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Girls join the pack
Last week when the (AFL) Footy Show returned to Channel Nine it introduced a female announcer in the form of MMM’s Mieke Buchan. After years of being defiantly testosterone, had the male bastion finally succumbed to questions on its single-gender indentity? And if so, is it a case of too little, too late?
Next week Seven’s competitor The Bounce adds former ABC Behind The News reporter Catherine Ellis (pictured) to its line up.
She joins Peter Helliar, Matthew Richardson, Peter Rowsthorn and Dave Lawson in what is pitched as a “family friendly” look …
Seven denies Johns under pressure
Channel Seven has denied a report in today’s Daily Telegraph that suggests Matthew Johns is under-prepared for his debut on The Matty Johns Show next week.
With its mix of NRL coverage and comedy characters, Johns is under pressure to deliver comedy characters as larrakin as Paul Hogan once did in the 1970s.
“He isn’t Hoges, he’s a very nice bloke, but a bloke who none-the-less isn’t a comedy writer and has the weight of the program riding on his shoulders,” one production source told the newspaper. “We are spending a lot of …
NRL schedule update
The 2010 NRL season kicks off tonight with Parramatta Eels versus St George Illawarra Dragons from Parramatta Stadium live at 7.30pm AEDT on Nine in Sydney and at 9:30pm in Brisbane.
North Queensland Cowboys face the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium live in Brisbane at 7:30pm and at 9:30pm in Sydney.
Other cities such as Melbourne won’t see the games start until as late as 12:35am Saturday morning.
At 4.00pm on Sunday in Sydney and Brisbane, Nine will feature the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.
Match coverage will be led …
Footy Classified out of the north
Some AFL fans in New South Wales and Queensland have been asking about seeing Nine’s Aussie Rules shows on TCN9 and QTQ9.
It isn’t good news.
Nine has indicated there are no plans to screen Footy Classified in those cities.
The panel show with Gary Lyon and Caroline Wilson returns to “southern” AFL viewers in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth at 10:30pm Monday March 22nd.
The show used to air later in Sydney and Brisbane, but Nine will air Rugby League games from the UK at midnight with the Harlequins RL v Huddersfield Giants.
Since the arrival …
Returning: Footy Classified
The often-controversial Footy Classified returns to Nine this month.
It returns to 10:30pm Monday March 22nd in the Melbourne market, and presumably airs at the same time in Adelaide and Perth.
At this stage Nine us yet to indicate what, if any, changes will be made to the show or the line-up this year.
Due to the launch of GO! it will not be simulcast on 9HD, nor will Thursday Footy Show episodes, so Sydney and Brisbane AFL fans will have to look out for later replays in their markets.
Returning: NRL Footy Show
Nine’s NRL Footy Show returns next week promising “new panellists, new segments and more entertainment than ever.”
Former regular Peter “Sterlo” Sterling returns as a panellist, joining Paul “Fatty” Vautin for his 16th year as host. Sterling was a presenter from 1994–2006.
The Footy Show’s jam-packed season premiere will feature dual international Wendell Sailor and the very much larger than life “Big Marn”, Darryl Brohman. Andrew “Vossy” Voss and Mario “The Falcon” Fenech will appear in eye-catching new roles. And madcap Tigers winger Beau Ryan returns to the streets of League-land …
Audience tix: The Bounce
AFL fans who live in Melbourne will probably be interested in this one.
Seven is looking for audience members for The Bounce its ambitious new football / variety show featuring Peter Helliar, Matthew Richardson and Leigh Matthews. It is pitched as a family-style footy show with news, personalities and comedy.
It also promises the first look at the AFL teams for the week, in line with speculation it will air earlier in the week than Nine’s The Footy Show, which returns next week.
The show will be produced at Global Studios, South Melbourne.
To apply …
Eddie apologises and agrees to join anti-homophobia campaign
Eddie McGuire has apologised for his comments which have been branded homophobic and indicated he would appear in an anti-homophobia campaign, IDAHO.
Speaking today to Melbourne gay radio station JOY, McGuire said the remarks were a ‘pisstake’ about figure skating costumes and not directed at Johnny Weir. He defended his own track recording of supporting the gay community and noted that an Anti-Discrimination complaint would “whack” someone who was “on their side.”
“It was a gag. Whether it was a good one or not that happens all the time in live television …
Anti-Discrimination Board to investigate Eddie
Gay activist Gary Burns has filed a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board against the comments made by Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy about US skater Johnny Weir.
Mr Burns said McGuire and Molloy incited hatred against homosexual males.
“These hired goons were not down at the pub drinking flat beer with their mates, they were on national television being viewed by millions of Australians.
“On Mardi Gras eve the Board’s decision to accept this complaint is a timely reminder to homophobes like McGuire and Molloy they won’t get away with vilifying homosexuals.”
The comments …
Newman speeding fine dropped
The Footy Show’s Sam Newman has had a speeding charge against him thrown out of court today.
Newman, 64, had been fined $227 for allegedly driving at 72kmh in a 60kmh zone. In an earlier hearing, he indicated the penalty notice did not arrive in time for him to fight the fine.
He planned to represent himself, but the charge was canned after Acting Sgt Jaci Steiger asked for what would have been a fourth adjournment in the case.
After the prosecuting officer could not be found and critical paperwork failed to arrive the …
Returning: The Footy Show
Nine’s long-running AFL Footy Show will return on Thursday March 11th, well ahead of the Round 1 match on March 25th.
Contrary to industry rumours, Nine has it slated to return to its traditional 9:30pm slot. There has been speculation it might move timeslots to combat an attempt by Seven to launch its new AFL show, The Bounce, featuring Peter Helliar.
Last year it returned on March 12, so it appears to not even be blinking at Seven’s competition, which is tipped for Wednesday nights.
The NRL Footy Show will also return on March …
Johnny Weir to Eddie’s rescue
The most telling line of Eddie McGuire’s face to face interview with US figure skater Johnny Weir came in the closing minutes, last night.
“I appreciate your support,” said Eddie.
It was the exact same sentiment Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin used when he invited Gay Rugby Union team onto the NRL Footy Show on air after a sketch with Matthew Johns was going to see them taken before the Anti Discrimination board.
Make no mistake, Nine’s studio interview with Johnny Weir was not Nine supporting Weir, it was the reverse. And it was essential damage …