This message may be of help to New Zealand-based fans of the US TV series "Traveler" (where the show has just finished screening on TV2), altho admittedly may be a little out of date for readers in the United States itself, where the show finished on the ABC network in mid July 2007.

Traveler was a great drama-thriller series, about two Yale University grad-students - Jay Burchell and Tyler Fog - who become prime terrorist suspects when a New York art museum is blown up. The pair go on the run from the FBI, after discovering they've been set up by their former flatmate Will Traveler.


The tv series was unfortunately cancelled by ABC, which played all eight episodes made (after scaling back the series from an initial 13-episode season order.)

Cancelled television shows are often included in package "output deals" most international broadcasters buy from distributors. As is the tradition in New Zealand, TV2 heavily promoted the "new series" over summer, despite the short 8-episode run, leaving some fans surprised after the abrupt "finale".

(Other cancelled shows bought recently by TVNZ, and already screened or coming soon to TV2 in New Zealand include sitcoms Happy Hour, In Case of Emergency, The Class, The Knights of Prosperity, Twenty Good Years, Four Kings... and dramas The Nine, Smith, and Six Degrees).

American fans tried unsuccessfully to save the show, but to provide some closure and consolation for fans of the show, Traveler creator Dave DiGilio made a blog post on TVGuide.com giving "answers" to some of the show's mysteries... including 'What is the Fourth Branch?', 'What's with the Painting?', and 'Who was Will Traveler?'

* TVGuide.com - David DiGilio's Traveler Blog

Hollywood star Heath Ledger has been found dead in a New York City apartment. A housekeeper at the SoHo residence found Ledger lying face down on his bedroom floor on Tuesday afternoon (US time), naked and unconscious. Prescription pill bottles under his name were found nearby, including anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, and a sedative.

Police say the death appears to be either an accidental overdose, or possibly suicide. Friends say the Australian-born actor seemed bored with his career, and had been turning down roles recently.


The 28-year old was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Brokeback Mountain. It was during filming for the movie that he met Michelle Williams, who he had a daughter with until the couple split up last year.

He was reportedly not proud of his most recent role, playing one of the versions of Bob Dylan in the movie I'm Not There. Fans were looking forward to Ledger's portrayal of The Joker in the upcoming Batman sequel, The Dark Knight, which he had just completed filming.

* MSNBC: Heath Ledger found dead in NYC apartment
* AFP: Actor Heath Ledger is found dead
* TMZ.com: R.I.P Heath Ledger

Casting has been confirmed for High School Musical 3, the third in Disney's hit musical movie franchise. Despite speculation that Vanessa Hudgens may have been dropped after her nude photo scandal, she is back onboard, along with boyfriend Zac Efron.


(20-year old Efron was rushed to hospital in LA this week to have his appendix removed, after complaining of severe abdominal pain - at least, that was the "official" story... ;-) He's been filming the movie Seventeen, alongside former Friends star Matthew Perry.)

All of the other main actors from the original hit films have also re-signed for the third instalment, including Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman. HSM Director Kenny Ortega is back on board, along with writer Peter Barsocchini.

Shooting for the US $14 million movie is set to begin in Utah in late April. However, unlike the first two High School Musical films, which premiered on the Disney Channel before being released on DVD, HSM3 will be released first in cinemas this October.

The title of the big screen sequel is High School Musical 3: Senior Year. (Disney have dropped their original idea of a Halloween-themed film, which was to be named Haunted High School Musical).

High School Musical 3 will focus on the senior year of the characters at East High. Troy and Grabriella prepare to head off in different directions to college, and face the prospect of being separated. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, the high school seniors stage an "elaborate spring musical" as they look towards their future.



* Check out the huge range of High School Musical & High School 2 merchandise, including DVDs, clothes, dolls, books, toys, and more great High School Musical Gifts at the High School Musical Shop...

It seems that Robbie Williams' record company EMI have finally accepted what everyone else decided long ago... that Robbie's last CD "Rudebox" was basically a load of rubbish. The CD was Williams' 10th solo album, but sold just 500,000 copies in the UK (a quarter of 2002's Escapology).


Now EMI is shipping over a million unsold copies of Rudebox to China, where they'll be crushed and used to resurface roads, and in manufacturing street lights.

A record company insider told reporters, "EMI often ships out unwanted CDs to China so they can be recycled. It's the ultimate kick in the teeth for him [Robbie]. He loved this album, but going by all the unsold CDs he was obviously the only one."


The former Take That star signed a record-breaking £80m deal with EMI in 2002. However the record company has announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs (a third of the workforce), and dump under-performing artists after losing £263 million last year. EMI says about 85% of releases never make a profit.

Williams has been threatening to "go on strike" because of the job cuts and other issues with new management at the company. The singer has two albums left to go on his current EMI record contract.

Williams recently revealed he's considering releasing a B-sides album later this year, with a new studio album in 2009. But he has denied newspaper reports he's planning a massive £150 million comeback worldwide tour to hit back at the success of the now four-piece group Take That.

While the UK and USA music industries didn't give us a lot to cheer about, the world of pop was kept going thanks largely to Swedish songwriters and producers (Max Martin/Maratone, Dr Luke) as well as the 2007 Melodifestivalen and Eurovision song contests.

Here's my Top 7 Songs of 2007 (admittedly a little late, but true to form ;-)

* Duran Duran - Falling Down
The original four members (minus Andy Taylor again) return with their "Ordinary World" for 2007. The band co-wrote and co-produced the track with Justin Timberlake, who also sings backing vocals on the song.

A great mid-tempo ballad, in the style Duran Duran are famous for, but unfortunately this did not set the charts alight as it deserved to...



* Sugababes - About You Now
Fresh from promoting their greatest hits album (following the departure of Mutya Buena), the new Sugababes trio returned to the studio to record the "franchise's" 5th studio album, Change.

This song was rightly picked as the album's lead single, and was a worldwide smash hit for the trio. Written by hitmakers Cathy Dennis and Dr Luke, website PopJustice described the song as a "pop-electro-rock masterpiece"...



* Magnus Carlsson - Live Forever
This "eighties inspired electropop dance song" was performed by Carlsson in the third heat of Melodifestivalen 2007, but unfortunately it didn't qualify for the final.

The former singer with Swedish groups Alcazar and Barbados went on to release the song as a single in March, reaching #3 on the Swedish charts and going Gold...



* Shayne Ward - If That's OK With You
Written by Swedish music genius Max Martin, with Savan Kotecha and Arnthor Birgisson, this change in style was a bit hit for Shayne Ward. However, the song was criticised by some for the use of a vocoder, and the quirky lyrics. (My favourite line, "I'm going to saint your mother just for giving you birth" ;-) )

Unfortunately manager Louis Walsh and label boss Simon Cowell wrongly felt the song wasn't strong enough as a comeback single for The X Factor winner, and ordered him back to Sweden at the last minute to record another song (the bland No U Hang Up) to release as a double-A side.



* E-Type - True Believer
Swedish eurodance artist E-Type returned with his 6th studio album, featuring new female vocalist Sanne Karlsson (replacing NaNa). The true-to-form stomping lead single was written by E-Type with talented new songwriter Savan Kotecha at Maratone Studios, and produced by Max Martin.



* Take That - Shine
The Manchester lads (still minus Robbie) followed up their comeback smash hit 'Patience' with this catchy upbeat little track, sung by little Mark Owen (rather than regular lead singer Gary Barlow).

Described as a cross between the Beatles and ELO, the single was Take That's 6th consecutive #1 in the UK. The video recreates the style of a Busby Berkeley musical number (famous movie director and musical choreographer in the 30s/40s)...



* Markoolio & Linda Bengtzing - Värsta Schlagern
Swedish comedian Markoolio teams up with Swedish Europop (and schlager) singer Linda Bengtzing for this great pop parody. Apparently entered in the 2007 Melodifestivalen contest, somehow it wasn't picked as one of the finalists, although the single did go on to hit #1 on the Swedish charts.

Värsta Schlagern pokes fun at the formulaic style of many Eurovision schlagar songs. The lyrics point out the importance of a catchy chorus, stealing a bit of Abba's sound, and the obligatory key change ;-) The video also spoofs famous Swedish Melodifestivalen performers, including Carola (and her wind machine!), Alexander Bard, BWO, and Thomas G:son...



Honorable mentions to:
* Linkin Park - What I've Done
* Take That - Rule the World (from the film Stardust)
* Mans Zelmerlow - Cara Mia
* Avril Lavigne - Keep Holding On

Late-night US TV host David Letterman is preparing to return to the airwaves, after securing a one-off deal with the Writers Guild of America, which will allow his writing staff to come back to work.


The CBS television show, The Late Show with David Letterman, is one of a number of shows forced off the air because of ongoing strike action by screenwriters in the United States.

Talks between the writers' union and the major studios broke down again in early December, amidst fading hopes of a quick resolution. Late-night talkshows and topical daily programmes were the first to be forced off the air, with most scripted network programmes calling a halt to production shortly after.

The Writers Guild is seeking a new contract for its 10,500 members, as the strike drags into its third month. The major sticking point is compensation for content on the internet and other digital media avenues.

Letterman's independent deal (through his own company WorldWide Pants) means regular features like his 'Top 10' list will be part of the show, when it returns to air this week. CBS sister show The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson is also covered by the new agreement.


Meanwhile NBC's late-night hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, are also scheduled to return on Wednesday night.

However they'll do so without their staff writers, because under harsh strike rules in the United States, theyre not allowed to write their own material (!?!). The NBC and ABC talkshows are expected to rely more on musical guests and celebrity interviews to fill their programmes.

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) and Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) are also gearing up to to return, and will be back on the channel next Monday, January 7th.

NBC's Carson Daly was the first late-night host to return to US TV screens, defying the writers' strike and resuming production on Last Call with Carson Daly in early December. Daly claimed he was forced to return to work, telling the Los Angeles Times newspaper NBC gave him an ultimatum, ordering him to "Put a new show on Dec. 3 or 75 people are fired. What's your answer?"

The Writers Guild infiltrated a recent taping of "Last Call", making calls of protest while Daly tried to conduct an interview. The union claimed it was "disappointed" and "appalled" by Daly's decision to put his show back on the air. Daly isn't a member of the WGA, but intially pulled his show out of support for the writers.

It seems to me surprising and quite appalling the level of control unions appear to have in a progressive country like the United States. The writers' strike is destructive and unproductive, and will only seek in driving more viewers away from television and onto the internet and video games.

The recent strike by Broadway stage-hands (who were largely seeking to hang onto out-dated conditions) did great harm to one of New York's major tourist attractions. I believe TV and Film studios should have the right to be able to simply fire any writers unwilling to work, and hire someone else who does want to do the job.

* Zap2it.com: Letterman, Leno Start Booking Guests
* Zap2it.com: WGA Writers' Strike Roundup