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Chaser films pilot for Seven

Could the Chaser boys be the next act to make the switch to a commercial network?

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The Chaser boys have filmed a pilot for Channel Seven, 3AW has reported.

The comedy team secretly filmed the pilot last week according to entertainment reporter Peter Ford.

This isn’t the first time the troupe has been touted by commercial networks. Back in 2007 there was speculation they could follow Kath and Kim to Seven.

Julian Morrow said at the time, “We’ve been approached all over the place but the God’s honest truth at the moment is we are desperately trying to make the remaining War On Everythings for the ABC and we are not anywhere near signing anything with anyone.

“We have always said we are pretty happy with the ABC and we regard the ABC as the natural home of The Chaser.

Next week the team will re-appear on the ABC when they commentate the Royal Wedding for ABC2. Craig Rucassuel is also hosting Balls of Steel Australia for the Comedy Channel.

25 Responses

  1. Didn’t they have a sketch about how ridiculous it would be for them to be on a commercial network? Well, so much for that. I’m not surprised Seven is trying to poach them because that’s what they do, but I would have thought The Chaser had more integrity than this. I mean, just look at their track record of comedy/light entertainment – it’s suicide!

  2. @brisvegas 7 may have killed Kath and Kim but Thank God Your Here was killed by Working Dog who don’t like to overkill there shows. Seven would keep going with it if they could.

  3. 7 may have killed Kath and Kim but Thank God Your Here was killed by Working Dog who don’t like to overkill there shows. Seven would keep going with it if they could.

  4. The “Julian Morrow said at the time” link doesn’t work.

    Well I did when I removed the “http://tvtonight.com.au/2011/04/Read more: ” part from it.

  5. I love how 7 is using money from big production-small budget programs that have great success like packed to the rafters and my kitchen rules into the comedy and reality block. Yetsometimes these series are eier a hit or miss.

  6. Considering Steve Gerlach & Bunagaya’s comments below, I wouldn’t really say ‘The Chaser’ per-say are moving to Seven, more, most of the talent.

    Didn’t Charles Firth sign with Nine a few years ago? Will they dust him off?

    No-one seems to have a problem with Craig Rucassuel working for the Comedy Channel. In my books, they’re way more evil for taking Colbert & Stewart away from ABC2!

  9. The ‘White Noise’ blog is not reporting this as a Chaser project but rather something that they are ‘involved’ with. The Goodies Graeme Garden is also involved. It’s reported to be Ba potential local version of the BBC radio panel comedy Garden co-created ‘The Unbelievable Truth’.

  12. Sellouts? Really? If you don’t think that these guys started actively pursuing a larger audience years ago you haven’t been paying attention.

    With each new show they’ve shifted their focus closer and closer to the middle. They’ve said themselves that as they’ve gotten older they’ve gotten less edgy. The only thing moving to Channel 7 does is highlight all of this.

  18. The Chaser, Kath and Kim, My Kitchen Rules, Thank God You’re Here, The X Factor, Tony Squires/The Fat, even the D Gen…. They need a new slogan “Channel 7… reworking every other networks talent and ideas since 1986” 🙂

  19. Those programmers at 7 are so clever!! I love their creative ideas – just imagine if they actually came up with an idea themselves! They are dominating ratings though so copying everyone else works!

  20. The pilot is actually a TV version of The Unbelievable Truth, a BBC radio panel show. Four episodes were filmed last week in Chan 7 studios in Sydney. The CHaser team is involved with Graeme Garden (of Goodies fame) and Jon Naismith (the UK Producer of the radio show). Both GG and JN were down here to oversea the pilot shooting as they both own the rights to TUT in the UK.

    A UK TV version can not be made due to rights issues…so they are mounting the production down here. Three of the chaser boys… Andrew, Julian and Criag took turns as the chairperson…Graeme sat on one of the panels.

    TUT has guest comedians on each show, trying to “out-lie” eachother. It’s huge on the radio in the UK…. and hopes are it will be great here on TV.

    Steve

  22. Wow – 7 once again showing how creative they are. You have to take your hat off to them given their dominance in the ratings but is there any chance they can come up with an original idea themselves??

  23. I don’t care where they are as long as they continue making new content. They’re being wasted on ABC right now producing election specials once every few years…I think the move to Seven would be a brilliant idea

  24. They should stick to ABC. They rated well there… No need to move to Channel 7.

    Gosh, I hate traitors! (Hamish & Andy!!!)

    And I agree that they are kinda old news… Yes We Canberra wasn’t even that funny…

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