Hope all is well with everyone!

October 22, 2008

The Seven Network has announced it will start filming for a second series of the hit TV drama Packed to the Rafters early next year.

Starring Rebecca Gibney, Michael Caton and Erik Thomson, the program has become one of the most watched series on Australian television boasting close to two million viewers for each episode since debuting in August.

The show follows the lives of a married couple and their three adult children, two of which have moved back home, and the third next door.

Last night, the show, which saw Craig McLachlan starring as an ageing rocker, scored almost 1.9 million viewers across the country.

Next week, it will feature a storyline about an unwanted pregnancy.

Seven’s head of drama John Holmes said the entire cast would be returning for the second series.

“Viewers have lots to look forward to,” he said.

“There’ll be plenty more drama and laughs and a few unexpected twists in store for the Rafter family.”

Fantastic! Maybe we’ll even get a bit of it here in the US? I can wish.

You can read the articles here:

• Dad finds his best role yet (The Sunday Mail)
• Packed to the Rafters’ Erik Thomson rates being a dad (The Sunday Telegraph)

Prizes of the Generation 14plus Youth Jury 2008

The members of the Generation 14plus Youth Jury Roman Akbar, Zadora Enste, Hans Hirsch, Nora Kubach, Zo? Martin, Linda Moog, and Lavan Vasuthevan give the following awards:

The Crystal Bear for the best feature-length film goes to

The Black Balloon by Elissa Down (Australia)

We were very moved by the close to life story portraying the everyday life of an extraordinary family in this film. We were especially impressed by the way in which joyous and serious moments were expertly interwoven, and also by the actors’ excellent performances.

The official website for The Black Balloon has photos and the trailer for your viewing pleasure. I’ve also added a couple of pictures from the official website to The Black Balloon gallery here at Erik Thomson Central.

The Black Balloon MySpace page also has new photos from the Berlin Film Festival. So far there is one picture with Erik in it.

Second, a couple of links of interest:

• The Black Balloon – The Black Balloon myspace site has the official trailer up.  It looks great!  The movie is slated to open March 6th in Australia.  Not sure about the rest of the world.
• We’re Here to Help – I’ve added a few more official shots (two are repeats, but one is new) to the gallery here.  Thank you to the official site for providing the images to the website. 

Third, a most wonderful holiday season to everyone out there!  Merry Christmas and here’s to a most wonderful 2008!

~ Valerie

• will be released New Zealand wide on November 8, 2007.
• For images and more info, as well as the trailer, head out to the movie’s official site – http://www.heretohelp.co.nz/
• a couple of images can be seen in the gallery here at Erik Thomson Central

I’ve added a couple of more roles to Erik’s credits.  As soon as I know more about them, I’ll post. 

Hercules:

• Not Fade Away
• Highway to Hades

Xena:

• Death in Chains
• Mortal Beloved
• Intimate Stranger
• Adventures in the Sin Trade

Besides the new digs, I have also added new/updated screencaptures to the new photo gallery.New screencaptures:

• The Alice – from just a few of the scenes I’ve so far watched. Caitlin (Erik’s wife) also slipped into a couple of the screenshots
• Getaway – Tauranga – quality on these shots are a bit shoddy because of the video source

Updated screencaptures:

• “By the Numbers” – the episode from The Ray Bradbury Theatre
• “The Vanishing Dead” – Erik’s first appearance on Hercules, his only non-Hades role
• “The Other Side” - Erik’s first appearance as Hades on Hercules

I’m still moving things over and hoping to get some new (to the site but old to the world) articles to the website. I’m rebuilding the links list as many of the old links have gone to the underworld of cyberspace. So if anyone knows of any worthy Erik or Erik-related websites, click the contact link above and send me a message.