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Following reports of it’s cancellation last week, FOX’s long running action drama ‘24’ could see a new lease on life at rival network NBC.
Following its highly acclaimed first season, ‘Glee’ will return with a super-sized second season, comprising of 25 episodes.
February 4th, 2009 8:03 pm
‘Australia’s Got Talent’, ‘The Farmer Wants a Wife’ or ‘The Biggest Loser’. Which show will take out the top spot this season on Wednesday nights?
The Farmer Wants a Wife, Nine’s breakout hit of 2007 returns for its third season. After replacing Mcleod’s Daughters in the second half of 2007, this show continues to hit season highs with last year’s finale averaging close to 1.8M. Australia’s Got Talent is also back for its third year in yet another timeslot, it may have been solid for the Seven Network in its first two years but it has its hands full this time. Over at Network Ten we have the combination of The Biggest Loser/Guerrilla Gardeners, The Biggest Loser is definitely no slouch, but Guerrilla Gardeners is a worry, the title makes me shudder.
Likely Winner: Three reality shows into one don’t fit and I’m expecting Australia’s Got Talent and The Biggest Loser/Guerrilla Gardeners to be casualties against the over-rated The Farmer Wants a Wife. This timeslot will include the year’s first axing, Guerrilla Gardeners.
January 31st, 2009 5:30 pm
It’s a tuesday night battleground between ‘All Saints’ and ‘Lie to Me’.
Analysis: Long running Aussie drama All Saints has undergone a revamp, instead of just dealing with scenarios inside the hospital they are now a medical response unit, operating on patients at the site of the accident. It promises to show ‘more action’ and ‘adrenalin-filled’ scenes. Fresh from the states is freshman drama, Lie to Me, starring Britain’s Tim Roth who plays a scientist specializing in decoding facial expression and body language. The show’s success will be judged on how viewers warm to Tim Roth’s character, in the pilot he is charismatic but definitely doesn’t outwit Damian Lewis in Life.
Likely Winner: Going by last year’s results, All Saints: Medical Response Unit should win it comfortably, Lie to Me has promise, but how long will this one dimensional premise last? But hey, procedurals have been working for more than 20 years, so it may last.
Battleground 3: Mondays: Ladette to Lady vs Dexter vs Brothers and Sisters
January 28th, 2009 9:05 pm
Analysis: Now this will be an interesting battle with cult show Dexter finally getting a timeslot it deserves, albeit a wrong lead in. Ailing US import Brothers and Sisters returns to its initial timeslot, proceeding the Housewives but I don’t see it doing better than 950k. If production of Aussie Ladette to Lady doesn’t differ to the UK version, Ladette to Lady could strike a chord with female viewers and finally put Brothers and Sisters to bed. Dexter should improve on its former occupants and can develop into a semi hit for Network Ten.
Likely Winner: This could go anyway; if the hideous Ladette to Lady is poorly executed it could flop giving Brothers and Sisters another life. However, my money would be on Dexter as last year it was a solid show for Network Ten in a challenging timeslot.
Battleground 1: Sundays: Border Security/000 Heroes vs 60 Minutes vs So You Think You Can Dance
January 28th, 2009 8:58 pm
Analysis: Bizarre to see all networks compete for the same demographic, it is inevitable there will be a casualty or two. So You Think You Can Dance: Results has always been a slow moving show and viewers usually switch on at the end. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same happens this year. That leaves How I Met Your Mother and Two and A Half Men, both are strong shows but a bold move by Network Seven sees How I Met Your Mother in a new and tougher timeslot.
Likely Winner: A very tough call, but I’ll give it to How I Met Your Mother for a number of reasons.
1) Two and A Half Men will definitely be on again during the week
2) The Two and A Half Men will eventually lose its shine
3) So You Think You Can Dance: Results is no where near as strong as its performance show
Battleground 1: Sundays: Border Security/000 Heroes vs 60 Minutes vs So You Think You Can Dance
Battleground 3: Mondays: Ladette to Lady vs Dexter vs Brothers and Sisters
January 28th, 2009 8:49 pm
The ratings season is almost upon us and it’s shaping up as an interesting year. Let’s take a look at which shows are going head to head.
The ratings season is almost upon us, with new local versions of Ladette to Lady and Wipeout and the second season of Underbelly on the Nine Network competing against Network Ten’s reality shows So You Think You Can Dance and Biggest Loser and freshman dramas Lie to Me and Life on Mars. And lets not forget Seven’s strong line up from last year; it is shaping up as an interesting year in the ratings.
Below are some key match ups which will eventually determine who comes out on top that night. As always, analysis and winners is my opinion, which might differ from yours.
Analysis: It’s a battle between veteran 60 Minutes and ratings powerhouse Border Security, both draw in similar audiences and one or both may be casualties. Veteran 60 Minutes now into its 31st year has always managed a solid audience but viewers tend to drift in and out of the show depending on competition and stories. Border Security has been Network Seven’s standout factual show, averaging 1.8-2M every week. Like other factual shows, 000 Heroes will purely rely on its lead in and its compatibility with Border. Over at Ten, So You Think You Can Dance is into its second year and like all reality shows on that network there is bound to be some slippage.
Likely Winner: So You Think You Can Dance should win the coveted adults 18-49, but it might be closer than people think as both Border Security and 60 Minutes do have some pulling power in the demo. 60 Minutes remains the favourite but my bold prediction is for Border Security to triumph.
Battleground 3: Mondays: Ladette to Lady vs Dexter vs Brothers and Sisters
January 28th, 2009 2:27 pm
News, families, murder and wives…sounds like it could be a description for the Nine Network’s upcoming series, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. In actual fact, this is exactly what Underbelly will be up against in its time slot.
The Nine Network today announced that their hugely anticipated follow up to last year’s controversial drama, Underbelly, will premiere with a 2-hour premiere on Monday February 9th.
This will pit it directly against Seven’s long time Monday night line up of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. It will also see it face off against Ten’s Good News Week and Dexter.
Now considering that all these U.S. drama’s are about 5 months old, I wonder what people will be watching? Any guesses?
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, premieres 8:30pm Monday, February 10th on Nine.
August 20th, 2008 8:55 pm
Remember the days when you would switch on the tube and find yourself desperately searching for an Australian alternative to escape the onslaught of American shows. Well, now a whole lot of decision making will be required when you switch on the television come September, with networks pitting their Aussies dramas against each other. Something we haven’t seen in just about forever.
What decisions will you be making this September? Well, Network Ten has daringly pitted their new police drama Rush against the Seven Network’s long running medical drama All Saints. So which will you be watching? Are you a sucker for sex, guns and fast cars? Or is blood, guts and the annual hostage situation more your style?
Hit us up know in the comments.
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