Macbook to HDMI TV issue

When my macbook is connected to my hdmi tv, all I am able to view is my background wallpaper and nothing else even though everything can be viewed and accessed from my computer screen. Any idea as to what the problem may be?

You need to drag the windows that you want to view on the HD television to the right of your laptop screen,carry on and you will see them appear on the HD television.

Its beacause of the way your display settings are set, you have it set up so that you can view the desktop as normal on your laptop and view certain windows on the external display. You can change this by going to 'system preferances' and then 'displays'. If you want to view the screen as you see it on your laptop on the Hd television, you need to select 'mirror displays'.