RTE sprang few surprises when it unveiled the new autumn schedule. Sadly there's not a lot on the menu that would urge lounge lizards to be spoilsports and insist watching all the action in the Rugby World Cup over on Setanta should be conceded.

Our national broadcaster gets criticised for not encouraging new talent but they say we're to have some 'new faces'. Former PD TD Liz O'Donnell will be Far Away Up Close in a series about projects supported by Irish overseas development aid.

There are some serious foreign laughs lined up, too. As JP Gallagher is now a victim of his own disguises, Making Jake finds new suspects in Hollywood, Nashville and NYC. A new "ve-minute cartoon, Langerland. tv, promises to ruffle the odd feather.

In what is categorised as lifestyle rather than comedy, Gerry Ryan hosts Operation Transformation, focusing on people who need to get fit quick. High Society, a documentary on cocaine abuse, and Web of Desire, with Anna Nolan detailing Ireland's growing underworld of internet sex and dating, could be worth a watch.

No Laughing Matter is a romantic comedy by Stuart Carolan (aka Navan Man) and Barry Murphy of Apres Match fame. Noel Curran, head honcho at RTE TV, says they will provide 3,500 hours of home-produced fare this year. Who's for takeaways?

VIEWS OF THOSE IN THE NEWS

GOOGLE is experimenting with a new twist on readers' comments on stories featured in its US news section. People or organisations who were actual participants in the story in question now take centre stage, with comments appearing in full. So as to avoid any confusion with journalists' reports, the items will be clearly marked 'comments'. If the test proves a winner, it will extend to Google News worldwide.

Meanwhile, Boing Boing had a report this week from Gartner claiming the popularity of blogging may peak this year at 100 million bloggers. Blogging can attract some fickle folk given that the number of ex-bloggers is put at 200 million.

CHARITY REALITY CHEQUE

SOME charities deserve all they get in funds.

Others subject TV viewers to attentionseekers acting the eejit in front of odious judges, attracting modest help for the needy.

Sin a bhfuil, as they say in the Gaeltacht.

So it's heartening to see RTE and Eircom have resurrected the telethon for People in Need. Shane MacGowan, Cork hurler Sean Og O hAilpin and Lucy Kennedy with Podge and Rodge are in TV ads aimed at raising awareness of the charity show. Senator David Norris voices the radio ads.

McConnells' duo Dave Murphy and Gerry Kennedy worked in tandem with ex-Sharks festival director John Holohan. Filming took place in the Northbrook Clinic, the Dylan hotel and the Phoenix Park Cricket Club.

CANAL DOCKINGS

THE sales team at Newstalk 106-108FM has moved in with Communicorp's music stations, 98FM and Spin 103.8, at the Malt House down by the Grand Canal.

McConnells' move goes ahead on 24 August, when the agency adopts a new abode close to Google's HQ and the Dart station at Grand Canal Dock.

CLEAR ROUND FOR SAMSUNG

DUBLIN Horse Show associate sponsor Samsung has appointed Hill & Knowlton to its PR after a two-way contest with the incumbent, Fleishman-Hillard. Darlene McCormick's Life Communications is now acting for Expo Exhibitions, the show organiser run by Garret Buckley. Mediaworks has won Trocaire after seeing off the incumbent Carat.

Kerry Foods has narrowed down its �5m Cheestrings creative review in the UK to two agencies. Ogilvy, which handles some Kerry brands in Ireland, and the incumbent Quiet Storm are competing for the cheese snack with the dangly bits.

AIRWAVES BY STORM

NOVEL idea by Spin 103.8: Denis O'Brien's Dublin music station is asking listeners to create their own weather reports and log on to www.5wordweather. com. The best ideas will be read out, or listeners can go on air themselves. Well, if Nuala Carey thinks she can sing. . .

Michael Cullen is editor of Marketing magazine; cullen@marketing. ie Richard Delevan is on leave