re: soundings

Finding it hard to care...

2007-12-19T22:01:00.000+11:00

You've no doubt heard by now that Vega has announced the 2008 breakfast line-up which includes Ian "I'm Dicko, I'm rootable" Dickson, Dave "Pass me the parma" O'Neil and Chrissie "Reality TV got me here" Swan.

I could waffle on about Melbourne radio and the exciting new breakfast teams that are soon to be unleashed on the Melbourne audience but it would all be a lie. Buy yourself a few good cd's and a comfy hammock for Christmas and enjoy the break.

I'm having a break from blogging to work on more lucrative projects, ie: get paid to write. However, I am still interested in reading yours. See you in the comments section.

Catherine Deveny - It IS her fault

2007-12-11T21:15:00.000+11:00

You've heard of Catherine Deveny haven't you?

Loud-mouthed bogan from Coburg. ABC Melbourne radio afternoon fill-in for Richard Stubbs. Television and Opinion writer for The Age. Officially one of Melbourne's 100 Most Influential People. WHEN WILL THIS GIRL STOP? WHEN HER HEAD IS PLASTERED ON THE SIDE OF A SYDNEY ROAD TRAM?

Maybe you live overseas or interstate and haven't had the chance to cast your eye over her smart-arsed motor-mouthed diatribes. For people like you, or for those of you who like nothing better than reading the lucid thoughts of the northern suburbs' favourite crazy lady - I highly recommend Deveny's latest book, "It's Not My Fault They Print Them", published by Black Inc.

The collection features pieces Deveny has written about television (and anything she else she feels like) for The Age over recent years. To be honest I am a Deveny fan, I always flick to the back page of the A2 on Saturdays to find out which show she is carving up with the skill of a samurai (s)wordsmith and my Wednesday morning is not complete without a bowl of muesli, a good scream at the kids and 10 minutes with Deveny and her take on anything that gets her goat.

I could waffle on but let's face it, if you've found your way to this page you have no doubt already formed your opinion and you're either in Team Dev or Team Bolt. I'm just going to throw it over to Deveny to show us he wares. Below please find my favourite lines from the book:

The Grand Prix: "Knuckle-dragging petrol heads, anorexic bottle-blondes marinated in fake tan and middle-aged blokes with man boobs and pimples on their arses paying exorbitant amounts of money to watch cars go fast. What a disgrace. It's no wonder I drink."

Channel 9: "Put me on the Nine board. I'll be boning faster than a butcher's apprentice on Friday arvo."

Vasectomy: "I've made a living out of my own genitals being mutilated for the last seven years, thank you very much."

Valentine's Day: "You were in love once but when you brought them home to meet the family they carved their name in your dad's forehead."

McLeod's Daughters: "If you like your acting like your tables, wooden and with four legs, tune into Mcleod's Daughters."

The Footy Show: "Sit down, shut up and hang on. And ladies bring a plate."

Nick Giannopoulos: "You are like the Daryl Somers of wogs. Like him, you take everything far too seriously. Where's your sense of humour?"

I could give you some more but don't be a cheapskate - go and buy the book yourself. Please enjoy the artwork I have prepared in Catherine's honour.

Mixing it up with the Hoare-Whisperer

2007-11-27T16:56:00.000+11:00

Melbourne's Mix FM looks likely to break with usual breakfast radio tradition and deviate from the unofficial One Lady Policy (OLP). The OLP has only been broken once before in Melbourne in recent years when Vega cobbled together a team at the time of the launch. The original Vega breakfast team consisted of three very talented performers (Denise Scott, Beverly O'Connor, Shaun Micallef) who had absolutely no chemistry together.

More thought has gone into Mix FM's 2008 line up which is rumoured to include three former Austereo personalities. The trio will be replacing the poorly performing double act of Tracey Bartram and Tim Smith.

In other news, George McEncroe finished up a three-year stint with The Cage last Friday. Some of her highlights can be heard here. McEncroe's final show celebrated the end of the season with an outside broadcast and the launch of the Youngcare Apartments. Plenty of well-wishers posted their adoration on George's Blog and hundreds turned up to bid her farewell but McEncroe knew she had made it when a very special guest arrived. Not content to interrupt Ashes Cricket Matches, the Melbourne Cup and Michael Hutchence's funeral serial pest Peter Hoare dropped in to interrupt proceedings in his own inimitable way.

In other radio news:

Triple J have decided on a new female breakfast co-host to replace Myf Warhurst. Expect an announcement next week.

Vega's breakfast team is still unsettled with former Big Brother housemate and DMG favourite Chrissie Swan a very likely starter. Dave O'Neil is apparently still considering whether he will continue with the station.

Age columnist and professional Melbourne shit-stirrer Catherine Deveny will be filling in for Richard Stubbs in the afternoon 1-3pm slot from 3 December for two weeks.

Andrew Bolt sent the following message in for Deveny:

Chuck it to me...

2007-11-19T22:28:00.000+11:00

This is definitely off-topic for me and this blog but I am pretty sure I know who has Gilchrist's ball. When and if that person decides to do the right thing, you will be the first to know.

Triple M Music Jury Dismissed

2007-11-14T22:52:00.000+11:00

In a stunning about-face the judge residing over the Get This murder trial has dismissed members of the Triple M Music Jury. At 9 am yesterday the judge ordered the removal of jury foreman Wayne “Hando” Hando after hearing strong allegations that “Hando” Hando had been taking bribes from the Nickelback fan club and had spent seven years serving as a cadet in the Kiss Army.

The Judge, Brian Jonestown of the Massacre Supreme Court, made his decision in closed chambers, offered no explanation when he announced the ruling in open court then sealed the record that holds the discussion and notes surrounding the decision.

“Hando” Hando is in his mid-forties, has extensive experience in the building industry and had a penchant for eating KFC zinger wings throughout the trial. “Hando” Hando is the third person to be dismissed from the jury since the murder trial of Get This, just under two years old, began five weeks ago.

The dismissal of “Hando” Hando follows the removal on Tuesday of Mike “Frangers” Franger, who was dismissed for engaging in undisclosed misconduct. Legal experts said they suspected that “Frangers” Franger, who is 35 to 45 years old, might have done some of his own research, which could have involved a number of possibilities, including listening to credible music programming on both Triple R and PBS community radio stations in Melbourne.

Dismissal of the three jury members has seen a controversial shift in music programming throughout the 2-4 pm time slot. Songs from Lou Reed’s legendary Transformer album and cult hits from Britpop pioneers The Members have recently been heard.

Triple M Program Director Guy “Dobson” Dobson has found the process tumultuous. “Dobson” Dobson says: “These are confusion times for us at Austereo. It has been chaorific, we prefer our music bland-on-bland - not something for enjoyancing.”

Face Off

2007-11-10T21:24:00.000+11:00

My days aren't all about wasting time getting into arguments on internet forums or playing online scrabble - I do actually like to do something useful every now and again. Take facebook for instance, you know you can spend hours in that joint only to leave with nothing more than the knowledge that you have successfully blocked your stalkerish ex-boyfriend and that challenge games are crap.

One of the areas of great interest to me though are the groups. Pick a topic, any topic and there's bound to be a facebook group dedicated to celebrating or denigrating it.

Triple M's Get This has motivated plenty of action in the groups area. Below are a list of just some of the groups you can join.

Global Movement to Save Get This: 937 members

This is brought to you by the same people who coordinated a rally in Melbourne on 05 November and are planning a farewell party on the day of final broadcast on 23 November. There is even a rally planned for this Saturday in London - I'm sure 50 Aussies toting green and gold backpacks will have the Austereo management reversing their decision immediately. You can jump on one of the discussion boards where folks chat about torrents and seeding - I don't know if they are discussing IVF, equine flu or their own l33t skilz.

They also offer a link to the online petition with over 7600 signatures to date. With comments like this:

MATT FROM MARSLAND
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE WOMAN THAT WENT FISHING WITH 5 GUYS.... SHE WENT HOME WITH A RED SNAPPER!!!

and signatures from Steven Seagal, Harry Manbag and Bob Franklin's mother who "suggested he should go back to England you boring little knob" I can't see this one being enough to sway our truly favourite knob, Guy Dobson.

Stop MMM Axing Get This: 391 members

Maybe these guys organised the rally - if not they certainly have photos of it.

GET THIS '07: Save 'Get This'!!!! Common Triple M... move to Drive time!!! 304 members

This is the group you join if you like exclamation points!!!!!! or can't spell come on!!!!!!!!!!!

and then there's:

Save TripleM's 'Get This' : 682 members

Tony Martin;s 'Get This' is bloody awesome: 770 members

Get This - Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee and Richard Marsland Appreciation Society: 404 members

Ed Kavalee is a Spunk: 103 members

Get This Appreciation Society: 134 members

SAVE GET THIS: 59 members

The Get This fanclub: 23 members

Don't let Triple M axe Get This: 23 members

Save Triple M's Get This: 12 members

and the Newcastle team have the Triple M's 'Get This' Appreciation: 16 members on this one they note the show is hosted by Tony "Saprano" Martin [these guys should be whacked just for that]

In the meantime I have enjoyed sending friend requests to any Australian minor celebrity I can find and thought you may like to know the results:

Ernie Sigley added me no questions asked.

Yahoo Serious sent me a question: "who are you?" Well Yahoo, millions of people are wondering the same of you.

Warwick Capper, Derryn Hinch and someone else I have forgotten are yet to respond.

But the highlight of this experience came just this week when I received this message:

Tom Piotrowski has just compared you with one of his friends and thinks you have a better sense of humor.

If you have any suggestions for other celebs I should hassle please let me know, otherwise I'll be online creating the Guy Dobson facebook group.

Pearls of Wisdom

2007-10-28T21:30:00.000+11:00

In this article Austereo's program director Guy Dobson suggests that Tony Martin's very funny two hour ratings winner Get This may still be in with a chance. Whether Martin wants to continue with Triple M is another matter.

Dobson also talks up the Melbourne breakfast crew for 2008, Pete "Laughs on Me" Hellier and Myf Warhurst.

"There was a great deal of chemistry when we met with Myf," he says. "She'll certainly pass the muster on air. There was total relatability (sic)."

Intrigued by Dobson's free form use of the English language I tracked him down to learn more.*

L: You have said that on meeting Myf Warhurst that there was "total relatability". What does that mean?

GD: What do you think it means? Of course it means that we could relate to her. There was an affinitivity between us.

L: An affinitivity?

GD: Yes, we feel she brings a connectionitive spirit and is identifising for our target audience. Look Woman, don't you get it?

L: Did you just call me "Woman"?

GD: Of course not, I'm not racist.

L: I'm interested to know your thoughts on the Get This team.

GD: Well, they are certainly very enthusiastical which we like. But at times they have displayed just too much tangentialness.

L: I see. There has been some discussion that you didn't like Ed Kavalee's digs at other Austereo team members. What's the problem there?

GD: Three words: Got. Cha. Calls.

L: And Tony Martin has been critical of the Triple M playlist?

GD: I admit that I don't like the way Tony displays such judgementalness towards our playlist and his claims that the playlist is limited is unfair.

L: How would you describe your playlist?

GD: It's very diversic, it's Nickelbackian and Wang Chungified; you can't get better than that.

L: Thank you for your time.

* Or perhaps I just made it up.

New reality television show - Mid Life Crisis

2007-10-19T21:59:00.000+10:00

Coming to a small screen near you...

It is said that those in their middle-age (35-50) experience an intense period of unahppiness, low self-esteem or perhaps start seeking a more meaningful path for their lives.

"Midlife crisis is the notion, popular in certain cultures, that many middle-aged people go through a period of dramatic self doubt brought on by the realization that their life is half over and they haven't accomplished what they once wanted to. Supporters believe that there are other triggers, such as aging in general, menopause, or children leaving home. The result may be a desire to make significant changes in career, marriage or romantic relationship, and other core aspects of day to day life."

The pitch: We take seven people each experiencing a mid-life crisis and over a six month period give them the opportunity to take a new direction in life. Each contestant is initially given three one-hour sessions with a life coach. These sessions assist the contestants to establish measurable goals and give them details for other professionals they may want to use for the twelve week program. A budget of $50,000 is given to each contestant to use as they wish, anything unspent can be retained by the contestant at the completion of filming.

The host: Well-known celebrity in the 35-50 age bracket, television hosting experience, warm and personable, perhaps undergoing his/her own mid-life crisis/sexual orientation reassessment.

The Cast*

The professional team:

Life Coaches: One male/one female annoyingly healthy, good-looking forty-odd year-olds, seemingly nice people with very white teeth. Off camera are a pair of bragging dipsticks playing a petty game of one upmanship with each other.

Financial whiz: Smarmy sports car driving wanker with more money than ethics. Irritates all contestants and cracks onto anything that moves. Later gets caught in embarrassing spit-roast sex romp youtube scandal, great for DVD special features.

Business planner: Portly and charming sensible business adviser with broad business experience and a history of community engagement. Doing this for all the right reasons and forms close relationships with the contestants he helps. Behind the scenes he is genuinely surprised by the shallow manipulation and re-editing employed by the production team. His disgust is evident, great for DVD special features.

Cosmetic surgeon: Repulsive lizard-skinned new-boob salesman who specialises in lifts, tucks, fillers, relaxants and wallet lightening. Has recently married his third wife, a third of his age and in a creepy Stepfordesque manner is remaking her bit by bit.

Dietitian: Highly experienced well-respected woman with sensible shoes and a brain to match. Takes no prisoners, no nonsense and no shit from the production team.

Fitness coach: Hot-looking tanorexic with fake rack, nails, hair extensions and an annoying voice. Spends a lot of time checking herself out in mirrors, all caught on film, great for DVD extras. Forms close relationship with cosmetic surgeon.

Career consultant: Carla is the gentle, thoughtful professional who can guide the contestants through the quagmire that is changing career direction or returning to the workforce.

The contestants:

The bastard:

Alan is a 45 year-old managing director of an importing company that he co-founded ten years ago. He keeps fit by going to the gym three times a week, he keeps himself looking nice by buying the latest suits, he keeps himself amused by investing in the latest technology (gps, blackberry, wii etc) and hanging out with his gang of cashed-up bogan mates from his schooldays. He likes going to Matchbox 20 concerts and smoking cigars. He spends 50% of his time interstate or overseas. He does not cook, clean, shop for groceries, iron or help out around the house at all. He has three primary school-aged children and a very unhappy wife.

The broken hearted:

Dana has just turned 43 and is coming out the other side of a hideously ugly divorce. Her ex-husband was a two-timing manipulative prick who really freaked with her mind. They underwent costly IVF treatment to try to have kids but were not successful. She has retained the property they purchased together but has a massive mortgage. Dana teaches at various local primary schools but her real passion is the small dance school she runs. She is a gifted teacher, her students show real promise and her concerts are amazing. Unfortunately she has terrible organisational and financial skills and this school, although full of potential, is costing her money.

The princess:

Angelique is a forty-something vacuous moron who has had a successful career as a trophy wife. Unfortunately her looks are starting to fade and she has nothing else to fall back on. She has entered the competition as she wants to spend the money on a complete reconstruction: liposuction, botox, boob job, collagen etc.

The slob:

Damian is 44 and married to a great woman, they have three teenage boys. He is a likable rogue who adds the Aussie battler element to the show. Damo used to be a laid-back surfer type but now in his forties he's really just a lazy overweight dude who needs to get his lard arse moving.

The basket case:

Lana is about to turn forty and quite frankly her life is a mess. She has always put herself second to her husband's and children's needs and now finds herself uneducated, overweight and a full-on alcoholic. She works hard to hold it together but her drinking has spiralled out of control and to top it off she has started to invest heavily in the pokies. Her marriage and other relationships are falling apart and despite several stints in rehab she keeps falling off the wagon. Lana's story is milked for all it is worth.

The mum:

Jean is a 41 year old mother of five kids who wants to make some changes in her life. All her kids are now at school and she is ready to tackle a new career direction and invest some time in herself. She has been working as a part-time accounts book keeper for years but has always been creative and wants to investigate other avenues for employment, get fit and find some more energy.

The new ager:

Marie is in her early-forties and has a newborn baby, she is a single mother. She has worked as an administrator but has been studying and wants to start her own feng shui gardening business. She has a very dreamy, positive attitude that verges on naive but she's usually right.

The performer:

Neil is 46 and has always worked as an actor, musician, performer and entertainer. He has absolutely no money, no assets and has never really had any stable employment. Neil is an amazing performer and has staged solo shows in various festivals. Neil is truly talented and his story is inspiring but he wants a bit of security in his bohemian lifestyle.

I won't bore you with the in-between bits but I will let you know what happens to them all.

* It is possible that I have met every single one of these people.

Vega you have been handed a lifeline - grab it NOW!

2007-10-15T19:27:00.000+10:00

The most enthusiastic, over-researched and funniest radio show on air Get This with Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee and Rishard Marsland has just been axed by Triple M. As suggested just TWO DAYS AGO PEOPLE, Vega should snap them up.

This is the opportunity to realunch Vega and actually offer something different for an intelligent audience who want a bit of popular culture mixed in with a liberal serve of juvenile humour. Vega will have to relaunch their breakfast show (I'm telling you folks the Dave O'Neil/Chris Hatzis team WILL work)* so why not give the whole station a going over and a bit of energy.

It will be interesting to see how Triple M fare next year with Peter Helliar and Myf Warhurst serving up the 6-9am froot loops instead of the tired Cage team. If Wil and Lehmo survive with their weak ratings and sexist promotional stunts then Triple M is seriously more rooted** than we thought.

In other news do watch Denton tonight to see the wonderful Colin Hay being interviewed. This interview has been in the can for some time and I have been waiting for it to actually be played but he kept being bumped for sports stars or visiting artists. Anyway watch it, he is a very entertaining man.

And if you haven't already caught up on your Newstopia watching grab it here for the next 48 hours.

* Producer available - contact me
**You won't read that in the Green Guide

Weekend Wrap Up

2007-10-13T11:30:00.000+10:00

The end-of-season radio moves are on, like a jigsaw where the pieces are being rearranged to fit back together, we are seeing some personalities slide over to another station and others hanging up the headphones for other reasons.

Triple M's Melbourne breakfast radio team The Cage is retiring And is to be replaced by ruddy-faced Fat Controller Peter Helliar. Triple J breakfast co-host and Spicks and Specks team leader Myf Warhurst is to join Helliar. Rumours of who would share space with Helliar were wafting around the ether for the last few weeks and the names Petty, Zemiro and Bickmore were bandied around. One thing was always going to be certain - Helliar would not be sharing the airspace with any female who got more laughs than him. Is Helliar the new Daryl Somers of Australian entertainment? You decide?

It was interesting to note that Helliar is looking "forward to putting together a great team over the coming months..." so don't get ahead of yourself Myf - this is Pete's gig and you'll be joining him and Strauchnie for the ride. What will the show be called?

"I plan to call it Peter Helliar's Breakfast Bonanza, Myf's name will appear on the website and of course listeners will hear her voice, most likely cracking up over my jokes." Peter Helliar*

Over at Vega Denise Scott and Shaun Micallef are heading off to pursue other interests. The always likable and versatile Scott has a book deal and Micallef will concentrate on his very promising new satirical television show Newstopia. Unbelievably there have been reports that Grubby and DeeDee are rumoured to slip over to Vega. The sound of another nail is heard being banged into Vega's coffin.

Vega was a great idea that never took off and instead of nurturing it management clipped its wings and tried to make it look like every other oldies hits of the 80s, 90s and now station. I had visions of a Triple J morning show circa early 90s with Angela Catterns: weekly regular guests talking dream analysis, television, naturopathy and more I cannot exactly recall. Instead we got a cobbled together breakfast team that were given no direction and a short-lived shot at an alternative talk radio format. Now it's a backannouncer's barnyard with Elton John, Billy Joel and Robbie Williams.

If Vega want to lift their fortunes they should:**

Hang on to Dave O'Neil and give him a bit of licence to put together his own team. O'Neil has a huge portfolio of Melbourne radio experience including years at Triple R (Cat Corner anyone?), he has loyal fans and doesn't mind acting the dag. If Chris Hatzis could be enticed to join him Vega would be on a definite winner.

Poach the Martin/Kavalee/Marsland winner Get This from Triple M. Give them three hours from 9-12 and a very loose leash. Martin appears to despise the Triple M playlist so let him pick his own four songs per hour.

I don't know about the afternoons yet but leave it with me.

In Nation-Watch, Mick Molloy and his show disappeared without a trace. No press releases, no media coverage, it just disappeared. Anthony LaPaglia and his team have been hired to track the shows final movements, when found all episodes will be buried in a time capsule next to the dog-poop zone at the nearest park.

*The recordings were muffled maybe these aren't the EXACT quotes.

**I don't like giving advice all the time.

Weekend Wrap-Up coming up...

2007-10-13T11:27:00.000+10:00

I think it has become obvious that my blog posts are dwindling. I blame work, and a bad cold and you know, facebook and stuff.

Anyway, I still intend to post occasionally and comment often. I am thinking of a week-end wrap up...coming soon.

Political satire with a girly chaser...

2007-09-18T11:42:00.001+10:00

I have previously made my feelings known about The Chaser team on this here blog. Recently I discussed the television show at a work meeting, my colleagues were aghast - it was if I had said, "Four Corners is gutter journalism at its finest". The only person who shared my view was my ridicuously hysterical workmate who is addicted to rsvp.com and carries a perky leather manbag. He is bang up for a bit of lady action but is frequently mistaken for a lesbian - go figure.

They have done some great work over the years and they never serve up lazy television. The show has a great pace and honestly any team that can come up with the idea of dressing Lawrence Leung as the gay Tellytubby and trying to get into The Peel is clever. Like you, and the other 2.3 million Australians I watched the show last week. I have never said these guys aren't talented and funny and their APEC stunt was very interesting to watch. I don't think they ever imagined they would have been permitted to advance so far. But one thing really bothers me - the way women are represented on their show.

Even though the sketch is a parody of Channel Ten's Californication, it still featured two women dressed as nuns almost-pashing. Even if you splash KEVIN 07 across the front of their outfits, include it in a Led Zepplin parody and pretend you are making a statement on Kev's girly-bar experience, you still have corset-clad babes closing the show.

So I am wondering, even if you present some intelligent political satire, pull some audacious stunts and pad out the show with some mediocre sketches - how is The Chaser team better or different in its treatment of women than say...The Footy Show? Isn't this just the Sydney grammar school version of the boys club but with politics instead of sport? You know none of it would bother me if this was balanced with some other representation of women other than slaggy nuns and girly props. But apart from a member of the production team in a vet sketch and the bewildered receptionist at the Chinese embassy, these were the only females on show.

Why does it bug me so much? Am I being over-sensitive or doesn't anyone else notice?

Vinegar Hits

2007-09-15T11:06:00.000+10:00

We interrupt this temporary break in transmission to bring you a little feast for your ears and eyes. Check out the fantastic Skipping Girl Vinegar (if you don't appreciate that name then you are deliciously young and should immerse yourself in researching Australian icons) and their new song "One Chance".

The song is smoking (to quote from the press release) but the clip is even better. Check it out below and check them out at the best Melbourne venue since The Continental, the gorgeous Toff in Town on Saturday 22 September in Melbourne.

Remember me?

2007-09-04T14:17:00.000+10:00

Hi there readers, friends, Nation-watchers and surfers looking for "nikki osborne + boobs"

I haven't abandoned you.

However I have been on temporary leave for a myriad of reasons. These include: holidays, special projects, study, extra work and a really annoying problem with my router that has me currently stretching a 20 metre cable through my house. I almost forgot that I haven't had much to say either.

Re:soundings will have new posts from next week.

But before I go...

WTF happened to Nikki? She has just slipped from our screens without a word.

Yours
L
x x

Mick Celebrates Nine Shows with Nothing New

2007-08-02T09:45:00.000+10:00

I know, what would this blog be if it weren't for Mick Molloy and his shambolic show The Nation to write about?

But stuff it, it's my blog and if I choose to dissect his latest foray into late, or should I say late-late night television, I will.

With a brief shift into half-decent entertainment last week, The Nation slipped firmly back into mediocrity last night. You probably missed it so I'll give you the juice here:

Secret Women's Business returned with Amanda Keller and Julia Zemiro. I love Julia Zemiro - she's a sharp cool/daggy mix all bundled up into an extremely appealing package. Amanda Keller has quite a few fans, she can think on her feet and brandishes a whip-smart motormouth, she's not my cup of ginger zinger with a dash of honey but she knows how to work it. Unfortunately these two couldn't save Mick's show. What is it with the whole 'Secret Women's Business' angle and the kitschy graphic of 1950's housewives anyway?
Last week Kate Langbroek appeared in a sketch and later as a guest. Even though she chatted with Mick about having three kids and putting her rock and liquor-loving husband on a curfew - she didn't have to be introduced under the guise of revealing 'Secret Women's Business'. Mind you, she worked brilliantly with Mick, asking him about still being single and laughing good-naturedly at her own expense. It really drove home the two very important lessons that Mick and his brothers should learn - casting and chemistry.
It appears that Akmal and Jackie O now alternate their spot at the desk each week. Hmmm one week vapid celeb goss (with credibility-raising laptop prop) at least two days past its use-by date and the next...current affairs with a comedic twist. Apparently you can see that connection from the moon.
It seems that Nikki Osborne has left the building. No-one noticed. Maybe she's out trying to find a third k to put into her name? Will she reappear as one of the chicks on Aerobics Oz Style? Mick's already put it on record that nailing one of those beauties is one of his things to do before he dies.
Dave O'Neil was a guest, talking up his new book 'Everything Tastes Better Crumbed' and appearing as a slobby Tour de France racer. I love Dave, and quite frankly I think he's onto something with his crumbing adventure. I mean even eggplant, which I despise, is edible once dipped in crumbs and dripping in saturated fat.
Tiffany Cherry really is very good. But must we intersperse her sporting segments with pervy bikini shots from Natalie Gulbis' latest FHM spread?

It looks like The Nation is going to be allowed to see out its run of eleven or twelve shows. I doubt it will get renewed but it serves as a great case study into how to make good television.

I'm not going to bang on about casting, chemistry, instincts, forethought or good writing. I'm not going to waffle on about getting more funny women on our small screens. I'm not going to open the window and scream out "Mick you're not a host! Produce by all means, but don't make yourself a star." Why would I?

Extreme Makeover for The Nation

2007-07-24T21:45:00.000+10:00

The Nation attracted 363,000 nationally and 109,00 average in Melbourne last week. So they've called me in for an emergency meeting at Channel Nine to discuss how The Nation could be salvaged.

This is my prescription:

1 dose of bad dancing (subtitles optional)

1 drunk crazy-woman (tatts optional)

1 litre of intuition

Liberal amounts of chemistry

A dose of good vox-pops

One decent sketch per night

A killer closing musical act (tatts optional)

Apply immediately, you should notice an improvement within a week.

This one's for you little Johnny Hunt

2007-07-22T22:35:00.000+10:00

Listen to this from John Lennon's Mind Games. Released in 1973, still relevant today.

Wil & Lehmo Serve Up a Hot Dish of Sexism

2007-07-16T22:15:00.000+10:00

Maybe you're one of the dwindling audience members from Wil & Lehmo's Triple M drive show and you're totally across their crazy pranks and gimmicks. Maybe you're a fan from their stints on television and the stand-up circuit. Maybe you're just some freak who spends too much time on the net googling radio stars. Whatever. The point is...

Don't miss your opportunity to enter their ground-breaking new competition - Wil & Lemo's Hot Mamas!

I haven't heard a lot of their show, mainly because each time I've tuned in I've nearly fallen asleep at the wheel, but all that is about to change. These guys are so down with the ladies and getting up in our grills with all their feminism and shit, man they've practically got vaginas!

Wil and Lemo are on the lookout for Australia's HOTTEST MAMA. All you have to do is tell them in 25 words or less why you are so totally hot right now and send in your most recent glamour shot you could be in the running for either a $1000 shopping spree if you are a state finalist or $5000 if you are the overall HOTTEST MAMA in the whole of Australia.

In case you aren't sure what they have in mind they have posted a slideshow on their webpage of celebrity HOT MAMAS! This slideshow celebrates women for all the right reasons:

International Orphan Reduction Program - Angelina Jolie & Madonna

Dedication to the Arts - Gwyneth Paltrow

Immaculate Conception - Katie Holmes

Poetry - Bec Hewitt

Lehmo has been promoting this trumped up beauty contest as "empowering for women". "Empowering", I hate the way this word gets bandied around, what it actually means is to equip someone with ability or to invest with power. So let's try it in a sentence:

"I sent in a snap of me wearing a pink g-string and two cans of Southern and Coke. I feel I now have the strength to find that cure for cancer."

"Ever since Wil and Lehmo gave me $5000 because they think I am HOT I just feel like I rule the tuck shop."

So if you are like one the celebs pictured in the slideshow and have a personal trainer, stylist and private pilates instructor - enter now.

If you are a tired, overworked mum struggling to hold it all together and you haven't looked in the mirror since 2003 - well, suffer in your fat Nana pants - these boys just aren't interested.

Stay tuned for their upcoming comps:

Firey Amputees
Deaf, Dumb and Dirrrrty
Naughty Naked Nanas

You know why this bothers me? Because I think my mum is just about the hottest mama you could find. Not just because she is beautiful but because she has been the most selfless mother, caring grandmother and bravest of cancer battlers. I would love nothing more than to celebrate her "hotness" with a $5000 prize. C'mon guys, haven't you figured out that women are worth celebrating for reasons other than their "hotness"?

Martin v Molloy

2007-07-16T10:09:00.000+10:00

I know this is last week's news - but I've been busy.

Tony Martin and Mick Molloy have fallen out over a mockumentary made by Martin has not been included in the DVD release of Boytown.

The film was axed from the DVD, with the Molloy camp blaming a lack of time and money to finish it. Martin has told the Herald Sun he was disappointed his 90-minute film was left off. "I do think that it's probably one of the two or three best things I've ever done," he said.

John Molloy, Mick Molloy's brother and producing partner, said the film was scrapped because the team ran out of post-production money and time. "There was amazing raw footage there, absolutely," he said. "But it's a huge process to try and bring something like that to the final product and, unfortunately, we ran out of the time and resources to do it."

But Martin said he offered to pay the estimated $5000 post-production bill himself. He said he was speaking out because so many people knew it was made and were now wondering what happened to it. "Everyone assumes the reason the film wasn't included is it must be terrible," he said. "The exact opposite is true. I'm in the awkward position where possibly the best thing I've done has become a blight on my reputation."

Now I really want to see it and I didn't even bother with Boytown.

One step away from a boning...

2007-07-05T22:43:00.000+10:00

The Nation takes a step closer to a boning:

The Nation, which reached a series low on Tuesday night with 548,000 viewers, will be moved to Wednesdays at 10.30pm from July 11.
The show was a low point for Nine on what was one of the network's worst nights of 2007.
Nine finished the night third in primetime with a paltry 21.2 per cent audience share behind Seven on 34.8 per cent and Ten on 23.8.

While the show has failed to connect with viewers, a statement from Nine confirmed its commitment to Molloy's embattled project.
"Channel 9 is a great supporter of Mick Molloy and wants to give the show an opportunity to grow and build its audience," the statement said.
Molloy may have a better chance at surviving to his eighth episode, which he said was his target in order to match his previous axed talk show on Nine.
"We are rapt to have the opportunity to reshape the show for a late night timeslot," Molloy said.
"Wednesday night at 10.30 feels much more like my natural habitat and I look forward to crushing Sandra Sully like an ant."

Oh well, I guess that what happens when you make tv on the run?

Last-minute Secret Women's Biz

2007-07-04T21:41:00.001+10:00

I know what you're thinking - this chick is obsessed with Mick Molloy and The Nation. Right? Well I guess I am extremely interested in the fortunes of this show. I just can't leave it alone. If you're reading this then you're probably border-line obsessed too, the show is five weeks old.

But I'm guessing you're feeling disappointed like I am. You remember the D-Generation on radio, The Late Show on the ABC, Mick Molloy in a white helmet being squashed into a cannon by Rob Sitch, Mick Molloy and Tony Martin dressing up as a donkey (?) and sneaking into the Job Warehouse in Melbourne. You think of those times and remember how much you admired that team, you wanted to see what they would do next, you looked forward to watching television and maybe you haven't had that same passion for a show since?

And that's what's missing. Where's all the fun gone? Where's all the passion? It's obviously still with certain members. Tony Martin could never be accused of being unenthusiastic in his research and preparation for his hilarious two hour daily radio program. The Working Dog team have brought us The Panel and Thank God You're Here, they're creating new shows. Shows that they would like to watch themselves if they were sitting around at home instead of chatting at a desk or judging improv from the audience.

The Panel didn't start out as a perfect show. The numbers changed, the cast changed, the format got tweaked but eventually they found their happy place and sat there very comfortably. It wasn't always exciting, it wasn't controversial, it wasn't ground-breaking but it was interesting, live and usually very good viewing. Thank God You're Here is a solid performing show. It rates well. The guests change weekly so that you are bound to have at least one very good performance at least. (I have issue with their one woman per show policy - but I'm hoping that will be rectified this season.) It's real family viewing with a broad appeal that isn't done much these days. Both these shows have something going for them that The Nation lacks - the creators, guests and cast look like they are enjoying themselves. They look like they care. It appears that some thought has gone into each episode and it also seems that they know their audience.

So what is Mick Molloy thinking? In the first five weeks of The Nation we have had:

One musical act closing the show

One fake vox pop segment

Three episodes of a mock soap "Guantanamo Bay"

Five stupid entertainment reports from Jackie O

One political guest Peter Garrett

One sporting guest Andrew Bogut

Akmal at the desk each week

One special guest appearing in sketches, Stephen Curry

Some mock-imitations from Gary Eck (I think two)

The addition of Pete Smith as on-camera voice overs

Gratuitous perving (see sport report last week)

Mock sponsors that included a designer surgical gown and designer colostomy bag (neither were funny)

The Chaser boys as guests (complete with a very funny sketch imagining their show on Nine)

Nikki Osborne doing pretty much sweet FA

And now the Molloy Boys have decided to add a bit of female content at the last minute by inviting Amanda Keller and Fiona O'Loughlin on to chat about "Secret Women's Business".

It was obviously a last-minute addition to the show. Keller had worked up a bit of material on an advertisement about post-baby breast surgery. Keller can do this stuff standing on her head. O'Loughlin is really one of our best comedians and extremely likable but it didn't seem like she had been given much time to prepare for what was obviously a cobbled-together idea.

Part of me is pleased that Molloy is trying something different, trying to appeal to a broader audience and not catering to the blokey market but then again the whole thing is quite insulting. What took him so long and why didn't he think about this more in the first place? This show is being created on the run, that's just lazy tv. Who did he think was going to watch this show? His fans from the D-Gen and Late Show days would be in their thirties/forties by now, there are no fans from his previous solo effort on telly and let's face it - he's no Hamish or Andy or Rove.

He's a forty year-old bloke, unmarried, no kids and with a fairly large chunk of disposable income. Young chicks aren't tuning in to catch the hot spunks. High-brows aren't tuning in for the cutting-edge satire. Women tuned out in the first week because of the cast list of male comedians and girly dolly-birds and the Ralph TV ads. Old faithfuls have tuned out because he's a disappointment and not offering what they thought he would and a new audience can't find anything to grip onto. Are there going to be vox pops, comedians, sketches, live music, secret women's business or something altogether different next week?

Don't get me wrong, there is room for show of this kind on television. But unfortunately Mick and his brothers aren't making it happen. Molloy said it best when he closed the show last night: "A week is a long time in television."

Secret Women's Business with Mick Molloy?

2007-07-03T18:07:00.000+10:00

Hey girls great news! Tonight Mick down-with-the-ladies Molloy promises to bring us some entertaining "secret women's business" on his ground-breaking televisual phenomenon The Nation.

The press release states that tonight Fiona O'Loughlin and Amanda Keller will "shape up to Mick." But unfortunately the release doesn't answer the important questions: What will they be wearing? Will it involve a wading pool and copious amounts of baked beans? Does Mick fancy them?

Mick Molloy may have been heard to utter the following statements today:*

"Just because they're older doesn't mean they're not rootable. It just means that I don't find them rootable."

"It's going to be interesting. Apart from my mum I pretty much only talk to chicks in bikinis - and there's not a lot of talking involved if you know what I mean."

"Why would you say I was out of touch with my audience? I would like to touch up quite a lot of them."

*Or perhaps I just made them up?

The Ladies' Lounge #2 with Bev Killick

2007-07-01T18:09:00.000+10:00

If you haven't realised it already we're mad for raucously funny women and so The Ladies' Lounge was born. This is an opportunity to sit down for a few quiet ones and shoot the breeze with a fabulous female. Fresh from a stint as the first female comedian to entertain the troops re: soundings is delighted to welcome the very talented Bev Killick to the lounge.

*applause*

The bar’s open Bev, name your poison.

I'm partial to a Southern and Coke or five. On a hot day I don't mind a nice cold beer. A Pina Colada doesn't go astray if I'm cashed up.

Our shout, have one of each. You have worked in theatre, television, radio and stand-up, you have a recipe in the “Laughing Stock” cookbook and apparently you’re a pretty good dancer. Isn’t there something you can’t do?

This is a hard question, I'm not too fond of heights so bungee jumping is not on the list. Ball sports are out, and my modelling days are over.

You’ve just finished your tour of duty in The Solomon Islands, the first female comedian to entertain the troops. How did it all go?

Sounds ominous,entertaining the troops?..........It was an awesome experience, the AFP and the ADF guys and girls had been looking forward to the shows for months. They love anyone from the "outside" coming in. New fodder,fresh conversation.

The concerts at the base were exceptional. I took on an MC comedy role and introduced the other artists. The Screaming Jets headlined. During the day we trekked off either by jeep or helicopter to outposts where the guys were starving for a bit of "something different" to think about. The villagers watched on, and loved the mini-shows put on under trees or set up on makeshift stages.

They really loved to just have a chat about home back in Australia. I especially loved one on one joke-telling to the interested. The women on the tour stayed in demountable units, the guys roughed it in the tents. So being a chick has its advantages. There are quite a few female army and police and they appreciated a female perspective. Especially a naughty dirty little Bev show.

What were the gigs like? Were they very different from a gig in a pub back home?

Totally different at the out posts. The pub gig on the first night was just like home. The audience were hanging on every word, they didn't take the show for granted. The laughs were big and loud, like they needed a release. The shows at the villages and prison were hot hot hot! The army guys looked after us and kept us well hydrated and sunscreened. One day was 38 deg with 90% humidity, but we still managed to do a two hour show. Singing under a tree. Just looking at the faces in the crowd and how much they were enjoying it keeps you going and not fainting from exhaustion, which is what I felt like, deep on the inside.

You put on a brave, sometimes cringe-inducing but always hilarious performance in D-Cuppetry this year at The Melbourne International Comedy Festival. You were called in when original performer took a tumble and broke her ankle. How do you prepare for a role like that?

You basically take your top off and get on with it. Nah, we had a 2 week rehearsal with Terence O'Connell, choreography and many tech runs. I learnt the script in a short amount of time, once you have one show under your belt it stays in your head. Umbrella Revolution was a great space, but taking it to big theatres felt more like home. Every thing became grander and we had more space to play. I really enjoyed working with Emma Powell, she has a great stage craft and sensibility. We have a fairly big year planned next year with some theatre residencies around the country.

D-Cuppetry was surprisingly good, clean fun. Did you have as much fun on stage as we had in the audience?

It was exhilarating, I've always been an exhibitionist, so the show suited my innate desires. I love to shock, so seeing a room full of people gasping for air hit the spot. It is a good fun clean show, once you get over the nudity part you just kinda settle in and become entertained and educated, (I hope).

Tell the truth Bev, did you get your kit off on stage just to embarrass your teenage son?

Noooo, I'm beyond embarrassing him now. He came to the show and quite seriously enjoyed it. If he did complain, I just told him "Those tits put a steak dinner on the table". Someone asked him after the show if he was embarrassed and he just said "Nup, those boobs breastfed me for the first two years of my life and I'm very proud of them!"

You were also excellent in the ensemble piece Parental As Anything. How did that show come about?

Mick Meredith and I wanted to do a show with a parent theme. Wendy Little and Carolyn Chillura also approached me with a similar idea. I thought we may as well join forces and save costs. It was refreshing to work as an ensemble and not have to do everything yourself, split costs, ideas, workshop and perform together. The parents that saw the show sure did relate to it. The "babes in arms sessions" were a winner. I mean, when can you go out when you have a new bubba?

You appeared on the recently-boned The Catch-Up. Did Zoe Sheridan honestly not get Mick Meredith’s joke or was that all set up?

She honestly DID NOT get that joke. Which is cute and innocent. The joke was I have two kids 6 and 8 that's not their age that's their names. The kids next door are 3 and 7 and they're just odd.

Who are your comedy heroes?

Jenny Eclair, Bette Midler, Jane Turner, Gina Riley.

How do you think the world of stand-up comedy is different for men and women?

When you're in it you don't notice the difference. I've honestly not had a hard time getting along with the blokes. Pay scale can be different sometimes but not that often. I get a bit sick of, "Gee you're funny for a female comic." Actually it's best to not get me started on this topic. I work as much as any male comic on the circuit and I'm grateful for that.

Bev, Channel 7 has Daryl Somers making a pilot for a Saturday night variety show. Imagine Daryl has had a very unfortunate accident and you have been asked to step in. What sort of show would you put together and who would you have on?

I'd love to host a show that was a party, dinner type situation and didn't put celebs and guests in a normal interview situation, and let them let their hair down. A barbecue or playground, jumping castle, bathtub,anywhere but a table and chair type boring set up. I'd have comic friends on set and on stand by to do 5 at whim. Loads of surprises,like "This is Your Life" dredging up celebrities' long lost family and friends and a pass the parcel game.

What can we expect to see Bev Killick doing next?

Sydney early July; Brisbane late July; Broome in August; and a solo tour West OZ in September. With the possibility of peace keeping shows in the Middle East, Timor and Egypt. Austereo are looking at a radio demo at present and my management are casting a net for TV appearances. But if you want to find me I have a permanent booking at the local Trivia night at the Angel Tavern, every Tuesday (our team is called the Brainiacs).

Thanks for popping into The Ladies’ Lounge, can we tempt you back with a Pimms another day?

Sure as long as they are garnished with cucumber, orange and a good hour long dirty girly chat.

Check out Bev's myspace page here

Miss (you) Melbourne meets The Nation

2007-06-28T21:54:00.000+10:00

Now I understand why all the funny women are missing from our television screens. It's because Janet McLeod has them all holed up in Trades Hall entertaining swarms of Melbourne comedy lovers.

McLeod received a $15,000 arts grant from the Melbourne City Council to produce Miss (You) Melbourne, an 11-night series of evenings featuring fantastic female comics talking about their experiences of life in Melbourne.

The production features a revolving cast of female comedians and tonight's line-up included:

Man, that Janet McLeod knows how to throw a party. There's a home-made art installation in the foyer, Janet greets you at the door looking all Melbourne-glamour-goth fantastic in a red corset and patent-leather lace-up boots and before the show officially kicks off Janet warms up the crowd with a quick game of heads and tails and a door prize of a block of chocolate and a hand-knitted pink donut crafted by McLeod's mother. The show begins with McLeod's quirky multimedia presentation and then we're straight into five 15 minute stand-up routines.

The audience was certainly diverse with young Fitzroy coolsies in funky-spex, bookish couples in cardigans mixing it up with middle-aged mums on a girls' night out and father and son man-dates. But wherever they came from, or whatever their leanings this audience lapped it all up. There were no flat spots in the whole evening and some excellent material from Lossano and Quinn. Although if you had to single out one stand-out performance it would have to be from Corinne Grant who had the crowd in hysterics as she recounted her introduction to Melbourne as a wide-eyed work-experience kid. We could really use her back on our telly screens.

So while McLeod is celebrating Melbourne and women and comedy and hosting a bloody good night out - over at Channel Nine Mick Molloy is struggling on with The Nation and still not listening to the reams of advice I have left for him on this blog. The outrage!

If you want to go back to the 1960's just check out the sporting segment on Episode 4 of The Nation. There's some chatter about sport but even better you get to see tennis player Maria Sharapova rolling in the sand in a bikini and some nudie shots from US swimmer Amanda Beard's Playboy shoot.

I got two laughs during Molloy's show and neither of them involved Molloy - there was Gary Eck doing a stand-up routine in character as a death-row inmate and actually Akmal pulled out a few good ones in his chat at the desk.

After seeing a show like Miss (You) Melbourne that's full of energy, talent, excitement and laughs it just makes me feel that The Nation is a really just a lazy, lacklustre effort that promised to be so much more.

Sorry but MS Paint just keeps pulling me back...

Apologies

2007-06-26T12:22:00.000+10:00

It is true that my recent shenanigans with MS Paint have been nothing but immature and ridiculous. But it was fun.

Proper blogging returns tomorrow with reviews and interviews and all things grown-up.

Does the Beard Maketh the Mirth?

2007-06-22T23:26:00.000+10:00

UK comedian Daniel Kitson has had a long-standing dislike for The Age's backpage dirt-dishers, Diary. Rumour has it that it all started when Suzanne Carbone approached Kitson to chat about an article she was writing about comedians with beards. Or funny beards. Or men having fun with beards.

Perhaps it was part of a series linking humour to hair? Later columns were to look at the power of laughter when linked to baldness, brazilian waxes and troll dolls.

I never read the article. Maybe it was never written. I can only try and recreate it visually here and test Carbone's theory that men with beards are funny.

First sample: Daniel Kitson

"I ate your thesaurus and all I got was this voluminous vocabulary and
perspicacious wit!"

So far, so good. Let's test it again with the thinking latte-sipping left-leaning woman's sexy-man and former bed-pimp, Rod Quantock.

Hey, Rod Quantock certainly supports Carbone's theory.

Let's give philosophical carrot-lover Dave Callan a crack.

Don't mind if I do Dave.

But wait, what if the beard is worn by a man who ISN'T a fully-fledged comedian? Will he still be funny?

ABC 774 broadcaster Jon Faine slides into the test tube. He is a man with a beard after all.

Hmmmm, he has his moments but he kind of lost me at the "Take my mother-in-law..." bit.

Alright, so what happens if you add a beard to someone not renowned for their wit? Does he instantly become funny?

"I’ve never believed in lower wages. Never. Never believed in lower wages, I’ve
never believed in lower wages as an economic instrument."

"I'd like to be seen as an average Australian bloke. I can't think of... I can't
think of a nobler description of anybody than to be called an average Australian
bloke."

"We won't just automatically click our heels and follow the Americans."

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhh, my sides just split!

Never seen in the same place at the same time...

2007-06-21T19:21:00.001+10:00

Possibly separated at birth?

The Chaser's Chas Licciardello and Australian Idol microphone-tapper [no pun intended] Anthony Callea.

Oh well, it could be worse...

Our Work is Done

2007-06-21T09:57:00.000+10:00

Yes, yes, yes I have been harping on for weeks here, here, here and here about blokey television and the lack of funny women on air.

Finally the mainstream media have decided to have something to say about it too. And all three of them in less than a week.

Read Melinda Houston's piece in The Sunday Age here.

Read Catherine Deveny's op-ed rant here.

Read Marieke Hardy's take on it here.

Dead Man Walking - The Nation Episode Three

2007-06-20T10:22:00.000+10:00

Episode Three of Mick Molloy's The Nation was close to the most depressing hour of Australian television I've ever seen. There was a complete air of failure and everything about it seemed forced. Even Mick Molloy acted like the show was already axed with chatter about dismal ratings with guest Peter Rowsthorn. If this is the show that Mick Molloy wanted to make and thinks is good television then I'm afraid to say, this guy has lost it. I can't even be bothered giving you a run through, just trust me, this show has 2 more eps - tops.

The Nation - Episode 2

2007-06-15T20:23:00.000+10:00

After what I have already had to say here and here and here and here I thought you would be sick of reading my thoughts on Mick Molloy's intriguing mish-mash The Nation. But judging from the stats - I was clearly wrong.

So you want to know what I thought of episode 2?

I thought it was a slight improvement but still has a long way to go. Perhaps this is best said in pictures.

Welll do you girls?

If the dismal ratings and varied reactions are anything to go by then some changes need to be made. Otherwise it's off to the crap heap with Libbi Gore and her plastically enhanced mates from The Catch-Up.

So what would I do differently?

Never sign on all the talent at the start. Remember when The Panel started? They had a six-seater desk and a set panel. It didn't take long for them to realise that five was better than six and that a revolving panel worked better. Then they could keep the same formula but freshen it up each week with some changing faces. Obviously you have a regular crew but you share it around - like they do with Thank God You're Here. So instead of having Akmal sitting at the desk each week - have someone different. There are absolutely heaps of amazing, talented, local comedians out there - bring them on. People who don't like Akmal are already tuning out but if next week Greg Fleet or Denise Scott or Cal Wilson is going to be doing the desk chat and the punter likes him/her - they're back.

If you're going to do vox pops do them well - not some pathetic poor imitation of something The Chaser boys might have done.

Don't disrespect your female audience. Please. Hire some more writers. Hire some female ones. Lose the Ralph TV ads. Don't have hot young ladies fluffing about and average-looking forty-something blokes providing the funny. It doesn't wash. I mean this with no disrespect at all to Nikki Osborne, Tiffany Cherry and Jackie O. They are three fine looking ladies who all have some talent. But what are they required to do? Honestly, Osborne has brought absolutely nothing to this show - maybe she's tried but the Molloy Boys can't see her doing anything other than copping a feel from Calleja in an ordinary sketch?

Lose the sport and entertainment bits. If people really want to know about this they don't want to see it here. The entertainment segment is nothing more than an opportunity to talk about Hollywood startlet trainwrecks and if we want to know about this sort of stuff we'll just log onto one of the many, many websites covering it.

How about using some more local talent with a vox pop/video segment? Did you see Lawrence Leung's show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival? You should have. He has a couple of hilarious short video segments that include him trying some awkward pick-up techniques on the ladies and also doing some excellent breakdancing in a local competition. Use him. Get some other local talent to try their hand at it too.

Mick Molloy - make a show you want to watch. I don't think you are. You are making a show you think people want to watch. But they don't. Trust your gut mate. It's big enough.

Finally I would like to leave you with this thought. A certain broadcaster thinks Mick Molloy would be more comfortable dressed as a dog. What do you think?

It's A Gas PBSfm Tuesdays 3-5pm

2007-06-12T11:52:00.000+10:00

Tuning into 1950's music show "It's A Gas" on Melbourne community radio station on PBS 106.7 on Tuesday 5 June was the best two hours I spent all week. This show encapsulates everything that is great about community radio: passionate presenters, genre-specific music and a well-researched and informative interview with the incredible Wanda Jackson.

A lot of presenters on community radio have specific handles for their shows, think James "Houndog" Young, Fee B Squared or Leaping Larry L. "It's A Gas" is usually presented by the patriotically named Jamie "Dingo" Suppa but for the past two weeks Mike "Hepcat" Heylbut has parked his rockabilly butt in the hotseat for a celebration of the women of rockabilly. The music is rocking and nothing you will usually hear on commercial radio but the highlight is the informed interview with former girlfriend of Elvis Presley and self-confessed Rockabilly Grandma, Wanda Jackson.

Hepcat is clearly a fan and in an enthusiastically gentle way manages to coax Jackson to talk about her incredible experiences in the world of Rockabilly music. Wanda Jackson toured with a young Elvis Presley and had a brief and innocent romance with him that included Elvis giving Jackson his ring, which she still has today. Jackson also recounts the challenges she faced touring with a black pianist, Big Al, in bars that still practiced segregation. Jackson stood by Big Al, it was all or nothing with her and the band. She also talks about brushes with alcohol, finding Jesus and of course her music.

The music featured on "It's A Gas" is all 1950's good times. If you're a music fan of any genre you'll appreciate the old time rock and roll fun packaged up for your listening pleasure. Fortunately PBS has radio on demand which means you can stream shows that have already been broadcast. So if you're reading this and want to hear the show or the interview all you have to do is tap over to the PBS website and you can listen to it too. Luddites might find it confusing so I have put clear instructions at the bottom of this post.

Sample the rockabilly grandma herself. Here's Wanda Jackson with
"A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On"

1. For radio on demand go to the PBS website.

2. You will need to login and set up an account, your email address in your login in the future.

3. On the right hand menu you will see an icon for "ON AIR NOW" - click there.

4. This will open the streaming window.

5. At the top of the streaming window there will be two options "Live" or "Radio on Demand".

6. If you do nothing you hear the current broadcast after a few moments.

7. To listen to archived shows select the "Radio on Demand" option.

8. Select the show from the dropdown menu, eg "It's a Gas".

9. From the drop down menu below select the date and time you want, eg "5 June 1500". (Shows are usually broken into hour long segments.)

10. A red line of text under "Results" will appear - click on this to listen.

11. Sit back and enjoy.

If not Nikki Osborne - then who?

2007-06-08T22:15:00.000+10:00

Every since I wrote that post lamenting the lack of women on Australian television shows I have been inundated with emails and phone calls. Alright, most of the emails have been spam and the phone calls have usually been from my mum. But that's not to say that this hasn't struck a nerve with someone somewhere. There is a lot of talk about this in the industry and I hope there will be a lot more grumbling in the various media outlets soon.

Last Monday Meshel Laurie had Nikki Osborne as her guest on the Nova Breakfast radio show in Brisbane. Meshel asked Nikki about her role in Mick Molloy's new show, The Nation and the fact that all the guys are comedians and the girls, well...aren't. Nikki went on to chat about her 'acting ability' and that she is heavily involved in the sketch element of the show. Listen to it here.

On the fist episode of The Nation Nikki Osborne did pretty much nothing except a pathetic Paris Hilton imitation so if that's what she deems as 'heavily involved' then don't blink or you could miss the rest of her extensive body of work.

It's easy to see why Nikki Osborne would take the role. What a great opportunity for someone whose been soliciting text messages from late-night pervy viewers to jump into a prime-time show with some experienced players. It's not her fault she was born drop-dead gorgeous. But it does tell us a lot about the thinking behind the Molloy Boy production team.

OK, so I'm not happy with Nikki or Jackie O.

So who are re: soundings favourite women we would love to see on television? Below I've listed some favourite personalities/broadcasters/writers/comedians and other chicks we dig.

Denise Scott

Judith Lucy

Kate McLennan

Julie McCrossin

Sam Lane

Catherine Deveny

Jennifer Byrne

Meshel Laurie

Fee Bamford-Bracher

Kate Langbroek

George McEncroe

Bev Killick

Kim Hope

Myf Warhurst

Sonia Kruger

Fiona O'Loughlin

Libbi Gorr

Cal Wilson

I have searched high and low to try and find some footage of Libbi Gorr in her Elle Mcfeast role from the Live and Sweaty days but alas no joy. Instead I'll leave you with this youtube clip of Max Sharam performing on Elle McFeast's show in 1998. More live music on tv will be addressed in another post.

NB: re: soundings will be returning to radio/streaming/podcasting reviewing very soon

The Notion of The Nation (part 2)

2007-06-05T23:07:00.000+10:00

OK, this show didn’t suck the giant donkey balls I expected it to. But it wasn’t exactly a shining jewel in the Nein Kampf tiara either. Firstly one way to alienate a female audience is to have Ralph TV ads screening in the break. It shows what Nine is expecting of the audience – not much when it comes to brainpower but packing a fair bit of heat in the pants region.

First let's tackle the good parts of the show: Stephen Curry’s interview with Lisa McCune was great. When I saw Lisa McCune was to be a guest I cringed, 'wheel out an Australian sweetheart with her swag of Logies'. But she was fantastic. Curry played the pretentious fool perfectly, in the style of Ben Stiller or Owen Wilson, except better.

I like Tiffany Cherry. She's gorgeous and she knows what she's talking about - which is sport.

Akmal Saleh was alright in his chat at the desk moment. I am assuming this sit and natter over current events will have a revolving chair - otherwise Gary Eck is rooted.

Now let's look at the less than good parts of the show: Jackie O's segment. This whole spot of celebrity twitter reeks of bunging in a bit for the ladies. I believe the convo went something like this:

Molloy Boy 1: We need some chick stuff.
Molloy Boy 2: What about some celebrity crap? Chicks really dig that shit.
Molloy Boy 3: Yeah, we can show grabs of Hollywood vaginas and everything.
Molloy Boy 1: Sounds perfect.
Molloy Boy 2: We'll need a chick to host it.
Molloy Boy 3: Who's got big tits and has been on telly lately?
Molloy Boy 1 & 2: Fifi Box
Molloy Boy 3: We tried her but apparently she's got like...integrity or shit.
Molloy Boy 1: Fuck that for a joke. Who looks good and hasn't got any integrity?
Molloy Boy 1 & 2 & 3: Jackie O!!!!

I don't know how much of Jackie O's bit was devised by her and how much was directed by the production team but this is what it included:

Paris Hilton in jail

Britney Spears in an unflattering bikini shot (Molloy makes joke about applying spray tan via chopper)

Lindsay Lohan attempts suicide with panadol (all around mirth)

Way to go guys, let's celebrate women on The Nation by making fun of their bodies, brushes with law and serious depression. Code Beyond Blue alert. Next time just wheel in the barrel of fish and the guns.

The highlight was a snippet of comedic rebel Sarah Silverman hosting the MTV awards.

Tips for improvement:

Get some female writers, and while you're at it grab some perspective guys

Get some female comedians - why are the guys all comedians but not the women?

Lose the gossip spot

Get out and about and do some vox pops

Nicki Osbourne? What's the point? (more on this later)

Here's the best bit of the show with Stephen Curry and Lisa McCune:

And here's the second best bit of the show, a snippet of Sarah Silverman hosting the MTV awards:

Current Favourite Radio Personality - Peter Grace

2007-06-05T14:16:00.000+10:00

Peter Grace, the first voice heard on commerical FM radio in Australia and former producer of the Martin Molloy radio show has been popping up as a guest co-host on Get This with Tony Martin on Triple M. Grace has been making quite an impact on youtube with his clips that include some stand-up comedy, some political swipes at the Australian and US government and some intelligent rants against anything else he finds annoying.

His subscriber name is whaddyareckon. I reckon he's alright.

Check out some of his sweet whinges here, or watch below:

Photo of Peter Grace circa 1978 from Debbie Kruger's website

The Notion of The Nation

2007-06-03T19:51:00.000+10:00

I've already had my bit to say about the lack of women on television at the moment. And plenty of other people have been talking about Mick Molloy's The Nation and the probability that it will tank. However, I look forward to checking it out and seeing if it sucks nearly as much as I expect it will.

In the meantime I have been sent a sneak peek of the show and their attitudes towards the gentle sex.* Check it:

This may not be from the actual show.

What's the frequency Luttsy?

2007-05-30T13:25:00.000+10:00

What on earth is going on with Nova breakfast co-host and all 'round funnyman David "Luttsy" Lutteral?

First we read this story:

Radio personality and TV comedian David Lutteral is at a loss to explain why he was bashed and left for dead during a night out in Brisbane's
city centre. Lutteral, known as "Luttsy" in his roles on commercial FM radio in Brisbane and free-to-air television, suffered a fractured skull, broken cheekbone and broken nose after being attacked not far from a nightclub on Sunday night.

Lutteral said he was lucky to be alive, but the incident had made
him think twice about where he next ventured out in Brisbane.
"I guess alcohol plays a large part in a lot of these attacks ... but it's just no excuse,'' he said.

Now Luttsy has withdrawn his complaint:

Media personality David Lutteral has been accused of tarnishing the
reputation of Brisbane's city centre after withdrawing a bashing
complaint.

The Ten Network said the footage showed Lutteral in a "heated
discussion" with a female patron minutes before the attack. It also shows the woman leaving with two male companions and Lutteral following soon after along Charlotte Street, where he was later found bleeding in a gutter.

The television station said it had spoken with a man who claimed he
was involved in the incident, and contacted police to give them his side of the story. He reportedly confessed to punching the comedian once, after Lutteral pursued his group.

Phillip Hogan, who jointly owns Jade Buddha and is chairman of the
Brisbane City Licensee's Association, said he was annoyed the incident had painted a poor picture of a normally safe city.

Now I understand that the good folks of Brisbane are quite reasonably miffed by Luttsy's claim that he has no idea what happened when security footage says otherwise. It is a bit rough that Luttsy has questioned the safety of his home town, quite unfairly it would seem. And it is baffling that Luttsy hadn't made a connection between his earlier "heated discussion" with a young woman and then waking up from a coma in hospital.

However, that said, I won't hear a bad word about him. David Lutteral and his pal Ashley Bradnam were once the highlight of my televisual week when they clocked on as The Fat cadets. At a time when I needed cheering up I could tune in and be guaranteed at least five minutes of pleasure for that day. [Also I always quite fancied him as he reminds me of my good friend Tim.]

I have a vague memory of Luttsy in a kilt threatening to bash his band members while aghast passers-by looked on. Having one half of the cadets quoting Rosemary Margan to footballers while the other stared down the barrel of the camera was brilliant. And tossing around imaginary words and cliches with rugby players was always good telly.

They are probably best remembered for mucking around in racing car driver's Montoya's press conference and causing him to stomp off in a huff.

But today I'll leave you with a little snippet of Lutteral and Bradnam as The Aussie Cadets. They do not disappoint.

Update: Lutteral is now under pressure from Nova bosses to apologise for his behaviour.

MEDIA personality David Lutteral is under pressure from his employers to apologise for his behaviour and for bringing Brisbane's reputation into disrepute.Lutteral, who was assaulted on Sunday night after making advances to a woman, went to ground yesterday as tension grew for him to expound on the embarrassing incident. He was believed to be holed up at his girlfriend Nicole Matthews' place on Brisbane's northside

In related news the tabloids have gone mad for the headline:

Video Killed the Radio Star

The Ladies' Lounge #1 with George McEncroe, The Cage, Triple M, Brisbane

2007-05-28T22:18:00.000+10:00

We're keen on celebrating women in the media here at re: soundings so we invite you into The Ladies' Lounge. Our first guest is George McEncroe from The Cage, Brisbane's breakfast radio show on Triple M. George co-hosts the show with three blokes: Marto, Sully and Ian Skippen. Please make here feel very welcome, George McEncroe...

*applause*

Welcome to the Ladies' Lounge. Would you like a pikelet?

Thanks for having me. Love your pikelets.

You came to stand-up, in your thirties and with four kids under your belt. What took you so long?

I took a long time to work up the guts to do stand up. Four kids can take your life from being just sad to being a sad joke and that's when it clicked. And I had to go through being a teacher, nurse, ethicist and human rights worker to get the material to make the gags. Yeah but mostly I was gutless.

You were quickly snapped up by the Austereo network. How did you make the move?

Yes it was a very lucky break. I had two influential people mention my name to the boss at Austereo on the same day and he decided he had to meet me. It was very much a case of having good friends helping me out. And being outrageously talented at the same time of course.

You're a Melbourne lass who's been part of The Cage Brisbane on Triple M for two years. Where feels like home to you these days?

I love Brisbane and before living there I had no idea of how physically beautiful it was. Having kids at the local school helped us become part of a community quite quickly but all our family are from Melbourne so I guess Melbourne will always feel more home like.

Like most women on-air, the rest of your team are men. Do you ever wish there were more chicks to chat to?

One day sisters we will rise and it'll be two women on air and two blokes and Oh My God yes. I wish there were more women to talk to in both programme directing roles, management everywhere. One day there might even be two ladeeeeeze just doing a show without anyone making a huge fuss about them being ladeeeeze. They might just be seen as funny humans.

Would a token gay, like Adam Richard do?

I don't like token anythings.

We're crazy for your daily blog. Blogging is becoming more popular with radio hosts but you've been banging yours out for quite awhile. How did it come about?

After much discussion about the various talents on the team we decided I should utilise my writing ability and the blog was born. I love it and never have to worry about what I am going to say. The blog is like the Magic Pudding it just keeps renewing itself. At 7am daily you can tune in to hear stuff wot I reckon about the world.

You talk and write a lot about your husband and kids. Do you think when your kids get older they will want to stab you with a knife?

Wanting to stab your parents with a knife is a crucial developmental stage and I would hate to deny my children that opportunity. And as I say to them...If you don't want me to talk about you stop being so darn hilarious. Just can't wait for them to hit puberty. The first period will make a GREAT blog. Ok yes I invade their privacy and exploit their innocence for ratings but hey...that's life. I mean I'm not putting them to work in a sweat shop despite the fact they do wonderful bead work. Lucky lucky bastards.

Do you have any radio heroes?

I don't really have heroes but I do love my on air colleagues (most of the time) and I reckon Tony and Ed on Get This are pretty damn fine. Tony Martin is as close to a radio genius as you can get. I have always admired Kate Langbroek for her insisting on being herself (harder than it sounds) and Judith Lucy with Kaz Cooke was a rare treat.

Austereo really copped a lashing in Judith Lucy's comedy show, "I Failed". Do you think she failed?

I don't think Jude failed. Warm, funny brave people can't fail.

Have you ever been given feedback from your bosses such as "Our research shows that our audience HATE you"? Discuss.

Yes I have been told that our male listeners aren't always so thrilled with me but I am there to talk about the world as I see it...not as some blokes would like me to see it. So it's not surprising. Always hurtful sure...but not unexpected.

You've featured in a Where's Wally promotion , frequently co-host Get This with Tony Martin and did a stint on Fox breakfast in Melbourne. What is Austereo going to get you to do next?

I think Austereo would like me to keep performing solidly and consistently and to eat fewer chips, especially on air. Beyond that I have no idea.

Recently you've been popping up on the telly on Spicks and Specks. Would you like to get your noggin on the tube more or less than Fifi Box?

Love doing a bit of tele. Spicks and Specks was top fun. As for my dear friend and colleague Fifi Box I don't see any need to compare the two of us. She is young and pretty and sweet. I am old and cranky and rather mean. Tele is good and yes I'd like to do more of it. Bless the edit.

I saw your husband drinking an icy cold can of coke at the train station. Was that your influence?

Sam has always loved coke. He's just not so keen on wiping down the kitchen bench and I seem to have no influence there.

In your very pleasant daydreams what are you going to do next?

In my most pleasant day dreams I am sitting on a hill side somewhere in northern NSW with a view to the Pacific Ocean writng a wonderful book.

We're all about celebrating wymmyn here at the Ladies' Lounge. What's your celebrity tip for keeping a happy home when you have to get up at 4.30 am?

I wish I could sleep till 4.30 am. I am up at 3.30 and there is no way to keep a happy home when you are that tired. Keep your head just above the shit line is my advice. Stay fit. Drink less and be rid of people who make you feel anxious or sad.

George, your producer has met with foul play. You are given free reign to produce today's show. What do you do, play, change?

If I had to put together a whole show at short notice I would panic. Then cry. Then panic some more and then call every person I thought was funny or interesting for a chat. There'd be less Chisel and more Gillian Welch and possibly quite a bit of nonsense about people only I knew. Maybe not a brilliant show for anyone to listen to but by golly I'd have a ball. In fact the idea is so much fun I might just go and kill my producer right now. Thanks for the idea pet.

We're mad for you here at re:soundings can we be blog sisters? We'll have to rub our hardwires together or something. Will you come back and have a shandy with us some other time?

Would love to return for a shandy one day.

Read George's blog here

George can be heard on The Cage, Brisbane from 5.30 - 9am Weekdays
Podcast

Occasional guest host on Get This

The Chaser's War on Everything (except male-dominated TV)

2007-05-25T22:17:00.000+10:00

I know that with my demographic profile, socio-economic background, political leanings, lifestyle preferences and BMI that I should be raving like a lunatic about The Chaser's War on Everything but the truth is I have a lot of trouble watching this show. The Chaser boys are currently enjoying the number one spot on the iTunes podcast chart, so clearly they have plenty of fans. Don't get me wrong, I find Craig Reucassel in a pair of rocket poppers as funny as you do. And you'd have to be clinically depressed if you couldn't laugh at Andrew Hansen spruiking out the front of Channel 9 in a dodgy cockney accent. The truth is I just find it all too blokey.

Of course I don't mean blokey in a Footy Show way - I just mean that there are too many men. You know sometimes you can watch the whole show and not even see one woman for the whole half hour. My husband loves it. But this is a perfect example of how women are just not seen enough on Australian television, that is of course excluding McLeod's Daughters where they have to quote Aaron Jeffrey, logie winner and all round knob, "the best boobs in the business."

The Chaser Team is not alone here either. Just take a look at the line-up for Mick Molloy's new show for Channel Nine, The Nation. Oh yes, Molloy's got some chicks sharing air-time with him - but let's just take a closer look at the list. Nikki Osbourne brings with her a wealth of experience from her time hosting graveyard shift telly on Quizmania and a Ralph shoot to boot, Jackie (H)O will be the 'entertainment reporter' (the thinner and even more vapid version of Angela Bishop) and then for a bit of street cred the cutely-named Tiffany Cherry, Fox Footy reporter. The writing team is also wall-to-wall male. Fifi Box wisely turned down the role and it's easy to see why - I can smell the stink of middle-aged leering from here.

And what about Rove? The new and improved 2007 version has booted off funny broads Corinne Grant and Meshel Laurie and instead given new roles to the over-exposed Dave Hughes, the soon-to-be over-exposed Hamish and Andy and Nova newsreader Carrie Bickmore. Bickmore can play the straight role and then Peter Helliar doesn't have to worry about a chick getting a bigger laugh than him.

It seems we were better off decades ago when a woman like Mary Hardy, who had a head for radio but a wit that didn't quit, could get her own show up. It doesn't seem that long ago that Wendy Harmer, complete with hair-lip scar and a freshly broken heart, hosted the first episode of The Big Gig and tore her former lover a new one on air. The opportunities for funny women are becoming even fewer. Maybe all those Big Brother housemates are right - perhaps the way to fame and fortune lies in the pages of FHM?

Working Dog don't fare much better. The Panel only made Kate Langbroek a regular after her loyal Triple R fans made their support for her obvious in various entertainment journals. Even then Langbroek was often the lone female sitting on the five-seater desk, sometimes supported by another female though never more than one. Their new show Thank God You're Here certainly has showcased some very funny women - but never more than one per show.

And don't even get me started on Daryl Somers on Dancing with the Stars. The gorgeous and talented Sonia Kruger dances rings around the very-threatened Somers each week and still manages to smile.

Not concerned enough? Some extensive research uncovered the following quotes:*

Mick Molloy: "If we have to work with them then they've got to be rootable. I hand-picked these girls so we didn't get any doggy ones."

Rob Sitch: "Everyone knows women are only 25% as funny as men. That's why we only have one woman on each episode of Thank God You're Here."

Julian Morrow: "We love women at The Chaser. We have plenty of them in make-up and wardrobe."

Chas Licciardello: "And in catering - where they belong!"

Peter Helliar: "Women are just better at reading news and stuff. Leave the jokes to the short, fat bald dudes and everything's sweet."

Daryl Somers: "Sonia/Jacquie/Denise/Livinia's job description is to look pretty. If she sticks to that she'll do well."

* Some of these quotes may be complete fabrications.

Akmal with Kate Ritchie (occasionally) on Nova

2007-05-18T22:50:00.000+10:00

Just when you thought radio was moving ahead The Akmal Show with sometime co-host Kate Ritchie on Nova brings us all back down to earth.

You might enjoy these two groundbreaking videos of Akmal shaving a listener's head. He even tells her she looks like a lezo. GUFFAW!

And here you can find Kate Richie pole dancing while Akmal and sound techs perv on the sidelines.*

Stay tuned for more cutting-edge clips from Akmal and Kate Ritchie:

Akmal enjoys watching the footy while Kate runs to fetch him beers.

Kate performs a striptease for Akmal and the guys in sales. Akmal records it on his mobile phone and posts it on YouTube.

Akmal belches the alphabet in English AND Egyptian. Kate is so impressed she takes off her top.

* To be fair Akmal does have a crack at the pole dancing himself but doesn't flash his knickers.

Austereo's Where's Wally Game Promotion

2007-05-15T20:16:00.000+10:00

Thanks to our favourite gossip site Defamer for pointing us towards Austereo's latest media campaign. Check it here.

Yes, it is a Where's Wally Game but instead of looking for the bespectacled nerd in a stripey shirt you get to search for their "BIG NAMES". There's even a legend at the bottom just in case you have never heard of their "BIG NAMES".

But surely a golden opportunity was missed when they decided to have the Tony Martin of Get This fame cartoon character dressed in a blue shirt and brown pants - wasn't he a monty for the role of Wally?

Perhaps this is just the first step in Austereo's campaign. Still to come:

"Where's our ratings?" Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey style party game.
"Where's Fifi Box?" Sticker book featuring map of Australian media and 973 stickers of Fifi. Logies, Dancing with the Stars, Thank God You're Here, Mick Molloy's new political panel show - everyone needs a token female - whack a sticker of Fifi anywhere you can!
"Kyle Sandilands Action Figure" Comes complete with pins and voodoo instruction kit.

Hughesy & Kate Nova 100

2007-05-14T21:16:00.000+10:00

If you've been living under a rock for the past ten years you might not know that Hughesy and Kate on Nova 100 are Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek. These two got their flying miles up over on community radio station Triple R with former team member Dave O'Neil. All three had a brief stint on Triple M before heading over to launch the station and their brekky show in 2001. Dave has since jumped to sister station Vega and quite a lot has happened since this show began. There have been proposals, marriages, babies and a huge increase in their profiles. So six years on how are they holding up? Not too shabby actually.

OK, I don't like the music on Nova and there have been quite a few disappointing moments when Kate and Hughesy have appeared to be completely sucked into the commercial radio vortex, (the girly liplock photo comp springs to mind there), but these two have got a good thing going. Their breakfast show still has that rare feeling of spontaneity that we used to be able to get from genuine live television. It takes a pretty unique team to harness the kookiness of guests like Australian Idol judge Mark Holden and make his on-air appearances so refreshingly enjoyable.

Take last Friday's show, Holden came on air at around 8.45am to talk up the Melbourne weekend auditions of Idol. The talk very quickly turned to The Logies and Hughes' dig at Kyle Sandilands. Holden revealed that Sandilands had confided in him about the incident, telling Holden that the head honcho of Nova, Paul Thompson, had called Sandilands and apologised for Hughes' behaviour. Apparently Sandilands also claimed that Thompson thinks Sandilands has the best breakfast show in Australia. Now apart from the obvious fact that the only 'best' Sandilands can claim to have is 'head for kicking in' let's not let the truth get in the way of great opportunity. And this is where the Nova team shine. They got Thompson on the line and he was quick to set the record straight - he has never met or spoken to Sandilands. Nothing could make Sandilands look like a bigger tool or provide an opportunity for Hughesy and Kate to show their ability to fly by the seats of their pants and follow through for the laugh.

It is interesting that Nova's largest audience is in the 18-24 bracket but the breakfast show is hosted by a 41 year old mother of three and a dentally challenged 36 year old.
Obviously genuine funny works, no matter what the age. In the last ratings survey Nova's breakfast dropped slightly, putting them in third place for the FM stations behind Fox and Gold but there's still a lot of love in the air for these two.

What is re: soundings?

2007-05-14T13:55:00.000+10:00

Well hello new friends

You have found yourself at the home of re: soundings; a place for ranting, raving and reviewing. It doesn't matter if we're streaming live, downloading podcasts or knob fiddling (yes an oldie but still GOLD) if we can tune in we'll churn out a comment.

Revisit re: soundings for some frank chat on what we have been listening to and who we like...this week.