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Kath & Kim pulls good US audience
Despite the disappointing press reviews, the US premiere of Kath and Kim took good numbers in the US.
It managed 7.5m viewers, which, while landing third in its timeslot behind Survivor and Ugly Betty enjoyed strong growth for the NBC timeslot.
In the US total numbers are not the same litmus test of ‘hit or miss’ as in Australia. NBC will look to compare how Kath and Kim fared in overall share and demographics. Kath & Kim came second in its slot with a 3.2 rating in 18-49. Survivor was first with a …
A new beautiful Sunday?
Seven unveiled some of its 2009 titles to advertisers this week, including Sunday Night, a new Sunday evening current affairs programme. The last time Seven went anywhere near this territory was arguably Witness / The Times.
Certainly for a network that boasts its dominance in News and Current Affairs it is lacking a tough, credible evening format. TEN is the only other free to air network without an equivalent.
Looking at the success of Nine’s perennial 60 Minutes it isn’t hard to see why the network is looking for a piece of the …
FOX to remake Ab Fab
Not content with re-making Kath and Kim, America is about to tackle Absolutely Fabulous -again.
Arrested Development’s Mitch Hurwitz (who is also behind the animated and retitled version of Sit Down Shut Up), is one of three executive producers for Sony Pictures. Jennifer Saunders is also in on the deal, as one of three other executive producers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she will be hands on each episode.
The script will be put together by Saturday Night Live writer Christine Zander.
The new US version to air on FOX will be located in …
Kath and Kim online
It’s been officially pre-released by NBC on iTunes and Yahoo ahead of its on air premiere on Thursday night in the US, but that hasn’t stopped it from hitting torrent sites.
The US version of Kath & Kim is now beginning to circulate the internet, defying copyright law and NBC’s domain.
Meanwhile another disappointing review this time from the Hollywood Reporter.
Hollywood Reporter: It lacks the charm of the original. Worse, the characters in the NBC show are …
The Sarich Rotary Engine of TV
An upbeat story today from Rick McKenna, producer of Kath & Kim and partner of Gina Riley. On the eve of the show’s launch this Thursday he projects a positive spin on the US experience. And well he should.
There are few Australian shows to have received an American adaptation, let alone a network one. However it pans out it is a significant achievement.
“From the cast we got and the production team, and the network’s support to order 12 episodes — if that’s all they do, so be it, but I’ve got …
Molly Shannon overlooks Jane & Gina
On Friday Molly Shannon appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Screening on NBC it was obviously a good chance to plug Kath and Kim which premieres this week in the US.
Shannon appeared on two segments of the chat show, and the plug was slipped in with a clip just before the finished. It totalled about 90 seconds.
But wait till you hear what she had to say….
“I have a new TV show starring with the lovely Selma Blair. It’s created by a super, super talented writer Michelle Nader, she is a …
ABC beats TEN as Seven wins
It was the week that American critics began to knife Kath & Kim (officially), ABC told staff it would cut up to 35 production jobs, Nine denied having a contract with the wife of a convicted crim, an actor lambasted his former soap, Today Tonight announced its next host would be a sports presenter and said its film crew helped -not hounded- an interviewee, Seven ’streamlined’ its Lotto results, buyers eyed a key production company, the Imparja / Nine Darwin deal fell apart, a TV critic died, and suddenly so did …
Foxy ladies back to Fountain Lakes
As the US series of Kath and Kim gathers disappointing reviews, Gina Riley and Jane Turner are turning their attention to new Australian-made episodes.
The show’s executive producer said Jane Turner and Gina Riley were in pre-production mode.
“Certainly they’re keen to do another Kath and Kim project,” Rick McKenna told the Herald Sun.
“At the moment they’ve got 4 1/2 episodes in their heads.
“They’ve got their own style of creating,” he said.
“It’s like sitting at the Vatican waiting for the smoke to come out of the chimney.”
Meanwhile, the first reviews are building …
Bogan Pride
Rebel Wilson is easily recognisable from her work in everything from early parody commercials for Australian Idol, to boisterous performances in Pizza, The Wedge and Monster House. So far her persona has been fairly synonymous with loud, cynical, mostly simple, working class characters. It remains to be seen whether there’s more depth behind her cheesy grin.
Now, thanks to her own self-devised series, Wilson has the time and freedom to prove herself.
On the surface, her character in Bogan Pride is another western suburbs underdog. Jennifer Cragg is an overweight teenager, the target …
“Cos you’re filthy, gorgeous”
Kath & Kim is about to be released online in the next 24 hours to Americans via iTunes. It’s one of a number of shows NBC is pre-releasing as a way of generating buzz, before it’s television premiere next week.
A number of clips have already begun hitting US websites which show a lot more of the show’s adaptation.
Scissor Sisters’ song “Filthy, Gorgeous” accompanies two clips as the Americanised foxy ladies get about.
One sponsored clip can be seen at NBC.com
There are another 8 clips viewable at IESB.net
Of the 8 clips …
Here come the bad reviews
Harsh words today from three US critics on the US version of Kath and Kim, have been published in today’s Sunday Age. Whilst they don’t appear to be direct review quotes, they do indicate Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and The Times won’t be giving the show a thumbs up.
None of the three newspapers have yet published reviews online.
According to the Sunday Age, Variety’s Brian Lowry was brutally succinct. “If this was a major hit in Australia,” he said, “then something has been seriously lost in translation.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s Barry Garron …
Gallery: Kath & Kim
More pics emerge today of Kath & Kim showing some great bad taste frocks for America’s newest foxy ladies, but only the slightest muffin top for Selma Blair.
Brett’s counterpart looks very trim and fit, but Molly Shannon again looks like she could be fun in the role.
Still, the prize for best lookalike goes to Cujo.
The NBC sitcom has reportedly now been sent to media for reviewing in readiness for its on air date of October 9th. It will be released online by NBC beforehand.
Seven will screen the series in Australia on …