The Who We Are Update: Week 22

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

To distinguish between Boomers, GenXers, and the iGen, go to The Tribal Mind.
To nominate the best books about Australia, go to Who We Are.

The ratings race, updated 11 am Sunday
In theory, Masterchef was the number two most watched program in the mainland capitals last week. In fact, if you add together the three showings of Specks and Specks -- twice on ABC1 and once on ABC2 -- you find that its total audience was 1.81 million. No wonder Channel Ten felt confident in cloning it into Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

On the same theory, the return of The Chaser's WOE would be the week's number four most watched program in the mainland capitals, with a total audience of 1.66 million. No wonder the ABC ended the week with a handsome 17.5 per cent share of the prime time audience, while Ten came close to knocking Nine off number two spot with its 24.2 per cent (with Seven on 27.5, Nine on 25.7 and SBS on 5.2).

This was Pay TV's account of itself for last week: "Posing with an ice sculpture and a lingerie photo shoot in the desert gave the girls of Australia's Next Top Model contrasting challenges and an audience of 205,000 people for the FOX8 program. NCIS on TV1 was watched by 126,000 people, the second season of Football Superstar premiered on FOX8 with 103,000 viewers and the Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel had its best result of the year, watched by 102,000 people. This week, 100,000 people watched Selling Houses Australia on Lifestyle, Law & Order on W was seen by 93,000 people and Sanctuary premiered on Sci Fi with 73,000 viewers.

"Live coverage of the Monday night National Rugby League game, Live: NRL Cowboys v Knights was watched by 335,000 viewers, the best ever result for FOX Sports' Monday Night Football. Live: AFL Sydney v Port Adelaide was seen by 198,000 people and the NRL's youth competition, Live: Rugby League: Toyota Cup had its best audience of the year so far with 100,000 (all on FOX Sports).

"Subscription TV was the number one source of television across all homes in week 22. STV channels accounted for 22.4% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, was 22.0% of all regional viewing and 58.0% of all viewing in subscription TV homes."

What Australia watched, week ending May 30
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,830,000 474,000 520,000 407,000 177,000 252,000
2 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,673,000 472,000 499,000 294,000 178,000 230,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,666,000 536,000 497,000 337,000 176,000 120,000
4 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,647,000 489,000 555,000 244,000 151,000 209,000
5 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,640,000 438,000 464,000 333,000 174,000 231,000
6 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,592,000 504,000 488,000 294,000 138,000 168,000
369 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC2 112,000 26,000 28,000 15,000 11,000 32,000
379 SPICKS AND SPECKS RPT ABC1 106,000 42,000 20,000 27,000 11,000 6,000
7 NCIS Ten 1,546,000 406,000 452,000 301,000 173,000 214,000
8 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC1 1,540,000 514,000 478,000 235,000 141,000 172,000
350 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC2 122,000 43,000 31,000 20,000 11,000 17,000
9 THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE Seven 1,516,000 412,000 513,000 300,000 130,000 161,000
10 MERLIN Ten 1,500,000 491,000 354,000 246,000 170,000 238,000
11 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,470,000 387,000 413,000 311,000 146,000 213,000
12 THE ZOO Seven 1,465,000 436,000 404,000 268,000 142,000 214,000
13 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,454,000 416,000 419,000 342,000 133,000 143,000
14 SEA PATROL Nine 1,384,000 374,000 425,000 244,000 167,000 175,000
15 BONES Seven 1,384,000 416,000 367,000 262,000 180,000 159,000
Continued here with all the Thursday, Friday and Saturday football ratings I could find

16 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,372,000 365,000 372,000 329,000 148,000 157,000
17 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,361,000 415,000 381,000 221,000 173,000 171,000
18 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,345,000 407,000 401,000 231,000 136,000 170,000
19 GETAWAY Nine 1,333,000 395,000 381,000 279,000 112,000 166,000
20 60 MINUTES Nine 1,324,000 408,000 437,000 233,000 121,000 124,000
21 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,318,000 404,000 417,000 201,000 133,000 162,000
22 RPA Nine 1,311,000 390,000 348,000 275,000 152,000 147,000
23 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,307,000 370,000 445,000 270,000 131,000 91,000
24 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,287,000 278,000 503,000 269,000 123,000 114,000
25 CRIMINAL MINDS Seven 1,272,000 399,000 369,000 237,000 118,000 149,000
26 NEW TRICKS-EV ABC1 1,233,000 367,000 385,000 194,000 151,000 135,000
27 NINE NEWS Nine 1,232,000 355,000 391,000 247,000 117,000 122,000
28 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,203,000 331,000 389,000 256,000 109,000 117,000
29 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,197,000 374,000 385,000 164,000 124,000 151,000
30 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,195,000 369,000 307,000 241,000 134,000 143,000
31 ROVE Ten 1,191,000 297,000 437,000 223,000 87,000 147,000
32 20 TO 1 Nine 1,188,000 358,000 337,000 221,000 116,000 156,000
33 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,181,000 355,000 384,000 209,000 100,000 133,000
34 BORDER SECURITY USA Seven 1,169,000 340,000 309,000 253,000 132,000 134,000
35 RECRUITS Ten 1,164,000 392,000 337,000 170,000 124,000 141,000
36 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,148,000 299,000 386,000 231,000 99,000 134,000
37 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,143,000 372,000 309,000 206,000 132,000 123,000
38 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,136,000 328,000 314,000 220,000 132,000 142,000
39 CSI Nine 1,136,000 319,000 387,000 184,000 142,000 104,000
40 LIE TO ME Ten 1,106,000 281,000 369,000 201,000 111,000 143,000
(OzTAM mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,454,000 416,000 419,000 342,000 133,000 143,000
2 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,307,000 370,000 445,000 270,000 131,000 91,000
3 NEW TRICKS ABC1 1,233,000 367,000 385,000 194,000 151,000 135,000
4 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,143,000 372,000 309,000 206,000 132,000 123,000
5 TEN NEWS AT FIVE SAT Ten 967,000 263,000 267,000 174,000 112,000 151,000
6 THE VICAR OF DIBLEY Seven 965,000 271,000 325,000 178,000 91,000 100,000
9 THE BILL ABC1 879,000 247,000 289,000 132,000 100,000 111,000
12 SATURDAY NIGHT AFL Ten 709,000 374,000 58,000 101,000 175,000
17 SATURDAY AFTERNOON AFL Ten 558,000 86,000 242,000 104,000 57,000 69,000
25 SEVEN'S V8 SUPERCARS ROUND 4: SYMMONS PLAINS D1 Seven 359,000 106,000 100,000 85,000 44,000 23,000
40 FA CUP FINAL LIVE SBS 233,000 81,000 62,000 23,000 31,000 37,000
83 GIRO D'ITALIA 2009 HIGHLIGHTS SBS 89,000 46,000 21,000 19,000 4,000
94 RUGBY UNION: SHUTE SHIELD (NSW) 2009-PM ABC1 67,000 67,000
112 BOXING: KO TV CLASSIC ONE 48,000 11,000 31,000 0 1,000 4,000
127 VFL FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 36,000 36,000
129 NETBALL: ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 LIVE ONE 35,000 5,000 19,000 7,000 2,000 3,000
131 2009 AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS ONE 34,000 8,000 9,000 8,000 3,000 6,000
151 RUGBY LEAGUE: (QLD) 2009-PM ABC1 20,000 20,000
152 Sponsor name AIR RACE WORLD SERIES 2009 - HIGHLIGHTS ONE 20,000 11,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 4,000
154 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE (after 2am Sat) Nine 20,000 14,000 4,000 2,000
156 WAFL LIVE LEAGUE FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 19,000 19,000
157 SATURDAY LATE NIGHT AFL Ten 19,000 19,000
172 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 10: CARLTON VS WEST COAST Seven 15,000 7,000 8,000
173 THE SANFL-PM ABC1 14,000 14,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,550,000 416,000 432,000 319,000 168,000 215,000
2 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,361,000 415,000 381,000 221,000 173,000 171,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,339,000 336,000 389,000 288,000 134,000 191,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,239,000 338,000 453,000 174,000 120,000 155,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,149,000 342,000 375,000 222,000 101,000 109,000
6 SILENT WITNESS ABC1 1,045,000 333,000 304,000 148,000 119,000 141,000
17 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 10: CARLTON VS WEST COAST Seven 745,000 24,000 389,000 7,000 138,000 187,000
20 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 591,000 368,000 223,000
32 LIFE ON MARS FINALE Ten 374,000 101,000 132,000 61,000 44,000 35,000
103 SPICKS AND SPECKS RPT ABC1 106,000 42,000 20,000 27,000 11,000 6,000
127 POKER: CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE ONE 62,000 10,000 22,000 10,000 11,000 9,000
129 BOXING: KO TV CLASSIC ONE 56,000 7,000 21,000 11,000 7,000 11,000
141 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 41,000 28,000 7,000 6,000
163 GIRO D'ITALIA 2009 HIGHLIGHTS SBS 31,000 1,000 15,000 10,000 4,000 1,000
200 PARLIAMENT QUESTION TIME ABC1 18,000 10,000 3,000 0 2,000 2,000
201 NBA BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS LIVE ONE 18,000 6,000 3,000 4,000 4,000 1,000
203 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ONE 17,000 4,000 4,000 1,000 8,000 1,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,628,000 433,000 495,000 320,000 160,000 220,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,417,000 361,000 418,000 308,000 143,000 187,000
3 GETAWAY Nine 1,330,000 394,000 381,000 278,000 112,000 165,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,219,000 375,000 389,000 204,000 111,000 139,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,201,000 296,000 383,000 287,000 113,000 122,000
6 20 TO 1 Nine 1,188,000 358,000 336,000 222,000 116,000 156,000
7 NINE NEWS Nine 1,184,000 348,000 333,000 260,000 130,000 113,000
8 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,140,000 289,000 365,000 235,000 93,000 157,000
9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,106,000 312,000 301,000 235,000 121,000 137,000
10 GHOST WHISPERER Seven 1,102,000 360,000 305,000 191,000 115,000 130,000
11 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,091,000 356,000 328,000 198,000 101,000 109,000
12 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 1,006,000 208,000 408,000 160,000 118,000 112,000
15 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Ten 932,000 268,000 293,000 166,000 100,000 106,000
25 WORST WEEK Ten 620,000 154,000 202,000 117,000 66,000 83,000
26 Q & A ABC1 591,000 199,000 173,000 119,000 39,000 61,000
38 INSPECTOR REX RPT SBS 351,000 112,000 119,000 47,000 31,000 41,000
53 MAD MEN SBS 230,000 83,000 59,000 35,000 27,000 26,000

The ratings race, updated 11 am Wednesday
Something odd happened last night. The Chaser returned, and attracted a healthy 1.5 million viewers. But Spicks and Specks beat it, suddenly picking up 200,000 viewers on last week and becoming the ABC's most watched show since September 2007.

Here's theory on what it means, based on the fact that the OzTAM ratings figure is an average over every minute of the half hour: Lots of Chaser enthusiasts (notorious for their short attention-spans) tuned in towards the end of S&S, adding mightily to its average audience while they waited impatiently for the fun to start. Then as The Chaser unfolded, thousands of them dropped away, being disappointed at the only-moderately-funny nature of the episode and anxious to get back to their porno on the web. That lowered The Chaser's final average. Anybody have a better explanation?

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,612,000 419,000 432,000 332,000 179,000 250,000
2 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,607,000 508,000 492,000 298,000 140,000 170,000
3 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC1 1,540,000 514,000 478,000 235,000 141,000 172,000
4 THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE Seven 1,516,000 412,000 513,000 300,000 130,000 161,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,473,000 371,000 404,000 328,000 147,000 224,000
6 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,338,000 415,000 398,000 212,000 147,000 167,000
7 RPA Nine 1,290,000 386,000 336,000 272,000 150,000 145,000
8 CRIMINAL MINDS Seven 1,272,000 399,000 369,000 237,000 118,000 149,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 1,203,000 331,000 404,000 233,000 111,000 123,000
10 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,182,000 297,000 404,000 234,000 107,000 139,000
11 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,178,000 338,000 344,000 223,000 137,000 135,000
12 THE MENTALIST Nine 1,107,000 339,000 310,000 219,000 122,000 116,000
13 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,091,000 292,000 345,000 232,000 109,000 113,000
21 LAW AND ORDER: SVU WED EP 2 Ten 801,000 198,000 285,000 142,000 92,000 84,000
22 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 797,000 242,000 209,000 157,000 92,000 96,000
27 HOT SEAT Nine 668,000 207,000 226,000 122,000 63,000 51,000
28 FAMILY GUY Seven 649,000 159,000 241,000 105,000 60,000 85,000
30 LAW AND ORDER: SVU WED Ten 616,000 161,000 208,000 98,000 96,000 52,000
38 SUNRISE Seven 373,000 96,000 99,000 89,000 34,000 54,000
41 AT THE MOVIES ABC1 352,000 124,000 105,000 55,000 33,000 0
44 TODAY Nine 300,000 92,000 107,000 50,000 15,000 36,000
49 LOST Seven 266,000 105,000 79,000 44,000 19,000 20,000

The ratings race, updated 10 am Tuesday
This column is not particularly pro-Ten, but we are pro-underdog, and we also think Channel Nine has not yet been sufficiently punished for its years of treating viewers with contempt. So we can't help feeling cheered by the news that the prime time audience shares for the week stand at: Ten 27.6 per cent, Seven 27.6 per cent, Nine 25.1 per cent. Ten will sink as the week proceeds, because it has no T''BYG or Merlin to prop it up on Thursday and Friday, but it could still end up ahead of Nine, depending on whether Seven or Ten gets the best of the AFL matches.

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,648,000 489,000 555,000 244,000 152,000 209,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,578,000 454,000 441,000 305,000 159,000 219,000
3 NCIS Ten 1,544,000 405,000 452,000 301,000 173,000 214,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,494,000 431,000 401,000 293,000 143,000 226,000
5 THE ZOO Seven 1,465,000 436,000 404,000 268,000 142,000 214,000
6 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,345,000 407,000 401,000 231,000 136,000 170,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,293,000 378,000 428,000 268,000 99,000 121,000
8 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,276,000 453,000 375,000 167,000 121,000 160,000
9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,265,000 353,000 434,000 239,000 95,000 145,000
10 NINE NEWS Nine 1,253,000 370,000 407,000 237,000 119,000 120,000
11 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,197,000 374,000 385,000 164,000 124,000 151,000
12 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,155,000 352,000 315,000 214,000 132,000 142,000
13 LIE TO ME Ten 1,101,000 280,000 368,000 200,000 110,000 142,000
17 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 974,000 274,000 285,000 179,000 100,000 137,000
18 HOME MADE -ELIMINATION Nine 969,000 296,000 299,000 173,000 82,000 118,000
19 10 YEARS YOUNGER IN 10 DAYS Seven 924,000 292,000 282,000 128,000 128,000 94,000
20 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 880,000 278,000 251,000 181,000 86,000 86,000
26 HOT SEAT Nine 663,000 205,000 209,000 112,000 75,000 63,000 What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,832,000 468,000 521,000 391,000 204,000 249,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,619,000 434,000 453,000 333,000 163,000 236,000
3 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,443,000 445,000 437,000 232,000 151,000 177,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,405,000 382,000 466,000 284,000 139,000 134,000
5 SEA PATROL Nine 1,385,000 372,000 427,000 243,000 167,000 175,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,364,000 382,000 436,000 281,000 122,000 143,000
7 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,291,000 279,000 505,000 268,000 124,000 116,000
8 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,233,000 347,000 345,000 225,000 149,000 168,000
9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,227,000 302,000 443,000 238,000 124,000 121,000
10 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,181,000 355,000 384,000 209,000 100,000 133,000
11 RECRUITS Ten 1,162,000 391,000 337,000 170,000 124,000 140,000
12 SCRUBS - MON Seven 1,092,000 279,000 342,000 246,000 95,000 130,000
23 FOUR CORNERS ABC1 830,000 206,000 259,000 177,000 66,000 122,000
27 SPOOKS ABC1 667,000 163,000 214,000 116,000 67,000 108,000
28 SUPERNATURAL Ten 662,000 197,000 187,000 112,000 75,000 91,000
29 HOT SEAT Nine 648,000 198,000 213,000 115,000 72,000 51,000
30 TOP GEAR AUSTRALIA SBS 608,000 224,000 187,000 81,000 52,000 64,000
36 LOUIS THEROUX: KILLADELPHIA Seven 421,000 103,000 166,000 44,000 57,000 51,000
60 30 ROCK Seven 205,000 42,000 92,000 25,000 27,000 18,000
The ratings race, updated 11 am Monday
Swords and forks are the formula that's fixing the fortunes of Channel Ten. Thanks to Merlin and Masterchef, Ten last night captured 29.3 per cent of the prime time audience. Seven scored 28.1 and Nine 24.9, while the ABC, normally strong on Sundays, could only reach a pathetic 13.3 per cent. This should change with the advent of Dr Who next Sunday.

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,830,000 474,000 520,000 407,000 177,000 252,000
2 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,671,000 471,000 499,000 294,000 178,000 230,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,667,000 536,000 498,000 337,000 176,000 120,000
4 MERLIN Ten 1,500,000 491,000 354,000 246,000 170,000 238,000
5 BONES Seven 1,382,000 415,000 366,000 262,000 180,000 159,000
6 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,371,000 364,000 373,000 329,000 148,000 157,000
7 60 MINUTES Nine 1,324,000 408,000 437,000 234,000 121,000 124,000
8 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,197,000 373,000 307,000 241,000 134,000 143,000
9 ROVE Ten 1,183,000 295,000 435,000 221,000 86,000 146,000
10 BORDER SECURITY USA Seven 1,170,000 341,000 310,000 253,000 133,000 134,000
11 CSI Nine 1,140,000 319,000 389,000 184,000 142,000 105,000
12 CASTLE Seven 1,066,000 304,000 318,000 181,000 145,000 117,000
13 ABC NEWS-SUN ABC1 1,050,000 317,000 336,000 167,000 94,000 135,000
14 HOME MADE Nine 975,000 263,000 335,000 195,000 91,000 90,000
15 AROUND THE WORLD IN 20 YEARS ABC1 869,000 276,000 252,000 138,000 83,000 120,000
20 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 9: ST KILDA V BRISBANE Seven 666,000 18,000 335,000 99,000 119,000 94,000
21 DIRT GAME ABC1 574,000 216,000 156,000 94,000 46,000 62,000
22 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 551,000 325,000 217,000 8,000
25 THE BIGGEST LOSER Ten 523,000 141,000 198,000 82,000 42,000 61,000
30 THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW Nine 423,000 110,000 174,000 83,000 29,000 27,000
48 AFL GAME DAY Seven 220,000 148,000 44,000 28,000
53 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 ONE 200,000 27,000 76,000 29,000 28,000 40,000
56 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 9: SYDNEY VS PORT ADELAIDE Seven 189,000 85,000 104,000

David Dale is the author of Who We Are -- A snapshot of Australia today (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

COMMENTS

Proof That Cameron Williams is The World's Most Tedious Man - Incident #22456:
Saw Cammy and Leila McBossesWife on 'Today on Sunday' yesterday (Sunday) interviewing the author of 'Stuff White People Like'. Never seen Cameron so confused. He's sure it's a racist plot. Wasn't helped by Leila insisting she's 'gangsta'. I've always thought that. Everytime I see her she's more 'gangsta'. (?)....Who are these people?
I've decided to start my own list - Stuff Cameron Williams Likes:
(1) Lint.
(2) Sky.
(3) A4 paper.
(3) The Bureau of Meteorology.
(4) The Bureau of Meteorology website.
(5) Cameron Williams.
(6) Bread.
Any assistance in this list would be appreciated although that may be all of it....
Also, loosley fitting the 'Popular Culture' criteria of this column, has anyone else come across a new fast-food franchise called 'Corn Club'? I saw one in the local Shopping Mall on the weekend. They seem to be selling cups of corn. Not pop-corn. Just corn. Corn kernels. In a cup. I looked around for hidden cameras but I think it's actually real.

by darren on May 25, 2009 at 11:17 AM

I don't know who Cameron Williams is. Ditto Leila Whoever.
This is probably because I hardly watch any FTA except for ABC or SBS (though rarely since ads within programs began).
I did look for The Office last night, but it was not there. Thanks 10 for nothing. Can't even buy the box sets even though they are so old. Hard to find old torrents but fortunately managed to.
Ditto poo sux to nein. I'd buy Weeds sets if they were available. Memo to self: check Ebay.
What a joke all these ads for Freeview are! With Freeview you certainly get what you pay for! Do they think we're stupid?

by Sal on May 25, 2009 at 12:49 PM

so how long is home made going to last?

by TG on May 25, 2009 at 02:33 PM

Sal, I've got seasons 1 and 2 of Weeds - JB Hi Fi was the source. They are fantastic with their tv section - always HUGE with a HUGE selection of both obvious and popular shows mixed with the more obscure. I checked the website and they have season 3 now available as a pre-order - admittedly behind the US, but possibly cheaper than having something imported. Hope this helps you!

by Beckala on May 25, 2009 at 07:30 PM

Darren, I don't know about corn in a cup, but I have just discovered a dessert called "Profited Rolls" over here in Ireland!

by Shoopie on May 26, 2009 at 02:37 AM

Top Gear Oz is getting much, much better. Last night was a great episode - finally an entertaining show. They've stopped trying to hard to be exactly like the UK version and now they've got a style of their own, which is working well. The maserati story had Mr Beckala drooling. Anh Do was a fantastic guest - I saw him once at a conference (I wasn't there for the conference, I was tagging along with my husband and scored a free dinner because somebody left early) and he was fantastic - hiliarious, but his stories about his journey to Australia as a boat person seeking refuge just break your heart - when he was talking about his brother last night on TGA I'm not ashamed to say I got a little overwhelmed.

As per our conversation last week about ads we instantly hate - last night I was reminded about another - the Jeep ads. Oh dear god, they send me insane with their pathetic impressions. What has made it worse is that I work with a guy who thinks the ad is absolute genius, so he arrived at work yesterday yelling "You can do it" in a fake Arnie accent - oh the humanity!!

by Beckala on May 26, 2009 at 06:27 AM

Speaking of pathetic impressions, there's the Billy Connolly-wannabe "Cankles" ad, where you can't tell your calf from your ankles.
I hung around Sunday night too, wanting to watch The Office, but surprise, surprise, they ditched it. At least there was 30 Rock on last night.
Nice action packed Spooks last night.

by Kym on May 26, 2009 at 08:04 AM

Beckala: On TGA, that Sigma ad brought a tear to this old eye. My first car was an old beaten up $500 Sigma (same as advertised) with a lovely burgundy velour interior. Went like the clappers for 2 years then traded it for 2 grand. Never drove it through any walls of glass. It's quite noticeable though that the two original hosts have been off doing challenges together because hosting pozzie # 3 was up in the air.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 26, 2009 at 08:16 AM

Another nomination for "Ads we Hate" has to be the new Foxtel ad. The one with the family running around singing and dancing "Happy EOFYS" (end of financial year sale, for those who haven't seen it)

I really , really can't bare it! I just want to scream and chuck something at the Telly. It is just so stupid and worst of all the damn thing is catchy and sticks in my already muddled brain to drive me to distraction. Please, please someone get if off now!

by em on May 26, 2009 at 08:22 AM

40 years old and I still haven’t learned. Sat down to watch my new guilty pleasure, Harpers Island, only to discover they have done it again. After only two weeks the highly skilled and no doubt highly paid programmers at Channel Ten summarily disappear it. Off to the graveyard of other disappeared programs, one in a list too long to mention. And what do they think the great Australian public wish to watch in its place? A new series of Americas Biggest Fatties. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; why should I invest the time in a new show if it is highly likely the network will can it? An audience needs time to build. HI only runs thirteen weeks, so surely they could have left it on, in its slot for the whole time, if only to establish some evidence for these knee jerk decisions.

by Beniamo on May 26, 2009 at 08:50 AM

darren,
Good work with that 'Stuff Cameron Williams Likes' list but I'm sure that (5) Cameron Williams would actually be closer to the top of that list. Probably number one, followed closely by his mirror.

by J Bar on May 26, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Em, same here with that EOFYS ad. I've had many sleepless night with "EOFYS, EOFYS EOFYS!!!!" echoing in my head. Another one is The Pussycat Molls' rendition of 'Jai Ho'. Driving me up the wall.
And if I hear the phrase 'Chk Chk Boom' one more time....
JBar thanks for your advice. I've amended the list. It now reads: (1) Cameron Williams, (2) Mirrors......etc etc and have added: (7) Pens, (8) Photos of Cameron Williams, (9) Blue, and (10) Blue pens..... it's a work in progress.

by darren on May 26, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Beckala and em with you on both the Jeep and EOFYS ads - another one last night that I just cannot watch is the Cancer Institute ad with the Leonard Cohen (spoken/ sung) Everybody knows - I had just eaten dinner when it came on. It is the compilation of all the gross out anti smoking ads - I know I don't smoke but I don't need to be sick watching your ads either (and as I was watching live I could not fast forward).

Speaking of watching last night - I admit I watch Despos BUT if I have to see one more of the promos telling me one fo the Housewives only has weeks to live I will not be responsible for my actions - over it already (plus already know it is)

by Cathy on May 26, 2009 at 12:25 PM

I can't believe that ACA and TT rate in the top 4!! I don't know how the Chk Chk Boom bird is A Current Affair (I always thought current affairs were political or something of importance.) Why, why, why, is Monday's full of shows that appeal to 25-40 year old men, and then nothing until Wed night for wide screen Simpsons, Friday night Football, Sunday for The Force, and then back to Monday night?? How I Met Your Mother, Two & Half men, Recruits, and TGA, all on at the same time.
The Zoo, Find my Family, Watch me cook, the bird that talks to dead things on 7, Talk'n 'bout Generation.. c'mon... There's plenty of time in the week for the good stuff, and this crap... Not to mention so many shows about how to murder, dismember the corpse, and try and get out of it. Not enough recorders for the Monday, and too many for the rest of the week. WHY??!?!

by JT on May 26, 2009 at 12:34 PM

Has Clare Thebogan been signed up by channel Nine or something? 'A Current Affair' are still trying to get some mileage out of her, trying to get a five minute sensation to last ten, while coyly pretending to be indignant at her 'racist' outburst. Ben Fordham was trying to pimp her out to Wil Ferrel last night who understandably didn't....understand. He asked BF what a 'wog' is and BF fluttered his eyelashes, blushed and said "I think we should leave it there. We don't use that word...". Translated: "We don't use that word because we're trying to convince people there's still a story to be had here. If we can't turn Claire Thebogan into some sort of Paris Hilton slash Susan Boyle phenomenon then we'll turn this into a twelve month investigation into 'racism' in Australia while simultaneously reprimanding Sol Trujillo for daring to imply that Australia is racist. For we are the Guardians of virtue". Nob jockeys.
And I'm not even going to bother with 'Today Tonight's' sympathetic story on the aftermath of cosmetic surgery using scenes from 'Ten Years Younger etc etc' (Tuesday nights at something pm).
Looking forward to 'The Chaser' taking up the gauntlet again tonight. Rip 'em to shreds.
Oh and I've found a use for 'Home Made'. It makes a pretty screen saver on mute while you talk on the phone.

by darren on May 27, 2009 at 05:56 AM

You're quite right about the Kings Cross Bogan too, darren. I saw Nine News editorialising again by reprimanding Sol Trujillo for daring to imply that Australia is racist and then we saw the Kings Cross Bogan being built into a star following her 'skinny wog' and 'fat wog' comments and a Cronulla Shark captain being dropped for calling an opposing player, a 'black c***'. But Australia is not racist. Yeah, right.
What I really want to know. Why aren't Nine News being held accountable for falling for a hoax with the bogan, in the first place? They gave us her account of the crime as 'fact' and have not apologised for not checking the facts or falling for this hoax. They have created a smokescreen by trying to create a new 'celebrity bogan' out of this, while trying to take the focus off their stuff up in news reporting.

by J Bar on May 27, 2009 at 08:36 AM

Turned on the tv at 6:45 last night thinking it would automatically be on the ABC, it wasn't & Today Tonight came on showing Las Vegas home prices plumitting by 50%. Normally I would quickly move back to safe ground with the ABC but Mrs PJ & I will be in LV Oct this year so we continued to watch it. At the end of the story I actually thought that was a good thought provoking story, well presented & quite informative, not sensational at all......had TT changed or were we in a parallel universe?? But ofcourse we then came back to earth with the next story re the blatent cross advertising of the 10 years younger show....oh dear how bad it that??
Foreign Correspondent was an eye opener about Detroit, the home of GM, Ford & Motown music. The place is a ghost town, it always prooves there's somebody worse off than you.
Oh & "hated adverts", I am really getting peeved off with the "Freeview" ads...more choice ?? you've got to be kidding

by PJ453 on May 27, 2009 at 08:43 AM

With The Chaser show coming back (for presumably its last season, as the guys have mentioned in interviews), it's inevitably that they'll be taking the piss out of the Claire thing and Nine/ACA in the show, fairly soon, if not in the first episode.

by Burt on May 27, 2009 at 09:06 AM

i'm predicting 1.91 million viewers for the Chaser return.
Any other bets?

by TG on May 27, 2009 at 09:38 AM

Believe Micallef had a dig at David Koch about celebrity in this country and having to have talent. While no particular fan of this Chanel 7 talking head, I think it is very much a case of " pot..kettle"

by OZINOZ on May 27, 2009 at 09:39 AM

Nah I think 1.91mil is a bit high. Criminal Minds has been doing pretty well and the double SVU should rate higher than House. I'm thinking the usual for that ABC timeslot which is around 1.4mil.

by Clem on May 27, 2009 at 10:31 AM

I'd say Pot - spot on.

by Neil on May 27, 2009 at 10:56 AM

It is nice to see Ten walloping Nine. Although I think tonight is probably Auntie's night. My bets on 1.8m for the Chaser.
I missed this Sol Trujillo business - but can completely imagine Ch 9 spinning Australia not being racist into something. Oh they're just so miffed. What's next? Footy Show saying they're not sexist?

by Kym on May 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Beckala, thanks for the info re Weeds.
Being a tenacious soul, I managed to see seasons 1 & 2 on nein, despite their best efforts to hide it.
Ebay has lots of sets of season 3 on offer, but most sets are not region 4. Moot point as our main DVD player has been back with Sony for repair, after it began to refuse to play disks it had happily recorded and finalised. Been away 9 days now, with no news. Sob. Starting to look like "no spare parts available any more", which I'm guessing is the new mantra. Funny though, as Sony does not have a new model DVD recorder available to buy. Is it because of the Blu-Ray thingy, or is everyone watching their DVDs on a computer or laptop?
Anyhoo, I need it back to access all my True Blood and Battlestar Galactica episodes on the hard drive. 'Cept I can't dub them to disk. (Pack Rat, keep all favourites)
Meanwhile, watched Spooks last night, recorded on Monday. Fabulous! Was on the edge of my seat all through it. Low ratings puzzle me - is it the stupid 9.30pm start? That's too late for hubby so we always record it.
I find these days that every night we record something and watch it the next night at an earlier timeslot, which also avoids the general rubbish on from 7.30 to 8.30pm. And any ads.
Oh, will check JB Hi Fi and Ezy Dvd for S3 of Weeds, thanks again.

by Sal on May 27, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Good to see Ten doing so well for a change. I think they will hold their own tonight with double SVU as they will get the oldies whereas ABC will get the younger viewers with the Chaser. So Ten may still beat Nine this week.

My guess, Chaser will get about 1.5.

by em on May 27, 2009 at 12:57 PM

Darren, don't tarnish The Bureau of Meteorology website with Cameron Williams! I love the "Weather BOM"... Seeing the rain move on the radar is far more exciting than most FTA viewing. Oh brother - I may need to be institutionalised.

by Tim on May 27, 2009 at 01:11 PM

Quoth RJ453: "Foreign Correspondent was an eye opener about Detroit, the home of GM, Ford & Motown music."

I missed that, but caught the end of the Louis Theroux (usual recording of "30 Rock" plus 20 min to either side captured 30 min of Theroux), and it was an eye-opener too. The poverty in Philadelphia was pretty scary. Will try to catch the whole show next week (assuming it is a series).

darren, I think "bread" is a bit too open a category - it leaves open the option that Cameron Williams likes sourdough olive loaves or something, when we all know he likes plain sliced white bread (with a glass of water for dipping on the side).

by tqd on May 27, 2009 at 01:21 PM

You have to laugh at the way Nine and The Daily Telegraph seem to scratch each other's backs with some of these sensationalised stories. If it appears on A Current affair it is likely to get a run in teh Tele. If the Tele breaks the story then ACA runs with it. Today the Tele jumps on the 'Australia is not racist' bandwagon with their commentary 'We're not racist we just hate duds'. Why do we have to hate anyone? Meanwhile the back page screams 'Sharks to sack Gallen' over alleged racial abuse. Hmm.

by Bloke from the Sticks on May 27, 2009 at 01:39 PM

I'm going to guess 1.6 for Chaser.

PJ453, myself and Mr Beckala also watched Foreign Correspondent. Very sad. Really depressing to realise how many people are being affected.

J Bar, that's a really great point about Clare Bogan and the Nein interest in it. They are the ones who screened her 'witness statement' as fact. Have they retracted the statment officially? Very interesting argument.

by Beckala on May 27, 2009 at 01:42 PM

Chaser could be anything tonight, me thinks min 1.5m & I'll certainly be one of them since that bloody House is now in the asylem where he should of been many moons ago!! Lots of promoting on radio this morning including sound bite of Julian Morrow on the Cronulla grounds loudspeaker.....a definite wincing moment.

by PJ453 on May 27, 2009 at 02:10 PM

I'm guessing 1.74m for the Chaser.

by arthur on May 27, 2009 at 06:45 PM

Well yes tqd you have a point. But do you think tqd, that calling it 'white' bread could be, in some quarters, be deemed racist? I think if we're going to be singling out a particular type of bread we need to be careful not to recommend it to the exclusion of all other varieties of bread. So, after running your suggestion past the Channel Nine Lawyers (no, not a band), I've decided to stick with Bread. Completely unfunny non-controversial, unambiguous, lollies-in-the-bowl and no-jokes-unexplained....bread. Dipping water sounds kind of groovy though. Groo-vee. Unusual.
Don't want to talk about 'The Chaser'. Maybe I've moved out of my demographic. Lost and bewildered and a little scared.

by darren on May 28, 2009 at 05:54 AM

"Is it because of the Blu-Ray thingy, or is everyone watching their DVDs on a computer or laptop?"
Sal - forget dvd recorders - for mothers day I got a hard drive recorder - it is fantastic, records straight onto the hard drive, hundreds of hours of disc space for recording available. Can also burn the recording onto a DVD disc if you want to. Love it.
Chasers last night - enjoyed it, wasn't rolling on the ground laughing, thought the Vatican stunt a bit dull. Loved seeing the Somalians running around with Shore blazers and boaters on. That whole fundraising satire was probably my favourite bit last night.

by Jill on May 28, 2009 at 08:44 AM

Surprised to see that Spicks & Specks actually beat The Chaser's War on Everything. I thought the Chaser was a bit 'hit and miss' with some of their jokes/pranks but I guess they always were a bit like that.
I did enjoy the pisstake on Clare, the Kings Cross bogan though: I just came out of the club and I saw this skinny white slapper doing the vox pop over there with the news crew and she wasn't a wog but she was definitely a bogan and a complete bullshit artist and a media slut. And I just felt like putting a gun to her head and going 'chk chk boom!'.

by J Bar on May 28, 2009 at 09:53 AM

As a long time Dragons fan every joke The Chaser made at the expense of Cronulla was pure gold. Yes, even the Footy Show one, where I was slightly cringing. Sure the show had some unfunny points, but overall a good return. Read somewhere that there should be a death match between Bob Geldof and Bono to see who should host Shed Aid.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 28, 2009 at 10:21 AM

Beckala on May 26: - I'm cringing as I type this but I LOVE the Chrysler ad. Can't explain why. Maybe there's some "so bad it's good" about it. Maybe it's the incongruity of 'Bama and 'Schwarz, the el cheapo animation and the dodgy impersonations. Either way, every time I hear "Arnold" do "You can do it!" I crack up.
Wait a minute - perhaps I am that colleague of yours. Do you work at BedBathnTable too?
I may need help.

by Wendell on May 28, 2009 at 10:35 AM

Goodness - I've just heard a radio ad for Chk Chk Portugese chicken.
A really fine TGYH last night. It's always good when all the guests are good. Cal seems to be the new Hamish - appearing in two separate programs in the same night. Chaser was alright, not their best, but still good.
I saw that flu ad, and I've got an issue with the grandpa sneezing into his hand and then continuing on with what he was doing. This coincides with a sight for sore eyes, where someone sneezed into their hands and then rubbed it together. It just makes it all a tad uncomfortable.

by Kym on May 28, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Chaser - as already mentioned a bit hit & miss, somebody will get seriously hurt especially if they keep doing skits in the "deep south" of the USofA.
Thank God Your Hear was especially good, Cal Wilson was so fast & funny.
Good to see Spicks & Specks "live" instead of watching at another time, & David looked right at home in Cannes, I guess we now have do ourselves a favour & go & see Sampson & Delilah.
TM what is the demographic that is "anxious to get back to their porno on the web"??? I must have missed that one.

by PJ453 on May 28, 2009 at 11:17 AM

I think you've pretty much hit the thing on the you know what TM. Except for the internet porn thing......heh heh, ummm...
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one left a little underwhelmed. Some great bits. Some so-so bits. I actually thought the promo earlier in the night with the guys from 'The Gruen Transfer' was better than most of the show itself. Maybe they were just a bit over-eager to get the Vatican stunt on air and whoops....all over. Brian Wenzel may be able to recommend something.
Still, it's better than most of what else is on offer.
Re Arnie and the Chrysler ad, I thought "You can do it" was a catch-cry popularised by Rob Schnyder (sideline heckler number 4) on Adam Sandler's 'The Water Boy'. Maybe Arnie does it too. Speaking of needing help.
Beckala, re your annoyance at 'The Footy Show's' homophobic skit the other week, good to see today someone's taken it seriously enough to sue 'em. I never saw it when it aired but they recapped the joke in the article and yes, they deserve a court date.

by darren on May 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Tuned into The Chaser. Like it when they take the piss but not a fan of their sketches. Jesus taken by a shark off a Sydney beach? Klu Klux Klan in pink gear for breast cancer awareness? Those skits were offensive and weren't even funny.

by wazza on May 28, 2009 at 11:25 AM

What i find even more odd was the performance of SVU last night. It totally bombed with only 616,000 at 8.30 losing almost 400,000 from the House final last week yet Criminal Minds and The Mentalist relatively remained the same against the Specks & Chaser double. I guess all the young'uns left in droves for the ABC double. Am i right in assuming that TM will put the encore figures from Specks & Chaser on ABC2 tomorrow morning in the chart?

by cpandilo on May 28, 2009 at 11:56 AM

I couldnt agree more about the Chasers, now that they have become mainstream they arent at all as funny and sharp as they used to be. I will still watch, but last nights return after a hiatus was VERY VERY dissapointing for me.

by Angelos Ftakas on May 28, 2009 at 12:37 PM

TM, can you please post the figures for SVU on Wed night? I want to compare the 8.30pm timeslot.

Tribal Mind replies: In the chart now. Please tell us what it proves.

by Clem on May 28, 2009 at 01:11 PM

TGYH was great last night. Well, Cal was anyway. Didn't think much of the guy's performance but it was well worth watching.
S&S did extremely well but Chasers lost quite a few viewers. The only reason I can see is that maybe, like me, viewers went off to bed and hit the record button.
I don't usually go to bed that early but I wasn't feeling well and bed seemed a better option. Perhaps others did the same thing? So will pass my judgement of Chasers after I have time to watch. But comments here seem to be a bit disappointed. Maybe it's time for the Chaser boys to move on.
Also glad to hear someone is doing something to stop the Footy Show from being so insensitive and stupid. Hope they lose the court case. Serves them right. Time Nine sacked the lot of them and get rid of such a silly show. Why not have a half hour show on a Friday night before the footy where they actually discuss football instead of acting like idiots? That would get them some viewers back and make a lot more sense. But then I am talking about Nine. Sensible is never their strong point.

by em on May 28, 2009 at 02:14 PM

Chasers was about as funny as their typical eps. While I really liked some bits (footy, billy connolly, quentin bryce) other parts were mostly flat. Expected more from the debut episode.
And I was surprised when they didn't do any swine flu jokes either...

by arthur on May 28, 2009 at 02:41 PM

I too was disappointed with the Chasers last night. Just weren't a lot of laughs to be had - agree with the comments on the sketches, they just weren't funny. Agree with Bereft - life long Dragons supporter who lives in the Shire - it's fantastic to see the Sharks cop a bit!! But other than that, disappointing. The whole Vatican thing - it just wasn't funny, I don't get the huge fuss - surely they could have come up with something a bit more clever than that - nobody in their right mind would fall for that. But good bits - the Chk Chk send up was very funny. The opening where they talked about where they had been was good. The Shore bit was funny. But they were the only laughs. Hopefully they get better from here... Loved TGYH. S&S was great too. Definitely got more laughs in those than Chasers. Sigh.
Wendall, I'm a school teacher. So you're safe.
darren, in much agreement about the Footy Show. Unfortunately when I read the article in the Terror, had to sift through the homophobic morons defending it "It's just a joke, why don't they get a life?", "it was hilarious and the footy show guys are comic geniuses", "why are those people so oversensitivve". I just hate that whole attitude. I'm glad that it's been brought up - it probably won't get anywhere, but maybe it will make them reconsider the gay jokes they feel the need to base the show around. Probably wishing for a miracle, but if they at least think about it for a minute, maybe they will stop the homophobic crap!

by Beckala on May 28, 2009 at 02:43 PM

Heard on radio today that chk chk boom girl may be offered job by nein....as reporter for ACA - need we sya more.
I am not a Chaser watcher (or recorder) as I find them terribly schoolboyish - had recorded Gruen - really waiting for second series of Hollowmen.
And have to share this because it grates everytime I hear it - Vega (and particulary Tony Mickey & Rebecca) refer to the Terror as the journal of record.... words escape me as to how a tabloid can become a journal of record - usually reserved for newspapers with some gravitas - in my mind SMH is one.

Tribal Mind remarks: Might be tone of irony in their usage.

by Cathy on May 28, 2009 at 03:57 PM

Re: Suing The Footy Show. Initially I thought it was because they were being sued for false advertising after claiming to be a show about Footy. Seriously though, the plaintiff has a rep for going after high profile individuals and I can see the merit of the complaint. I wonder, when this fellow has big wins where do the proceeds/payouts go to? His coffers or to charity? After watching the last 2 episodes though The Footy Show really toned down on the asshattery and has become about - gasp - footy! It is perhaps bad timing for public support though.
Beckala: I feel we are kindred spirits, having myself grown up in The Shire as a Dragons fan amongst a sea of rabid Sharks, who now seem to have jumped themselves.
Read in The Terror that Vic Davies, formerly of radio duo "Club Veg", is battling Lung Cancer. Will be going home and playing my "Members and Guests and Things" vinyl record tonight.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 28, 2009 at 04:43 PM

Watched the Chaser last night and I thought it wasn't very good. I didn't find anything particuarly funny. The Billy Connolly bit made me smile and that was as good as it got. I have to admit I was never much of a fan of the show. But I think they've hit an all time low. The KKK bit I found rather offensive and really , is that the best they can come up with?
I won't be watching again.

by em on May 29, 2009 at 07:56 AM

Re the Terror being a journal of record - unfortunately TM I cannot detect any irony in their tone (announcers on Vega) when referencing alleged news.
Just thought I'd share - off to see Shane Warne the Musical tonight.

by Cathyd on May 29, 2009 at 08:41 AM

Okay so here comes a masterful segue.....
I think the guy that's suing 'The Footy Show' is suing as a matter of principal. Maybe he can succeed in getting them off air and that will be his contribution to human evolution (and it even rhymes!, sorta).
Speaking of principal (that was it), Kate from 'MasterChef' had me astounded last night when she gave herself the chop instead of knocking off Sandra. Has anything like that ever happened on a reality show before? Don't think so. Fairness. Kindness. Whowouldathunkit.
And I just have to say, Bereft Skerrick and Beckala you are indeed unusual humans, who can read both the SMH and The Daily Stupid without stopping for a shower. I can't even so much as glimpse (glimpse!!) a trackie-clad grandma power-walking home with one folded under her tuck-shop-lady arm without getting the dry heaves. I'm firmly a one-paper type. Went to Brisbane once and almost had a meltdown when I realised the corner shop didn't stock the SMH. Had to leave the state.

Tribal MInd protests: You are operating on an outdated stereotype. The DT has improved greatly in the past five years.

by darren on May 29, 2009 at 08:41 AM

Watched The Footy Show last night. Obviously 2 weeks was long enough for them to have an absence of scantily clad cheerleaders. And no Jacqueline Magnay. Coincidence?

by Bereft Skerrick on May 29, 2009 at 09:38 AM

Re: "TM, can you please post the figures for SVU on Wed night? I want to compare the 8.30pm timeslot."

TM: I was surprised by such low figures for SVU. It's half of what it used to get on Thur nights. Bad move I guess. Probably better off putting repeats of House instead.

by Clem on May 29, 2009 at 09:50 AM

Does anyone else think Thursday night TV is just awful? There is NOTHING to watch. Even something like Funniest Home Video's would be better then the stuff they have scheduled! Thank God for my Tivo!

by PeteC on May 29, 2009 at 10:40 AM

TM surely you jest and I've had waaaay too much coffee so in the interests of backing up my bigottry with cold hard facts I've put on some latex gloves and opened a copy of the DT left in the office by a co-worker who reads the thing and never throws them away, to see how the improvement's going and here's a few examples:
On the swine flu: "Newlyweds club wrecked by ship of flus" (Heehee clever)...."P & O missed boat on swine flu danger" (haha)....
On Sol Trujillo: "We're not racist, we just hate duds" (right on!), followed by a selection of redneck readers replies titled "Vexed by the Mex" (you tell him)....
On Schapppellle Corby: "Depressed Corby laps up some comfort from her teddy bear" followed by a detailed account of how she lay down and how she got up, and then "Depressed Corby comforted by doll".....I'm getting tired...
And the Chk Chk girl and Lara Bingle appear to be on every page, oh no wait, there's Peter Andre and his wife thing....
Yeah they're good at importing seldom used words if it makes a pun work or rhymes with swine but it's about as Kwality Journalism as A Current Affair is (that's good grammar if a caffiene fug).
But each to their own.
The people watching 'Inspector Rex' and '20 to 1 - Big Screen Buddies' are DT readers. Categorically.

by darren on May 29, 2009 at 11:32 AM

darren: re the unusualness of Beckala and yours truly. Must be associated with being Dragons fans having to deal with filth living amongst Sharks fans. Made of teflon we are. Tough stuff.
TM: re your claim that the DT has improved, I would more liken it as a move from the gutter to a move into the sewer. The DT is the Channel Nork of newspapers.
And I suggest that since Bec Wilson is employed to write a column for the DT that she's rather biased in her claim of "a journal of record". And she also hates the Dragons.

by Bereft Skerrick on May 29, 2009 at 11:54 AM

I have to agree with Darren re Daily Terror (not about the BOM website though, I LOVE the BOM website and am a daily lurker here so I can't be all bad) anyways, back to the Terror, call me a snob but I can't take it seriously either and I think it is fairly on par with ACA and TT.
While I'm here, thouroughly agree that Thursday night is the dullest night on TV. Watched the money doco on the ABC last night, which was a little dull.

by Nic on May 29, 2009 at 12:16 PM

Quoth darren: "Dipping water sounds kind of groovy though. Groo-vee. Unusual."
Ah, don't tell me I managed to sneak a Simpsons quote past you? (Or are you replying with another Simpsons quote? Oh, the confusion of post-modern life.)
The only TV of note I've seen lately has been Sesame Street. Ran downstairs to much excited squealing from Mr TQD the other day to discover Neil Patrick Harris being the fairy shoe person (very natty looking in a white suit with wings). And this morning he ran downstairs when I squealed because it was Will Arnett, in a powder blue suit doing magic tricks. Ah, must rewatch my "Arrested Development" DVDs.

by tqd on May 29, 2009 at 01:36 PM

Madmen last night was FANTASTIC. I will never think of oysters and martinis in the same way again! This is the best series on television at present - why isnt everyone watching?

by Jess Purrier on May 29, 2009 at 02:44 PM

No, sorry Darren. I do not read the DT, nor watch anything on nein, let alone "20 to 1, anything" Shudder!
But I used to watch Inspector Rex until one day, about 10 minutes in, they had an ad break. Fled in horror & have never returned. (Probably for penis-related problems, their favourites, but I can't remember.)
N.B up until then it was the favourite program of myself and fellow dog trainers!
Oh, and TM, I'm a keen viewer of L&O SVU, but in the excitement of The Chaser returning, overlooked 10's decision to move it to Wednesday night. Would have recorded it anyway.

by Sal on May 29, 2009 at 03:49 PM

Re: Inspector Rex, who is watching it? My mother didn't even watch it last night (and she does weekly) because it was a re-repeat. Surely must be a word where something gets repeated several times - maybe Tenneted? (in honour of Ch 10 and their two wonderful films).
I reckon Friday night gives Thursday night a good run for its money as poorest programmed night. Beaches!? Why, isn't that the film where Jerry Seinfeld's girlfriend bawled?

by Kym on May 29, 2009 at 08:18 PM

While everybody is on the subject of the rubbish that is ACA, TT and The Daily Terror, I'm wondering if the tabloid television varieties have now given up any pretence of presenting any news or current affairs. It seems like ACA is turning into a lifestyle show now that Don Burke is doing a segment on garden makeovers every Friday. Are they possibly planning to extend ACA to an hour show with more magazine segments like Sunrise and Today?

by matey on May 29, 2009 at 08:45 PM

"Tribal MInd protests: You are operating on an outdated stereotype. The DT has improved greatly in the past five years. * by darren" o
--------------------------------
Yes... It's now largely in colour, so the majority of readers can tell what the picture accompanying an article is actually about. B&W pics had the majority of readers turning the paper every which way in an effort to see what the picture was about.
It's also a lot easier now to get to the important sections that don't have articles of several hundred words or more, such as the racing and with advertising revenue falling, it's a lot thinner and therefore a much quicker read for those people who are plainly too busy, or only get 30 mins max for lunch.
9's...

by Steve C on May 30, 2009 at 11:34 AM

2 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven - 415,000 (Sydney) 381,000 (Melbourne).

So what am I meant to infer from such a figure? With even momentary fluctuations of viewing preference taken as quantum shifts in socio-cultural paradigms of cataclysmic proportion by those that reckon "stuff like this matters"... I am left wondering what to make of Melbourne people who seem from the figures to have such little regard for spending their Federal Government $900 handout on improvements to their properties that Sydney viewers plainly can see as returning massive gains when they flog their places due to the rising pressures associated with unemployment and inability to repay mortgages!

It's got to be that or some other deep and meaningful reason - surely?! Mustn't it? If not; why not?!

Isn't this the digital version of the "Magic Mirror"? I want answers, and I want them NOW!! :)

by Steve C on May 30, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Furthermore to ACA having lifestyle segments, saw an ad called "Tracy Grimshaw Exclusive". They're really squeezing every penny of her interviewing skills.

by Kym on May 30, 2009 at 12:40 PM

Does ACA still do that Brady's Bunch segment every week? That was like something you'd expect to see on a comedy show like Rove. Nothing to do with current affairs either.

by Warrigul on May 30, 2009 at 01:55 PM

I only remember the DT from the (Frank) Packer days, a few years ago,when I worked for an associated publication in Bulletin Place for a time and it wasn't that bad a rag, we got it for free! (As we did all the other newspapers from around the country). Sir Robert loved it as did Black Jack McEwen (the original "honest John) and I can't imagine that it would have gone backwards as fast as is being implied by fellow respondents here.
As such, I fully agree with Mr Mind, I mean, you never know, a better paying opportunity might just come along and unchallenged gratuitous comments may impede such an opportunity, should such come to pass.

by Zjonn on May 30, 2009 at 03:59 PM

I was one of the 374K who sat up & watched the finale of Life on Mars last night on Ch10 (2 special mentions here: 1/ For more people in Melbourne watching than in Sydney...& I thought they were cultured.... & 2/ TM for putting a picture of the "real" LOM show, which made even more depressed). The sleep I had after watching it was very disturbed, The Guide's critic had given the thumb's down & his critique which included "the most boneheaded, embarrassingly banel resolution to a series I have ever seen" should have warned me as to how bad it was going to be!! I know it was a very poor cousin to the real show, but there were parts of the series that I did enjoy, but then Ch10 moved it (another great programming story!!!) & I either forgot to record or I fell asleep watching it. In conclusion the finale was woeful, how the actors just didn't walk out of the filming was beyond me..it was a great disappoinment, & at the end I thought I was watching a Space Oddity (no pun intended).
As to the worth of the Telegraph, even if Annabel Crabb wrote for it I wouldn't read it, I'd prefer to to be on a boat floating around the South Pacific waiting for the "piggy flu" numbers to escalate.

by PJ453 on May 30, 2009 at 05:22 PM

"I'd prefer to to be on a boat floating around the South Pacific waiting for the "piggy flu" numbers to escalate." writes PJ453.
Now there's a sure fire way to make sure the DT would do an "in-depth" feature on you. The sort of article that'd be based on solid innuendo, reasonable surmising and verifiable fabrication that they could deny later on as being "sensationalist", because their "sources" were "impeccable"...

by Steve C on May 30, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Re: theory of Spicks & Specks getting 1.81m.
It depends on whether you are refering to the same episode or just the same program regardless of whether it is the same episode or not. This is because while the ABC2 Thursday showing is an encore of Wednesdays episode, the episode on ABC1 on Friday afternoon is not the same as Wednesdays show but is a repeat from either last year or the year before. So it actually finished the week on 1.71m.

Tribal Mind replies: Thanks for that clarification. I thought it was Wednesday's show. Even so, 1.71m makes it a pretty strong performer.

by cpandilo on May 31, 2009 at 01:51 PM

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