The Who We Are update: Week 32

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

This week's forum is now a heritage item - worth studying but no longer current.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 you can save Australia from looking stupid, go to The Tribal Mind.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Monday
Channel Seven's victory for the week was diminished by the poor performance of the Bledisloe Cup on Saturday. Australia is often described as "sports mad", but rugby union seems to be an exception -- even when you add in the genuinely "live" audience on Pay TV. At week's end, the prime time audience shares stood at: Seven 28.3 per cent, Nine 26.6, Ten 20.8, ABC 16.5, SBS 7.8.

Here is Pay TV's account of itself: "Hollywood's most famous archaeologist entertained subscribers as Movie One played the first three Indiana Jones movies across successive nights this week. The Saturday night broadcast of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was seen by 101,000 viewers and a total of 147,000 people including the audience to the delayed broadcast on Movie Two. This week's episode of America's Next Top Model on FOX8 was seen by 146,000 people, Notting Hill on TV1 was seen by 113,000 viewers, Project Runway Australia by 105,000 and Tuesday night's episode of M*A*S*H on Fox Classics was watched by 88,000.

"In viewing to a different Crusade, 210,000 fans watched Australia battle the English in Live: Cricket: Ashes: Day 1 Session 1 on FOX Sports. In football, 276,000 people watched Live: NRL Knights v Cowboys, 229,000 watched Live: AFL Essendon v St Kilda and 180,000 watched Live: Rugby Union: Bledisloe Cup. In week 34, Live: AFL: On the Couch had its best result ever with 149,000 viewers (all on FOX Sports).

"STV channels represented 21.7% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, 22.1% of all regional viewing and 56.7% of all viewing in subscription TV homes."

And for fans hoping for a sudden surge in support for their codes, the charts below show audiences for all the football games that OzTAM reported over the weekend.

What Australia watched, week ending August 22
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 1,894,000 567,000 589,000 312,000 205,000 221,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,714,000 440,000 496,000 357,000 190,000 230,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,609,000 457,000 481,000 353,000 183,000 135,000
4 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,549,000 448,000 478,000 277,000 185,000 161,000
5 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,523,000 465,000 462,000 272,000 157,000 167,000
6 WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS Seven 1,521,000 458,000 427,000 274,000 176,000 187,000
7 DANCING WITH THE STARS 9 Seven 1,492,000 453,000 391,000 307,000 173,000 168,000
8 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,475,000 417,000 401,000 294,000 165,000 197,000
9 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,440,000 440,000 422,000 274,000 133,000 170,000
10 CITY HOMICIDE-MON Seven 1,390,000 395,000 453,000 209,000 172,000 160,000
11 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,377,000 378,000 396,000 296,000 142,000 165,000
12 BONES Seven 1,376,000 413,000 385,000 255,000 183,000 139,000
13 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,372,000 304,000 531,000 259,000 126,000 152,000
14 60 MINUTES Nine 1,327,000 388,000 406,000 265,000 122,000 147,000
15 GETAWAY Nine 1,309,000 366,000 458,000 247,000 95,000 142,000
16 DOMESTIC BLITZ Nine 1,307,000 366,000 378,000 289,000 139,000 135,000

17 AIR WAYS Seven 1,305,000 346,000 411,000 232,000 149,000 168,000
18 SURF PATROL Seven 1,293,000 364,000 402,000 235,000 143,000 149,000
19 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,279,000 439,000 369,000 202,000 127,000 142,000
20 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,267,000 355,000 404,000 250,000 131,000 127,000
21 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,263,000 333,000 423,000 250,000 122,000 134,000
22 NINE NEWS Nine 1,254,000 339,000 414,000 247,000 133,000 121,000
23 TWO AND A HALF MEN -WED Nine 1,231,000 316,000 393,000 253,000 124,000 145,000
24 RESCUE SPECIAL OPS Nine 1,227,000 365,000 398,000 208,000 136,000 120,000
25 RPA Nine 1,201,000 351,000 379,000 216,000 133,000 121,000
26 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,194,000 342,000 329,000 249,000 148,000 127,000
27 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE Nine 1,180,000 291,000 394,000 240,000 100,000 155,000
28 AUSTRALIAN IDOL - AUDITION 2 Ten 1,171,000 350,000 377,000 201,000 110,000 133,000
29 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 1,168,000 314,000 388,000 225,000 103,000 138,000
30 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,161,000 323,000 352,000 224,000 123,000 138,000
31 THE GIFT Nine 1,140,000 324,000 363,000 204,000 134,000 116,000
32 NCIS RPT Ten 1,137,000 318,000 339,000 228,000 119,000 133,000
33 LOCKERBIE DISASTER Seven 1,124,000 340,000 270,000 217,000 146,000 150,000
34 RUSH Ten 1,115,000 312,000 378,000 184,000 131,000 109,000
35 20 TO 1 Nine 1,102,000 358,000 295,000 207,000 105,000 137,000
36 CRIMINAL MINDS (R) Seven 1,101,000 345,000 307,000 234,000 89,000 126,000
37 COLD CASE Nine 1,090,000 290,000 370,000 191,000 135,000 104,000
38 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,077,000 337,000 333,000 151,000 142,000 114,000
39 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 1,074,000 238,000 474,000 234,000 127,000
40 GEORGE GENTLY ABC1 1,067,000 364,000 290,000 149,000 117,000 147,000
(OzTAM Mainland capitals)

All Sunday's football
18 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 21: COLLINGWOOD VS SYDNEY Seven 482,000 58,000 264,000 63,000 85,000 11,000
27 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 382,000 234,000 148,000
28 THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW Nine 371,000 86,000 153,000 63,000 33,000 36,000
62 AFL GAME DAY Seven 141,000 76,000 36,000 29,000
65 ORANGUTAN DIARIES Ten 135,000 19,000 42,000 39,000 14,000 20,000
75 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 21: FREMANTLE VS ESSENDON Seven 115,000 115,000
124 SEVEN'S R.U: BLEDISLOE CUP: AUS V N Z Seven 38,000 27,000 0 11,000
127 LES MURRAY'S FOOTBALL FEATURE SBS ONE 37,000 17,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 12,000
132 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL LATE Nine 35,000 17,000 8,000 10,000
149 THE WORLD GAME SBS ONE 26,000 12,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 5,000
166 SUPER LEAGUE Nine 20,000 17,000 3,000
193 FIFA FUTBOL MUNDIAL SBS ONE 13,000 4,000 7,000 2,000
194 FOOTBALL: BUNDESLIGA REPLAY RPT ONE 13,000 5,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 2,000
232 SATURDAY LATE NIGHT AFL ONE 1,000 1,000 1,000

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,440,000 440,000 422,000 274,000 133,000 170,000
2 COMING HOME Seven 1,066,000 328,000 306,000 244,000 85,000 103,000
3 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 1,039,000 237,000 354,000 208,000 142,000 97,000
4 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,028,000 246,000 294,000 195,000 146,000 146,000
5 ABC NEWS-SAT ABC1 785,000 277,000 220,000 135,000 85,000 67,000
6 THE BILL ABC1 752,000 224,000 193,000 115,000 104,000 116,000
10 SATURDAY AFTERNOON AFL Ten 567,000 45,000 230,000 23,000 149,000 119,000
11 SATURDAY NIGHT AFL Ten 566,000 Not shown 275,000 79,000 140,000 72,000
15 SEVEN'S R.U: BLEDISLOE CUP: AUS V N Z Seven 521,000 275,000 39,000 171,000 8,000 28,000
20 THE 2009 ASHES: TEST5 DAY3 S1 SBS ONE 393,000 129,000 129,000 60,000 30,000 45,000
119 SIMPLY FOOTY Ten 38,000 38,000
121 RUGBY UNION: SHUTE SHIELD (NSW) 2009-PM ABC1 37,000 37,000
130 VFL FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 31,000 31,000
133 RUGBY LEAGUE: (QLD) 2009-PM ABC1 31,000 31,000
157 SATURDAY LATE NIGHT AFL Ten 21,000 21,000
161 FOOTBALL: BUNDESLIGA LIVE ONE 19,000 3,000 8,000 1,000 3,000 4,000
171 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 21: WESTERN BULLDOGS VS GEELONG Seven 17,000 10,000 7,000
174 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 15,000 6,000 4,000 6,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,549,000 448,000 478,000 277,000 185,000 161,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,336,000 431,000 322,000 238,000 163,000 182,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,286,000 389,000 344,000 266,000 142,000 145,000
4 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,179,000 331,000 359,000 259,000 107,000 124,000
5 NINE NEWS Nine 1,161,000 298,000 378,000 239,000 120,000 126,000
6 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,101,000 310,000 272,000 243,000 157,000 118,000
7 GEORGE GENTLY ABC1 1,067,000 364,000 290,000 149,000 117,000 147,000
11 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 787,000 460,000 327,000
13 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 21: WESTERN BULLDOGS VS GEELONG Seven 711,000 11,000 432,000 19,000 140,000 108,000
14 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 707,000 212,000 191,000 114,000 94,000 95,000
16 THE SIMPSONS FRI EP 2 Ten 680,000 157,000 241,000 122,000 59,000 101,000
17 HOT SEAT Nine 677,000 197,000 186,000 169,000 75,000 50,000
19 THE SIMPSONS FRI Ten 609,000 166,000 191,000 115,000 57,000 80,000
20 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 599,000 155,000 213,000 102,000 60,000 68,000
21 THE SIMPSONS Ten 580,000 138,000 186,000 103,000 84,000 70,000
22 NEVER BEEN KISSED RPT Ten 568,000 146,000 171,000 112,000 62,000 77,000
23 THE 2009 ASHES: TEST5 DAY2 S1 SBS ONE 545,000 160,000 194,000 71,000 56,000 65,000
29 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 459,000 302,000 157,000
30 SUNRISE Seven 426,000 134,000 106,000 90,000 45,000 50,000
36 TODAY Nine 332,000 111,000 113,000 55,000 24,000 30,000
42 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Ten 302,000 63,000 92,000 63,000 46,000 38,000
106 TORCHWOOD ABC2 86,000 10,000 8,000 29,000 13,000 27,000
148 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 45,000 23,000 10,000 12,000
154 POKER: LATIN AMERICAN TOUR ONE 40,000 6,000 4,000 7,000 11,000 12,000

The ratings race, updated 10 am Friday
It's too soon to use the word "resurgence" for what is happening to Channel Nine, but if you look at the chart below, you will see that Hot Seat is now beating Deal or No Deal convincingly, and Today is now beating Sunrise in Sydney. The problem for Nine is that both of these successes are outside prime time, and that's what the daily "audience percentages" are based on. At this point in the week, the shares stand at: Seven 28.5 per cent, Nine 27.0, Ten 21.8, ABC 15.8, SBS 6.9.

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,441,000 393,000 423,000 293,000 160,000 172,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,417,000 394,000 424,000 305,000 147,000 146,000
3 GETAWAY Nine 1,309,000 366,000 458,000 247,000 96,000 142,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,270,000 377,000 430,000 252,000 113,000 99,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,229,000 345,000 426,000 231,000 117,000 111,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,212,000 353,000 434,000 227,000 102,000 95,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,177,000 316,000 344,000 244,000 150,000 122,000
8 RUSH Ten 1,114,000 312,000 377,000 184,000 131,000 109,000
9 20 TO 1 Nine 1,102,000 358,000 295,000 207,000 104,000 137,000
10 THE AMAZING RACE Seven 1,054,000 303,000 345,000 187,000 117,000 103,000
13 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 835,000 216,000 225,000 157,000 95,000 142,000
14 HOT SEAT Nine 809,000 233,000 259,000 186,000 79,000 52,000
15 TV BURP Seven 775,000 233,000 245,000 130,000 84,000 84,000
18 BURN NOTICE Ten 723,000 191,000 248,000 115,000 90,000 80,000
19 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 722,000 211,000 204,000 154,000 82,000 71,000
20 THE 2009 ASHES: TEST5 DAY1 S1 SBS ONE 700,000 252,000 209,000 110,000 72,000 57,000
21 DOUBLE TAKE Seven 687,000 212,000 218,000 103,000 79,000 74,000
22 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 684,000 196,000 213,000 141,000 64,000 70,000
26 TRUE BEAUTY Seven 616,000 220,000 188,000 65,000 66,000 77,000
36 SUNRISE Seven 370,000 103,000 87,000 89,000 42,000 50,000
43 TODAY Nine 306,000 120,000 83,000 52,000 27,000 23,000
97 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC2 103,000 54,000 21,000 9,000 9,000 10,000

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS Seven 1,521,000 458,000 427,000 274,000 176,000 187,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,509,000 409,000 424,000 298,000 166,000 212,000
3 NINE NEWS Nine 1,295,000 342,000 419,000 263,000 135,000 136,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,275,000 336,000 352,000 293,000 121,000 173,000
5 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,275,000 360,000 383,000 255,000 137,000 140,000
6 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,273,000 440,000 364,000 203,000 124,000 142,000
9 RPA Nine 1,195,000 348,000 376,000 215,000 135,000 121,000
11 THE GIFT Nine 1,127,000 322,000 358,000 200,000 134,000 115,000
17 LAW & ORDER: UK Ten 903,000 251,000 291,000 130,000 117,000 113,000
19 THE LIBRARIANS ABC1 843,000 295,000 259,000 108,000 81,000 100,000
21 TEN NEWS AT FIVE Ten 832,000 204,000 248,000 157,000 104,000 120,000
22 UNITED STATES OF TARA ABC1 828,000 303,000 247,000 110,000 68,000 100,000
24 HOT SEAT Nine 731,000 204,000 229,000 165,000 79,000 54,000
25 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 720,000 202,000 250,000 116,000 75,000 78,000
26 AUSTRALIA'S PERFECT COUPLE Nine 698,000 200,000 254,000 147,000 98,000
27 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 696,000 212,000 189,000 131,000 84,000 80,000
35 AT THE MOVIES ABC1 507,000 208,000 131,000 65,000 42,000 61,000
36 FAMILY GUY Seven 498,000 178,000 153,000 72,000 59,000 35,000
42 AMERICAN DAD Seven 386,000 145,000 114,000 59,000 41,000 27,000
43 FOOD SAFARI RPT SBS ONE 374,000 128,000 110,000 58,000 41,000 37,000

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 1,894,000 567,000 589,000 312,000 205,000 221,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,509,000 408,000 451,000 307,000 156,000 187,000
3 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,503,000 459,000 456,000 269,000 155,000 165,000
4 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,500,000 426,000 404,000 293,000 166,000 212,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,382,000 367,000 447,000 282,000 142,000 144,000
6 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,375,000 391,000 405,000 267,000 148,000 163,000
7 AIR WAYS Seven 1,306,000 346,000 411,000 232,000 149,000 167,000
8 SURF PATROL Seven 1,292,000 363,000 402,000 235,000 143,000 149,000
9 NINE NEWS Nine 1,274,000 333,000 409,000 256,000 147,000 129,000
10 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,225,000 347,000 356,000 238,000 144,000 140,000
11 20 TO 1 -RPT Nine 1,169,000 313,000 388,000 226,000 104,000 138,000
12 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,167,000 325,000 353,000 226,000 124,000 139,000
13 NCIS RPT Ten 1,149,000 323,000 344,000 229,000 120,000 133,000
14 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,078,000 337,000 333,000 151,000 142,000 114,000
22 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 745,000 191,000 225,000 160,000 84,000 85,000
23 COMMERCIAL BREAKDOWN ADULTS ONLY Nine 737,000 172,000 287,000 122,000 82,000 74,000
26 TONY ROBINSON'S CRIME AND PUNISHMENT ABC1 701,000 243,000 172,000 133,000 80,000 72,000
33 KITCHEN NIGHTMARES U.S.A. Nine 409,000 116,000 137,000 59,000 52,000 44,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,588,000 427,000 434,000 348,000 171,000 208,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,391,000 365,000 404,000 308,000 144,000 171,000
3 CITY HOMICIDE-MON Seven 1,389,000 395,000 453,000 209,000 172,000 159,000
4 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,385,000 393,000 444,000 264,000 155,000 129,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,372,000 304,000 531,000 259,000 126,000 152,000
6 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,300,000 378,000 370,000 278,000 148,000 127,000
7 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,286,000 302,000 486,000 221,000 126,000 150,000
8 NINE NEWS Nine 1,251,000 344,000 427,000 224,000 143,000 113,000
9 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE Nine 1,180,000 291,000 394,000 240,000 100,000 155,000
10 LOCKERBIE DISASTER Seven 1,124,000 340,000 270,000 217,000 146,000 150,000
11 THE BIG BANG THEORY Nine 1,074,000 238,000 474,000 234,000 127,000
12 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,069,000 316,000 328,000 172,000 96,000 157,000
13 BEYOND THE DARKLANDS-MON Seven 974,000 283,000 334,000 156,000 96,000 105,000
18 ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? Ten 888,000 282,000 238,000 173,000 92,000 104,000
23 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 780,000 235,000 219,000 173,000 97,000 56,000
24 TOP GEAR SBS ONE 776,000 222,000 234,000 160,000 72,000 88,000
25 HOT SEAT Nine 747,000 218,000 236,000 148,000 84,000 60,000 26 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 734,000 210,000 193,000 170,000 78,000 83,000
27 DROP DEAD DIVA Nine 641,000 203,000 318,000 120,000
28 DEXTER Ten 610,000 148,000 184,000 112,000 84,000 81,000
30 ASHES TO ASHES ABC1 508,000 181,000 165,000 44,000 64,000 54,000
62 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS SBS ONE 211,000 74,000 54,000 44,000 18,000 22,000

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,719,000 440,000 502,000 357,000 190,000 230,000
2 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,610,000 457,000 482,000 353,000 183,000 135,000
3 DANCING WITH THE STARS 9 Seven 1,473,000 447,000 384,000 304,000 173,000 167,000
4 BONES Seven 1,434,000 432,000 400,000 271,000 184,000 146,000
5 60 MINUTES Nine 1,328,000 388,000 406,000 266,000 122,000 146,000
6 DOMESTIC BLITZ Nine 1,307,000 366,000 378,000 289,000 139,000 135,000
7 RESCUE SPECIAL OPS Nine 1,233,000 366,000 399,000 209,000 135,000 124,000
8 AUSTRALIAN IDOL - AUDITION 2 Ten 1,171,000 350,000 377,000 201,000 110,000 133,000
9 ROVE Ten 1,053,000 264,000 354,000 197,000 102,000 135,000
10 STEPHEN FRY IN AMERICA ABC1 1,032,000 300,000 326,000 167,000 103,000 136,000
16 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 20: PORT ADELAIDE VS CARLTON Seven 599,000 10,000 320,000 14,000 157,000 98,000
19 THE LAST ENEMY ABC1 575,000 179,000 171,000 84,000 66,000 75,000
20 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 539,000 304,000 235,000
21 THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY RPT Ten 471,000 120,000 184,000 61,000 55,000 52,000
22 LAS VEGAS Seven 470,000 140,000 170,000 58,000 60,000 43,000
54 AFL GAME DAY Seven 188,000 107,000 48,000 33,000
58 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 20: MELBOURNE VS FREMANTLE Seven 175,000 34,000 31,000 111,000

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

COMMENTS

Wow, Bones crushed Rescue Special Ops' first episode! Channel 9 have really run out of ideas.

by arthur on August 17, 2009 at 09:45 AM

Seems like Australian Idol has suffered a fall from grace. Dancing with The Stars is doing a lot better against it this year. Maybe they should have let Idol finish last year with some dignity before it started looking like a car smash.

by J Bar on August 17, 2009 at 09:54 AM

What's the Bobby Mong picture for?
*gasp* Oh no - I just quoted Kyle Sandilands!

by Wendell on August 17, 2009 at 10:23 AM

Watched that Rescue trash on Nine last night. It really is quite bad. The acting is wooden, the storys stupid and the overall impression is that it's trying to be cool and hip but never really gets there. Nine is on another winner, it seems!
Still there wasn't much on last night. Watched a tiny bit of Idol, saw poor Delta looking painfully embarrassed and Kyle insulting someone so that was enough for me. Last year for Idol methinks.
60mins had Ray Martin doing a good interview with the young Epping girl whose family was murdered and a story about the melting glaciers in Alaska. Didn't watch the final story about Paul Hogan though. Still thought it was a better 60 mins than a lot of them. Maybe they should get Ray back more often. He does bring the tone up a bit. Just.

by em on August 17, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Have been watching Stephen Fry (when the digital signal on the South Coast allows) and it's been interesting viewing. At least he's not driving through Alabama with guy love messages sprayed over his taxi a la Top Gear.
Viewers may return to AusIdol once pestilence is off the screen in a couple of weeks.

by Bereft Skerrick on August 17, 2009 at 01:19 PM

I thought I would spoil myself and a friend by going to the pictures, I haven't been for a while, but how things have changed!
The first thing that struck me was the size of the hall and screen, so small, instead of the huge hall I last remember this thing would have been lucky to take several hundred people. There was no more "God save the Queen". Having spent my youth in a non-British European country, that in itself didn't particularly bother me but I had been hoping to catch up with some genuine news, instead of that trash that passes off as news on TV but there was no Movietone news, I don't know if they had mislaid the reel or just forgotten to play it, but it wasn't on!! Most disappointing, they played some commercials which I can see on TV for nothing (although these seemed to be much longer and as such, much more annoying as there was no fast forward button, in fact, there was no remote with any buttons). Ah well, there was always the movie serial to look forward to after these adds but wait, no serial, no miraculous recovery from imminent death for the hero or some damsel in distress. In all, not a pleasurable experience, people have no manners these days, in my day people left their phones at home, in fact, phones would only work at home but with this new cinema lot, it seems mandatory for phone to be ringing or playing music throughout the show with people carrying on conversations with whoever ignoring the fact that there might be people who, having paid to see a show, might actually not be too interested in some loud mouth's self importance.
In all, it will probably be as long again before I go to a cinema, better to hire the DVD, be it a few months after the initial release and watch it at leisure without the morons in the background spoiling the show.

by Zjonn on August 17, 2009 at 04:47 PM

Zjonn I agree with your assessment of the movies. I went a few weeks ago to see Harry Potter and couldn't believe how much movies had changed since I was a kid. I only go about once a year as it is, and I can't see that changing any time soon!

On to TV - watched City Homicide last night. I don't love it, but I don't hate it - at least it is Australian trash and not American I guess.

by Nic on August 18, 2009 at 07:12 AM

Zjonn, that talking in the background was the soundtrack. Moving pictures AND sound these days. At the same time!
Saw an interesting (or not) little article in the paper on Sunday about Channel Nine's new show 'MasterChe...' , sorry, 'The Great Aussie Cook Off'. To be hosted by.....wait for it....Vince Sorrenti. Vince Sorrenti!!! Ha ha ha. And guess who's co-hosting? Come on, guess....Jo Bailey!!!! Hee hee hee. Yes, Jo Bailey the Famous Faces panel-turner from 'Sale of the Century' now known as Jo Silvagni. Ha ha ha. Vince and Jo. Hee hee hee. Haven't read anything so funny for ages. Ha ha ha ha.
Will be even funnier if suddenly the entire country is over cooking. If they ever were interested at all. If 'MasterChef's success was all about cooking, why isn't Ian Hewitson getting better ratings, going on 'Rove', being called a 'sex symbol', starting a minor trend of suspender-wearing?
I predict a Bombe Alaska.
Vince Sorrent and Jo Bailey....hee hee. Good one.

by darren on August 18, 2009 at 11:15 AM

I think City Homicide is the best of the cop shows too. They have well planned stories and feature characters that you care about. Not sure if Rescue should be classed as a cop show though. Unlike Police Rescue, this squad just seem to be paramadics rather than doing any policing. Oh, and it seems to be mandatory that one of the team has sex or sexual tension with someone being rescued (or their friends/family) every week.

by J Bar on August 18, 2009 at 12:09 PM

All of Nine's show this week and last week include ratings for programs broadcast on their didital Go! channel. So if Nine News and A Current Affair are up this week it's probably because some of the viewers counted actually tuned into Australia's Funniest Home Videos on Go!. Their ratings should have an asterisk next to them this week denoting 'rigged'.

by Alex on August 18, 2009 at 01:56 PM

Movies at the retail complex are a waste of your hard earned .No supervision or reprimand for the obnoxious , noisy pests.

by doug on August 18, 2009 at 02:56 PM

Dexter picked up almost 100k audience which Ashes to Ashes lost. Fine by me as Ten will give Dexter a few more weeks (hooray) before it is moved to post midnight! And ABC would 'normally' stick with a show... Zjonn, that's one of the funniest posts I've seen. You seem to be onto something as you have quite a fanclub. Pulling God Save the Queen out of nowhere and 'movietone' news... Priceless! Darren may have some competition, yet the champion won't lie down - Bombe Alaska...! Advantage Darren....

by Tim on August 18, 2009 at 04:35 PM

em - like you am very unimpressed with Rescue special ops. I know there are good actors in the cast but I am unsure whether it is the acting the script or the camerawork that is bad. I gave it a couple of eps but I admit if I missed it I would not be sorry. Will remove from my watching/ recording schedule.
On the other hand watched Who do you think you are with Jerry Springer on SBS sunday - very impressive incredibly sad journey to find out what had happened to his grandmothers in Germany in the war.

And loving Stephen Fry in America

Darren Nein's version of Masterchef methinks a cooking show to avoid.

On the topic of movies in the cinema - you just have to choose the right one - if you go to a major chain you will suffer the pests if you pick an independent you are more likely to have a polite and respectful audience.

The only time the major cinema chain is worth it is if you get Gold Class half price (eat magnum icecream people) and then you can have the civilised experience of food and alcohol delivered to you.

by Cathy on August 18, 2009 at 04:39 PM

Hey
Just need to clarify something. The OVERALL percentage shares for each network are combined. So if Nine get a Tuesday share of 23% that is the combined audience for watching Channel 9, 9HD and Go!. However, the programs will be listed separately. So the figure for 2 and a Half Men at 8:30pm or say 1 million is the actual 1 million watching that program. It does NOT include the Survivor audience. From August 23rd David and others will be able to post individual ratings for programs like Survivor. The individual programs and slots are NOT combined, only the overall total and demos for the night and week.

by Aaron on August 18, 2009 at 08:36 PM

Anybody else notice how A Current affair is now morphing into a lifestyle show. I only catch bits of it when I'm working out at the gym and it's up on the screens in front of me. This week on Monday and Tuesday it has become Backyard Blitz, while on Fridays this year it has been Burke's Backyard. Just add a few more travel, fashion and cooking stories on the other days and ratings will keep soaring. They already have the advertorials covered too with those chamois and snuggies spots. Not to mention the product placement with a story on a McWedding last week and Snickers mistaken for a mobile phone the week before. They might as well go ahead and rename it "A Lifestyle Affair" now or "A Current Woman's Day".

by J Bar on August 19, 2009 at 07:36 AM

Confession time: I have been watching 'So You Think You Can Dance (U.S.)' every week. Shut up. This week Ellen Degeneres was to be a guest judge. But Ten were last night advertising a Movie for Friday night ('Never Been Kissed' which has always been repeated), so what gives? Will it help to scream out the window "Hey! I was watching that!!!" ? Probably not and after a week or two I won't even care what happens to the Super-Happy Brandon or the Toothsome Janeane or miss the hysterics of Mary Murphy but what to do about no more Cat Deely? Maybe the ad for the movie was a mistake. I'll go with that for now and wait and see. Te-e-e-en! (Say that like Jerry Seinfeld says "Newma-a-a-an!").
Looking forward to '45 Stone Virgin' tomorrow night. Looks like back to the Crap Ol' Days for Ten.....ah, good times.

by darren on August 19, 2009 at 08:40 AM

AARON'S BACK! This time people, let's keep our accusations of stoogism to ourselves. Joking Aaron!

by Wendell on August 19, 2009 at 09:03 AM

Caught some of "East West 101" last night, and wished I'd been able to pay more attention to it between stirring risotto and sending small children back to bed (I'm a meanie). I'm glad SBS is repeating it, giving slackers like me a second chance to catch it, but does it have to go up against Tony Robinson?
How come there's nothing on TV for days at a time, and then everything at once? 9:30pm on Monday being a case in point.

by tqd on August 19, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Darren for your Cat Deeley fix you will have to wait till after the oft repeated movie - apparently channel Teen panicked about bad friday ratings - beaten by ABC1 last week - and moved it back to the 10.30 ish timeslot (emphasis on the ish).

by Cathy on August 19, 2009 at 10:36 AM

Go! is definitely boosting Nine's ratings this week. Let's see what happens next week. A drop, I suggest.

by Alex on August 19, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Actually, on reflection make that "Say that like Ricki Arnez says "Lu-u-u-u-cyyyy!!!""..... not like Jerry Seinfeld says "Newman!!". Jerry Seinfeld says "Newman" in a shortened, more terse manner whereas what I'm after is the endlessly frustrated and impotent tone of The Australia Television Viewer (very similar to the mating call of the Yellow Breasted Skivvy-Necked Nerd). Also acceptable are how that one guy says "Go-me-e-e-e-r!!" and how Charlie Brown says "Aaaau-u-u-u-u-u-gh!!!!!!"
Or maybe I'll just go for a good old fashioned Donald Duck-style Psychotic Tantrum......

by darren on August 19, 2009 at 11:09 AM

I don't think Aaron is right when he says that the GO! ratings are separate from the Nine ratings.
According to TV Tonight, Nine failed to tell Oztam they were launching GO! in time, and so there are no separate ratings for GO! at the moment., and will not be until this Sunday. The upshot of that seems to be that Oztam are assuming that what is played on GO! is the same as what is played on Nine's main channel. The figures for 2 1/2 Men and 20 to 1 (I think that basically covers the whole of their programming) include whatever GO! was playing at the time. In other words, 2 1/2 Men on a Tuesday DOES include the Survivor audience (whatever that may be).

by Rohan on August 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Zjonn - Well done in keeping us up to date at the picture show, I could almost hear the Jaffas rolling down the aisles. It is certainly a hit & miss affair sitting in a megaplex as to how much you are going to be disturbed by those around you.
tqd - Any youngster in flanelette jarmies should be in bed at 8:30. And being a fair preparer of risotto myself it's something that needs 100% attention, well as a mere male it needs 100%, as we all know males really can only do one thing at a time, therefore watching tv & cooking at the same time can be a tad difficult. EW101 was one of the best "cop" shows of last year so I highly recommend you give it a higher priority than Baldricks "look what we've done with the law". Although having said that he always makes something that could be as dry as most of the Murray River very interesting & as a bonus entertaining.
My nomination for "best line in a show" this year, has to go to Gene Hunt this week in Ashes to Ashes as they were preparing security for the "royal wedding" of Charles & Di. It was something like "nothing's happening on my patch till after the snapping of the royal hymen". Fell on the floor after that one! Love the 80's, even though the 70's (Life on Mars) was better!!!!!
Oh & Aaron, as long as you play with a straight bat you're always welcome.

by PJ453 on August 19, 2009 at 12:19 PM

AH be it ever so humble there is nothing like listening to my CD of the songs from "Northern Exposure" whilst perusing this blog. There are times when the two just jell oh so well.

The only thing I have watched on 'GO' this week were the repeats of 'The Jetsons' and 'The Flintstones' on Sunday, mainly cause was suffering from severe attach of "my team(s) ain't gunna make it this year" Syndrome and followed that (or preceded it) with the second episode of "Red Dwarf" on ABC2. Yeah, there are times when I just don't wanna think, or relive me misspent youth.

Lets face it folks, at this time of year we should all be grateful for SBS and ABC, cause the others are just getting ready for the 'end of ratings' let's see what they buy this time period.

Anyways, Back to "Northern Exposure" and some quirkiness.

by Furlozza on August 19, 2009 at 01:03 PM

Darren, I'm glad you corrected that bit about the way Jerry Seinfeld said 'Newman'. I was just about to say something. I actually thought you might have been thinking of Hogan's Heroes with the way Colonel Klink always yelled "Ho-GAAAAAN!!!!!!"

by J Bar on August 19, 2009 at 02:01 PM

Sorry Aaron. I think these week's ratings for nine DO include the ratings for Go! because they didn't let OzTam know of the launch in enough time for them to prepare for a change. From next week, nine's ratings DON'T include what is broadcast on Go! Is it just me or is nine really incompetent these days? They stuffed up the tuning of the new channel that caused most tv sets to delete all the 9 channels and then they stuffed up the ratings measurement.
So funny that Shaun Micaleff told viewers not to watch Packed to the Rafters but stay on Ten for NCIS.

by wazza on August 19, 2009 at 02:06 PM

What tosh! SYTYCD pushed back for Never Been Kissed? (To which she probably has been kissed so many times due to all the repeats). I had gotten into the groove and all of the dancing. Darren, concur with the choice of Donald Duck's Psychotic Tantrum - bunch of repeated "Kakakak" yelled very quickly and incomprehensibly.
Thoroughly enjoyed Forbidden Lie$ last night. Norma Khouri - a show could be based on her. Truly spectacular seeing her spin a lie out of a lie out of a lie, supposedly.

by Kym on August 19, 2009 at 02:07 PM

darren, are you sure you want to channel Donald? I find Daffy much more entertaining.
PJ453, I cheat with my risotto recipe. I'm sure Elizabeth David's whirling in her grave right now as I utter the dastardly word: microwave. One only has to stir occasionally, and one can chop while it whirrs and dings. (And send the flanelette PJ wearing ones back to bed, where they originally were sent at least an hour beforehand...)
I shall continue with my recording-of-Baldrick, and attempting-to-watch EW101 while wrangling smallish children & food. Baldrick's only got a couple more episodes to go, and I do like English history.
btw, am I the only one feeling ever so slightly disappointed in Stephen Fry's America (or whatever it's called)? It just seems all so brief and superficial. (Loved the college football game though, that was seriously over the top.)

by tqd on August 19, 2009 at 02:40 PM

I agree tqd. I am slightly disappointed with Stephen Fry's America. I think he's a genius and I love America (lived there for years) and I just expected his show to be better. Read Don Watson's American Journeys instead. And, if you can find it, Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon.

by Rupert on August 19, 2009 at 04:37 PM

Curses! Kym stole my "she's bloody well been kissed dozens of times" observation. But this movie is one of my guilty pleasures, however won't be watching and will be tuned into the Dragons vs Broncos game on WIN.

by Bereft Skerrick on August 19, 2009 at 07:17 PM

tqd - I'm going to have to reavaluate my high impressions of you now that you have outed yourself as a "cheating" cook. Next you'll tell us you feed your children "chicken nuggets". And since we're onto "sounds" that certainly brings to mind Lurch's "errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"
Furlozza - Prey tell good friend since it's many a year that Northern Exposure was on the telly (& what a show it was)....what are some of the songs?? It certainly was the show that defined "quirkiness". RPA just finished so I can go back to watching the telly now....blood & guts & that sort of thing.

by PJ453 on August 19, 2009 at 08:01 PM

Hot Seat beat Deal or No Deal in every city except Perth on Tuesday, i feel deal or no deal is becoming a bit tiring and repetitive.

Tribal Mind remarks: You're only feeling that now? Thanks for pointing that out. I'll start tracking the two of them day by day.

by dave on August 19, 2009 at 09:29 PM

J Bar, I knew someone would say something which is why. I think Klink's "Ho-o-o-o-ga-a-a-a-n!!!" is a great choice although Dave's "A-a-a-a-l-v-i-i-i-n!!" also springs to mind. How about just a quiet "All commercial channels are bastards"....
Tqd, Daffy is the thinking man's duck, I agree. But Donald had a tendency to just go completely duck-shit at the drop of a hat which I always admired. Envied. Oh to be cartoon poultry. Foghorn Leghorn, Psycho Chicken, Duckula.......all free of the constraints of civilised society and lovin' it. But why are the ducks always mentally deranged?
TM, ever thought of doing an analysis of this comments page to the effect that the level of pointless drivel discussed is reflective of the level of Kwality of the programming at any given point? Could be interesting. Or not at all.

by darren on August 20, 2009 at 06:00 AM

Darren, speaking of all things duck related, I always loved Daffy. Was my favorite character from WB's cartoons. Much preferred him to Bugs Bunny who I always thought could do with being brought down a peg or two. Remember "Duck Dogers in the 21st and a half century?" Classic. Never cared much for Donald Duck though. He really did need a speech therapist and a anger managment class!

I had a pet Duck named Daffy too. And he was definitely demented. He would chase the dogs around the yard screeching. Both our dogs were terrified. So I am confirming your "deranged duck" theory. Not sure what happend to Daffy. I think he went to Duck heaven. I hope he didn't get there via my mum's oven but who knows?

The last ep of season 3 of The Tudors last night. Am still loving it. Henry was one demented king. I wonder if he ate duck?

by em on August 20, 2009 at 07:58 AM

@ Bereft Skerrick
But we'd have to wait through two hours of nonsense before the Dragons game! What are you going to do in the interim?!

by arthur on August 20, 2009 at 08:29 AM

PJ453, for your benefit and those who may also be interested, found this at eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-CENT-CD-Northern-Exposure-TV-Sdtrk-DAVID-SCHWARTZ_W0QQitemZ220464927181QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMusic_CDs?hash=item3354bbd1cd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
That is the original album (which is the one I have) but also saw that there is a second one available to, so...... Details of selections are displayed in the listing. Yeah, Northern Exposure was a must watch program and introduced us to three actors who have sorta popped up now and again in other shows or movies... Numb3rs anyone? US of Tara?.... a certain movie staring rocky in a role that was not Rocky?... or was it?
Simpson's was topical last night, while Family Guy was just...... weirdly funny. can't remember other shows I watched which could say a lot for me or even more for them. Anyways, back to eBay to get that second CD of Northern Exposure music.

by Furlozza on August 20, 2009 at 10:01 AM

With regard to Hotseat out performing Deal yesterday, have the ratings for Ch Go been seperated from those of Ch 9, or is Hotseat getting a push from whatever is on Ch Go?

Tribal MInd replies: Fair question. We will know next week. Anybody able to tell us what's on Go at that time?

by TGO on August 20, 2009 at 10:11 AM

World's Strictest Parents is doing really well but can't see the attraction myself. Has stronger competition from yet another 2.5 Men repeat but Australia's Perfect Couple is such a massive flop. Even the half hour episode can't get 700,000. Truly awful television.
The Librarians and United States Of Tara have suffrered a huge drop from two weeks ago. Some ABC viewers must have migrated over to Law a Order: UK.Good results for Cold Case at 9.30 which Nine had shunted to late night but somehow revived.
I'm sure viewers for Bewitched on Go! are helping Hotseat beat Deal.

by J Bar on August 20, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Em, I thought I SAW a duck one time....but it was a dog.
We were more chicken people. Had a parrot once but it died. They all die.
J Bar, you are going to say "Psycho Chicken is a song not a cartoon" aren't you? I was thinking of a cartoon which I can't remember the name of which featured a duck or a chicken who was a detective or something.....or maybe 'Chicken and Cow'. 'Ren and Stimpy'! Now there's a cartoon. Speaking of cartoons, does anyone else find 'The Simpsons' almost unwatchable since they went HD? It's just not the same. Too 'Futurama'-y.
Em, re 'The Tudors', is Jonathan Rhys Meyers more convincing a Henry than he is as someone who wears cologne?
I moved house on the weekend and haven't really slept in four days. Left my brain at the old place in a cardboard box labelled 'Glasses, Tea-towels, Vital Organs'. Have to go back and get that. Might need it.

Tribal Mind observes: Readers interested in the duck debate might care to put the words "daffy duck" "david dale" into google.

by darren on August 20, 2009 at 11:14 AM

PJ453, I am a full time working Mum with two kids. Of course I feed my children chicken nuggets and fish fingers. (No more than once a week however.) On weekends they get hand-crafted meals, on weeknights they get whatever can be served up quickly and is to hand. Three cheers for whoever invented convenience food!
Oh, why doesn't GO! show some of the old classic WB cartoons? I'm feeling the need now for some Foghorn Leghorn (a rooster I never liked as a child, but now I find him completely hysterical) and Daffy Duck, preferably as Robin Hood with his buck-and-a-quarter quarter staff.
Hit record on ABC1 last night at about 9pm, set it to finish at 10:30pm. Will have fun tonight catching up...

Tribal Mind avers: Bring back Sophie Lee while yer at it,

by tqd on August 20, 2009 at 11:28 AM

Darren, Jonathan Rhys Myers is a very sexy Henry. I have put my idea of the real Henry (fat, ugly, etc) aside and indulged in the fantasy one instead. But then the real Henry had very ugly wives too. JRM's Henry's wives are all very beautiful even the one he said "looked like a horse" was attractive.
As Henry I'd say he would have needed Cologne. A lot of it.The older Henry apparently had a very bad ulcerous leg wound and stunk quite badly. So maybe JRM is the perfect choice to advertise cologne. Let's just hope he doesn't stink as much as Henry did!
And tqd, I agree. No one seems to show the old cartoons much anymore. Seems a lot of them have been banned as being racist, sexist etc.etc.etc. Stupid political correctness rubbish. Bring back WB's cartoons I say. Daffy, Bugs etc, rule!

by em on August 20, 2009 at 01:03 PM

WB Cartoons... does anyone know if the ultimate Chuck Jones cartoon creation "One Froggy Night" is available on DVD? Have searched hi/lo here and USA but can find no trace of it. (I do have a lousy VHS copy taken off Foxtel years ago but the channel watermark annoys me...)

by D@GP on August 20, 2009 at 02:00 PM

darren, I wasn't going to scrutinise that Psycho Chicken reference, because I couldn't recall it. I just assumed it might have been a Gen Y cartoon that I hadn't heard of. I've experienced that generation gap, quite a bit lately.
I'm Gen X and like the Gen X team on "Talkin' 'bout Your Generation", I do fairly well with trivia because I know heaps about Gen X stuff but also (being in the middle) quite a bit about baby boomer stuff and stay in touch with a lot of new stuff so a bit about Gen Y stuff too. However, in the last couple of years, my company has hired a lot if uni grads and suddenly there's a generation gap. We'd be having a discussion about some cool music, movie, tv show from the 80s but we got blank stares from them. Then we realised that most of them were only born in the 80s. How embarrassment!
Sometimes we'll try to tell them about some cool stuff from the 80s and we get a 'whatever' response. When that happens, we say 'you just got Gen Y-ed'. Ha ha!

Tribal Mind remarks: So against the uncultured Ys, we might as well amalgamate Boomer and X, which was always just the disgruntled tailend.

by J Bar on August 20, 2009 at 02:14 PM

TM, on "Talkin' 'bout Your Generation", I always see Amanda and Charlie frustrated by Josh's lack of respect for cultural icons of the Baby Boomer and Generation X era. On this subject, BB and X finally agree.
em, I agree that Henry's fourth wife did look very attractive in the 3rd season and it seemed silly for him to be complaining about her. We saw him have the accident and deal with the ulcerous leg but then it was forgotten. In real life, that is when he was immobolised and got really, really fat. I somehow don't think we'll see that happen to this Henry, even in the 4th season.

by J Bar on August 20, 2009 at 03:20 PM

J Bar, I too am supposedly a member of The Disgruntled Tail-end aka Generation X and only really know of Psycho Chicken from 'Hey Hey it's Saturday's 'Red Faces' (some guy with a rubber glove on his head). It's also a real song. And the name of a Takeaway Chicken franchise.
See, this is why we need better TV.

Tribal MInd suggests: Was that the famous Goodies song: "Do, do, do the psycho chicken"?

by darren on August 20, 2009 at 03:28 PM

Mr Dale, surely it was "Do, do, do the funky gibbon".

Tribal Mind replies: You sing it your way, I'll sing it mine.

by tqd on August 20, 2009 at 03:43 PM

TM I thought the Goodies song was the funky chicken but my brain could be addled as I have been in a meeting/ brainstorming session all day and now I just want to storm outside for fresh air!
I too prefer WB's Daffy to Disney's Donald - in fact Daffy with his beak backwards graces the top of my computer monitor at work - along with Fred & Dino.... would also like a mini Gromit alas I only have a Wallace and the Wrong Trousers. need something to brighten the day.

Tribal MInd replies: Here's the link:
Why a duck.

by Cathy on August 20, 2009 at 04:09 PM

I had a duck once. His name was Dick. Dick Duck. But my favourite all time duck is Daffy.
Ahhhh Psycho Chicken. Qu'est-ce que c'est. Brk brk brk brk brk brk. Good times.
arthur: living on the South Coast means I get the Dragons game live Friday PM :) Saw Dell on the smallest bit of The Footy Show that I could bear to watch at "Dellharbour" tonight (heh) signing off with "The Red V is Part of Me". Awesome.
If you want to see arrogance, Real Beauty was the top of the list. Especially that Joel fellow would I would have liked to smack with a house brick. Arrogant turd.
I shall depart now after mention a movie about Anne Boleyn that I watched the other night with Richard Burton as Henry VIII - Anne of 1000 Days. Old movies on ABC2 on a Saturday Night are good.

by Bereft Skerrick on August 20, 2009 at 10:45 PM

I think it's a sign that a society has too much time on its hands and should turn off the electricity and get back to chopping wood and hauling water from the river but I did a quick google and here are the facts (according to google):
The Goodies had a song called 'Funky Gibbon' (one to tqd).
There is also a song called 'Funky Chicken', but by someone else.
'Psycho Chicken' was released in 1980 by a group called 'The Fools' (appropriate, no?) as a parody of 'Psycho Killer' by Talking Heads. The lyrics are all out there but I'll just regale you with the chorus:
"Psycho Chicken -- what the ****?
Bwak bwak bwak bwaaak bwak bwak bwak bwak bwaaak bwak....
Better run run run run run run run away".....
So, there you go.
Now, if there was anything good on tellie this wouldn't have happened would it? See what we've been reduced to? Reciting lyrics about mentally deranged poultry and watching '45 Stone Virgin'. Oh the humanity....

by darren on August 21, 2009 at 05:58 AM

Bewitched is on at 5.30 pm on channel GO.

by bobmar28 on August 21, 2009 at 06:43 AM

Re D@GP - One Froggy Evening. This is available on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2 Disc 4. Unfortunately the whole WB Golden Collection of over 300 remastered "animated short features", documentaries etc are only available on Region 1 from the States. (no idea why they were never released world wide) They contain some wonderful material; many I had never seen. All 6 volumes are available from Amazon or Ebay for about 30US a set. I believe WB have now finished on this project but will continue to release the odd disc of remastered shorts (they are still cartoons to me :) ) If you have an interest, they look better than they ever have and there are literally hours and hours of additional material. I am still working through Vol 5 I bought a year ago and Vol 6 is still sitting waiting :)

by ozinoz on August 21, 2009 at 08:49 AM

Looks like Double Take should be put on the critical list.

by J Bar on August 21, 2009 at 10:26 AM

I like all the ducks, Daffy or Donald. The Road Runner, a similar species, is even better though in my opinion. Beep beep!
Quick and obvious ratings observation - TV Burp and Double Take are going down the gurgler (ratingswise). There will be a shortened season and no second season for them if Seven had any brains!

by arthur on August 21, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Thank you Ozinoz... After seeing your post reply I went searching - discovered Amazon UK have the Warners Golden Collection reduced to just under 10 pounds each (about $20 our money). Have ordered a set. Thanks again.

by D@GP on August 21, 2009 at 01:17 PM

Oh well, I may be in the minority, but I enjoyed my dose of cheesy TV last night: hurrah for the return of "Burn Notice"! Although what with that and a sneaking addiction to "Bones" I may have to hand in my TV Snob life membership...

And, Mr Dale, in our house the small ones won't let me sing the Funky Gibbon. Noffair.

by tqd on August 21, 2009 at 02:38 PM

To all you Saints supporters who come out of your box every 20 years........well that's 2 losses in a row, not quite as invincable as you thought you you were, therefore we don't need to hear from you for a while. And me?? well just let me say I follow the team that's won 6 in a row. And as a homage to all the ducks of the world .......quack, quack, quack, quack !!
Oh, & rain stopped play to allow me to gloat.

by PJ453 on August 21, 2009 at 10:40 PM

GRRRRRRR! I come here on a Sat morning to catch up on my TV blog related reading after a very busy week - to find out too late that SYTYCD had moved to 10.30pm! The price I pay for not reading this blog every day i guess.....
Darren - as a confessed watcher can you fill me in as to what happened?
Re "One Froggy Evening" there is also the Looney Tune All Stars Collections available in Australia and this is on those. Having said that $20 is a great price for the Golden Collections - I seem to remember them being $60 each when I was looking a couple of years ago!
My kids are now just as addicted to Looney Tunes as I was!

Tribal Mind asks: And are you going to do your national duty and take them to Harry Potter this weekend? To learn how you can save Australia from looking stupid, click on The Tribal Mind.

by Ozshark on August 22, 2009 at 06:58 AM

I know it's Saturday already and you're about to start a new week's blog. But can you please post up figures for the two Simpsons episodes on at 7.30 and 8pm to see how it compares to SYTYCD (which was roughly getting 700k last week at that time). Thanks!

Tribal Mind replies: Done. No new blog till Monday, so I'm just sitting round waiting for questions from the very few people who take the trouble to comment on Saturdays and Sundays. What do you make of The Simpsons figures?

by Clem on August 22, 2009 at 09:19 AM

TM: Thanks for your prompt response! Well combined with Never Been Kissed, it rated lower than when SYTYCD was being shown. Even though I did enjoy watching those 2 Simpsons episodes last night (and they were both fairly recent ones), of course I would much prefer to have Dance shown at a more godly hour. If I were Ten, I'd put Dance back on at 7.30. It's coming to the finals and I personally know a lot of people who tune in.
I think Ten will get roughly the same ratings for anything they put on at that time since it's a Friday night, so they might as well put Dance back on. Those figures for Dance until 1am are pretty high, indicating there is a legion of fans out there.

by Clem on August 22, 2009 at 10:49 AM

What a horrible night for Ten...The 7pm Project is a disaster, as was their last minute 'new' Friday schedule.
Sunrise rated extremely high yesterday, and strangely so did Today. The morning timeslot seems to be one of very few which has grown in audience this year.

by Tane on August 22, 2009 at 10:54 AM

My theory for the Sunrise numbers is that Natalie Barr ( I think) was the co host this week instead of Mumsy Mel. The only reason I watch Today is for the lovely Lisa Wilkinson and like it even better when Karl Stefano-talent is on holidays. Its hard to get a balance between hosts and I still fondly remember the engaging Steve Liebmann as being my ideal morning man.

by rufus on August 22, 2009 at 12:23 PM

Huge result in Sydney for the ratings of NRL Friday night match between Parra and Wests.
Great game and well deserved.
Go da Eels!

by Craig on August 22, 2009 at 12:57 PM

It didnt help the rugby that seven werent showing it LIVE! If u watched it on Foxtel it was ad-free and live.... but seven kept chucking long blocks of ads in and stopping there coverage.... by the end of the game they were 5 minutes behind the live action on fox. Im all for supporting free-to-air but when they stuff around there live coverage of an event for ads its inexcusable.....didnt seven learn anything from the olympics.... we dont like delayed coverage of events passed off as being live

by JM on August 23, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Same today .Afl 1 hour behind live play !! I gave up on Rugby last nite.Listened to radio coverage.

by doug on August 23, 2009 at 03:44 PM

So, Friday nights you can watch Footy on Nine, shit movies on Seven and Ten or sappy English whodunnits (spoiler: it's the person you least expect for a totally unexpected reason but you can see it coming before the opening credits)..., something on SBS or trim your toe-nails.
One of these options is exciting and interesting and worth several minutes of your life.....
Ozshark, ixnay on the SYTYCD iewervay.......oh what the hell..... Yeah I watched (past tense) it but I'm not so much of a fan that I'll stay up til midnight to see what happened. I think probably Mary Murphy screamed and Nigel waffled and Ellen DeGeneres danced and waffled and Cat Deeley simpered and waffled and Katie Holmes made Judy Garland spin like a top in her grave (you'd think Ten would've promoted that Katie-Crash....I'm sure it was craptacular).... Even during 'The 7 PM Project' Ten seemed unsure of its decision to reschedule and were advertising SYTYCD but not the time at which they would be showing it. Totally flabbergasted that a repeat of a crappy wet movie and MORE 'Simpsons' didn't exactly float the nation's boat. Who woulda thought?

Tribal Mind asserts: There is another option. It's your national duty to go to the cinema. Click on The Tribal Mind to find out why.

by darren on August 24, 2009 at 05:59 AM

"it's the person you least expect for a totally unexpected reason but you can see it coming before the opening credits"
Actually, the rule is: the first person they interview after family members (the first person if no family members are interviewed). It makes US crime dramas so predictable that I can't watch them anymore. The exception is Bones, which I mostly watch for the dialogue, having already identified the killer within 3 minutes of the opening credits following requisite cold open.
(Murder, credits, banter, interview family, interview killer, follow leads until a "twist" means you end up back at the beginning). YAWN.
Wanted to go to the cinema this weekend to see Harry Potter but I have a very badly sprained ankle and it said no to the driving and walking involved. Sorry for letting down the country.

Tribal Mind replies: The cinema box office figures for the weekend come out tonight, and I'll report them in this space. If HPHBP falls short of $40m by $15, I'll know who to blame.
Readers who don't know what this is referring to should click on The Tribal Mind, and then add their own excuse for not seeing Harry.

by genfie on August 24, 2009 at 09:54 AM

Bundesliga is the German Football (soccer) competition. One of the biggest leagues in the world.

Tribal Mind wonders: But what does the word mean? Having seen Inglourious Basterds at the weekend I have my suspicions.

by TG on August 24, 2009 at 11:08 AM

pretty sure the word "liga" means "League".

by TG on August 25, 2009 at 08:04 AM

Bundesliga means National League.

by Harold on August 25, 2009 at 08:50 AM

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