The major US TV networks abandoned their usual competitive behaviour this week to pool resources and footage in the blanket coverage of the terrorist attacks. "In terms of the history of broadcast journalism, this is unprecedented," a CBS News spokesman said. The networks ditched their regular schedules in favour of wall-to-wall news coverage. Recordings of late night entertainment shows, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night With Conan O'Brien, were cancelled for the week. The networks were also quick to reschedule material that could be viewed as insensitive in the aftermath of the attacks. A number of feature films with terrorist or disaster themes were pulled, including The Peacemaker and Independence Day. Production of CBS's Big Brother 2 went ahead as scheduled, but producers broke their own rules about isolating the housemates from world events and informed the contestants about the attacks. Stock shots of New York will have to be altered now that the skyline is so radically different. NBC has already edited out scenes of the World Trade Centre from the opening credits of Law & Order: SVU. Television's equivalent of the Oscars, the Emmy Awards, was due to be broadcast tomorrow night, but the ceremony has been postponed indefinitely.
The executive producer and co-creator of the US sitcom, Frasier, was among the victims of Tuesday's attack on the World Trade Centre. David Angell and his wife Lynn were on-board American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles when it crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Centre. Angell also worked as a writer and producer on the TV comedies, Cheers and Wings.
Paramount, which produces Frasier, said the company was "devastated", adding that Angell would be missed for his "grace, humour and talent". Production of Frasier was suspended when the news became known.
It was a sombre crowd that gathered at Vicar Street for the launch of TG4's autumn schedule - just hours after the devastating attacks in the US. The planned evening of entertainment and music was abandoned because of the unfolding events and the speeches delivered were low-key. But the channel revealed details of an ambitious new schedule that will bring home-produced output to six hours a day. Original Irish-language drama in the schedule includes a fourth series of Oscailt - short films made in conjunction with the Irish Film Board - and a new comedy series, Lu∅ na GrΘine, from the makers of C. U. Burn. TG4 will broadcast 17 commissioned hour-long documentaries, including a profile of Shane MacGowan, a review of the IRA's relationship with the Nazis and an examination of Ireland's drinking culture.
In sport, TG4 has secured the rights to the Allianz National Hurling and Football Leagues, AIB Club Championships in Football and Hurling, the TG4 Ladies' Football Championships and the new Celtic League in rugby.
Although the main Emmy Awards ceremony was postponed, the so-called "Technical Emmys" were awarded in New York last week. Dubliner Aidan Farrell picked up the Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic and Artistic Design for his work on the Discovery Channel's programme, The Human Body. On receiving his award, Farrell said: "I'm honoured to receive this award and that my hard work has been recognised. The programme has been a huge personal achievement for me." Farrell, who is a graduate of Ballyfermot Senior College, began his career with the animation studio Sullivan-Bluth, before moving to Windmill Lane. He is now head of telecine with London facilities house, The Farm.
Auditions for an Irish version of the reality TV show, Popstars, kick-off next Wednesday, September 19th, in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. The 13-part series will chart the nationwide hunt for and formation of a new pop act, to be managed by Louis Walsh. Walsh will be on the judging panel, together with former Eurovision-winner Linda Martin. They will be joined by Bill Hughes of Radius TV.
The series is being produced by ShinAwil Productions and will air on RT╔ 1 from November 25th. The format, which originated in Australia, has been sold to 14 countries and was made into a highly successful series for ITV earlier this year. The new band is guaranteed a deal from record company BMG UK. Would-be popstars will be asked to perform a song from a list of 10, which can be obtained from a special Popstars hotline. The numbers to call are 1550 717 117 from the Republic and 09012 350 329 from the North.
Calls cost 57p per minute here and 60p per minute in the North. More auditions will take place on September 25th in the Metropole Hotel, Cork, October 6th in Hasting's Stormount Hotel, Belfast, and October 14th in the Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin. Auditions are open to anyone over the age of 18 and will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis, beginning at 9 a.m.
mkearney@irish-times.com