SBS unveils 2008 highlights

An early xmas gift today from SBS in the form of some news about select highlights for 2008.

One of them is the UK drama Sinchronicity, a racy love-triangle drama about “Nathan (who) is on the run from the jealous boyfriend – a bouncer – of a woman who has two vaginas.”

The show comes the producers of As If and features two of the cast members Paul Chequer and Jemima Rooper.

Other new dramas include Nynne, dubbed “the Danish Bridget Jones….She’s warm, independent, doesn’t know how to cook, well-dressed, well employed, a typical single girl with guy-problems, funny, clumsy, dumb yet smart and lovable!”

There is a spinoff of Inspector Rex called Stockinger.

SBS also has a new four part observational series about campus life called DownUnder Grads It follows the stories of “11 domestic and international students at the University of Queensland in their quest to secure an education and prepare for their working lives.”

As previously reported Newstopia is back, from February 27. Dateline, promises to put host George Negus on the road more often, as part of a revamp with brand new titles, music and graphics. South Park and Big Love return in May. Living Black, Insight, Top Gear are all back along with Top Gear Australia, Tour Down Under and the 42nd SuperBowl.

Press Release:

Top Gear Australia and Top Gear
BBC version returns Monday 7 January at 7:30pm
Top Gear Australia is on the hunt to find three fearless Australians to bring their expert knowledge and passion for cars, along with their adrenalin fuelled need for speed, to the screens of SBS Television in 2008. SBS has secured the rights to commission the world’s first local version of the Emmy Award winning motoring program, Top Gear. As part of the casting process, SBS has begun a national talent search for Top Gear Australia’s on air team. “This is the opportunity for local car enthusiasts to be a part of a unique tribute to the Australian car culture,” said SBS Director of Content, Matt Campbell. “Top Gear is consistently SBS’s top rating program and we are looking to forge new ground with the local version and to do that we need a supercharged cast that’s quintessentially Australian,” said Mr Campbell. “Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May clones need not apply,” said Freehand Productions Executive Producer, Peter Abbott. “Top Gear Australia is looking for unique, local individuals, tried or untried television talent, with their own style, charisma and humour.” “If you’re a walking motoring encyclopaedia, have lightning quick wit with character to match, then be prepared to take the ride of your life – Top Gear Australia is looking for you.” Top Gear Australia cast application packages can be downloaded from the Top Gear page on sbs.com.au from Saturday 15 December 2007. Aspiring Top Gear Australia cast members have until 5pm (AEDT) on Friday 1 February 2008 to submit their video audition tapes and application forms. Top Gear returns to Monday nights on SBS in 2008 with all new episodes. Watch the Top Gear Polar Special on Monday 7 January at 7:30pm with series nine commencing on Monday 14 January.

Tour Down Under
Tuesday 22 – Sunday 27 January
Daily highlights @ 6:00pm
The Tour Down Under is a six-day cycling event held in Adelaide, and its surrounding countryside, and attracts top cyclists from Australia and around the world. In 2008, the Tour Down Under will open the new European cycling season and make its debut on the UCI ProTour, becoming the first race outside Europe included in the competition race portfolio.

NFL Super Bowl XLII
Monday 4 February
LIVE all centres @ 10:00am (AEDT) Replay @ 11:00pm
America’s most anticipated and celebrated sporting event returns to SBS this summer with the 42nd NFL Super Bowl broadcast LIVE nationally on Monday 4 February from 10:00am (AEDT. For its tenth consecutive year, SBS will showcase the pinnacle football event between the AFC (American Football Conference) and NFC (National Football Conference) premiership teams and the ultimate football clash will be televised from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It’s the game that stops the nation and each year receives the highest ratings for any American television program. Not only celebrated for its spectacular sporting prowess, the Super Bowl is just as internationally renowned for its pre-game and half-time entertainment extravaganza and big budget advertising campaigns. SBS will replay the spectacle later that evening at 11:00pm.

Dateline
New season begins 6 February, Wednesdays at 8:30pm
SBS’s flagship international current affairs program returns with a fresh look in 2008, with brand new titles, music and graphics. This year expect to see host George Negus out and about more, in fact he’ll be presenting the program from Russia very early on in the new season. You can also expect comprehensive coverage of the US Presidential race, as Dateline returns the day after Super Tuesday. And you can count on Dateline’s intrepid band of video journalists to continue to go where others fear to tread, reporting from Mongolia, Darfur and other remote locations, in their determination to bring you the stories that matter.

Insight
New season begins 26 February , Tuesdays at 7:30pm
Australia’s leading forum program, Insight, brings the nations views to you with real stories, from opinions that matter, honest reporting and current issues. A new season brings new-found conversations, various opinions and ever-changing agendas. What does the Labor Government have in-store for the nation in 2008? And what does it mean for you? Host Jenny Brockie explores issues from education to climate change, industrial relations to role models. Join the conversation and have your say with Insight on SBS.

Newstopia
New season begins 27 February
Wednesdays at 10pm

Stockinger
Begins 28 February
13 x 45 minutes episodes, Thursdays at 7:30pm
Rex-lovers will be happy to see a familiar character from Inspector Rex – the subtly funny Stockinger. In this delightful new series, Stockinger has problems dealing with Salzburg traffic conditions, as well as with his boss, a philosophising middle-aged greybeard who does not seem to understand any case at all.

Living Black
New season begins 5 March, Wednesdays at 6pm
Living Black, Australia’s only Indigenous current affairs program on prime time television, returns for a sixth year in 2008. Hosted by Karla Grant and with a brand new video journalist added to the team, the show will continue to provide timely, intelligent and comprehensive coverage of the issues touching Indigenous Australians – and explaining why those issues affect us all.

Downunder Grads
Begins 5 March
4 x 1 hour episodes, Wednesdays at 8pm
It’s the start of the semester at one of Australia’s top universities and 37,000 students, including 6,000 full fee-paying international students, are about to embark on their studies. For most, it is one of the biggest steps in their lives. But how hard is it? How much has a shift in the culture and economics of the higher-education system altered the way students experience university? Produced by Film Australia in association with Big Island Pictures, DownunderGrads explores the impact on the lives of the students and staff, of the increasing corporatisation of Australian universities and on the quality of education they deliver. In a character based study, part essay, part observational style, the four-episode series follows the stories of 11 domestic and international students at the University of Queensland in their quest to secure an education and prepare for their working lives.

Sinchronicity
New drama begins 10 March
6 x 1 hour episodes, Mondays at 10pm
A comedic drama, set in Manchester that revolves around the romantic misadventures of Nathan, Fi and Jase. Nathan is on the run from the jealous boyfriend – a bouncer – of a woman who has two vaginas. He had been sent on a mission by his boss, Peggy, to investigate and persuade the woman to take part in a feature for the erotic magazine he writes for. The trio – Nathan’s best friend Jase, and Jase’s girlfriend Fi – are pursued through the streets by the bouncer. Jase disappears, leaving Fi and Nathan alone together. They end up at a party where they are reunited with Jase temporarily. But the bouncer happens to be at the same party and Nathan is caught and attacked by him. He goes home to attend to his bruises, but Fi turns up at his apartment as she’s lost her keys. They have a passionate sexual encounter. A drunken, distraught Jase knocks on Nathan’s door, leaving Fi to hide herself and any evidence of her infidelity. The next day, Jase confesses to Nathan that he had a sex with a man at the party but he’s not gay. Nathan tells Jase that he won’t tell anyone about this. Nathan had been feeling guilty about having had sex with Fi and was going to tell Jase about it, but he changes his mind.

Nynne
New drama begins 29 March
13 x 1 hour episodes, Saturdays at 9:30pm
Meet Nynne, the danish Bridget Jones – without the weight-problem… All other problems, financial and love related, sprinkled with totally embarrassing moments and clumsy moves… are present. Sounds familiar?! It’s not without reason, Nynne has been compared to Bridget Jones… but then again; I loved Bridget, and I love Nynne! She’s warm, independent, doesn’t know how to cook, well-dressed, well employed, a typical single girl with guy-problems, funny, clumsy, dumb yet smart and lovable! What’s not to love…??

Inspector Rex
New series begins 10 April
8 x 45 minute episodes, Thursdays at 8:30

South Park
New series begins 18 May
Mondays at 8:00pm

Big Love
New series begins 31 May
10 x 1 hour episodes, Saturdays at 8:30pm
Think having three wives is a dream come true? Find out how Bill Henrickson, a modern-day Utah polygamist who lives in suburban Salt Lake City balances his three wives, seven children, and a mounting avalanche of debt and demands. This HBO drama, now in it’s second season, premieres on SBS in May.

Kindly link to this website when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks!