Sky One have been advertising it since the dawn of time (or a month – same deal) and now we are but days away from Prison Break, series three. The drama picks up with Michael, T-Bag (boo hiss), Bellick and Mahone back inside Panama’s Sona Prison, which is so nasty that even the guards won’t go inside. Michael’s brother Lincoln and former cellmate Sucre are desperately trying to help free our hero from the outside, while there is also a juicy political conspiracy storyline.

Fans without satellite TV will be sad to miss out on their favourite, but here is one of Sky One’s many trailers for the new season to help keep everyone in the loop.

Far be it from me to spoil things for real fans - you won't find the plot twist mentioned above unless you click through the cut - but I don't mind reading it for myself. I was glued to the first series of '24', watched the second series expecting it to be as good and soon found myself getting totally bored with the format.

Now, whenever I even catch a few seconds of a trailer and hear that piercing clock ticking down, I start twitching. It's beyond me how anyone can remain true to this series, especially as I've read some of the middle ones were somewhat less than riveting. Each to his/her own I guess, and the fact is that the franchise is continuing, which brings us to that plot twist coming your way in series seven...

Even the best television shows are formulaic. I happily concede that personal favourites of mine such as House have a strict structure that they rarely deviate from, not to mention the endless makeover shows (DIY/ fashion/ beauty, etc.) that clog our airwaves. But is it possible that these unimaginative restrictions are not just limited to individual programmes, but could be applicable to TV in a wider sense? Since arriving at this cognitive conundrum I quietly mused on the matter. And now after much peaceful reflection and many cups of tea, I am convinced that there are many similarities out there in TV land between shows. Call it what you will: a formula, a coincidence, societal trends. There is a recipe for success that many TV writers are cooking up in their kitchens, and we at the Scoop are here to serve up these tasty ingredients.

So please sit down to the table and chow down with me as we feast on the first in our series: Jack the (anti-)hero.

Oh, doesn't your heart just sink when you read that? Yes, Sky is planning a channel called 'Sky Real Lives' which hopes to attract women aged 35 to 54. And guess what those lucky, lucky women get especially for them? Hard hitting drama? Cutting edge comedy? Arts programming? Science programming? Music, history, news? No. No to them all. What women aged 35 to 54 really want is human interest. That's what they want. That's all they want, and that's all they're gonna get.

Cynical, moi? Well yes, and annoyed, and bored. But I guess the statisticians would say that human interest really is what women of this age do watch, so who am I to complain. On 7th November Sky Travel will cease to be, and Sky Real Lives will take over because, as the new head of the channel has said, "You don't need a presenter telling you, 'Here is the Great Wall of China'... People's expectations have changed." Yes, I'd much rather watch a documentary called Baby Race than one about one of the greatest architectural feats in human history. (Sorry, that may have been *slightly* sarcastic). Other titles include Dying To Be Apart - about conjoined twins, naturally - and Vain Men. Give me strength... Do women not deserve better? [via MediaGuardian]

Season two of Weeds came to an end last night in the forgotten corners of Sky One (double-bills at 11.30pm?) and considering I had not watched the debut outing, I found myself besotted with the inhabitants of Agrestic. With a running time of only half an hour, the suburban drugs import is an odd blend of farcical sitcom and thought-provoking drama. Mary Louise Parker is a stand-out as put-upon mum Nancy Botwin, the plot never gets stale or predictable and the jokes are first-rate. Me a fan? Oh – just a little bit.

In last night’s double-bill, many long-standing story-lines came together for what was an incredible cliff-hanger. It was actually quite a layered and complex affair, so where to start? How’s about with the easy stuff. Enjoying their illicit affair, Celia and Doug agreed to leave their partners. Celia came good on her promise and broke the news of her infidelity to an incredulous Dean who questioned “but Doug hates you.” Meeting up again, Celia found that Doug had failed to leave his wife and promptly stubbed a cigarette out on his hand in anger. Desperate to redeem herself, Celia returned to Dean pretending that she had been joking when she had left him, only for the mild mannered hubbie to unceremoniously boot her out of the family home. Celia returned to her motel, where she wallowed in self-pity accompanied by cigarettes and alcohol.

So after all the hype, last night saw the Primetime Emmys dished out for the 59th time. Some of the results were expected, some less so while all eyes were on Ryan Seacrest in his first time hosting the event. The theatre-in-the-round stage proved unpopular, but here at TV Scoop we give you the inside scoop on the events: who embarrassed themselves, who made it all look effortlessly easy and who wants to join Desperate Housewives? It’s all in our speeches round-up.

Host Ryan Seacrest used his opening speech to mock his own role as MC: "There are over 6,000 people here tonight. All of them talented, all of them looking incredible, all of them passed on hosting this year" while also making time to include TV hot property Hayden Panetierre (Claire Bennet in Heroes): "Congratulations on turning 18. My gift to you - seating you as far away as possible from Jeremy Piven."

Ryan Seacrest might have gotten the nod to present this year’s Emmy Awards, but he’ll have a tough job ahead of him after the success of talk-show host Conan O’Brien’s stint last year. One particular highlight was the introduction, with the now popular use of the host integrated in some of the prominently nominated shows. In Conan’s case, he opened the infamous hatch in Lost, visited Steve Carell and co. at The Office, clashed with Jack Bauer in 24, was treated to an examination from House, hid in the closet (with Tom Cruise) in South Park and aroused suspicions on Dateline.

Will Seacrest adopt this approach, and if so can we expect to see him stopping time with Hiro in Heroes, hanging out at the Bada Bing club with Tony Soprano or having a makeover in Ugly Betty come Sunday night/ Monday morning? To get us in the Emmys spirit – enjoy Conan’s past prologue to the ceremony.

Sky One with his goofy antics and obsession with The Simpsons might seem younger than he is. Interestingly, Sky One is the fourth eldest TV channel in the UK, but was held back in his early years by people's reluctance to adopt satellite dishes. Now that Sky One has been allowed to compete with the big boys of terrestrial TV, he has progressed in interesting and unexpected ways.

Strengths
Sky One has always succeeded when working with American formats. These have historically included ER, Friends and Married With Children. Now looking to keep his work modern and relevant, Sky One has forged promising new bonds with the dramatic society (Cold Case, Bones, Las Vegas), while managing to inject some colour into their work with science-fiction (The 4400) and fashion (Project Runway.) This ability to work well with international tasks has also been evidenced by the number of mini-series, such as Marco Polo and Final Approach.

I’m not a betting lady myself (too few pennies to go risking them), but for those of you who like a flutter, the Emmys could be worth a few bob. So if you would like the chance to exercise your superior television knowledge and perhaps make some money, here are some of the odds being offered on the American awards ceremony by Bet365.

Warning: If you lose out and have to hand over your house to debtors, sell your children into slavery and get a job cleaning the poles at a strip club – please don’t blame me. This is only meant as a bit of fun and in no way endorses people to hand their lives over to an all-consuming gambling problem. On the other hand, if you make some serious money taking a punt – just remember who tipped you off, eh?

What is there left to say about Homer Jay Simpson? We’ve already saluted him as a small screen icon here on the Scoop and now he has translated his TV popularity into box-office gold with the stonking success of the long-anticipated Simpsons movie this summer. As the voice behind the world’s best-loved yellow, balding patriarch, Dan Castellaneta has brought joy to millions with his cries of “D’Oh!” And so to celebrate Dan’s 48th birthday today, we here at Scoop towers take a quick look at the evolution of Springfield’s stupidest resident.

Hairstyles based on TV characters are an odd avenue of celebrity hero worship. Back in my younger years I remember desperately wanting the ‘Rachel’ do, a shaggy, choppy look based on Jennifer Aniston’s part in sitcom Friends. Obviously now, I’m pleased that I didn’t. I’d have looked like a transsexual no doubt, but the ‘Rachel’ was sadly not the last TV haircut to catch on. People – I give you the ‘Sawyer’.

Derived from the scruffy, messed up mane of the Southern bad-boy in Lost, I find myself perplexed by the ‘Sawyer’. Actor Josh Holloway is a fine specimen of a man and I can understand why men would look to replicate his style – but his hair? He plays someone stranded on a desert island, camping on the beach and miles away from his nearest barber – does that sound like a deliberate fashion step? If anything Sawyer has one of the most sun-frazzled barnets on the show and I’m sure Nicky Clarke would warn of his split ends and order an intensive conditioning pronto.

When do we think a TV channel should start advertising one of their programmes? A week in advance, maybe two? Any earlier than that and you would worry that audiences might forget to tune in. Teaser trailers that are short and snappy with a vague ‘coming soon’ announcement air weeks in advance, as do station promoting ones that tempt audiences with tasty promises of what that broadcaster will deliver over the coming season – but show specific, full-on, look-what’s-going-to-go-down adverts with the date featured are usually saved for a week or so in advance.

Not so with Sky One. They have been promoting the third season of Prison Break, due to air on Monday 24th September for a few weeks now. That means a lead-in time of about a month. Who needs a months notice to help plan their night in front of the TV? The Radio Times website seems pleased with itself for featuring the next fortnight’s worth of listings, while we at the Scoop try to give you a few days notice on what’s heading your way – but a month? God reckons he built the world in a week, just think what he could have done in a whole month.

The Emmys are coming later this month, but E! the entertainment channel has already handed out their honours to celebrate the best in today’s TV. The Tater Top Awards are voted for by the public and so are happily absent any nauseating industry back-slapping. The awards being American means that none of our top shows are present, but they do provide an interesting insight into what US audiences enjoy, and when we get most of their best stuff imported anyway – who’s complaining?

Plot spoiler warning: You might want to look away if you have not yet seen the most recent seasons of any of these shows: Lost, Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, The Sopranos, The Office, Veronica Mars, The Gilmour Girls, Battlestar Galactica. There are explicit details revealed and we would hate to ruin any future story-lines for you.

Sky's chief executive James Murdoch has said that the broadcaster avoided running premium-rate quiz programmes because they "felt grubby." Talking to the Royal Television Society's magazine, Television, Murdoch stated "We took the view that [premium rate quizzes] were taking advantage of people and that our customers deserved better than that. We have a betting business and a lot of work goes into informing people about how those services work and putting the appropriate protections in place. But to us premium-rate quiz stuff always felt grubby, trying to get an extra nickel out of everyone. We didn't feel comfortable in it."

Murdoch added that Sky's "discomfort has been borne out" and claimed that premium rate quizzes "undermine" the relationship between a business and its customers "because basically it is just taking advantage, and it's pretty sleazy." Of course, this comes on the back of a very grubby war of words with Virgin Media, and presumably is an attempt to instill some confidence back into the public. Has it worked?
[via DS]

Dear Sky One – what are you playing at with your scheduling of Weeds? Hidden away at 11.30pm on a Sunday night, are you ashamed of it? If so, don’t be. Weeds is smartly written, carefully nuanced comedy/ drama of the highest calibre and deserves a much wider audience than students, insomniacs and shift-workers.

Last night’s double-bill (another mystery of programming) saw the votes being cast in the local elections. Would established Councilman Doug continue to sit pretty or would Celia Hodes achieve the authority she craves? The result came down to a paltry three votes – but in whose favour?

TV related merchandise has sunk to a weird new low with the unveiling of the Jack Bauer doll. Yes, you can get your mitts on a miniature Kiefer Sutherland waving his gun around and frowning seriously for all he’s worth. I’m a little creeped out by the eyes – I thought Jack had pupils, but what do I know?

I understand that an action figure coming equipped with a gun is no different to all the GI Joes and Action Mans currently gathering dust on Toys R Us shelves everywhere – but when the doll is based on a flesh and blood actor that you can witness torture, maim and murder on TV, it seems to hit a grey patch. Would you buy this for someone or would you be interested in it yourself? I’m sure the doll with soon become valuable as a collector’s item and be a must have for hard-core fans of the show. If popular maybe it will kick start a series of toys based on the programme. You’ll be able to pick up your very own scowling Chloe, the assassinated David Palmer (complete with gun wounds) and numerous anonymous torture victims for endless hours of fun – goodie!

[via TMZ]

Lost might be a long way from finding its way back onto British TV (it’s not even due on American telly for another five months), but it has some new faces to get us all excited. Confirmed newbies for the show’s fourth season include Jeremy Davies (the wimpy soldier in Saving Private Ryan), Ken Leung (the spiky-faced baddie mutant from X-Men: The Last Stand and soon to be seen in The Sopranos), Brit Rebecca Mader (The Devil Wears Prada) and Lance Reddick (Daniels from The Wire and Desmond Mobay from Oz.)

The most hyped new addition is Lawnmower Man actor Jeff Fahey (pictured right). The show’s producers are remaining tight-lipped on his and all the other new recruits parts, but are clearly excited at having the Grindhouse star on board. Carlton Cuse has enthused: ''The Lawnmower Man and The Marshall are personal faves. And he has the most intense eyes of any guy out there, and I say that as a non-gay man.'' Fellow producer Damon Lindelof is equally thrilled': 'Fahey is one of those actors who feels like he fits into the Lost model: He's enormously talented and will be vaguely recognizable to some people, but he'll be able to land on our island without most people going, 'Oh, I know who that guy is.' And especially for the part we cast him for, he has exactly the right sensibilities.'' Which are? Come on – give us a clue.

[via Entertainment Weekly]

- The Creek might have been his but actor James van der Beek has kept a low profile since Dawson’s Creek finished a few years back. His former co-stars might have stolen all the headlines in recent years, especially the now Mrs. Tom Cruise Katie Holmes, but now Dawson is set to turn up in Channel 4 hit show Ugly Betty, as one of Mode magazine’s top advertisers. [Entertainment Tonight]

- Good news for South Park fans as Cartman and co. have extended their deal with Comedy Central in the US for another three years. Creator Matt Stone is thrilled: “Three more years of ‘South Park’ will give us the opportunity to offend that many more people.” And all for a whooping US$75million - nice. [Perez Hilton]

- A fire hit the set of Sky One drama Bones on Monday when electrical equipment set alight some nearby material. A production assistant added firefighter to their CV by extinguishing the blaze before any serious damage occurred - phewee. [IMDb]

- George Constanza and Elaine Benes are heading for a reunion, after actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced that her former Seinfeld co-star will be turning up in her new sitcom ‘The New Adventures of Old Christine.’ But what about Art Vandelay? [Entertainment Tonight]