Thought I’d give you a quick precis of what to look forward to on Ten next year without all the media release guff:

Network Ten caps off one of its biggest years yet by announcing even more for 2006.

TEN’s new Australian programs for 2006 include:

• The Wedge – sketch comedy set in a fictitious Australian suburb, from Cornerbox Productions and comedian Ian McFadyen, the genius behind The Comedy Company
• Thank God You’re Here – Working Dog’s latest project, where well-known personalities are dropped into a scene in which they have no idea who they are or why they are there and must improvise their way through
• The Biggest Loser – 6,000 Australians applied to take part in the local version of the series that has been a hit with TEN’s 16-39 demographic and women 25-54. US trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper provide continuity
• Honey We’re Killing the Kids – highlighting the problem of childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles, this adaptation of the major new BBC format scientifically predicts how individual children will look as adults, and health experts then work with parents to radically change the family’s diet and behaviour
• Jamie’s Kitchen Australia – long anticipated, Australia gets its very own “Fifteen” restaurant, and 15 under-privileged Melbourne kids will get the break of a lifetime
• Friday Night Games – this adaptation of Big Brother Friday Night Live sees members of the public and celebrities put through hilarious challenges
• Australia’s Brainiest specials – eight hilarious episodes, including TV Star, Radio Star, Musician, Cricketer, Footballer, Olympian, Neighbours and Big Brother Housemate. The first, Australia’s Brainiest Comedian, attracted 1.61m viewers last Thursday and was the night’s most-watched show in all major demographics

New Australian drama projects include:

• Tripping Over – from Mike Bullen of Cold Feet fame and Seachange creator Andrew Knight, this multi-generational drama explores the joys of travelling and is set in Thailand, London and Australia
• The Society Murders – stars Georgie Parker and Alex Dimitriades and explores the Melbourne murders of Margaret Wales-King and her husband Paul through the eyes of Margaret’s five children
• The Joanne Lees Story – examining one of Australia’s most compelling unsolved murders from the perspective of victim Peter Falconio’s girlfriend, Joanne
• BlackJack – four new instalments in the successful telemovie franchise starring Colin Friels

New overseas series include:

• Supernatural, the closest show to X-Files in years and the US WB Network’s #1 new show;
• Everybody Hates Chris, written and narrated by comedian Chris Rock and already hailed as one of the best new US comedies in many years;
• Surface, where a new form of sea life arises, challenging everything humans thought they knew about the deep;
• Jamie’s Great Italian Escape, combining Jamie’s passion for food with the elements of the best travel shows;
• Reunion, spanning two decades of relationships and mystery among a group of college friends;
• Conviction, the latest legal drama from Dick Wolf, creator of Law & Order;
• Threshold, where a female analyst leads a secret team in contacting alien life;
• Out of Practice, the comedy starring Stockard Channing and Henry Winkler about a family of doctors who have little in common other than their professions;
• and The Jenna Elfman Show, in which the Dharma & Greg actress plays a successful lawyer looking for true love.

Meanwhile, all* of TEN’s regular favourites – the shows that perform week in and week out – return, including ALL NEW Big Brother, Australian Idol, Rove Live, Neighbours and The Ronnie Johns Half Hour.

And TEN has ALL NEW episodes of returning international series, including: House, Medium, NCIS, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, The Simpsons, The OC, Rock School, Smallville, Charmed, Brainiac and Numb3rs.

… and that’s with the guff taken out!