The Who We Are Update: Week 21

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This week of David Dale's media blog is now history. For the latest discussion, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.
To discuss the most significant moments in the history of Australian television, go to Who We Are
To discuss which DVDs have the best extras, go to The Tribal Mind

At this point in the ratings week, the prime time average audience shares stand at ABC 16.6% Seven 28.3% Nine 27.7% Ten 21.8% SBS 5.6%.

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,381,000 427,000 382,000 277,000 144,000 151,000
2 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW Nine 1,263,000 374,000 385,000 229,000 154,000 121,000
3 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,191,000 331,000 392,000 220,000 158,000 91,000
4 THE VICAR OF DIBLEY Seven 1,051,000 307,000 276,000 225,000 100,000 143,000
5 BED OF ROSES ABC 955,000 259,000 318,000 163,000 112,000 103,000
6 THE GREAT OUTDOORS Seven 924,000 282,000 246,000 202,000 105,000 89,000
7 ABC NEWS-SAT ABC 896,000 250,000 329,000 151,000 88,000 77,000
8 THE BILL ABC 814,000 236,000 269,000 114,000 82,000 113,000
10 M-AIR FORCE ONE Seven 808,000 224,000 216,000 167,000 84,000 117,000
12 SATURDAY NIGHT AFL Ten 721,000 Not shown 351,000 Not shown 90,000 108,000 172,000
13 SHREK -RPT Nine 688,000 287,000 267,000 135,000
14 GARDENING AUSTRALIA ABC 668,000 169,000 244,000 120,000 77,000 57,000
15 SATURDAY AFTERNOON AFL Ten 613,000 53,000 321,000 42,000 135,000 62,000
21 TOP GEAR RPT SBS 442,000 144,000 117,000 88,000 48,000 46,000
Continued here

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,373,000 385,000 334,000 267,000 161,000 226,000
2 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,361,000 383,000 418,000 226,000 143,000 191,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,247,000 343,000 390,000 251,000 159,000 106,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,191,000 330,000 286,000 222,000 153,000 200,000
5 SILENT WITNESS ABC 1,103,000 290,000 368,000 170,000 136,000 138,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,074,000 303,000 311,000 223,000 140,000 96,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC 1,036,000 254,000 374,000 174,000 96,000 138,000
8 BIG BROTHER - FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE Ten 998,000 282,000 298,000 183,000 147,000 88,000
12 BIG BROTHER Ten 845,000 242,000 241,000 176,000 110,000 76,000
17 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 8: ST KILDA VS COLLINGWOOD Seven 747,000 21,000 457,000 12,000 120,000 136,000
21 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 610,000 364,000 246,000
26 I'M A CELEBRITY...GET ME OUT OF HERE Ten 425,000 128,000 119,000 79,000 61,000 40,000
31 M-THE STEPFORD WIVES Seven 373,000 230,000 143,000
35 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 358,000 267,000 90,000

The ratings race, updated 10 am Friday
Here's your task: Predict which network will win the week. It keeps changing every day. Nine, which was behind on Thursday morning, has taken the lead after Gordon Ramsay crushed Bones. The average audience shares in prime time for the week so far stand at: ABC 15.8% Seven 28.2% Nine 28.5% Ten 22.3% SBS 5.2%.

On Wednesday night, the Underbelly addicts went off in all directions in search of new thrills. Ten scored by resuming new episodes of House and by providing the Big Brother housemates with a brief taste of Carson Kressley, who proved far more stimulating (to them and the ratings) than Corey Worthington. The ABC scored when Spicks and Spicks collected 200,000 more viewers.

Seven lost ground with Ugly Betty but scored when its third instalment of Indiana Jones picked up 200,000 more than the previous instalments. And Nine scored with its two new fly on the wall documentaries, but not enough to compensate for the disaster that was Hitch.

Tonight it's pretty much biffo against aerial ping pong, but Better Homes will spruce up Seven. Nine thinks it will slamdunk Seven on Saturday by showing Shrek, but maybe every child in Australia has already seen it 20 times. Seven is gambling on a buildup of Harrison Ford frenzy by showing Air Force One, in which Indy is POTUS.

So it's a complex equation which only readers of this column are equipped to solve. Register your predictions via Comments, below.

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,335,000 368,000 315,000 265,000 135,000 252,000
2 HELL'S KITCHEN Nine 1,311,000 342,000 446,000 202,000 133,000 188,000
3 GETAWAY Nine 1,257,000 365,000 395,000 231,000 107,000 158,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,219,000 295,000 333,000 229,000 139,000 223,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC 1,181,000 337,000 369,000 221,000 103,000 152,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,173,000 309,000 373,000 255,000 135,000 101,000
7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Seven 1,147,000 323,000 285,000 211,000 147,000 182,000
8 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,109,000 314,000 291,000 187,000 113,000 203,000
9 BONES Seven 1,072,000 300,000 276,000 185,000 139,000 173,000
10 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,045,000 287,000 312,000 228,000 114,000 104,000
11 THAT '70S SHOW Seven 1,040,000 302,000 254,000 182,000 117,000 186,000
12 LAW AND ORDER: SVU Ten 1,039,000 321,000 313,000 175,000 105,000 125,000
14 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 998,000 235,000 404,000 133,000 127,000 99,000
15 MEDIUM Ten 952,000 295,000 241,000 164,000 109,000 143,000
16 BIG BROTHER Ten 852,000 232,000 221,000 178,000 99,000 121,000
19 TRINNY & SUSANNAH UNDRESS THE NATION Seven 793,000 226,000 244,000 130,000 80,000 113,000
22 THE BUDGET 2008: RIGHT OF REPLY ABC 717,000 282,000 213,000 142,000 71,000 9,000
33 LOST Seven 392,000 105,000 126,000 54,000 57,000 50,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,596,000 471,000 369,000 314,000 193,000 249,000
2 HOUSE Ten 1,432,000 446,000 442,000 215,000 135,000 194,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,398,000 404,000 347,000 249,000 169,000 229,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,276,000 333,000 399,000 271,000 146,000 127,000
5 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC 1,273,000 378,000 440,000 189,000 118,000 148,000
6 BIG BROTHER - CARSON CRASHES BIG BROTHER'S CLOSET Ten 1,245,000 389,000 350,000 217,000 127,000 162,000
7 SEARCH & RESCUE Nine 1,216,000 373,000 339,000 191,000 129,000 184,000
8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,215,000 338,000 367,000 263,000 139,000 109,000
9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,196,000 378,000 284,000 206,000 121,000 207,000
12 FIRE 000 Nine 1,100,000 335,000 304,000 183,000 119,000 159,000
13 M-INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Seven 1,052,000 332,000 309,000 170,000 127,000 113,000
15 UGLY BETTY Seven 987,000 297,000 255,000 178,000 109,000 147,000
17 BIG BROTHER Ten 961,000 269,000 274,000 192,000 97,000 129,000
24 HITCH -RPT Nine 710,000 252,000 193,000 97,000 72,000 96,000
26 THE CATHERINE TATE SHOW ABC 632,000 160,000 259,000 69,000 66,000 79,000
71 JURY DUTY Seven 187,000 60,000 43,000 40,000 20,000 24,000
77 THE GOLDEN GIRLS Seven 175,000 52,000 48,000 40,000 18,000 16,000
82 SALAM CAFE SBS 151,000 43,000 52,000 21,000 22,000 14,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,590,000 478,000 412,000 314,000 149,000 237,000
2 AUSTRALIA'S GOT TALENT Seven 1,430,000 406,000 431,000 235,000 147,000 212,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,390,000 412,000 367,000 255,000 150,000 206,000
4 NCIS Ten 1,388,000 353,000 435,000 275,000 153,000 173,000
5 RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES Nine 1,337,000 360,000 456,000 177,000 155,000 189,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,327,000 407,000 387,000 270,000 142,000 120,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC 1,278,000 333,000 456,000 245,000 98,000 147,000
8 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,219,000 407,000 366,000 192,000 107,000 147,000
9 20 TO 1 Nine 1,197,000 278,000 402,000 237,000 141,000 140,000
10 NINE NEWS Nine 1,194,000 322,000 343,000 280,000 139,000 111,000
12 BONDI RESCUE Ten 1,162,000 358,000 372,000 198,000 123,000 111,000
15 THE ALL NEW SIMPSONS Ten 985,000 260,000 342,000 153,000 103,000 127,000
17 LADETTE TO LADY Nine 949,000 270,000 344,000 109,000 105,000 122,000
18 BUDGET SPECIAL 2008 ABC 943,000 327,000 237,000 183,000 79,000 118,000
19 BIG BROTHER Ten 925,000 254,000 277,000 177,000 98,000 119,000
20 THE TREASURER'S BUDGET SPEECH 2008 ABC 919,000 362,000 258,000 201,000 72,000 25,000
27 MILLIONAIRES' MISSION ABC 527,000 161,000 177,000 90,000 38,000 61,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 BORDER SECURITY (r) Seven 1,571,000 485,000 456,000 272,000 165,000 194,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,544,000 422,000 405,000 298,000 172,000 247,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,519,000 413,000 420,000 287,000 161,000 238,000
4 SURF PATROL Seven 1,447,000 485,000 422,000 228,000 141,000 171,000
5 SEA PATROL II - THE COUP Nine 1,398,000 395,000 404,000 273,000 168,000 159,000
6 DAVID ATTENBOROUGH'S - LIFE IN COLD BLOOD Nine 1,356,000 387,000 362,000 265,000 165,000 177,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,312,000 386,000 369,000 278,000 152,000 126,000
8 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,309,000 374,000 430,000 201,000 123,000 181,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 1,289,000 332,000 390,000 291,000 154,000 121,000
10 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,258,000 367,000 335,000 254,000 123,000 178,000
13 BIG BROTHER Ten 1,086,000 293,000 363,000 191,000 123,000 116,000
14 HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED Ten 1,065,000 289,000 395,000 141,000 125,000 115,000
24 BOSTON LEGAL Seven 832,000 267,000 275,000 121,000 89,000 79,000
28 BIG BROTHER - BIG MOUTH Ten 660,000 209,000 202,000 80,000 84,000 85,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland estimates)

The ratings race, updated 11am Monday
Sound the alarm and call out the bloodhounds -- nearly half a million Australian viewers have gone missing. Last year the premiere of Ugly Betty attracted 2.05 million in the mainland capitals. Last week Betty's second season opened with 1.03 million. Last year Sea Patrol averaged 1.6 million. Last week's episode drew 1.2 million. Last year the Logies broadcast held 1.7 million viewers for four hours. Last week it held 1.48 million. Grey's Anatomy managed 1.3 million against the Logies last year and this year 1 million.

At this point in 2007 Big Brother at 7pm was drawing 1.1 million. Last week it was lucky to get 900,000, despite the presence of Corey Worthington (who proves to be disturbingly bland).

So is there anything the viewing majority do like? These were the most watched shows in the mainland capitals: Seven Sunday news 1.58 million; NCIS (10) 1.57m; The Logie arrivals (9) 1.57m; and Border Security (7) 1.54m. And the finale of Underbelly managed 1.42 million without Melbourne. It's the only series that matches the kind of television that got Australians excited way back in the golden age of 2007.

Nine won the week, with 28.9 per cent of the prime time audience, while Seven scored 26.6, Ten 22.2, ABC 16.8 and SBS 5.5. It also won Sunday night, thanks to 60 Minutes. But Grey's Anatomy was number one with viewers under 50. This may bode well for the re-emergence of new House episodes on Wednesday.

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 60 MINUTES Nine 1,731,000 529,000 458,000 349,000 165,000 230,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,466,000 392,000 348,000 362,000 134,000 229,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,455,000 429,000 463,000 291,000 169,000 103,000
4 CSI Nine 1,453,000 412,000 389,000 301,000 171,000 180,000
5 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,313,000 433,000 429,000 226,000 116,000 109,000
6 GLADIATORS Seven 1,294,000 319,000 423,000 254,000 115,000 182,000
7 ANIMAL EMERGENCY Nine 1,267,000 352,000 378,000 245,000 142,000 151,000
8 RFDS: ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE Nine 1,230,000 361,000 318,000 247,000 153,000 150,000
9 WITHOUT A TRACE Nine 1,079,000 261,000 307,000 214,000 170,000 128,000
10 ABC NEWS-SUN ABC 1,068,000 324,000 339,000 210,000 90,000 106,000
11 BIG BROTHER LIVE EVICTION Ten 1,050,000 306,000 319,000 187,000 112,000 126,000
12 MY NAME IS EARL Seven 1,044,000 335,000 291,000 193,000 99,000 128,000
13 POLICE FILES - UNLOCKED Seven 1,024,000 275,000 320,000 161,000 117,000 151,000
14 BROTHERS & SISTERS Seven 930,000 279,000 337,000 135,000 100,000 79,000
15 BIG BROTHER SUN Ten 848,000 256,000 227,000 174,000 93,000 97,000
20 MAWSON: LIFE AND DEATH IN ANTARCTICA ABC 683,000 203,000 210,000 130,000 68,000 72,000
23 COMPASS ABC 486,000 127,000 166,000 71,000 61,000 60,000
24 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS Ten 477,000 112,000 173,000 71,000 49,000 72,000
25 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 462,000 266,000 9,000 167,000 20,000
29 GILMORE GIRLS Nine 409,000 80,000 155,000 53,000 58,000 63,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)
What Pay TV subscribers watched, week ending May 10
1 LIVE: NRL ROOSTERS V RAIDERS Fox Sports 2 274 274,000
2 LIVE: NRL BULLDOGS V PANTHERS Fox Sports 2 274,000
3 FAMILY GUY FOX8 Tue 231,000
4 LIVE: AFL SYDNEY V WESTERN BULLDOGS Fox Sports 1 219 219,000
5 AUSTRALIA'S NEXT TOP MODEL FOX8 217,000
6 8 THE SIMPSONS FOX8 208,000
7 LIVE: AFL ESSENDON V PORT AD Fox Sports 1 193,000
8 NRL COWBOYS V SHARKS Fox Sports 2 189,000
9 LIVE: NRL WARRIORS V RAIDERS Fox Sports 2 186,000
10 SELLING HOUSES AUSTRALIA Lifestyle 178,000
(OzTAM entire country)

What Australia watched, weekend ending May 10
Description Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUNDAY Seven 1,786,000 463,000 540,000 346,000 200,000 237,000
2 NCIS Ten 1,571,000 415,000 437,000 330,000 196,000 193,000
3 LOGIE ARRIVALS Nine 1,569,000 508,000 536,000 249,000 129,000 147,000
4 BORDER SECURITY Seven 1,544,000 472,000 425,000 267,000 174,000 206,000
5 RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES - THURSDAY Nine 1,527,000 430,000 528,000 209,000 156,000 204,000
6 SEVEN NEWS - MONDAY-FRIDAY Seven 1,514,000 425,000 390,000 302,000 171,000 225,000
7 BONDI RESCUE Ten 1,493,000 414,000 490,000 251,000 142,000 197,000
8 LOGIE AWARDS Nine 1,485,000 449,000 543,000 213,000 137,000 143,000
9 SEARCH & RESCUE Nine 1,444,000 427,000 402,000 251,000 158,000 206,000
10 UNDERBELLY Nine 1,422,000 670,000 336,000 183,000 233,000
11 RAMSAY'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES Nine 1,418,000 424,000 487,000 180,000 144,000 183,000
12 60 MINUTES Nine 1,406,000 429,000 392,000 246,000 172,000 167,000
13 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,404,000 398,000 369,000 264,000 164,000 210,000
14 NINE NEWS - SUNDAY Nine 1,386,000 391,000 369,000 261,000 233,000 132,000
15 AUSTRALIA'S GOT TALENT Seven 1,373,000 383,000 378,000 258,000 170,000 185,000
16 NCIS (R) Ten 1,343,000 347,000 413,000 232,000 177,000 173,000
17 SEVEN NEWS - SATURDAY Seven 1,320,000 352,000 404,000 253,000 159,000 150,000
18 HALL OF FAME TRIBUTE MATCH Ten 1,317,000 112,000 676,000 101,000 204,000 225,000
19 THE ALL NEW SIMPSONS Ten 1,293,000 303,000 454,000 249,000 133,000 155,000
20 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,291,000 411,000 426,000 181,000 133,000 140,000
21 SEA PATROL II - THE COUP Nine 1,287,000 389,000 332,000 237,000 161,000 168,000
22 GLADIATORS Seven 1,287,000 331,000 441,000 220,000 154,000 142,000
23 DAVID ATTENBOROUGH'S - LIFE IN COLD BLOOD Nine 1,282,000 363,000 376,000 229,000 134,000 180,000
24 AUSTRALIA: LAND OF PARROTS ABC 1,264,000 336,000 383,000 250,000 136,000 159,000
25 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,233,000 386,000 356,000 208,000 121,000 162,000
26 HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED Ten 1,228,000 361,000 418,000 236,000 117,000 95,000
27 SCU: SERIOUS CRASH UNIT Seven 1,222,000 329,000 362,000 217,000 156,000 159,000
28 NINE NEWS - MONDAY-FRIDAY Nine 1,218,000 335,000 384,000 251,000 147,000 101,000
29 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,202,000 347,000 356,000 194,000 135,000 170,000
30 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 1,176,000 504,000 248,000 355,000 69,000
31 GETAWAY Nine 1,173,000 344,000 354,000 206,000 119,000 150,000
32 MIDSOMER MURDERS ABC 1,173,000 313,000 396,000 168,000 131,000 165,000
33 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,168,000 341,000 301,000 229,000 128,000 170,000
34 BIG BROTHER - GATECRASHER Ten 1,160,000 409,000 330,000 168,000 121,000 133,000
35 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW Nine 1,160,000 368,000 353,000 203,000 117,000 119,000
36 TRINNY & SUSANNAH UNDRESS THE NATION Seven 1,159,000 348,000 348,000 185,000 140,000 138,000
37 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Seven 1,146,000 306,000 313,000 244,000 117,000 167,000
38 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,141,000 325,000 368,000 224,000 126,000 99,000
39 ABC NEWS - MONDAY-FRIDAY ABC 1,137,000 313,000 362,000 209,000 112,000 141,000
40 NINE NEWS - SATURDAY Nine 1,136,000 320,000 404,000 198,000 126,000 89,000
(OzTAM mainland capitals)

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). To discuss Australian attitudes, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Is it also possible that the new HD channels are putting downward pull on the TV ratings since these are not yet measured?
Also is it possible to have a list (eg top5) of the top 'sport' and 'non sport' programs on pay tv just like you had last week, that would be swell :)!

by Ryano on May 11, 2008 at 04:38 PM

Not surprising. Its simply the Ad breaks drove me to alternate entertainment .My TV screen is on even longer but i have been driven away from normal tv to DVDs etc.

by Dan on May 11, 2008 at 07:59 PM

Maybe half a million viewers realised they were sitting there in their jimmie-jams wasting their lives watching more featureless crap & went to bed. Even dreams are more interesting. Forget the bloodhounds. Wave a bit of quality television in the air & they'll come out of the woodwork.
By the way, how did Nine go in the ratings on Sunday afternoon replacing Gilmour Girls with a stale episode of George Lopez (do even Mexicans watch that?) and a tribute to that footy coach (no disrespect - I don't watch football)? Here I have to admit that I watch Gilmour Girls. I think it's really well written. Maybe I'm an oaf. Given the way they treat Gilmour Girls, they can't have been after better ratings on a Sunday arvo when they possibly correctly assume no-one's watching. More like they are so afraid of offending the current view that everyone needs a tribute, they just decided to squeeze it in there. Repeating a death notice on the news 50 or 60 times doesn't seem to be enough these days. We need public mourning. Vaseline coated lenses & Shannon Noll ballads and all that.

Tribal Mind replace As you can see in the chart above, OzTAM still lists it as Gilmore Girls.

by darren on May 12, 2008 at 11:33 AM

The half million may have gone out to dinner, caught up with friends, watched a movie - no wait that they would not have done as the numbers are not reflected ...read a book....or perhaps caught up with their Mums for Mothers Day... or else they could just not be bothered.
At least this week Spooks in back for new eps on fridays night on ABC - I know it may be heresy to say this but the Midsomer Murders does not interest me - I am more Silent Witness and Spooks fan.
Did watch Bed of Roses on saturday night - will be interesting to see how it goes for next few weeks - and very happy Bones is back.
Darren I had not been watching Gilmore Girls on sundays as I think they are still showing season 6 and as 7 is out in DVD I think I will watch that way rather than await for the whims of Nein.
Happy BB is not rating well - bit still over 1 million thought it worth watching - what were you all thinking!!! Stop it you are only encouraging them.
I also must say where a couple of months ago there was something to watch on HD now it is just more of the same - does nto seem to be a great deal of alternative programming - except ABC2 (and it is not HD) Networks I will happily try new shows on HD if you show them..... please.

by Cathy on May 12, 2008 at 04:21 PM

It has been revealed that the HD channels and ABC2' ratings will be available from around this November.

by Mr cpandilo on May 12, 2008 at 05:19 PM

Darren, I'm going to do the unthinkable and defend Channel Nein for the tribute to Jack Gibson on Sunday. He had a massive involvement with both of the teams that were playing in the 4pm game (Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead). They'd been widely advertising the 3:30pm tribute since the Friday Night test match, and sure, Gilmore Girls gets shafted often enough, but the fellow was one who did deserve such a tribute having "played strong, done fine".
Everything Nein shows on a Sunday arve is just treading water until the 4pm game starts. I know that everyone's a top bloke when they're dead, but I actually came across him in my lifes travels, and he was.
BTW anyone else catch any of "Flight Of The Conchords" last night? Apart from 5 minutes of Arj Barker at the beginning, it was dreadful.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 12, 2008 at 06:25 PM

News from eztv: Boston Legal will return for a fifth season in the fall. After intense negotiations with show creator David E. Kelley, ABC on Sunday reached an agreement with the writer-producer to bring the critically praised legal dramedy back in the fall. The network had originally intended to hold "Legal" for midseason.
The deal on "Boston" opens the door for a series pickup of Kelley's drama "Life on Mars." The network has been zeroing in on a series pickup of the drama starring Jason O'Mara, with "October Road" creators Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg coming in as exec producers.
But such a deal had to be blessed by Kelley, who owns the rights to the property, an American version of the British series of the same name.

Thank you Prkahn for that information

Now such a pact appears very likely.

by Kate on May 12, 2008 at 10:35 PM

Bereft Skerrick @6:25, thanks, it all makes sense. I did get the feeling that Jack Gibson was someone important to Footy fans. Fair enough. While footy fans are treading water on Sunday afternoons waiting for the game to start, I live in a parrallel universe where sport doesn't exist & I tread water waiting for the games to end (and quite possibly sit with glazed over eyes through announcements for Jack Gibson tributes). Hence my newfound knowledge of Daniel Liebskind's architecture and the history of photography (thankyou ABC). And although I think one posting defending Nine is probably enough, it seems the one thing they still do fairly well is sport (so I hear).

by darren on May 13, 2008 at 08:43 AM

YIPPEE!! Boston Legal has been renewed! YIPPEE!!

by Bereft Skerrick on May 13, 2008 at 08:45 AM

Bereft Skerrick @ May 12 6.25pm, I caught the last half of "Flight of the Conchords" and I can't say it was very funny either. From what I saw the best thing was the song about them crying - but not really crying, and I can't even remember that now. Although I intend to give it another go this week.
I just generally think that a lot more people aren't watching TV - choosing the Internet instead. It's just whenever I talk to my friends about a show I saw last night, the answer usually seems to be "Huh?"
Also, it was good to see Ch 7 showing their shows within the hour last night. I got to enjoy BL without it being ridiculously drawn out, and enjoyed Louis Theroux's documentary on plastic surgery, with him experimenting it on himself too.

by Kym on May 13, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Kym, I know exactly what you mean about people not watching TV so much anymore. I notice the same thing. People are either watching their fave shows on DVD or downloading. Or just being on the net in general.
I have said for a long time that FTA TV is dying and will die off completely eventually. Which is not surprising considering the way networks treat us poor viewers.
Hey TM, maybe you could do an article on the future of TV. How do you think our TV viewing of the future will be conducted?

by em on May 13, 2008 at 01:44 PM

I have seen a couple of "Flight of the Conchords" on Youtube via email - some guys singing - is it the same thing?
Looking forward to Silent Witness and Spooks - so bored with TV at the moment that I have taken up sewing and I HATE sewing!!!!

Tribal Mind remarks: At least House is back Wednesday night

by Shoopie on May 13, 2008 at 03:03 PM

Sure FTA is dying, but there's a while to go for it to die out completely. My friends and I still watch tv frequently with great shows on offer this year like Underbelly, Ramsay and a massively improved Sea Patrol as well as Boston Legal of course.
It's a bit sad really that FTA is dying but hopefully the networks can merge with the internet successfully.

by Alex Novak on May 13, 2008 at 06:37 PM

Looks like Ch 9 might have cooked the goose that laid the golden egg, seeing that Gordon ramsay is severely slipping down in the ratings every week now. They threw too many episodes of different series at viewers and they now have Ramsay fatigue. It's the Supernanny all over again.
All Saints is doing much better in an earlier timeslot now and holding well against such strong competition of Kitchen Nightmares and NCIS. Looks like Australia's Got Talent is surging ahead now too.
Interesting to hear that the new BBC Aussie soapie 'Out of the Blue' that was bought by Ch 10 has already been axed by BBC1 after six episodes. The remaining episodes (24) will now screen on BBC2 in a daytime slot.

by J Bar on May 14, 2008 at 09:36 AM

Seven and Nine are pretty close this week.
It's a hard call but I think I will go with Nine. Ten will win 8.30 tonight with House and ABC will be a close second with Spicks and Specks as viewers of Underbelly look elsewhere.
Thurs night will see a fairly even 3 way split between 7, 9 & 10 as viewers spread out between 3 decent programs at 8.30. 9 will probably take it out as Getaway viewers are the kind to stick around and watch Ramsey. I would normally watch Dexter on Foxtel but as that is finished I will decide on the night between Bones and SVU. I will definitely
watch Medium at 9.30 then record Lost at the stupid time of 10.30 on 7. (I am not impressed 7!)
Nine will get friday with the footy and probably sat night too. Though ABC will do well with Bed of Roses on sat as viewers that tuned in last week will more than likely tune in again.
So I predict Nein will win by a small margin.

by em on May 14, 2008 at 11:13 AM

Traditionally seven do very weak on wed and thurs, and I don't think that will change (ugly betty not rating well on wed, though t&s is doing alright so far on thurs). A good litmus test therefore is whether seven are ahead as of now. Since they aren't I'll tip nein for the week.

by arthur on May 14, 2008 at 11:34 AM

"How do you think our TV viewing of the future will be conducted? "
by em on May 13, 2008 at 01:44 PM
perhaps we'll all have large screen/wall access to global info, local content, movies, shows, entertainment, interactive stuff, internet, shopping, music, games etc
We will no longer be beholden to the antiquated concept of television stations.
In the corner will be a box with a pot plant on it, and an old copy of TV Week to show the grandkids what it was for.....

by gigdiary on May 14, 2008 at 01:24 PM

I'm not very good a predictions - I predicted I would marry a tall, dark, rich handsome man ... only half were true!
So on that note, I think Se7en is more than likely to finish the week in the lead.
Has anyone else been watching Scrapheap Challenge on ABC2? It's great fun.

by Shoopie on May 14, 2008 at 01:28 PM

Declining audience - maybe so, but who can tell given the ridiculously pathetic sample they use of 3000 viewers, or whatever it is, hooked up to people meters, representing 20 million + of us. Of course, if just a few of that select group are doing something else it extrapolates to 100,000s. I think that they would be well served to increase their sample size of viewers, and they may well get a more reliable snap shot of viewing mores, particularly now that people have so many alternative viewing options.

by LAH on May 14, 2008 at 03:18 PM

BTW can anyone tell me what has happened to Canal Road? Has it been permanently removed from our screens? I was starting to get into it, although it took a few episodes to decide that I quite liked it.

by LAH on May 14, 2008 at 03:20 PM

For fans of the US shows Moonlight and Men in Trees (that was rating poorly in North America and also did for Nine), they've been cancelled due to poor ratings.
House's 5th season will introduce a (presumably smartarse) male private detective character in several eps, who'll spin off into his own series. Last year, House's creator did a pilot for a show about a female pubic detective, but it wasn't picked up.

by Toni on May 14, 2008 at 03:24 PM

I forgot to include in my post on Monday that it was interesting to see the full five city rating for Gilmore Girls considering that it was not screened in Sydney & Brisbane. George Lopez & the Jack Gibson special were on instead.
TM, the Gilmore Girls figures for Sydney & Brisbane must then be for the two above mentioned shows meaning that Gilmore Girls actually got a 276,000 total.
It is great to see Boston Legal hold its audience though it is being beaten by CSI: NY I expect it to stay in its timeslot anyway - certainly doing better that Dirty Sexy Money!

by cpandilo on May 14, 2008 at 04:04 PM

Canal Road will return in two weeks (May 28) at 10.30pm.
Shark & Moonlight have been axed by CBS.
TM, how are The Golden Girls and Jury Duty doing on Seven (3-4pm weekdays)?

Tribal Mind replies: In the chart today.

by cpandilo on May 14, 2008 at 04:17 PM

"Pubic detective"?

by Bereft Skerrick on May 14, 2008 at 05:10 PM

Apparently "Back To You" has just been cancelled, too.

by Fielding on May 14, 2008 at 05:25 PM

My safe prediction is that I won't be a viewer of any of the top 10 programs for the week!

I am continually gobsmacked at the rubbish that's on FTA, mainly the reality crap & pretend documentaries.

I hardly ever watch FTA any more, but will still record a few remaining favourites so they can be watched with minimal interruption from crass commercials.

Last week for example, 7 hit a new low during Stargate Atlantis. The commercials were so insulting and annoying. Most were for phone downloads of barely clad young "ladies", many gyrating and pouting - I think pretending to be having sex? Over and over again, every ad break.
Anyway, the result is that I won't be watching 7 again, and I've already downloaded the next episode of Atlantis from "elsewhere". BTW, it took hours to download because the shows are so OLD. Seven is years behind! New episodes (of shows like Lost) download really quickly.

by Sal on May 14, 2008 at 05:27 PM

Em @01:44, May 13:"how do you think our TV viewing of the future will be conducted?", I recommend a brilliant but infuriating book called "Infinite Jest" by David Foster Wallace (it's a biggee). It's set in the near future where among other things, free-to-air TV has disappeared after letting advertising get out of control, making viewers physically ill with graphic commercials for such things as bowel polyp removal operations etc. and people now get their daily news & entertainment on mail-delivered cartridges which they view on 'tele-puters' (it's a bit retro). Advertising revenue is raised by selling the naming rights to the year. No more 2007, 2008, instead they have The Year of the Trial Size Dove Bar & The Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment etc. It doesn't sound all that far-fetched anymore does it?

by darren on May 15, 2008 at 06:00 AM

'Back to you' cancelled? Why? It's easily the best comedy on TV these days.

by bobmar28 on May 15, 2008 at 06:49 AM

"Pubic detective"?

by Bereft Skerrick on May 14, 2008 at 05:10 PM

So many possibilities ... all extremely poor taste!

by Shoopie on May 15, 2008 at 07:41 AM

More on cancelled shows that are on (or have been on) our FTA screens this year - No surprises - Bionic Woman. Journeyman, Cashmere Mafia, Men in Trees, Women's Murder Club, Moonlight, Shark, Las Vegas and Back to you - this all from the IMDB Site.

The most upsetting news I read yesterday is the next season (08/09) of Boston Legal is to be the last season as David E Kelly is focussing on the US version of Life on Mars...I shall just pause in my sadness!!!!

Sal your comments about rthe commercials for shows such as Stargate Atlantis - hold true for any FTA commercial network from about 11 onwards - I just fast forward!

by Cathy on May 15, 2008 at 08:31 AM

TM - your headline does not match the results - surely it is Jones slaughtering Smith but House Rules?

Tribal Mind replies: You read it when it was a work in progress. Fixed now.

by Cathy on May 15, 2008 at 08:59 AM

Cathy wrote: as David E Kelly is focussing on the US version of Life on Mars..
Which reminds me of a question that occurred to me this morning. We know how the original and best Life on Mars ended but does anyone seriously believe an American show would end that way -although I concede Kelley is the writer most likely to do it that way. So folks how do you think Kelley will end it?

by Cat on May 15, 2008 at 09:06 AM

Cat I really hope they do Life on Mars justice and do not change it too much - my concern is by taking it out of the UK we lose that whole women in uniform making cuppas role - and my other fear is they will be playing a whole lot of American music of the early 70s ratehr than the UK music.... maybe even America's Horse with no name and DOn McLean's American Pie...
It could very well end up as another version of Barney Miller.... but as David E Kelley is known for some smart TV I hope the ending is the same!
I have seen photos of the actors in character on http://www.zap2it.com/tv/
Gene equivalent is to be played by Colm Meaney (he even looks a bit the sme!0

by Cathy on May 15, 2008 at 09:22 AM

Ugly betty drew lower numbers due to the Carson premiere. Ugly betty should rebound in the next few weeks to around 1.1m.

Shockingly low numbers for Hitch though. The movie programming could help Seven to get a close (rather than distant) 2nd for the week, given Seven's very weak Thursdays & Saturdays.

by arthur on May 15, 2008 at 09:25 AM

Darren, thanks for your recommendation . I shall look up that book. Well, put it on the list anyway.
Cat, An American version of Life on Mars?
Well, David E Kelly may do it well, but I somehow doubt it. Why can't they leave well enough alone? Love the original and cant see the yanks doing it with the same amount of grit depicted in the cops of the 70s. As to the ending , Tyler will probably get shot in the last gun battle , wake up in hospital and find he really is in the 70s and the whole "coming from the future" thing was just a coma induced dream . That way he doesnt have to kill himself and he still gets the girl. Or something like that , more acceptable to US audiences than committing suicide.
Any news as to who the actors in it will be?
BTW I knew House would beat it's competition last night. And it seems Carson helped BB's ratings. Maybe they should put him in the house. Now that would be worth watching!

by em on May 15, 2008 at 09:53 AM

Massive return to form for House. Hitch was a flop of a movie but Indiana Jones held up very well. Who would have thought that Big Brother special at 7.30 would do as well as it did? Better than the comedies that usually screen there too. Ugly Betty and the new factual show Search & Rescue that debuted so strongly on Ch 9 last week, took a beating.
I think Ch 7 waited too long to show Ugly Betty and the audience might have lost interest. They might have been better off showing The Rich List on Wednesday nights (rather than Saturdays) and maybe using Ugly Betty as a replacement for Desperate Housewives in a few weeks.

by J Bar on May 15, 2008 at 09:58 AM

Cat:-
>Cathy wrote: as David E Kelly is focussing on the US version of Life on Mars..
>Which reminds me of a question that occurred to me this morning. We know how the original and best Life on Mars ended but does anyone seriously believe an American show would end that way -although I concede Kelley is the writer most likely to do it that way. So folks how do you think Kelley will end it>>
Well for a start, I doubt if he'll be going in with a particularly firm idea on that. Few American series are conceived with a firm "We'll do X seasons, and it will then end in this exact way" (though there have been a few notable exceptions, such as "Babylon 5"). I suspect that they'll be aiming to keep the show going for as long as possible - 5 seasons at least (or whatever the magic minimum for later syndication is these days). Therefore they'll have to keep the ambiguity of the lead character's situation going for much, much longer (I think we were all pretty sure of Sam Tyler's true circumstances pretty early on) and have a false cliffhanger at the end of every season. If they do eventually wrap the show up (and there's always the possibility of it being cancelled without sufficient warning to wrap things up properly...), I'd suspect some sort of fluffy, happily-ever after ending, such as it turning out that the character really is back in time and a happy to stay there, or him waking to find real-world equivalents to his dream-characters. I certainly can't see them going for the rather bleak choice that Sam Tyler made.
Mind you, I'm fairly cynical to start with - I just can't see an American version of "Life on Mars" succeeding, though I'm happy to be proved wrong.
BTW, having seen the
I thought the first series of LOM's sort-of sequel, "Ashes to Ashes", I can highly recommend it. It takes a little while to get going -but it does.

by Mark on May 15, 2008 at 12:20 PM

Hi DD, sorry to be correcting you, but Bones is a Forensic Anthropologist, not a Paleontologist.....they look at dinosaur bones!

Tribal Mind replies: Thanks, I stand corrected. But more importantly, why have you not registered your prediction?

by beanz on May 15, 2008 at 01:01 PM

For those Unit fans out there - the best news of the week is that a new season will start in the US in Autumn 2008!
No idea if it will show in Aus so Bitorrent here we come....

by chrisso on May 15, 2008 at 01:12 PM

Shoopie, there's your mind down in the gutter. Right next to mine.
Cat, I can see no valid reason why there should be a US version of Life on Mars. As quirky as David E Kelley can be, it's just plain sacreligious.
Mr Skerrick is a Stargate junkie, I think I know every one of "those" bloody ads. Seriously the girls in those ads appear to be under the influence of something not quite right.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 15, 2008 at 01:19 PM

Hooray. I'm glad the Big Brother special on Wednesday night with Carson Kressley has done quite well and hopefully it will help BB gradually pick up more and more viewers as it goes along. I started watching BB this year after skipping a couple of years because of the promise of a big shake-up of the show and I haven't been disappointed so far.

by toco on May 15, 2008 at 02:51 PM

TM, can you please give me a recent ratings stat on Sunrise, Today Show and Tens Early Morning News please!!
Is there a website i can get them or do you have a special subscription?

Tribal Mind replies: I will include them in tomorrow's chart. There is no website where you can get them for free (except this one, by request) because OzTAM charges for its research.

by jonathan on May 15, 2008 at 03:01 PM

I'm thinking Seven will win the week. Judging by Indiana Jones' audience share last night, people do seem to be letting themselves be swept up in Indy-mania and will therefore tune in on Saturday for Airforce One like lemmings off a cliff. Really all Seven has to do is maintain their share with the news & Home & Away, trounce Friday night with Better Homes (take that!) then stroll into Saturday with a feeble repeated repeated repeat of Shrek their only competition (although I am forgetting Funniest Home Videos, you never know, people do love quality entertainment). It's like watching old ladies racing in electric wheelchairs.
By the way, The Catherine Tate show was great last night and undervalued in the ratings. With The Gruen Transfer starting up in a few weeks & good old Spicks & Specks still plugging away reliably, it's starting to look like a Wednesday night lineup.

by darren on May 15, 2008 at 03:03 PM

Yes Bereft, those girls do appear to be under the influence of something! Can't spell it, but how about "Rohypnol"?
I used to be a big fan of late night TV (ie if it's on a commercial station before 10.30pm, it must be rubbish).
Loved Stargates, Star Treks, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Huff, etc, but stopped watching some of them due to the revolting ads.
I do own a mobile phone, and use it to make calls occasionally, but as a female of a certain age, those ads insult me rather than tempt me.
Regarding a US version of Life On Mars, well I wish they wouldn't! Colm Meaney belongs in space (Star Trek) and will need to be a very good actor to make me forget that!
The Yanks did an excellent job with The Office, I love both versions, but they did have input from Ricky Gervais.
Jason O'Mara looks OK for the Sam role though.

by Sal on May 15, 2008 at 03:11 PM

Prediction for week winner
nein will get thursday bonus through Golden
seven gets friday through better homes
saturday will go to Nein for Shrek
However seven will get it by the slimmest of margins (all due to those who care about gardens!)

by Cathy on May 15, 2008 at 03:41 PM

Ch 9 will probably win Friday with rugby against "The Stepford Wives", but on Saturday, I think Ch 7 will get a fairly good lead in with the Vicar. I'm going to put my guess down as Ch 7, but just. It's good to read that David E. Kelley is dealing with the American "Life on Mars", even though I doubt it'll be as good as the original, but I can't believe he's giving up "Boston Legal" for it!

by Kym on May 15, 2008 at 03:47 PM

oh yes! i almost forgot! While i like watching Ramsay yelling at 'chefs', my guess is for seven to win...... due, at least in part to that terrible Gladiators crap. we'll wait and see, eh!?!

by beanz on May 15, 2008 at 04:12 PM

Not only will the next season of Boston Legal be its last, but it'll be a shorter season of 13 eps.

by Fielding on May 15, 2008 at 05:12 PM

CATHERINE TATE last night was good but gosh her brand of comedy is so hit and miss - the irish woman she plays who discovered her son is a 'gayman' just died in the arse and the gag where she pretends to be everyones saviour at the last minute - eg the tennis pro,and the international translator was also a bit hit and miss -nevertheless she is brilliantly funny in other areas and the cranky old nanna is a classic.
BIG BROTHER this year I have to say is slightly better than previous years and the mix of flatmates is a big plus - there not all vacuous wannabes and some are actually very likeable - the guy with the high pitched voice is genuinely appealing to watch and so too is dixie the aboriginal girl from Dubbo - credit where credit is due - I had predicted the worst for this season but it isn't all bad and carson last night was entertaining. As for Vile and Jackie the show could run without them and no one would notice the difference - they add nothing to the shows news worthiness and really probably only contribute to the lower than expected ratings!

by GJ on May 15, 2008 at 06:05 PM

LOM American-style: you can see the trailer here: http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ianwylie/2008/05/life_on_mars_coming_this_fall.html
Though I don't see how anyone can top the original........

by 2paw on May 15, 2008 at 08:17 PM

by Cathy on May 15, 2008 at 08:31 AM

I adore Boston Legal... but I am not too sad at it ending at 5 series, often a series will be continued past its prime & it is the bad eps you remember, not the good. I can happy watch earlier episodes again on the DVDs... Besides, the US Life on Mars may tank & David will resurrect BL

by Kate on May 15, 2008 at 10:29 PM

Thanks folks for the responses to my question regarding LOM and thanks for the links. I thought that Colm Meaney might be ok if he could resist going off to fix the engines but was rather disappointed by the choice of the female and the trailer tends to confirm my fears about that decision. Mind you the trailer does suggest that they are keeping big chunks of the story intact but I am with the cynics here that the ripoff is totally unnecessary (the voice-over was the nail in the coffin). I wonder if an Australian network will buy it? I think Mark summed up nicely the reasons I find it hard to believe it will work in America but hey if they are going to copy a Brit show at least it is LOM not Emmerdale!
As I have literally watched no tv other than the news this week I cannot offer a prediction on the ratings winner.

by Cat on May 16, 2008 at 08:05 AM

Lost really is lost now with only 392,000 viewers. Damn, I suppose those of us that still like it will have to buy DVDs or download to see the next seasons as 7 wont bother with it again with those ratings. Why can't they at least show it at a decent time on Sat. night? Too much to ask I suppose.

by em on May 16, 2008 at 10:34 AM

Wow! Lost has lost over 1m fans in 12 mths !!!

I am still watching, though. Luv it.

Ch9 will win the week as their margin over Ch7 on friday night should be greater than Ch7's margin over Ch9 on saturday night. Hope that makes sense.

by Craig Burden on May 16, 2008 at 10:37 AM

I think Seven will win the week. Friday night they usually win with BH&G. I think they will also beat Nine on the footy. Saturday will be more interesting but I think that Shrek will probably not do that well. Most homes have a Shrek DVD but not too many have Airforce One.

by Louise on May 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM

Being an older male with a slight beer belly and not exactly tall, I sat through Trinny & Susannah Undress The Nation last night hoping I would get some fashion advice I could use.
Unfortunately I got 60 mins of dribble and 30 sec of dress advice said so rappidly that I could not catch it all. What a waste of space this show is.

by Neil on May 16, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Been away for a while - been reading, but just too busy with work to comment! I think that Saturday night will be the deciding factor - it's funny though, even though many homes already own Shrek, they'll still watch it on tv - keeps the kids quiet I guess. Depends on how many people want to continue "Harrison fever" with the Indiana Jones and now Airforce One. I predict a win for Nine, closely followed by Seven.
Loving that Carson on BB beat bogan Corey's first appearance. Take that, channel teen, get a clue, the kid is a boring bogan loser that nobody really likes.
TM, is there any word on when Seven might start showing season 7 of Scrubs? I just watched the final episode of the season - a tribute to the Princess Bride. So brilliantly clever - great premise, beautiful costumes and settings! Any Princess Bride fan will love it!

by Beckala on May 16, 2008 at 01:18 PM

Hey, new Spooks tonight. Is this the season with Richard Armitage?
Can't say I'm looking forward to an American LOM. I just think it's unnecessary.
I won't attempt to predict a winner for the week - I've been laid up with a double whammy of lurgi all week, and haven't watched any TV at all. (You know you're sick when it's too much energy required to pick up a TV remote!)

by tqd on May 16, 2008 at 01:32 PM

7 should win Friday night on the back of Better Homes and strong Footy numbers in Melbourne. But it will come down to the last night of ratings, and if they really wanted to win the week, I�d suggest they scrap the Great Outdoors 6.30 Saturday, and slap on a double episode repeat of Border Security. A sure victory.

by Ryano on May 16, 2008 at 04:22 PM

Em, I really, really doubt Seven will just drop Lost. They'll show the remaining 2 seasons, even if they'll be at 11:30! But it is really sad to see the ratings drop so much - are Australians really so dumb? Well, yes - they voted for Rudd, after all.
Meanwhile, Life On Mars isn't the only British show about to be Americanised. The Worst Week Of My Life, starring Ben Miller as the hapless schmuck trying to impress his in-laws, is also getting the treatment.

by Fielding on May 16, 2008 at 04:52 PM

Beckala, I stayed up d/l'ing and watching all but the "finale" Princess Bride episode (that is the NBC finale but screened out of order) of Scrubs last night. Saving that Scrubs/PB episode for tonight. Mind, I've also got some DrWho and Torchwood still up my sleeve. TV watching isn't my priority at the moment though. Putting my sinus/migraine headache to the sword is.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 16, 2008 at 06:10 PM

TQD asked: Hey, new Spooks tonight. Is this the season with Richard Armitage?
No we are a couple of seasons behind the U.K.
Beckala love the idea of the Scrubs Princess Bride episode. How far are we behind?
Yeah for Silent Witness and Spooks Friday!

by Cat on May 16, 2008 at 07:48 PM

still over 800,000 watching that utter shower of shite big brother? what's wrong with you peoples???

by davo on May 17, 2008 at 11:21 AM

"Well, yes - they voted for Rudd, after all."
You complete and utter tool, Fielding.

by Max on May 17, 2008 at 11:41 AM

Max wrote: "Well, yes - they voted for Rudd, after all."
You complete and utter tool, Fielding."
Be fair Max - as much as I disagree with him, poor old Fielding is stuck back in the day when Tom Baker was the Doctor and this blog should be about abusing the networks, not each other.
I have watched tv after 7.30 1 day this week. Must be a first for me (whilst not on hols) but I suspect it will not be the last.

by Cat on May 17, 2008 at 08:28 PM

Can't believe that seven won the week, despite having many shockingly rated programs!

Tribal Mind replies: So Nine and Ten had better programs?

by arthur on May 18, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Bereft Skerrick, what did you think of the Scrubs ep when you finally saw it? I'm intrigued as the only other people I know who've seen it have not seen Princess Bride - still enjoyed it, but missed some of the jokes.
Cat, we are 12 eps behind. It is the 12th aired NBC episode of season 7 (but they were shown out of order, which kills the continuity a bit, but will not reveal how because that would reveal a major spoiler). Problem is though, Seven hasn't made any noise about the program returning soon... Why not Monday 10:30pm after Boston Legal? Same shows in the same order, just everything brought forward an hour!

Tribal MInd remarks: This discussion is all very well, but why are you TV experts not commenting on the most significant moments in the history of Australian television (go here)

by Beckala on May 18, 2008 at 01:07 PM

Becala, since I think I saw that Last Comic Standing has come back, there is't really a reason for Scrubs to not be back yet, except for the short season. Although now that That 70's Show is FINALLY reaching a conclusion (3-4 years after it finished in the US) perhaps with 12 eps they'll hold it over until summer as a replacement for H&A.
Haven't seen the Princess bride ep, will comment when I have.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 18, 2008 at 05:33 PM

TM,
May I ask how "The State Within" went on the ABC on Thursday night? Really enjoying this new show.
Thanks.

Tribal Mind replies: 444,000, sadly.

by Steve on May 19, 2008 at 05:52 PM

TM,
Do you still have the figures for the "My Kid's A Star" finale on Saturday on Nine? I'd be interested to see how it ended, even if is hardly a blip on the ratings radar.
Thanks.

TribalMind replies: You're right, for the sake of history, it must be recorded:
81 MY KID'S A STAR Nine 81,000 S16,000 M40,000 B13,000 Not shown in Adelaide P11,000

by Ryan on May 20, 2008 at 08:15 PM

TM, can you please give me a recent ratings stat on Sunrise, Today Show and Tens Early Morning News please!! you didn't end up putting them on

Tribal Mind replies: You are asking on the wrong week's blog. Go to this week's discussion at http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare and you will see them in Tuesday's ratings chart. I will include them in Wednesday's chart when I put it up at 10 am today. Ten's early morning news does not appear in OzTAM's top 108 programs, which means it gets less than 73,000 viewers.

by Jonathan on May 21, 2008 at 10:11 PM

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