TV: 2007

The year in review...

10 WORST SHOWS OF 2007

The Lost Tribes (9)
Australia’s Best Backyards (7)
The Singing Bee (9)
Celebrity Dog School (10)
The Conest (10)
1 v 100 (9)
National Bingo Night (7)
The Nation (9)
Surprise Surprise (9)
Commercial Breakdown (9)
The Catch-Up (9)

5 BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN SHOWS IN 2007

City Homicide (7)
Sea Patrol (9)
Newstopia (SBS)
The Farmer Wants A Wife (9)
Summer Heights High (ABC)

10 BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2007

The Singing Bee (9)
Heroes (7)
Neighbours (10)
The Code: Crime and Justice (9)
Big Brother (10)
Australia’s Best Backyards (7)
Prison Break (7)
The Catch-Up (9)
Multi-Millionaire (9)
The Wedge (10)


5 BEST NEW IMPORTED SHOWS 2007

Californication (10)
Gossip Girl (Fox 8)
Ugly Betty (7)
Brothers and Sisters (7)
30 Rock (7)


10 BEST SHOWS OF 2007

Summer Heights High (ABC)
City Homicide (7)
Californication (10)
Brothers and Sisters (7)
Greys Anatomy (7)
Gossip Girl (Fox 8)
Home and Away (7)
The Chaser’s WAR on Everything (ABC)
Kath and Kim (7)
CSI (9)

Developing a "woman's touch" at Channel Nine

Nine continually makes headlines with more dramas than a soap opera.

Mia Freedman, Christine Spiterri and Jessica Rowe have been apart of the revolving door of ‘boned’ women that the weekend papers reported were apart of managements dislike of blonde women reporters (in the case of Spitteri and Rowe) and moreover they would never report on the headline stories of the news bulletins.

The reaction, Sunday nights news had the lead story being reported by Alison Langdon and the second story reported by Karen Tso.

Also making the headlines last week was Stephanie Brantz removal from Nine’s cricket commentary team but is Brantz set for a more important on air-role?

David Gyngell launched Nine’s programming for 2008 which included a new Wide World of Sports series. Previously hosted by Ken Sutcliffe, Max Walker and Ian Maurice.

Nine boast a host of strong male sports presenters still lead by Ken Sutcliffe, Eddie McGuire and Tony Jones.

With Ken Sutcliffe rumoured to be joining the 2UE breakfast show, his time will be limited to commit to more programs other than sports news reading and hosting.

Is it time for a new generation?

As I stated, Nine have a host of male sporting presenters. Looking further a field, Nine have James Brayshaw, Gary Lyon, Cameron Williams and the rising popularity of Matthew Johns, Ben Ikin and Michael Slater on their books.

Nicole Livingstone is currently off-air taking maternity leave but Brantz looks to be the frontrunner for the hosting chair of a new Wide World of Sports.

Nine has re-branded the Network, ‘we love tv’ with a host of shows to become more aggressive aimed at a younger demographic.

Over the summer two men are on trial with Cameron Williams hosting the Today Show and Ryan Phelan auditioning for the Network as the Sports Presenter of the Today Show. To me the former Seven sports anchor and Ten host of Sport's Tonight are the frontrunners to co-host Wide World of Sports with Brantz.

Phelan has been voted a ‘Cleo Bachelor of the Year’ and Stephanie Brantz has also worked previously as a model. Together with their good looks is a genuinely insightful sporting knowledge who are both capable of hosting and presenting Wide World of Sports.

Nine has grabbed the Olympic Games in 2010 and 2012 so strengthening their sporting department would be a network aim.

Partnering Brantz and Phelan I would choose either Matthew Johns or Michael Slater pending on the season (league or cricket) and encourage the involvement of Cameron Williams, James Brayshaw and Nicole Livingstone as reporters.

This group should be Nine’s core group of Sport reporters for the future which would fit Nine’s new demographic and develop a strong on air presence between now and the 2010, 2012 Olympics.

Facebook drops ‘is’ and makes SMH.com.au

Children are starving... people are dying... the Prime Minister is about to ratify Kyoto BUT much more important to all us internet savvy consumers is that social networking giant facebook has dropped the ‘is’ in its status updates.

According to the one of three lead headlines at 8AM this morning on smh.com.au the social networking site was under pressure after more than 60 000 users had joined a group asking for the removal of ‘is’.

Having given into consumer power, facebook has made the change, for the better.

I find it interesting how this story makes the lead stories on SMH. What do we need to do to make NEWSWORTHY news.

The television news and current affairs shows are changing noted with the success of the ‘Sunrise’ formula.

Radio to some extent is looking away from comedy as we embrace the likes of Kyle & Jackie O who do ‘entertainment and gossip’ but there are still ratings for NEWS programming such as Alan Jones on 2GB and Adam Spencer on 2BL.

The radio medium has not been radically changed so much as TV but this will probably change when the likes of Jones retire.

Newspapers adapt to the changing tastes of the consumer with SMH now producing tabloid liftouts focusing on gossip and lifestyle.

The internet, the online news medium has introduces the world to a whole new on demand dimension with news as it breaks, pictures, video streaming and updated text.

So the new on-line consumer is the one particularly interested in all this ‘tabloid’ news. It may shock some but not a lot of internet users who see such a trivial piece of news as one of the lead stories.

Musical Microphones

As the ratings for 2007 have no ceased on radio, the biggest names sign off, hang up their headphones and cool their heals for the next five weeks. Old names, new names and emerging names take the post on the radio merry-go-round for the summer non-ratings period.

It’s an important time nevertheless for both the station and the presenters. New presenters may emerge and be offered shows that they were not previously considered for.

Empty slots create new opportunities for presenters or for those thinking they may have a career in radio, they are proved horribly wrong. For Matt Newton and Akmal Saleh their stint on NOVA 969 summer landed them the new nationally syndicated drive show (which Newton never made).

This summer NOVA are partnering mornings presenter and former B105 anchorman Jamie Row with comedian Rachel

While over at rival 2DAYFM they seem to have emerged as the frontrunner launching ‘Summer Fling’ headed by Jules Lund, Tamsyn Lewis and Ryan Shelton. The three young and buoyant presenters are a show of good faith by Austereo management to try something different.

While VEGA, MIX, WSFM and Triple M play more music with regular deejays filling the void of their breakfast shows.

Over on the AM band, Alan Jones wannabe Jason Morrison heads 2GB’s breakfast show, Chris Smith and Luke Bona through mornings and afternoons with Jim Ball in drive. Former One Nation supremo David Oldfield has taken the midnight to dawn reigns.

Over at rival 2UE the obsession with pseudo-personalities continues with John Stanley partnering Channel 9 and 2UE Sports Reporter Tim Gilbert in breakfast. Tim Webster takes mornings, ever ready Murray Olds through the afternoon with Stuart Bocking (this week only)/ Steve Liebmann in drive.

The big tests are over at 2UE with a possible shake-up of the entire schedule on the cards. Mike Carlton will be back in breakfast next year but with who and where will Stanley and Steve Price be in the schedule?

The summer musical microphones all day every day on your radio station of choice.

2UE Breakfast with Mike and Ken?

Is sixty year old Ken Sutcliffe sent to join Mike Carlton on the 2UE Breakfast Show in 2008?

If you believe the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian then you’d believe Sutcliffe has been offered the job.

I cannot see why the Wide World of Sports, Channel Nine presenter could even consider or want the gig on top of his commitments at Nine and the return of Wide World of Sports in 2008.

Sutcliffe filled in for retiring host Peter Fitzsimons during the Rugby World Cup when Fitz was hosting a tour with wife Lisa Wilkinson. Sutcliffe tried but he didn’t connect with Carlton or the audience.

Having stated that, Fitzsimons and Carlton took sometime to gel which ultimately failed in terms of their ratings.

If we believe the paper talk then Steve Price will move into Mornings, Tim Webster will be the afternoon presenter and John Stanley will return to drive.

The other speculation is moving weekend Breakfast presenters George More and Paul B Kidd into afternoons.

At least 2UE has some stability in 2008, by re-signing Carlton they ensure that not all will be lost with John Laws and Peter Fitzsimons departures.

Despite 2UE’s ratings taking a hammering and The Australian reporting that 2UE is running at a loss, they can rebuild in 2008 and then move Carlton when their new shows are in set in concrete.

The picture looks somewhat clearer as the daytime schedule will be finalised when a new co-host is found for breakfast. Should Sutcliffe not be given the gig other names mentioned have included Andrew Denton, Tim Webster and Ellen Fanning.

The latter two could work with Carlton and have. Fanning would be my first choice over all the contenders and I don’t think Webster would do a bad job with Carlton.

I think we’ll have some answers before Christmas… so who will be getting a good gift this Christmas?

Is Christmas coming early for Shaun Tait?

Australian speedstar and ICC Emerging Player of the Year Shaun Tait is bowling towards a boxing day test cap against India at the MCG.

Tait’s first Pura Cup outing has sent a sure fire message to selectors taking ten wickets this match claiming 7/29 (16.1) in the second innings against Queensland destroying them for 137.

Mitchell Johnson on the other hand took 2/127 in the first innings but has 2/10 in the second but South Australia only require 30 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

For mind Johnson would be first to leave the Australian attack to make way for the inform Tait but Ashley Noffke continues to apply the pressure taking bags of wickets and scoring loads of runs.

It may in fact come down to the Chappell-Hadlee series where Tait and Noffke will hopefully be tried. For mind the two are bowling better than the incumbents (Stuart Clark and Johnson) but Brett Lee will obviously spearhead the attack on boxing day.

With Stuart MacGill’s injury concerns, the Australian selectors have publicly stated they may consider going with four quicks. Australia still need a spin option and Brad Hogg is more than capable of stepping up and filling MacGill’s shoes should he not be fit.

Hogg provides more to the Australian team in the field and with the bat than MacGill. His wrong’un is also well respected in cricketing circles and should be given his chance.

On November 23, I stated it was Doug Bollinger putting the pressure on the selectors. He is doing his best to keep his name on the selectors lips as is Nathan Bracken taking a few wickets.

I still think Tait and Noffke are ahead of Johnson and Clark at the moment. They are bowling better, getting wickets and looking dangerous… give them a go!

Durie’s Dancing With the Stars?

On the day that John Laws left 2UE, Daryl Summers left Dancing With the Stars. The show that brought the Hey Hey It’s Saturday Host back into prime time on a show that wins its timeslot very convincingly.

With Summers gone, who will host Dancing?

Seven have a few personalities such as Grant Denyer, Tom Williams and Andrew O’Keefe but Jamie Durie would be another contender having all ready waltzed his way through a series.

Dancing’s last season finished last week with its lowest ratings thanks largely to man of the moment David Beckham.

The timing for Summers to move on opens the door for new hosts much like Grettel Killen’s axing from Big Brother with Kyle and Jackie O taking over the controversial reality TV show.

If Jamie Durie’s busy American schedule can accommodate a hosting stint with Dancing With the Stars then he is the one to do it.

Grant Denyer all ready hosts Australia’s Got Talent and It Takes Two and does not do that all too well. Andrew O’Keefe does not quite feel right and Tom Williams has been announced as the host of Gladiators.

Seven may look to Todd McKenny as his relationship with Sonia Kruger is brilliant as the two have just been signed to Mix 106.5 breakfast show.

Or maybe even promote Kruger herself to the top job and put a male in the backroom. That’s where Denyer could be a frontrunner or perhaps Seven have other plans and are set to unveil a new host.

Looking further a field to programs such as City Homicide, All Saints and Home and Away there doesn’t seem to be too many Seven personalities capable of the hosting role.

Jim Waley and Jana Wendt are still unemployed…

Give George and Paul a go

As radio king John Laws brought the curtain down on his 55 year old career yesterday 2UE is left considering its future with no confirmed breakfast, morning or night show for 2008.

Laws has left, Peter Fitzsimons has quit, Stan Zemanek is dead and Mike Carlton’s future is still uncertain. Stuart Bocking has never been confirmed as the official night time host and without Laws he will be praying his latest ratings have been on the increase.

Yesterday Carlton made some remarks which are sure to disgruntle management publicly stating that the current management had no idea how to run a radio station compared with that of John Conde (former 2UE boss).

Andrew Denton was John Laws preferred replacement, but Denton denies he wants the gig. Glenn Wheeler has put up his hand, Tim Webster is chomping at the bit but both are inexperienced and won’t deliver for 2UE.

Whoever succeeds Laws must not be judged in Laws terms but given his or her time to develop their own style and show. 2UE would be wise to consider two co-hosts for the morning show and change the stations style and sound.

Weekend Breakfast presenters George More and Paul B Kidd are two candidates that could deliver for 2UE. More’s easy listening speaking voice and Kidd’s general quirky knowledge compliment the popular weekend magazine program.

Their combined salaries would be less than Carlton’s and their enthusiasm would be a welcome ‘breath of fresh air’.

It is a worry however that 2UE have not confirmed their major programming for 2008. We are now only six weeks away from the new ratings season and the airwaves are changing.

2UE must be hoping Alan Jones gets the Wallabies coaching position because that will give them the window to re-invigorate the brand. The problem is that there are no obvious, proven or capable replacements in the radio world if Carlton walks then 2UE will be banking on inexperienced presenters to lift the stations ratings and ensure that 2UE can still be an alternative AM commercial radio station to 2GB.

we love tv

...but is it enough?

Channel 9 is about to lose its first ratings race in many years but the embattled network is buoyant having regained its balls and David Gyngell as they try to claw back some of Channel 7's dominance.

The year has been disappointing for Nine with a number of flops including The Lost Tribes, 1 v 100, ER, Viva Laughlin, Millionaire and many more.

News and Current Affairs have taken a hit with the National Nine News, A Current Affair and 60 Minutes brands all suffering while Today and Sunday's ratings have not improved despite new co-hosts in Lisa Wilkinson and Ray Martin respectively.

Nine is caught between Seven's new news approach, adopting a more relaxed, lifestyle, entertainment soft news approach where Nine's strength has been its hard commercial news tactics.

Audiences are speaking for themselves favoring the softer news packages and Nine just misses the beat. The Nine product is hard news and unless they have a complete overhaul they will just look like they are caught between two places and awkward as the network looks now.

Nine's election coverage failed to pull ratings as it was promoted more like a cartoon than a serious election coverage. 'Ray and Laurie's Election Extravaganza' should never have been marketed like this.

Getaway is looking tired; Temptation is not delivering at 7pm getting Nine off to a bad start every night. It has been encouraging in these last few weeks to see ratings return for 20 to 1, The Farmer Wants A Wife and Missing Persons Unit.

With a 2008 launch last night which includes four new Australian dramas - Canal Road, Underbelly, The Young Doctors plus a father series of Sea Patrol and McLeod's Daughters final series show encouraging signs of a network developing stock.

Another game show will be launched titled 'The Power of Ten' but lets see if Nine can find another host. I think Eddie McGuire is over exposed in this format and is much cleverer. He is underutilised else where and Nine should be thinking about where best to use Eddie.

Will Nine claw back in 2008 or will it be 7 in 08 while 9 will have to wait until 09?

Nine will hopefully put some runs back on the board but the key lies around their ability to generate interest in their news and current affairs hour followed by a strong 7pm show.

The New Political Landscape

In a few hours Australia will have a new opposition leader, whether it is Malcolm Turnbull or Brendan Nelson.

By the weekend Australia will have a new set of ministers and a Prime Minister ready to be sworn into Government.

The Australian political landscape is changing and for at least the next three years Mr Rudd will become the 26th Prime Minister of Australia with every chance of being re-elected.

You would have to assume that Rudd is there for at least two terms in office unless there is a catastrophe. Two new players in Rudd and either Nelson or Turnbull will be the two figure heads of Labor and Liberal in our nation.

The Liberal Party has been ‘cleaned out’ with John Howard, Peter Costello, Andrew Downer all either retiring or serving out their terms on the back bench. We are yet to hear from Phillip Ruddock but don’t expect the outgoing Attorney-General to remain in politics.

With change in the air, Kevin Rudd grabbed his opportunity in 2006 when the Australian people were starting to seek a new start. Costello missed the boat and should have challenged Howard because today he may be PM.

It has been done now, the Liberals have lost and Labor has won. Rudd will be wearing his L-plates, treading lightly but with such a comprehensive majority in the Lower House and every state and territory being governed by Labor, he almost has free reign over Australian politics.

Nelson or Turnbull will become the face of the Liberals, two contrasting moderately-conservative characters whose best job would be to draw a line under the Howard years and move on. Don’t mope around or defend the failed policies that did not get the Howard Government re-elected but put pressure on the Government and quickly re-unify.

Our Prime-Minister elect and Labor were in a mess only twelve months ago, now they prepare to take their seats in Government and lead the nation.

Politics is just that and within parties it is even worse. Keep your friends close but your enemy’s closer is something that the new Liberal leader must do because there is a former Treasurer sitting on your back bench and here is your warning, never disregard Peter Costello.

Costello is considering his future and says he will retire at the next federal election. I wouldn’t bank on that, Costello could still rise back to the top of the Liberal Party if he grew some courage and challenged his leader unlike his cowardly approach to the Prime Ministership.

Will it be Nelson or Turnbull?

I think Nelson will get the nod as the conservatives will think Turnbull is still too radical for now but don’t expect him to be the opposition leader at the next federal election.

Labor went through Kim Beazley, Simon Crean, Kim Beazley again, Mark Latham, Kim Beazley all before they found Kevin 07 and even he, Mr Rudd was not guaranteed leader amongst an unstable party.

It’s amazing what power and Governance can do for unification, if only there was no-infighting we would probably have a change of Government at every election.

'Hollywood' style politics

A Hollywood style election campaign with media personalities and former rock stars have won Labor an election and installed Kevin Rudd as Australia's 26th Prime Minister.

With the 'Kevin 07' branding has signalled a time for change in the Australian Government and a return to Labor after 11 years.

Regardless of who you vote for, both political parties have introduced 'celebrities' to politics to run against seasoned, experienced and educated politicians.

To me, it reflects poorly on Australian society when the likes of Maxine McKew, Malcolm Turnball, Peter Garrett or Mike Bailey are considered candidates, let alone voted into their particular electorate.

Are we that uneducated that we have to have a 'name' or a celebrity that ensures we vote for a particular candidate.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the 'Governator' of California in what can only be described as a joke and here we are starting to vote in similar people to run our country.

It is laughable because they have no experience, knowledge or understanding of politics making a mockery of their party and the party process for candidates who may never become politicians in their own right.

Get real Labor, Liberal and Australia and start choosing people to represent your parties who are not only educated but are qualified to represent their electorate.

Bring in Bollinger for Boxing Day

Bollinger...who? Doug Bollinger a relatively unknown cricketer. More specifically he is a left arm fast bowler from New South Wales who is proving to be a real handful to batsmen.

Bollinger is currently playing Tasmania and has so far picked up 12 wickets for the match and may possibly grab another 4 before the match has been completed.

His pace, bounce, line and length is a talking point as the Australian selectors watch on for the next month before the Boxing Day Test against India.

If Ashley Noffke is fit he will also pressure the bowling attack as will Shaun Tait.

Overall the Australian team had a convincing series win against the Sri Lankans. The bowlers completed their job grabbing all 40 wickets but did they do their job well?

Brett Lee was outstanding. He really bowled with aggression, grunt and speed but it was thoughtful bowling. Lee has definitely matured as a bowler and is developing plans, learning how to get batsmen out, which he executed almost perfectly.

Stuart Clark was disappointing especially on the final morning of the Tasmanian test. His lengths at times were reminiscent of his Ashes 2006/2007 form but he was a long way from the top of his game.

Clark's lack of pace will let him down if he cannot consistently bowl accurately as this showed during the series.

Mitchell Johnson shows some promise but he is not the answer in the Test XI. Johnson offers pace and the left armers action but he is far too inconsistent to be damaging.

Johnson needs more time to develop and the selectors should reconsider their pace attack.

MacGill bowled poorly and he and all of Australia know it. Maybe Stuart is past his better days and will have to bowl well in the Pura Cup to see off Brad Hogg who is in career best form.

The selectors will probably back their test winning XI but I think they should consider their bowling options. Imagine a sold out Boxing Day test with Brett Lee and Shaun Tait opening the bowling... that would sting the Indians, excite the crowd and be a very impressive statement to world cricket.

Fast from one end, fast from the other... Australia is menacing!

My Test XI for Boxing Day

1 Matthew Hayden
2 Phil Jaques
3 Ricky Ponting
4 Michael Hussey
5 Michael Clarke
6 Andrew Symonds
7 Adam Gilchrist
8 Brad Hogg
9 Brett Lee
10 Shaun Tait
11 Doug Bollinger
12th Man: Ashley Noffke

They won't change three bowling positions, they should but they won't but the next month of state cricket will be very very interesting

New Sporting Heroes

Cricket and Rugby have for many years been the playground for Australian sporting heroes. Following the retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Stephen Larkham and George Gregan the sporting fan is starting to look at new athletes to idolize.

Surely these traditional Australian sports will develop and nurture new heroes but similarly Rugby League has just lost its hero, Andrew Johns and disgraced and discredited AFL player Ben Cousins will not be idolized like he once was.

As the changing of the guard occurs, a plethora of stars will fill those shoes but the rise of other Australian athletes in less popular sports over this year must be noted.

Mick Fanning has just become the World Champion surfer, one extraordinary feat that has been acknowledged by many Australians.

Casey Stoner become the motor bike Moto GP World Champion increasing the popularity of the sport.

Cadel Evans amazing feat in the Tour de France this year, the only Australian to finish on the winners podium will be even more determined in 2008 to go one better, raising the profile of cycling.

Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and John Aloisi have become household names after the success of the Socceroos in the 2007 world cup, thought unimaginable by the rugby purists prior to their success.

As we enter an era of change, golf, tennis and now even swimming struggle to produce the big stars that command sporting attention and a few new sports are enjoying new exposure thanks to their athletes success.

Get This... You're Fired!

Tony Martin is Australia's best radio talent. He is the funniest, quirkiest most intelligent man on our wireless and the fact that Triple M are axing his show is a disgrace.

Programmer Guy Dobson has said that despite Martin's high ratings, the traditional Triple M listener leaves the station and then may not return when Martin's show finishes.

Get This has been screwed around with three timeslot changes in its two years plus the shows format grew from one to two hours and the team asked for no more money.

The Shebang has failed in the Sydney breakfast slot while Wil and Lehmo are struggling to find an audience.

Is it just me or does a light bulb automatically turn itself on when you hear that?

Two underperforming revenue raising most important shifts of the day and the highest rating best radio show on radio cannot get a gig?

Something is drastically wrong with MMM management who have decided to part company with Get This, 'to concentrate on breakfast and drive'.

Ed Kavalee and Richard Marsland are perfect side-kicks to Martin who bring a total degree of professionalism to radio in an all-round well crafted, presented and produced show.

I certainly hope that DMG has the money and foresight to pick up the show and run with Get This or Australia's best radio show will be destroyed by corporate fools.

When a celebrity is clutching at straws

How do you know when your career is heading down the drain?

Perhaps it is when you accept a second offer at becoming a reality television contestant. When your career appears to be headed for the sunset and no one buys your records, remembers your sporting achievements or cannot recognise you from those b-grade movies you starred in, become a reality television contestant.

Still, if no work comes off this then why not have a shot at another reality television series that screens in the dead of the night with audiences that didn't even know why your on television in the first place and who you really are?

Vanilla Ice for example, an American rapper who spun the tune 'ice ice baby' has appeared in a myriad of reality tv shows and so has Australian Imogen Bailey. Not exactly household names, but hoping to be.

Is there something worse than being a repeat reality tv contestant?

Maybe being a repeat reality tv judge or host like Ian 'Dicko' Dickson. Not only has he starred in Australian Idol but remember his failed venture to 7 working on My Restaurant Rules and Celebrity Survivor. Add into this a weekly trip to the US to judge an American Band Idol-like show.

Surely Kyle Sandilands has learnt this... now he will be fronting Idol and Big Brother

Changing of the Guard

2UE is about to farewell 'golden tonsils' John Laws next month and Fairfax is about to buy the talk station. So what is happening to the contracts of Mike Carlton, Peter Fitsimons and Steve Price and what will 2UE's on air line-up be in 2008?

Following the retirment and death of Stan Zemanek, overnight presenter Stuart Bocking was elevated to presenter of the night time show but this has never been confirmed as a full time gig. This makes you wonder what 2Ue has install for 2008.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported recently that there were a lack of new talent wanting to fill the shoes of John Laws and pointed to the likes of Jason Morrisson (2GB) and Paul Murray (Triple M) becoming the next generation of AM presenters.

Andrew Denton would appear an obvious choice but he has declined the offer to enter radio land again... but never say never Andrew.

So who will fill the 9-12AM shift Monday-Friday on 2UE and networked around a host of other stations?

Faifax may be looking to cut costs and move Steve Price into the slot, broadcasting Price nationally and possibly into Melbourne, where he presented drive before coming to Sydney. This could help AW by moving Neil Mitchell into drive and axing Derryn Hinch.

So what would Mike Carlton do passing Price in the hallway each morning?

Retire. Carlton has done his dash, he has been there he has done that, it's time to hand the batton on to someone else and move into the documentaries and his book writing chapter of his media career.

I think Carlton is very clever, but he is undervalued by 2UE in breakfast and should consider his options.

But my overall darkhorses are George More and Paul B. Kidd. They offer a different start to your weekend on 2UE and make good entertaining radio. As a team, they will also not come under the same pressure that Laws has and provide something totally different to whoever sits in the retiring man's chair.

So my pick for 2UE would be this (if I could have it my way!)

6-9 Andrew Denton
9-12 George More and Paul B Kidd
12-3 John Stanley
3-6 Steve Price
6-8 Sports Today
8-12 Clive Robertson
12-5 Stuart Bocking

The last throw of the dice

A disastrous year for Channel Nine and incoming chief David Gyngell faces an uphill battle rebuilding the network and finding its glory. Christmas could come early for Gyngell who tomorrow night launches Multi-Millionaire hosted by Eddie McGuire in a desperate attempt to win back viewers.

The five-million dollar prize money plus the $10 000 on offer for viewers is the sweetener that will hopefully return viewers to the embattled network. Should Multi-Millionaire work then Gyngell will be at least starting his tenure on the front foot.

Viva Laughlin also debuts after Millionaire with Australian entertainer Hugh Jackman starring. Will Millionaire and Laughlin dethrone Seven’s Monday night power house of Border Security, The Force and City Homicide?

I suggest not, this is the last throw of the dice for Nine as this same week the network launches the doomed to fail new series, The Farmer Wants A Wife. Not a chance that this one will rate or pull any more viewers than McLeod’s season finale last week.

Nine not 'singing' with the Bee

Nine thought their back savior for 2007 would be the 'Singing Bee' but Sunday night audiences didn't think so and the network just scraped the new show into the Top 10, at number 10 with only 1.2 million viewers.

It's disappointing the show 'flopped' after such heavy promotion and media hype, this was set to be Nine's saving grace in an otherwise terrible year.

I watched the show and didn't mind the concept but can see the two major problems as the scheduling, 6.30PM Sunday night is not a game-show slot and the host, Joey Fatone does not resonate with Australian audiences.

Australian viewers don't want an American boy band singer as host of any local programming and he did not seem to have the presence to succeed in our volatile market. Further the 'Singing Bee' should not be scheduled on Sunday at 6.30PM.

Nine's embattled programming could receive a much needed boost at 5.30PM on weeknights where the Singing Bee could really work as a lead in to the news but with a different host.

Imagine if Hugh Jackman, even John Farnham as host or Nine's own Richard Wilkins. I believe these men (or a host of other Australians) would be better received than Joey Fatone.

At least the network is experimenting with variety again but audiences were just not interested...

I wonder how long the Singing Bee will buzz...

Woeful Wallabies

Australian rugby is headed for the doldrums with the Wallabies pathetic performance at the 2007 World Cup losing to the struggling England and bowing out in the quarter finals.

As the nation still absorbs the shock, the curtain falls on the careers of George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and coach John Connolly. A bitter sweet taste is left in every Australian rugby fan paying tribute to Gregan and Larkham but now worried about what the future holds for rugby union in Australia.

The code has suffered in 2007 with decreasing spectator interest, failed Leaguies turned Union players and now the two biggest names calling it a day.

John O'Neill and the Australian Rugby Union will on the surface act calm and say Australian rugby is in a good state but underneath the calmness, the game is suffering.

In John Connolly's short reign as Australian coach, he has experimented with combinations, claimed he could fix the Australian scrum but after the world cup he has taken Australian rugby back even further with no prospects or forwards making the Wallabies a world force. So what has Connolly achieved?

Was his tenure as coach a complete failure or can we see signs of Wallaby improvement?

Apart from Berrick Barnes coming of age at the world cup, the Wallabies need a complete overhaul and despite the comments of former coach Eddie Jones being slammed by the Australian media, when he referred to Connolly's biggest mistake, "making Stirling Mortlock captain", I believe there is some truth in that.

Mortlock is a fine player but to give him the pressure of captaincy and goal kicking when he excells in neither is unwarranted pressure.

The persistance of the ideal forward pack being bigger has failed as Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning and Guy Shepperdson are useless international frontrowers. Wycliff Palu does is not potent enough in the Number 8 position in an overall forward pack that is too slow and not aggressive enough.

Playing Lote Tuqiri on the wing for Australia must surely change now as he is a waste of space and money. Surely the likes of Lachie Turner and Digby Ioane would serve Australia better than Tuqiri.

It will take some time to redevelop the Wallabies, but whoever takes over the coaching role must have the support of the selectors to look towards the next world cup NOW. Short term loss must be viewed in terms of long term gain.

Chris Latham and Nathan Sharpe may not line-up in 2011 and with this in mind, the Wallabies should look to some sort of mix like this:

15. Cameron Shepperd
14. Lachie Turner
13. Drew Mitchell
12. Stirling Mortlock
11. Digby Ioane
10. Matt Giteau
9. Luke Burgess
8. David Lyons
7. George Smith
6. Mitchell Chapman
5. Al Kanar
4. Mark Chisolm
3. Rodney Blake
2. Adam Freir
1. Benn Robinson

BENCH
16. Greg Holmes
17. Totafu Polota-Nau
18. Dan Vickerman
19. David Haigh
20. Berrick Barnes
21. Brett Sheehan
22. Ben Batger

Has Nine given up?

Last week’s television ratings have seen Nine slip further and further behind 7 with only three shows in the top 20 which were, the NRL grand final, NRL grand final entertainment and National Nine News Sunday.

Between Monday and Friday, Nine offer nothing and across all key prime-time audiences, each one of their shows were beaten. Nine has no programming to challenge 7 and the shows that have been commissioned to air must raise eyebrows.

Commercial Breakdown, 1 v 100, Surprise Surprise Gotcha, Just For Laughs are all disgraceful excuses for television. It is embarrassing that we are producing these types of programs as television when this Channel produced The Block, Changing Rooms, Money, Our House, Burkes Backyard which all rated well and had money spent on good production.

Admittedly the Australian television market is not huge and we will never produce as good programming as the American media juggernauts but what is being produced now is a joke. Who wants to see Jackie O in prime time or Dermott Brerton running through a bunch of video clips of paid commercials?

Incoming CEO David Gyngell has been quoted that Nine is, “in a bad way” which is underestimated. His reign and enthusiasm is much needed but it will take Nine a few years if they are to rival Channel 7’s dominance.

Scheduelling needs to be addressed ASAP. It’s a tragedy that ‘Royal Flying Doctor Service’ failed but why was it scheduedled after the poorly rating 1 v100 in a 9.30pm Monday night line-up. Who is making these decisions?

Nine seem to have given up the challenged, much like 10 showing only all repeats on Tuesday nights and they must look to the new year.

The damage can be further done if the network shows no fightback this year because they will struggle to bring viewers back in 2008. Will the Singing Bee save the network?

I expect it to rate well tonight, probably around the 1.5-1.8 million mark and win the slot but it will drop massively next week and the format will not be used in 2008. Why is Joey Fatone, an American pop singer the host? Imagine if Nine had the foresight to hire Hugh Jackman!

The Gift is still to debut, The Farmer Wants a Wife is set to hit our screens soon but was has happened to the promotion at the beginning of 2007 showing a new series ‘…Mania’, much like Invasion never screening or Rome not being given a chance to develop an audience.

Please Mr Gyngell, you are needed now!