Nine’s new Sea Patrol had an impressive debut last night with almost 2 million Aussies tuning in.
The show nabbed 1.97m (and even peaked at 2.21m) making it the most successful new drama launch in the last five years.
The drama topped the return of Border Security this week and is a certain to become the week’s top show.
The launch helped Nine crush its opponents with a 35% share to Seven’s 26.8% and TEN’s 19.2%.
Nine (29.5%) and Seven (29.0%) are now neck and neck for the week.
In TV Tonight’s online poll the show is leading with “excellent” votes despite some mixed comments from readers elsewhere.
To “Anonymous ex-Navy Patrol Boat sailor”, I can assure you that Navy was heavily involved and had an advisor on-set at all times, however, this said, “artistic licence” with some of the writing/acting is bound to creep through. Also on this same point, you are never going to get the same “correct-ness” on a commercial drama, that you might have possibly got on an ABC drama that is FAR less reliant on commercial ratings success in order to survive. I also think you would be mightly shocked by the way sailors and officers communicate in today’s New Navy, as opposed to when you were a member of the Old Navy. “Water Rats” episode one was about as slow as “Sea Patrol” ep1, but ep3 was good and hopefully will get better. Sure beats watching a bunch of non-celebrities stuck in a house for entertainment.
Being an ex Naval Patrol Boat Sailor from the 70″s, I dont think the Navy has changed that much. I was very disappointed.
Bad acting, technically wrong in a lot of parts. Dissjointed plot, it was all over the place, What is this Cheffo?
Chef is the name, not Cheffo, they are called Chef if you are talking about Patrol Boat Cooks.
The skipper keeps on calling the boat a ship, its a Patrol BOAT idiot. And sexist too, the girl throwing up on board the ellegal fishing boat, how stupid.
I think there will be a lot of sailors both young and old hanging their heads in shame.
I have spoken to alot of my old Navy Mates and all said the same thing. Crap.
Replay the Patrol Boat Series on the ABC.
I taped SP and tried to watch it Saturday – i gave up after 20 minutes. Boring…..
While it looked good it seemed a bit JAG like
David said:
Always Greener premiered at 2.06m.
And where is that now???
Don’t think this will get anywhere near the success of McLeod’s or Blue Heelers … even though half the cast are the same … it will be very interesting to see how it rates in the next two weeks now that the hype is past.
Jack!
Always Greener premiered at 2.06m.
is this the highest rating ever. if not what is the highest
Excellent news for nine.
Really enjoyed it myself,like the characters and it was good for a first show! Anyone seen the first Seinfeld!
Has heaps of promise well done nine!
As I mentioned elsewhere …
McHale’s Navy meets Blue Heelers … except it is not at all funny and definitely no Blue Heelers of McLeod’s Daughters!
Have Nine lost their touch for DRAMA completely??? By the time we get 15 minutes into the show to the add break we were sitting here thinking … “well that’s a bit dull!” Should have been an explosion or attack on someone by that point! Not a very good start to such an expensive gamble …
The episode then plodded along relying more on the over supply of well-known faces than on a good, dramatic, engaging story … wrong move! Even Lisa was not that interesting in this one.
Beautifully shot … but it is a drama, not a travel show.
I hope episode 2 is a LOT better as the promo tends to suggest, that should have been episode 1.
Very pedestrian and too many missed opportunities for real drama and impact!
Jack!
The acting was really bad, the cast wooden. Lets see how it goes next week. Looks like they are doing the Mystery stories like LOST, Heroes etc…who are the men on the island fishing, what killed the girl, who is the girls friend and what is she connected too? I will give it another go.
This was so cliched, a mish-mash of flying doctors meets all-saints with an uneven tone and annoying cast. Aren’t we supposed to like the cast? Eddie, you’ve stuffed it up again.
Great to see Aussie drama rate well for once, but I really wonder if this deserved it!
It’s was average at best, the dialogue was clunky and lighting was like they were at a school play! The story felt a bit cliched and boring but at least they are trying to build on an ongoing mystery.
Once the hype settles I hope they can still do well. First episodes are never the best!