Beverly Hills, U.S.A. — TV’s most superbly dysfunctional family, the Bluths, are returning next year for an all new season of “Arrested Development,” entertaining, if not exactly edifying, Netflix members in Canada.

“Arrested Development” centers around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) and his eccentric family comprised of his son George Michael (Michael Cera), his father George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), his mother Lucille (Jessica Walter), his brothers George Oscar Bluth II (Will Arnett), Buster Bluth (Tony Hale) and sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi), and Lindsay’s husband Tobias (David Cross) and their daughter Maeby (Alia Shawkat).

Netflix members in Canada can catch up with their adventures anytime by watching the first three seasons of the critically-acclaimed Fox show, which went off air in 2006 and are available exclusively on Netflix.

Since launching in Canada in September of 2010, Netflix has continued to increase the scope and quality of content available to its members. In recent months additions have included TV series like the supernatural drama “The Vampire Diaries;” mystery thriller “Pretty Little Liars;” comedy “Community” and Judd Apatow’s cult favorite “Freaks & Geeks;” as well as features like global blockbuster smash ‘The Hunger Games’ (starting on December 31); Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Social Network;’ ‘We Bought a Zoo’ with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson, and the Academy Award winning ‘The Descendants’ with George Clooney.

Netflix Canada has also continued to add great Canadian content, including hit family drama “La Galere;” comedy mockumentary “Trailer Park Boys;” acclaimed documentary ‘Amour Haine et Propagande’ as well as long-running series such as “Dragon’s Den” and “Being Erica.”

“With the excitement surrounding the return of “Arrested Development,” we are thrilled to premiere the new season of the show in Canada at the same time as we launch it in the US,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “Our Canadian members have welcomed us since our arrival and we are proud to be able to continue adding a great mix of Canadian, Hollywood and international shows and movies to our Canadian service.”

Mitch Hurwitz, Troy Miller, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo are executive producers on the upcoming fourth season of “Arrested Development,” and it is produced by Imagine TV and 20th Century Fox Television for Netflix

The article Hit Show “Arrested Development” to Premiere on Netflix Canada appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Labour party is looking to toughen up the New Zealand Government’s proposed Alcohol Law Reform Bill by introducing amendments including a minimum price and more power for local government to make licensing decisions.

However, Prime Minister John Key has announced he does not believe that minimum pricing will affect people’s drinking habits.

This comment concerns activist group, Alcohol Action NZ, with Professor Jennie Connor, medical spokesperson for Alcohol Action NZ, wondering where Key is getting his information from, especially since “A recent Canadian study has shown that a 10% increase in the minimum price of alcohol reduces its consumption by 16% relative to other drinks.”

Professor Connor suggests that the most effective option to deter binge drinking or ‘pre-loading’ is to combine a minimum unit price with tax increases on alcohol products.

Labour’s Justice Spokesperson Charles Chauvel agrees. “As a community, we need to get real about what encourages people to binge drink. We know that just like tobacco, the price of alcohol is a big influence on how often and how much we drink.”

However, ACT party leader John Banks disagrees, saying the reform punishes responsible drinkers rather than targeting the problem.

“Under Labour’s policy, buying a relatively cheap bottle of wine to go with dinner would be a thing of the past.”

Banks is aloso concerned about where the extra money from price increases would end up; ”because a minimum price is not a tax, all the additional revenue from a price increase will flow straight out of consumers’ pockets, into the hands of liquor companies and retailers.”

Mr Banks also suggests that price hikes will not affect problem drinkers as they are usually not responsive to those kinds of measures.

“A minimum price on alcohol will penalise responsible drinkers and is a policy that should be dismissed,” Mr Banks said.

The proposed price increase may also be accompanied by a change in the age of purchase as the Government looks at a split age system. The age of purchase at an on-licence (bar, pub or club) will stay at 18 years while the age of purchase from a bottle store or supermarket will rise to 20 years.

The Alcohol Law Reform Bill had its first reading in November of 2010 and second reading in September of 2011, with Labour’s Supplementary Order Paper released in April 2012.

The bill faces a parliamentary debate to finalize the details and then a third reading before it can become law. Many drug and alcohol activism and community groups are supporting this move, which could reduce alcohol abuse and the ‘binge-drinking’ culture in New Zealand.

The article Alcohol Action NZ Thinks PM Doesn’t Have All the Facts appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Four schools in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand, will be the lucky recipients of weekly fresh fruit thanks to a local initiative.

All Good Bananas is a New Zealand-based Fairtrade importer of bananas, which in March set up a donation section on their Facebook page, encouraging their customers to pledge bunches of bananas.

“Children going hungry is not just a developing world problem,” says All Good Director Simon Coley, “Thousands of Kiwi kids go to school without having had a proper breakfast.”

With this in mind, All Good teamed up with New Zealand-based charity KidsCan Trust, which specifically targets children in low socioeconomic areas, providing food, clothing and shoes to children whose families cannot afford it.

As a part of the food donations KidsCan will now be able to provide 25,000 bananas to Kia Aroha College and St Joseph’s School in Auckland, and North New Brighton and New Brighton Catholic schools in Christchurch- enough for the entire year.

Many children in low socioeconomic areas come to school without breakfast, which affects their learning and concentration for the entire day, which can impact on their ability to access further education.

Many schools, including North New Brighton School, have taken the initiative with the help of KidsCan to set up ‘breakfast clubs’ which provide students with a substantial breakfast to give them a nutritious start to the day.

North New Brighton School Principal Brian Walkinshaw is very appreciative and says students will be too.

“The bananas are a perfect addition, great energy food and a good nourishing snack, packed full of carbohydrates. The fact that they’re Fairtrade adds that double feel good factor.”

KidsCan is always looking for donations, but not only in funds. Currently, KidsCan is appealing to New Zealand knitters so that they can give children beanies to keep their heads warm during the winter.

In 2011 KidsCan gave away 8500 beanies, and in 2012 hopes to reach 10,000 to distribute around the 218 schools in the program.

Beanie donations finish around the end of June, but don’t worry if knitting isn’t really your forte, there are plenty of ways you can help children in poverty in New Zealand.

Go to the KidsCan website www.kidscan.org.nz for some fundraising ideas. They have details of nationwide initiatives, as well as examples of fundraising that schools and businesses have done.

The article All Good Donates 25,000 Bananas to Hungry Kids appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Music is a stimulus that acts on the physical and corporal equilibrium. Is it possible to use certain music to decrease stress in order to favor concentration, imagination and also play as a stimulant role in the right hemisphere? Music takes you to another mind state, it could also remind you of your childhood, feelings or things that you have sometimes lived.

That is why it is completely unavoidable not to remember music themes of your favorites TV shows.

Here at Toonari Post we want to introduce you the 10 songs that became famous from being featuring in TV.

Stick around and share your thoughts!

Who wouldn’t remember Ross, Chandler, Phoebe, Monica, Rachel and Joey? And who wouldn’t remember the main music theme of “Friends”?
That’s why The Rembrandts with their song are the one on the top 10 list.
[Youtube link: Friends music theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Nc0FAk74c]

This guitar sound takes us to Sacred Heart Hospital, with Dr. Jonathan Michael “J.D.” Dorian, Dr. Chris Turk and Elliot Reid in “Scrubs”.
Lazlo Bane is responsible for this beautiful theme, “Superman”. Don’t miss it.
[Youtube link: Superman - Lazlo Bane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMV8L8Jl-cw]

Vampire geeks would definitely recognize this Jace Everett theme: Bad Things. This is the main theme of “True Blood”, one incredible and successful HBO series that takes place in one little Luisiana town.
[Youtube link: Jace Everett - Bad Things http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxINMuOgAu8&feature=related]

HBO and “How To Make It in America” is the next one. Aloe Blacc composed “I Need A Dollar” for the opening sequence. This rapper, singer and producer created a track that fits perfectly with the show.
[Youtube link: I need a dollar - Aloe Blacc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_9aaotk3PU ]

Going back to the 90′s, what do you think when you imagine a “typical” Texan family? Would Hank, Peggy and Bobby came to your mind? If it does, you would be familiarized with “Yahoos and Triangles” of The Refreshments.
[Youtube link: Yahoo and triangles - The Refreshments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnzBO6odgw]

In 2009, NCB started broadcasting “Community”, a series of college students in Denver, Colorado. The 88 made several songs that have appeared in numerous TV shows. In this case, “At least it was here” is one of theme.
[Youtube link: At least it was here - the 88 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEGbjR1Y9Qo]

Tom Waits. That’s the name of this songwriter who created “Way Down in the Hole” for The Wire, another HBO’s success. Drug dealing is the main topic in it, giving a realistic point of view of Baltimore’s lifestyle. A fact made clear once you remember the opening sequence of the piece.
[Youtube link: Way down in the hole - Tom Waits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1ABR4UpDSU]

“Superhero”, is a good theme name for Entourage. This series tells of young Vince’s life as an actor in Hollywood and his friends in the city. ”Jane’s Addiction” features their third album “Strays” which includes this theme that is well recognized in the opening sequence.
[Youtube link: Superhero - Jane's Addiction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0sV4s-jzA]

Let’s take a look to 1966.

NBC broadcasted The Monkees, an American sitcom that follows the adventures of four young men trying to make a name for themselves as rock ‘n roll singers. Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Heart, this song takes the TV show’s name and becomes the main theme of it. Take a look if you don’t already know it.
[Youtube link: The Monkees - The Monkees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWea5rB7XlY ]

If we came back to our decade, we cannot leave behind this American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan: Weeds. ”Little boxes” is the theme that deserves a special recognition in our list. This theme, written by Malvina Reynolds was used in season one. In season two and three, several artists such as Elvis Costello, Linkin Park among others made covers for each episode of the show. We show you the original theme.
[Youtube link: Little boxes - Malvina Reynolds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ys9RkvxgI ]

This is just a sample of how music can impact an audience and even pass into television history pages.

Do you agree with this top 10 list? We are pleased to know of what other theme you would add to the list.

Don’t be shy!

The article A Theme Tune State of Mind: Top 10 TV Music appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.