing great!'. I want to comfort that younger me." Her other most challenging role is also her most rewarding: juggling motherhood and a successful acting career. "I used to think motherhood could stall or end a career. I had this general misconception because it was a narrative fed to me years ago, before I had kids. I was told you get to be one or the other," Palmer says. "But to have these experiences in parallel, and in tandem, has really proven otherwise. I have been able to work and feel creatively and intellectually stimulated from my work, and also get to be a very present, hands-on mother, which was my other great desire. "It turns out I didn't have to choose one over the other." It's not surprising that Teresa Palmer agreed to work on an Australian television series that explores themes of motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity. Palmer, an Australian actor whose credits include Ride Like A Girl, Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, Lights Out, The Fall Guy, The Clearing and Mix Tape, loves working on Australian productions. She loves Australian screenwriters and directors. She's pregnant with her fifth child, and she co-hosts a podcast (The Mother Daze) that talks about motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity (among other things). Her latest project, The Family Next Door, is a female-forward story led by Palmer alongside Bella Heathcote (The Moogai, Pieces of Her), Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader), Ming-Zhu Hii (Prosper, La Brea) and Jane Harber (Offspring, In Limbo). It's peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when a stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As she charms her way into her neighbours' homes and lives, she finds out that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide, and, in her relentless quest for truth, she pulls the rug from under this seemingly harmonious beachside community. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel of the same name, The Family Next Door is a mystery that blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman's (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. In the real world, Palmer is down-to-earth and kind. Content. A deep thinker who speaks with warmth and laughs easily. She has a firm grasp on who she is, what she wants, and where she wants to be in life. Living in Byron Bay and working in Australia suits her just fine, at least for now. "I love this show," she says. "Sometimes it is difficult for me to be objective, to rip myself out of it and see it as an audience member, but this one I was able to watch in a way that none of the usual self-critique was coming in. "I could just enjoy the show, and that, to me, is a sign of Emma Freeman working her magic." The acting, too, is magic; the darkly funny neurotic edge to Heathcote's character, for example. And the way it is filmed captures the essence of a laidback Australian coastal town, transporting the viewer to that hot, bushfire-prone summer of 2019-20. You can hear the cicadas and almost smell the smoke in the air. "You tend to elevate each other when you're in a scene with someone and they're bringing their absolute best work. You can't help but try to dig as deep as possible," Palmer says. "Everyone is working collectively to elevate it, to ground these characters in colours and nuance, and it was really exciting to work with a group of actors who all felt the same way." Some scenes were filmed at Hepworth's favourite local cafe and beach, bringing her book to life in more ways than one. "I loved that, and what it meant for her to be able to shoot it in that way," Palmer says. "Often when you have a book and it's turned into a TV adaptation, the book isn't folded in so much. They just take it and run with it. But Sally was really folded into this process, and her opinions and ideas really mattered, and that was just another beautiful part of bringing this story to life. "You know, I can't help but come back home and work here. The quality of the storytelling is next level, and working with Australian crews, there's such familiarity there. It just fills my cup. "And it's a win-win situation - getting to be in the country that I love, working here, and then seeing a lot of these shows getting picked up for America and the UK. I'm proud to help the Australian film industry because that's where I started." Living permanently in Australia also "works" for her family. "My children are getting older now. We were the travelling circus; we'd live in Wales and shoot something for three years and then move to America and shoot something there, and then go to England and Europe," Palmer says. "But I had a yearning for them to have the experience that I had growing up in Adelaide, of going to school and having regular friends and being part of the basketball team or the AFL team, grounding them, rooting them, in one place. And for us, that place was Australia. "If we can be based in Australia and I can still work relatively locally, that's what works for our family. That's not to say we won't go back to America, but this has been a really important choice that we have made for the family." Talking about her movie roles to date, Palmer says her favourite is the 2021 psychological thriller Berlin Syndrome, directed by Australian screenwriter Cate Shortland. "It was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my career. We would sit together, me, Max [Riemelt] and Cate, and talk about our comfort zones and what we wanted the film to be, and we talked about our own history, our own desires ... we brought everything into it," she says. "All those hours and hours of discussions, we weaved them into the script, and it made for such a good movie." What about Lights Out, the 2016 supernatural horror made on a budget of $US4.9 million that grossed close to $US150 million at the box office? "You have no idea when you're acting in it how they're going to do the special effects, and how the creature is going to look, but it was really well done in this movie," Palmer says. "But also, at the heart of that one was a family drama. We were talking about mental health, and it was scarier, more heightened, because at the core of it was this believable family dynamic." And her most challenging acting experience? Restraint (2008), an Australian movie co-starring Travis Fimmel. "It was one of my earliest movies, and I was so in over my head," she says. "I didn't really know how to act yet, I was young and impressionable, and I felt really lost. I remember going home every night and crying, thinking, 'Don't mess this up Teresa, this is your dream'. And then you go from job to job to job, and you get better and better. My peers were my acting school, I learnt on the job. "Watching it now, I wish I could just reach through and grab the younger me and go, 'Guess what, it's going to get easier and better, and trust your instincts, you're doing great!'. I want to comfort that younger me." Her other most challenging role is also her most rewarding: juggling motherhood and a successful acting career. "I used to think motherhood could stall or end a career. I had this general misconception because it was a narrative fed to me years ago, before I had kids. I was told you get to be one or the other," Palmer says. "But to have these experiences in parallel, and in tandem, has really proven otherwise. I have been able to work and feel creatively and intellectually stimulated from my work, and also get to be a very present, hands-on mother, which was my other great desire. "It turns out I didn't have to choose one over the other." It's not surprising that Teresa Palmer agreed to work on an Australian television series that explores themes of motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity. Palmer, an Australian actor whose credits include Ride Like A Girl, Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, Lights Out, The Fall Guy, The Clearing and Mix Tape, loves working on Australian productions. She loves Australian screenwriters and directors. She's pregnant with her fifth child, and she co-hosts a podcast (The Mother Daze) that talks about motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity (among other things). Her latest project, The Family Next Door, is a female-forward story led by Palmer alongside Bella Heathcote (The Moogai, Pieces of Her), Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader), Ming-Zhu Hii (Prosper, La Brea) and Jane Harber (Offspring, In Limbo). It's peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when a stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As she charms her way into her neighbours' homes and lives, she finds out that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide, and, in her relentless quest for truth, she pulls the rug from under this seemingly harmonious beachside community. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel of the same name, The Family Next Door is a mystery that blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman's (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. In the real world, Palmer is down-to-earth and kind. Content. A deep thinker who speaks with warmth and laughs easily. She has a firm grasp on who she is, what she wants, and where she wants to be in life. Living in Byron Bay and working in Australia suits her just fine, at least for now. "I love this show," she says. "Sometimes it is difficult for me to be objective, to rip myself out of it and see it as an audience member, but this one I was able to watch in a way that none of the usual self-critique was coming in. "I could just enjoy the show, and that, to me, is a sign of Emma Freeman working her magic." The acting, too, is magic; the darkly funny neurotic edge to Heathcote's character, for example. And the way it is filmed captures the essence of a laidback Australian coastal town, transporting the viewer to that hot, bushfire-prone summer of 2019-20. You can hear the cicadas and almost smell the smoke in the air. "You tend to elevate each other when you're in a scene with someone and they're bringing their absolute best work. You can't help but try to dig as deep as possible," Palmer says. "Everyone is working collectively to elevate it, to ground these characters in colours and nuance, and it was really exciting to work with a group of actors who all felt the same way." Some scenes were filmed at Hepworth's favourite local cafe and beach, bringing her book to life in more ways than one. "I loved that, and what it meant for her to be able to shoot it in that way," Palmer says. "Often when you have a book and it's turned into a TV adaptation, the book isn't folded in so much. They just take it and run with it. But Sally was really folded into this process, and her opinions and ideas really mattered, and that was just another beautiful part of bringing this story to life. "You know, I can't help but come back home and work here. The quality of the storytelling is next level, and working with Australian crews, there's such familiarity there. It just fills my cup. "And it's a win-win situation - getting to be in the country that I love, working here, and then seeing a lot of these shows getting picked up for America and the UK. I'm proud to help the Australian film industry because that's where I started." Living permanently in Australia also "works" for her family. "My children are getting older now. We were the travelling circus; we'd live in Wales and shoot something for three years and then move to America and shoot something there, and then go to England and Europe," Palmer says. "But I had a yearning for them to have the experience that I had growing up in Adelaide, of going to school and having regular friends and being part of the basketball team or the AFL team, grounding them, rooting them, in one place. And for us, that place was Australia. "If we can be based in Australia and I can still work relatively locally, that's what works for our family. That's not to say we won't go back to America, but this has been a really important choice that we have made for the family." Talking about her movie roles to date, Palmer says her favourite is the 2021 psychological thriller Berlin Syndrome, directed by Australian screenwriter Cate Shortland. "It was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my career. We would sit together, me, Max [Riemelt] and Cate, and talk about our comfort zones and what we wanted the film to be, and we talked about our own history, our own desires ... we brought everything into it," she says. "All those hours and hours of discussions, we weaved them into the script, and it made for such a good movie." What about Lights Out, the 2016 supernatural horror made on a budget of $US4.9 million that grossed close to $US150 million at the box office? "You have no idea when you're acting in it how they're going to do the special effects, and how the creature is going to look, but it was really well done in this movie," Palmer says. "But also, at the heart of that one was a family drama. We were talking about mental health, and it was scarier, more heightened, because at the core of it was this believable family dynamic." And her most challenging acting experience? Restraint (2008), an Australian movie co-starring Travis Fimmel. "It was one of my earliest movies, and I was so in over my head," she says. "I didn't really know how to act yet, I was young and impressionable, and I felt really lost. I remember going home every night and crying, thinking, 'Don't mess this up Teresa, this is your dream'. And then you go from job to job to job, and you get better and better. My peers were my acting school, I learnt on the job. "Watching it now, I wish I could just reach through and grab the younger me and go, 'Guess what, it's going to get easier and better, and trust your instincts, you're doing great!'. I want to comfort that younger me." Her other most challenging role is also her most rewarding: juggling motherhood and a successful acting career. "I used to think motherhood could stall or end a career. I had this general misconception because it was a narrative fed to me years ago, before I had kids. I was told you get to be one or the other," Palmer says. "But to have these experiences in parallel, and in tandem, has really proven otherwise. I have been able to work and feel creatively and intellectually stimulated from my work, and also get to be a very present, hands-on mother, which was my other great desire. "It turns out I didn't have to choose one over the other." It's not surprising that Teresa Palmer agreed to work on an Australian television series that explores themes of motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity. Palmer, an Australian actor whose credits include Ride Like A Girl, Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, Lights Out, The Fall Guy, The Clearing and Mix Tape, loves working on Australian productions. She loves Australian screenwriters and directors. She's pregnant with her fifth child, and she co-hosts a podcast (The Mother Daze) that talks about motherhood, marriage, friendship and identity (among other things). Her latest project, The Family Next Door, is a female-forward story led by Palmer alongside Bella Heathcote (The Moogai, Pieces of Her), Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader), Ming-Zhu Hii (Prosper, La Brea) and Jane Harber (Offspring, In Limbo). It's peak holiday season in the popular seaside town of Osprey Point when a stranger, Isabelle (Palmer) rents a family home in a quiet cul-de-sac. As she charms her way into her neighbours' homes and lives, she finds out that everyone at Pleasant Court has something to hide, and, in her relentless quest for truth, she pulls the rug from under this seemingly harmonious beachside community. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel of the same name, The Family Next Door is a mystery that blends drama and humour while exploring family dynamics through the unique lens of award-winning screenwriter Sarah Scheller (Strife, The Letdown) and Emma Freeman's (The Newsreader, Interview with the Vampire) character-driven directorial skills. In the real world, Palmer is down-to-earth and kind. Content. A deep thinker who speaks with warmth and laughs easily. She has a firm grasp on who she is, what she wants, and where she wants to be in life. Living in Byron Bay and working in Australia suits her just fine, at least for now. "I love this show," she says. "Sometimes it is difficult for me to be objective, to rip myself out of it and see it as an audience member, but this one I was able to watch in a way that none of the usual self-critique was coming in. "I could just enjoy the show, and that, to me, is a sign of Emma Freeman working her magic." The acting, too, is magic; the darkly funny neurotic edge to Heathcote's character, for example. And the way it is filmed captures the essence of a laidback Australian coastal town, transporting the viewer to that hot, bushfire-prone summer of 2019-20. You can hear the cicadas and almost smell the smoke in the air. "You tend to elevate each other when you're in a scene with someone and they're bringing their absolute best work. You can't help but try to dig as deep as possible," Palmer says. "Everyone is working collectively to elevate it, to ground these characters in colours and nuance, and it was really exciting to work with a group of actors who all felt the same way." Some scenes were filmed at Hepworth's favourite local cafe and beach, bringing her book to life in more ways than one. "I loved that, and what it meant for her to be able to shoot it in that way," Palmer says. "Often when you have a book and it's turned into a TV adaptation, the book isn't folded in so much. They just take it and run with it. But Sally was really folded into this process, and her opinions and ideas really mattered, and that was just another beautiful part of bringing this story to life. "You know, I can't help but come back home and work here. The quality of the storytelling is next level, and working with Australian crews, there's such familiarity there. It just fills my cup. "And it's a win-win situation - getting to be in the country that I love, working here, and then seeing a lot of these shows getting picked up for America and the UK. I'm proud to help the Australian film industry because that's where I started." Living permanently in Australia also "works" for her family. "My children are getting older now. We were the travelling circus; we'd live in Wales and shoot something for three years and then move to America and shoot something there, and then go to England and Europe," Palmer says. "But I had a yearning for them to have the experience that I had growing up in Adelaide, of going to school and having regular friends and being part of the basketball team or the AFL team, grounding them, rooting them, in one place. And for us, that place was Australia. "If we can be based in Australia and I can still work relatively locally, that's what works for our family. That's not to say we won't go back to America, but this has been a really important choice that we have made for the family." Talking about her movie roles to date, Palmer says her favourite is the 2021 psychological thriller Berlin Syndrome, directed by Australian screenwriter Cate Shortland. "It was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my career. We would sit together, me, Max [Riemelt] and Cate, and talk about our comfort zones and what we wanted the film to be, and we talked about our own history, our own desires ... we brought everything into it," she says. "All those hours and hours of discussions, we weaved them into the script, and it made for such a good movie." What about Lights Out, the 2016 supernatural horror made on a budget of $US4.9 million that grossed close to $US150 million at the box office? "You have no idea when you're acting in it how they're going to do the special effects, and how the creature is going to look, but it was really well done in this movie," Palmer says. "But also, at the heart of that one was a family drama. We were talking about mental health, and it was scarier, more heightened, because at the core of it was this believable family dynamic." And her most challenging acting experience? Restraint (2008), an Australian movie co-starring Travis Fimmel. "It was one of my earliest movies, and I was so in over my head," she says. "I didn't really know how to act yet, I was young and impressionable, and I felt really lost. I remember going home every night and crying, thinking, 'Don't mess this up Teresa, this is your dream'. And then you go from job to job to job, and you get better and better. My peers were my acting school, I learnt on the job. "Watching it now, I wish I could just reach through and grab the younger me and go, 'Guess what, it's going to get easier and better, and trust your instincts, you're doing great!'. I want to comfort that younger me." Her other most challenging role is also her most rewarding: juggling motherhood and a successful acting career. "I used to think motherhood could stall or end a career. I had this general misconception because it was a narrative fed to me years ago, before I had kids. I was told you get to be one or the other," Palmer says. "But to have these experiences in parallel, and in tandem, has really proven otherwise. I have been able to work and feel creatively and intellectually stimulated from my work, and also get to be a very present, hands-on mother, which was my other great desire. "It turns out I didn't have to choose one over the other."
West Australian
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Sam Pang's full Logies Award speech: Aussie comedian roasts MAFS, hit TV shows in opening monologue
Aussie comedian Sam Pang delivered a brutal opening speech at the 2025 Logies. Read the full speech below: 'Good evening everyone and welcome to Australian television's night of nights, the 65th Annual TV Week Logie Awards. Firstly I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the traditional land and pay my respects to elders both past and present. I extend that respect to all First Nations people here today. One more time put your hands together for living legend Jimmy Barnes. Jimmy Barnes singing Working Class Man… welcome to the 1985 Logies. I'm your host Greg Evans. Working Class Man – I cant think of a song that has less of a connection to the people in this room tonight. It is once again a huge honour to be your host tonight, and its inspiring world in as much turmoil as it is right now, that we as an industry have not wavered in our commitment and bravery in coming together tonight to honour ourselves. … This is my third time hosting so hopefully thats enough Kerri-Anne Kennerley to stop calling me Anh Do. We're here tonight to celebrate excellence in Australian television and what a year it's been. Fisk, Bluey, The Newsreader, Territory, Apple Cider Vinegar, The Twelve, Colin from Accounts, Lego Masters, Home and Away, Have You Been Paying Attention and Channel 9s Olympics coverage all made for another wonderful year and one the industry can be very proud of. Congratulations to Bluey which was the most streamed show in the world this past year. What an achievement. Bluey is massive in the United States and is officially the watched America, just ahead of a school shooting safety video. I'd like to point out that there's a new award this year, the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Reporter, of course named after the legend Ray Martin. A journalist for over 60 years, even at the age of 80, he remains one of this country's most inquisitive minds, Ray is always asking questions. Even tonight, I saw him on the red carpet and he asked me, 'Sam, Where am I ?' Ray and have a great night, rest in peace. The popularity of dating shows continued this year and I've long been of the opinion that romantic than a televised overly produced quest for love. There's two that stand above the rest. Farmer Wants A Wife – which has an incredible success rate. Over its 15 seasons, the show has resulted in 11 marriages and 27 children – meaning it is now officially the main way for farmers in this country to get screwed outside of Coles and Woolies. And of course, my favourite, Married at First Sight, in its 12th season. And the big story this year was when Paul punched a hole in a wall after finding out his TV wife slept with a rapper. A story as old time. By the way a hole in the wall is something most of the contestants would be very familiar with. This season MAFS was criticised for breaching ethical standards – producers strongly defending themselves saying every contestant had to undergo a Mental Health evaluation, an STI test and IQ test – and if they failed all of those, they were on. We all know MAFS is famous for its debaucherous dinner parties – never miss a Sunday night, and Ive actually got an idea for next season – I think they should cast the mushroom lady as the caterer. After 16 years, a television institution, The Project, aired its last episode in June. An amazing run. It undoubtedly delivered news differently – where else could you get updates on the war in Syria… from Dave Hughes. Channel Ten replaced The Project with 10News+, which is like the Titanic replaced with the OceanGate Submarine. Game shows and quiz shows are all the rage. One of the most popular is Dancing With The Stars, where viewers try to guess is the dancer, and which one is the star. The Voice is about to launch its 14th season. New coaches include Sporty Spice Mel C and Richard Marx. What are the odds of both of them being available? Richard… welcome and I hope you have a wonderful night. Big fan but I think we both know you answered the phone on the first ring. SBS, our most diverse network, celebrates 50 years! Happy Birthday to my old employer and its worth noting that before SBS, many Australians had never seen a Serbian penis. Congratulations to Karl Stefanovic who this year is celebrating 20 years on The Today Show. Sincerely Karl, well done on 20 informative, entertaining and underpaid co-hosts. After a hugely popular win last year Larry Emdur is not nominated for gold this year. Many people have questioned why? Well, it hurts me to say Larry but frankly the industry just couldn't afford the optics of you being the gold standard for two years in a row. Larry goes from winner to not even nominated. Hard to think of a channel 7 game show host with a bigger fall from grace in recent years. Anyway, have a good night and enjoy the free feed. the night will culminate in the presentation of the Gold Logie. Thats right, in little over 9 hours time, the winner of the Gold Logie will be announced. Congratulations to the six incredible women who are nominated tonight. It really is inspiring to see what you've all achieved since Katy Perry went to space. Lets take a look at the Big 7. Sonia Kruger is nominated again. Last year Larry Emdur famously promised that if he won he'd have the names of the other Gold nominees tattooed on his behind. This year, Sonia has promised that if she wins, shell deliver a coherent speech. Lynne McGranger is nominated after 33 years on Home and Away. As we all know, Lynne is leaving the Theres a lot of speculation about how her character Irene will has been working with the writers on her farewell story, and in a Logies exclusive I can reveal that – Irene is set to die tragically but happily, during an orgy with the Summer Bay Under 21s rugby team… A story as old as time. Julia Morris is nominated again for Gold. This funny, talented woman has been nominated several times for the Gold Logie, but never won. I said those exact words last year and I mustremember to use them again next year. I have it on good authority won't be here next year, don't worry. Lisa Millar from the ABC is nominated for the first time. Lisa is the host of Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? – I have to say Lisa, I dont know if Ive ever been less interested in the answer to a question. Ally Langdon from Channel 9 is up for Gold. One of Australia's pre-eminent journalists for over 20 years, Ally has said a vote for her is a vote for all the incredible people who make A Current Affair possible the producers, the crew, the dodgy plumbers, casanova conmen and the neighbours from hell. Two time winner Hamish Blake is nominated again for Lego Masters. I voted for Hamish not because I don't support women, but because I want to see him deliver the most awkward acceptance speech of all time. Hamish, good luck and now you know how it feels to be the diversity pick. And finally, Poh Ling Yeow, is nominated for Gold. … You should be easy to find in this room! Poh is the first Asian to take home Gold, apart from prospector Chung Lee Wong who struck gold in Ballarat in 1854. Good to have a horse in the race. Many of you may not know but Poh and I go way back… to the Ming dynasty.'
Perth Now
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
WATCH: Sam Pang's savage opening monologue at Logies
Aussie comedian Sam Pang delivered a brutal opening speech at the 2025 Logies. Read the full speech below: 'Good evening everyone and welcome to Australian television's night of nights, the 65th Annual TV Week Logie Awards. Firstly I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the traditional land and pay my respects to elders both past and present. I extend that respect to all First Nations people here today. One more time put your hands together for living legend Jimmy Barnes. Jimmy Barnes singing Working Class Man… welcome to the 1985 Logies. I'm your host Greg Evans. Working Class Man – I cant think of a song that has less of a connection to the people in this room tonight. It is once again a huge honour to be your host tonight, and its inspiring world in as much turmoil as it is right now, that we as an industry have not wavered in our commitment and bravery in coming together tonight to honour ourselves. … This is my third time hosting so hopefully thats enough Kerri-Anne Kennerley to stop calling me Anh Do. We're here tonight to celebrate excellence in Australian television and what a year it's been. Fisk, Bluey, The Newsreader, Territory, Apple Cider Vinegar, The Twelve, Colin from Accounts, Lego Masters, Home and Away, Have You Been Paying Attention and Channel 9s Olympics coverage all made for another wonderful year and one the industry can be very proud of. Congratulations to Bluey which was the most streamed show in the world this past year. What an achievement. Bluey is massive in the United States and is officially the watched America, just ahead of a school shooting safety video. I'd like to point out that there's a new award this year, the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Reporter, of course named after the legend Ray Martin. A journalist for over 60 years, even at the age of 80, he remains one of this country's most inquisitive minds, Ray is always asking questions. Even tonight, I saw him on the red carpet and he asked me, 'Sam, Where am I ?' Ray and have a great night, rest in peace. The popularity of dating shows continued this year and I've long been of the opinion that romantic than a televised overly produced quest for love. There's two that stand above the rest. Farmer Wants A Wife – which has an incredible success rate. Over its 15 seasons, the show has resulted in 11 marriages and 27 children – meaning it is now officially the main way for farmers in this country to get screwed outside of Coles and Woolies. And of course, my favourite, Married at First Sight, in its 12th season. And the big story this year was when Paul punched a hole in a wall after finding out his TV wife slept with a rapper. A story as old time. By the way a hole in the wall is something most of the contestants would be very familiar with. This season MAFS was criticised for breaching ethical standards – producers strongly defending themselves saying every contestant had to undergo a Mental Health evaluation, an STI test and IQ test – and if they failed all of those, they were on. We all know MAFS is famous for its debaucherous dinner parties – never miss a Sunday night, and Ive actually got an idea for next season – I think they should cast the mushroom lady as the caterer. After 16 years, a television institution, The Project, aired its last episode in June. An amazing run. It undoubtedly delivered news differently – where else could you get updates on the war in Syria… from Dave Hughes. Channel Ten replaced The Project with 10News+, which is like the Titanic replaced with the OceanGate Submarine. Game shows and quiz shows are all the rage. One of the most popular is Dancing With The Stars, where viewers try to guess is the dancer, and which one is the star. The Voice is about to launch its 14th season. New coaches include Sporty Spice Mel C and Richard Marx. What are the odds of both of them being available? Richard… welcome and I hope you have a wonderful night. Big fan but I think we both know you answered the phone on the first ring. SBS, our most diverse network, celebrates 50 years! Happy Birthday to my old employer and its worth noting that before SBS, many Australians had never seen a Serbian penis. Congratulations to Karl Stefanovic who this year is celebrating 20 years on The Today Show. Sincerely Karl, well done on 20 informative, entertaining and underpaid co-hosts. After a hugely popular win last year Larry Emdur is not nominated for gold this year. Many people have questioned why? Well, it hurts me to say Larry but frankly the industry just couldn't afford the optics of you being the gold standard for two years in a row. Larry goes from winner to not even nominated. Hard to think of a channel 7 game show host with a bigger fall from grace in recent years. Anyway, have a good night and enjoy the free feed. the night will culminate in the presentation of the Gold Logie. Thats right, in little over 9 hours time, the winner of the Gold Logie will be announced. Congratulations to the six incredible women who are nominated tonight. It really is inspiring to see what you've all achieved since Katy Perry went to space. Lets take a look at the Big 7. Sonia Kruger is nominated again. Last year Larry Emdur famously promised that if he won he'd have the names of the other Gold nominees tattooed on his behind. This year, Sonia has promised that if she wins, shell deliver a coherent speech. Lynne McGranger is nominated after 33 years on Home and Away. As we all know, Lynne is leaving the Theres a lot of speculation about how her character Irene will has been working with the writers on her farewell story, and in a Logies exclusive I can reveal that – Irene is set to die tragically but happily, during an orgy with the Summer Bay Under 21s rugby team… A story as old as time. Julia Morris is nominated again for Gold. This funny, talented woman has been nominated several times for the Gold Logie, but never won. I said those exact words last year and I mustremember to use them again next year. I have it on good authority won't be here next year, don't worry. Lisa Millar from the ABC is nominated for the first time. Lisa is the host of Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? – I have to say Lisa, I dont know if Ive ever been less interested in the answer to a question. Ally Langdon from Channel 9 is up for Gold. One of Australia's pre-eminent journalists for over 20 years, Ally has said a vote for her is a vote for all the incredible people who make A Current Affair possible the producers, the crew, the dodgy plumbers, casanova conmen and the neighbours from hell. Two time winner Hamish Blake is nominated again for Lego Masters. I voted for Hamish not because I don't support women, but because I want to see him deliver the most awkward acceptance speech of all time. Hamish, good luck and now you know how it feels to be the diversity pick. And finally, Poh Ling Yeow, is nominated for Gold. … You should be easy to find in this room! Poh is the first Asian to take home Gold, apart from prospector Chung Lee Wong who struck gold in Ballarat in 1854. Good to have a horse in the race. Many of you may not know but Poh and I go way back… to the Ming dynasty.'
West Australian
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Logies Form Guide: Who will win at the TV Week Logie Awards 2025
TV's night of nights is just hours away and while the race is still open for stars — with voting closing later on Sunday — it's also a great chance for viewers to suss out shows they may have missed over the past year. The 65th Annual TV Week Logie Awards features a particularly stacked field of nominees — especially when it comes to that coveted Gold Logie, with more women in contention for the top gong than ever before. Will it be one of the newcomers like Poh Ling Yeow, Ally Langdon or Lisa Millar? Or will perennial favourite Lynne McGranger take it home for her stellar 33-year run on Home And Away? Here's our form guide of nominees and tips for winners. Clare's pick: Lynne McGranger She was on Home And Away for a record-breaking 33 years before retiring earlier this year — surely McGranger deserves to go out with Aussie TV's highest honour? She'll have stiff competition from perennial favourite Hamish Blake and Muster Dog wrangler Lisa Millar. Clare's pick: Hamish Blake Ricki-Lee is fast becoming a favourite reality TV host and Zan Rowe will always have our heart, but something tells us it could be another gong for last year's winner, Hamish Blake. Clare's pick: Guy Montgomery How do you spell dark horse? This is a close race, but Guy Montgomery has broken through the noise with his hilarious new panel show and this is his to lose. Clare's pick: Sam Neill While Robert Taylor and Michael Dorman's emotional performances in Territory both packed a punch, Sam Neill's Brett Colby QC continues to be one of Aussie TV's best-drawn characters — Neill is our frontrunner. Clare's pick: Kaitlyn Dever OK, so she's not technically one of 'ours', but US actor Kaitlyn Dever delivered a knock-out performance in Apple Cider Vinegar and deserves a nomination. Bonus points for that superb Aussie accent. Clare's pick: Michael Theo Ever since he first hit screens via Love On The Spectrum, we've known Michael Theo was destined for big things. He's phenomenal as the title character in Austin. A shoo-in. Clare's pick: Kitty Flanagan It's hard to overestimate just how popular Kitty Flanagan's ABC comedy is both here and overseas — she should get a nod for a second year in a row for Fisk. Clare's pick: Ashley Zukerman Zukerman's portrayal as Belle Gibson's trusting husband was truly devastating to watch — he deserves this one. Honorary mention to Matt Nable, who was also terrific in the Netflix series. Clare's pick: Michelle Lim Davidson Another stacked field with some heavy-hitting comedy icons in the mix, but credit where it's due to Michelle Lim Davidson, who brought the character of Noeline to life and won hearts in The Newsreader. Clare's pick: Bump Both Bump and The Newsreader impressed with their final seasons, but my money is on Bump, which packed an emotional punch with a devastating and nuanced last run. Clare's pick: Apple Cider Vinegar Paramount Plus' Fake and the Binge telemovie How To Make Gravy were both terrific, but Apple Cider Vinegar has to take this one out purely because of its impact and reach — audiences all around the world connected with this very Aussie story. Clare's pick: Dancing With The Stars Much as I'd love to see ABC's superb New Year's Eve concert coverage take this one out, perennial favourite Dancing With The Stars has the crowd on its side. Clare's pick: Australian Story Australian Story has been on air almost 30 years, but it remains just as relevant. This year the show has had some great profiles — who could forget the episode featuring international meme stars The Twinnies? Clare's pick: Austin Fisk is a definite frontrunner in this category, though there are some worthy contenders, and Austin might just steal it as a first-time sentimental favourite. Colin From Accounts might take this one out again, but our money's on newcomer Austin. Clare's pick: Have You Been Paying Attention Have You Been Paying Attention took it out last year, and something tells us this crowd favourite will win over voters again this time around. Clare's pick: Australian Survivor: Brains V Brawn II With Jonathan LaPaglia exiting the show later this year, we'd love to see him pick up one last gong for Brains V Brawn II — it's the least audiences could do to honour his legacy. Clare's pick: Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies Sentimental favourite Muster Dogs deserves this one, though it'll have some stiff competition from MAFS, which smashed it in the ratings again this year. Clare's pick: Restoration Australia Travel Guides took this one out last year and could well make it two-for-two, but Restoration Australia delivered a strong season and deserves to take this one out. Clare's pick: Bluey We feel for the other contenders in this category — Bluey HAS to take this one out, surely? All are worthy contenders, particularly long-running Play School and the lovely Ginger And The Vegesaurs. Clare's pick: Ally Langdon She's nominated for Gold, and it's not hard to imagine she could pick up this one as well, due to her tremendous popularity with ACA audiences.
