Class over for 5th Grader?

By David Knox on October 30, 2009 / Filed Under News 30

fifthgIn its 2010 programme launch, TEN neglected to include Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

The Roving Enterprises show has had a tough year, underperforming for the network on a Monday night.

Not every show on the network schedule was included in this week’s 2010 showreel (for instance 9AM with David and Kim, Before the Game, or Meet the Press etc), but given this has been a primetime show its absence does leave it open for speculation.

One of the reasons may have been the network is undecided about its fate.

A statement from TEN today notes: “We are still working through all our programming for 2010 and have yet to make firm plans regarding 5th Grader.”

30 Comments »

  1. Melise November 1, 2009 at 9:44 am -

    I think that sometimes people can get over exposed like Rove.
    The combination of Rove and the game show is done for now.

  2. Jana November 1, 2009 at 9:26 am -

    No more Rove….we need a break

  3. Bella November 1, 2009 at 12:08 am -

    I think this show has had it’s day. I can never sit through a full episode.

    I do like Your Gen on a Sunday. For me it’s a show to watch before a show. If that makes sense.

  4. Justin October 31, 2009 at 12:49 pm -

    @bette streep it has Never been at 6:30 sundays. It started at wednesday at 7:30 then went to thursday 7:30 and now to monday 7:30.

    Also Glenn every year they have changed the kids and thats why they have the graduation at the end of the season. I actually thought the kids were great this year they were very funny and knew how to talk to the camera.

  5. Zambora October 31, 2009 at 12:42 pm -

    Agree with Neon kitten, who cares about celebs/pollies/tv network types winning easy money for charity.
    I wanted to see “normal Aussies on show” and gave up last season.

  6. David Knox October 31, 2009 at 10:46 am -

    Glenn they have done so every year.

  7. Glenn Petrie October 31, 2009 at 10:43 am -

    If AYSTAFG continues in 2010, the producers have to find new Grade 5 students. The current ones would be making their way up a grade. Otherwise, the show would have to be renamed “Are You Smarter than a Sixth Grader?”

  8. bette streep October 31, 2009 at 10:18 am -

    5th Grader was always going to struggle up against Seven’s crap factual programs and Nine’s crap 2.5 men!

    It would be better at Sunday 6:30pm – which I think is where it was originally???

    Am surprised that Australian Idol is returning next year – the ratings this year have been Dreadful!

  9. Neon Kitten October 31, 2009 at 8:28 am -

    Fun show, mostly thanks to Rove, who is totally in his element hosting it.

    But the constant stream of non-celebrity contestants is what’s killed it. Nobody cares if Julia Gillard wins money for “charity”.

    Look at why Deal Or No Deal is successful. People like to see fellow normal people trying to win big. They don’t want to see people who they perceive as well-off playing the game for no personal gain (even though there actually is personal gain under the table).

    “Celebrities” and game shows combine to equal ratings death.

  10. koverstreet October 31, 2009 at 12:51 am -

    GNW was originally 30 min on the ABC and it was sharper and more focused.

  11. George October 31, 2009 at 12:31 am -

    Actually, I reckon this would be a great Friday or Saturday night program. Make it 30 mins, and have it after 7PM Project.

  12. brisvegas October 31, 2009 at 12:15 am -

    30 minutes tops should be the limit for these quiz shows. A lot can be perfectly done in an alotted 30mins , as is the case with spicks and specks. An hour is just too much time to dedicate for this type of show. TBYG & good news week could equally do with getting trimmed down to 30 mins – Keep them sharper…

  13. Alty October 30, 2009 at 10:52 pm -

    when i watch it i feel like it is actually just a childrens show, so maybe pass it over to ABC 3 KIDS

  14. ryaneco October 30, 2009 at 10:34 pm -

    A stripped version of this at 7pm would probably do better than 7pm project.

    I also think the show should only be 30 mins and a Sunday early evening timeslot may suit it well.

  15. DanR October 30, 2009 at 9:38 pm -

    It’s time to go … no one wants Ten to do quiz shows, especially with bratty kids

  16. Justin October 30, 2009 at 6:33 pm -

    I say keep it next year and make it a half an hour game show. But I don’t think it should be on their main channel I’d like ten to have it as an exclusive on their new channel – I know it wouldn’t justify its cost putting it on their new channel but it would help to broaden the show and show viewers that they are really keen on giving them new australian content they want to see – and should hold them in good stead for 2013 when we all go digital and there is a possibility for a bigger share.

  17. koverstreet October 30, 2009 at 6:27 pm -

    Micalef may well be too smart for this show in fact he is but still he’d put a smarter spin on the show. Sure Rove’s low brow humour suits a show with kids but he’s far too annoying for most intelligent adults to endure.

  18. Todd October 30, 2009 at 6:17 pm -

    Possible Friday 7.30 solution:
    Biggest Loser > MasterChef > Friday Night Games > 5th Grader?

  19. Christine October 30, 2009 at 5:44 pm -

    Get rid of it, Rove, know it all children and C grade celbs is a terrible combination.

  20. David Knox October 30, 2009 at 5:42 pm -

    Micallef’s act is a deft mix of irony and pastiche I think. Not right for kids. I thought 5th Grader suited Rove very well as a format. But 30 mins tops.

  21. Tepee October 30, 2009 at 5:35 pm -

    Koverstreet, we all know how much you don’t like Rove, but this format actually suits him well. Micallef on the other hand would just be bemused by the whole thing and would probably alienate the primary-school audience.

    It’s a good show but it’s had its run – underperforming with or without any whiff of competition, and bad demos and terrible total people numbers.

  22. tasmanian devil October 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm -

    If it had a new host, real kids with real knowledge (emphasis on real), a new host, was less Americanised, and had a new host, I might start to watch it. But I’m just one person and I doubt that’s the reason why most others don’t watch it.
    @George, Putting game shows at 6pm is suicide (Jeopardy!, Taken Out).

  23. Sillygostly October 30, 2009 at 5:24 pm -

    Can’t stand this. There’s not a hint of sincerity in any of the children, and the producers’ hackneyed attempts to make everyone act all “funny” (*barf*) is not fooling anybody.

  24. George October 30, 2009 at 4:15 pm -

    I’d love to see it back next year, but it’d definitley have to be condensed into a 30 min show, possibly stripped at 6PM?

  25. koverstreet October 30, 2009 at 4:09 pm -

    I’d like to see it come back with a different host..say Micalef? He’s done wonders with TBYG and reckon he’d do well with this format as well. It’s a fun light entertainment progam for the whole family but Rove as a host is annoying as per usual.

  26. Adam October 30, 2009 at 3:49 pm -

    i love this show hope its not cancelled

  27. Andrew B October 30, 2009 at 3:36 pm -

    I’d be very surprised if 5th Grader came back. If they did bring it back it would need to be in a different – perhaps faster – format.

  28. JohnTV October 30, 2009 at 3:26 pm -

    I think it won’t be back until the second half of the year. Basically, TEN have told Roving Enterprise to get 7PM Project working and that is their one and only focus.

  29. Boy Wonder October 30, 2009 at 3:02 pm -

    It had a good run and did not work. Get rid of it. 7pm has got till the end of the Summer to work some magic.

  30. Goonies October 30, 2009 at 2:56 pm -

    Dear David Mott

    Please get rid of this stinker. Thank you

    PS I am getting a little concerned about children / teenagers creeping into my prime time viewing. Sorry, but they just are not that interesting!

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