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The Silly Season update: Until January 8

The caravan has moved on. This episode of the blog is no longer current. For the latest media discussion, go to http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,221,000 310,000 325,000 263,000 133,000 190,000
2 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,093,000 329,000 328,000 257,000 90,000 89,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,070,000 264,000 273,000 230,000 129,000 173,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,000,000 282,000 304,000 229,000 92,000 92,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC1 938,000 312,000 263,000 153,000 109,000 101,000
6 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT RPT Ten 918,000 254,000 289,000 162,000 124,000 90,000
7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 896,000 241,000 235,000 215,000 78,000 126,000
8 TEMPTATION Nine 885,000 249,000 267,000 185,000 90,000 93,000
9 EMERGENCY Nine 879,000 186,000 252,000 214,000 104,000 122,000
10 COLD CASE Nine 859,000 218,000 283,000 154,000 97,000 107,000
11 LAW AND ORDER: SVU RPT Ten 830,000 254,000 209,000 163,000 123,000 81,000
13 THE WAITING ROOM Nine 816,000 184,000 255,000 165,000 95,000 116,000
15 SECRET MILLIONAIRE Nine 771,000 184,000 237,000 131,000 90,000 129,000
16 ELI STONE Seven 746,000 193,000 225,000 170,000 64,000 93,000
17 UGLY BETTY - THU Seven 691,000 196,000 205,000 139,000 62,000 89,000
18 EVEREST ER ABC1 660,000 231,000 177,000 122,000 58,000 71,000
23 HEROES Seven 505,000 164,000 155,000 109,000 37,000 41,000
24 WHO KILLED STALIN? ABC1 487,000 176,000 119,000 82,000 43,000 67,000
27 CARLA CAMETTI PD SBS 457,000 197,000 125,000 53,000 31,000 51,000
30 REX IN ROME SBS 378,000 146,000 110,000 49,000 35,000 38,000
31 OUT OF THE BLUE - DAILY Ten 368,000 136,000 90,000 52,000 41,000 48,000
32 THE FLOATING BROTHEL RPT ABC1 364,000 115,000 130,000 48,000 35,000 36,000
Continued here
heroes17507.jpg

What Australia watched, Wednesday
housetv.jpg Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,377,000 480,000 455,000 216,000 118,000 108,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,254,000 301,000 331,000 260,000 142,000 219,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,208,000 299,000 302,000 254,000 142,000 211,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,201,000 370,000 393,000 227,000 115,000 95,000
5 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 1,051,000 216,000 331,000 248,000 97,000 158,000
6 AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS Seven 996,000 222,000 267,000 234,000 113,000 161,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC1 994,000 286,000 288,000 197,000 97,000 125,000
8 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 980,000 279,000 310,000 160,000 117,000 113,000
9 10 TO ONE Nine 917,000 260,000 245,000 208,000 92,000 113,000
10 TEMPTATION Nine 902,000 297,000 220,000 187,000 93,000 104,000
11 THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 847,000 287,000 229,000 173,000 86,000 73,000
13 LAS VEGAS Seven 743,000 202,000 184,000 170,000 74,000 112,000
14 NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE Nine 718,000 199,000 231,000 127,000 75,000 86,000
15 THE UNIT - WED Seven 689,000 176,000 215,000 136,000 80,000 81,000
16 MY FAMILY ABC1 678,000 174,000 208,000 107,000 85,000 105,000
19 E.R. Nine 639,000 156,000 233,000 104,000 68,000 78,000
22 HOUSE RPT Ten 591,000 153,000 179,000 122,000 63,000 74,000
25 FOOD SAFARI SBS 513,000 148,000 193,000 69,000 51,000 51,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
simpsons.jpg Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,334,000 395,000 462,000 259,000 122,000 96,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,213,000 315,000 267,000 274,000 154,000 203,000
3 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,197,000 323,000 430,000 234,000 115,000 96,000
4 NCIS RPT Ten 1,165,000 288,000 350,000 247,000 118,000 161,000
5 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,143,000 281,000 299,000 230,000 148,000 186,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 991,000 308,000 261,000 201,000 91,000 130,000
7 TEMPTATION Nine 932,000 258,000 303,000 182,000 94,000 94,000
8 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 923,000 203,000 265,000 216,000 99,000 139,000
9 COASTWATCH - TUE Seven 888,000 194,000 293,000 207,000 80,000 112,000
10 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 867,000 245,000 258,000 192,000 78,000 93,000
11 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 863,000 218,000 257,000 187,000 92,000 109,000
12 WILD VETS - TUE Seven 839,000 165,000 261,000 203,000 102,000 109,000
14 THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 783,000 247,000 233,000 151,000 94,000 59,000
15 ELI STONE Seven 772,000 227,000 251,000 146,000 66,000 82,000
17 THE SIMPSONS TUES Ten 739,000 175,000 266,000 130,000 73,000 94,000
20 IN PLAIN SIGHT Ten 702,000 149,000 250,000 140,000 72,000 91,000
25 THE MUSEUM ABC1 515,000 150,000 134,000 97,000 65,000 69,000
26 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 494,000 143,000 158,000 84,000 49,000 60,000
28 HUSTLE ABC1 421,000 126,000 128,000 71,000 42,000 55,000
30 DESPERATELY SEEKING DOCTORS SBS 378,000 118,000 121,000 47,000 33,000 59,000
31 PARTY ANIMALS ABC1 359,000 104,000 113,000 62,000 35,000 46,000
32 BLOOD AND GUTS: A HISTORY OF SURGERY SBS 355,000 117,000 93,000 43,000 55,000 46,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,419,000 450,000 424,000 270,000 151,000 124,000
2 NINE NEWS Nine 1,409,000 446,000 484,000 236,000 141,000 102,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,262,000 287,000 368,000 230,000 152,000 226,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,221,000 279,000 353,000 233,000 134,000 222,000
5 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,063,000 249,000 360,000 211,000 120,000 123,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,036,000 307,000 299,000 190,000 118,000 122,000
7 TEMPTATION Nine 1,020,000 322,000 285,000 190,000 108,000 116,000
8 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 1,004,000 257,000 287,000 210,000 104,000 145,000
9 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 1,003,000 201,000 355,000 177,000 98,000 174,000
10 TOP GEAR SBS 991,000 255,000 329,000 193,000 117,000 98,000
14 THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 787,000 251,000 225,000 147,000 102,000 62,000
16 THE MENTALIST -RPT Nine 751,000 228,000 212,000 155,000 65,000 91,000
17 GANGLAND GRAVEYARD ABC1 744,000 217,000 199,000 133,000 70,000 126,000
21 CHOIR OF HARD KNOCKS RPT ABC1 615,000 173,000 182,000 115,000 63,000 82,000
25 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL MON Ten 488,000 143,000 134,000 100,000 57,000 54,000
26 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 467,000 146,000 128,000 97,000 48,000 48,000
30 ARMY WIVES Ten 413,000 119,000 127,000 69,000 44,000 54,000
35 KATH & KIM THE AMERICAN SERIES - MON Seven 313,000 82,000 86,000 47,000 30,000 68,000
45 MONSTER HOUSE Nine 239,000 47,000 89,000 41,000 31,000 31,000
52 OUT OF THE BLUE - DAILY Ten 221,000 51,000 85,000 16,000 33,000 36,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,402,000 397,000 520,000 223,000 165,000 97,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,245,000 293,000 340,000 279,000 126,000 207,000
3 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,218,000 346,000 313,000 247,000 119,000 192,000
4 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,135,000 275,000 373,000 235,000 123,000 129,000
5 THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,132,000 336,000 352,000 200,000 120,000 124,000
6 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 1,076,000 271,000 360,000 193,000 156,000 96,000
7 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,020,000 265,000 290,000 225,000 99,000 141,000
8 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 944,000 211,000 283,000 220,000 103,000 127,000
9 THE CRICKET SHOW Nine 938,000 251,000 306,000 178,000 107,000 95,000
10 THE RICH LIST - SUN Seven 920,000 200,000 284,000 205,000 100,000 131,000
11 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 839,000 266,000 184,000 175,000 81,000 133,000
12 NIGEL MARVEN'S UGLY ANIMALS ABC1 826,000 285,000 174,000 160,000 80,000 127,000
13 TWISTED Ten 792,000 223,000 225,000 144,000 103,000 97,000
14 M-SHALLOW HAL Seven 737,000 166,000 244,000 141,000 84,000 102,000
17 MAGNIFICENT 7-EV ABC1 628,000 192,000 180,000 89,000 56,000 111,000
19 DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS Ten 493,000 144,000 142,000 88,000 69,000 50,000
21 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL Ten 403,000 102,000 115,000 78,000 60,000 48,000
25 M-THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY II Seven 328,000 102,000 95,000 51,000 31,000 49,000
26 THE GERMANIC TRIBES SBS 315,000 102,000 103,000 36,000 42,000 33,000
33 THE WEDGE SUN Ten 245,000 61,000 62,000 29,000 25,000 67,000

What Australia watched, week ending January 2, 2009
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,346,000 288,000 358,000 342,000 135,000 222,000
2 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,313,000 392,000 446,000 248,000 154,000 74,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,161,000 340,000 414,000 223,000 115,000 69,000
4 NCIS RPT Ten 1,148,000 280,000 371,000 209,000 135,000 152,000
5 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,138,000 289,000 248,000 323,000 79,000 199,000
6 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,124,000 251,000 330,000 222,000 133,000 189,000
7 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,076,000 264,000 362,000 184,000 126,000 139,000
8 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,074,000 246,000 322,000 219,000 120,000 168,000
9 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,072,000 280,000 284,000 235,000 96,000 177,000
10 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 1,060,000 286,000 281,000 251,000 106,000 135,000
11 NINE NEWS Nine 1,016,000 249,000 341,000 220,000 109,000 97,000
12 HOT PROPERTY Seven 988,000 263,000 300,000 203,000 77,000 145,000
13 THIRD TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 968,000 286,000 274,000 189,000 112,000 108,000
14 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 958,000 200,000 335,000 200,000 93,000 131,000
15 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW SUMMER SERIES -RPT Nine 949,000 294,000 221,000 219,000 112,000 104,000
16 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE RPT ABC1 943,000 267,000 272,000 141,000 127,000 137,000
17 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 927,000 232,000 295,000 212,000 96,000 92,000
18 ABC NEWS-SA ABC1 917,000 244,000 275,000 168,000 97,000 134,000
19 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 896,000 217,000 313,000 133,000 96,000 138,000
20 HOSTAGE -RPT Nine 874,000 258,000 263,000 171,000 91,000 90,000
21 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 874,000 233,000 287,000 170,000 90,000 94,000
22 TOP GEAR SBS 865,000 220,000 331,000 146,000 102,000 67,000
23 EMERGENCY Nine 865,000 194,000 241,000 237,000 89,000 104,000
24 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 849,000 259,000 261,000 152,000 90,000 87,000
25 COASTWATCH - TUE Seven 838,000 222,000 257,000 168,000 85,000 106,000
26 ABC NEWS ABC1 837,000 235,000 245,000 152,000 92,000 113,000
27 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 836,000 236,000 269,000 151,000 83,000 97,000
28 THE BILL ABC1 828,000 245,000 238,000 124,000 86,000 135,000
29 EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2008 ABC1 821,000 221,000 238,000 141,000 107,000 113,000
30 THE WAITING ROOM Nine 813,000 187,000 237,000 207,000 87,000 95,000
31 WILD VETS - TUE Seven 802,000 207,000 216,000 196,000 84,000 100,000
32 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 800,000 155,000 290,000 169,000 93,000 94,000
33 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 798,000 150,000 274,000 188,000 84,000 101,000
34 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 791,000 228,000 242,000 161,000 86,000 75,000
35 NEW YEAR'S EVE 2008 - MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS Ten 787,000 425,000 111,000 129,000 77,000 45,000
150 KATH & KIM THE AMERICAN SERIES - MON Seven 261,000 64,000 78,000 34,000 25,000 60,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,155,000 254,000 393,000 244,000 123,000 142,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,134,000 248,000 357,000 245,000 122,000 162,000
3 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 958,000 200,000 335,000 200,000 93,000 131,000
4 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE RPT ABC1 943,000 267,000 272,000 141,000 127,000 137,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 938,000 238,000 277,000 213,000 91,000 119,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 819,000 245,000 211,000 160,000 98,000 105,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 792,000 185,000 243,000 186,000 71,000 107,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,143,000 276,000 414,000 257,000 117,000 80,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,106,000 210,000 341,000 208,000 148,000 199,000
3 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,002,000 247,000 314,000 252,000 97,000 93,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,001,000 198,000 295,000 206,000 134,000 168,000
5 ABC NEWS-EV ABC1 891,000 221,000 273,000 172,000 102,000 123,000
6 EMERGENCY Nine 865,000 194,000 241,000 237,000 89,000 104,000
7 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT EP 2 RPT Ten 822,000 224,000 285,000 145,000 87,000 80,000
8 THE WAITING ROOM Nine 814,000 188,000 237,000 207,000 87,000 95,000
15 ELI STONE Seven 697,000 179,000 254,000 138,000 60,000 66,000
16 DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS THURS Ten 684,000 155,000 253,000 135,000 64,000 77,000
17 SECRET MILLIONAIRE Nine 668,000 142,000 206,000 116,000 90,000 115,000
19 UGLY BETTY - THU Seven 601,000 129,000 204,000 133,000 72,000 63,000
25 THE UNIT - THU Seven 470,000 121,000 153,000 92,000 43,000 60,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 981,000 238,000 259,000 193,000 112,000 178,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 928,000 247,000 232,000 196,000 98,000 155,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 822,000 196,000 266,000 167,000 92,000 102,000
4 EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2008 ABC1 821,000 221,000 238,000 141,000 107,000 113,000
5 NEW YEAR'S EVE 2008 - MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS Ten 790,000 427,000 111,000 130,000 78,000 45,000
6 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 737,000 172,000 213,000 157,000 74,000 121,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 706,000 171,000 208,000 159,000 77,000 91,000
8 ABC NEWS ABC1 682,000 182,000 233,000 107,000 70,000 91,000
12 2008 THE YEAR THAT WAS Nine 572,000 185,000 150,000 97,000 59,000 81,000
20 NEW YEAR'S EVE 2008 - FAMILY FIREWORKS Ten 404,000 182,000 94,000 55,000 24,000 49,000
22 NEW YEARS EVE PARTY ZONE Nine 398,000 116,000 123,000 74,000 40,000 43,000
24 VIDEO HITS PRESENTS: ABBA Ten 367,000 82,000 102,000 84,000 40,000 59,000
28 2009 NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS Seven 319,000 62,000 139,000 45,000 32,000 41,000
29 LAS VEGAS Seven 313,000 60,000 86,000 67,000 39,000 60,000
30 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 310,000 91,000 96,000 52,000 32,000 40,000
32 PRISON BREAK Seven 295,000 68,000 78,000 59,000 36,000 55,000
41 MELBOURNE FIREWORKS Nine 248,000 Not shown 248,000 Not shown Not shown Not shown
53 VIDEO HITS NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATIONS Ten 195,000 92,000 48,000 15,000 27,000 13,000
58 M-MOULIN ROUGE Seven 179,000 52,000 70,000 33,000 11,000 12,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
ncis.jpg 1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,252,000 274,000 357,000 229,000 165,000 226,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,239,000 265,000 370,000 238,000 149,000 218,000
3 NCIS RPT Ten 1,148,000 280,000 371,000 209,000 135,000 152,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 940,000 176,000 309,000 249,000 113,000 93,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 910,000 204,000 311,000 223,000 92,000 79,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 858,000 237,000 237,000 159,000 99,000 127,000
7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 856,000 195,000 288,000 174,000 73,000 125,000
8 COASTWATCH - TUE Seven 838,000 222,000 257,000 168,000 85,000 106,000
9 TEMPTATION Nine 812,000 212,000 239,000 206,000 89,000 67,000
10 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 805,000 157,000 290,000 170,000 94,000 93,000
11 WILD VETS - TUE Seven 802,000 207,000 216,000 196,000 84,000 100,000
12 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 794,000 149,000 271,000 188,000 85,000 100,000
16 RUSH HOUR 2 -RPT Nine 669,000 181,000 220,000 135,000 50,000 84,000
17 IN PLAIN SIGHT Ten 667,000 162,000 229,000 124,000 60,000 92,000
20 ELI STONE Seven 585,000 150,000 208,000 105,000 54,000 69,000
21 GHOST WHISPERER - TUE Seven 571,000 136,000 189,000 94,000 77,000 76,000
26 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 418,000 114,000 154,000 57,000 54,000 39,000
29 PRISON BREAK - TUE Seven 372,000 76,000 151,000 62,000 39,000 46,000
30 PARTY ANIMALS ABC1 356,000 98,000 100,000 61,000 46,000 51,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,233,000 364,000 434,000 213,000 130,000 92,000
2 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,228,000 350,000 406,000 241,000 139,000 92,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,154,000 284,000 336,000 235,000 118,000 180,000
4 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,076,000 264,000 362,000 184,000 126,000 139,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,069,000 264,000 326,000 216,000 97,000 165,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 936,000 288,000 271,000 164,000 92,000 120,000
7 TEMPTATION Nine 896,000 277,000 288,000 165,000 91,000 75,000
8 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 896,000 217,000 313,000 133,000 96,000 138,000
9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 883,000 237,000 285,000 174,000 92,000 95,000
10 TOP GEAR SBS 880,000 224,000 337,000 148,000 103,000 68,000
11 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 862,000 204,000 305,000 169,000 82,000 102,000
12 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 854,000 259,000 269,000 152,000 79,000 95,000
13 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 835,000 259,000 264,000 137,000 89,000 86,000
14 THE MENTALIST -RPT Nine 759,000 231,000 259,000 132,000 69,000 68,000
20 SCRUBS Seven 546,000 134,000 181,000 80,000 58,000 93,000
22 638 WAYS TO KILL CASTRO-EV ABC1 499,000 178,000 160,000 73,000 36,000 53,000
24 HOW TO LOOK GOOD NAKED Ten 448,000 119,000 116,000 83,000 51,000 78,000
25 ARMY WIVES Ten 406,000 110,000 140,000 61,000 31,000 64,000
26 JAMIE AT HOME - DAILY RPT Ten 391,000 95,000 122,000 83,000 41,000 49,000

The peripatetic Tribal Mind reports from London:
The Doctor Who Christmas special (shown on BBC Dec 25 and scheduled for ABC Jan 25) is not up to the standard of previous years. Fine special effects, but there's no chemistry between the Doctor and his potential assistants, the villains are same-old-same-old (even duller than the Daleks), and the mood is unseasonably sad. Russell T. Davies, your time is done. Bring on Steven Moffat.

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,348,000 290,000 357,000 342,000 135,000 224,000
2 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,161,000 340,000 415,000 223,000 114,000 70,000
3 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,096,000 279,000 290,000 248,000 101,000 178,000
4 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 1,054,000 287,000 280,000 248,000 104,000 134,000
5 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 1,020,000 271,000 341,000 225,000 111,000 73,000
6 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,013,000 309,000 295,000 197,000 108,000 104,000
7 HOT PROPERTY Seven 975,000 261,000 297,000 200,000 76,000 141,000
8 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 878,000 231,000 293,000 171,000 92,000 92,000
9 HOSTAGE -RPT Nine 877,000 258,000 264,000 172,000 92,000 91,000
10 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 816,000 211,000 271,000 148,000 86,000 100,000
14 M-BRAVEHEART Seven 622,000 165,000 165,000 138,000 66,000 88,000
17 PRINCES IN THE TOWER ABC1 558,000 157,000 146,000 83,000 81,000 92,000

What Australia watched, week ending December 27
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,474,000 480,000 496,000 227,000 171,000 101,000
2 SHREK THE HALLS -RPT Nine 1,229,000 316,000 372,000 286,000 106,000 148,000
3 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,218,000 237,000 324,000 286,000 145,000 226,000
4 SPICKS AND SPECKS: A VERY SPECKY CHRISTMAS ABC1 1,198,000 323,000 374,000 208,000 143,000 149,000
5 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,145,000 292,000 263,000 252,000 115,000 223,000
6 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,110,000 235,000 261,000 265,000 133,000 216,000
7 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,102,000 324,000 340,000 194,000 125,000 118,000
8 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,092,000 328,000 353,000 206,000 151,000 55,000
9 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,089,000 292,000 370,000 176,000 120,000 131,000
10 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEO SHOW SUMMER SERIES -RPT Nine 1,046,000 298,000 311,000 201,000 127,000 110,000
11 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,045,000 251,000 325,000 192,000 115,000 163,000
12 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,044,000 256,000 313,000 198,000 121,000 157,000
13 NCIS RPT Ten 1,041,000 260,000 326,000 179,000 113,000 162,000
14 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,007,000 235,000 251,000 236,000 126,000 159,000
15 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 988,000 268,000 334,000 158,000 86,000 142,000
16 CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Nine 972,000 235,000 445,000 114,000 98,000 80,000 (disputed figure)
17 OCEAN'S TWELVE -RPT Nine 965,000 317,000 318,000 170,000 80,000 80,000
18 SECRET MILLIONAIRE -RPT Nine 921,000 186,000 467,000 78,000 88,000 103,000
19 FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 891,000 242,000 311,000 176,000 108,000 53,000
20 MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING -RPT Nine 884,000 313,000 283,000 118,000 77,000 94,000
21 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 882,000 249,000 282,000 130,000 86,000 134,000
22 ABC NEWS-SA ABC1 882,000 232,000 266,000 150,000 99,000 134,000
23 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 872,000 215,000 235,000 186,000 96,000 140,000
24 THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN Ten 871,000 236,000 233,000 196,000 88,000 118,000
25 NINE NEWS Nine 870,000 230,000 288,000 180,000 101,000 71,000
26 M-SURVIVING CHRISTMAS Seven 869,000 269,000 270,000 138,000 87,000 104,000
27 WILD VETS - TUE Seven 864,000 231,000 220,000 176,000 106,000 131,000
28 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 857,000 231,000 273,000 157,000 99,000 97,000
29 THE CRICKET SHOW Nine 851,000 237,000 275,000 153,000 99,000 87,000
30 ABC NEWS ABC1 830,000 245,000 242,000 138,000 102,000 102,000
31 VICAR OF DIBLEY PART 2 RPT ABC1 818,000 198,000 269,000 129,000 114,000 108,000
32 THE BILL ABC1 809,000 235,000 264,000 100,000 97,000 113,000
33 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 807,000 207,000 271,000 173,000 85,000 70,000
34 COASTWATCH - TUE Seven 784,000 216,000 193,000 151,000 117,000 108,000
35 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 774,000 218,000 246,000 150,000 78,000 82,000
36 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 772,000 195,000 235,000 158,000 71,000 114,000
37 TOP GEAR SBS 764,000 192,000 264,000 138,000 94,000 76,000
43 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 713,000 194,000 237,000 134,000 63,000 85,000
49 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 685,000 181,000 237,000 137,000 63,000 67,000
103 THE UNIT - WED Seven 395,000 102,000 119,000 72,000 45,000 57,000
105 CALIFORNICATION Ten 392,000 83,000 149,000 42,000 41,000 77,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS Nine 1,275,000 390,000 433,000 241,000 133,000 77,000
2 SECOND TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 1,121,000 329,000 341,000 196,000 131,000 123,000
3 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,066,000 293,000 376,000 202,000 106,000 88,000
4 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,013,000 252,000 280,000 195,000 138,000 147,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 962,000 250,000 271,000 194,000 116,000 131,000
6 THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN Ten 871,000 236,000 233,000 196,000 88,000 118,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC1 864,000 248,000 237,000 147,000 125,000 106,000
8 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 857,000 231,000 273,000 157,000 99,000 97,000
12 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE RPT ABC1 723,000 177,000 237,000 103,000 105,000 100,000
15 AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC - BEST OF AUSTRALIA Nine 614,000 155,000 204,000 111,000 64,000 81,000
18 SYDNEY HOBART YACHT RACE 2008 Seven 454,000 182,000 111,000 84,000 44,000 33,000
25 THE WEDGE FRI Ten 288,000 63,000 66,000 45,000 46,000 67,000
28 THE THICK OF IT ABC1 270,000 67,000 79,000 33,000 44,000 47,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 743,000 184,000 246,000 142,000 70,000 102,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 713,000 168,000 223,000 145,000 70,000 108,000
3 NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION -RPT Nine 709,000 200,000 270,000 107,000 83,000 48,000
4 ABC NEWS ABC1 642,000 188,000 162,000 141,000 71,000 79,000
5 EVER AFTER Ten 535,000 166,000 139,000 102,000 44,000 84,000
6 BLAST FROM THE PAST -RPT Nine 526,000 171,000 183,000 71,000 53,000 47,000
7 THE QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2008 ABC1 510,000 131,000 130,000 108,000 67,000 75,000
8 TEMPTATION Nine 500,000 124,000 169,000 112,000 50,000 45,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 478,000 114,000 157,000 95,000 64,000 49,000
10 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 463,000 99,000 140,000 124,000 61,000 39,000
11 DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS THURS Ten 446,000 134,000 130,000 68,000 44,000 70,000
12 WORLD LATIN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 Seven 426,000 116,000 159,000 59,000 38,000 54,000
19 AUSTRALIAN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008 Seven 334,000 114,000 122,000 24,000 33,000 41,000
20 INSPECTOR REX: THE BEGINNING RPT SBS 281,000 69,000 94,000 48,000 32,000 38,000
24 INSPECTOR REX RPT SBS 226,000 52,000 73,000 51,000 20,000 30,000
27 2008 QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE Nine 204,000 61,000 62,000 31,000 25,000 25,000
28 A BOYFRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS Nine 204,000 45,000 59,000 57,000 29,000 15,000

What Australia watched, Christmas Eve
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Nine 1,789,000 447,000 821,000 195,000 181,000 145,000
2 SHREK THE HALLS -RPT Nine 1,229,000 316,000 372,000 286,000 106,000 148,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,044,000 261,000 317,000 205,000 92,000 170,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,012,000 256,000 281,000 193,000 109,000 173,000
5 SECRET MILLIONAIRE -RPT Nine 921,000 186,000 467,000 78,000 88,000 103,000
6 VICAR OF DIBLEY PART 2 RPT ABC1 818,000 198,000 269,000 129,000 114,000 108,000
7 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 790,000 194,000 249,000 153,000 80,000 115,000
8 NINE NEWS Nine 777,000 180,000 258,000 189,000 76,000 75,000
9 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 763,000 199,000 238,000 190,000 68,000 68,000
10 ABC NEWS ABC1 753,000 201,000 224,000 121,000 102,000 105,000
11 VICAR OF DIBLEY PART 1 RPT ABC1 731,000 171,000 221,000 143,000 85,000 110,000
26 VICTORIA'S SECRET FASHION SHOW 2008 Ten 331,000 87,000 75,000 78,000 39,000 52,000
27 CAROLS FROM ST PATRICK'S ABC1 323,000 110,000 108,000 38,000 25,000 42,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,123,000 275,000 334,000 205,000 142,000 167,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,102,000 251,000 353,000 185,000 138,000 175,000
3 NCIS RPT Ten 1,041,000 260,000 326,000 179,000 113,000 162,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 893,000 244,000 282,000 195,000 102,000 71,000
5 MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING -RPT Nine 887,000 313,000 284,000 119,000 76,000 94,000
6 ABC NEWS ABC1 874,000 265,000 257,000 147,000 96,000 109,000
7 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 871,000 237,000 231,000 175,000 91,000 137,000
8 WILD VETS - TUE Seven 864,000 231,000 220,000 176,000 106,000 131,000
9 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 849,000 233,000 292,000 174,000 73,000 77,000
17 THE MUSEUM ABC1 662,000 207,000 199,000 115,000 69,000 71,000
19 IN PLAIN SIGHT Ten 629,000 168,000 186,000 85,000 77,000 113,000
55 STEVE MCQUEEN: THE ESSENCE OF COOL RPT SBS 215,000 57,000 70,000 24,000 36,000 28,000
56 DIRTY SEXY MONEY - TUE Seven 212,000 59,000 89,000 23,000 21,000 20,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,370,000 321,000 441,000 245,000 161,000 202,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,314,000 307,000 427,000 231,000 135,000 214,000
3 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,089,000 292,000 370,000 176,000 120,000 131,000
4 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 988,000 268,000 334,000 158,000 86,000 142,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC1 960,000 308,000 306,000 135,000 107,000 104,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 924,000 225,000 313,000 175,000 130,000 82,000
12 TOP GEAR SBS 770,000 193,000 266,000 139,000 95,000 76,000
22 SCRUBS Seven 518,000 142,000 191,000 70,000 48,000 68,000
24 ARMY WIVES Ten 469,000 106,000 160,000 84,000 34,000 85,000
50 KATH & KIM THE AMERICAN SERIES - MON Seven 244,000 49,000 103,000 24,000 19,000 49,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,218,000 237,000 324,000 286,000 145,000 226,000
2 SPICKS AND SPECKS: A VERY SPECKY CHRISTMAS ABC1 1,206,000 325,000 377,000 209,000 144,000 150,000
3 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,110,000 235,000 261,000 265,000 133,000 216,000
4 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,093,000 328,000 349,000 204,000 150,000 62,000
5 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,007,000 235,000 251,000 236,000 126,000 159,000
6 OCEAN'S TWELVE -RPT Nine 965,000 317,000 319,000 171,000 80,000 79,000
7 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 882,000 249,000 282,000 130,000 86,000 134,000
8 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 872,000 215,000 235,000 186,000 96,000 140,000
9 M-SURVIVING CHRISTMAS Seven 869,000 269,000 270,000 138,000 87,000 104,000
10 FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 827,000 234,000 288,000 163,000 91,000 53,000
19 CALIFORNICATION Ten 392,000 83,000 149,000 42,000 41,000 77,000
26 KYLIE MINOGUE INTERVIEW Seven 287,000 64,000 117,000 54,000 13,000 39,000

And now we celebrate in images the great failures of 2008. How many of the pictured programs can you identify?

What Australia watched, week ending December 20
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,297,000 391,000 373,000 254,000 142,000 136,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,285,000 332,000 379,000 246,000 137,000 191,000
3 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,274,000 371,000 348,000 262,000 139,000 153,000
4 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,239,000 325,000 349,000 221,000 135,000 209,000
5 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,227,000 368,000 298,000 255,000 133,000 174,000
6 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,204,000 350,000 337,000 255,000 120,000 142,000
7 NCIS RPT Ten 1,193,000 303,000 338,000 220,000 132,000 201,000
8 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,166,000 320,000 295,000 245,000 98,000 207,000
9 WOOLWORTHS' CAROLS IN THE DOMAIN Seven 1,144,000 442,000 311,000 131,000 116,000 143,000
10 BONES (R) Seven 1,137,000 318,000 366,000 191,000 135,000 128,000
11 NEWS SUN Nine 1,111,000 298,000 394,000 188,000 137,000 93,000
12 NINE NEWS Nine 1,085,000 303,000 346,000 211,000 125,000 99,000
13 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 1,026,000 248,000 341,000 214,000 91,000 131,000
14 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,012,000 305,000 312,000 191,000 99,000 105,000
15 LAW AND ORDER: SVU RPT Ten 996,000 282,000 306,000 191,000 115,000 103,000
16 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 993,000 286,000 306,000 159,000 109,000 133,000
17 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 986,000 278,000 318,000 168,000 112,000 111,000
18 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 983,000 247,000 280,000 217,000 109,000 130,000
19 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 983,000 277,000 299,000 192,000 114,000 101,000
20 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT RPT Ten 946,000 252,000 299,000 185,000 97,000 112,000
21 M-THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 Seven 941,000 220,000 371,000 142,000 87,000 122,000
22 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE RPT ABC1 922,000 280,000 264,000 130,000 120,000 128,000
23 TOP GEAR SBS 915,000 250,000 293,000 156,000 118,000 97,000
24 DIE HARD 2 Ten 908,000 242,000 292,000 180,000 85,000 108,000
25 ABC NEWS ABC1 904,000 270,000 269,000 150,000 97,000 119,000
26 M-SOMEONE LIKE YOU Seven 904,000 255,000 267,000 175,000 89,000 118,000
27 CSI -RPT Nine 888,000 264,000 220,000 177,000 100,000 128,000
28 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 887,000 202,000 264,000 182,000 103,000 136,000
29 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 869,000 270,000 269,000 137,000 97,000 95,000
30 SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR 2008 ABC1 867,000 350,000 232,000 129,000 69,000 87,000
31 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 851,000 219,000 276,000 160,000 81,000 115,000
32 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 850,000 197,000 273,000 167,000 93,000 120,000
33 M-ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME Seven 847,000 252,000 237,000 180,000 81,000 97,000
34 1ST TEST - A/ SA Nine 832,000 259,000 242,000 158,000 96,000 77,000
35 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 829,000 235,000 261,000 168,000 71,000 94,000
36 AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS Seven 824,000 210,000 235,000 179,000 86,000 114,000
37 COASTWATCH - TUE Seven 814,000 214,000 207,000 158,000 94,000 142,000
38 OCEAN'S ELEVEN -RPT Nine 797,000 226,000 247,000 149,000 84,000 91,000

(OzTAM mainland capitals)

Here's Pay TV's report of its week: "In week 51, subscription TV was the number one source of TV across Australia when subscription channels accounted for 25.2% of metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, 21.6% of regional viewing and 61.2% of all viewing in subscription TV homes. America's Next Top Model on FOX8 was watched by 148,000 viewers, the penultimate episode of Project Runway (series 5) drew 108,000 viewers on Arena and Relocation Relocation on Lifestyle was watched by 102,000. This week's episode of Gossip Girl on FOX8 was seen by 98,000 people and the world premiere of Storm Surfers, a local production by Discovery Channel, was watched by 67,000 people. In sport, the Football: EPL Highlights on FOX Sports were viewed by 93,000 people and Live: Football: A-League Qld v Newc was seen by 80,000 people."

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,174,000 306,000 346,000 228,000 119,000 174,000
2 NINE NEWS Nine 1,133,000 304,000 382,000 230,000 128,000 89,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,101,000 302,000 317,000 194,000 106,000 181,000
4 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SUMMER Seven 1,026,000 248,000 341,000 214,000 91,000 131,000
5 M-THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 Seven 941,000 220,000 371,000 142,000 87,000 122,000
6 AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MISS MARPLE RPT ABC1 922,000 280,000 264,000 130,000 120,000 128,000
7 FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 815,000 250,000 242,000 165,000 89,000 69,000
8 ABC NEWS ABC1 797,000 252,000 249,000 115,000 76,000 105,000


What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,216,000 308,000 397,000 230,000 124,000 157,000
2 NINE NEWS Nine 1,163,000 331,000 391,000 228,000 122,000 91,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,135,000 297,000 325,000 202,000 125,000 186,000
4 LAW AND ORDER: SVU RPT Ten 996,000 282,000 306,000 191,000 115,000 103,000
5 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT RPT Ten 946,000 252,000 299,000 185,000 97,000 112,000
6 SECRET MILLIONAIRE Nine 918,000 265,000 318,000 154,000 82,000 99,000
7 ABC NEWS ABC1 816,000 232,000 252,000 131,000 103,000 98,000
8 THE AMAZING RACE 13 Seven 795,000 210,000 296,000 105,000 84,000 100,000
11 ELI STONE Seven 781,000 222,000 253,000 130,000 79,000 98,000
13 FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 742,000 230,000 238,000 128,000 85,000 60,000
15 UGLY BETTY - THU Seven 732,000 200,000 269,000 118,000 63,000 82,000
19 FRIENDS - DAILY RPT Ten 556,000 142,000 185,000 99,000 61,000 69,000
23 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 416,000 130,000 123,000 87,000 42,000 34,000
28 REX IN ROME SBS 350,000 134,000 102,000 41,000 36,000 38,000
29 SUNRISE Seven 350,000 111,000 74,000 82,000 36,000 48,000
36 TODAY Nine 273,000 94,000 83,000 55,000 16,000 24,000
79 MORNINGS WITH KERRI-ANNE SUMMER SERIES -RPT Nine 128,000 41,000 31,000 28,000 11,000 16,000
92 THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW Nine 108,000 37,000 51,000 13,000 7,000
What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,405,000 374,000 407,000 287,000 146,000 190,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,264,000 320,000 342,000 248,000 130,000 224,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,172,000 339,000 362,000 226,000 134,000 111,000
4 CSI: MIAMI -RPT Nine 1,082,000 325,000 358,000 171,000 118,000 110,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC1 919,000 272,000 280,000 156,000 89,000 122,000
6 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 905,000 247,000 288,000 174,000 81,000 115,000
7 E.R. Nine 843,000 272,000 297,000 118,000 67,000 89,000
8 AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS Seven 824,000 210,000 235,000 179,000 86,000 114,000
9 MY FAMILY ABC1 782,000 183,000 239,000 157,000 94,000 108,000
11 FIRST TEST - AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Nine 728,000 237,000 199,000 130,000 85,000 76,000
14 LAS VEGAS Seven 696,000 219,000 202,000 155,000 57,000 64,000
15 AC/DC LEGENDS OF ROCK Seven 675,000 166,000 218,000 121,000 98,000 73,000
16 WALLACE AND GROMIT: THE WRONG TROUSERS ABC1 674,000 155,000 210,000 134,000 90,000 84,000
22 THE UNIT - WED Seven 524,000 115,000 184,000 99,000 69,000 56,000
25 GOSSIP GIRL Nine 441,000 137,000 168,000 53,000 32,000 50,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,278,000 313,000 371,000 220,000 152,000 222,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,275,000 304,000 368,000 243,000 140,000 219,000
3 NCIS RPT Ten 1,193,000 303,000 338,000 220,000 132,000 201,000
4 ABC NEWS ABC1 951,000 263,000 282,000 168,000 101,000 137,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 929,000 230,000 305,000 197,000 104,000 94,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 902,000 219,000 314,000 174,000 109,000 86,000
7 SUDDEN IMPACT Nine 885,000 200,000 265,000 181,000 103,000 136,000
10 POLICE TEN 7 Nine 848,000 198,000 271,000 166,000 93,000 119,000
11 TEMPTATION Nine 840,000 211,000 263,000 172,000 84,000 109,000
13 OCEAN'S ELEVEN -RPT Nine 803,000 227,000 248,000 151,000 85,000 92,000
15 ELI STONE Seven 788,000 222,000 218,000 149,000 91,000 108,000
19 IN PLAIN SIGHT Ten 725,000 197,000 200,000 143,000 80,000 105,000
22 GHOST WHISPERER - TUE Seven 595,000 169,000 184,000 70,000 89,000 83,000
23 FRIENDS - DAILY RPT Ten 579,000 133,000 156,000 140,000 63,000 86,000
24 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Ten 467,000 107,000 147,000 119,000 45,000 49,000
27 HUSTLE ABC1 402,000 90,000 133,000 42,000 64,000 73,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,416,000 390,000 389,000 241,000 161,000 233,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,357,000 367,000 375,000 242,000 158,000 216,000
3 BONES - MON (R) Seven 1,137,000 318,000 366,000 191,000 135,000 128,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,044,000 327,000 297,000 188,000 125,000 107,000
5 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,038,000 328,000 280,000 181,000 115,000 134,000
6 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,011,000 330,000 298,000 186,000 86,000 112,000
7 NINE NEWS Nine 1,006,000 317,000 274,000 192,000 127,000 97,000
8 THE RICH LIST - MON Seven 993,000 286,000 306,000 159,000 109,000 133,000
9 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (R) Seven 919,000 256,000 289,000 138,000 93,000 143,000
10 TOP GEAR SBS 915,000 250,000 293,000 156,000 118,000 97,000
17 CELEBRITY: DOMINICK DUNNE ABC1 697,000 235,000 206,000 113,000 58,000 85,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 OUTBACK WILDLIFE RESCUE Seven 1,274,000 371,000 348,000 262,000 139,000 153,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,227,000 368,000 298,000 255,000 133,000 174,000
3 HOT PROPERTY Seven 1,204,000 350,000 337,000 255,000 120,000 142,000
4 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,113,000 298,000 396,000 189,000 137,000 93,000
5 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD Seven 982,000 247,000 280,000 216,000 109,000 130,000
6 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 962,000 279,000 323,000 194,000 68,000 98,000
7 DIE HARD 2 Ten 908,000 242,000 292,000 180,000 85,000 108,000
8 M-SOMEONE LIKE YOU Seven 905,000 255,000 267,000 175,000 89,000 118,000
9 ABC NEWS-SUN ABC1 869,000 270,000 269,000 137,000 97,000 95,000
10 SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR 2008 ABC1 868,000 351,000 232,000 129,000 69,000 87,000
11 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 840,000 213,000 287,000 182,000 71,000 88,000
12 THE GIRL IN THE CAFE RPT ABC1 686,000 191,000 236,000 97,000 87,000 76,000
13 BATTLEFRONTS Nine 684,000 202,000 189,000 143,000 70,000 80,000
14 TEN NEWS AT FIVE SUN Ten 669,000 162,000 166,000 165,000 55,000 121,000
15 DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS Ten 608,000 118,000 222,000 127,000 69,000 71,000
16 NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION 2: COUSIN EDDIE'S ISLA Nine 543,000 125,000 189,000 106,000 72,000 51,000
17 SPORTS TONIGHT SUN Ten 529,000 146,000 110,000 133,000 51,000 89,000
18 2008 MEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN GOLF-DAY 4 Seven 494,000 153,000 163,000 87,000 41,000 51,000
19 WEEKEND SUNRISE Seven 428,000 113,000 138,000 91,000 32,000 54,000
20 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL Ten 415,000 91,000 139,000 77,000 51,000 58,000
21 THE SIMPSONS SUN Ten 353,000 96,000 117,000 63,000 31,000 46,000
22 HOLBY BLUE Seven 342,000 98,000 115,000 43,000 51,000 34,000
23 CALIFORNICATION Ten 332,000 96,000 132,000 40,000 34,000 29,000
24 AT THE MOVIES SUMMER SPECIAL ABC1 292,000 95,000 94,000 44,000 27,000 32,000
25 THE ROMAN EMPIRE RPT SBS 287,000 90,000 73,000 45,000 39,000 39,000
44 THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART Ten 177,000 51,000 71,000 28,000 13,000 14,000
52 2008 FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP ADE UTD V GAM OSA SBS 154,000 39,000 36,000 10,000 56,000 13,000
53 THE BENNY HILL SHOW Seven 147,000 51,000 40,000 16,000 23,000 17,000
69 LEONARD BERNSTEIN'S CANDIDE ABC1 105,000 41,000 31,000 17,000 6,000 10,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, 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

'Big Bang Theory' is starting to grow on me. It's all relative though at this time of year isn't it? And if it's half good it'll be gone by February.
Interesting that 'Die Hard 2' beat 'Someone Like You'. Could it be that people are finally fed-up to the eye-balls with sugary sweet sunrise family type stuff?
At least in Melbourne.
Or maybe just sick of Hugh.

  • by darren on December 15, 2008 at 11:31 AM

Outback Wildlife Rescue seems to have found an audience now that it doesn't have Jamie Durie's Outdoor Room as a lead-in. Hot Property is enjoying a resurgence in the silly season too.

  • by J Bar on December 15, 2008 at 12:55 PM

Myself, I watched "The Girl In The Cafe". Got a little preachy and serious for non ratings fare. An interesting story nonetheless. But YAY for the Specky Xmas next week!

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 15, 2008 at 01:36 PM

Very cross I am!
Missed the Movie Show special last night, after checking the guide and finding nothing much more than kiddie shows, repeats, or worthy documentaries. Bleh. Ditto all week. Thank goodness for Foxtel, still running great shows all through the holidays. Yes they have rubbish too, but nothing to compare with FTA.
Go to the ABC website and you can download quite a few programs, but not the most recent Movie Show. Rats.

  • by Sal on December 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM

BS, I also watched The Girl in The Cafe as well last night - well, most of it - got sick of Bill Nighy's dithering and went to bed. I find it hard to imagine that the romp in the sack was successful. Also waiting for anxiously for a Specky Xmas - I really need to get a life.
Apparently Jessica has been boned again - although Seven are denying it. Perhaps she should look elsewhere for a job - our local KFC is now hiring.
Will refrain from mentioning that Corby woman only to wonder if she would have got the gig had her sister not been a convicted drug smuggler. Not sure about the grammar in that sentence.
Don't worry darrren, the Y-front once lost a mark in a spelling test because he spelt his own name incorrectly. He swears he did it on purpose.

  • by Shoopie on December 15, 2008 at 02:06 PM

I sure I one did a Latin exam at school where the bottom mark was 4% - the fellow got those marks for spelling his name correctly.
Reviewing the TV guide for the week, the old faithful 40 Yr old Virgin is getting dragged out again this week. Yea verily we are back in true Shirl territory. Sure we're getting all 3 installments of Back To The Future, and School of Rock was trotted out for its 74th showing last week, but what odds Love Actually is on the cards before New Year?

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 15, 2008 at 03:35 PM

Sal said he/she missed the Movie Show on ABC Sunday night. This ep will be repeated on ABC2 7.30 Saturday night Dec 20. Was good to see David and Margaret bounce off each other a bit more than the usual 30 minute format allows. (And some good movies coming in January). Pity Foxtel and ABC can't get an agreement in place to repeat the Movie Show on Ovation, as used to happen when D & M were with SBS.

Tribal Mind wonders: What would be the point of the ABC allowing D and M to be shown on Ovation, which nobody watches? Isn't the ABC entitled to hold its audience by making the most of its own resources?

  • by David @ Green Point on December 15, 2008 at 04:48 PM

So, Mercedes Corby eh? Phwoar........no, I can't do it.
Curiously not a sign of her on either 'ACA' or 'TT' last night but Max 'Media Whore' Markson appeared on the Seven News to say that Mercedes could well earn $100000 or more as a model or a public speaker. I can just imagine..."I have a dream...Hey! Shut up youse guys down the back or I'll smash yer faces in. Shut up!! Yeah and up yours too yer slag!"
Someone else mentioned to fact that Miranda Kerr & Jennifer Hawkins both got a boost to their modelling careers from appearing in RALPH, therefore Mercedes could too. Except for the fact that they're attractive, yeah, it's a theory.
Is there anyone here who finds Mercedes Corby appealing. Guys? Girls? Personally, I stay away from girls (I think she's a girl isn't she?) who can't close their mouth over their teeth. That's my rule.
And guess what, there's another Corby sister, that's three including the drug runner. When Schappelle gets out of Kerbokan, they can do a shoot together, Schappelle with that attractive prison-scurvey gleam about her wasted features, and Mercedes with her sagging upholstery (couldn't resist) strapped into another plunging cleavaged bikini. Photoshop will have improved enough to handle it by 2030. Something to look forward to.

  • by darren on December 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM

If Foxtel paid for the rights to screen 'The Movie Show' on Ovation, then the ABC probably wouldn't say no. Foxtel have bought quite a few ABC series in the past for other Foxtel channels such as Police Rescue, MDA, Mother and Son, Lano and Woodley, just to name a few.

Tribal Mind replies: Indeed, but that was after they'd been thoroughly used by the ABC. To run The Movie Show on Foxtel days after it has appeared on ABC would only dilute the ABC's audience.

  • by J Bar on December 16, 2008 at 07:23 AM

Watching Shirl's Late News last night, I was surprised to see they had the Mercedes Corby EXCLUSIVE! Wow, Entertainment Reporter Anglea Bishop must be growling through her smile - first she misses out on a plum seat at the "Australia" press conference, then she's relegated to this EXCLUSIVE!
So, neither 7 nor Nein wanted to touch it with a 40ft pole eh?
darren that is surely stuff of nightmares.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 16, 2008 at 07:27 AM

The Japanese challenge on Top Gear was a lot of fun. Even if it is setup that Clarkson has to win there's always lots of laughs. The ABC show Celebrity:Dominic Dunne was really worth watching. Mrs PJ always reads his articles in Vanity Fair & was very keen to watch it, he certainly has had an interessting life, plus it was Aussie made.

  • by PJ453 on December 16, 2008 at 07:38 AM

Really enjoyed last night's celebrity interview on the ABC with DOMINICK DUNNE - insightful and poignant, a very dominant character who in his latter years led a very sad life. Not sure if this is an ongoing series but certainly worth following.
Darren - I know why SEVEN didn't feature MERCEDES CORBY - haven't they already paid her enough in her defamation case?...and don't NINE have a deal with mother ROSELEIGH! I suspect they're just waiting for her to finish her spread with RALPH before running her story - sounds to me like it could be a good Christmas day exclusive - ROSELEIGH draped in mistletoe with a strategically placed elf -and the headline:
SCHAPELLE'S MOTHER LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE!!! -
Tracey Grimshaw will probably return from whichever resort she's staying at over xmas to do the interview.
Does this family think for a moment how these images of MERCEDES could possibly effect SCHAPELLE'S sentence or her image in Indonesia - they seem totally devoid of their sister's plight and seem driven by money and publicity - what a sad melodrama this whole charade has become!!

  • by GJ on December 16, 2008 at 08:47 AM

GJ I'm just going to pretend I didn't read about that Elf.
Being in the Countdown to Christmas week and all, and having a girl named after a car in the headlines (a punster's dream), here's a little something I came up with while avoiding actual paid work.
Alternative headlines:
"Mercedes Benz Over".
"The New Mercedes Ho-Class - Now with front Air-bags!"
"Mercedes Corrrr-by".
"4 Sale: Used Mercedes (shown with top down)".
"Microsoft Photoshop: If it can do this, it can do anything".
Now, everybody! (it's fun).

  • by darren on December 16, 2008 at 09:37 AM

I have to agree with comments here re the whole Mercedes photo shoot thing. Just plain awful that the media keep throwing money at that bunch of Bogans.
Do they really think we care?? News flash......we don't!


  • by em on December 16, 2008 at 09:41 AM

Re Mercedes Corby - I think the graphic artists had a few days hard photoshop work on those ones. Does nothing for me...
Did get some good news this morning, and early Xmas gift of sorts. It was reported in the Adelaide Advertiser thsis morning that 10 will be screening series II of Dexter starting in February. Am looking forward to that already and it certainly looks like some interesting developments in series III which ended thsi week in the States (no spoilers :) )
Cheers

  • by ozinoz on December 16, 2008 at 10:14 AM

"Yea verily we are back in true Shirl territory"
Bereft, this is why the CEO of ten's salary keeps getting higher (re my thread of his 70% pay rise), and ten's ratings keep on getting lower and lower .......
what are the chances Ten's share price will hit below $1.00 soon ?

  • by Randwick Geoff on December 16, 2008 at 12:16 PM

ABC2 do have a number of original shows that have not been shown on ABC1. The problem is to find any details about them you hve to go to the web site.

  • by Gary on December 16, 2008 at 12:24 PM

Army Wives is yet another example of US drama being badly promoted and scheduled here in Australia. This program has been warmly received in the US on the Lifetime Channel, and has won many fans over there.
It is, in fact, a very watchable show in the vein of Brothers & Sisters (in a war-centric setting.)
Channel Shirl have already moved it around after dropping Ex-List, and replaced it at 8.30pm with yet more L&O:Criminal Intent repeats. Yawn.
Surely, one of these clown networks will get the message sooner or later and give a program a decent enough run to build an audience.
Same can be said for Britannia High, which has an enormous teen following in the UK. What happens here? Channel Se7en give it one week to pull over a million viewers and when it doesn't, dumps it to the curb.
Poor form.

  • by cronker on December 16, 2008 at 12:57 PM

The Corbys, A Current Affair and Ralph have perfect synergy. Australia's best-known bogan family now not only appear on Australia's favourite bogan television show, they also make the cover of what is arguably Australia'sbest bogan magazine.

  • by Levendis on December 16, 2008 at 03:11 PM

Just finished gouging out my own eyes after viewing Madam Mercedes in all her glory - ye gads, there is just no escaping her!!
Hopefully Channel 7 is paying attention to the ratings Scrubs got - if you put it at a decent time, people will watch it! I'm hoping (but certainly not counting on it) this will encourage them to show season 8 in that time slot - I've seen the previews from the ABC website, Courtney Cox looks very funny!

  • by Beckala on December 16, 2008 at 04:48 PM

I doubt that Channel 7 will get Scrubs back out of it's graveyard slot. Zach Braff is almost a certainty to leave at the end of this season, and it's a widely held belief that it's the last season anyhow.
If the show were likely to got 3-4 further season and develop a following there'd be a chance, but remember this is the network who only owned the 1st season of Friends.
On that note, I'm not expecting Boston Legal to get a decent airing either.

Tribal Mind asks: "it's" graveyard slot? Warning: for the next week I am going to draw attention to all apostrophisms.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 16, 2008 at 06:34 PM

Hey Darren, how could you, Microsoft Photoshop? You really can't use the two product names in the one sentence. Microsoft only produces and sells software which needs perpetual fixes to keep it going, Adobe on the other hand produce quality software, like Photoshop, which works when it is released. Its like comparing rusted iron with a bar of pure gold and saying each is as good as the other. Shame on you!

  • by Zjonn on December 16, 2008 at 07:23 PM

Yeah, thanks Zjonn for your input. Bad darren. All I know about computers is that when I press on these square things wot make clicky sounds words come up on the pretty television. Microsoft Photoshop sounded better than Apple Photoshop (cover your ears!) so I went with that. I don't know nuffink else about that stuff there. The point is: Mercedes Corby is a curse on the eyes of Australia.
Speaking of ugly, what's happened to 'Ugly Betty'? I'm no great fan but its (TM is that the correct non-usage of apostophism? I always get its/it's wrong. Grammar lesson please? Seriously.) better than those God-awful New Zealand documentaries. 'Ugly Betty' was going to be my bridge to 'Party Animals' but the bridge was burned and I went and read a book and forgot. Why why why why why change programmes around in non-ratings season? They're still making money from advertising, still looking for better ratings, so they should just not have a 'non-ratings season' and get back to showing quality shows like five-year-old repeats of 'Border Security'. So there.

  • by darren on December 17, 2008 at 05:57 AM

Well Nein is at it again - bringing on Fringe for the summer but taking it off the schedule from next Monday for another Crime Investigation show (the reality version). Wonder how long before they do the same to ER. I do not trust them one little bit!
Watched my recording of Scrubs last night - very clever episode ( loved the shout out to the Princess Bride - one of my favourite films) but think it was out of order as Kelso was still working at the hospital whereas the week before he had left.
TM how did your audition for Masterchef go - have they advised you yet?

Tribal Mind replies: No news yet, but I think I lack the viciousness required.

  • by Cathy on December 17, 2008 at 07:39 AM

Awesome ratings for Scrubs even with strong competition from the Survivor finale. It seems they are going to repeats next week but hopefully they will give Scrubs and 30 Rock a 10.30 slot next year for new episodes.
Swift and Shift Couriers had a good finish to the series. 511,000 is brilliant compared to the 330,000 it had, earlier in the run. I'm sure that the original Top Gear lead-in helped heaps.
Ten lost about half their audience at 6.30pm with Neighbours on holidays and Jamie Oliver moving into that timeslot. The Ten programmers have no idea. Pretty sad that their prime time shows now rate about the same as the afternoon ones.

  • by J Bar on December 17, 2008 at 07:41 AM

From The Free Dictionary - Definition of apostrophisms: "a manner of speech in which the speaker continually interrupts his train of thought and continuity of subject by interjecting subordinate ideas and comments."
Hey TM if you're going to call me on my grammatical errors then call it the right thing! :P
Anyone else notice that The Abominable Denyer is making his return at Ch &'s Carols? Will they be wheeling him on stage in a full body cast (child size). Won't be watching to find out.

Tribal Mind replies: I thought that was parentheticism.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 17, 2008 at 07:55 AM

Bereft and TM, are we talking apostrophe's in writing as in 'banana's $1.30 per kilo' or apostrophes as in a theatrical technique where the protagonist speaks to the audience behind their hand and everyone suspends belief for a moment and thinks the other people on stage can't hear? Someone's got to sort all this out. It drive's me nut's. Definitive answer's please. Maybe something put through the Senate. For the good of the Nation.

  • by darren on December 17, 2008 at 08:39 AM

It's (tick) obvious that half the tv viewing audience are doing something completely different & we're (hmm think tick) only into the 2nd week of The Silly Season!! Pretty sure I'm (tick) on the same page with Party Animals now, but just watched a recorded Who do You think You Are? after.

  • by PJ453 on December 17, 2008 at 09:18 AM

Cathy: I remember reading that because of the Writers Strike, Scrubs episodes last season were aired out of order.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 17, 2008 at 09:19 AM

"'Ugly Betty' was going to be my bridge to 'Party Animals' but the bridge was burned and I went and read a book and forgot. Why why why why why change programmes around in non-ratings season?"
Ugly Betty now only shows on Thursdays 7.30pm rather than twice a week. Actually think it's a good move as saturation was driving ratings down.

  • by arthur on December 17, 2008 at 09:28 AM

Disappointed to see that 'PARTY ANIMALS'
seems to be fairly unpopular with viewers. The more I watch it the more I love it but it can get confusing if you don't know which side each character is on. The political basis for the series is very much like ours - that 'dog eat dog' mentality - as soon as there is a sniff that a local MP may be resigning or god forbid 'dying' the political wannabes are mounting their strategies and forming lists of potential candidates for the by-election and the poor old 'dying' MP is yesterday's news! Last night's episode captured this side of politics very well and it was compelling viewing!
I'm a bit over all the television/print news crews going ape over BEN COUNSINS - this poor bloke is now going to be on everyone's radar. There will be sightings of him here and there, there'll be claims of drinking out late, connections to crime lords, the whole bit. One wonders why anyone would want to put themselves under that much scrutiny but again I think it gets back to the fame thing - even if it's bad press (think MERCEDES CORBY, WAYNE CAREY etc) these mugs seem to love it and I think COUSINS is the same. Even if he falls flat on his arse, he'll still be courted by the media and the MAX MARKSONS of this world and remain famous, or (in)famous for all the wrong reasons!!

  • by GJ on December 17, 2008 at 09:36 AM

It's the silly season in all its glory. When in doubt leave it out, 'cept wen theirs a 'r' in teh munf.
(Isn't parentheticism the work of a bracket-creep, wearing braces ?)
ABC news consistently in the top 5, 'tis the silly season for sure.

  • by Les on December 17, 2008 at 09:43 AM

Ah, finally had a quiet night at home in order to watch TV. (I did watch Brideshead on Sunday, but it was hardly quiet: on the TV were drunk young Englishmen, outside our house were drunk young Englishmen. I may say that drunk young Englishmen were a lot better behaved back in the 1920s.)
I watched most of Party Animals (small children kept on popping up out of bed, luckily never when there was anything questionable on TV so I didn't have to explain people hugging in a broom cupboard or anything), wish it had been uninterrupted, but liked what I saw.
Then flicked over to Ocean's Eleven, but couldn't deal with ads. I also threw out all the Xmas catalogues (unless they were from the bookshop) in a fit of bah humbug pique. I like Xmas, but I can't deal with the consumerism.
Darren: it's = it is. Hopefully that'll help you evade the apostrophe inspectors.

  • by tqd on December 17, 2008 at 10:13 AM

Re 'Ugly Betty', Arthur, saturation is still better than an New Zealand documentary. Checking the seldom utilised archives, a couple of weeks ago 'Ugly Betty' on a Tuesday was getting 820000 at #16. I don't see 'Wild Vets' or 'New Zealand Police Book Another Cuz for Poaching Pippies' anywhere on today's chart.
I care less every day but it still gives me the shuts (as they say in NZ).
Speaking of which, where does everyone go to buy DVDs? I've been going to JB HiFi in the city, but since I'm going to be DVD-ing more and more by the looks things, any recommendations? Just grab 'em where you can get 'em?

  • by darren on December 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM

Parenthesis, (n., pl -ses)
1 a phrase, often explanatory or qualifying, inserted into a passage with which it is not grammatically connected and marked off by brackets, dashes etc.
2 Also called : bracket. either of a pair of characters(), used to enclose such a phrase or as a sign of aggression in mathematical or logical expressions.
3 An interval, interlude.
parenthetic, parenthetical (adj.) parenthetically (adv.)
Apostrophe (n)
1 The punctuation mark (') used to indicate the omission of a letter or number, such as he's for he has or he is, also used in English to for the possessive, as in John's father.
2 Rhetoric, a digression from a discourse, esp. an address to an imaginary or absent personification.
Apostrophize or phise (vb.)
to address an apostrophe to.
So ends the lesson.
(Source Collins Concise English Dictionary 1986)

  • by Zjonn on December 17, 2008 at 10:43 AM

Re Darren, if you compare the ratings they have gone up in the Tuesday timeslot after Ugly Betty's declining ones.
Ugly Betty's ratings leading up to Tuesday:
2/12 820k, 4/12 721k, 9/12 733k, 11/12 740k.
This Tuesday, Coastwatch/Wild Vets = Avg 800k which is much better than the last two week average. Though I don't know how they'll go medium term, it's still better than saturation which is driving down ratings and may even help Ugly Betty's ratings on Thursdays.
For older DVDs, just go to the discount warehouses which are littered around the city centre. Ex-rental DVDs from Blockbuster and the ilk are also good for new releases, and you can check if they are scratched before buying.

  • by arthur on December 17, 2008 at 11:44 AM

I will be throwing a pair of shoes at the screen if these parenthesis & apostrophes do not go away!!
For all the old rockers out there AC/DC are on Ch7 to night & can be heard on Vega, I can only assume it will be the old similcast, just like the ABC show Radio with Pictures of yester year.
darren....I am expecting a good review of the Nigella show from you tomorrow, personally I will be watching from my comfy chair......just watching & taking them in, that is the recipes ofcourse..haha
Note: I gave up 7 opportunities to use an ' during this disertation.

  • by PJ453 on December 17, 2008 at 12:47 PM

Didn't do much viewing last night except for Satisfaction on Showtime which is at least something to watch in the midst of so much rubbish. Goes to show Oz TV shows can be good, when we really try.
Also played with my new Wii Fit that I bought myself for Christmas. I think I may have made a mistake as it showed me just how unfit I am. Now I have to go on a diet and get fit!!! Maybe have to put it back in the box and get it out on Boxing Day after I have had all that lovely Ham, Turkey and Pavlova.
Ahh, Christmas! A time to eat too much, drink too much and complain about a lack of decent TV! Don't we all just love it??
(Bah! Humbug! and all that jazz!!)

  • by em on December 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM

I think Party Animals is great but I've only just caught up on the first two episodes since it clashes on Tuesdays with Satisfaction on Showcase and Eli Stone on Seven. Was it really worth moving Dirty, Sexy, Money to 11.30pm after one week considering Ghost Whisperer repeats do just as bad if not worse.
Nine has just pushed McLeod's Daughters back further to 9.30pm Saturdays now. No respect to whatever fans were left.

  • by J Bar on December 17, 2008 at 02:05 PM

When all else fails in the silly season, just chuck in a couple of New Zealand factual programs. Nobody wull notice.

  • by Levendis on December 17, 2008 at 02:51 PM

Re: darren on December 17, 2008 at 10:40 AM, "Speaking of which, where does everyone go to buy DVDs?...Just grab 'em where you can get 'em?" For me, it is pretty much grab em' when you can. JBHiFi is the place where I get DVDs due to fine prices. Some offers vary store to store though. I sometimes stroll into Big W and Target and find excellent choices too.
I was hanging out for the episode where Wallace & Gromit go to the moon to find some cheese, but ABC1 is showing something different next Wednesday.
TM, have you gone to see David Tennant in Hamlet yet? I've been reading he won't be performing until next year due to a back problem.

Tribal Mnd replies: Our Hamlet tickets are for January 1. We're hoping he's back by then.

  • by Kym on December 17, 2008 at 08:47 PM

If the ABC & Foxtel SHOULDN'T do a deal to repeat D&M's "At the Movies" on Ovation because, as TM replied "(a Foxtel Channel) which nobody watches? Isn't the ABC entitled to hold its audience by making the most of its own resources?"... then why would it bother the ABC as "nobody watches Ovation"? Perhaps, TM, the answer is, like just about every programme repeated on Foxtel for those few who watch is... convenience of watching when it suits. Hey - wife & I are enjoying catching up on Spooks on UK-TV after missing their first run on ABC... and eagerly await the new series to screen locally in 2009.

Tribal Mind replies: My point was that Ovation would be charging people money to see a program that was made to be seen for free on the ABC. You can "watch when it suits" on the ABC if you have Foxtel IQ or TiVO, or use the ABC's iView system.

  • by david @ Green Point on December 17, 2008 at 09:36 PM

PJ453, my eyes and frontal lobe are still recovering from Ms Corby earlier in the week so I was feeling a bit tired and snotty when watching Nig' last night. Or maybe I've found the point at which an ecstatic grunt becomes an oink.
She's still captivating but captivating in the same way. And all the wrapping lambchops in reams of shaved ham by the light of the fridge after midnight and inhaling it like it wasn't even there in the world doesn't alter the fact that I'm starting to get the impression that dinner at Nigella's would be as dull as London weather and consist entirely of Nigella telling you how she made these "lovely little darling syllibubs" and where she came across these "lusciously decadent parcels of melting deliciousness".
A bit less talky-talky and a bit more outrageous flirting with the spoons I think might get me back on side. Or perhaps a holiday. I'm gorgonzolla cheesed off.

  • by darren on December 18, 2008 at 05:59 AM

So even with the strong cricket lead in, 9 news still loses out to 7 news. It really makes you wonder why 9 are bothering on their new 5.30 show for next year, maybe they should start by fixing their actual news service first.
Any update on how the Rush repeats, oh I mean "encores" are going? I'm assuming around the 400-500k mark.

Tribal Mind replies: 518,000.

  • by seanie on December 18, 2008 at 10:04 AM

Televisual viewing again interrupted far too many times last night by small children requiring cuddles, lights on, glasses of water, reassurance that there is no such thing as ghosts, etc.
This time they interrupted "Long Way Down" which I felt was a bit piecemeal (Rome in what, 1 min, most of which was a - admittedly spectacular - traffic jam?), but the two blokes were excellent entertainment and the rapport was wonderful. I did have a silly grin on my face for the large swathes of the bits I got to see. (And much envy that they got to leave the kids at home...)
I particularly loved Ewan MacGregor hanging around the site in Tunisia (?) where Star Wars (the original and best) was filmed. Priceless.
Mr Bear did look rather askance at the TV on one of his visits downstairs, I'm sure he thought he saw Obi Wan on a motorbike but his brain must've persuaded him that could never be.
Darren, my Mum went on a gourmet trip to France with Gabriel Gate last year. Apparently he tells the filthiest jokes. So I'm sure there's more to Nigella beyond the TV screen too.

  • by tqd on December 18, 2008 at 10:32 AM

darren.....come on, what about the "juicy,juicy, juicy" & the "soft peakes"..I just melted in my chair!! But, I wouldn't like to have dinner with the kids there!
seannie....you make agood point re Ch9 news, as soon as the cricket stopped & the news started I just hit the "Off" button on the tv & didn't turn it on until Queen Nigella appeared.

  • by PJ453 on December 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM

tqd isn't this the time of year for Santa Claus threats ie: "if you don't stay in bed Santa won't come and you'll get nothing. Nothing!"
I'm sure you're not like that. Just lock their doors from the outside. Or let them know there are such things as ghosts but only in the hallway. I don't have kids.
By the way is murder still illegal? I'm considering swerving across three lanes of traffic on my way home tomorrow to run over some guy in a saggy Santa suit outside one of those Christmas Cave type shops because he wont stop waving and ringing that damn bell. He's so unbearably cheerful. Might be drunk. It'd be a blessing to be put out of that misery ("please kill me, ho ho ho, please kill me, Merry Christmas!, please..."). That'll be my defence.
Yay for January.

  • by darren on December 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM

On a festive season note before we all go into summer snooze mode I would like to wish all the TMers and of course TM himself a wonderful Christmas and New Year and may our televisual viewing improve in 2009! I am ever the optimist

Regulars like GJ, Darren - who is in brilliant form at the moment, tqd, em, Cat - wherever you have wandered to, Mrs Skerrick, Beckala, Sal and J Bar have made me giggle and smile and kept me informed on the very vital things we all need to know.

Mr Dale I know that you do this column for nix but can I say thank you for all the insights and information.

  • by Cathy on December 18, 2008 at 12:16 PM

Turned on Nein last night for ER and at 9.45 it still hadn't started so pressed record and went to bed. Typical Nein can't ever start a program on time. But of course the cricket was on and we can't upset the cricket lovers now can we?

As you can guess , I hate cricket! Only the English could invent a game that goes on for 5 days ,played in the boiling summer heat and be as boring as bat----. And then after all that sometimes no one wins! I will never understand the attraction. Even Kochie and Mel are more exciting and that's saying something.

  • by em on December 18, 2008 at 12:54 PM

TM,
How did Dirty Sexy Money go in its new insomniac-friendly timeslot on Tuesday night?
Cheers.

Tribal Mind replies: 147,000.

  • by Elizabeth on December 18, 2008 at 01:04 PM

quoth darren on December 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM: 'tqd isn't this the time of year for Santa Claus threats ie: "if you don't stay in bed Santa won't come and you'll get nothing. Nothing!"'
Miss Boo wouldn't consider that a threat. She point blank refused to go anywhere near Santa last weekend and turned into a complete limpet, clinging to me with all her limbs and strength, when we were anywhere near his Grotto. Amazing strength small girls have sometimes.
Love the idea of ghosts being in the hallway, I might give that a go, but then they'll probably just lie in bed yelling out "MUMMY!!!" until I have to go upstairs. At least this way, they're the ones getting the exercise.
I think I shall just go out tonight and leave them with their grandmother who is staying with us over Xmas. Yay for (free) babysitters! And it's not like I'm going to miss anything much on TV...

  • by tqd on December 18, 2008 at 01:42 PM

em, I am right with you on the cricket. I HATE it. Had the problem when I was younger and still living with my parents - my stepdad is a HUGE cricket fan, and it sent me insane. Begged my mother for a tv for my room, which she promptly arranged, then came and hid in there with me to avoid the torture!! I think ER started pretty close to 10pm - disgraceful. Completely stuffed up my recording schedule - I'd set it up to record weekly ER and Gossip Girl - of course, ended up with half an hour of CSI (which I HATE). Ended up drinking champagne while I was waiting for ER - celebrating my HSC students' achievements - 4 Band 6s in my Advanced English class of 29, 20 Band 5s, hell yeah I'll celebrate!!

  • by Beckala on December 18, 2008 at 01:43 PM

darren: you don't live in the Shellharbour area do you? There's a rather daggy Santa who stands outside of The Christmas Cave (formerly know as The Yallah Woolshed). I'm not sure whether he's developed the skill to hear Master 4.5 yelling out of the window at 100km/h "SANTA I WANT IRONMAN!!!!"
As I'll be disappearing into the babysitting ether tomorrow, yea verily methinks it's the time to bestow Seasons Greetings. What do I want from Santa? The same thing that I'm sure that darren, J Bar, Sal, Shoopie, David @ Green Point, PJ453, GJ, em, ozinoz, Randwick Geoff,
cronker, Beckala, Zjonn, tqd, cpandilo (and if I forgot anyone please forgive) want. Good programming, consistency, and programmes that start on time!
As for our most beloved TM, fearless underappreciated leader of this collection of misfits and snarkers, apologies for my grammar (and granpappy), may the jolly bearded guy in the red suit deliver you safely to the waiting arms of Hamlet.
p.s. if David Tennant is unfit due to his back, I'm sure that many fellow bloggees would be willing to attend to him!

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 18, 2008 at 02:00 PM

To Bereft: No must be a different Santa. This one is skinny and has a saggy seat and three-day growth and looks hung over and I wonder if there's someone in the shadows behind him with a gun saying "just keep smiling and ringing that bell Clausy boy". Sad, very sad.
On that note, may I also say Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy New Year. Don't get too much sun, alcohol or Kochie. You know, people get carried away and do things at holiday time they wouldn't normally and before you know it you're lying on the couch at 6 am spewin yer guts up. Just don't watch him.
TM, thanks for the patience and puns (I just got that "We Don't Love Hewitt Like We Used To" thing, der).
It's been fun.

  • by darren on December 19, 2008 at 05:58 AM

One last comment (because I forgot some stuff, ok) and then I'll go away for four whole weeks....
PJ453, Re Nigella, I was just in a bad "not tonight Josephine" type mood. She's as bewitching as ever but still, the people that attend her dinner parties seem to be hire-a-crowd types and even they can't seem to muster enthusiasm for her recipe recaps. My affection for her dries up real quick when she starts going on about "being a chambermaid in Venice" when she was younger (yeah right, an heiress slumming it in Italy for the summer) and I'm beginning to suspect she's a food name dropper. Yes, that's right, one of those. Instead of ...."and guess who I sat next to at Liz & Phil's Windsor's party? George Clooney! And Camilla farted in the middle of a drunken Karaoke rendition of Christina Aguilera's 'Dirrrty' ", it's ....."yes, those Artichoke hearts come from a little place in Calabria I visited with Grand-mamma when I was a girl. Marinated in the armpit sweat of a hundred virgin olive-stompers in a 100 year old Venetian glass bottle hand-crafted in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Quite spicy aren't they?"
Gets on my nerves a bit.
'Amazing Race' was great last night but whatever the opposite of kudos is to Channel Seven for making us stay up until 11:15 to see the end. Dan trying to march in Russia was one of the funniest things I've seen all year.
Sayonara.

Tribal Mind asks: A Venetian bottle crafted in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius? That mountain casts a long shadow.

  • by darren on December 19, 2008 at 07:26 AM

Morning all on this fine, fine Sydney morning, the mood here is very upbeat only 3 & a bit hours until the work Chrissy lunch begins.....& then holidays!!!!!
TM, thanks for all the figures, stats, pictures, added comments & grammer lessons.
To all the band of contributors have a safe & happy festive season.
To the TV stations, PICK YOUR BLOODY GAMES UP!!! Can you do it ???....Yes you can!!
em & Beckala...Mrs PJ was never into cricket but then she saw Greg Chappell's bum on screen & said "ooo I like that" & has been a fan ever since, maybe you should be watching from a different angle!!
Keep smiling!!........bye

  • by PJ453 on December 19, 2008 at 07:28 AM

To all those who have their santa claus threats - I heard a good one last weekend - "If you don't believe then you don't receive"
Merry Christmas andn a happy new year to all.

  • by Cath on December 19, 2008 at 07:52 AM

***SPOILER WARNING***Doctor Who***SPOILER WARNING***
I've just seen a story about the Doctor Who Christmas special which is about to air in the UK and the ABC will fastrack it (although not fast enough for our Christmas) so that it will screen on Sunday 25th January. Don't read ahead if you don't want to know any spoilers.
Curiously, the episode is titled 'The Next Doctor' and features David Morrissey as a a fellow time traveller who teams up with the Doctor. So does this mean we are actually getting introduced to the next Doctor Who now, before the next transformation happens? Interesting. See photo attached to story at TV Tonight.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/12/airdate-doctor-who-2008-xmas-special.html

Tribal Mind remarks: That's not a spoiler. We saw that in the the trailer at the end of this year's season. And no, he's not the person who will replace Tennant. They're just being tricky.

  • by J Bar on December 19, 2008 at 08:10 AM

Sigh....okay one more, TM I was just talking crap and stuff. I don't know nuffink much. Microsoft Photoshop????? Venice & Vesuvius sound good together. So just imagine a really long shadow. Work with me here.
I should've just created a diversion to my lack of geographical knowledge by throwing in some unruly apostrophes.
One day I'll stop being your typical untravelled Australian and go somewhere, maybe Venice and check the possibilities for myself, come back and confidently make comments with immaculately accurate details. I'm just an idiot with a keyboard.
Boy am I tired.

  • by darren on December 19, 2008 at 09:09 AM

BEST SHOW OF THE YEAR - THE DR WHO SERIES and THE HOWARD YEARS
WORST SHOW OF THE YEAR - MY KIDS A STAR, TODAY TONIGHT AND A CURRENT AFFAIR
And the I SHOULD NEVER WEAR A SWIMSUIT ON TELEVISION AWARD - ROBERTA WILLIAMS AND MERCEDES CORBY
Thanks for all the Season's greetings everyone (I may just have got my apostrophisms right Mr Swan). And right back at you all!! Have appreciated the banter and the note swapping on our favourite and not so favourite shows of the year!
Merry Xmas to you too TM - I really do hope you get that judging gig - you'll be crossing over to the dark side (the actual world of television) but who knows where it might take you - bumping VILE off IDOL might be a start!

Tribal Mind replies: Thanks. I've been notified that I won't be a permanent judge but I'm on the shortlist to be a guest judge.
And everyone seems to be sending comments with a tone of finality for the year. This blog continues throughout the hols. My plan is to log on once a day while I'm in London, so keep the acerbity coming.

  • by GJ on December 19, 2008 at 09:24 AM

Just wanted to wish all my fellow bloggers/whingers/grumpy old men/women and of course, our wonderful TM a very, Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
May all our dreams come true! (like Networks that actually listen to viewers for a change and less "reality" TV!)
I know this blog continues over the holidays but many of us will be busy with family (sigh!!) and can't sit in front of the screen as much as we'd like. So hope everyone comes back for more next year!
As my favorite pointy eared friend would say "Live long and Prosper"!!!

  • by em on December 19, 2008 at 11:48 AM

My bad. I haven't seen the trailer for the Christmas episode, so I thought it was a spoiler. Serves me right for downloading the last three episodes of Doctor Who rather than seeing them on ABC1 along with the adverts/promos.

  • by J Bar on December 19, 2008 at 01:10 PM

Did anyone else watch Mad Hot Balloon on auntie last night? I thought it was great stuff and when the kids won I even felt a bit teary - must be the season. Ok, I'm over it. I noticed last night that Nein are showing the classic (their words, not mine) Division 4 at some ungodly hour in the morning. Why don't they (all channels) do themselves a favour and show some of the old favourites? I would much rather watch an old ep of Homicide or The Box than a repeat of L&W, CSI et al. I only found out the other day that Dick Martin from Laugh In died during the year - how about a repeat of that - don't tell me, I'm the only one old enough to remember it. Laugh In was one of my favourite shows... sigh...the good ole days ... Sorry, I'm babbling on.
Merry Christmas everyone - I'm off to sharpen my wits and suck lemons in training for next year.
Thanks TM, for keeping this essential blog alive!! Where else could I vent my TV rage?
PS - darren, wasn't there a politician who was once described by another pollie as being as "tired as a newt"??

  • by Shoopie on December 19, 2008 at 02:29 PM

Merry Xmas to those who are going on hols away from their keyboards (sounds like Hell to me), and thank you Mr Dale for continuing to support us Tribal Mind junkies over Xmas! I do hope that David Tennant is recovered enough to be Hamlet for you.

  • by tqd on December 19, 2008 at 02:56 PM

I'm not gone, I'm just being held captive by short people!
Hands up those who will have d/l'ed the Dr Who Xmas Special even though Aunty is getting the show 5 months earlier than usual?

Tribal Mind asks: Are you telling us that it's posible to download the Dr Who Christmas special already? Before the BBc has shown it?

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 19, 2008 at 03:42 PM

FRINGE has been droppedfrom Nine's Monday line-up and will be replaced with a repeat of CRIME INVESTIATON AUSTRAIA on this Monday from 9.30. On Nine, THE MOMENT OF TRUTH will follow at 11.15, and on 9HD NP/TUCK will be on from 11.15 and then ELLEN at 12.10am.
This Monday on Seven, there'll be a double episode repeat of SCRUBS at 10.30 followed by KATH & KIM US at11.25.
As has been commented by others MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS has been moved back an hour to 9.30 with WIFE SWAP USA on at 8.30 (after the cricket) .
FLASHPOINT begins on Nine on Monday, January 12 at 8.30pm.
That's it for me till 2009. I hope TM and all bloggers/readers have a great Christmas and New Year

  • by cpandilo on December 19, 2008 at 04:20 PM

"who will have" = future tense. For those will will d/l between Dec 26th and Jan 25th.
In other news, Charlie Cox has left Top Gear Oz and James Morrison is replacing him. Brilliant move. Does "Charlie Cox has too many committments" = "SBS gave him the flick?"
And in "Yes There's a Santa Claus" news, allegedly Shrieky Lee has not had her contract renewed on OzIdol. Does "Shrieky has too many committments" = "Shirl gave her the flick?"

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 19, 2008 at 05:33 PM

Darn cricket, taking over ET. I keep on tuning in at 3pm, finding out...it's just cricket. There does seem to be an air of finality around here. I am guessing that Christmas will keep everyone occupied (and there won't be much to watch).
Ooh I'm excited by the news Dr Who will be shown early. I'll just have to wait a month for it to air on ABC1. Wishing you all a happy Festivus!

  • by Kym on December 19, 2008 at 10:58 PM

I'm not a Fringe show fan, but it wasn't dropped. As is the case with almost all US shows at this time of the year in North America, it's on a hiatus and comes back January 20 in North America. I doubt if Nine will keep fast tracking it from then on though.

  • by Anne on December 20, 2008 at 06:35 AM

I was quite interested to see that Ch 9 put out a media release on Thursday morning saying that they had dropped Gossip Girl from 10.30pm Wednesdays. A few hours later the ratings came out and Gossip Girl was over 400,000 for its third episode ; it had gone up every week since it started. Son after, they retracted the media release and GG will now remain in that timeslot. This is a perfect example of how the networks often don't give shows a fair go these days to build an audience. They have been yanking shows off the air after one or two weeks without giving the audience a chance to find the show let 'word of mouth' help build a show.
I'm not a fan of Gossip Girl but I'm glad it was given a second chance to find an audience. Many shows in the past took a while to become a hit, sometimes a whole season or even two. That's virtually impossible these days. I'm still have the irrits about Ch 7 yanking Dirty Sexy Money from the Tuesday 9.30 slot after only one week of season 2 and banishing it to 11.30pm. It's a shame that low ratings aren't even tolerated for one week in non-ratings season.

  • by J Bar on December 20, 2008 at 05:02 PM

I want to wish everyone on here and Mr Dale a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great NEW YEAR,don't do anything I would not do,and as always my wish is that maybe next year the FTA channels will show something that is interesting,intelligent,has not been done to death,have a good one people

  • by John Ryan on December 21, 2008 at 09:56 AM

Merry Christmas to all you fellow bloggers!
A good time to go out for sure and leave the TV where it belongs - off. While you're at it, leave the bagging of FTA TV coverage for ratings season when I'm sure they'll stuff up again ;=).

  • by arthur on December 22, 2008 at 08:48 AM

Hamlet: 26th December - 3rd January
The RSC have issued the following statement:
We are very aware of the need to keep people updated about Hamlet at the Novello Theatre.
David Tennant's doctors are delighted with the progress he is making. His recovery is encouraging so far, and we are not ruling out that he might be able to return to Hamlet during the last week of the run, although we cannot be more specific about the exact date of his possible return. We can however confirm that David will not be performing in Hamlet from 26 December 2008 to 3 January 2009 inclusive.
Edward Bennett will continue in the title role, with Tom Davey, Ricky Champ and Robert Curtis retaining their understudy roles as Laertes, Guildenstern and Lucianus.
David Tennant said today:
"I am so grateful for all the terrific medical attention I have received and although it is frustrating to have to take it easy whilst all my friends and colleagues continue at the Novello Theatre every night, I am aware that I must listen to the experts and take my time. I am impatient to be back at work and sincerely hope to make it back some time before the end of the run.
I am very sorry to disappoint anyone who booked to come and see me in Hamlet, but confident that you will be far from disappointed by Edward Bennett's performance in the title role. He is one of British theatre's most promising talents and an opportunity to see his Hamlet, alongside the brilliant ensemble of actors that I have had the great pleasure of working with all year, is very exciting."

  • by Harry on December 22, 2008 at 09:32 AM

I saw Frost/Nixon over the weekend, and it is "explosive". However, I had no idea David Frost actually had ties in Australia and seemed fairly popular on the small screen (Ch 9 to be precise).
Glancing back at the flops of 2008 sends some shudders up the spine, but I think there's one that should really be there that isn't. Two words. Taken Out.

  • by Kym on December 22, 2008 at 10:10 AM

May I ask what Kylie interview was on 7 yesterday? I am perplexed...

  • by Pete on December 22, 2008 at 12:27 PM

Shoopie on December 19, 2008 at 02:29 PM, I believe it was Sir Humphrey Appleby or Bernard Woolley on "Yes, Minister" who came up with "as tired as a newt". At any rate, that was the first time I'd heard the phrase.
Missed most of A Very Specky Christmas last night. Well, most = pretty much all of it. But I did watch Brideshead Revisited with much happiness. It seems to be the only thing I've been able to watch in the lead up to Xmas!

  • by tqd on December 22, 2008 at 01:01 PM

For those who missed it, A Very Specky Xmas will be on ABC2 on Xmas Eve.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 22, 2008 at 08:34 PM

Brilliant Scrubs ratings, especially since they are showing double episodes starting at 10.30pm and they are repeats now. I've said it before nd I'll say it again. I hope Seven are noticing and they keep it in this earlier timeslot during ratings season.

  • by J Bar on December 23, 2008 at 09:34 AM

With Scrubs doing so well, is any network showing the new season starting on ABC in America in early January (changed networks)

  • by Daz on December 23, 2008 at 11:33 AM

by Bereft Skerrick on December 22, 2008 at 08:34 PM

For those who missed the Very Specky Christmas, I would not be heart broken ... I watched it all and found it very ho-hum instead of very ho-ho-ho... Not sure if it was the guests or perhaps the activities chosen for it but it seemed to lack the spark or joi de vivre that previous Specky Christmas specials have had... just my opnion, others may have laughed all the way through it

  • by Kate on December 23, 2008 at 12:46 PM

Wouldn't Seven still have the rights to the new season of Scrubs even though they changed networks in America? I think the deals are signed with the production companies rather than the networks. Ch 10 still shows all the Law & Order series even though one of them moved from network television to a pay tv channel over there.

  • by J Bar on December 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM

TM,
May I borrow your vast knowledge to ask how Californication's season finale rated on Sunday night? Was a great season ender to a much underrated series. Cheers.

Tribal Mind replies: In the chart now.

  • by Samuel on December 23, 2008 at 04:51 PM

David, how did McLeod's Daughters and The Bill rate on Saturday evening?? It's a shame that two decent relatively decent shows have new eps buried on a Saturday night in Summer.

Tribal Mind replies: Now you're asking me? 496,000 and 712,000.

  • by Ryan on December 23, 2008 at 04:57 PM

TM, may I ask how The Big Bang Theory rated on Sunday and Monday this week?? For a giant load of crap, it's mildly entertaining when our crap filter is switched off for the holidays.

Tribal Mind replies: Can't find it in Sunday's ratings, but on Monday it got 691,000

  • by Elizabeth on December 23, 2008 at 05:02 PM

Dumb question but...
If this is the non-ratings period, how come the smh is still able to publish ratings figures? Who pays for them in non-rating periods?

Tribal Mind replies: The same people who pay for them the rest of the time: the TV stations and the advertising agencies. They still want to know what people are watching and not watching. The idea of a "non-ratings period" is an anachronism from the days when audiences were measured by people keeping diaries. Now the people-meter boxes attached to sets in 3,000 omes keep sending their data 365 days a year.

  • by David Harris on December 23, 2008 at 05:30 PM

Kate, I'm with you on Specky Chrissy. Not a fan of Frank Woodley - not too many laughs from him. Would have preferred Hamish Blake to be in one of the teams rather than as "Tiny Tim". Not sure why they keep having Ella - she doesn't really contribute much. All in all, enjoyed the trivia part of it, but the stories and jokes were lacking. Previous years were much better.
Yay for Scrubs!! I watched both eps - I wonder if they are going to replay season 7, which could then lead them in to season 8 just a few short weeks after the US screens them...

  • by Beckala on December 23, 2008 at 08:10 PM

For Dr. Who show fans, there's sposed to be a new Dr. Who Xmas special (that'll be last one with current doctor), which should be downloadable within 48 hours. ABC here usually take months to show it, but will apparently show it next month. That's too long, as they should've screened it either on Xmas night or Boxing Day night, to combat the downloaders.

Tribal MInd remarks: The ABC's idea of "fast-tracking" is to show it on January 25. I'll be watching it in London tomorrow night -- might compensate slightly for lack of Tennant in Hamlet.

  • by Chris on December 24, 2008 at 08:44 AM

hey david can you please show the results for 9am? im curious to know if its doing better since 7 and 9 dont have a morning show anymore. cheers m8.

Tribal Mind replies: Something Ten calls "9AM Summertime" got 182,000. Is that good?

  • by ryan on December 24, 2008 at 10:48 AM

yeah, those are great ratings for ''9am Summertime'', as it rearely gets over 100,000 when Kerri-Anne or Larry & Kylie are on.

  • by Jimbo on December 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM

That is very good for 9am Summertime (aka repackaged rpt), double what the regular series was getting this year. Though that is with no competition from The Morning Show or Kerry Anne, taking a Christmas break.

  • by Lowie on December 24, 2008 at 04:27 PM

cheers mate! yeah thats awesome for 9am wth david and kim! thats around 100,000 more people watching than usual! its such a great show and has so much info on real life stuff unlike other morning shows

  • by ryan on December 24, 2008 at 06:05 PM

One of my favourite Christmas shows, (and there aren't many of those) which actually did some good for various charities, wasn't on this year! Does anyone know what happened to The Panel's annual Christmas show?

Tribal Mind replies: Working Dog's other show, Thank God You're Here, has moved to channel seven, so there was no way to do The Panel on Ten.

  • by Zjonn on December 25, 2008 at 01:39 PM

"The Doctor is Me!!!!!!!!!!!!"

  • by Cat on December 26, 2008 at 02:11 PM

For Bold and the Beautiful show fans, Ten will move it back to 4.30 pm from January 19 (claiming the 6 pm timeslot was only for the summer), after receiving viewer complaints. Never mind while they hyped the new timeslot change to death, there was never any mention that it'd be just a temporary gesture.

  • by Burt on December 26, 2008 at 02:53 PM

A good time to go out for sure and leave the TV where it belongs - off.

by arthur on December 22, 2008 at 08:48 AM -

Great comment Arthur, as my tv packed it in last sunday, which is a bit of a pest. Luckily I still have my old tv (which is a small one) so I can at least watch the odd thing on tv as well as dvd's. Am looking forward to saving a little bit of moolah at the sales when buying a nice new flat screen. At least other members of my family will benefit from the extra dvd player and my set top box.

  • by Cath on December 26, 2008 at 03:20 PM

Haven't been online much (it *is* Xmas) and haven't watched TV much either (ditto). But I seem to have become addicted to Party Animals. And I saw Santa Claus vs the Martians on Xmas morning on Channel 31. Holy crapola! The 3.5 year old of the house took one look at it and turned it off.
Going out to the movies tonight, and am not going to see Australia. I had planned to, but there's too many other *good* movies I want to see now. Slumdog Millionaire won out.

  • by tqd on December 27, 2008 at 11:54 AM

Got some great tv on dvd for Christmas - Scrubs season 7, weeds season 1 and 2, 30 rock season 1, Big Love season 2, and Mr Beckala got Top Gear box set and 'By any means'. Gotta love it!! Bought big shiny new tv to watch it on to! A very merry Christmas in the Beckala household!
Merry Christmas to all of the bloggers - hope Santa was kind!

  • by Beckala on December 27, 2008 at 11:56 AM

merry christmas and happy new year
does any people have info on secret millionare tv show release date in australia? good show. TM do you plan to write any more books on media etc?

  • by scrooge on December 27, 2008 at 04:14 PM

TM, hope you enjoyed your White Christmas!
Any idea how Hustle rated Tuesday night on ABC1?? It's weakened since its first season, but is still streaks ahead of most other Summer fare.
Also, The Unit is surprisingly good on Seven, it's a shame they've buried it at 10:30pm all these years. How did it rate on Christmas Eve?? Thanks mate.

Tribal Mind replies: In the weekly chart now.

  • by Samuel on December 27, 2008 at 04:58 PM

TM,
I know it's a few days old, but may I ask how How to Look Good Naked and Face Painting rated on Monday night?? It's amazing that two shows that are so vastly different can both be enjoyed in the same household!! Cheers.

Tribal Mind replies: In the weekly chart now.

  • by Ryan on December 27, 2008 at 05:06 PM

I have a confession to make: I have become slightly addicted to these cheap and cheerful observational docos over the Summer. TM, may I ask how shows such as Police Ten 7, Sudden Impact and Coastwatch rate on Tuesday nights? Dankechen.

Tribal Mind replies: In the weekly chart now.

  • by Elizabeth on December 27, 2008 at 05:14 PM

I read that Dr Who got beaten in ratings by Eastenders and Wallace & Gromit (one which we saw a few weeks ago). Can't wait for Moffat! TM, thanks for the pic of Agatha Christie, didn't watch the ep, but am currently reading her work. Not watching much TV, getting too many stitches from Arrested Devlopment - classic comedy.

  • by Kym on December 27, 2008 at 05:16 PM

Will be watching Dr Who Xmas Special tonight and will report back tomorrow.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 27, 2008 at 05:55 PM

David, think you were a little harsh on the Doctor Who special.... Yes, I've long thought that Russell T Davies had outstayed his welcome, but I actually enjoyed the 2008 Doctor Who special much more than I did the Voyage Of The Damned... I though that the acting of David Morrissey and Devla Kirwin was par excellence in their respective roles... Alas, David, I believe that Russell T Davies is also writing the 2009 specials as well so we are not quite rid of him yet... hopefully I am wrong

  • by Kate on December 27, 2008 at 06:41 PM

Um - what's with the massive difference between the Carols figures (daily vs weekly)?
Which one is the real one - 1.8 or 0.9???
First off - if that 0.9 is correct how could the ratings metres get it so wrong and how could half the viewers who have watched the show for the past few decades suddenly abandon it? What the??!

Tribal Mind replies: It's a mistake by the OzTAM computer, which seems to have averaged a repeat with the original, under the impression it's diffferent episodes of the same series, like Friends, or Today Tonight. The correct figure is 1.8.

  • by Alex on December 28, 2008 at 08:23 AM

Oh, I'll still be giving the Doctor's Xmas special a guernsey. It is the doctor, after all. :)
Oh, and everyone must go and see Slumdog Millionaire. Wonderful stuff, I really enjoyed myself (although one scene I did have to watch from behind my fingers, it was so tense and I'm such a wuss).

  • by tqd on December 28, 2008 at 02:33 PM

Finally watched the Xmas Special of Doctor Who tonight. Not going to give it a fail mark, but it doesn't have the same vibe and joy as last years installment. Actually it really wasn't much of an Xmas special - a couple of passing references to Xmas (but I guess it wasn't quite as commercialised in the 19th century!)
Just wish the puppy dog looking cybermen (cyberdogs??) had been explained. Never mind, will watch Confidential tomorrow.
Will watch again tomorrow with Masters 7.5 and 4.5 who only opened their Wii today.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on December 28, 2008 at 10:41 PM

Hi TM,
May I please ask how Prison Break rated last Wednesday night? And how Don't Forget the Lyrics rated last night? If it's not too much trouble. Thanks.

Tribal Mind replies: 384,000 and 616,000.

  • by Steve on December 29, 2008 at 03:43 PM

TM,
Thanks for keeping us up to date with the Aussie ratings while you're worlds away. Do you know how McLeod's Daughters rated in the Saturday death slot? Thank you.

Tribal Mind replies: 474.000.

  • by Elizabeth on December 29, 2008 at 03:56 PM

So Russell T Davies gives us a male companion for The Doctor. Colour me unsurprised. I'd suggest it was only the early timeslot that prevented The Doctor from going somewhere he's never been before. Perhsaps if Davies concentrated more on character development and less on pushing his own agenda we'd have an even better show.
The Christmas specials have never been classics to me. Big on effects but small on plot. I'd have a punt and say in this case half the budget went on the last 5 minutes which frankly I didn't find all that convincing.

  • by Sahara on December 30, 2008 at 08:15 AM

Caught bits of that doco on killing Castro (or rather, failing to kill Castro) last night on the ABC. I wish I'd been able to concentrate more (after a busy day), what I caught was fascinating stuff. And am still enjoying Brideshead Revisited on ABC2. And looking forward to Party Animals tonight on ABC1.
Ah, who needs the commercial stations?

  • by tqd on December 30, 2008 at 06:14 PM

TM, any figures for Hustle last night? Thanks mate! Happy new year!

Tribal Mind replies: 457,000. And to you.

  • by Samuel on December 31, 2008 at 11:55 AM

Not on TV but aside from a few highs there are a lot of lows on offer on the box for summer -really all year. Tqd I agree whole heartedly re slumdog millionaire - worth a trip. Did a movie double yesterday - Twilight and The Curious case of Benjamin Button - enjoyed both - Recommend Benjamin button but remember it is a looong film - almost 3 hours worth. The double gave me 70 movies for 2008 - a record for me! Will be off to another tomorrow to start the list all over again.
Staying in tonight - will watch fireworks spectacular on TV (and out window - as can see harbour blasts from window in loungeroom - At the moment I can hear many desperate people driving on street outside looking for parking so they can go to Cremorne Point to watch fireworks and methinks the street is just about full) Think I will do Shirl's version - cannot think of watching Richard Wilkins at all... definitely not a way to ring in the New Year - if annoying hosts will look away
Happy New Year to all

  • by Cathy on December 31, 2008 at 01:31 PM

Hey david, do u have 9am summertime ratings??

Tribal Mind replies: 196,000.

  • by ryan on December 31, 2008 at 02:46 PM

To Bereft, the Cyber Shades were very briefly explained in the special. If you watch the Confidential, you get a further insight into the workings of Russell T Davies mind (actually perhaps a good reason not to watch the Confidential) Essentially, Russell says that for him, Doctor Who is all about being a vehicle or program that allows one to be OTT and barmy, the more barmy the better... "where else would you have a replica of the Titanic hurling itself toward Buckingham Palace" ... Unfortunately, the OTT and barmy antics are not well written by RTD

  • by Kate on December 31, 2008 at 04:04 PM

cheers m8, i so surprised how good 9am is doing, i know there isnt much competition but its still doing so much better than usual. also its about time ten put ncis back to back on tuesdays and put in plain sight on another night!

  • by RYAN on December 31, 2008 at 07:07 PM

"For Bold and the Beautiful show fans" who the holy frig are fans of this absolute toilet rubbish? brain-dead baboons?? I can't understand how a sane Human Being could watch this excremental rubbish for more than a microsecond, anyway to those who do: you life is worthless shit; in fact you are a worthless shit !!

Tribal Mind wonders: Why do you feel so strongly about this?

  • by davo on January 01, 2009 at 12:07 AM

Wow davo, had a little of the turps before you New Years Blogged eh? Hope the hangover was worth it!
Undear Ch Nein, Please keep Richard Wilkins in his cryogenic crypt next year. 'K? Thanks.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on January 01, 2009 at 08:52 AM

Spent today catching up on all the non-NYE related programming from last night. Prison Break seemed to hold on to a lot of its core audience, but David I'm wondering how The Unit went before it? Probably not too well, despite the fact it's a decent show. Also, how about My Family?? One of the many traditional parts of an ABC Summer. Cheers.

Tribal Mind replies: TU 303,000. MF 550,000.

  • by Steve on January 01, 2009 at 02:26 PM

TM,
May I ask how The Museum and Dirty Sexy Money rated on Tuesday night? In the case of the latter it seems I'm one of the select few still indulging in this guilty pleasure.

Tribal Mind replies: M 564,000. DSM 180,000.

  • by Elizabeth on January 01, 2009 at 02:33 PM

Hi TM.
Just wondering how Secret Millionaire went last night? I thought the concept was quite entertaining. I hear that Nein is grooming this format for an Aussie version and running the UK show as a taster.
It's a format that could work quite well here, but UK telly always does this kind of thing better than anyone else, so the Aussie version would need to take note of the style in which the poms present it.
thanks

Tribal Mind replies: In the chart now.

  • by cronker on January 02, 2009 at 08:48 AM

Has anyone seen the ads for Ch 9 news? They seem pretty desperate with the slogan "Change back..."
Benjamin Button is good, but I was a bit slow to cotton on that it was a little similar to Forrest Gump (even though I knew it was the same script writer). Took me 2 hours into the film to realise. Worth it.
TM, how was the Hamlet production? Even if you didn't seen Tennant, Patrick Stewart must have been worth it alone.

Tribal Mind replies: Lots of humour in the production. The understudy is pretty good, but you can see how he has adopted Tennant mannerisms. Patrick Stewart has a great voice, but was bland as Claudius (though the character is not well-written). Penny Downie (Australian actress) was a sexy powerful Gertrude. Satisfying night out, but without Tennant, not worth $100 a ticket.

  • by Kym on January 02, 2009 at 09:02 PM

While I am certainly not as vehemently opposed to the airing of the Bold & the Beautiful episodes as Davo, I do wonder why people would watch it consistently. I know it is pure escapism and background noise for some as they prepare dinner and it used to be fun to occasionally watch it now and then throughout my uni days, especially with the actress who played Sally Spectra (RIP) BUT now the plots of B & B are so far fetched and the inbreeding has just gone too far, as has the plastic surgeon on the actress who plays Taylor. I must admit to some curiosity, I wonder if Brooke & Ridge hold the record for the most times that characters have married in a TV series...

  • by Kate on January 03, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Hey mate, may I ask how the US Kath & Kim rated in the dead of night on Monday?
I read somewhere that the reason the show kinda works in the US is because they have adapted the K&K stereotypes to their US equivalents, which is why our version wouldn't work there and why their version doesn't work here.

Tribal Mind replies: I'll include it in the full week's chart tomorrow.

  • by Ryan on January 03, 2009 at 02:31 PM

Call me sexist but could they have not picked a reasonable looking new Doctor at least (no offence Matt). Oh well lets hope Moffat does his brilliant best with him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7808697.stm

p.s. would not have worked for you TM but I would have just closed my eyes and listened to Stewart's voice.

  • by Cat on January 04, 2009 at 10:19 AM

The BBC have announced the next Dr Who http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7808697.stm Matt Smith is set to take over the role in 2010

  • by winter on January 04, 2009 at 10:35 AM

Elizabeth, You're not the only one persisting with Dirty Sexy Money. I was a bit critical of it, in the first season because it was becoming a bit bland, but they've done a good job of the storylines in the second season. Shame Seven didn't give it half a chance in an earlier slot.

  • by J Bar on January 04, 2009 at 03:30 PM

Matt Smith is going to be the next Doctor Who. He plays Danny in 'Party Animals' currently screening on the ABC. Intersting choice. Can't say I'm excited by the prospect but hopefully his doctor will be completely different from the character he is currently playing. I his first publicity photo he looks really retro with that 80s haircut but thn again everything 80s retro is cool again.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4094067/Casting-Matt-Smith-shows-that-Doctor-Who-is-a-savvy-multi-million-pound-brand.html

  • by J Bar on January 04, 2009 at 06:20 PM

Having not been a viewer of party Animals, can someone give me an idea about this Matt Smith chap who has just been named as the 11th Doctor? He seems like he could be Tennants younger brother.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on January 04, 2009 at 08:06 PM

Matt Smith was Jim in the Sally Lockhart series with Billie Piper last year and he was also in an episode of Secret Diary of a Call Girl with her. You can see his Doctor Who video interview on the BBC site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/misc/news/index_new_doctor.shtml

  • by 2paw on January 05, 2009 at 10:53 AM

I'd like to hand out some summer viewing kudos for yesterdays TV. There are some good things out there but you have to look for them.
Thanks 10HD for showing the AFC wildcard playoff. I'm just getting back into American football so it was a lovely surprise on a lazy Sunday arvo. It was refreshing to see a commitment from a commercial channel to a foreign sports program.
Kudos to ABC2 for the screening the classic Brideshead Revisited. It's been a great period ride and is reaching it's conclusion next week.
Finally SBS should be congratulated for rounding out my Sunday night's viewing with Captain Alatriste. Viggo Mortenson in a Spanish swashbuckler? Count me in.

  • by merciless on January 05, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Bereft, can't help you much describing Matt Smith - I've only seen him in Party Animals and his character is a bit gormless and young (but he's also my favourite, I'm cheering him on!). He does gormless well, but I'm sure he'll manage as a non-gormless Doctor.

Dagnabbit, I thought Paterson Joseph was in for sure!

So nothing on TV... Watched most of Captain Alatriste on SBS last night (I do like the books the movie was based on) and recorded Brideshead to view later.

Visited friends over the break (got to see the "Prime Possum"!) and they gave us copies of "The Middleman" and "Merlin" and the disc won't bloody well work in our temperamental DVD player. Bugger!

  • by tqd on January 05, 2009 at 11:35 AM

TM, How did Law & Order rate last Friday night?? It's a shame this TV survivor is shafted to 9:30pm Fridays in Summer - couldn't get much worse a timeslot than that.

Tribal Mind replies: 483,000.

  • by Steve on January 05, 2009 at 02:08 PM

TM, any figures for McLeod's Daughters on Saturday? No surprises it didn't make the Top 30 for the week!

Tribal Mind replies: 388,000.

  • by Elizabeth on January 05, 2009 at 02:11 PM

I do slightly remember seeing Matt Smith in Call Girl a few months ago, but I'm trying to forget as much of that program as I can. I will try to catch Party Animals tomorrow night.
tqd: Prime Possum and his northern compatriot Big Dog (does he still exist?) used to be a great "get the kids to go to bed" device.

  • by Bereft Skerrick on January 05, 2009 at 03:03 PM

Hi, I've been seeing a lot of ads on Channel Ten for their new season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia - but they did not show a start date - does anyone know exactly what date the show is going to start airing?

  • by tide on January 05, 2009 at 04:27 PM

@ tide
SYTYCD Australia ads said they'd be back in "February 2009", nothing about exact dates as yet but probably the first Sunday nite of February if last year is to go by.

  • by arthur on January 06, 2009 at 08:10 AM

Dance starts Feb 1. Scrubs Season 8 debuts in USA tonight. YAY

  • by Mike on January 06, 2009 at 08:11 AM

Tide, SYTYCD begins Feb 1 (the night of the Australian Open Final!) Silly move on ten's part.

  • by Brodie on January 06, 2009 at 09:59 AM

Not sure I care for the new Doctor. Still I suppose we shall have to wait and see.
Hopefully, he gets a new haircut by then. Didn't like the hair at all.
Seems the Doctor keeps getting younger and younger. Seems a bit like Benjamin Button. Will we get a child actor playing him next??

  • by em on January 06, 2009 at 11:18 AM

GOSSIP GIRL has been dropped by Nine - surprise, surprise - and will be replaced by more ER (so there'll be double episodes of ER on Wednesday nights from 9.30 to 11.25).
FLASHPOINT will actually be screened from Sunday Jan 18 at 8.30pm with a sneek peak. Nine will be showing this series out of order and will start with episode five.
"May I ask what Kylie interview was on 7 yesterday? I am perplexed..."
by Pete on Dec 22, at 12:27 PM :
This was an exerpt from NBC Today of an interview with Kylie Minogue which Seven uses for its Today's Entertainment program which is used as filler whenever the network has an extra five to ten minutes in its schedule which needs to be filled.
AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS sunday, CRIMINAL INTENT monday, & ARMY WIVES are gone from Ten, here are the updated Ten schedules for next Sunday & Monday:
Sunday:6.30 Aquamarine (movie), 8.35 Die Hard 3 (movie), 11.10 Daily Show - Global, 11.40 The Office, 12.10 Cops.
Monday: 7.30 Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? (repeat), 8.30 Double Jeopardy (movie), 10.40 Out Of The Blue.

  • by cpandilo on January 06, 2009 at 01:55 PM

Ten have made two more changes to their schedules from next week. From next Tuesday, Ten will show double episodes of NCIS from 8.30pm. While from next Wednesday (Jan 14), Ten will show double episodes of HOUSE from 8.30.

Tribal Mind asks: Will any of these be new, or all repeats?

  • by cpandilo on January 06, 2009 at 04:30 PM

personally i dont think ten will ave a problem going against the tennis, they have the biggest loser starting and then sytycd after, 2 of their biggest shows. i hate tennis, unless the aussies are playing well ( which they havnt)

  • by ryan on January 06, 2009 at 08:02 PM

For viewers who got into the excellent serialised cable show Damages last year with Aus actor Rose Byrne coming back, don't hold your breath for Nine to screen season 2 (that kicks off this week in North America), as Nine have sold it to Foxtel. In fairness to Nine, the show rated abysmally even in the US, so I was surprised it got greenlit for 2 more seasons (unless it's US ratings improve, it'll probably be a 3 season series). All the shows made from the Rupert Murdoch owned FX basic cable network (Nip Tuck, Rescue Me, The Shield, Sons of Anarchy) are darker themed ones that appeal to only more discerning viewers and would've bombed if they were done as network shows.

  • by Burt on January 06, 2009 at 08:34 PM

Hey TM, Do you know when we will be seeing the ratings data from the national HD channels?

Tribal Mind replies: My guess it won't be for another 12 months. OzTAM needs to include more HD homes in its sample.

  • by Ryano on January 06, 2009 at 10:11 PM

Hi guys, thanks for telling me the start date of SYTYCDA. I'm glad I still have a few weeks left to watch and clear the large backlog of other recordings on my dvr's diminishing hard drive space before that show starts as I definitely like to rewind and watch scene replays of that show.

  • by tide on January 06, 2009 at 11:49 PM

Thanks for the info on ER for tonight. As I usually record it I would have been majorally peeved to have only gotten one ep so now I know to set up for 2. ER is not as good as it used to be but better than a lot of other rubbish on this time of the year. I have hardly watched Network TV lately and have been watching DVD's or Foxtel programs which does still deliver some good viewing such as Satisfaction and The Tudors with season 3 of Dexter to start soon. And some good docos on BBC Knowledge that I have been enjoying.

  • by em on January 07, 2009 at 10:14 AM

Can any viewer downloaders who've seen it, offer comment on the US version of the Life on Mars show Ten are promoting, as it's had 7 eps air in North America is on hiatus till the end of this month and is getting 17 episodes. While the the US version would have a larger budget, the downside to the premise, is it only lends itself to be interesting for probably only 2 seasons maximum (the original UK show lasted only 16 eps).

  • by Barry on January 07, 2009 at 11:25 AM

TM,
May I ask how The Big Bang Theory rated on Monday night and how Prison Break (which has been awesome lately, by the way) rated last night? Cheers.

Tribal Mind replies: I've stopped putting them in the chart because they never change. But TBBT got 843,000 and PB got 350,000

  • by Samuel on January 07, 2009 at 03:52 PM

TM Do you have the figure for Collateral or Ghost Whisperer?

Tribal Mind replies: Yes, but who knew anybody was interested - Collateral Damage 704,000 (was it the Tom Cruise one or the Arnie one?) and GW 641,000.

  • by Jimmy James on January 07, 2009 at 06:30 PM

wow im so surprised how nine news is kicking seven news ass! that promo really has worked!! go 9, i hate 7!! tgyh stealers!!

Tribal Mind remarks: More likely it's the cricket that's boosting Nine's news, rather than any promo. What does it matter which network shows TGYH, as long as the show is made by Working Dog?

  • by ryan on January 07, 2009 at 08:16 PM

Happy New Year everyone!
Well grumpy old GJ is back from hols and dare I say nothing has changed on the FTA networks.
Surprised to see NINE doing so well but I suspect the cricket has given them the edge over the summer. A CURRENT AFFAIR was at its appalling best last night running a lead story on JENNIFER HAWKINS and the 'apparent' furore surrounding her wild partying at her new pad in Coogee. According to ACA she had really upsept her neighbours so one would expect a story and an interview with the irate nieghbours and maybe with Jen. No such luck - there was a a series of vox pops (by a reporter in a suit? on the beach) with people who all said they loved Jen and this was interwoven with the same dopey reporter trying to talk to one neighbour over a balcony who basically said Jen wasn't any trouble at all. Essentially the reporter had no interviews, no story and NO JEN! - it was a classic beat up designed to discredit HAWKINS and one had to ask why ACA would run a lead story about Jennifer Hawkins in the first place - dig a little deeper and it's so easy to see why - she has a contract with SEVEN!!
ACA followed up this dribble with another advertisement disguised as a 'post christmas sales story' - lots of handbags and beach towels all on sale and all part of a so called 'current affairs story'.
I switched across to TODAY TONIGHT and it was the same sort of rubbish!!
Andrew Denton recently said that one would have to 'hold their nose' to work on either of these shows - You'd have to agree!
Saw an excellent doco on SBS other night about overseas doctors trying to make it in some of Australia's more remote communities - forget the name of it but it's on Tuesdays nights at 7.30!

  • by GJ on January 08, 2009 at 08:49 AM

Are the ratings now posted in the afternoon? I much preferred them in the morning as part of my daily morning ritual of checking the email, papers, and TribalMind.

Tribal Mind replies: I am servicing the blog from Paris, where I will be until next Tuesday. When I am back in Austalia's time zone, I will resume posting ratings in the morning,

  • by bugzy on January 08, 2009 at 09:14 AM

Barry, i'm also interested to see whether the US Life on Mars will be any good. I loved the UK one. I read an article in the Adelaide TV Guide which was less than favourable though.
And i have downloaded the first 3 episdoes of Pushing Daisies and must say it is brilliant. My new favourite show. I should probably actually thank Nine because now i don't have to watch one single show on that channel.

  • by Jed on January 08, 2009 at 11:49 AM

ahh now i get it. cricket, i didnt even notice that was on. lol. it matters alot to me where tgyh is shown cause i have always hated the 7 network with a passion! i must say though im not really interested in it anymore.

  • by ryan on January 08, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Barry - I've watched all 7 episodes of Life on Mars. I really enjoy it. The first episodes were good, the middle ones were a little slow, but the recent episodes are very good, and the show is really settling! The US version seems to depart from the UK...they appear to be taking the show in a different direction and opening up more possibilities storyline wise.
Overall, I'd recommend checking out the show. Seeing 'Chris' from The Soprnaos in a moustache is a classic!

  • by Helena on January 08, 2009 at 01:27 PM

tm, do you know how ''Long Way Down'' on SBS rated last night? It's a good doco / travel show mady by Ewan McGregor, the english actor.

Tribal Mind replies: 465,000, which is very good for SBS.

  • by jimbo on January 08, 2009 at 01:59 PM

Hey TM, just wondering if you could confirm whether that ER figure is for the two hours or the one. If it is over two till 11.30 then that is quite good.
I never thought i'd see House that low...

Tribal Mind replies: I assume so, since there is no second reference to E.R. in the rankings.

  • by Brodie on January 08, 2009 at 02:52 PM

Here's my small voice saying I taped the Ch Nein/WIN cricket coverage on Saturday. Yes that's right. 8 hours straight to make sure I didn't miss a thing. The Junior Skerricks participated in the Milo Cricket at the lunchtime break. I have it on good authority that they can also be seen sitting in the crowd with their not-quite-ready-for-prime-time parents.
Have d/l'ed the first 2 eps of Season 8 Scrubs. Ep 1 was an upper ep 2 was a downer. But they're back and YAY!
TM: please be careful when you use the words "Servicing" and "Paris" in the same sentence. My eyes are blurry from the optometrist!

  • by Bereft Skerrick on January 08, 2009 at 03:30 PM

I have been housesitting since Jan 1 and I must say a BIG thank you to Showcase on Foxtel - they had the entire 12 episodes of series 2 of Dexter in one sitting. So now whether Ten chooses to or not, I have had my Dexter fix. (awaiting something similar with series 3 which starts screening this week).
Apart from that, FTA viewing has been VERY sparce, but then again I guess that is expected at this time of year (not that I think it is that much better at the other times :) )
Cheers and here's hoping for some quality viewing for us all in 09

  • by ozinoz on January 08, 2009 at 04:15 PM

Hey GJ, I saw that doco on SBS about rural doctors too! It was very interesting well worth a look.
Woo Hoo!! New Dexter started last night. I was out so had to IQ it but looking forward to see how our favorite serial killer is doing this time. Don't anyone hold their breath that Ten will show it any time soon.
And I had heard that Pushing Daisies is coming to Foxtel. Anyone know when and what channel?
As for Life on Mars, I loved the British version and I just can't see the yanks doing it justice. But I will probably tune it and take a look.
And TM, I noticed that Ten are starting to advertise Masterchef but the ads dont inspire me to watch. Showed a lot of harried chefs rushing around juggling plates?? In the same ad they were advertisng the Biggest Loser and SYTYCD. Is it a case of eat too much, go on BL and then learn to dance?? Very strange.

  • by em on January 09, 2009 at 08:08 AM

Ahh okay, well enjoy Paris, hopefully it's not too cold!

  • by bugzy on January 09, 2009 at 08:11 AM

Here's a technical question for all you television addicts: why does Ch 7's digital picture and sound keep tearing up on my TV? Is it me, or is it them?

  • by Rupert on January 09, 2009 at 08:22 AM

Attn Channel ten management,
I would appreciated it if you could change the pathetic channel ten promo music you have during the ad breaks on Law and Order. It is just the wrong music for the quality of Law and Order, and just wants to make me want to change back to Foxtel and watch the eps over there. I can handle the other ten ads you have during the ad breaks(they seem to be the only ads you do have - advertisers must be heeding the message of your low ratings), but the music at the beginning of the break is god awful.
Aside from that, your promo for 40 smoking hot hookups for Saturday night - is a repeat that has been played MULTIPLE TIMES on the e channel on Foxtel ...... to low ratings ......
Once again channel ten, you are excelling yourself .... be prepared for another woeful year .......

  • by Randwick Geoff on January 09, 2009 at 08:30 AM

It would appear in the land of television, 'the more things change, the more they stay the same'.
Channel SEVEN have announced they are going to debut a top current affairs program for Sunday nights in the 7.30pm slot to be hosted by MIKE MUNRO and an unnamed female co-host - but isn't there already a Sunday night current affairs program on a rival commercial channel that dominates this time-slot?
And Channel NEIN have announced they will be debuting a Sunday morning a 3 hour morning show to be hosted by LEILA MCKINNON and CAMERON WILLIAMS to go up against a similar style program called SUNRISE that already screens on CHANNEL SEVEN.
It would appear in the land of television if you can't come up with anything orginal just copy the competition.
CHANNELS NEIN and SEVEN are looking more and more like clones of themselves everyday - they should just share each others programs and call themselves CHANNEL EIGHT!
There was nothing startling to report in last night's viewing. Thursday nights are all LAW AND ORDER and not a lot else!
I painted my walls and watched the paint dry during the 6.30 - 7.00pm timeslot last night so can't tell you what rivetting stories the two current affairs shows offered up - but never fear I will atone for my misdemeanour last night and ditch the wet paint for some more compulsive viewing in that timeslot tonight!! -STAY TUNED!!!

  • by GJ on January 09, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Watched Carla Cametti PD and I liked what I saw so far. It started off a bit slow but I really got into it and by the end of it, I was left wanting more. It seemed like they had gone off a tangent in the first five minutes but it was much better after that. They also dropped the f-bomb about five times in the first five minutes which seemed excessive but was used less and more appropriately later in the episode. Perhaps the start would have worked better without that first scene at the funeral and then going back to the beginning of the story, five days earlier.
Anyway, I really liked the story, the characters and the scenery. I was somehow expecting a typical detective show where we have a mystery solved every week and the private life of the character is there but doesn't play a major part so I was quite interested by the way that her life and all her relationships were woven into the storyline. I was intrigued by a lot of the characters and there were a few surprises, which is really good. I thought Carla has a brilliant relationship with her family and her friend Lisa and the banter between her and Gandolfi was great and the relationship looks promising. There's some great directing too, so the whole thing has a great look to it.

  • by J Bar on January 09, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Em. Pushing Daisies will be shown on Foxtel's W channel in early 2009. Other shows Nine got rid of to Foxtel that will be shown from January are Chuck, Privileged and Sarah Connor Chronicles which will all be on Foxtel. So for those that have Foxtel, enjoy. Lucky buggers.
I highly recommend Pushing Daisies though, it is brilliant. Channel Nine deserve to suffer with the way they treat quality shows. They ditch Pushing Daisies and give Sopranos, Six Feet Under and Nip/Tuck no chance in primetime, yet they give us Ladette to Lady, Big Bang Theory and Ramsay's Kitchen crap. It's your own fault Nine.

  • by Jed on January 09, 2009 at 02:36 PM

Hey TM, how did Holby Blue rate last Sunday and Dirty Sexy Money rate on Tuesday? I've become a bit of an insomniac over Summer, since it's where the best telly is!

Tribal Mind repies: I wish you'd ask me these questions on the day I have the charts open. I will include those when I publish the full week's ratings on Sunday.

  • by Ryan on January 09, 2009 at 02:54 PM

TM, May I ask how Don't Forget the Lyrics rated on Thursday night? Even though the contestants are mostly actors, the show is still entertaining, at least by Summer standards.

Tribal Mind replies: 657,000.

  • by Steve on January 09, 2009 at 02:57 PM

Hi TM
Just a small request.
Any chance we could get a new Who We Are page around here? This one has become very, very long.
My scroll wheel is starting to get worn out!
Thanks

Tribal Mind replies: You're absolutely right. New one starts on Sunday, with the week's chart.

  • by cronker on January 09, 2009 at 06:07 PM

GJ, Sunday Night, will actually take the 6.30 timeslot.
In other programming news, City Homicide is also moving to Sunday nights, leaving the Monday 8.30 slot for Desperate Housewives.

  • by seanie on January 09, 2009 at 07:29 PM

Cold Case didn't do very well, considering these are now new episodes. The constant timeslot shifting cant be helping it's cause.
Sorry to also be a nuissance, but it would be much apreciated if you added Scrubs Mon 10.30 figure to the weekly chart, Thanks!

  • by Brodie on January 09, 2009 at 11:45 PM

Happy New Year TM and TM fans! Have just returned from a week down the coast - reliving my uni days with Southern Coast advertisements! So glad to be back to my HD tv! Looking forward to catching up on the Scrubs episodes - didn't have computer down there, so haven't had a chance to check it out. I'm wondering if channel 7 are going to screen them after they're through repeating season 7 on Monday nights? Does anybody know if this will happen?

  • by Beckala on January 10, 2009 at 05:54 PM

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