Happy Birthday Osama?

Slightly unfortunate choice of words I caught this morning on Weekend Sunrise.

Andrew O'Keefe and Lisa Wilkinson were interviewing an expert on the hunt for Osama, and asking whether America would renew the search given today was Bin Laden's 50th Birthday. The expert seemed to have quite a few ideas on the subject and it was an interesting chat.

But did Seven really have to title the segment "HAPPY BIRTHDAY OSAMA" right across the bottom of the screen for the full duration of the interview?

No wonder talkback callers were ringing in with angry responses to radio. They probably tuned in halfway through the segment. Out of context the words looked terrible. Now that I think about it, even in context they did too.

A simple question mark at the end could have saved a lot of fuss...
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TT Producer denies Corby claims

Statement from Craig McPherson, executive producer of Today Tonight.

The latest claims of Mercedes Corby in today’s press probably warrant little further comment. They are a complete fabrication, without foundation and plainly just stupid and offensive.

As we pointed out to newspaper journalists covering the story late yesterday: yes, we did track her down, and yes, we used a well-credentialled private investigator to assist in that process. But neither we nor the private investigator, Colin Chapman, used Liz O'Neill's name.

We are saddened that Mercedes Corby has decided to concoct a story that is plainly wrong and use the name of a victim of the recent air crash in Indonesia to somehow make a point which cannot be supported by facts.

We are saddened by the fact that Ms O'Neill's name has been dragged by Mercedes Corby into all this. We can only assure Ms O’Neill’s family that we believe Ms Corby's claims are hurtful and without merit. Read more...

Seven eyes Morning Chat

Could Lisa Wilkinson take on Kerri-Anne Kennerley?

Her name is being considered as part of a new morning chat show that Seven is developing to air against Mornings with Kerri-Anne.

Former magazine editor, Wilkinson currently co-hosts Weekend Sunrise alongside Andrew O'Keefe, and from what I've seen she does a pretty good job.

But Kerri-Anne rocks.

It's ironic that with all this chat (Sunrise, Today, Catch-Up, 9AM plus new football panel shows) nobody has bothered to moot an evening Tonight format yet. What about a Parky-style show for Bert instead of dumb clip-shows?

I guess without advertorials it's still considered too expensive and risky.

More info from Sunday Telegraph. Read more...

Seven wins, TEN tumbling.

The Seven Network has won Week 10 of the ratings, but the margin was deadly tight.

Seven had a 30.2% share to Nine's 28.7% and TEN's 20.2%. The ABC had 16% and SBS 5%.

Seven's win over Nine is again slimming down as key American dramas find audiences trickle away. By all it rights it should be performing better. Lost came third in its timeslot this week, losing to Missing Persons Unit (9) and Law & Order: SVU (10). Heroes was also defeated by House (10). In the case of Heroes, this is arguably a case of levelling out. Not suprisingly the show started big, but as audiences realise it is a "slow burner" they have trimmed down. It is now being convincingly beaten by House which has the benefit of stand-alone storylines. Lost however has a more serious problem. This is a flagship drama with a large and loyal audience that is now becoming frustrated by the continual delaying of storyline resolution. Simply put, people are tiring of not having answers. It is compounded by competition from Nine's biggest night.

But RPA, which top's Nine's Thursday, has now had to make way for The Footy Show. Nine's small margin behind Seven should be considered impressive. After all Seven has a wealth of diverse product this year. Big new American dramas. Wins in News and Current Affairs. Shouldn't their lead be bigger? Nine is yet to introduce much of its new programmes (Monarchy, Primeval, Lost Tribes, Sea Patrol -some of which it may not launch until the second half of the year).

TEN had a terrible week, slipping to a 20.2% share and barely ahead of the ABC. This was due largely to its lousy Sunday when Cool Aid: The Carbon Test tanked, allowing Nine to steal a win from Seven. TEN quickly announced Rove was coming to rescue Sundays and Thank God You're Here repeats, which had been lined up for 6:30pm, will start tonight. The Con Test also remains a complex dilemma: a slim but sustained audience.

Seven won in all cities except Brisbane which went to Nine. Nationally Nine won Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

1. Dancing With The Stars Seven 1.73m
2. Ugly Betty Seven 1.70m
3. CSI Nine 1.69m
4. Grey's Anatomy Seven 1.63m
5. CSI: Miami Nine 1.59m
6. RPA Nine 1.56m
7. Desperate Housewives Seven 1.48

More figures.
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TT's Big Mac attack on Mercedes

Mercedes Corby reckons Today Tonight is up to its old tricks again.

If she's right it's a pretty tacky story beat-up.

Corby says she was lured to a Gold Coast McDonald's restaurant under the pretence that she was being given documents belonging to an Australian embassy official. The documents would supposedly help Schapelle's case. But when she got there she says she found a TT crew, with Jodi Powers in tow.

Here's the really tacky part: the documents were claimed to have belonged to diplomat Liz O'Neill, who had worked closely with the Corby family during their court appearances. O'Neill died in the Indonesian air crash this week.

Executive Producer Craig McPherson denies using O'Neill's name and said the investigator who contacted Corby had been hired by TT.

The unnamed investigator working for TT admitted telling lies as part of his strategy to lure Corby into a story.

Last month TT had an audience of over 2 million when it promised to "blow the lid" on the Corby case, but many questioned the claims of Jodi Powers who had fallen out with the Corby clan.

Corby says she stormed out once she knew what was being tried. She was here visiting her father in Queensland at the time.

It seems that since Schapelle is well and truly behind bars Mercedes has now become the "talent" for this story. She's accessible and fiery, making great tv footage.

Meanwhile Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer is set to investigate, given the inclusion of staff and documents in the affair.

Seven said it had no footage of the incident.

McPherson threatened to sue Corby over her claims.

Corby has complained to the Police.

It ain't over till it's over, folks.

You can read more from News.com.au here.

Disclaimer: David Knox has previously appeared on ACA.
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