The Who We Are update: Week 34

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This week's forum is now a heritage item - worth studying but no longer current.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 Skippy brainwashed Australia, go to Who We Are.
To estimate the IQ of our politicians and personalities, go to The Tribal Mind.

The ratings race, updated 10 am Monday
The new digital station GO may be attracting less than 2 per cent of the viewing audience most days, but it is helping its parent, Channel Nine, to increase its total share for the week. Here's the prime time audience breakup among the parent networks (with Nine incorporating GO, Ten incorporating ONE, and ABC incorporating ABC2): Seven 27.8 per cent, Nine 27.3, Ten 21.8, ABC 17.8, SBS 5.2.

It's interesting that the advent of GO, ONE and ABC2 does not seem to be cutting into the audiences for Pay TV. In Pay TV's account of itself for the week, compare the audience sizes with GO's numbers in the charts below: "Various television fathers, including Homer Simpson of The Simpsons and Peter Griffin of Family Guy helped subscription TV become the number one television choice in the week leading up to Father's Day. In week 36, subscription TV channels represented 21.9% of all metropolitan viewing between 6am and midnight, 21.8% of all regional viewing and 56.4% of all viewing in subscription TV homes.

"NCIS on TV1, with Leroy Gibbs as the team's father figure, was watched by 130,000 people, The Simpsons on FOX8 was seen by 125,000 people and Family Guy (FOX8) was seen by 121,000 viewers. In other entertainment programming, series seven of Property Ladder on Lifestyle drew a year-to-date highest audience for the program with 105,000 viewers; Project Runway Australia on Arena was seen by 102,000 people and Deadliest Catch on Discovery Channel by 82,000 subscribers.

"AFL topped the week with 263,000 people watching Live: AFL Collingwood v Western Bulldogs, Live: NRL Raiders v Knights was viewed by 253,000 people and Live: AFL: On the Couch had its best ever result with 170,000 viewers (all on FOX Sports). The FOX Sports coverage of the thrilling Tri-Nation match between the Wallabies and Springboks, Live: Rugby Union: Tri Nations, was seen by 146,000 and Sky Raceday on Sky Racing was seen by 63,000 people."

What Australia watched, week ending September 6
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 1,943,000 587,000 590,000 326,000 198,000 242,000
2 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,686,000 438,000 506,000 336,000 166,000 240,000
3 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,563,000 440,000 513,000 264,000 156,000 189,000
4 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,493,000 410,000 417,000 298,000 165,000 203,000
5 MIDSOMER MURDERS-SUN ABC1 1,491,000 445,000 466,000 228,000 179,000 172,000
6 DANCING WITH THE STARS 9 Seven 1,401,000 430,000 382,000 293,000 129,000 167,000
7 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,397,000 366,000 393,000 294,000 141,000 202,000
8 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,393,000 414,000 414,000 291,000 165,000 110,000
9 CITY HOMICIDE-MON Seven 1,389,000 397,000 446,000 219,000 141,000 187,000
10 TWO AND A HALF MEN -WED Nine 1,360,000 337,000 458,000 306,000 128,000 132,000
11 SURF PATROL Seven 1,354,000 352,000 390,000 276,000 151,000 184,000
12 20 TO 1 Nine 1,337,000 413,000 371,000 256,000 138,000 158,000
13 MONEY FOR JAM Nine 1,332,000 340,000 457,000 288,000 122,000 124,000
14 AIR WAYS Seven 1,310,000 351,000 388,000 260,000 136,000 175,000
15 WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS-UK Seven 1,307,000 403,000 321,000 274,000 144,000 165,000
Continued here

16 GETAWAY Nine 1,299,000 378,000 418,000 248,000 139,000 116,000
17 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,255,000 379,000 312,000 290,000 137,000 138,000
18 ABC NEWS UP-DATE ABC1 1,252,000 404,000 389,000 154,000 159,000 146,000
19 DOMESTIC BLITZ Nine 1,248,000 321,000 365,000 256,000 143,000 163,000
20 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,233,000 401,000 334,000 236,000 115,000 147,000
21 STEPHEN FRY IN AMERICA ABC1 1,211,000 378,000 339,000 208,000 148,000 137,000
22 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,194,000 279,000 423,000 217,000 101,000 174,000
23 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,185,000 341,000 329,000 236,000 133,000 145,000
24 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,175,000 359,000 353,000 166,000 144,000 153,000
25 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,172,000 393,000 388,000 230,000 94,000 67,000
26 BATTLE AT KRUGER PARK Seven 1,160,000 331,000 382,000 196,000 125,000 127,000
27 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,159,000 289,000 381,000 246,000 110,000 133,000
28 BONES Seven 1,155,000 291,000 341,000 227,000 129,000 167,000
29 NINE NEWS Nine 1,153,000 323,000 355,000 235,000 125,000 115,000
30 CRIMINAL MINDS (R) Seven 1,146,000 310,000 306,000 263,000 103,000 163,000
31 TEN'S AFL FINALS 2009: 2ND ELIM. FINAL BRIS V CARL Ten 1,140,000 61,000 576,000 137,000 193,000 173,000
32 RPA Nine 1,137,000 311,000 385,000 200,000 122,000 119,000
33 60 MINUTES Nine 1,123,000 294,000 355,000 225,000 108,000 140,000
34 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE Nine 1,115,000 315,000 352,000 223,000 85,000 142,000
35 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,109,000 301,000 346,000 237,000 114,000 111,000
36 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,104,000 279,000 322,000 245,000 129,000 128,000
37 NCIS RPT Ten 1,050,000 253,000 337,000 215,000 119,000 126,000
38 NCIS EP 2 RPT Ten 1,048,000 261,000 346,000 197,000 137,000 106,000
39 RUSH Ten 1,042,000 302,000 368,000 143,000 103,000 126,000
40 SEVEN'S AFL: ELIMINATION FINAL 1: ADELAIDE VS ESSENDON Seven 1,022,000 50,000 491,000 26,000 290,000 164,000
41 ABC NEWS-EV ABC1 1,004,000 318,000 297,000 161,000 93,000 135,000
42 AUSTRALIAN IDOL - WILDCARD Ten 1,000,000 290,000 301,000 174,000 106,000 128,000
43 GEORGE GENTLY ABC1 999,000 327,000 273,000 156,000 95,000 149,000
55 TOP GEAR SBS ONE 870,000 219,000 256,000 204,000 91,000 100,000
213 WIPEOUT GO! 224,000 43,000 75,000 48,000 31,000 28,000
304 ONE WEEK AT A TIME ONE 141,000 10,000 86,000 15,000 24,000 6,000
310 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 134,000 34,000 26,000 24,000 23,000 26,000
549 THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE RPT SBS TWO 48,000 11,000 6,000 14,000 5,000 12,000

What Australia watched, Saturday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SAT Seven 1,255,000 379,000 312,000 290,000 137,000 138,000
2 TEN'S AFL FINALS 2009: 2ND ELIM. FINAL BRIS V CARL Ten 1,140,000 61,000 576,000 137,000 193,000 173,000
3 AUSTRALIA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS Nine 1,104,000 279,000 322,000 245,000 129,000 128,000
4 NINE NEWS SATURDAY Nine 940,000 249,000 279,000 180,000 123,000 110,000
5 ABC NEWS-SA ABC1 831,000 290,000 207,000 166,000 71,000 96,000
6 TEN NEWS AT FIVE SAT Ten 807,000 113,000 313,000 120,000 130,000 131,000
7 TEN'S AFL FINALS 2009: 2ND QUAL. FINAL GEE V W BUL Ten 781,000 58,000 424,000 62,000 114,000 123,000
8 THE GREAT OUTDOORS Seven 763,000 220,000 200,000 191,000 74,000 78,000
9 THE BILL ABC1 689,000 216,000 182,000 107,000 72,000 112,000
10 EAST OF EVERYTHING ABC1 619,000 229,000 145,000 120,000 50,000 75,000
14 SEVEN'S R.U: TRI-NATIONS: AUS V S A Seven 464,000 250,000 39,000 141,000 14,000 18,000
19 MYTHBUSTERS SBS ONE 333,000 84,000 82,000 86,000 39,000 42,000
62 PENELOPE ABC2 124,000 45,000 35,000 18,000 20,000 6,000
96 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION GO! 64,000 12,000 17,000 20,000 7,000 8,000
104 NAB RISING STAR AWARD ONE 60,000 9,000 26,000 24,000
112 DANCE YOUR ASS OFF GO! 56,000 9,000 19,000 20,000 3,000 4,000
135 RUGBY UNION: SHUTE SHIELD (NSW) 2009-PM ABC1 38,000 38,000
141 WAFL LIVE LEAGUE FOOTBALL 2009-PM ABC1 34,000 34,000
156 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 28,000 23,000 4,000 1,000
172 MARX & VENUS RPT SBS TWO 23,000 6,000 6,000 5,000 0 5,000

What Australia watched, Friday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,377,000 372,000 414,000 272,000 151,000 168,000
2 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,123,000 327,000 345,000 237,000 98,000 115,000
3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,059,000 309,000 354,000 257,000 139,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,029,000 282,000 327,000 210,000 107,000 104,000
5 SEVEN'S AFL: ELIMINATION FINAL 1: ADELAIDE VS ESSENDON Seven 1,022,000 50,000 491,000 26,000 290,000 164,000
6 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS Seven 1,011,000 393,000 388,000 230,000
7 GEORGE GENTLY ABC1 999,000 327,000 273,000 156,000 95,000 149,000
8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 985,000 270,000 301,000 203,000 92,000 119,000
9 ABC NEWS ABC1 889,000 274,000 253,000 154,000 92,000 115,000
10 NINE'S LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 802,000 510,000 292,000
26 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Nine 458,000 303,000 155,000
36 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Ten 316,000 82,000 101,000 41,000 60,000 32,000
40 YOUNG VICTORIA SBS ONE 299,000 112,000 88,000 65,000 33,000
85 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 113,000 37,000 21,000 15,000 19,000 22,000
103 TORCHWOOD ABC2 81,000 19,000 14,000 11,000 12,000 26,000
140 2009 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS ONE 49,000 7,000 17,000 14,000 7,000 4,000
146 THE NANNY GO! 47,000 29,000 10,000 0 5,000 3,000
161 CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION GO! 40,000 5,000 6,000 17,000 6,000 6,000
174 NINE'S FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL LATE Nine 34,000 15,000 7,000 11,000
222 BLUEPRINT RPT SBS TWO 16,000 7,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 1,000

What Australia watched, Thursday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,394,000 395,000 391,000 264,000 162,000 182,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,345,000 351,000 393,000 274,000 146,000 180,000
3 20 TO 1 Nine 1,335,000 412,000 371,000 256,000 138,000 158,000
4 GETAWAY Nine 1,300,000 379,000 418,000 248,000 139,000 116,000
5 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,160,000 294,000 391,000 228,000 114,000 133,000
6 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,125,000 325,000 324,000 219,000 120,000 137,000
7 NINE NEWS Nine 1,104,000 328,000 311,000 249,000 116,000 100,000
8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,098,000 326,000 315,000 247,000 117,000 92,000
9 RUSH Ten 1,036,000 300,000 364,000 143,000 103,000 126,000
10 ABC NEWS ABC1 1,001,000 321,000 273,000 178,000 87,000 142,000
11 THE FOOTY SHOW Nine 965,000 192,000 414,000 126,000 111,000 122,000
12 THE AMAZING RACE Seven 937,000 313,000 284,000 151,000 114,000 76,000
13 GARY UNMARRIED Seven 867,000 242,000 273,000 151,000 115,000 86,000
17 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 776,000 245,000 222,000 162,000 73,000 73,000
18 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 753,000 218,000 223,000 139,000 91,000 82,000
20 BURN NOTICE Ten 714,000 210,000 214,000 116,000 100,000 74,000
23 HOT SEAT Nine 629,000 208,000 157,000 146,000 82,000 36,000
24 BLACK WAVE: THE LEGACY OF THE EXXON VALDEZ ABC1 610,000 168,000 179,000 105,000 64,000 93,000
25 TV BURP Seven 551,000 154,000 181,000 84,000 80,000 52,000
30 DOUBLE TAKE Seven 426,000 135,000 128,000 55,000 61,000 48,000
34 SUNRISE Seven 381,000 129,000 79,000 88,000 35,000 50,000
43 TODAY Nine 309,000 98,000 103,000 58,000 25,000 25,000
94 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 126,000 34,000 21,000 11,000 33,000 26,000
101 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC2 104,000 28,000 30,000 11,000 18,000 17,000
102 THE LIBRARIANS ABC2 98,000 32,000 23,000 16,000 16,000 11,000
119 MOONLIGHT GO! 74,000 18,000 32,000 11,000 7,000 6,000
125 UFC WIRED ONE 65,000 13,000 19,000 7,000 10,000 16,000
130 GOSSIP GIRL GO! 62,000 6,000 22,000 20,000 8,000 6,000
155 TWO MEN IN A TRENCH RPT SBS TWO 41,000 8,000 2,000 1,000 6,000 23,000
(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

The ratings race, updated 10 am Thursday
Channel Nine's initial excitement over the success of its new channel GO must now have faded away. Even on sci-fi night, with the wonderful Sarah Connor and Rupert Murdoch's wonderful niece in Fringe, GO fell behind ABC2. These were the prime time audience shares: SBSTWO 0.2 per cent; ONE 1.0; GO 1.8; ABC2 2.2; SBS 4.8; TEN 16.8; ABC 17.6; NIne 27.0; Seven 28.6.

What Australia watched, Wednesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,551,000 422,000 436,000 298,000 177,000 218,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,390,000 377,000 373,000 294,000 146,000 200,000
3 TWO AND A HALF MEN -WED Nine 1,348,000 334,000 451,000 304,000 128,000 133,000
4 MONEY FOR JAM Nine 1,324,000 335,000 454,000 289,000 123,000 123,000
5 WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS-UK Seven 1,307,000 403,000 321,000 274,000 144,000 165,000
6 SPICKS AND SPECKS ABC1 1,233,000 401,000 334,000 236,000 115,000 147,000
23 LAW & ORDER: UK Ten 728,000 209,000 213,000 108,000 115,000 82,000
24 MY NAME IS EARL Seven 726,000 172,000 232,000 142,000 88,000 91,000
25 UNITED STATES OF TARA ABC1 717,000 244,000 228,000 102,000 71,000 73,000
32 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 602,000 145,000 171,000 118,000 82,000 85,000
36 AT THE MOVIES ABC1 432,000 164,000 127,000 53,000 45,000 43,000
47 INSPECTOR REX RPT SBS ONE 277,000 72,000 100,000 39,000 28,000 40,000
81 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 165,000 34,000 34,000 34,000 23,000 40,000
114 FRINGE GO! 84,000 27,000 37,000 0 19,000 1,000
116 TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES GO! 82,000 15,000 36,000 3,000 19,000 7,000
131 TEENS HOOKED ON PORN ABC2 61,000 21,000 12,000 14,000 8,000 6,000
144 POKER: LATIN AMERICAN TOUR ONE 52,000 6,000 25,000 7,000 5,000 9,000
234 SWEET MUD RPT SBS TWO 13,000 1,000 3,000 5,000 2,000 2,000

The ratings race, updated 10 am Wednesday
So what did you make of The Wire? Will you come back to the mean streets of Baltimore next week?

What Australia watched, Tuesday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 PACKED TO THE RAFTERS Seven 1,943,000 587,000 590,000 326,000 198,000 242,000
2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,587,000 439,000 412,000 314,000 170,000 252,000
3 TALKIN' 'BOUT YOUR GENERATION Ten 1,554,000 437,000 512,000 262,000 155,000 188,000
4 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,441,000 368,000 409,000 290,000 126,000 248,000
5 SURF PATROL Seven 1,354,000 352,000 390,000 276,000 151,000 184,000
6 AIR WAYS Seven 1,310,000 351,000 388,000 260,000 136,000 175,000
7 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,263,000 352,000 331,000 250,000 149,000 180,000
8 NINE NEWS Nine 1,239,000 355,000 368,000 252,000 139,000 125,000
9 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,179,000 322,000 376,000 241,000 125,000 115,000
10 ALL SAINTS Seven 1,175,000 359,000 353,000 166,000 144,000 153,000
84 THE WIRE ABC2 138,000 69,000 38,000 8,000 9,000 14,000
101 SURVIVOR: GABON GO! 98,000 14,000 24,000 24,000 15,000 22,000
120 THE BEAST ABC2 70,000 30,000 18,000 2,000 2,000 18,000
140 THE ELEGANT UNIVERSE RPT SBS TWO 48,000 11,000 6,000 14,000 5,000 12,000
167 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 RPT ONE 28,000 13,000 5,000 6,000 2,000 3,000

What Australia watched, Monday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,551,000 422,000 430,000 342,000 166,000 192,000
2 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,539,000 419,000 433,000 354,000 150,000 184,000
3 CITY HOMICIDE-MON Seven 1,388,000 397,000 446,000 219,000 141,000 186,000
4 NINE NEWS Nine 1,265,000 353,000 418,000 248,000 130,000 117,000
5 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,241,000 363,000 351,000 265,000 133,000 129,000
6 TWO AND A HALF MEN Nine 1,199,000 280,000 427,000 218,000 101,000 173,000
7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,195,000 306,000 393,000 264,000 123,000 110,000
8 BATTLE AT KRUGER PARK Seven 1,162,000 331,000 382,000 196,000 125,000 128,000
9 TWO AND A HALF MEN -RPT Nine 1,155,000 255,000 409,000 243,000 106,000 142,000
10 THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE Nine 1,114,000 314,000 351,000 223,000 85,000 142,000
13 ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? Ten 954,000 294,000 287,000 176,000 98,000 99,000
17 TOP GEAR SBS ONE 869,000 219,000 256,000 204,000 91,000 100,000
22 THE 7PM PROJECT Ten 763,000 198,000 238,000 167,000 70,000 90,000
23 DEAL OR NO DEAL Seven 752,000 216,000 242,000 148,000 75,000 71,000
25 HOT SEAT Nine 708,000 201,000 212,000 169,000 69,000 57,000
32 DEXTER Ten 460,000 101,000 156,000 67,000 69,000 66,000
71 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS SBS ONE 179,000 50,000 56,000 40,000 20,000 14,000
83 ONE WEEK AT A TIME ONE 141,000 10,000 86,000 15,000 24,000 6,000
86 JUNKYARD WARS ABC2 132,000 35,000 27,000 29,000 23,000 18,000
92 SKINS SBS ONE 122,000 32,000 26,000 18,000 23,000 22,000
99 MR BEAN WITH ROWAN ATKINSON ABC2 108,000 35,000 30,000 14,000 18,000 12,000
117 DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER GO! 75,000 17,000 25,000 10,000 16,000 7,000

(OzTAM preliminary estimates, mainland capitals)

What Australia watched, Sunday
Description Total Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth
1 SEVEN NEWS - SUN Seven 1,686,000 438,000 506,000 336,000 166,000 240,000
2 MIDSOMER MURDERS ABC1 1,484,000 443,000 464,000 227,000 178,000 172,000
3 NINE NEWS SUNDAY Nine 1,390,000 415,000 413,000 289,000 165,000 108,000
4 DANCING WITH THE STARS 9 Seven 1,353,000 418,000 367,000 283,000 123,000 163,000
5 ABC NEWS UP-DATE ABC1 1,252,000 404,000 389,000 154,000 159,000 146,000
6 DOMESTIC BLITZ Nine 1,246,000 321,000 363,000 258,000 143,000 162,000
7 STEPHEN FRY IN AMERICA ABC1 1,211,000 378,000 339,000 208,000 148,000 137,000
8 60 MINUTES Nine 1,115,000 293,000 352,000 224,000 106,000 140,000
9 BONES Seven 1,088,000 276,000 337,000 189,000 129,000 157,000
10 AUSTRALIAN IDOL - WILDCARD Ten 992,000 287,000 301,000 172,000 105,000 127,000
12 RESCUE SPECIAL OPS Nine 906,000 291,000 244,000 188,000 92,000 91,000
13 ROVE Ten 784,000 192,000 268,000 138,000 102,000 84,000
17 SEVEN'S AFL: RND 22: MELBOURNE VS ST KILDA Seven 542,000 47,000 292,000 37,000 87,000 79,000
23 NINE'S SUNDAY FOOTBALL Nine 393,000 256,000 137,000
32 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? SBS ONE 239,000 72,000 80,000 29,000 29,000 30,000
42 WIPEOUT GO! 224,000 43,000 74,000 48,000 31,000 28,000
48 AFL GAME DAY Seven 206,000 127,000 46,000 32,000
57 THE BIG BANG THEORY -RPT GO! 177,000 51,000 47,000 32,000 19,000 27,000
65 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2009 ONE 147,000 42,000 31,000 26,000 27,000 21,000
103 HORNBLOWER ABC2 66,000 30,000 15,000 4,000 6,000 11,000

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

A quick calculation of the the top 10 viewer numbers for Sunday shows:
Ch 7 = 4.127m
ABC1 = 3.947m
Ch 9 = 3.751m
Ch 10 0.992m
Have a closer look and more people watched a news update on ABC1 than the total viewer numbers for Aus Idol or 60 mins.

by TGO on August 31, 2009 at 09:22 AM

Rescue Spec Ops is dying a slow death it seems. Pity, it started out ok but just lacked something that made me want to keep tuning in. Seems many other viewers feel the same way.
And Idol can't crack the million mark at a 6.30 start? That's pretty sad really. Idol will be axed after this year I predict. And it looks like it affected Rove's numbers as well. Amazing that so many people tuned in to see Midsomer Murders. Seems we can't get enough of those deadly English villages but are sick of karoke contests with very average singers.

by em on August 31, 2009 at 09:45 AM

Idol is not being helped by the fact that this year's group is very average. I usually have at least one contestant a night in semi-finals week that I want to follow - every episode this week has left me feeling nothing but "meh, couldn't care less who goes through, none of them really deserve it". And yes, I did watch all episodes, but I have a valid excuse - just had major surgery, so tv and trashy magazines are my life at the moment - painkillers are killing my concentration, so reading novels is too taxing - which is KILLING me!! (I'm an English teacher, I usually have 2 Shakespearian texts on the go and 5 or 6 novels). I'm doing lots of recording and watching nightime programs during the god awful daytime tv timeslot.

by Beckala on August 31, 2009 at 10:42 AM

I like Rescue Spec Ops for the spunk factor. The issue I have with I will dub the "MI2 factor".
Being a Sydney resident, when anything is shot in Sydney you get two distinct responses from watching:
Ist response: Wow, this is shot in my hometown, let's play spot the location.
2nd response: Ummmm, how did they suddenly get from Point A to Point B in 10 minutes?
When Mission Impossible 2 was released, several factors irritated. I know this is a movie, but still...... How did they get from Bare Island Fort near La Perouse to the Northern Beaches doing a chase scene without getting stuck in traffic?
And you cannot drive into Darling Harbour and park your car a few hundred feet from Imax.
Now to last night's episode, a boating accident on the Hawkesbury.
How did the team get there so fast considering that at some point they have to negotiate the F3?
The other week they responded to something at Malabar.
They clearly have magical vehicles that can get to any location, even on the outskirts of Sydney in record time, even with sirens blaring.
And let's not foget that every location must have a water shot in it, because everyone in Sydney can see the harbour/Tasman Sea from their window.
Lucky they don't have to rescue anyone west of Surry Hills.

by Glory Days on August 31, 2009 at 11:15 AM

I think you might be right Em, in your prediction of Aus Idol's immenent demise. Someone at my work keeps banging on about how it's better this year so I had a quick look last night and it hasn't. It's exactly the same. Dull.
I thought it might've had a spike with people wanting to see how Marcia's 'controversial' "white men can't sing Soul' comment panned out but doesn't look like it.
Went and saw 'Inglourious Basterds' on the weekend and it definitely lives up to the hype. Great.
Oh, and quote of the week goes to Pru McSween on 'Weekend Sunrise' yesterday for making the comment while discussing the State Government's interest in how many sexual partners we've all had, that, when it comes to sex The Government should "keep it's snout out of my trough".........now there's an image to rival Rudd as Darcy.

by darren on August 31, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Welcome back Beckala very pleased to see you posting again...
Em I gave up on Rescue special ops the other week - nothing much inspired me about it and I found the shots out of proportion - heads bigger than normal.
Pleased to see Mr Fry beat Idol - nice little series - I have liked his perspective on the US, and I am not an Idol fan.

by Cathy on August 31, 2009 at 11:44 AM

Shows on the ABC should rate well as there are no ad breaks during the show.Rescue is riddled with ads which spoil the continuity. 42 minutes is the shows length, not an hour.

by doug on August 31, 2009 at 11:50 AM

Beckala, sounds like hell to me. Hope they can stop the mind-numbing painkillers soon!
I seem to have lost the will to turn on the TV, except to put in a DVD this week. Will have to watch something off the PVR, otherwise there will be no room for tonight's "Ashes to Ashes"! Actually, maybe I could just ditch that series entirely. Apart from the opening, I haven't really been gripped.

by tqd on August 31, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Thank goodness for Hornblower last night. Sunday night is a bit of a wasteland for quality at the moment (How about a new movie like the old days). So Fry and Hornblower fit the sunday night bill royally.
Also very happy about Burn Notice coming back. Please keep this on somewhere in your schedule CH10 if it doesn't rate.

by merciless on August 31, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Can someone explain to me how a show like Aus Idol can be sustained beyond 2 years in a Country as small as Aus? I mean after about 2 years, the only people you'd get were Karaoke champions at their local surely, meaning they can't sing for peanuts. As far as I know nobody but Guy Sebastian, and that squeaky short ocker dude who came second, made anything out of their Idol appearance...

by davo on August 31, 2009 at 11:00 PM

My theory on all reality shows including Aus Idol, Davo, is that people watch the first year because it's new and the second year hoping it'll feel as good as the first and the third year hoping it won't be as disappointing as the second. After that you get ten years of the Producers flogging a dead horse and wondering what's gone wrong.
Saw a headline in the SMH this morning that said "Reality Show Drowning" and I though it might've been about Idol but it was about a Pakistani show....where someone drowned.
As for after-show success or lack of it, I've recently heard songs by both Lisa Mitchell and Matt Corby (remember them?) on Triple J which means they've garnered some cred in the end. And what about....um...Young Divas?....and.......er....that guy....
Instead of watching 'Australian Idol' I just put on a CD and jump up and down to make it skip to the end of the song after 35 seconds while scratching a blackboard with my fingernails. Same.

by darren on September 01, 2009 at 05:53 AM

Thanks for the reminder about The Wire DD. The PVR has been programmed for weeks. To get in the mood, every second word I say today will be f---.

by Wendell on September 01, 2009 at 08:26 AM

Nice plug for 'The Wire' tonight (on ABC2) :)
I suggest that anyone participating in OZTAM tune in for it so as to really stick it to 9 for screwing around this brilliant series.

by Josh on September 01, 2009 at 08:28 AM

"Shows on the ABC should rate well as there are no ad breaks during the show."
If that logic were correct, then ABC2 ratings would at least be competitive with GO! But they're not.
Although, Good Game (ABC2) was fantastically funny as usual last night.

Tribal Mind replies: Actually, ABC2's ratings yesterday were more than competitive with GO, as you can see in the chart above. But click on The Tribal Mind for the details on the digital channels.

by arthur on September 01, 2009 at 08:48 AM

I have yet to go digital (I guess my plan to wait for my old analogue TV to blow up before I replace it with a digital one is about as viable as my plan to win the lottery when I've never bought a lottery ticket) but I am tempted just for the Wire. I've only seen Sesaon 1 but it was one of the best pieces of TV I've ever seen. Guess I might finally be investing in that set-top box...

Tribal Mind suggests: Easier to buy the DVDs, so you can watch four episodes a night and not have to endure the suspense.

by genfie on September 01, 2009 at 08:55 AM

I may not go as far as Wendell, but thanks for the reminder about The Wire, Mr Dale!
davo, I believe one of the Idols (Millsy?) made it onto Dancing with the Stars this year. Someone is scraping the bottom of a particularly icky barrel.
But I do agree, even allowing for another year's worth of young people to reach the minimum age to enter Idol, we must be running seriously short of talent.
"Dog the Bounty Hunter"? The mind boggles.

by tqd on September 01, 2009 at 09:30 AM

To genfie on September 01, 2009 at 08:55: Just f---ing go and f---ing buy a f---ing set top f---ing box. They're f---ing less than $100 and f---ing easy to f---ing set up. F---.

Tribal Mind remarks: Each f---ing season costs f---ing $32 on f---ing DVD.

by Wendell on September 01, 2009 at 09:48 AM

Strange that the New Series of Top Gear should rate so low, especially with Michael Schumaker (sp?) appearing as The Stig. never knew that he had a sense of humour, but I guess being involved with Ferrari lately....... Oh and was it The Stig or MS AS The Stig that set that incredibly hot lap in the black Ferrari.
GNW was very good again last night. Barnsie was a highlight, especially on the couch and singing that old standard, but Mr Lane, Michael Jackson you are not (thankfully).
Watched Midsummer Murders but must admit was drawn to also watch Hornblower, but new won out over repeat, even though I didn't really get into Hornblower until the end of the first run. Bet there are some 'arty' types running around trying to dispel the mud thrown during MM though.
And yes, am enjoying the repeats of repeats on Boston Legal. Why 7 can't repeat it as suggested in an earlier week's forum is beyond me.
Beckie, can sympathise with the recent surgery... as went under the knife myself and when I get the courage, will be ripping off dressing sometime today. Now, where's the scotch?

by Furlozza on September 01, 2009 at 09:59 AM

Speaking of 'The Wire' has anyone seen the fifth season for sale on DVD yet? Supposed to be out in August sometime (don't think that's gonna happen). I was pleasantly surprised to find the second season of 'Mad Men' the other day but have seen hide nor hair of 'The Wire' yet.
Tqd, you'd love 'Dog The Bounty Hunter'. An eloquent and educated young man called 'Dog'....is a.... well,....a Bounty Hunter. He sits around his....um....trailer... discussing the delights of...ahem....smashing people's heads in and...er...how to...break a man's neck before he can...um ...grab your crotch. He's like the Billy-Ray Cyrus besotted love-child of Steve Irwin and Hulk Hogan.

by darren on September 01, 2009 at 10:05 AM

Thought the Top Gear Race last night was very entertaining. Looks like a fine night in tonight. I'm ticked off though that no channel is showing US Open, not even that 24hr sport channel, One.
Caught Ponyo the other day and it is simply adorable! Miyazaki is definitely Animator Mastermind. Highly recommended - the Japanese one. I don't understand the notion of hiring watered down versions (or for that matter diluted blood) of Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus.

by Kym on September 01, 2009 at 10:37 AM

Wendell - brotha, if yoos want ta really git the lingo right for The Wire, yoos hafta put "mutha" infront of evry f.... Heard TM under his sudinum (sp?) Mr Dale sprooking The Wire on the wire....less this morning. Come on all you Oztam people tune into ABC2 at 9:30, make it the hit it deserves to be.
Hang in there Beckala, we need good people like you.
Top Gear was all class last night, it really does run like a well oiled machine.

by PJ453 on September 01, 2009 at 11:19 AM

darren, I'm disappointed in your description of "Dog the Bounty Hunter". I was hoping for America's answer to Inspector Rex!

by tqd on September 01, 2009 at 11:26 AM

I just saw a promo for 'The Wire' on Go! How's that going to work with ABC2's 'Wire'?

Tribal Mind asks: Can you elaborate? Is GO! claiming that it is about to show a later series of The Wire?

by merciless on September 01, 2009 at 11:26 AM

I must be one of the few people never to see The Wire. So I am looking forward to seeing it tonight. I want to get a taste of it first before I run out and buy the DVD's.
GNW was ok last night. But there was really nothing much on at 7.30. In fact, I gave up till 8.30 and watched some stuff I had recorded. Your right, TM, there is certainly not much on at the moment.
As for Idol, it's so lacking talent this year as to be embarrassing. In fact, I can already predict the winner. It will either be the brickie who never sang in public before his first audition or the little tiny girl with the long black hair, Sabrina (?) who has a great voice and is kinda quirky. Oh, and had a sob back story to make for the sympathy vote. So I won't bother to watch again. It's really, really boring.

by em on September 01, 2009 at 11:27 AM

Spelling, PJ453: Pseudonym. Mutha----er.

by Wendell on September 01, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Hmm, it's listed on GO!'s website: Typical programs on GO! include favourites such as Gossip Girl, The Hills, TMZ, Fringe, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Weeds, The Wire, Survivor, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, CSI and hit comedy series Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Interesting spiel, I like their definitions of "hit" and "favourite" in particular.
But there's no specific mention of "The Wire" elsewhere that I could see. (I must admit, I didn't look very closely once the video started showing bare bottoms from one of their "favourite" "hit" reality TV shows. That window got closed mighty quick - I'm at work!)

by tqd on September 01, 2009 at 12:43 PM

For f...'s sake, Wendell, a bit f...ing over the f...ing top. It's a f...ing set top box for f...'s sake. And no matter how f...ing bad the f...ing language is on the Wire it f...ing pales in comparison with f...ing Deadwood. I'll feed you to Mr Wu's pigs. F...ing c...sucker.

by genfie on September 01, 2009 at 01:01 PM

Methinks Schumacher was Teh Stig because Teh Ferrari wouldn't let Teh Anyone Else drive Teh FXX.
Anyhow if you're looking for Stig, you may find him here http://www.rodhunt.com/pages/newwork.html

Teh Tribal Mind asks Is this new spelling of teh definite article a trend I have missed?

by Bereft Skerrick on September 01, 2009 at 03:19 PM

F---. Genfie, sorry to f---ing hurt your f---ing feelings, The f---ing Wire did it to me. I'm starting to feel f---ing guilty about lowering the f---ing tone on the Who We f---ing Are Update today. Too f---ing late now, I guess. Tomorrow I f---ing promise to spread the f---ing love. C---s---as.
DD, you need some Wiki-f---ing-pedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teh

by Wendell on September 01, 2009 at 03:54 PM

Stop posting the numbers for Dexter unless it is over 700,000. I maybe the only one who watches it, but I don't want Ten to find that out and make a grand programming decision!

Tribal Mind remarks: I think Ten may have other ways of learning the audience figures apart from this blog.

by Tim on September 01, 2009 at 03:57 PM

"DD, you need some Wiki-f---ing-pedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teh"
Good God - who would have guessed!
The illiterates are taking over the world!
Now I hope you mutha-f--------s aren't goin be too disappointed in The Wire.
It is not a "wow it's wonderful" from the beginning, it builds up the storylines, the characters etc over time. The dialogue is very hard to understand at first, you need to get your ear in. That said, it is bloody wonderful. All 5 seasons. Hee hee.
An elderly friend tried to watch Entourage now it's on FTA. She thought it was terrible. How come it got such a rap, she asked? I explained it was not made for her generation!
Mind you, I enjoyed it on Pay, and enjoyed Skins last night on SBS. Also lots of f--- there too.
Prudes must have a hard time these days.

by Sal on September 01, 2009 at 05:46 PM

GO! is truly a cable TV clone. Don't worry if you missed yesterday afternoons Jetsons or Flintstones, because they'll be right along again the next morning. Master 8 and Master 5 are horrified to learn that the episodes showing were from before their mummy was born!
Also horrifying is apparently there'll be a Jetsons Movie in 2012. Spare me.

by Bereft Skerrick on September 01, 2009 at 10:41 PM

F***! I f*****g missed tonight's f*****g episode of "The F*****g Wire". F**k f**k f**k f**k F**K!!!
(By the way, thanks to the Bloger who identified "One Froggy Evening" on DVD for me. A PAL disc from UK arrived last Friday - absolute f*****g delight!! Oh, by the way, TM ... you might regret the f*****g path this website has f*****g turned... although, I f*****g notice of f*****g contributions has f*****g increased since nealry f*****g everybody drops the "fuck" word... for what it's worth...

by D@GP on September 01, 2009 at 11:07 PM

Good to see Annabel Crabb on 'The 7PM Project' last night. I was thinking yesterday as I was reading her article in the SMH on Della Bosca that what would be really good would be to have her as a guest on 'The 7PM Project' yeah that's what would be good and lo and behold there she was. She lifts the intellectual and comedic tone of everything she touches. She's wonderful. Hope she becomes a regular. Every third or fourth Sunday on 'The Insiders' is not enough Annabel.
Speaking of Della Bosca, I wonder if Nine is taking a look at it's Journalistic Investigation techniques since last week they were smugly predicting with an 'Excloosive' that yesterday Della Bosca would be made Premier? None of the other Newses was so bold and all the other Newses took the perhaps old-fashioned approach of actually asking questions instead of repeating a rumour rebranded as fact. How embarrassing. Nine should stick to stories about Katie Holmes's hair and cats that play piano.
My favourite slang from 'The Wire' is "shorty" (youngster)...as in "Yo, shorty, get yo muthaf****n ass ova here and......shoot this...person..."...... I'm so white....

by darren on September 02, 2009 at 05:58 AM

davo, wouldn't you agree that Jessica Mauboy has done ok since she was seen on Idol?

by bobmar28 on September 02, 2009 at 06:47 AM

Don't worry D@GP, The F---ing Wire is f---ing repeated on f---ing ABC2 on f---ing Saturday night at 10.00 f---ing pm.
Oh f---, there I go again!

by Wendell on September 02, 2009 at 07:39 AM

Saw a promo for the Spearman Project last night - looks very much like 20 to 1 though it is 15 to 1 - not sure that Magda can make the concept more appealing but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

by Nic on September 02, 2009 at 07:44 AM

Sorry Tim, I woul dlove to help pump up the numbers for Dexter, but this series has already been shown on Foxtel earlier this year - in one continuous ad-free timeslot with the show starting at the same time* each week.
It does make me wonder (along with Entourage now on SBS) why they bother repeating shows that have been on cable.
I love that these shows can be seen by a wider audience, but they simply won't get big numbers as anyone with Foxtel would not bother watching - with ads.
*FTA Networks: Same time each week is a concept I realise that you cannot grasp. But this means that if you advertise a show to start at 8.30 IT ACTUALLY STARTS AT 8.30!!!!

Tribal Mind remarks: Channel Ten and SBS may be reflecting on the fact that 15 million Australians do not have access to Pay TV.

by Glory Days on September 02, 2009 at 07:53 AM

Predictions for how long until "Money for Jam" is boned, anyone?
Apparently one of their tips is to have your own beehive so that you can make your own honey. Yeah, ummmmm........

by Glory Days on September 02, 2009 at 07:58 AM

TM, how much did Blades Of Glory (movie, Ch 9) do last night? I stayed up to watch a bit of that again; it was so funny!

Tribal Mind replies: No. 27, with 593,000. One reason why Nine came third last night.

by arthur on September 02, 2009 at 09:25 AM

The Wire was semi Pay TV esque - 2 straight hours of it. Loved the Major giving the two separate fingers to McNulty. At least you know how the boss feels. I take it they don't have employee satisfaction surveys in the Baltimore police department...

by Tim on September 02, 2009 at 09:37 AM

Blades of Glory. Why, oh Dog, why? No wonder Channel Nork is heading to the outhouse with great speed. Will Ferrell is the sorriest excuse for an actor to walk the earth. A caged chicken has more range. He and Rob Schneider should be thrown into a pit where they can unfunny themselves to death.

by Bereft Skerrick on September 02, 2009 at 10:02 AM

Very funny T''BYG last night - Josh Lawson was hilarious, Will Anderson had some good calls. 7pm Project was good too - I'm sticking with them (remembering my reliance on tv for my entertainment at the moment thanks to my painkiller addled brain!) and it just seems to keep improving. PTTR was great - Jessica Marais is a consistently good actress who does really well with the material given - giving a trite storyline a little depth.
Glory Days, I had a similar piece of "advice" on a visit to the Big Pineapple years ago. They were talking abouthow easy it was to grow your own pineapples - they made it sound so easy, you just chop off the top, do some other stuff (and while I was hearing this, I was thinking of having my own little pineapple section of my garden, eating free pineapple, which I do enjoy). Until she pointed out that the growth period was almost 3 years. Funnily enough, I decided against waiting 3 years for my next piece of pineapple, and went straight to the fruit shop!

by Beckala on September 02, 2009 at 10:02 AM

Survivor Garbon has been great so far and the repicking of tribes so early has shaken things up. Also good to be able to watch it at a reasonable time even though not many people with meters seem to watch it. I think there is still an awful lot of people who don't know how to use an EPG and are still relying on the printed TV guides that only have the old channels listed and therefore don't know what is on, hence they still watch shows like Surf Patrol and Airways, their lose I guess.

by Ned on September 02, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Well there's a reliable disappointment. TM, I'm wondering if you should reconsider your campaign to make Australia appear less stupid and let the stats reflect we're as dumb as we seem. You're messing with Nature. It's like trying to save wildebeest calves from hungry lions...sort of. The ABC's trying to feed us prime......grass and all we seem to want is astroturf (I'm talking about the small audience for 'The Wire' by the way).....
And about 'Money for Jam', why is it called 'Money for Jam'? What does 'Money for Jam' mean? I thought they should just change it to 'Money for NAB' considering the size of their sponsor's logo. Or, in light of Glory Days' comment how about 'Money for Honey' or 'Honey for Jam'? That's the real reason for the GFC....not enough bee-hives.

by darren on September 02, 2009 at 11:11 AM

Watched the 1st of the 2 episodes of The Wire last night.As it was a repeat viewing we were able to understand a lot of what went on from the opening credits. Actually probably enjoyed it more....like McNulty saying where he would hate most to be transferred.....see Series 2 for answer. Such a throw away line that is important in the big scheme of things. The only disappointment was that it didn't fill my enormous muthaf...en screen!!!! And quite right TM give the millions a chance to see it.
Other show of interest was Foreign Correspondent on smoking in Indonesia. 400,000 die a year from lung cancer, but the populace don't think smoking & cancer are entwined. I guess when you pay a $1 for a packet of smokes who gives a flying fig?? Philip Morris are even using The Marlboro Man for advertising, you know the one who ACTUALLY DIED from lung cancer!!!

by PJ453 on September 02, 2009 at 11:49 AM

darren @11.11 "That's the real reason for the GFC....not enough bee-hives"
Well, we are really screwed then seeing as bees have been disappearing all over the world for the last few years. I'm afraid it won't be a honey led recovery.

by gert on September 02, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Well, last night my cup runneth over. Recorded Tony Robinson's "Crime and Punishment", while half-watching "East West 101", then switched over for "The Wire", recorded "First Tuesday Bookclub", then realised it was a double episode of "The Wire" so ended up going to bed far too late (after packing for a small boy's first trip to school camp). And then up early this morning to get him to school early for camp. *YAWN*
I did like "The Wire", although I have no idea what they were saying a fair whack of the time. While I'm sure I'll get more out of it once I've got the patois sorted out, it didn't really matter - you could tell what was happening regardless. I liked the realism of it - everyone sucks. But there were also moments when I laughed, but probably more moments when I hid behind a pillow because (to quote Mr TQD, who didn't say a word for nearly two hours, some sort of record there...): this ain't gonna end well.
But it's so well set up for further episodes that I will, of course, be tuning in again next week.
Just please, let it be a single episode. I need my sleep!

by tqd on September 02, 2009 at 12:52 PM

I heard that about bees too, Gert. I think the GFC will be the least of our worries if they all disappear. What sort of insect makes jam?
Oh, and speaking of The Apocalypse re an earlier comment, Bereft Skerrick, don't worry about the 'Jetsons' movie in 2012. At the cinema on the weekend I saw a trailer for a new movie called '2012' in which the entire world is to be destroyed (by 2012). Except for John Cusack. Just in time.

by darren on September 02, 2009 at 02:25 PM

Channel 9 showed the first 4 seasons of the Wire, in a constant timeslot. What more do you want? I watched them all for free. The Wire is not a popular programme, nether here or in the States. It wasn't ever going to hold down a primetime slot on a main network channel and was never going to be treated better.
The ABC has bought the rights to the first three seasons of The Wire, which they will be showing straight.
W has shown the first four seasons.
Channel 9 has the rights to season 5. They timetabled it for April but pulled it to put it on Go! later in the year.
The 5th Season is out on DVD in the US from September 27th.

by Pertinax on September 02, 2009 at 04:56 PM

darren: as long as John Cusack and Colin Firth are still standing after the apocalypse it'll be a good result. It means that Will Ferrell and Rob Schneider, unfunnying themselves to death in a large pit, would be wiped out.

Anyhow as long as the Dragons win the Grand Final between now and 2012 I won't mind. (I know, a pipe dream at this stage but Madness came to Oz in '09 so miracles do happen).

BTW just bought the recent Madness CD "The Liberty of Norton Folgate". Can highly recommend two songs - NW5 and Dust Devil. Not that you'd know they'd released a new CD. Not hip enough for 2Day, not rock enough for 2MMM, you may hear a couple of songs of JJJ if you're lucky.

by Bereft Skerrick on September 03, 2009 at 07:32 AM

Watched the Wire last night. I must admit it took me a little while to get into the story. I don't think I have ever heard the F word so many times in one TV show. Imagine having a drinking game where you take a shot every time the F word is said. You'd be drunk in minutes! That aside I liked the realism of it and can see why so many rave about it. Will definitely be tuning in next week. Great TV is so f---ing rare these days!

by em on September 03, 2009 at 07:56 AM

Pertinax queries: "What more do you want?"

I reply: no ads.

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

TM, I love sci-fi. There is a sad dearth of sci-fi on TV at the moment. I am recording TSCC and Fringe on Thursdays at noon because I only have access to one digital station at a time and I watch L&O UK and Numb3rs which are on at the same time and so is S&S. Always the way. Our Channel 9 (WIN) treated both shows so shabbily that I am just pleased to be able to watch them in order, and pretty much on time!!! Otherwise I am watching the boxed set of the last season of Stargate Atlantis.

by 2paw on September 03, 2009 at 09:52 AM

So, Fringe has started on Go. Tell me, is that the most ridiculous show to ever take itself so seriously or what? I think it should be renamed "the ludicrous"...

by genfie on September 03, 2009 at 10:38 AM

From what I remember of 'Fringe', those ratings figures are evidence that Australia DOES like sci-fi.
And sorry, Bereft Skerrick, but good ol' Firthy doesn't make it. Taken out by an angry plume of lava in the opening credits.
But if you can believe in John Cusack as an Action Hero, I guess there's room for believing The Dragons can win a premiership. They're a hockey team right?

by darren on September 03, 2009 at 11:15 AM

Davo, I agree that Idol does have "depth" issues with the level of talent. But how can you say only Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll (the short squeaky ocker dude) have made something out of Idol....

Jessica Mauboy, Damien Leith, Anthony Callea, Ricki Lee, The Young Divas...all had some level of success after Idol.

Apparenly Jessica Mauboy is going to be big in the US over the next few months.

by Chris on September 03, 2009 at 12:25 PM

C'mon, TM. It's not just Australians, nobody likes Sci Fi. These shows don't rate overseas either. Before anyone cites Dr Who, that succeeds despite being Sci Fi not because it is Sci Fi. I'm a Sci Fi fan but I can't be bothered with TSCC because (a) the brand has been diluted by T:3, T:4 and TSCC (all with different realities); and (b) it's already been cancelled. As for Fringe, I couldn't be bothered investing in it because it's certain to get cancelled before long. If it later turns out I was mistaken, I can always catch up on dvd.

Tribal Mind asks: But why do people apparently like sci-fi in movies and not on TV? Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers, Harry Potter, Twilight. etc.

by Wendell on September 03, 2009 at 12:40 PM

I don't understand why Aussies don't like sci-fi either. They never have. Even when, for example, X Files was at it's peak and shown by Ten in prime time it never rated well. Maybe the average Aussie viewer has no imagination or something. I can never understand it. Yet they watch rubbish like 2 and a half idiots in droves. I once asked a male work colleague why he didn't like sci-fi and he said something like "because it's not real". Duhh!! So everything else on TV is real but not sci-fi! Maybe that's how the average viewer feels too. Or is it something else? Is my work colleague an idiot? (yes he is!) Or maybe people have a hard time grasping the concepts in sci-fi? I don't know the answer but they are missing out on a lot of great programs.

BTW Season 2 of True Blood is starting very soon on Foxtel. Can't wait. Looks even better than season 1.

by em on September 03, 2009 at 01:15 PM

I also love Sci-Fi, and find it very sad that the Foxtel Sci-Fi station is total crap. Mostly Star Trek and Stargate, Buffy & Angel, same ones over and over and over.
However Fox8 started re-running Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicals every weekday at 9am (I record, for evening viewing) the same week GO started running it once a week. Both started with episode 1, but Fox8 are already up to season 2, ep 8. I've seen them all before, but it's great to watch 5 episodes a week - makes for greater understanding & appreciation for this feeble old brain.
Loving it!
Now to The Wire on 9.
October 2005 ep 2-01 at midnight on a Thursday. Rest of season on same night, time ranging between 11.50pm and 12.10am
December 2006 ep 3-01 at midnight on Monday. Rest of season followed same night time ranging between 12 midnight and 12.30am
April 2008 ep 4-01 at midnight on Tuesday - similar times.
Three seasons, 3 different nights.
Reliable starting time not bad for a FTA channel late at night.
On a little late for a weeknight methinks.
So yes Pertinax, I guess you could ignore the scheduling of the show on a different night each season and say it was on in a consistent timeslot.
BTW, how do you like working for channel 9?

by Sal on September 03, 2009 at 02:32 PM

Tribal Mind asks: But why do people apparently like sci-fi in movies and not on TV? Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers, Harry Potter, Twilight. etc.

TM, wouldn't you call Harry Potter and Twilight FANTASY rather than Sci-Fi? Sci-Fi being based on scientific discovery and development, fantasy being based on witches, wizards and other mythical creatures?

Loving United States of Tara. Sad that the numbers aren't as high as they deserve.

Cannot BELIEVE that Money for Jam got such big numbers - again, just points out to us that viewers will swallow a lot of crap!!

Finally, in news that may make some fans happy, work has begun on Scrubs Season 9. Zach Braff posted on his various pages (facebook, My Space) over the past week that they had hired cast, were in rehearsals, and on the first day of shooting (yesterday/today), he did say "EAGLE!!!!".

by Beckala on September 03, 2009 at 05:30 PM

So, FIDO (finding lost money) is mentioned on The 7PM report and guess what? For some strange reason, I can't get to the site. Coincidence? or just a poor connection at my end. I guess this is another way to see how many folks are actually watching your programs. Will this become a more modern way of tracking ratings for TV shows?

Time will tell, I suppose.

by Furlozza on September 03, 2009 at 06:17 PM

TM on September 03: Good point TM and I'm not sure I have an answer. I've heard the same crap arguments as Em ("I don't like it because it's unrealistic" - morons) but they at least are consistent and stay away from the movies as well.
You know, I think I've worked it out - mainstream audiences only like BAD sci-fi. The Star Wars prequels, Transformers, Potter, Twilight, The Matrix are all basically trash. Throw people something more complex like Existenz, District 9, Blade Runner, Donnie Darko, 12 Monkeys, Children of Men, Serenity and they stay away in droves...

by Wendell on September 04, 2009 at 08:28 AM

I love sci-fi (and fantasy) as well, but I'm not going to be watching it if it's no good. The best sci-fi is still in book form, most of the TV stuff leaves me cold (exceptions: Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy, The X-Files, Eureka, The Middleman, and I will enjoy the occasional episode of Star Trek, pref Next Generation). But just because I like sci-fi (and fantasy) doesn't mean I'm going to watch something just because it's sci-fi fantasy.
And regarding sci-fi movies, they're even rarer to get a thumbs-up from me, especially with the current batch of movies where it's all about the special effects, not the story.
Enjoyed "Burn Notice" last night, once I stopped pointing out the obvious plot holes. And as Mr TQD pointed out, Michael runs the gamut of emotions from A to Aardvark. But it's still heaps of fun, possibly because it doesn't seem to take itself too seriously and it's nice to have one stupid show in the viewing schedule.

by tqd on September 04, 2009 at 09:31 AM

25 TV BURP Seven 551,000
30 DOUBLE TAKE Seven 426,000
I still watch Double Take (now 10pm) and don't think it's all that bad. But I'll say this about the ratings - eep!

by arthur on September 04, 2009 at 10:11 AM

I count Twilight as horror - not due to its content but its pure crappiness. I love sci-fi but it's much better with the fear factor, eg, Aliens. Haven't seen The Wire so am completely out of the loop on that one.

by Shoopie on September 04, 2009 at 10:29 AM

Speaking of Sci-Fi and Second-World-War Revenge-Fantasies, TM, do you have any information on how 'District 9' and 'Inglourious Basterds' are going at the cinemas? Both are excellent so I'm expecting them to come in at around 487th and 56th most watched respectively.
'The 7PM Project' was good last night. James Mathison is a revelation now he's off Idol. Ruby Rose is deadwood. Gary and George are the Abbott and Costello (Bud and Lou not Tony and Peter) of the cooking show world (Ian Hewitson is the Dom Deluise). Looking forward to 'Celebrity MasterChef' and Ten have been pretty clever I think in their choices of Celebrities. How will 'Today' or 'A Current Affair' say anything derogatory when Lisa Wilkin's hubby and former children's television Darling Katherine De Leon are starring? Channel Seven will have a hard time criticising their Stephanie Rice's ex and their hire-a-fashion-designer Alex Perry. And yay! for Indira Naidoo!
I think if Ten can let 'The 7PM Project' keep going for a while it will build like they've kept insisting it will. It's a better source of news and current affairs than say 'Today Tonight' or 'A Current Affair'. But that's not saying much.
Oh and Charlie didn't wear a tie last night! Controversial.

Tribal Mind replies: For info re movie box office, read the weekly Tribal Mind column which I'll post in an hour or so. It's printed in Saturday's SMH but I give loyal readers of this forum a sneak preview on Friday, in the (usually vain) hope that they might post comments about the weekly topic as well as the daily ratings forum. At midday, go to blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare and the column will be at the top of the menu.

by darren on September 04, 2009 at 10:52 AM

Thanks for that re cinema ratings TM.
By the way that should've been "KathLEEN De Leon" (not au fait w/ kiddie show stars so let's just say the one with brown hair).
Did anyone here watch 'Gary Unmarried' last night? I saw a few seconds but it looked pretty crap and Jay Mohr has certianly thickened up since 'Jerry McGuire'.
Read an article today about 'Hey Hey it's a Bunch of Middle-aged Fatheads and a Sock-Puppet Getting Back Together to Tell Fart Jokes and Denigrate Women' screening on Channel Desperate on Tuesday September 29. Yes, Tuesday. How does that work? And they've scheduled another episode for the next week as well. Delusionally optomistic?

by darren on September 04, 2009 at 11:19 AM

The problem with sci-fi is that it must so often be extremely expensive to make and they usually tend to attract B-grade actors or names you have never heard of.
Then there are the cliches, such as the ridiculously long corridors and enormous space that every room has (such as on Star Trek: TNG, although I loved that show).
The problem is that if the budget is limited then so is the cheap makeup/effects,etc.
Maybe they could also use the less is more philosophy. The smarter shows these days are limiting their episodes to anywhere from 6 - 13. When they commit themselves to 26 or more then the writers really have to stretch the credilibility.
Look at Lost, which I still love. They had to cut the recent series down to 16 because they could not make up more crap to fill the rest of the eps. The writing got better and had more direction and the series stops just when you need a break.

by Glory Days on September 04, 2009 at 12:12 PM

EAGLE!!!!!!
10 points to whoever guesses how long it'll take for one of the Masterchef judges to use the word "mutiny" in relation to Anna Bligh.

by Bereft Skerrick on September 04, 2009 at 12:38 PM

Like tqd I like some sci fi and fantasy on TV but not all and kudos for mentioning the fabulous Eureka. Not as much of a sci fi movie fan - seen some not all. Prefer other genres.
Darren, John Cusack can be an action hero - Grosse Point Blank - guns and black comedy is a case in point.

by Cathy on September 04, 2009 at 01:21 PM

re John Cusack, sure he can be an action hero (although in 'Grosse Point Black' I would argue for Nerd With a Glock) but can he be an Action Hero (the difference is subtle yet massive)? I think not and wish he would stop trying and just be a quirky Second-hand-record-shop-music-geek and never work with Julia Roberts or star in anything based on a Stephen King novel again. But where's the money in that?

by darren on September 04, 2009 at 02:22 PM

Bereft!
What't this "Eagle" thing? Probably not the show I nearly wrote in to plug: "The Eagle: A Crime Odyssey", which is being repeated on SBS on Wednesday nights at 10pm - terrific show, but didn't bother in the end.
I liked it so much first time round that I bought the DVDs so I wouldn't be tempted to watch the repeats on SBS, complete with ads and station-branding. Ad-free, no watermark, that's for me - sorry SBS.

by Sal on September 04, 2009 at 03:47 PM

Throw people something more complex like Existenz, District 9, Blade Runner, Donnie Darko, 12 Monkeys, Children of Men, Serenity and they stay away in droves...
My God, wendell, you've just mentioned my most favourite sci-fi movies! Although I haven't seen "Existenz" yet, and will probably catch "District 9" on DVD.
Cathy, wasn't "Eureka" great fun? I haven't heard anything fab about the latter seasons, but season 1 was wonderful stuff.
I've heard the term "genre" used as a catch-all for sci-fi/fantasy/horror/superhero (etc) stories (regardless of medium), but I don't particularly like it - it seems like a misuse of a perfectly good word.

by tqd on September 04, 2009 at 03:48 PM

Darren Nerd with Glock maybe so - ok how about Con Air then... IMDB classifies as Action Crime Thriller - also don't think he is so much about the money.

by Cathy on September 04, 2009 at 04:04 PM

Hmmm. Notting Hill. America's Sweethearts. Both movies where I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a spoon than suffer, even with the Cusack or Hugh Grant Factor. Julia Roberts is the common denominator. Her chemistry with both leading actors was dreadful. I would strongly recommend that if Colin Firth likes his career to steer clear of her.

by Bereft Skerrick on September 04, 2009 at 04:30 PM

Off to boost cinema numbers again this weekend - not sure yet which it will be - Taking Woodstock or The September Issue - having already seen Basterds. And District 9, albeit had good reviews, is not one for my taste - but I did love Serenity.
Tqd Eureka is brilliant - happy Ten is showing current season (season 3) at midnight on thursday which I record, so fridays I tend to catch up on my fix.

by Cathy on September 05, 2009 at 12:34 AM

What an awesome Rugby League night! Went to the stadium to watch the dragons thump the eels, came back to watch the other game just to see the dragons lift up the minor premiership (No.1) shield, then watched the PVR of the dragons game again this morning.
Oh and record TV ratings for a regular round NRL march befits the occasion.
Go you dragons!

by arthur on September 05, 2009 at 10:08 AM

*waves at arthur and Beckala after the Dragons Minor Premiership winning game was the highest rating show in Sydney last night*. More people in Sydney watched that game than did the similarly placed AFL in Melbourne.
Let me enjoy my moment. It may not last.

by Bereft Dragon Skerrick on September 05, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Yes, the Dragons are riding high at the moment and good on them for boosting attendances and TV ratings for the code but remember this Bereft, arthur, the Bulldogs are waiting.

by bobmar28 on September 06, 2009 at 05:15 AM

*Waves back to Bereft and arthur!
What a game, dragons, woo hoo! And who knew, Wayne Bennett knows how to smile!! Let me bask in the glory of this moment too! We dragons fans are more than aware of our team's shortcomings - 92, 93, 96, 99 - so close, yet so far. We know there's a tough final series ahead. But let us have our moment now, please! Especially for this poor sick woman who is still on post-surgery bedrest and painkillers and could only have a couple of sensible celebratory wines at my own birthday dinner while everybody else could party hard!

by Beckala on September 06, 2009 at 11:33 AM

That's if the dogs don't get bundled out in the first two weeks of the finals!
I hope for a Dragons - Broncos or Dragons - Titans grand final. That would be a most fantastic outcome (apart from the Dragons winning that)!

by arthur on September 06, 2009 at 11:36 AM

If the dogs don't make it that would be the next best thing. NSW v QLD.

by bobmar28 on September 07, 2009 at 05:44 AM

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