Seven dominates viewer complaints

Free TV Australia, the body which represents all of Australia's commercial free-to-air television licencees, has released its annual findings on viewer complaints.

The Seven Network dominates the list.

· Today Tonight (Seven Network) – there were 95 complaints mostly concerning perceived bias and/or inaccuracy in reporting, graphic material considered to be inappropriate for the time zone and perceived discrimination in reporting.

Other complaints:

· Big Brother Uncut (Network Ten) – there were 60 complaints mostly concerning sexual references and nudity considered inappropriate.

· Seven Nightly News (Seven Network) – there were 54 complaints mostly concerning perceived bias and inaccuracy in reporting, perceived discrimination in reporting and graphic images considered to be inappropriate.

· Ten News at Five (Network Ten) – there were 48 complaints mostly concerning perceived bias and inaccuracy in reporting and comments considered to be inappropriate for the time zone.

· The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (Network Ten) – there were 47 complaints mostly concerning perceived discrimination and language considered to be inappropriate.

· Sunrise (Seven Network) – there were 29 complaints mostly concerning content considered to be offensive, perceived bias in reporting, perceived discrimination and language considered inappropriate for the time zone.

· Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show (Nine Network) – there were 24complaints mostly concerning nudity considered inappropriate for the time zone and the welfare of animals.

· Home and Away (Seven Network) – there were 23 complaints mostly concerning story lines considered inappropriate for the time zone and drug references.

· 60 Minutes (Nine Network) – there were 21 complaints mostly concerning perceived bias and inaccuracy in reporting, language considered to be inappropriate and footage and other material considered to be offensive."

Several complaints related to foul language during the NRL Grand Final.

The channels upheld only 38 of the 1,109 written Code complaints, and they referred to only 16 items.

Seven conceded 0.
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Resale of the Century

Tony Barber and Alyce Platt are coming back to Temptation (aka 'Sale') in their first reunion at Nine in 16 years.

During a week of Nine stars competing for charity Barber and Platt will host the show while regulars Ed Phillips and Livinia will team up as contestants.

Sounds like fun.

The other Nine stars participating include:

Monday March 12: AFL Footy Show's Sam Newman / Trevor Marmalade vs Getaway's Catriona Rowntree / Ben Dark
Tuesday March 13: NRL Footy Show's Fatty Vautin / Paul Harragon vs McLeod's Zoe Naylor / Matt Passmore
Wednesday March 14: Temptation's Ed Phillips / Livinia Nixon vs What’s Good For You's Giaan Rooney / Dr Andrew Rochford.
Thursday March 15: Today Show's Karl Stefanovic / Kellie Connolly vs Mornings with Kerri-Anne's Kerri-Anne Kennerley /Jamie Malcolm.
Friday March 16: Final.
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Returning: Joan of Arcadia

Nine is returning Joan of Arcadia to our screens, but again the timeslot is not exactly prime-time.

Episode 18, "Requiem For A Third Grade Ashtray" will air at 3:30pm on Sunday March 18.

This now pushes Gilmore Girls' return back to 4:30pm on the same afternoon.

Joan of Arcadia starring Amber Tamblyn ended in 2005.

NB: All schedule times for this site are Melbourne market. NRL is likely to affect other states. Read more...

Denise on Daryl

An icon of Aussie TV, the fabulous Denise Drysdale, was recently interviewed on JOY 94.9FM and asked about her days with Daryl Somers.

Ding Dong was famously short-lived on Hey Hey It's Saturday as a sidekick to Daryl, not because she was bad, but because she was just too good.

During her stint in 1989, Denise was getting too many laughs, arguably at Daryl's expense. As a result the union ended.

In the recent interview Denise was asked for "dirt on Daryl."

The phone fell into complete silence.

Eventually, Denise described her year on Hey Hey as a big opportunity which gave her a career resurgence. "In that way it was one of the best opportunities ever. Unfortunately it didn't go well off the set. I didn't seem to gel with Daryl off-camera, but that's the way of the world."

You can hear the full radio interview on Andy & Adrian's Dollhouse here. Read more...

Press Catches-Up with live gaffes

Ahh the perils of live TV. The Catch-Up made news today (twice) for the wrong reasons.

The first involved gangland widow Judy Moran inadvertently mentioning names of 4 men which have been suppressed by a court order.

Asked why her husband and son were murdered, Moran answered "I'd love to know that complete answer myself. I still don't know and I would like to know one day."

You'd think everyone had been versed on the legalities involved and the pitfalls of live TV.

A clip from the episode was placed on YouTube but promptly removed.

The second news item involved host Lisa Oldfield.

Oldfield admitted that in her youth she had dabbled with drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine.

What makes life even more complicated is that her husband, David Oldfield (formerly of Celebrity Survivor) is currently a NSW Parliamentarian.

"I really think a lot of it would be to do with the substance abuse. If I hadn't met David I'd be dead now - that's just how serious it was, " she said. Read more...

Don Lane on Bert?

A curiously awkward moment was avoided this morning on the Today Show.

Don Lane was being interviewed over his new biography by Karl and Sarah. Lane is now rather elderly and not quite so quick as he used to be.

So when the subject came to Bert Newton, things were about to get awkward. Karl asked Lane why some presumably influential people hadn't configured more in his book. He specifically asked about Bert Newton.

"What?" asked Lane, seemingly having missed the question.

Karl again asked about Bert.

With this Lane then launched into a long, very long, anecdote about how when planning his Tonight show, Producers were stuck as to who should co-host the Wheel segment.

Lane explained it was his idea to cast Bert, and said he gets along fine with Newton nowadays. He said Newton said the two now spoke "in sentences."

Essentially Lane avoided the question, implying that his idea to cast Newton meant he was in his good books. Given the entire answer was about casting Bert, it was either a rambling inability to grasp the question or an astute way of avoiding it.

So the question still lingers. Why isn't Bert in the book more?

As the extremely long segment rounded out and Karl threw to a break the interview was followed with an ad -of Bert Newton hosting Family Feud.

Somebody had the last laugh?
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