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Axed: Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth

Updated: Channel Nine has axed Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth conceding "it has not found the audience we had hoped for."

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EXCLUSIVE: Channel Nine has axed Ben Elton Life from Planet Earth after just three episodes.

A fourth show will not go to air next week.

The live comedy show started out with just 455,000 viewers but dropped to 384,000 last week. Last night a delayed show airing at the later time of 10:40pm against coverage of the NZ earthquake managed 189,000.

It follows disappointing reviews for the show which was one of the network’s bold moves and part of its re-branding as “The Home of Comedy.”

Elton, whose previous achievements include writing Blackadder and The Young Ones, had stressed the show needed time to develop.

Addressing criticism the show was ‘too smutty’ he recently told TV Tonight, “You get no previews, you get no second shots and I think for a first show we did bloody well and if we were a bit rude then fair enough, ok, I’m sorry.”

Nine Entertainment Co. CEO David Gyngell recently said of the Elton show, “We continue to support local and international comedy, and it’s always better to chance you arm and have a go than to take the safe way out and do nothing.”

The show was produced by FremantleMedia Australia.

UPDATED: A Nine spokesperson said: “Ben and his team have done a fantastic job uncovering new Australian talent and we appreciate all of their hard work and dedication. We are all very proud of the show but unfortunately it has not found the audience we had hoped for. We thank Ben and all the cast and crew for their commitment and wish them all the best.”

Michael Healy, Director of Television said: “Comedy is always risky, and live comedy is the riskiest of all. We are pleased to have taken the chance to support the local industry.”

Ian Hogg, CEO of FremantleMedia Australia, said: “We have immense respect for Ben. Through our development deal, we look forward to some exciting comedy and drama projects in the future.”

112 Responses

  1. And this is exactly what will happen to Hamish and Andy if they Sign with Nine. It’s better that the forego the extra millions and instead sign with Ten, a network that has patience when it comes to establishing new shows and audiences.

  2. Luckily Nine management don’t have the Ten Board – otherwise they would solve the core problem and axe the management team. God-awful shows such as this are commissioned at the most senior level. Not looking good for a float.

  7. And this is the network Hamish & Andy will be joining? What a dumb decision that will be (if actually true). Ben Elton was okay, some of the sketches were good, some were really stupid and became repititive. Nine treat their shows like rubbish, if it rates poorly, they take it off as quickly as they can, if it rates well, they overplay it. It seems they’re in trouble this year. Oh and David it’s “Live from Planet Earth” not Life?

  8. I don’t think it’s fair as channel 9 decided to play an hour of news and I was so bored I just stopped watching. If I’d wanted to see what I’d already seen earlier in the day then I would’ve watched Sky News but channel 9 go and play an hour of it then complain that Ben Elton doesn’t get enough viewers.

    I am one of the few people that like this show but I do admit that without Top Gear on before it, it’s not going to get many people to watch.

  11. They could have given it a few more goes to develop. I agree with that. and not fair to put it up against to a disaster ratings wise. maybe they could put it over to a digital channel ? anyway. kinda rough

  12. That’s a pity. Last night’s episode was the best so far, Elaine Front’s interview with Brynn was hilarious. I think it was good that Elaine didn’t try to make a fool of Brynn as so many other interviewers have.

  14. What??? Whilst not the biggest fan of the show I did tune in each week, as I’m interested in live TV, and whilst not in the category of variety or chat show it was light entertainment so it did fill somewhat of a void, but I thought there was a guarantee of 4 episodes no matter what? Jusat the other week I thought the statement of that was repeated.

    So sad it didn’t get a final goodbye show of sorts. I think pretty much every show deserves that, rather than being pulled after the host tells the viewers they’ll see them next week (which Ben did last night and if I remember right Shaun Micallef did as well therefore not getting a goodbye show for Micallef Tonight).

  15. Just like everything Nine does, it was ‘a*se up’ where they promoted it big time then it flopped when it didn’t live up to immediate expectations. When will Nine learn to soft launch a show and let it build an audience while it finds it’s feet. Channel Nine, the home of epic failure in nurturing new shows.

  16. I wasn’t a huge fan — the interviews were good, but Girl Flat was dull and the two schoolgirls cliche — but it’ll be sad to see it go.

    Dear Channel Nein: Name one show that was perfect after three episodes. Just one. (…Yeah, didn’t think you could.) Not advertising the delayed start last night, then starting late on top of that, was a huge hindrance.

  21. In the Promo’s they said “The Show everyone is talking about.”

    I don’t think they got it… when they’re talking about how long it will be until your canned, that’s not good.

    I’m glad its gone. AHIGST is much better and funnier. Watch it get nicked by Nine.

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