The Who We Are update: Week 24

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This forum is now a heritage item - worth studying but no longer current. For the latest on Australian attitudes and media trends, go to blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.
To learn how Australians are stimulating themselves this month, go to The Tribal Mind.
To learn what makes Australians sick, go to Who We Are.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Sunday
It's just as well The Chaser team decided to do their satire on sentimental fundraising on a night when their show was up against one of the biggest biffo events of the year. The State of Origin distracted 400,000 of the Chaser's most conservative fans and therefore saved them from being shocked and offended. When some of them tuned in to ABC2 for the repeat later in the week, to see what the fuss was about, they found the controversial item had been deleted.

The biffo gave Nine a narrow victory for the week, with 27.1 per cent of the prime time audience (Seven on 26.4, Ten on 24.5, ABC on 17.1, SBS on 4.8).

This was Pay TV's account of itself: "FOX Sports' coverage of Live: AFL Collingwood v Port Adelaide topped the week on subscription TV with 252,000 people watching last Sunday afternoon's Australian Rules match. In other sport, 237,000 viewers watched Live: NRL Rabbitohs v Raiders; 130,000 people watched the Rugby Union match between the Wallabies and the Barbarians in Live: Rugby Union: Test Match; 110,000 subscribers saw Live: Cricket: ICC World Twenty20 on Saturday night and Live: Tennis: French Open Day 11 drew 100,000 viewers (all on FOX Sports).

"This week, 211,000 people saw Laura Mitchell eliminated from Australia's Next Top Model on FOX8, leaving just six contestants in the current series of the show. 113,000 people watched Sunday night's episode of NCIS on TV1; 88,000 saw Law & Order on W; 88,000 also watched Eastenders on UKTV and 80,000 viewed Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel. That '70s Show on 111HITS had a year-to-date best audience with 76,000 viewers; Grand Designs on Lifestyle drew 74,000 people and Stargate SG-1 on Sci Fi had its biggest audience of 2009 so far with 72,000 subscribers.

"Subscription TV was the number one source of television across all Australian homes in week 23. STV channels accounted for 22.6% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, was 21.6% of all regional viewing and 57.4% of all viewing in subscription TV homes."

What Australia watched, week ending June 8
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 STATE OF ORIGIN RUGBY LEAGUE NSW V QLD 1ST - MATCH Nine 2,322,000 991,000 330,000 845,000 73,000 83,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,831,000 415,000 541,000 495,000 172,000 208,000
3 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,643,000 453,000 463,000 315,000 178,000 234,000
4 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,625,000 475,000 522,000 262,000 167,000 199,000
5 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,620,000 535,000 506,000 269,000 190,000 121,000
6 NCIS Ten 1,590,000 388,000 497,000 301,000 203,000 202,000
7 STATE OF ORIGIN RUGBY LEAGUE NSW V QLD 1ST - PRE MATCH Nine 1,590,000 627,000 302,000 596,000 65,000
8 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,568,000 493,000 511,000 226,000 180,000 159,000
9 THE ZOO Seven 1,472,000 397,000 438,000 295,000 176,000 166,000
10 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,469,000 412,000 419,000 373,000 90,000 176,000
11 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,417,000 381,000 392,000 293,000 147,000 204,000
12 60 MINUTES Nine 1,417,000 393,000 434,000 337,000 140,000 113,000
13 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,391,000 398,000 446,000 254,000 146,000 148,000
14 BONES Seven 1,372,000 404,000 396,000 272,000 147,000 153,000
15 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,371,000 331,000 417,000 324,000 146,000 153,000
16 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,359,000 411,000 406,000 216,000 152,000 174,000
17 MERLIN Ten 1,338,000 437,000 359,000 212,000 161,000 169,000
18 NCIS RPT Ten 1,321,000 314,000 442,000 226,000 172,000 167,000
19 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,315,000 374,000 384,000 235,000 143,000 179,000
20 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,286,000 333,000 418,000 276,000 109,000 151,000
21 SEA PATROL Nine 1,279,000 393,000 334,000 235,000 138,000 179,000
22 GETAWAY Nine 1,261,000 368,000 380,000 248,000 123,000 141,000
23 NINE NEWS Nine 1,252,000 342,000 406,000 273,000 117,000 113,000
24 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,223,000 343,000 390,000 266,000 115,000 109,000
25 20 TO 1 Nine 1,223,000 343,000 359,000 210,000 144,000 168,000
26 STATE OF ORIGIN 1ST - POST MATCH Nine 1,205,000 582,000 624,000
27 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,199,000 363,000 389,000 184,000 135,000 127,000
28 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,172,000 338,000 352,000 226,000 134,000 123,000
29 GHOST WHISPERER Seven 1,158,000 343,000 326,000 203,000 145,000 142,000
30 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,152,000 323,000 319,000 215,000 126,000 169,000
31 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,143,000 333,000 352,000 239,000 84,000 135,000
32 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,137,000 323,000 308,000 227,000 135,000 144,000
33 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,136,000 357,000 340,000 143,000 134,000 162,000
34 RECRUITS Ten 1,132,000 325,000 359,000 170,000 104,000 174,000
35 NEW TRICKS ABC1 1,130,000 297,000 332,000 213,000 132,000 156,000
36 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC1 1,125,000 372,000 380,000 123,000 110,000 141,000
316 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING (the censored repeat) ABC2 137,000 54,000 31,000 27,000 9,000 15,000
Continued here

37 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Ten 1,124,000 342,000 365,000 184,000 121,000 113,000
38 GOOD NEWS WEEK Ten 1,122,000 308,000 322,000 195,000 143,000 154,000
39 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,121,000 289,000 378,000 236,000 100,000 119,000
40 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,118,000 289,000 375,000 194,000 130,000 129,000
41 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,112,000 362,000 307,000 216,000 81,000 146,000
42 YOU SAVED MY LIFE Nine 1,111,000 291,000 345,000 229,000 110,000 134,000
43 ABC NEWS-SU ABC1 1,077,000 353,000 342,000 175,000 102,000 105,000
44 DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD ABC1 1,057,000 390,000 231,000 188,000 104,000 145,000
(OzTAM mainland capitals)

What Austalia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,371,000 331,000 417,000 324,000 146,000 153,000
2 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,152,000 323,000 319,000 215,000 126,000 169,000
3 NEW TRICKS ABC1 1,130,000 297,000 332,000 213,000 132,000 156,000
4 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,118,000 289,000 375,000 194,000 130,000 129,000
7 THE BILL ABC1 863,000 253,000 247,000 140,000 94,000 128,000
10 SATURDAY NIGHT AFL Ten 748,000 433,000 77,000 92,000 146,000
23 SEVEN'S R.U: AUS V BARBARIANS Seven 374,000 219,000 155,000
101 RUGBY UNION: SHUTE SHIELD (NSW) 2009-PM ABC1 59,000 59,000
107 VFL FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 51,000 51,000
109 SEVEN'S R.U: AUS V BAA Seven 50,000 25,000 17,000 8,000
129 RUGBY LEAGUE: (QLD) 2009-PM ABC1 38,000 38,000
149 THE SANFL-PM ABC1 27,000 27,000
152 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 26,000 20,000 5,000 1,000
171 SATURDAY LATE NIGHT AFL Ten 21,000 21,000
172 WAFL LIVE LEAGUE FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 20,000 20,000
185 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 11: RICHMOND VS BULLDOGS Seven 14,000 11,000 3,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

The ratings race, updated 10 am Saturday
Channel Seven won Friday night, but couldn't overcome Nine's big advantage from the biffo, so at this point in the week, Nine has 27.7 per cent of the prime time audience, Seven has 26.7, Ten has 24.7, ABC has 16.3 and SBS has 4.6. We'd like to hear predictions of how tonight's programming will affect that result.

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,527,000 445,000 381,000 316,000 179,000 205,000
2 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,315,000 374,000 384,000 235,000 143,000 179,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,294,000 392,000 311,000 289,000 133,000 168,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,217,000 339,000 389,000 198,000 131,000 160,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,195,000 316,000 401,000 261,000 111,000 106,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,130,000 319,000 365,000 234,000 106,000 107,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,037,000 302,000 275,000 210,000 117,000 134,000
9 SILENT WITNESS ABC1 960,000 293,000 249,000 166,000 108,000 145,000
17 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 11: RICHMOND VS BULLDOGS Seven 726,000 19,000 432,000 13,000 134,000 127,000
19 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 676,000 409,000 268,000
37 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 353,000 236,000 117,000
57 THE SEX BLOG GIRLS SBS 206,000 43,000 72,000 39,000 30,000 22,000
95 LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN Ten 121,000 31,000 27,000 29,000 17,000 17,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,647,000 447,000 509,000 312,000 165,000 214,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,427,000 367,000 415,000 291,000 153,000 201,000
3 GETAWAY Nine 1,258,000 367,000 380,000 248,000 123,000 140,000
4 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,237,000 369,000 366,000 211,000 152,000 139,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,231,000 334,000 397,000 271,000 115,000 115,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,230,000 350,000 392,000 280,000 106,000 102,000
7 20 TO 1 Nine 1,223,000 343,000 358,000 211,000 143,000 167,000
8 GREY'S ANATOMY Seven 1,173,000 338,000 352,000 226,000 134,000 123,000
9 GHOST WHISPERER Seven 1,158,000 343,000 326,000 203,000 145,000 142,000
10 LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT Ten 1,125,000 342,000 365,000 184,000 121,000 113,000
11 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,115,000 312,000 305,000 223,000 140,000 135,000
12 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 1,062,000 209,000 438,000 166,000 136,000 113,000
19 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 881,000 261,000 285,000 166,000 84,000 85,000
20 PRIVATE PRACTICE Seven 861,000 274,000 264,000 147,000 95,000 81,000
26 HOT SEAT Nine 681,000 221,000 221,000 111,000 67,000 61,000
40 INSPECTOR REX RPT SBS 335,000 104,000 102,000 46,000 37,000 46,000
53 MAD MEN SBS 218,000 87,000 71,000 21,000 16,000 23,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 STATE OF ORIGIN RUGBY LEAGUE NSW V QLD 1ST - MATCH Nine 2,287,000 971,000 328,000 834,000 73,000 82,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,673,000 445,000 501,000 294,000 195,000 239,000
3 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,485,000 508,000 408,000 198,000 170,000 202,000
4 STATE OF ORIGIN RUGBY LEAGUE NSW V QLD 1ST - PRE MATCH Nine 1,440,000 543,000 300,000 535,000 62,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,438,000 391,000 391,000 274,000 152,000 230,000
6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,276,000 340,000 398,000 290,000 123,000 126,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,272,000 349,000 380,000 322,000 127,000 93,000
10 THE CHASER'S WAR ON EVERYTHING ABC1 1,169,000 390,000 391,000 128,000 114,000 145,000
11 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,130,000 354,000 338,000 143,000 134,000 162,000
14 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 1,025,000 277,000 306,000 196,000 104,000 143,000
16 M-THE KATH & KIM MOVIE (R) Seven 941,000 246,000 345,000 105,000 117,000 128,000
47 LOST Seven 251,000 76,000 86,000 44,000 22,000 23,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,646,000 458,000 464,000 318,000 166,000 239,000
2 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,625,000 475,000 522,000 262,000 167,000 199,000
3 NCIS Ten 1,589,000 387,000 496,000 301,000 203,000 202,000
4 THE ZOO Seven 1,472,000 397,000 438,000 295,000 176,000 166,000
5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,450,000 373,000 425,000 301,000 146,000 205,000
6 FIND MY FAMILY Seven 1,391,000 398,000 446,000 254,000 146,000 148,000
7 NCIS RPT Ten 1,315,000 312,000 441,000 225,000 171,000 167,000
8 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,278,000 424,000 375,000 204,000 141,000 135,000
9 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,211,000 326,000 424,000 249,000 102,000 110,000
10 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,201,000 288,000 401,000 255,000 112,000 146,000
11 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,199,000 363,000 389,000 184,000 135,000 127,000
12 NINE NEWS Nine 1,192,000 330,000 403,000 248,000 111,000 100,000
18 10 YEARS YOUNGER IN 10 DAYS Seven 978,000 324,000 296,000 138,000 127,000 94,000
19 HOME MADE -ELIMINATION Nine 949,000 269,000 271,000 193,000 107,000 110,000
30 MUMBAI CALLING ABC1 486,000 158,000 171,000 64,000 35,000 58,000
35 LIPSTICK JUNGLE Seven 365,000 103,000 143,000 42,000 48,000 29,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,724,000 469,000 461,000 334,000 185,000 275,000
2 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA Ten 1,473,000 397,000 456,000 261,000 160,000 198,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,469,000 385,000 411,000 309,000 149,000 215,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,339,000 374,000 425,000 283,000 128,000 129,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,289,000 333,000 418,000 278,000 108,000 151,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,286,000 390,000 388,000 260,000 128,000 119,000
7 SEA PATROL Nine 1,282,000 393,000 335,000 236,000 138,000 180,000
8 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,144,000 323,000 299,000 243,000 132,000 147,000
9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 1,143,000 333,000 352,000 239,000 84,000 135,000
10 RECRUITS Ten 1,134,000 325,000 360,000 169,000 105,000 175,000
11 GOOD NEWS WEEK Ten 1,113,000 305,000 322,000 191,000 142,000 153,000
17 SCRUBS - MON Seven 958,000 263,000 287,000 201,000 84,000 124,000
18 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 940,000 268,000 292,000 161,000 99,000 119,000
19 BROTHERS & SISTERS Seven 927,000 288,000 329,000 148,000 65,000 97,000
27 SUPERNATURAL Ten 762,000 236,000 208,000 138,000 91,000 89,000
28 SPOOKS ABC1 662,000 180,000 224,000 102,000 60,000 95,000
29 HOT SEAT Nine 661,000 205,000 210,000 111,000 84,000 50,000
30 TOP GEAR AUSTRALIA SBS 595,000 209,000 180,000 93,000 68,000 45,000
34 THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW Seven 452,000 136,000 160,000 62,000 52,000 42,000
71 30 ROCK Seven 180,000 54,000 65,000 26,000 22,000 14,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,830,000 415,000 541,000 495,000 171,000 208,000
2 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,621,000 535,000 506,000 269,000 190,000 121,000
3 MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA - CHALLENGE Ten 1,565,000 492,000 510,000 225,000 179,000 159,000
4 SUNDAY NIGHT Seven 1,469,000 412,000 419,000 373,000 90,000 176,000
5 60 MINUTES Nine 1,420,000 393,000 433,000 339,000 142,000 113,000
6 BONES Seven 1,372,000 404,000 396,000 272,000 147,000 153,000
7 MERLIN Ten 1,335,000 437,000 359,000 211,000 160,000 168,000
8 THE FORCE - BEHIND THE LINE Seven 1,111,000 362,000 307,000 215,000 81,000 146,000
9 ABC NEWS-SUN ABC1 1,078,000 354,000 340,000 176,000 102,000 107,000
10 ROVE Ten 1,055,000 268,000 379,000 178,000 111,000 118,000
11 DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD ABC1 1,051,000 388,000 229,000 187,000 103,000 144,000
12 BORDER SECURITY USA Seven 1,030,000 344,000 333,000 209,000 Not shown 144,000
13 CASTLE Seven 970,000 251,000 312,000 171,000 124,000 112,000
14 HOME MADE Nine 958,000 271,000 316,000 170,000 130,000 72,000
15 CSI Nine 952,000 311,000 264,000 179,000 112,000 86,000
17 FILTH: THE MARY WHITEHOUSE STORY ABC1 797,000 258,000 233,000 123,000 96,000 88,000
20 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 624,000 414,000 202,000 7,000
22 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 10: ESSENDON VS GEELONG Seven 548,000 65,000 352,000 56,000 75,000
32 SEVEN'S V8 SUPERCARS ROUND 4: SYMMONS PLAINS D2 Seven 314,000 98,000 94,000 83,000 21,000 18,000
58 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 10: COLLINGWOOD VS PORT ADELAIDE Seven 162,000 162,000
64 AFL GAME DAY Seven 150,000 130,000 19,000
71 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 10: ADELAIDE VS HAWTHORN Seven 124,000 124,000
83 GLADIATORS Seven 87,000 61,000 26,000
84 FA CUP FINAL LIVE SBS 86,000 43,000 36,000 7,000
99 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL LATE Nine 51,000 22,000 29,000

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

Hi TM... Just wondering if you have figures on how Seven's V8 Supercar coverage went on Sunday afternoon. Adelaide viewers missed out on anything resembling 'reasonable' coverage when it was boned to a late-night spot thanks two both of Adelaide's AFL teams playing on a Sunday.
I ask as the V8 Supercar administration make grandiose claims about ratings and viewership of their racing.. I'd like to see if this is in fact correct. Thanks in advance.

Tribal Mind replies: In the chart now. Please tell us what the figure means.

by racer1 on June 01, 2009 at 09:40 AM

Watched 'Merlin' all the way through last night for the first time, poorly animated Griffin and all and, is it just me, or is Merlin perhaps gay? Lots of lustful gazing after Artie and now Lance. Standing on the sidelines with Gwen gossiping about who's the hunkiest. All that swordplay. Just a thought.
TM, is Britain's Hottest Woman Michelle Ryan? Or Julie Walters? Susan Boyle?
Oh, and another Newspaper heading for you: Hamish McDonald's column on Saturday - "How to Solve a Problem Like Korea"....now that's a pun.

by darren on June 01, 2009 at 11:14 AM

I enjoy how well channel 10's doing at the expense of 9! I think Channel 10 could try and improve their ratings for the end of the week by putting on the new series of the US version of So You Think You Can Dance.

by Helena on June 01, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I'm just hoping that TM doesn't think that Britain's Hottest Woman was Mary Whitehouse!

TM remarks: I've finally found a pic to reassure you.

by Bereft Skerrick on June 01, 2009 at 05:25 PM

Laughed out loud at Good News Week last night. I'm not usually a fan of Wil Anderson but he cracked me up last night. Maybe I was just in the mood for purile humour.
Seeing as though all things media are spoke about here, I was listening to the Vega news this morning about the missing Air France plane and they actually said "Thankfully there were no Australians aboard". As with all things newsworthy, I am at a loss to understand why everything is more of a tragedy if Australians are involved. Or is it just a tragedy that the Australian media can't milk it for that little bit more?

by Nic on June 02, 2009 at 07:42 AM

TM's "Britain's hottest woman" certainly made the Catwoman outfit look very sassy. Certainly a mistake by The Dr not joining her on the flying bus to see the world. Have always enjoyed Julie Waters on the screen & the show about prudes was far more entertaining than I could have imagined. And "what's the majic word" again ???
Spookes last night was one of the best, back to just nitty gritty goodies & baddies stuff, great viewing. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Mary Whitehouse enter the Spookes headquarters during her show on Sunday?

by PJ453 on June 02, 2009 at 08:50 AM

Helena, it was reported on the (I think) tv tonight website that Channel 10 will start screening the US SYTYCD on Friday nights, which will lead up to the finale with our very own SYTYCD 2009 champ Talia dancing at the finale.

by Beckala on June 02, 2009 at 09:40 AM

Not completely terrible ratings for Jonathan Ross but I'd say that a lot of people switched off during the show and that left 30 Rock with about 100,000 less viewers than it was getting after Boston Legal. Expect worse next week. Jonathan Ross made me think that we shouldn't be too critical of Rove because in comparison he does a heaps better job.
Seven programmers are dimwits for letting such a great show like 30 Rock languish at 11.30pm. It took them so long to recognise the potential with Scrubs. Move 30 Rock to 10.30 with double episodes and then show repeats. It would flow better out of Brothers & Sisters too.

by J Bar on June 02, 2009 at 10:31 AM

Helena, to confirm re: my last post
"TEN returns the US series of So You Think You Can Dance next month, to Friday night viewing.
This is the season which will feature Talia Fowlerï¿½s appearance in the showï¿½s Grand Final, as part of her Australian contest prize.
In the US the new series starts today on FOX, while a subsequent series will run quickly thereafter in the US Fall.
It returns to TEN 8pm Friday June 12th. Law and Order: CI screens at 10pm, with Simpsons repeats out."
Hooray! Friday nights looking up again!

by Beckala on June 02, 2009 at 10:32 AM

Nic, I agree, can't help thinking there's some reporters' notebooks with 'unfortunately' crossed out and changed to 'thankfully' for broadcast. 'Tragedy' is newscast speak for 'ker-ching'. A couple of tourists who can't get their shit together to make their flight becomes 'a miraculous escape' as if the gods of disorganised fools were smiling down on them.
I can't shake the feeling after what's happened to poor Susan Boyle and what's happened to poor us re the Chk Chk Boom girl and one thing after another that we should forget about Global Warming and worry about the liklihood that humans will just pester one another into extinction. I'm so very tired.
Tqd, if you're out there, re your comment lat week (click here for details) about your quote from the Simpsons, yes it went over my head. I can't remember quotes to save myself. Very early onset of dementia or brain tumour I haven't decided. The possibility that I cleverly responded with another Simpsons quote is, for the same reason rather remote althogh 'groo-vee' did have a certain Montgomery Burns-esque ring to it. Something in my DNA. Apologies for the late response but I spend weekends as a Luddite.... (and apologies TM for disregarding the 'what happens last week stays in last week' rule).
And anyone who cared enough to try it, stop clicking on that now.

by darren on June 02, 2009 at 11:20 AM

TM you asked where the 30 rock insomniacs went - I recorded and will watch tonight.
Nic heard the same news on Vega about "thankfully no Australians on board" and also agree with you - tragedies such as the plane crash are just that - nationalities are not the issue - it is the loss of life that is.

by Cathy on June 02, 2009 at 12:44 PM

Curious to know how Brothers & Sisters went last night. That was potentially the best, most emotional one hour of tv I have watched in a long while. Calista and Sally need Emmys for that asap!

Tribal Mind replies:In the chart now. I only saw the first few minutes. Who was in the emergency room? Did that person die?

by Daniel in Dubai (on holiday in Brisbane) on June 02, 2009 at 01:04 PM

Thanks for the info Beckala! So You Think You Can Dance is a good fit for a fri night. On another note, the season finale of Lost on Wednesday night is amazing. I know I’m prob the only one watching this show, but it’s so so good! It’s one of those mind-blowing finales that you wish more shows had! The show is answering all the questions we wanted answered and in a satisfying way that makes me really glad I’ve stuck with the show. I’m very disappointed it’s doing so dismally in the ratings here in Australia.

by Helena on June 02, 2009 at 02:35 PM

Brothers and Sisters - not a fan, watched a couple of episodes initially, but feel they all overact something fierce, and the storylines are pure soap opera!
Preview of last night's ep had me a little bit interested, so I watched a few minutes after Despos and again towards the end. Once again gobsmacked at the overacting and ridiculous storylines.
(TH, it is the Callista character's husband in the ER - not dead though. Don't know if he was shot or had a heart attack or was just trying to escape from embarassment).
Set the DVD to record 30 Rock and went over to Fox.

by Sal on June 02, 2009 at 02:44 PM

Master Almost 8 watched Michelle Ryan break into the museum on Doctor Who the other night. He then asked when she was going to take her Nurofen and backflip over the laser security system.

by Bereft Skerrick on June 02, 2009 at 03:29 PM

TM in answer to your question to Daniel in Dubai (Holidaying in brisvegas) Robert (Rob Lowe) was in the ER and we can guess from previews for next week - he did not die (as yet anyway).
Darren all I can say is chortle chortle. And I need to break TM's rule of what was last week stays last week - caught up with the last ep of the US Life on Mars and I agree with PJ453 - the ending was complete and utter tripe. I cannot believe they ruined what was a fantastic British series with garbage and there are no other words for it.
However in a segue saw the movie State of Play on the weekend - now I loved the series and I think the movie (albeit not quite the same depth) was also excellent - different slant but I highly recommend people - Mr Affleck does not resemble a block of wood for a change and Rusty is as always great

by Cathy on June 02, 2009 at 04:18 PM

Hi Darren, yes, I am out here. Somewhere. Still recording the Must Sees for the week (30 Rock, Doctor Who, Mad Men) and still failing to find time to watch them. Sometimes I think I should hand in my Tribal Mind membership card. ;)
At my last job, I somehow fell into the habit of saying "eeeeehxcellent" with my hands clasped, all quite unconsciously. Amazing how Mr Burns can take you over so easily.
Anyhoo, regarding your comment about Merlin being gay: I got downloaded copies to watch purely because an e-friend of mine blogged that it was the gayest thing she'd ever watched. I didn't quite agree, and put it down to her hobby of writing slash fiction and some wishful thinking on her part. But maybe there's something in it, after all, given that my gaydar is malfunctioning, and always has been.

by tqd on June 02, 2009 at 04:29 PM

Re Merlin being gay, I don't mean to harp on it (although maybe someone should warn The Christians) but it seems not so subtle to me. I think they're doing a Dumbledore on him. At first I thought they were twisting the traditional plot a bit and having him fall for Gwenivere but it looks like she's just his friend who is also a girl who he hangs around with and gets sewing tips from while looking for opportunities to set her up with his straight knightly and /or noble buddies. In last week's episode he was clearly besotted with Lancelot but torn because Arthur is his destiny. Maybe the truth behind the legend is that Artie and Gwen had a sham marriage and Artie and Merlin were the real royal couple??
If there's a storyline involving a Camelot footy team in any upcoming episodes I think we can rest our case.

by darren on June 03, 2009 at 05:57 AM

Damn it, darren, you're making me cross with myself for forgetting to record Merlin! (And 30 Rock, but that's another story.) Hopefully Lance'll stick around for an episode or two and I'll remember to record it and we can get to the bottom of this!

Caught up with Castle last night. Have to agree with a mate of mine who elsewhere said that it's gotten a lot tighter. Much silly fun.

by tqd on June 03, 2009 at 08:54 AM

So... apart from a few notable exceptions, the largest number of viewers according to the viewing breakdown figures (for Monday night's viewing that is), reside in Melbourne.
Now that either means the "City of the Arts" is going through an extreme period of cold and wet weather that is unconducive to outdoor activities (though actual attendances at gAy eF eL matches would seem to indicate otherwise), or Melbourne is actually as boring as many an ignorant Sydneyite figures it must be.
Maybe Masterchef having more Sydney viewers provides a clue to deep differences between the two major populations. Is it possible, that after watching the show, Sydney families indulge in cooking stuff rather than watching what's up next... and then later in the evening, all those well fed Sydneysiders switch to Ch7 to watch the sorts of measures that will be visited upon them to remove their excess layers of lard gained from consuming all the things that Masterchef inspired them too cook in Sydneyesque over abundance?
Seems to me, that these viewing figures reveal far more than just how incapable we Aussies are of finding something better to do when there's nothing but dross on offer on the ole Giggle Box.
When is the ABS going to tap into the insights these figure reveal?
BTW: My take on the "is Merlin gay?" conundrum. Maybe he's just a very happy neuter... Writers and producers know that such questions can keep audiences viewing half baked and inane drivel, just so they can find out whether he's a front or back door wizard. Validating our own "perceptions" about a fictional character is strong motivation to put up with stuff we wouldn't otherwise...

by Steve C on June 03, 2009 at 10:43 AM

Re Merlin & gay.......whenever we heard the name "Lancelot" we would automatically chant "Lancelot, Lancelot, loves to prance and dance a lot"!!! So you never know.......

by PJ453 on June 03, 2009 at 11:23 AM

What do you know? There's possibly a twist to Merlin. I'd decided not to bother watching it because I'd already seen it the first time around when it was called Smallville.

Tribal Mind asks: Are you saying Lex Luthor is gay? NTTAWWT.

by Yuri on June 03, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Hahahaha, Yuri. You know, there's actually a site that does Smallville recaps of each episode and every week they used to identify what they called the "Gayest Look of the Episode" or the GAYLE. It was nearly always been Clark and Lex. The HoYay! as it came to be called was the sole reason some people tuned in (HoYay stands for "homoeroticism, yay!").
On a different note, has anyone watched Castle? Is it worth it just for Nathan Fillion or does it have other deserving attributes?

by genfie on June 04, 2009 at 05:56 AM

Note to Sydney journalists: you can stay in bed for another hour this morning. The top story will be fog. Yay fog! Centrepoint Tower in fog! The Bridge in fog! Delayed flights because of the fog! Ian Ross saying to Sarah Groen "What about that fog!". Janie Seal saying to Pete Overbite "How about that fog!"
Got to love the fog.
Steve C: "such questions can keep audiences viewing half-baked and inane drivel"......that's about it. Without imagining every episode with a Benny Hill soundtrack or as a Carry On film, it aint got much. I'm waiting for "Merlin is that a wand in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" followed by a fast-forward chase to the tune of perhaps 'The Entertainer' around the courtyard (in and out of doorways etc). It's only a matter of time.

by darren on June 04, 2009 at 05:58 AM

genfie, I'm enjoying 'Castle'. I started watching it because I heard it was very reminiscent of hit show Moonlightingstarring Cybil Shephard and Bruce Willis, which was my favourite show back in the 1980s. They certainly have same sort of character chemistry and banter as Moonlighting did but if you compare the two shows, the thing that strikes you the most is the differences in production values compared to 20 years ago. In those days, the studio sets were less realistic and the shows moved along at a much slower pace. The dialogue and action is so much more fast-paced these days, probably due to the short attention spans of audiences these days. I've been taping it because I like to go back and rewatch some of the key scenes. I've found that I actually miss some of the clever lines the first time around because the banter is so fast or not that clear because of the American accents. Give it a go if you like clever, comedy/drama. Great alongside programs like Desperate Housewives, Brother & Sisters, Boston Legal, Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money etc.

by J Bar on June 04, 2009 at 07:44 AM

Before watching the biffo last night enjoyed the SBS show Food Investigators. It was really entertaining & TM your task is to find a photo of the female host. You could say the whole show is nicely put together.
darren....I have always loved chases in & out of doorways, especially when 2 people go into the 1 doorway!
J Bar.... Does the picture go all smeery when the female is on screen just like it did when Cybil was on the screen? There was a technical word for it but I can't remember it.

by PJ453 on June 04, 2009 at 09:24 AM

TM - do you have figures for A Century of Rugby League and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines both on Nine in different markets?

TM replies: ACORL got 173,000 in Syd and 179,000 in Bris, T3 got 147,000 in Mel, 63,000 in Ad and 45,000 in Perth. Why are they important?

by Jason on June 04, 2009 at 10:46 AM

Interesting to see Chasers, S&S and even the Kath & Kim movie hold up. K&K beat the biffo in Melbourne...
Recorded Lost but haven't seen it yet so will comment later.

by arthur on June 04, 2009 at 10:49 AM

PJ453, No technical effects on Castle yet. They might try to implement those effects in a few years, to hide those wrinkles and blemishes of the actors as they age. Was the technical term 'Smearing Vaseline on the Camera Lens'?

by J Bar on June 04, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Thanks J Bar, I might set the recorder for two hours instead of one on Sunday and give the show a go. Although it sounds a bit too much like the Mentalist???

by genfie on June 04, 2009 at 11:04 AM

PJ453 that's soft-focus. Or cataracts.
The Fog Crisis will have to be bumped to second place in favour of 'The Chasers'" outrageously offensive skit for which they should be publicly executed, wait no, bamboo shoots under the fingernails, no wait, hauled over the coals by an hilariously self-righteous 'Today Tonight' and an unbearably smug 'A Current Affair'. Yeah that's the one.
I do think they went too far although the 'Bredy Bunch' skit was orright. I'm more offended that they seem to be refusing to write anything that has a point. Why not just play golf with kittens if the only objective is to be noticed?
They're smart and funny enough to have a smart and funny show that slices the legs off current affairs shows and politicians alike but they insist on sticking with the fart jokes and bare bums.
Will be having an early night next week.

by darren on June 04, 2009 at 11:25 AM

J Bar - The 'Smearing Vaseline on the Camera Lens' was definitely the pet name for it & on Moonlighting they certainly made an art of the procedure, even though Ms Shephard could go without it. It was Bruce Willis's first "role" wasn't it? Well before Die Hards.

by PJ453 on June 04, 2009 at 11:40 AM

PJ, I'm thinking "soft focus" as the term, and was achieved by smearing vaseline on the lens as JBar suggested.
These days there's probably a high tech way to do it.
So, no comments yet about The Chaser? I'm watching it tonight so am looking forward to it.
Lots of chat about bad taste vs satire on other sites.

by Sal on June 04, 2009 at 11:50 AM

In total agreement with your assessment of the Chasers, darren. I miss the days when they would target ACA and TT - I know that's what they used to do, but it worked, dammit! Certainly didn't cost however many thousands it took to send them to Europe, and a hell of a lot funnier. I thought the Oscar Movie was ok - but there's that word "ok". No longer do we get an out and out laugh at the Chasers, it's a slight chuckle and sighs for the glory days that seem to have passed! I am losing faith. Especially since S&S is now hitting its strides and putting together a series of really great, hilariously funny episodes without even breaking a sweat!

by Beckala on June 04, 2009 at 01:10 PM

Lost was great last night, I will find it hard to wait for the next season. This season has been frustrating and brilliant at the same time, solve some questions and create new ones. Hope Seven brings back the final few episodes of Prison Break to finish off that story. As for Castle, it is getting better each week, similar but not the same as Mentalist. Anyone know if Seven will bring back Stargate Atlantis, or do I have to spend my own money. Didn't watch Chaser, however it sounds as if they went too far this time

by chook on June 04, 2009 at 01:15 PM

Ah, the Chaser boys in trouble again. I have to say that the skit in question had me wincing last night. Very bad taste. Agree with Darren that they are smart enough to have a better show. They have kind of gone from satire to smut in some ways.

I'm looking forward to the '50's Spicks & Specks next week. Should be a laugh.

by Nic on June 04, 2009 at 01:30 PM

Knew I could rely on you darren for the real technical term. As for the "cataracts" now yes, but 20 something years ago I can assure you it was "soft focus".
And I wouldn't be surprised if The Fog Crisis & The Chaser stories aren't melded into one pathetic story......"the chaser's offensive skit even shrouded the city all morning"

by PJ453 on June 04, 2009 at 02:36 PM

I watched State of Origin and missed Chaser, my God what did they do,we had 6 hours of maudlin self righteous posturing about the show on 6PR Perth.
And people saying the Chaser team were Nazis,Sattler was foaming at the mouth,I think he should seriously consider retiring,
it was beyond belief,the ABC said sorry but listening to the pompous self righteous clowns that pass for talk back hosts in Perth,I,m inclined to think the ABC should should have done a Cousins and given them all the finger.

by John Ryan on June 04, 2009 at 05:32 PM

Sal, the skit in question has been taken off tonight's broadcast of the Chaser. You'll need to check one of the news websites for a web feed of it. PJ453, are you sure you don't work for Today Tonight? That was too brilliant a headline!!

by Beckala on June 04, 2009 at 06:52 PM

John Ryan, I think there's a rule of some sort that says the moment you lose it and compare someone to nazis you automatically lose the arguement. Shock jocks must therefore all be losers.
I was thinking last night, the 'Make a Realistic Wish' skit was a failure as comedy but if you include the fallout, it turns into art. We're a nation of hysterical babies. Every feeling and response that's not joyful gets filed under 'offended' or 'outraged' these days and that's the end of the discussion.
Repeating the footage several dozen times will help soothe everyone's rage of course. Nine News chose to repeat it and repeat it with the aside that "oh by the way, they've apologised".... but didn't actually show the apology..
Had to laugh at Grimmers on ACA opining that the Chasers' apology wasn't good enough and demanding one that was really heartfelt. Apparently Channel Nine has a 'what happens in last week stays in last week' policy as well. Matty Johns group sex Footy Show Homophobic Joke Court Case ring a bell Trace?
As for categorising it as 'Black Comedy', doesn't it have to be funny to be called that? Insert 'pissweak attempt at' between 'Black' and 'Comedy' and it's closer to the truth.
Why are they being so dumb about their satire when they can be so clever?

by darren on June 05, 2009 at 06:00 AM

I think that's the real question, darren. I mean, who exactly were they parodying in that skit? Are they implying that Make a Wish is a scam? As far as I know that's not true. Are they making fun of the whole "but what about the children!!" idiocy that goes on in Australia now and then. Because I can think of about 10,000 ways they could make that point that would actually be far more relevant. If the skit was satire and satire's purpose is to expose hypocrisy and absurdity, then who was the butt of the joke?

by genfie on June 05, 2009 at 07:55 AM

Well, thank god for the media, they've finally managed to find an Australian connection to the Air France air crash. An Australian born 11 year old who lived in the UK his entire life, has been identified as a victim. Media outlets must be cracking open the champagne for that one. Now they can milk it for all it's worth. Dear god, it's just pathetic.

by Beckala on June 05, 2009 at 08:29 AM

Heard Richard Glover interview Mark Scott (MD of ABC) about the apology. Ofcourse he didn't name names as to who approved the skit in management, but did the Standard 101 answer about anything that hits the fan these days.....we will be reviewing the procedures to ensure this doesn't happen again, blaa blaa blaa. I'm with you darren on how The Chaser team have dumded down their humour, one less watcher next week.
Beckala thankyou, but I really work off darren. I have never worked in the media, but I have always said that when I come back in my next life I want to be on radio, due to the fact that a lot of people tell me "you have a great face for radio" whatever that means.
Can't finish without giving Simmons a serve, when will that overpaid sportsman learn how to obey simple rules??
I'm now going off to reflect quietly on the loss of a man who truly can be called a "hero", RPA's Chris O'Brien, the world will be a poorer place without him.

by PJ453 on June 05, 2009 at 08:59 AM

Beckala I saw another lame attempt at Disaster Share but can't remember which channel was the genius, in which they said that the Qantas 'near miss' last year where they plunged, I don't know, millions of metres in like a nanosecond might 'help shed light on what went wrong with this crash because it was a similar plane'. Nice try. What about "it's rumoured the people on the tragic flight breathed similar oxygen to most Australians"?
Genfie, I have a vague notion that the 'Make a Realistic Wish' thing was actually meant to be a setup for the 'Disgruntled Viewer types an outraged letter' ongoing skit, but they got a bit carried away didn't they? I think it was a commentary on exactly the type of over the top hysterical posturing that has resulted but it was either too subtle or not very well executed. I dunno.
It's a good excuse to have a discussion about community standards versus freedom of speech or whatever but it just gets put in the 'mindless reaction' bin (right next to the 'too hard' basket) and forgotten until next time and then the same thing happens all over again.
We're stuck in a cycle of creativity and broad-minded thinking and cutting edge comedy (which the Chaser aren't anymore at the moment) constantly butting it's head against narrow-minded shockjocks and self-righteous 'current affairs' shows and Big Christian Politicians and over-senstive charities and professional commentators who don't like anything unless everyone else likes it poncing around shouting them down that we can't get out of and it's shitting me to tears.
Let's just make more Police Dramas and another series of Wipeout Australia. Yeah let's do that.

by darren on June 05, 2009 at 10:11 AM

Loved Lost (which I've finally seen), but predictably p*d off about the ending. I mean, how would a woman survive such a fall in the first place and how did the bomb not explode at first instance?!
Also p*d off about the ending to Private Practice ... I wanted them to get together!
Not p*d off about the Chaser skit but it was definitely below the belt, and I can see how a parent of a terminally ill kid who watched the show would get upset. I'm not advocating a shockjock position but the way you guys have been carrying on about how "smart" or "good" that segment was make me a bit sick. Having said that the rest of the ep was quite funny.

by arthur on June 05, 2009 at 01:05 PM

Arthur @ 1.05: I don't think anyone here has said that the segment was smart, just that the Chaser boys are smart enough to make smart comedy, and that they didn't and haven't this year. That's my take anyways.

by Nic on June 05, 2009 at 03:02 PM

Loved the finale of Lost. Don't think it jumped the shark at all. Am really looking forward to the next season to see where it's going. Lost is totally unpredictable (in a good way). This season has been its strongest season yet. Grey's Anatomy on the other hand, jumped the shark long ago..

by Helena on June 05, 2009 at 03:29 PM

Yes PJ453, Moonlighting was Bruce Willis's first big role and he had brilliant chemistry with Cybill Shepherd who was considered the 'star' since she had already had a successful career as a model and movie actress (Taxi Driver, The Last Picture Show). Things started going awry when Bruce became very popular (maybe more popular) and their great friendship turned into constant feuding, which was legendary back in the 80s. Cybill was getting movie offers and she tried to leave the show but the producers wouldn't let her out of her contract because the show was such a huge hit, so she did everything to make things complicated and sabotage the show, including getting pregnant with twins which mucked up the shows filming schedule. Eventually, it did hurt the show and it was axed.
Many years later Cybill and Bruce made up and Cybill said that one of her biggest regrets was how she behaved at the time and ruined the show. With hindsight and a failing movie career, she realised that they should have just made the best show they could and that would have helped her career in the long run.
What's really funny when you watch those old episodes today, is how they kept going on about how 'old' her character Maddie was and how her career/life was over because she was in her mid 30s. These days models and actresses get some of their best work/roles in their 40s and beyond and it's not unusual for women to be starting families in their 40s.

by J Bar on June 05, 2009 at 04:14 PM

Please don't take this the wrong way, but DIE IZZIE DIE!!!!!

by Bereft Skerrick on June 05, 2009 at 07:16 PM

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but DIE IZZIE DIE!!!!!" writes Bereft Skerrick.
It wouldn't do any good if she did anyway... she'd just return as a figment of someone else's imagination - in a supposedly "witty" (well; for the lowest common denominator minded Americans that's likely...) way, that's meant by Grey's Anatomy's writers to be an ironic play on her own delusional vision of that annoying prat character played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who just couldn't bugger-off once he'd snuffed it either.
Maybe that's what got up the Chaser's noses. This whole "bleeding heart" thing that prevents people who "believe in the wholesome goodness of existence" from just letting go, that's become an obsession in the western world's consciousness.
The "candy coating" of reality to the point that is just sickening - while the big stick is kept just up the sleeve, in case anyone wants to buck the "feel good; fairy story made reality" system.
Andy Simmons is all too aware of the stick that lurks for individuals who don't appreciate the pressure to conform to the "goodie, goodie two-shoes" rules and guidelines for behaviour that's acceptable these days.
According to the lyrics of the song, there were "signs, signs, everywhere a sign, blockin' out the scenery, wasting my time - do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign..." Seems to me them signs have well and truly blocked out more than just the scenery.
Maybe the Chasers should have based their skit on the creation of a "Make a Wish for all the poor old buggers who'll die alone and unappreciated after a life of propping up a supercilious and self righteous society that is incapable of seeing it's own cancerous decay because it's too far up itself Foundation", rather than daring to lampoon something as dear to societies hearts as "our children".
Freedom. What freedom?

by Steve C on June 06, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Is yanking the Chaser off the air for two weeks really the answer for a sketch that went too far? Didn't people anyone at the ABC check this show before it went to air? Shouldn't they be to blame as much as the Chaser? It was distasteful and unfunny but they shouldn't be a reason to yank the show off air for two weeks.

by Bloke from the Sticks on June 06, 2009 at 03:59 PM

Gruen was censored two weeks ago for comparing fattism to racism etc, so obviously someone at the ABC has the power of veto. Having that discussion available on the interwebs made for a lot of comment, as well as a questioning about censorship.
Now something else deemed to be in poor taste made the air, would there have been a similar cry of censorship had it not allowed to be aired? (but made known to the public of its existence like with Gruen?)

by Bereft Skerrick on June 07, 2009 at 03:29 PM

If you want to check out some real comedy - see this footage of Schapelle Corby's mother in the hospital - first minute is comedy gold!!
http://ten.com.au/video-player.htm?vxSiteId=cb519624-44a2-4bf7-808b-3514d34e96e4&vxChannel=News%20Daily&vxClipId=2683_news-corby-040609&vxBitrate=300&CMP=LEC-DANCEgetVideoLink

by Beckala on June 07, 2009 at 09:43 PM

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