News Archive:
The race that tops the nation
It was the week a Pay TV spokesperson called broadcaster feuding “juvenile” while another exec wanted better inclusion at the digital switch table, a TEN programmer conceded it had massive timeslot problems, Nine axed production staff, Sonia Kruger was criticised for an on air joke, a former soap star said he didn’t really enjoy soaps, belated guide amendments left viewers confused, an ABC journo pleads guilty to charges in Singapore, drug charges against a Seven personality were dropped, Seven revisits its C7 case against Pay television, the ABC launches its new …
A case of delayed reaction?
A joke by Sonia Kruger made during last Sunday’s live to air edition of Dancing with the Stars has made it into the press -six days after it happened.
In comments referring to her Melbourne Cup dress, Kruger said a “sweat shop of illegal immigrants” was slaving away on her wardrobe, before turning to musical director Chong Lim asking “How is the family Chong? Alright?”
Admittedly it might not have been the smartest thing to say. While Kruger and Lim may have a boisterous friendship after eight seasons on the Seven show, it …
Last minute guides keep viewers guessing
It took long enough but we finally got there.
Tonight according to a Seven amendment issued late last Friday, Bones is airing at 9:30pm, Heroes at 10:30pm and Prison Break is out of schedule.
But up until late yesterday, online guides were still listing Heroes at 9:30pm Scrubs at 10:30pm and Prison Break at 11:00pm.
Seven’s own online guide even had Heroes as a Hot Pick at 9:30pm yesterday. Now it chooses Bones instead. Either it prefers the Bones episode over Heroes, or it just prefers the timeslot to get a nudge along.
But why …
TV Forums report card
Since the advent of online, television fans have had ways of letting networks know what they think. No more writing letters to newspapers, it’s as easy as logging onto a network website anonymously and speaking your mind.
TV Tonight has been looking at how our networks embrace free and open discussion. Here’s how they stacked up.
ABC:
Within the ABC site there are individual show pages, many of which have open forums. Shows including Enough Rope, Compass, Can We Help?, At The Movies, Life at 3, Good Game, Media Watch, Spicks and Specks and …
Gallery: Commander in Chief
Some are fictional, some are actors in biographic roles, but all have been American Presidents on television.
Dennis Haysbert (pictured) portraying President David Palmer in 24 was so impressive in the role that some online polls (including in the UK) put him as “television’s favourite president.” Not a bad feat considering Martin Sheen played the role for 148 episodes on The West Wing.
Here are some others who have spent time in the oval office (and a few presidents without a White House)….
Packered by the Rafters
It was the week the Packer family parted ways with Nine causing David Gyngell to vow to prove James Packer wrong, TEN announced a new channel, Pay TV launched another three, Minister Stephen Conroy signalled support for increased ABC & SBS funding, commercial networks (briefly) found a conscience but upset David Leckie, WIN sat down at the gambling table, Kath & Kim (US) got a greenlight for a full season, Andrew Denton announced the end of Enough Rope, David Tennant set his exit from his iconic role, Rove visited …
Gone: Prison Break. Bumped: Heroes
Wentworth Miller’s Prison Break is the latest casualty of network programmers with Seven removing it from the schedule until summer. Earlier this month Nine did the same thing to Fringe.
The drama attracted 427,000 viewers last night, which was actually up from 389,000 the week before. Seven lost the night to the Nine Network.
But Seven has had problems with Heroes, netting a disappointing 624,000, dropping from The Amazing Race’s 902,000. It was beaten by RPA’s 1.02m and a repeat of Law & Order: SVU on 930,000.
Race was #1 in key demographics 16-39, …
Bumped: Prison Break, Scrubs.
Update: Prison Break now out. Scrubs stays at 11:30pm.
Seven is swapping the start times for Prison Break and Scrubs from Thursday November 6.
Scrubs will start at 10:30pm while Prison Break is pushed back to 11pm.
Last week Prison Break managed a lowly 389,000 viewers. Now in its fourth season the show is struggling to uphold its premise -so far there isn’t even a prison on the current series.
NRL wins it but Seven takes glory
It was the week that TEN was in breach of subliminal ads (a ruling first leaked by TV Tonight), ACMA instructed Nine to sell part of its Darwin operation, two former premiers will now defend Pay TV v Free to Air battles, while two television gardeners faced off over the environment, a Footy Show comedian defended a school principal under fire, a musical about the media in Beaconsfield was branded as tasteless, a former Idol died in tragic circumstances, Perth’s Telethon broke its own record, SBS lost a top Drama …
US dramas struggling for Heroes
As the global financial market continue to slide, so too are ratings for American television programmes in Australia.
Despite the recent cast member promo visit, last night’s premiere of Heroes’ supposedly revamped series managed a rather paltry 878,000. A second episode took 785,000. At 10:30pm the new season of Prison Break tanked at a lousy 387,000. Thanks to its early evening shows, Seven will be pleased it still won the night in 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54 demographics.
These are shows that two and three years ago were hailed as shining beacons for Channel …
Returning: The Amazing Race
Good news, racers. Seven will fasttrack the newest season of The Amazing Race, which launched this week in the US.
It premieres 8:30pm Thursday October 16th.
Kicking off from LA this is the 13th season of the show, and a repeated winner of the Emmy’s “reality” category.
You can read more on the pitstops of the series here and the competitors here.
The return of Race means that Heroes will sit in the 9:30pm timeslot following its 2 hour premiere next week. Prison Break remains at 10:30pm.
That just leaves Knight Rider still to …
The Mentalist
Simon Baker (without the hyphenated “Denny”) is a cool customer in The Mentalist.
As Patrick Jane, he can walk into a crime scene and see things the cops miss. As a phony, celebrity psychic, he knows all the tricks in the book. The opening scene shows Jane working his stuff when a grieving mother and father shed tears for their murdered daughter to the media. He knows something more is goin’ on. In this scene, Baker displays an unassuming confidence that no doubt won him the role. It’s a deftly-directed opener.
Once the …