THE DEATH OF A PRINCESS - Video Beat - September 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Cambodia's CTN Picks Up On Theme of The Philippines Pinoy Big Brother - Amazing Race Asia Repeat Near Finals - Ultimate Fighter Final TONIGHT Repeat Monday - PBB's Gretchen Malalad Now A Reporter Involved In Assault

Sunday September 9, 2007

THE WENDY WARS AREN'T OVER - Cambodia's CTN Network Jump On Philippines ABS-CBN's Bandwagon

Just trying how to figure out how they do programming on Southeast Asian television is enough to make one dizzy. Scheduling problems are a major obstacle that must be dealt with. The most pressing problem is coming up with good positive ideas for a television show.

The Philippines ABS-CBN Network came up with a novel idea when they brought back Wendy Valdez who was evicted from Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 series. Though she was popular her return to the show drew a lot of controversy that resulted in tension between her and the remaining contestants on the show. It was to the point where they wouldn't speak to each other. At that time we deemed it THE WENDY WARS.

Her return came almost two months before the show finished giving the drama build up plenty of time to rankle the viewers and contestants. The result being Valdez finished in 3rd place amidst boo's from the audience when the announcement was made on the final show.

Valdez has talent and after her disappointment landed on her feet by securing the lead in the current running TV serial Margarita as well as a layout in a men's magazine. BUT THERE'S MORE...

The CTN television network in Cambodia has been trying their hand at producing reality television. At this point they have produced two with restaurant themes Coffee Shop and Pizza House a show that was to end last week on September 2nd. While visiting the Pizza House shop for some news gathering two weeks prior to the end of the show I discussed the Wendy Wars saga with a CTN producer.

Discussed was the unprecedented way the ABS-CBN brought back to the show a contestant had been eliminated. Was it fair or not was the focus. As they say what goes around comes around and apparently CTN chose to do just that as they employed the Pinoy Big Brother way of doing things by inviting a previously eliminated contestant from the show to return.

All of the eliminated contestants were eligible to return based on viewer voting via SMS messages on Cambodia's Cell Card phone service. The Royal Group who also own CTN owns cell Card.

Pinoy Big Brother invited only four eliminated contestants back to the PBB house and three were eliminated via SMS voting until only Valdez remained.

The final for the Pizza House show will now take place on September 12th only 13 after the reinstatement of the contestant. Again the question of is it fair pops up.

After her return Valdez had almost two months to be booted off the show for the second time but wasn't. She had enough of a fan base to survive for a lengthy period of time. Fair or not CTN's decision will be made within a 13 day time frame on a special 1 ½ HR telecast this Wednesday night at 5:00 PM Cambodia time at the CTN studios according to CTN producer Aaron Leverton.

The winner will win a motorbike and a percentage of the gross profits from the sales at the Pizza House.

Maria Beatriz Saw (aka Bea) who was a long shot to win the Pinoy Big Brother title but walked off with the crown, one million pesos (US $20,000), a house, car, water business and a trip for two to several cities throughout Europe. The three runners-up won cash prizes and trips of various lengths and stops according to their order of finish. The Cambodian Pizza House runners-up will win nothing and as some Pizza house contestants expressed is that all they want is, "A JOB."

AMAZING RACE ASIA RETURNS

The rerun of the reality series Amazing Race Asia is on. It is televised Monday through Friday on the AXN network. Air times are 7:00 AM and NOON in the Thailand and Cambodia time zones. Though the show requested entrants for a season two there is no word at this time when that will occur. The Amazing Race Asia WINNERS were Zabrina Fernandez and Joe Jer Tee.

ABS-CBN REPORTER GRETCHEN MALALAD HAS CONFLICT

Gretchen Malalad a former contestant in the Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition is now a reporter for the ABS-CBN Television Network. While on the job she was reporting on a story where a former Philippine professional basketball player was involved in a problem with a taxi cab driver that became physical. The basketball player and Malalad also had a dispute at the police station that also became physical.

Malalad didn't win on Big Brother but she does win in physical exchanges. She is a marshal arts champion for the Philippines National team and also a former beauty contest winner. In the world of GO FIGURE... Hmmmmm…

ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINAL

The blood and gore sport of ultimate fighting a blend of martial arts skills. The reality TV show titled 'Ultimate Fighter' will televise the final of season 2 tonight Sunday September 9 at midnight and will repeat tomorrow at 11:00 AM in the Thailand, Cambodia time zone on the AXN Network in Southeast Asia.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

Repeats of Top Model are flipped around by Channel V for undisclosed reasons.

SUNDAY

10:00 AM - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - REPEAT

12:00 PM - ASAP - TFC (The Filipino Channel) - Please note that this and ALL TFC SHOWS ARE SUBJECT TO TIME SHIFTS.

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

7:00 PM - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - REPEAT

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

11:00 PM - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - REPEAT

MIDNIGHT - Ultimate Fighter - AXN - Repeat of series 2

MONDAY

11:00 AM - ULTIMATE FIGHTER - AXN - Season 2

1:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - REPEAT

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily @ 4 PM

6:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - NEW EPISODE

10:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - Repeat of NEW EPISODE

TUESDAY

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily @ 4 PM

WEDNESDAY

8:00 PM - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - NEW EPISODE

12 - Midnight - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - repeat of NEW EPISODE

THURSDAY

11:00 AM - PIRATE MASTER - AXN - reality show - REPEAT

8:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - Cycle 8

FRIDAY

5:00 PM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - repeat of Monday's 6 PM new episode show

SATURDAY

10:00 AM - AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL - Channel V - repeat of Monday's 6 PM new episode show

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily @ 4 PM

6:30 PM - HIGH NET WORTH - CNBC - Business news magazine show

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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