Canal (Wrong) Road

The (not-so) Next BIG Australian Drama

Last night Canal Road bombed.

In only it’s second week with the best lead-in from Underbelly, the new Nine drama, Canal Road, touted as the “next BIG Australian drama” is not living up to its expectation.

Failing to retain last weeks mediocre debut of 1.2 million, this week dropped 250 000 viewers to be placed as the 20th most popular show of the night.

Underbelly, despite not being broadcast in Victoria has been a runaway success not only for the public interest but complimented by clever casting and equally impressive production.

As for Canal Road, the plot is complicated and the set looks cheap. Paul Leyden as lead is difficult to resonate with a bunch of other characters whose positions are still unknown.

I think Nine new that Canal Road was not going to be a huge success as the late timeslot for debut gave this some indication. It is a shame really as there is not much competition from the other commercial networks and Underbelly is the shows lead-in.

If the show had remained around the million then Nine would have possibly shifted Canal Road to the 8:30pm slot when Underbelly wraps up in two weeks.

Now Nine are faced with the headache of Underbelly ending, Canal Road not firing and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares finishing.

Nine will be banking on the other Ramsay’s series, Hell’s Kitchen to fill the void left by Kitchen Nightmares but this has previously aired for Nine and failed.

Of more concern is My Kid’s A Star which will surely be sent to the chopping block this week after returning terrible figures of 659,000 placing the program as number 4, thrashed by RSPCA: Animal Rescue and The Real Sea Change which had more than double Nine’s audience between 7:30-8:30.

Still My Kid’s A Star was not quite as bad as the last episode of Power of 10 (543 000) but not as good as Nine’s other ailing stock, Moment of Truth which on Tuesday returned only 716, 000 viewers.

Search & Rescue, Fire 000 or possibly the yet to be announced final series of McLeod’s Daughters may be rushed into the schedule sooner than expected.

Missing Person’s Unit or possibly a re-worked Australia’s Most Wanted could have been brought back as a lead into Underbelly because Nine is struggling on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s in this key slot.

What would I do in a post Underbelly/Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares season Monday-Thursday (assuming Friday-Sunday stays similar)… here is a suggestion

MONDAY
7:30 – David Attenbrough’s Life in Cold Blood
8:30 – Sea Patrol
9:30 – Cold Case

TUESDAY
7:30 – 20 to 1
8:30 – Hell’s Kitchen
9:30 – Hotel Babylon

WEDNESDAY
7:30 – The Famer Wants a Wife
8:30 – McLeod’s Daughters
9:30 – Canal Road

THURSDAY
7:30 – Getaway
8:30 – Missing Persons Unit
9:30 The Footy Show

Rationale:

Monday’s are OK at the moment but Life in Cold Blood is winding up so what will replace it? I would have partnered Search & Rescue with Sea Patrol as it appears to me to be a logical lead-in. I assume this would be only a half hour show so Fire 000 and 7:30 followed by Search and Rescue and Sea Patrol.

Tuesday’s have seen 20 to 1 return figures over 1 million which is positive and Hell’s Kitchen will probably work off the back of Kitchen Nightmare’s success. Remember there is also no Dancing With the Stars, yet but Australia’s Got Talent which rated last year, may decrease on a new day, new time and All Saints returns to 8:30 which has been hovering around the million, so it’s a good test. Hotel Babylon second series is hilarious and quirky and should be given time during ratings season, come on Nine give it a go… after Hell’s who knows… they are both British!

Wednesday has been Underbelly but now Nine must prepare for life after… I think Farmer Wants A Wife may not be produced yet so despite my schedueling placing it at 7:30 then it is probably unrealistic but coupling that with McLeod’s could be a winner. McLeod’s should go out with a bang and be given an 8:30 run but loyal viewers and Nine will probably maintain its 7:30 slot although Blue Heelers was moved around by Seven with its final series airing on Saturday’s. McLeod’s still has some weekday prime time left in it and I am putting a little faith in Canal Road and hoping this Aussie drama gets its full season before doing an Alice and being shifted to 10.30.

Thursday’s seem to be Nine’s night with Getaway, RPA/Ramsay’s/MPU and The Footy Show so why change it.

I expect Moment of Truth and My Kid’s A Star to be removed within the next week. Ugly Betty has been earmarked by Seven for Wednesday’s so this should hurry up the process.

It may be stalled but because what else has Nine got in the cupboard that won’t flop?

Domestic Blitz perhaps…or time to wake Eddie McGuire from hibernation... a chat show with Ray Martin didn't seem like such a bad idea now...