Australia's Underbelly 4 To Bring Back Gambling And Brothel Themes, by Greg Tingle - 27th March 2010

Australia's Network Nine announced on-air dates yesterday for its "big three" television programs for after Easter.

A little birdy told Media Man and Gambling911 that gambling and prostitution themes were popular with the audience and the sort of content that keeps punters... er viewers, coming back for more.

The much-anticipated third instalment in the Underbelly series – The Golden Mile – will premiere as a two-hour telemovie on Sunday, April 11, from 8.30pm.

Nine was the first of the three commercial networks to reveal its post-Easter schedule, usually a closely guarded secret by programmers.

Underbelly: The Golden Mile starring Emma Booth, Sigrid Thornton, Wil Traval and Natalie Bassingthwaighte, is set in Kings Cross in the late 1980s.

"We're all fascinated as to why people break the rules," executive producer Des Monaghan said.

"Underbelly differs greatly to the normal staple of television drama, because we are dealing with real life and real people, with all the chaos and unpredictability this entails.

"We operate outside the square, so our audience never knows what's going to happen from one week to the next."

The fourth Underbelly is expected to feature the Fitzgerald inquiry era of Brisbane's illegal gambling and brothel industry. Fortitude Valley aka "The Valley" is expected to be a one key location featured.

An industry source said it was still "in the research stage".

Media Man's been telling Melbourne's Crown Casino that they would do well to get an 'Underbelly' themed slot machine or two on the premises, and an online version of the game for their website, ditto for Sydney's Star City Casino, and Brisbane and the Gold Coast's Conrad Jupiters may as well take the same free advice.

A Media Man insider was overheard, "Mate, The Godfather, Sinatra and Dean Martin have nothing on our Underbelly. Us Aussies, we know how to party... Underbelly rules ok".

Viva Bris Vegas Baby, and as they say on Nine's Footy Show, Bring Back The Biff! Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Aussie Oi Aussie Oi Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi.

* The writer is a special contributor for Gambling911

* Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company

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