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Network TEN is believed to be looking at a contemporary version of The Young Doctors, the long-running serial that aired from 1976 to 1983.
FremantleMedia, formerly Grundys, had a big hit with the sexy soap when it was produced out of Nine Sydney. It starred such names as Cornelia Frances, Mark Holden, Delvene Delaney, Alan Dale and the late Gwen Plumb. Several cast members including Dale, recently appeared in a nostalgic reunion on Seven's Where Are They Now?
TEN is understood to be looking at a 6pm timeslot for the series, and as Neighbours' light continues to wane, the network certainly needs to invest in a second long-running soap -not just for ratings but to meet local content quotas.
Medical dramas, like police and legal shows, are the mainstay of serial television due to their ability to generate weekly stories in regular, studio-based sets. All three genres also deliver high stakes and heightened emotions. No doubt TEN is looking to the success of All Saints and Grey's Anatomy. It looks ready to play doctors and nurses with some young sexy actors.
Source: news.com.au
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After twenty years in Ramsay Street, beloved character "Harold Bishop" will bid the street goodbye.
Actor Ian Smith, who has played the Neighbours role on and off since 1987, is retiring from the series and a 30 year career in show business.
Smith films his final scenes this month and will depart the show next year, but producers have managed to get him to agree to some special appearances during his semi-retirement.
"Harold" is an iconic Australian TV character, whose "fuddy-duddy" ways and that infamous wobbling-chin have catapulted him into pop culture legend. In the UK "Harold" is especially loved, transgressing age groups amongst legions of fans.
Smith, who has also served as both actor and scriptwriter on Prisoner, joined the series in 1987, departed in 1991 and returned as Harold in 1996, in true soapie style as a character with amnesia. He was married to Madge, was stepfather to Charlene, ran the Erinsborough Coffee Shop, played tuba for the Salvation Army, tried to strangle Paul Robinson and even donned an afro wig.
His exit marks a blow for the soapie which has failed to resurrect its fortunes after a relaunch earlier this year.
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Media commentators (including yours truly) are often observing how television audiences have drifted.
We just don't flock to the screen the way we used to in years gone by. There are now so many competing interests: Pay-TV, DVD, internet, (illegal) downloads and gaming. Plus there is widespread cynicism at both the offerings and the programming habits of our major networks.
But I was reminded just how dramatically audiences have fallen when I stumbled across some old newspaper clippings this week that detailed the weekly Top 20 shows in Melbourne in June 1999.
Only eight years ago top rating shows like Friends soared with huge audiences of 945,000. Yes that's 945,000 for one show, one night in one city. That's the sort of figure you'd get for a major sporting event these days. In fact the ARIAs got about that audience this week -nationally.
Just compare these two lists of audiences and you'll see what I mean:
Melbourne May 30 - June 5 1999
1. Friends Nine 945,000
2. Jesse Nine 792,000
3. Blue Heelers Seven 702,000
4. News Nine 635,000
5. ER Nine 580,000
6. A Current Affair Nine 569,000
7. News (Sun) Nine 566,000
8. Better Homes and Gardens Seven 556,000
9. News (Sat) Nine 552,000
10. Cricket (Aus vs WI) Nine 540,000
11. News (Sat) Seven 531,000
12. Home Improvement Seven 530,000
13. Good Medicine Nine 528,000
14. Our House Nine 526,000
15. Water Rats Nine 519,000
16. Ally McBeal Seven 504,000
17. Dharma and Greg Seven 493,000
18. Funniest Home Videos Nine 490,000
19. The Footy Show Nine 487,000
20. 3rd Rock from the Sun Seven 484,000
Melbourne Oct 21 - 27 2007
1. Border Security Seven 552,000
2. Spicks And Specks ABC 515,000
3. The Chaser's War On Everything ABC 513,000
4. Summer Heights High ABC 501,000
5. The Force Seven 496,000
6. City Homicide Seven 495,000
7. Dancing With The Stars Seven 486,000
8. The Simpsons TEN 471,000
9. The Simpsons TEN 461,000
10. 60 Minutes Nine 459,000
11. Kath & Kim Seven 451,000
12. National Bingo Night Seven 446,000
12. So You Think You Can Dance TEN 446,000
14. House TEN 440,000
15. News (Sun) Nine 430,000
16. All Saints Seven 429,000
17. Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? TEN 424,000
18. Australian Idol TEN 420,000
19. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Nine 407,000
20. News ABC 396,000
20. Missing Persons Unit Nine 396,000
As you can see the #1 show in Melbourne last week (Border Security 552,000) only equaled the #9 show in June 1999 (Nine News). That's some drop off!
The two lists also illustrate some other interesting trends:
While it should be pointed out the ratings system changed with the introduction of OzTam in 2001 there is no denying, we need a lot more convincing before sitting down at the box these days.
Kindly link to this website when sourcing or posting in messageboards, thanks!
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Here's what American scriptwriters could be doing as early as next week. Selling burgers!
The Writers' Guild of America looks set to strike as early as Monday now the deadline of Oct 31 has passed. On Thursday a 3,000 strong meeting in LA voted unanimously to walkout. Behind-the-scenes weekend talks are unlikely to produce any agreed outcome. Late-night talk shows will feel the void first with scripted drama to follow in a few weeks' time.
Meanwhile some of tinsel town's most famous scribes had some fun contemplating how they might pay the rent.
Source: Variety
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Ad man John Singleton to host a second debate between Rudd and Howard on the Seven Network?
That's the offer from Today Tonight to the two leaders -and one which Kevin Rudd has heartily accepted.
Peter Meakin (the same one who has been convicted of a drink driving charge) has proposed a second debate on TT anytime the two are available.
"Mr Rudd is happy to make himself available at a time that allows you to schedule a broadcast of the debate," an ALP official wrote to Channel Seven.
"He is also happy for you to apply any audience reaction meters or have audience feedback as part of the format."
The only reason Howard would surely agree to this is that the show speaks to middle Australia more effectively than any other. But then again that's with a whole lot of foot-indoor exposes, consumer and celebrity stories too. Maybe the two leaders should test-drive varying margarines or tell us what germs are on our dishcloths?
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
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A staggering, unnerving look at bigotry masquerading as religion. 10:40pm Monday on Seven.
TV Tonight on the Red Carpet ...report coming soon.
Nope, no 21st anniversary here yet, but TV Tonight has reached #21 in Australia's Top 100 Blogs. April hits, over 348,000 -another peak. Thanks guys!
If Reality is all about manipulation here's a moment when a contestant took control ahead of the producers. Missin' you already...
