Ratings Week 22

Saturday:
1 Shrek Nine 1,334,000
2 Seven News - Sat Seven 1,281,000
3 Australia's Funniest Home Video Show Nine 1,241,000
4 Nine News Saturday Nine 1,150,000
5 The Great Outdoors Seven 1,060,000
6 Primeval Nine 1,037,000
7 Saturday Night AFL Ten 841,000

Friday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,402
2 Today Tonight Seven 1,273
3 Nine News Nine 1,238
4 A Current Affair Nine 1,181
5 Home And Away Seven 1,096
6 Big Brother - Friday Night Live Ten 1,048
7 Better Homes And Gardens Seven 1,045

Thursday:
1. Today Tonight Seven 1.458
2. Seven News Seven 1.399
3. My Name Is Earl Seven 1.309
4. RPA: Where Are They Now? Nine 1.309
5. Getaway Nine 1.257
6. National Nine News Nine 1.240
7. A Current Affair Nine 1.215
8. Home and Away Seven 1.209
9. How I Met Your Mother Seven 1.201
10. Law and Order: SVU Ten 1.133
11. Temptation Nine 1.128
12. ABC News ABC 1.089
13. Lost Seven 1.086
14. Law and Order: Criminal Intent Ten 0.980
15. Deal or No Deal Seven 0.940

Teen Fit Camp 0.735m

Nine / Seven: 29.0
Ten: 21.4
ABC: 15.4
SBS: 5.1

Wednesday:
1 Seven News Seven 1,577
2 Spicks And Specks ABC 1,511
3 Today Tonight Seven 1,508
4 The Chaser's War On Everything-Ev ABC 1,469
5 House Ten 1,349
6 McLeod's Daughters Nine 1,282
7 National Nine News Nine 1,263
8 Home And Away Seven 1,246
9 The New Inventors ABC 1,226
10 Police Files Unlocked Seven 1,221
11 A Current Affair Nine 1,175
12 Temptation Nine 1,146
13 Last Chance Learners Seven 1,139
14 ABC News ABC 1,096
15 Cold Case Nine 1,074

Nine: 26.8
Seven: 26.7
Ten: 21.5
ABC: 20.8
SBS: 4.2

Tuesday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.575
2. It Takes Two Seven 1.526
3. Today Tonight Seven 1.458
4. NCIS Ten 1.433
5. National Nine News Nine 1.362
6. A Current Affair Nine 1.340
7. All Saints Seven 1.333
8. The Simpsons – 8:00pm Ten 1.331
9. Home and Away Seven 1.279
10. Temptation Nine 1.260
11. The Simpsons – 7:30pm Ten 1.252
12. Crime and Justice Nine 1.154
13. Neighbours at War Nine 1.097
14. ABC News ABC 1.071
15. Big Brother Ten 1.027


Seven: 32.5
Nine: 24.6
Ten: 24.4
ABC: 13.9
SBS: 4.6

Monday:
1. Seven News Seven 1.689
2. Today Tonight Seven 1.567
3. Desperate Housewives Seven 1.466
4. A Current Affair Nine 1.337
5. National Nine News Nine 1.312
6. The Rich List Seven 1.302
7. 1 vs 100 Nine 1.261
8. What’s Good For You Nine 1.254
9. Home and Away Seven 1.227
10. Temptation Nine 1.156
11. Deal or No Deal Seven 1.056
12. ABC News ABC 1.044
13. Big Brother – Nomination Ten 1.012
14. Brothers & Sisters Seven 1.006
15. Big Brother – 7:00pm Ten 0.996

Seven: 30.8
Nine: 27.0
Ten: 19.4
ABC: 16.0
SBS: 6.8

Sunday:
1. 60 Minutes Nine 1.700
2. Seven News Seven 1.642
3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Nine 1.630
4. Grey’s Anatomy Seven 1.559
5. CSI: Miami Nine 1.490
6. National Nine News Nine 1.462
7. Where Are They Now Seven 1.400*
8. Ugly Betty Seven 1.305
9. Big Brother – Eviction Ten 1.131
10. The Lost Tribes Nine 1.107
11. ABC News ABC 1.089
12. Big Brother – 6:30pm Ten 0.999
13. Robin Hood ABC 0.995
14. Rove Ten 0.971
15. The Einstein Factor ABC 0.858

*Where Are They Now not broadcast in Adelaide

Nine: 31.4
Seven: 28.2
Ten: 19.7
ABC: 16.0
SBS: 4.7 Read more...

Mon May 28

[Nine/6:00am] Today. Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.
[Nine/8:35pm] 1 vs 100
[Nine/9:35pm] CSI rpt.
[Nine/12:05am Tue] The Dead Zone. Series return.

[ABC/5:15pm] Planet Sketch. New Series. Aardman Animations Limited and DECODE Entertainment Inc. present the second instalment of Planet Sketch. The series still features a quirky collection of witty, off-beat characters in humorous situations. But this new season also introduces more fun-loving characters with even more outrageous behaviour. Brought to life by a unique design style, fun colourful animation and high quality writing, characters like Nosepicker Girl and Ninja Handyman will remain comedic classics, while new additions like Melville and Useless Starship Computer will also become memorable, schoolyard favourites. Episode One: Monday, May 28 at 5.15pm. Always on call, Ninja Handyman saves the family soup from being too drab by adding too much pepper and then drinking it himself. Nosepicker Girl finds a musical instrument deep in the trenches of her nose and the Magnificent Mesmo Mutt prefers not to have to chase the mouse himself, so he uses his magic hypnotising powers to force his master to deal with the unwelcome rodent instead.
[ABC/5:25pm] Young Dracula. Young Dracula follows the adventures of Vlad, an irrepressible twelve-year-old boy as he tries to fit into a new school after moving with his family from their gothic castle in Transylvania to English suburbia. Vlad has to overcome one major difficulty - he has to hide the fact that he comes from a family of vampires. Constantly having to make sure that friends are not turned into involuntary blood donors for his father, Count Dracula; having to stay up when normal kids are going to bed; brushing off parental advice to always seek revenge; and making sure the neighbours don't discover the truth about his family, are just a few of the things that Vlad has to contend with on a daily basis. As if all that weren't enough, Vlad's absentee mum, who's taken up with a werewolf, puts in an occasional appearance, which doesn't improve the Count's normally grumpy demeanour. And then there's his truly-mental woodwork teacher, Van Helsing, a self-styled vampire hunter who's intent on bringing the family down. Will Vlad, along with his father, his vampish, older sister Ingrid, and their cockroach sandwich-eating servant, Renfield, be exposed for what they truly are, or will Vlad get to grow up as a normal boy - albeit in a rather dysfunctional family - and avoid growing fangs and turning into a fully-fledged vampire when he reaches sixteen? In episode one, having been chased out of Transylvania by revolting peasants the Dracula family are forced to leave and start a new life in Stokely. Once they've arrived at the castle the Count lays down the law to his two children Vlad and Ingrid - there is to be no mixing with the locals.
[ABC/8:00pm] Australian Story
[ABC/8:30pm] Four Corners As capitalism constantly discovers new ways of mining capital, this week’s Four Corners asks if the wave of private equity will roll past and peter out, or whether it’s only just beginning to gather strength.
[ABC/9:20pm] Media Watch
[ABC/9:35pm] More than Enough Rope. More Than ENOUGH ROPE is a five week season of our favourite interviews as never seen before. All five have been renovated and refurbished, with stunning new views and prestige fittings. All feature previously unscreened material - in some cases as much as 50 per cent has been restored. Each of the five key interviewees has been chosen to represent a particular type of guest or challenge. This themed approach allows us to examine broader issues, and to delve further into the rich ENOUGH ROPE archive. Finally, and most significantly, More Than ENOUGH ROPE takes the viewer inside the interview, pulling back the curtain to uncover the thought processes and preparation behind ENOUGH ROPE'S successful interview style. Using the wonders of modern technology (and the pause button) host Andrew Denton freezes proceedings to comment during the interviews, explaining what he was thinking and how it feels to sit in his chair. When Interviewees Attack: Richard E. Grant. What happens when conversations go pear-shaped, featuring the heat-seeking interviewee Richard E. Grant, as well as Jeff Kennett, Lisa Marie Presley and Rachel Ward.

[Seven/9:00am] The Fairies. Final. FAIRYBEACH CRICKET / MAGIC PHOTOS
It's dress-up time in Fairyland, plus the Fairies look through their photo album.
[Seven/11:00am] Moonlighting. CAMILLE. David decides to help a woman who becomes a heroine when she stops an assassination attempt against a U.S. Senator. Guest starring WHOOPI GOLDBERG.
[Seven/8:30pm\ Desperate Housewives. MY HUSBAND, THE PIG. Rex Van De Kamp gives us a male's narrative and point of view of the goings on at Wisteria Lane. Gabrielle catches the eye of a powerful and wealthy suitor. Edie gets a visit from an unexpected someone from her past. An unanticipated pregnancy creates complications. Guest starring STEVEN CULP and JOHN SLATTERY.
[Seven/9:30pm] Brothers and Sisters. THE OTHER WALKER. News of William Walker and Holly Harper's illegitimate daughter, Rebecca, shakes the Walker family to the core. Everyone reacts differently to the shock as the family deal with the reality of another sibling.
[Seven/10:30pm] Boston Legal. FAT BURNER. Once again Alan is asked to defend Denny, this time for illegally shipping human fat out of the country. Clarence finds himself in over his head when his first case turns out to be a first-degree murder charge involving a Haitian slave who stabbed her owner. In the wake of Denise's decision to keep the baby, Jeffrey makes a bold decision.
[Seven/11:30pm] Scrubs. MY SCRUBS. Unbeknown to Dr. Kelso, J.D. and Turk try to beat the system to treat the Chief's uninsured friend. Elsewhere, Dr. Kelso is concerned about a clothing thief. Dr. Cox tries to convince Elliot that a reformed drug addict isn't exactly clean. The Janitor blackmails Carla.

[Ten/7:30pm] Big Brother - Live Nominations
[Ten/8:30pm] Supernatural. "Heart"

[SBS/7:30pm] Mythbusters - Scuba Diver - This week Adam and Jamie ask the question: Can an unsuspecting scuba diver be sucked out of the water by a fire-fighting helicopter and get spat out or dropped in the middle of a forest fire? They attempt to solve this puzzling question, along with firing a bullet at a tank of petrol, shoving a banana in a car's exhaust pipe and putting sugar in a car's petrol tank...all just to see what happens (From the US, in English) (Documentary Series) (Rpt) PG CC
[SBS/8:30pm] South Park - Death Camp Of Tolerance - A loveable new character, Mr Slave, makes his debut as Mr. Garrison desperately tries to get fired from his new job as the boys' 4th grade teacher. Meanwhile, our little heroes get sent to the Deathcamp of Intolerance for not tolerating Mr. Garrison's intolerable behavior (e.g. sticking a gerbil up Mr. Slave's ass). Lemmiwinks (the afore-mentioned gerbil) guest-stars. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) (Rpt) M (A,S)
[SBS/9:00pm] Drawn Together - Captain Hero's alter-ego, the mild-mannered reporter Tim Tommerson, comes to visit and spends a lot of gay time with Xandir . The housemates learn that "Drawn Together" got an "F" from Entertainment Weekly and they want revenge. (From the US, in English) (Animated Comedy Series) MA (A,S) CC WS
[SBS/11:00pm] Oz. It’s the stuff of nightmares, even for the toughest of the tough. Within the walls of the Oswald State Correctional Facility - aka Oz - an experimental prison unit dubbed Emerald City forms a microcosm of jail life. The first season of OZ, the acclaimed and unflinching drama series set within Emerald City’s impenetrable walls, returns to SBS Television on Monday, May 28, at 11pm. Created and written by Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), Oz is a living hell, with staff and inmates fighting a constant battle for survival. Under horrifying conditions, the staff tries to change the violent, amoral culture of prejudice and cruelty. Power struggles between ethnically divided gangs - the Aryan Brotherhood, the Homeboys, the Latinos, the Muslims, the Irish and the Italians - and shifting loyalties add to an unstable, unpredictable and violent environment. For inmates and prison officers alike, escaping the rivalries proves impossible. ”If you're going to do a show about prison, you can't do a show that people will be comfortable watching. If I've made people uncomfortable, I've succeeded,” says Tom Fontana of his unrelenting drama. See some of television’s most famous faces- where they began. Augustus Hill, the wheelchair-bound narrator (played by Harold Perrineau- Lost); Vern “the Nazi” Schillinger (J.K. Simmons- Spiderman 3); lawyer-turned-inmate Tobias Beecher (Lee Tergesen- Desperate Housewives); Chris Keller (Chris Meloni- Law and Order SVU); and Warden Leo Glynn (Ernie Hudson- Desperate Housewives). Visit OZ on Monday nights. And be thankful you can leave. Rpt.
[SBS/12:00am Tue] Movie: Festival In Cannes - People converge on Cannes during the film festival, trying to "sell" their individual talents or projects. An American actress is seeking backing for a low-budget script she's written; an aging but radiant screen icon must choose between a leading role and a lucrative cameo in a big Tom Hanks picture; a slimy Hollywood producer tries to woo Alice away from Millie. He wants Millie to be in his film so much that he even offers Millie's philandering, estranged husband, once a leading filmmaker - the opportunity to direct it. On the sidelines, there is an equally endearing bunch - the up-and-comers. Directed by Henry Jaglom, and stars Jenny Gabrielle and Greta Scacchi (From the US, in English) (Drama) (2001) M (L) WS

[Fox8/8:30pm] On the Lot. Audition Show 2.
[Ovation/9:30pm] Tina Turner: Live in Rio. Read more...

Hidden Palms: A desert O.C.

A new US drama series has been leaked on the internet before its series premiere this week.

Hidden Palms is created by Kevin Williamson of Dawson's Creek and Scream fame for the CW Channel.

Set in the idyllic Palm Springs in the Californian desert, the soap is surrounded by settings of perfect houses and lush golf courses. But the adolescents who front the storyline are surrounded by the resort town's "greys and gays." The tagline "Scandal. Suicide. Murder. Some towns have all the fun" would probably cause some trouble if it is picked up here.

It follows the life of Johnny Miller (Taylor Handley, The O.C) who moves to Palm Springs with his mother Karen (Gail O'Grady, NYPD Blue) following the suicide of his father.

Here he meets Cliff (Michael Cassidy, The O.C.), a boy with a dark side; and the pretty Greta. Across the road is the geeky Liza.

While the show looks a lot like The O.C. in its pretty, affluent kids there is an added touch by gay-writer Williamson in the character of Jessie Jo (Leslie Jordan Will and Grace) who plays a drag queen in Johnny's AA group.
According to the show's website Jesse Jo "is the only voice of reason in the strange and artificial atmosphere of Palm Springs."

Hidden Palms is a Lionsgate Television production in association with Outerbanks Entertainment with executive producers Kevin Williamson (Dawson's Creek, "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Scream 1, 2 and 3") and Scott Winant (Huff, My So-Called Life). Read more...

Evicted: Nick

Big Brother's only openly gay housemate, Nick has been evicted.

Nick, from Melbourne, entered the house as the winner of the Starburst contest, amid fan criticism that the selection was not a fair process.

The Behind Big Brother website also claims Nick was a previous "top 30" shortlist housemate for the current series.

Nick told Gretel he wished he had been himself more, a tougher, 'straight-shooting' less-kinder individual. He accused Emma of being two faced but said he connected with Thomas. Nick reckons it was tough going sharing house with some housemates prone to regular farting and "every word in O." He most missed the newspaper and sex.

Nick is one of many gay reality contestants in the Big Brother series but unlike Johnny and David in previous years, didn't enjoy a groundswell of support in the gay community. Perhaps, the "gay reality contestant" is now a cliche?

Big Brother Watch Read more...

SBS Kick starts new local drama

A new local drama from SBS will premiere on Saturday June 9.

Kick is billed as a romantic drama focussing on the residents of Jope Street in the inner-northern 'burbs of Melbourne.

Fronting the series is Miki, an exuberant, crazy Greek girl who’s trying
to find some order in the chaos of her life. She’s falling for a British / Indian doctor. Other multinational characters include Vietnamese Hoa Tran, a hot-tempered Serb-Russin, a footy-playing Lebanese and female, Muslim soccer fanatic.

The series also features a gay Lebanese woman attracted to a her fencing partner.

Cast includes Zoe Ventoura, Raji James, Anh Do, George Kapiniaris and Maria Mercedes.

The thirteen part series will follow the new series of Nerds FC.

Stay tuned for a review soon!

Press Release:

Miki Mavros, a beautiful Greek-Australian performer, owes a whopping three thousand dollars in parking fines, so she’s forced to seek refuge at her parents’ place on multicultural, working class Hope Street. It’s nothing flash but it’s home. Here she meets Joe, a rather serious Indian doctor with an ambitious British girlfriend.

Miki’s returned to her roots. Joe left England to escape his. She needs to get a job, needs to kick start her life. He needs a receptionist. They both get more than they bargained for. Meanwhile, down the street, all the boys are interested in 16-year-old Tatiana, but she mostly wants to play soccer. She’s a hot-tempered Serbo-Russian, always at odds with Zoran, her father and coach.
Osama is a 16-year-old Lebanese boy living with his widowed mother. Osama is into AFL, and just wants to be called Ozzie. He’s finding it tough not having a dad around.

Osama’s sister, Layla, is making her mother proud by attending University. Layla is virtually engaged to Sharif, when she falls in love with a young woman, and nothing is straightforward anymore.

Hoa Tran delivers food by day and works as a waiter at night. He’s got a dream, to open the biggest Karaoke restaurant in the West. His dreams are always way beyond his reach, but that never stops him.

Miki tries to ignite her showbiz career but she gradually realises she’s on the wrong track, as she starts to fall for Dr Joe. Miki is loose where Joe is tight. He’s nearly married, she’s totally single. They’re different in every way but will they get it together like we want them to? They’re all living on Hope Street, around the corner from Love and everyone’s aspirations and dreams are colliding with daily life. Read more...

Who wants to be Sued?

That boning remark he says never happened, has landed Eddie back in the spotlight as Mark Llewellyn contemplates suing McGuire for defamation.

The turn of events was triggered by statements McGuire made following his resignation as CEO in which he effectively called Llewellyn a liar.

McGuire maintains he never used the term but didn't contest Llewellyn's affidavit either. So now Llewellyn finds it a bit rich that McGuire can get away with calling him a liar. Stories about a $10m package may not have been so wise. Eddie may be wanting that holiday soon.

I love the way the television industry manages to continually find sexual references in some of its bigger stories (boning, losing its balls, turkeyslapping).....

Source: SMH.
Read more...

Out of the scrum, Nine touches down.

The State of Origin match has given Nine its first win of the official 2007 ratings year.

Wednesday's match boosted Nine's fortunes to a razor's edge finish with old rival, Seven. As the two networks went into Saturday night they were both tied on 28.6%. By the time Saturday night was over, Nine had officially fallen over the line by the slimmest of margins: 0.1%

Nine won the week with a 28.3% to Seven's 28.2%!

TEN had 21.3%, the ABC 16.9% and SBS 5.9%.

It is a sweet victory for Nine which has endured successive wins by Seven in 2007. It has struggled to find a hit show this year, CEO Eddie McGuire stood down and it didn't even win the Logies week. It really needed a light at the end of the tunnel and sport was its salvation.

Nine won Sunday, Saturday and tied with Seven for Thursday and took the prize in Sydney and Brisbane. The State of Origin becomes the #1 show of the week with 1.98m. Strategically dividing the show into three units (Pre / Match / Post) will also see it dominate the week's top ten, which looks very nice on your press releases. Otherwise its best shows were 60 Minutes, RPA: Where Are They Now, ACA, National Nine News and CSI. For the second week in a row Nine came third to TEN on Tuesdays. This week it introduces new shows, and the following week we'll see The Nation with Mick Molloy -can he be their Chaser?

Seven won Monday, Tuesday, Friday and tied for Thursday with wins in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Seven News was its strongest with Today Tonight again close behind. Next was Where Are They Now, It Takes Two, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, My Name is Earl and The Rich List. Seven made key changes in the Sydney and Brisbane markets against the State of Origin by holding off Prison Break and shifting Heroesto Thursday. Despite the expected crushing blow on Wednesday (in Brisbane it was all but wiped off the map), it lifted Seven's Thursday fortunes and will be seen as a smart move -it nearly won them the week.

TEN had three nights under the 20% barrier -an unsatisfactory position. With viewer frustration on Tuesday nights, NCIS became its strongest performer. In a disappointing week (again) it was the only star performer for the network. Big Brother has levelled out to average figures (despite the network crowing about demographic wins), the Intruders edition was its most successful. Key shows including Rove, House (a repeat) fell under the 1m mark. The only good news was TEN managed to stay a weekly slide, it went up by 0.4%.

Again the ABC's strongest were The Chaser's War on Everything and Spicks and Specks although both dipped against Nine's sport. Elsewhere its ABC News, Australian Story, Robin Hood and Life on Mars.

Mythbusters gave SBS its biggest night (Friday was a close second).

So Seven now has 12 wins to Nine's 1.

Nine will be grateful there are more State of Origins coming soon.

Ratings Week 21. Read more...

15 years of Jay!

Congrats to Jay Leno whose Tonight show celebrated 15 years on air on Friday.

The NBC show, which screens in Australia on The Comedy Channel, will continue with Leno at the helm until 2009 when Conan O'Brien takes over.

Leno has said that part of the trick to the successful show is to never own it, merely maintain it until it is passed on.

Leno's audience of 5.8m remains ahead of CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman by 1.6m.

He sums up the show as simply, "Hey, it's bedtime," he said. "Here's a bunch of jokes. Here's a pretty girl, here's a handsome guy. Tell you some stories. Good night."

This week his guests include Cameron Diaz, Nelly Furtado, Will Ferrell, Sandra Bullock, Evanescence, Jamie Foxx, Jack Black and Sanjaya. Read more...