Channel Seven take a bow. The much anticipated debut of the newest Australian cop drama City Homicide made a sterling debut earlier tonight.
Australian drama had been a dying art but like the rains of this winter in Sydney so has the drought’s back been broken for television drama. Australia boasts a plethora of talent and our actors have done us proud.
Aaron Pedersen provides the strongest character in the six person strong cast with charisma and humor, he plays a very convincing cop. Until our first introduction of Pedersen’s character, Duncan Freeman the drama was a bit slow starting and developing characters.
Shane Bourne’s portrayal as Senior Sgt Stanley Wolfe leader of the Homicide squad is refreshing to the role of the ‘boss’ and with Noni Hazelhurst as a female in the commanding position adds gives depth to some obvious female-male power storylines in future episodes.
Daniel McPherson plays a brash, young, arrogant know-all cop and suits his role as Detective Simon Joyner like a glove. I am yet to be convinced by Damien Richardson who plays Detective Matt Ryan but balances the three lead males.
Nadine Gardner’s character, Jennifer Mapplethorpe needs some more development in this ‘blokey’ world but the female oppression angles is all ready being investigated.
Clever camera work, editing techniques and clever scripting has given City Homicide a fantastic launch pad. Suspense was built throughout the episode in a traditional storyline of a ‘who done it?’
Overall I am impressed with City Homicide, celebrating the return of Australian cop drama. Together with Sea Patrol, the revival of All Saints and McLeod’s Daughter’s, Seven and Nine must be commended on their investment into one of our greatest assets, Australian drama.
When you read tonight’s ratings, City Homicide will be the most popular show of the night attracting at least two million viewers. Let’s hope we have many seasons of this newest Aussie drama.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
"knows what it wants"
Channel 7 Chief Executive Officer David Leckie was quoted in Melbourne's Herald Sun on Wednesday saying that Channel 7 was the only network that, "knows what it wants". His comments come after Channel 9 cancelled Temptation and today being the day that 9's head of news Garry Linnell resigns.
Clearly the embattled Nine network are under further pressure with Linnell's resignation amongst a raft of personnel changes and programming changes this year. Until the last few years, Nine was "still the one" and the late Kerry Packer would turn in his grave seeing what has happened to his proudest achievement.
Sensibly James Packer pulled the family from the Network who seems to be losing ground at an alarming rate. I believe Nine still deliver the best commercial television news and their overall package is more professional in appearance than that of Seven.
Leckie's comments are validated with 7 now assured of victory in the ratings war making it 7in07. A strong programming schedule with quality US dramas including Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. Add the success of their Australian productions: Border Security, Dancing With the Stars and Medical Emergency plus the new Australian successes: Bondi Rescue, The Rich List, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Kath & Kim and Australia's Got Talent.
7 went out aggressively this year and poached one of Nine's biggest personalities Jamie Durie. His defection spelled the end of Nine who was the television stations poster boy.
With 7 launching the newly created The Morning Show beating rivals KAK and 9AM, Seven are now building their daytime audience. City Homicide debuts on Monday night and should hopefully be a success.
Seven and Nine must be credited with their re-investment back into Australian drama. Sea Patrol has been the ratings winner of Thursday prime time (despite having no competition), City Homicide should follow suit on Monday night.
Seven have won 23 of the 25 ratings week and are going to be Number 1 in 2007. Leckie has taken the network to the top at 9's expense to which the network's answer is imitation.
Nine's gambles have not paid off with Things to do Before You Die, What A Year and even Whats Good For You bombing. Nine are not re-inventing the wheel, making stale programming or clip shows like 20 to 1 or tacky game shows like The Singing Bee.
Seven looks like it knows where it is heading with an ever expanding cupboard of quality programming. For Nine, who knows what will screen next week and they have all but exhausted their cupboard. There are only so many times we can watch the same episodes of CSI
Nine does do news well with 60 Minutes still proving to be popular but they are trying to emulate 7's success with poor imitations.
Commercial news for Nine previously had a degree of edge and professionalism over Ten and Seven. The network still has the look, the 'package' but they are trying to adopt it to Seven's 'info-tainment' formula with tabloid journalism dominating our screens.
Unfortunately this type of news is proving to be more and more popular with viewers but it just does not fit the Nine formula. Seven certainly know what viewers want represented in their ratings.
Seven deserve their success because their shows are professionally created, directed and produced. As for Nine, I am sure the alarm bells are ringing because Nine has no idea what it wants, or do they? Show us...
Clearly the embattled Nine network are under further pressure with Linnell's resignation amongst a raft of personnel changes and programming changes this year. Until the last few years, Nine was "still the one" and the late Kerry Packer would turn in his grave seeing what has happened to his proudest achievement.
Sensibly James Packer pulled the family from the Network who seems to be losing ground at an alarming rate. I believe Nine still deliver the best commercial television news and their overall package is more professional in appearance than that of Seven.
Leckie's comments are validated with 7 now assured of victory in the ratings war making it 7in07. A strong programming schedule with quality US dramas including Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy. Add the success of their Australian productions: Border Security, Dancing With the Stars and Medical Emergency plus the new Australian successes: Bondi Rescue, The Rich List, RSPCA Animal Rescue, Kath & Kim and Australia's Got Talent.
7 went out aggressively this year and poached one of Nine's biggest personalities Jamie Durie. His defection spelled the end of Nine who was the television stations poster boy.
With 7 launching the newly created The Morning Show beating rivals KAK and 9AM, Seven are now building their daytime audience. City Homicide debuts on Monday night and should hopefully be a success.
Seven and Nine must be credited with their re-investment back into Australian drama. Sea Patrol has been the ratings winner of Thursday prime time (despite having no competition), City Homicide should follow suit on Monday night.
Seven have won 23 of the 25 ratings week and are going to be Number 1 in 2007. Leckie has taken the network to the top at 9's expense to which the network's answer is imitation.
Nine's gambles have not paid off with Things to do Before You Die, What A Year and even Whats Good For You bombing. Nine are not re-inventing the wheel, making stale programming or clip shows like 20 to 1 or tacky game shows like The Singing Bee.
Seven looks like it knows where it is heading with an ever expanding cupboard of quality programming. For Nine, who knows what will screen next week and they have all but exhausted their cupboard. There are only so many times we can watch the same episodes of CSI
Nine does do news well with 60 Minutes still proving to be popular but they are trying to emulate 7's success with poor imitations.
Commercial news for Nine previously had a degree of edge and professionalism over Ten and Seven. The network still has the look, the 'package' but they are trying to adopt it to Seven's 'info-tainment' formula with tabloid journalism dominating our screens.
Unfortunately this type of news is proving to be more and more popular with viewers but it just does not fit the Nine formula. Seven certainly know what viewers want represented in their ratings.
Seven deserve their success because their shows are professionally created, directed and produced. As for Nine, I am sure the alarm bells are ringing because Nine has no idea what it wants, or do they? Show us...
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Two Steps Backwards
I can't believe the lack of creativity that Channel 9 has come up with in 2008. The station has most definately lost irrepairable ground and head staright for the dldrums unless some creativity can be salvaged at the netword in 2008 and their new batch of US dramas prove to be a success.
Channel 7 have their own dramas such as why did next to no one watch the Grey's Anatomy's finale and why are is Shark receiving no audience, Las Vegas screening at 8.30 on a Thursday and Seven running 'worl'd worst' 'most shocking' and 'life begins' in primetime slots? Hello these (minus Grey's) shows should not be shown this side of midnight, yet alone during a ratings period.
As for Nine well they are showing nothing! No creativity and reverting now back to the 'hot seat' five nights a week in place of Temptation.
I don't know about you but are we not just a little over game shows? Millionaire won't bost 7pm ratings on Nine.
Every decision that seems to becoming out of Willoughby is negative and back pedalling or reverting decisions made in haste over the last two years. Backyard Blitz is back and even talk of bringing back good ol' Don Burke.
Meanwhile over at 7, they are just re-branding former Channel 9 personalities and giving them shows similar to what they were previously doing.
I am looking forward however to City Homicide next Monday. Aussie Cop drama - thumbs up!
Anything could be better than Sea Patrol...
What about Nine's daytime line-up, they really have screwed things over and their output war with WIN TV will see their day budget slashed further as KAK will no longer reach regional viewers.
SO what should Nine screen during the day... here is an idea:
6AM Today
9AM KAK
11AM Fresh Cooking
1130 The Price Is Right
1200 NEWS
1300 Days of Our Lives
1400 Water Rats
1500 *Kids Programming
1630 Friends
1700 News Chat Show... 'Five Live'
1730 Airline/Airport
might not work but hey i am sure it would get some better ratings than what they have now...
I am still waiting for someone to take a step forward
Channel 7 have their own dramas such as why did next to no one watch the Grey's Anatomy's finale and why are is Shark receiving no audience, Las Vegas screening at 8.30 on a Thursday and Seven running 'worl'd worst' 'most shocking' and 'life begins' in primetime slots? Hello these (minus Grey's) shows should not be shown this side of midnight, yet alone during a ratings period.
As for Nine well they are showing nothing! No creativity and reverting now back to the 'hot seat' five nights a week in place of Temptation.
I don't know about you but are we not just a little over game shows? Millionaire won't bost 7pm ratings on Nine.
Every decision that seems to becoming out of Willoughby is negative and back pedalling or reverting decisions made in haste over the last two years. Backyard Blitz is back and even talk of bringing back good ol' Don Burke.
Meanwhile over at 7, they are just re-branding former Channel 9 personalities and giving them shows similar to what they were previously doing.
I am looking forward however to City Homicide next Monday. Aussie Cop drama - thumbs up!
Anything could be better than Sea Patrol...
What about Nine's daytime line-up, they really have screwed things over and their output war with WIN TV will see their day budget slashed further as KAK will no longer reach regional viewers.
SO what should Nine screen during the day... here is an idea:
6AM Today
9AM KAK
11AM Fresh Cooking
1130 The Price Is Right
1200 NEWS
1300 Days of Our Lives
1400 Water Rats
1500 *Kids Programming
1630 Friends
1700 News Chat Show... 'Five Live'
1730 Airline/Airport
might not work but hey i am sure it would get some better ratings than what they have now...
I am still waiting for someone to take a step forward
Monday, August 20, 2007
An e-life in an e-world
It got me thinking today for no real reason in particular but it starting consuming my thoughts as I drove wanting and wondering why I had an urgent desire to use the internet. It had only been about half an hour since I had been away from my computer but for some reason I needed it.
Almost like security or a blanket the internet and my mobile phone are an accessory much like a pair of socks and a pair of jocks. It is seriously ridiculous how I and the rest of the world are so reliant on mobile phones, emails, myspace, facebook… I mean does the world change every hour at such a rapid pace that I need to be re-informed so quickly?
What could have so drastically changed over the last half hour that will have such a significant change, outcome or bearing on my life? It scares me how I and many others are becoming all too consumed by technology and constant interaction in this e-world.
An article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald claimed that facebook is costing businesses over $5 billion per year wasted productivity because of this social network. It can also become eerie and creepy when people, ‘friends’ inform you that they know what you have been doing in your life because they read it on your facebook.
Is there any such thing as a personal space in this e-world? Do any of us lead private lives or have our private diaries, thoughts, emotions, scrapbooks, pictures and video’s been uploaded and opened to all so we can experience an ‘e-life’?
Technology is consuming our lives at a scary rate and I have realised this moreover in the last few months. Posting videos on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and the like gives the entire e-world complete access to your e-life.
It is becoming so easy to discover things about yourself behind the confines of a computer screen and the public forum of the internet.
What did people do 200 years ago? Send letters, carrier pigeons and transport was by horse and cart plus across water via boat. Now it’s instantaneous from the revolutions of AOL Instant Messenger – ICQ – MSN – myspace – facebook and beyond… what is the next part of my e-world to show everyone my e-life…
It’s scary but I am far to consumed by this eworld and wonder if I will stop or if it will stop me.
Almost like security or a blanket the internet and my mobile phone are an accessory much like a pair of socks and a pair of jocks. It is seriously ridiculous how I and the rest of the world are so reliant on mobile phones, emails, myspace, facebook… I mean does the world change every hour at such a rapid pace that I need to be re-informed so quickly?
What could have so drastically changed over the last half hour that will have such a significant change, outcome or bearing on my life? It scares me how I and many others are becoming all too consumed by technology and constant interaction in this e-world.
An article in today’s Sydney Morning Herald claimed that facebook is costing businesses over $5 billion per year wasted productivity because of this social network. It can also become eerie and creepy when people, ‘friends’ inform you that they know what you have been doing in your life because they read it on your facebook.
Is there any such thing as a personal space in this e-world? Do any of us lead private lives or have our private diaries, thoughts, emotions, scrapbooks, pictures and video’s been uploaded and opened to all so we can experience an ‘e-life’?
Technology is consuming our lives at a scary rate and I have realised this moreover in the last few months. Posting videos on YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and the like gives the entire e-world complete access to your e-life.
It is becoming so easy to discover things about yourself behind the confines of a computer screen and the public forum of the internet.
What did people do 200 years ago? Send letters, carrier pigeons and transport was by horse and cart plus across water via boat. Now it’s instantaneous from the revolutions of AOL Instant Messenger – ICQ – MSN – myspace – facebook and beyond… what is the next part of my e-world to show everyone my e-life…
It’s scary but I am far to consumed by this eworld and wonder if I will stop or if it will stop me.
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