News

Although Beverly Hills brothers Lyle and Eric Menendez didn’t get away with the murder of their mother and father, it was a perfect crime in one respect: it set the stage for the last three decades of our current media obsession with sensational true crime stories.

The twisting, turning saga of the patricidal siblings – who were convicted of the 1989 shotgun slaying of their parents, film executive Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty in 1996 after one of the most highly public trials of the 20th Century – is revisited in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story.”

And while the Netflix series has stirred controversy with its interpretation of events, that very contention serves as a potent reminder of just how deeply the brothers’ journey through the justice system dominated the cultural conversation of its time, and in doing so created an infrastructure built to effectively deliver all sorts of lurid,...

Paul Reubens, the creator of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” who starred in several projects as the goofy, child-like Pee-wee Herman including 1985’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” has died at age 70, his estate said Monday.

“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” his estate posted to Facebook.

“Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit,” the post continued.

The actor wrote a posthumous statement explaining why he chose not to disclose his cancer diagnosis. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years.

In Robert Zemeckis' 1994 film "Forrest Gump," Tom Hanks plays Forrest, a good-hearted but low-intelligence rube who, thanks to impeccably constructed American institutions, stumbles repeatedly into athletic, financial, and military success. Forrest is friendly, strong, and hapless, happy to tell his life story to anyone who sits on the bus bench next to him. Hanks won an Academy Award for playing Forrest, and the film itself won four additional Oscars, including Best Picture. Years later, many had started to reappraise "Forrest Gump" for its treacly tone, its sentimentality, and its unabashed conservative bent. This author was in high school when "Forrest Gump" was released and recalls a teacher sagely pointing out that the title character's "innocence" was only perceived by audiences due to his wealth. Had Forrest's decisions led to financial ruin, his "innocence" would not be positively touted. 

But in 1994, "Forrest Gump" was the bee's knees, representing mainstream Hollywood filmmaking...

There seems to be a misconception in certain circles in both the left and the right that female sexuality is inherently pornographic. While it certainly is true that pornography often fetishizes and distorts the image of women, that shouldn't mean that women shouldn't be able to express what arouses and sexually excites them freely. Associating the discussion of female sexuality with potentially-violent porn and, by proxy, male sexuality is arguably one reason why women's sexual interests have become so taboo to discuss in our modern age.

However, as the Sundance-premiering documentary "The Disappearance of Shere Hite" proposes, female expression of sexuality shouldn't be defined by what the patriarchy defines it as, an idea that the titular sexologist promoted. Nichole Newnham's film retraces the life of Hite, who made waves with 1976's study "The Hite Report" and whose authentic and anonymous findings were treated with intense controversy. Chock-full of archival footage...

Five top Hollywood costume designers — the creatives behind the looks of The Prom, Mank, Lovecraft Country, Westworld and Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar — share their top picks and tricks for shopping and renting screen-worthy garments.

Unsurprisingly, Hollywood costume designers turn to local vintage shows, film-friendly designer vintage boutiques, and fabric emporiums to uncover pieces for telling each character’s story through fashion.

The Prom costume designer Lou Eyrich tells The Hollywood Reporter that the alfresco Pickwick Vintage Show and A Current Affair pop-up markets offer “so many options under one roof. Also, some of my most treasured finds have come from The Way We Wore,” the high-end vintage boutique ...

Five top Hollywood costume designers — the creatives behind the looks of The Prom, Mank, Lovecraft Country, Westworld and Barb & Star Go to Vista del Mar — share their top picks and tricks for shopping and renting screen-worthy garments.

Unsurprisingly, Hollywood costume designers turn to local vintage shows, film-friendly designer vintage boutiques, and fabric emporiums to uncover pieces for telling each character’s story through fashion.

The Prom costume designer Lou Eyrich tells The Hollywood Reporter that the alfresco Pickwick Vintage Show and A Current Affair pop-up markets offer “so many options under one roof. Also, some of my most treasured finds have come from The Way We Wore,” the high-end vintage boutique ...

Hamish Turner.

Nine’s program director Hamish Turner explains how he’s programming through the pandemic, outlines gains in audiences, a greater focus on news and the likely impact on 2021 schedules.

Q: Given the spike in at-home viewing during this lockdown, how have Nine’s primary and digital channels and 9Now benefited?

A: There’s been an increase in familiar brands and shows that can be co-viewed. Daytime has also seen big rises, primarily due to the increase in the available audience.

Q: Apart from Nine News, A Current Affair and the Today Show, which shows have shown significant gains in audiences?

A: Interesting pockets of growth. The 21 days of Bond on Gem attracted big audiences as have shows like the UK game show Tipping Point on Nine while on 9Now The Arrangement has been doing a great job.

Q: Married at First Sight gave you a great start to the year; overall,...

John Clarke..

Renowned satirist, writer and actor John Clarke, died Sunday, aged 68..

New Zealand-born Clarke and comedy partner Bryan Dawe sent up Aussie politics in mock interviews on the ABC.s 7.30 Report.and before that on Nine.s A Current Affair.

Clarke created and starred in mockumentary series The Games. His screenwriting credits include Lonely Hearts with Paul Cox, the original screenplay Billy Connolly's.The Man Who Sued God, and mini-series Anzacs.

As an actor he appeared in features such as.Death of Brunswick opposite Sam Neill, and more recently in Matthew Saville.s A Month of Sundays and the ABC.s The Ex-pm..

He died of natural causes while on a hike in the Grampians National Park, Victoria. He is survived by his wife Helen, daughters Lorin and Lucia and grandchildren Claudia and Charles.

A statement from his family said: .John died doing one of the things he...

A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack has been charged with sending child pornography using a carriage service. The senior Nine Network journalist allegedly had “sexually explicit conversations” about children and discussed child porn with another man. He has since been suspended by the network. Ben McCormack Arrested For Child Pornography McCormack often used gay dating app Grindr to […]

Source: uInterview

The post Ben McCormack, Australian ‘A Current Affair’ Reporter, Arrested On Child Pornography Charges appeared first on uInterview.

John Cornell and Paul Hogan on The Paul Hogan Show.

Paul Hogan will receive this year.s Aacta Longford Lyell Award, the Australian Academy.s highest honour.

First presented to Ian Dunlop in 1968, the Longford Lyell Award honours Australian film pioneer Raymond Longford and his partner in filmmaking and life, Lottie Lyell..

It recognises a person who has made a truly outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Australia.s screen environment and culture. Previous recipients include Peter Weir, Geoffrey Rush, Fred Schepisi, Jan Chapman, David Stratton and most recently, Cate Blanchett.

Hogan will be bestowed with the award at the 6th Aacta Awards Ceremony on Wednesday evening, in a presentation that will honour his 45 year career. It will feature tributes from Shane Jacobson, Michael Caton, former Tourism Minister John Brown, Peter Faiman, Dave Hughes, Adam Hills, Ernie Dingo and The Paul Hogan Show co-star Delvene Delaney..

.I.m honoured to...

2015 scholarship recipient Annalise Bolt.

Entries are open for the 2016 Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship, a three-month paid journalism internship open to final-year university students and recent graduates aged 26 and under..

The scholarship aims to support "storytellers with a passion for TV journalism and dreams of carving out a career in the competitive television industry".

Established in 2013 through the support of media executive Anita Jacoby, the scholarship recognises the legacy of her father, Phillip Jacoby, a pioneer in the Australian electronics and broadcast industry..

.The Jacoby-Walkley Scholarship represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to strut your stuff in front of a selection panel of senior industry figures,. Walkley Foundation acting CEO and general manager Louisa Graham said. .

.The winner goes onto an eight-week placement at Nine, but shortlisted applicants have also been offered opportunities".

Across 12 weeks, the successful applicant will placed at the Nine Network in Sydney for eight weeks - with four weeks at 60 Minutes,...

In the head-to-head battle of Australian dramas, the Nine Network.s Love Child has increased its lead over Network Ten.s Secrets & Lies.

Last night the third episode of Playmaker Media.s Love Child drew 1.16 million viewers in the five capital cities/1.68 million nationally, easily winning its timeslot.

The second chapter of Hoodlum Entertainment.s Secrets & Lies had 365,000 viewers in the metros, down from the premiere.s 403,000, and 723,000 nationally. However Ten can take some comfort from the fact the first episode had 211,000 video views on catch-up service tenplay and a further 90,000 who time-shifted the show.

Nine reported last week.s episode of Love Child was watched by a further 285,000 viewers in the ensuing seven days, giving it a consolidated five-city average audience of 1.453 million.

Seven.s My Kitchen Rules was the night.s No. 1 show, drawing 1.7 million in the metros, 2.5 million nationally. Nine.s The Block Fans v Faves pulled 1.28 million/1.79 million,...

Geri Halliwell has been announced as a new judge on Australia's Got Talent.

She will join this year's judging panel - made up of Dawn French, Timomatic and Kyle Sandilands - as a replacement for fellow Spice Girl Mel B, who was forced to quit the show.

Mel B was announced as a new judge on Australia's Got Talent in March but was forced to leave her position on the show due to a contract dispute with the Seven Network, which airs The X Factor Australia.

Halliwell revealed to A Current Affair that she is "excited" to get to work as a judge on the series.

The 40-year-old said: "Shows like that are brilliant and I love the opportunity they give to normal, everyday people. Plus, I get to come to Australia."

Discussing the judging style she will use, she added: "I think it's unnecessary to be mean for the sake of being mean,...

Channel Nine.s A Current Affair is under fire from the Australian Communications and Media Authority after the organisation found the program to have breached provisions on factual accuracy, privacy and complaints handling.

The story in question, presented by reporter Amanda Paterson in March last year and running over 19 minutes, concerned former Olympic gold medallist Neil Brooks and his wife.

Acma.s 32-page investigation report, released today, found that .the program had insufficient evidence to support its claim during a 5 March, 2012 broadcast that police in Australia, the United States and France were investigating allegations of fraud against the former swimmer and his wife...

The Acma also found the program had breached the privacy of Brooks. wife by showing her driver.s licence and French address on camera and that the program had failed to adequately respond to the complaints of Brooks after the segment went to air..

However there were...

Goodnight Today Tonight?

The future of the Seven network’s Today Tonight is uncertain and it may not return to air, Mumbrella understands.

The show has been sidelined for the past 17 days to make way for a one-hour news bulletin supplemented with content from the Today Tonight team, a formula that sources at Seven say will continue.

Mumbrella has been told by senior Seven executives that the experiment of a one-hour bulletin, to replace the Today Tonight show, has been under discussion for “several” years.

It was the recent bushfire crisis that gave executives a chance to extend 6pm bulletins to 7pm, and then monitor the ratings difference between news and Today Tonight filling the 6pm-7pm hour.

Curiously, Tt has reamined logged into OzTam’s ratings system as a standalone program with its figures still appearing in daily reports.

Typical Tt stories – produced and fronted by the current affairs...

Nine has switched to rolling coverage of Australia’s bush fire crisis.

The coverage began with Nine News Now at 3pm eastern, in just the broadcast’s second day, followed by a special report from 4pm presented by Amelia Adams.

This will be followed by a state-based bushfire bulletin from 6pm followed by a return to national programming with A Current Affair offering extended, one hour coverage of the disaster from 6.30-7.30pm. A special 9.30pm report has also just been announced.

A spokesperson for Nine told Mumbrella that depending on developments, the coverage may continue at 7.30pm, or the network may return to normal broadcasting.

News channels Sky News and ABC News 24 are also providing rolling coverage of the crisis.

The post Nine News switches to rolling news coverage of Australia’s bush fire crisis appeared first on mUmBRELLA.

Nine has launched its new afternoon news show Nine News Now, airing at 3Pm.

The hour-long show is hosted by Wendy Kingston.

Covering news, entertainment and panel discussions of the day’s topics but with limited sports coverage, the show is aimed at stay-at-home mothers and women over 55.

The first show asked in the feedback section online, ‘Are parents paying too much for pre-school fees?’

The first broadcast, airing this afternoon had a coup with an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to discuss the developments surrounding the Tasmanian fires.

Nine Afternoon News will remain at 4.30pm until 5.30pm. Nine News at 6pm, and A Current Affair at 6.30pm.

The post Nine News Now at 3pm targets women appeared first on mUmBRELLA.

Audiences of more than a million tuned in to both A Current Affair and Today Tonight on Monday evening as both shows aired tearful interviews with prank call presenters Mel Greig and Michael ‘Mc’ Christian.

According to preliminary overnight metro ratings from OzTAM, Nine’s A Current Affair, which featured Tracy Grimshaw interviewing the pair rated 1.094m.

Today Tonight’s, on Seven, rated 1.023m.

The duo discussed for the first time their reaction to hearing that a nurse involved in their call to a hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge had apparently taken her life. They also revealed that they did not know the approvals process within Southern Cross Austereo before broadcasting a prank call.

In the official non-ratings period, it is unusual for these shows to get more than 1m.

Ten’s The Project featured Southern Cross Austereo boss Rhys Holleran. The show rated 575,000.

Lifeline: Call 13 11 14

The post 1m...

Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pranked called nurse Jacintha Saldanha at London's King Edward VII Hospital about Kate Middleton's pregnancy, are speaking out following the death of Saldanha.

"I haven't stopped thinking about it since it happened. My first question was, is she a mother?" Mel said in an interview on Australian TV show "A Current Affair," when asked about Saldanha, who took the DJs' call before transferring it to another nurse in the Duchess' hospital ward.

Saldanha was later found dead of an apparent suicide.

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The two Australian DJs responsible for pranking a Kate Middleton nurse who was later found dead of an apparent suicide have been vilifed for their tragic hoax. But can a mea culpa even begin to mute the public's scorn of them? The DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, have now spoken publicly for the first time since duping Jacintha Saldanha into releasing private information about the Duchess of Cambridge's condition last week, saying there were "shattered, gutted, heartbroken." "There's not a minute that goes by where we don't think about her family and what they must be going through," a tearful Greig said Monday on the Australian TV show A Current Affair. "And the...

Michael Christian and Mel Greig -- the two Australian radio DJs behind the Kate Middleton hospital prank call that led to the suicide of a nurse -- say they are "incredibly sorry" for what transpired ... as they speak out for the first time.The pair sat down with "A Current Affair" in Australia and described how they found out that Jacintha Saldanha had taken her life. Michael said they got the news at the same...

Sydney (AP) — They expected a hang-up and a few laughs. Instead, the Australian DJs behind a hoax phone call to the U.K. hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was treated were in tears Monday as they described how their joke ended up going too far.

The phone call — in which they impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles — went through, and their station broadcast and even trumpeted the confidential information received. Whatever pride there had been over the hoax was obliterated in a storm of worldwide public outrage after Friday's death, still unexplained, of the first nurse they talked to.

"There's not a minute that goes by that we don't think about her family and what they must be going through," 2DayFM radio host Mel Greig told Australia's "A Current Affair," her voice shaking. "And the thought that we may have played a part in that is gut-wrenching.

Nine and Seven have shared the honours in the 2012 ratings year which officially came to an end at the weekend.

Nine won the year in the key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54 while Seven won across total viewers.

Because of lower ratings over the summer and during easter, the networks agree to only officially do battle for 40 weeks of the year.

Seven won 30 of the 40 weeks in total people, leaving Nine to claim 10 weeks across the five city metro markets, according to consolidated data from OzTAM.

In 16-39, Nine beat Seven by 25 weeks to 13, with Ten winning two weeks. In 18-49 Nine beat Seven by 22 to 18 weeks. And in 25-54 Nine beat Seven 21 to 19 weeks. These figures include the Olympics.

Excluding the Olympics, Nine and Seven tied in the 25-54 demo.

Nine also claimed year-on-year audience growth of 3.3% in total people while Seven dropped 0.8% and Ten dropped 12.8%.

Nine...

Beauty and the Geek winners Millie and Chard

The final episode of Beauty & The Geek was the most watched non-news program last night.

Running for an hour and a half from 8.30pm on Seven, the reveal of the winners – Millie and Chard – rated with 740,000, while the earlier part of the show brought in 736,000.

But numbers were down dramatically on last year’s season finale, when the winner reveal rated with 1.255m and the earlier segment 1.076m.

This year’s finale was also significantly lower than the first episode of this season, which drew an audience of 892,000.

But the show, which placed seventh and eighth for total viewers, dominated the key advertising demographics 18-49, 16-39 and 25-54.

Ten secured a show in the top ten, and claimed a higher audience share than the ABC.

Ten News At Five brought in 684,000, ranking ninth. Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals and a repeat of Modern Family...

Ricky Martin will get his own red chair on Australia’s version of The Voice when the show returns to Oz’s Nine Network next year. The announcement was made on Nine’s A Current Affair program in Australia Thursday evening after weeks of speculation. Martin is replacing outgoing coach Keith Urban who confirmed his departure in September. At the time, Urban cited “a new album, a tour, and other commitments” as reasons. He later joined American Idol as a judge. Martin will join returning coaches Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem. The inaugural season of the show kicked off last April and consistently won its time slot to become a ratings powerhouse. Nine’s Peter Wiltshire recently said the network will add hours of The Voice for next season. A debut date has yet to be set. The Voice is produced locally by Shine Australia.

Home & Away: Wednesday’s most watched non-news show

Seven News, which parted ways with legendary news man Peter Meakin this week, was the only show to be watched by more than a million people last night.

The show pulled in 1.068m viewers, followed by Nine News, which drew an audience of 998,000, according to preliminary overnight ratings from OzTAM.

Seven’s Home & Away was the top rating non-news show, with 996,000 – helping the network to a comfortable win, with 22.3% share.

Home & Away won the key advertising demographics of 18-49 and 16-39, but Nine’s The Big Bang Theory was the most popular show in the 25-54 demo.

Ten’s top show was Ten News At Five, which rated with 638,000.

Wednesday’s top 15 shows:

1. Seven News Seven 1.068

2. Nine News Nine 0.998

3. Home and Away Seven 0.996

4. Today Tonight Seven 0.978

5. ABC News ABC 0.967

6. The Big Bang Theory Nine 0.855

7. A Current Affair Nine 0.851

8. Qi ABC 0.792

9. 7:30 ABC...

The series finale of Seven drama Winners & Losers won the Tuesday night ratings with 1.172m.

The show went out at 8.30pm, beating NCIS on Ten, which rated with 652,000, and the latter part of 50 Years of Bond Cars: A Top Gear Special on Nine, which pulled in 957,000.

Winners & Losers also topped the key advertising demographics 18-49, 16-39 and 25-54, according to overnight ratings from OzTAM.

Seven’s Sunrise was back on top in the early morning tussle after Monday’s win for Nine’s Today. Sunrise rated with 391,000 while Today brought in 340,000.

Tuesday’s top 15 shows

1. Winners and Losers Seven 1.172m 2. Seven News Seven 1.078m 3. Nine News Nine 1.064m 4. Home and Away Seven 0.982m 5. A Current Affair Nine 0.964m 6. ABC News ABC 0.963m 7. Fifty Years of Bond Cars Nine 0.957m 8. Today Tonight Seven 0.948m 9. Once Upon A Time Seven 0.838m 10. 7:30 ABC 0.788m 11. The Big Bang Theory Nine 0.778m 12. Modern Family...

Seven’s director of news and public affairs Peter Meakin has stepped down after nine years with the company.

The 70 year-old, who will remain in an advisory role at the network, said in a statement: “It’s time to pull the plug on this chapter of my life.”

His role will be divided between Seven Brisbane’s Rob Raschke, who will be director of news, and ex Today Tonight and A Current Affair executive producer Neil Mooney, who takes on the director of public affairs position.

The announcement from Seven:

27 November 2012 — Peter Meakin today announced his decision to step down as Director of News and Public Affairs for the Seven Network. Mr Meakin will continue with Seven in a senior advisory role on the network’s news and public affairs programming.

“It’s time to pull the plug on this chapter of my life,” he said.

“It’s been a...

Today breakfast crew

Nine breakfast show Today recorded another ratings win over Seven’s Sunrise yesterday, while Ten’s canned early-morning offering Breakfast pulled in just 47,000 viewers.

Today rated with 390,000 while Sunrise brought in 374,000, according to preliminary overnight ratings from OzTAM.

Though Sunrise has been winning for most of the year in total viewers, Today has dominated in key advertising markets Sydney and Melbourne.

Rankings for the morning shows reflected the positions overall for the commercial broadcasters, with Nine winning the night with 20.6% share, followed by Seven’s 19.2%. Ten claimed 11.7% – and was comfortably beaten by ABC, which took 15.9% share.

Not a single non-news show managed more than 1m viewers.

With no X Factor – which ended last week – the night was won by news and current affairs programs.

Nine News topped the lot, and also won the 18-49 and 25-54 demographics. It was followed by Seven News. A Current Affair ranked third,...

Seven’s The Force – Behind The Line was the top rating program TV show last night.

The show, at 8pm, rated 1.247m according to preliminary overnight ratings from OzTAM and was also the top show across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39,18-49 and 25-54.

The episode was up on last week’s show, which also topped the night on 1.166m.

Highway Patrol which aired before The Force, was the second show for the evening in both total viewers, where it rated 1.152m, and across all key ad demos.

It was a strong night for Seven, with the second episode of Dynamo: Magician Impossible at 8.30pm winning its time slot, placing seventh in total viewers and rating 909,000. It was also third across all three key demos.

ABC1′s top show was ABC News, in fourth spot for total viewers rating 1.037m.

Nine News was Nine’s top show rating 949,000 and sixth for the night,...

The X Factor winner, Samantha Jade

The announcement of Samantha Jade as winner of The X Factor brought Seven an audience of more than 2m last night.

According to OzTAM, a metro audience of 2.162m watched the winner announcement.

Meanwhile the two hour X Factor show leading up to the announcement averaged 1.87m.

The shows were also the top two programs across the three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54.

Across the key ad demos, Seven’s Grimm, which followed The X Factor, was third for the night.

Nine’s best performer of the night was 10 Scariest Plane Landings which rated 859,000 and 10th in total viewers.

Ten’s best performer for the night was a repeat of NCIS, which rated 619,000, placing it the 15th most watched show.

Tuesday’s Top 15 shows:

1. The X Factor – Winner Seven 1.921*m

2. The X Factor – Grand Final Seven 1.881*m

3. Nine News Nine 1.083m...

Beauty and the Geek: rated 977,000 for Seven

A two-hour special of Beauty and the Geek on Seven was the top show across the key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54 last night.

With not a show over 1m in total viewers, it was a quiet evening for TV watching.

Beauty and the Geek, from 7.30-9.30pm was second in total viewers, rated 977,000 just behind Nine News on 986,000. Nine’s A Current Affair was third, rating 968,000, according to preliminary overnight ratings from OzTAM.

New Australian drama Redfern Now rated 654,000 and 11th for ABC1 at 8.30pm.

It was slight drop from last week’s ratings of 664,000. The show debuted with 721,000.

In the 8.30-9.30 time slot, the local drama beat Nine’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which rated 638,000 and 12th in total viewers, and Ten’s repeat of Law & Order Svu which rated 472,000 and 22nd in total viewers.

In the battle for breakfast television,...

Winners & Losers rates 1.224m

Seven’s Australian drama Winners & Losers had another strong performance on Tuesday night, winning its timeslot and and rating 1.224m viewers across the five city metro markets.

The female-focused drama, which aired at 8.30pm was second overall across the three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, according to preliminary ratings from OzTAM. It was helped by inheriting a strong audience from The X Factor which rated 1.498m making it easily the top show of the evening.

Meanwhile, Nine’s best performer was The Big Bang Theory on 976,000.

ABC1′s A Jubilee Tribute to the Queen by the Prince of Wales rated 717,000.

Ten did not get a single show in the top 15. Its repeat of NCIS rated 560,000.

In the battle for breakfast television, Seven’s Sunrise on 333,000 narrowly beat Nine’s Today on 329,000. Ten’s Breakfast rated 58,000, one of its highest audience numbers to date.

Seven’s The X Factor saw an average of 1.536m metro viewers tune in for last night’s performance show.

The X Factor, now in its second to last week of the series, was also the most popular program across the three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, according to preliminary overnight ratings from OzTAM.

Tonight’s episode will see one contestant leave for a three-way grand final performance show next Monday.

The conclusion of two-part mini-series Devil’s Dust, produced by FremantleMedia for ABC1, slightly increased its total viewers on Sunday night’s first episode. The show about the James Hardie asbestos case rated 723,000 and 13th for the evening, up on Sunday’s 679,000 and 15th for the evening.

In the breakfast television battle, Nine’s Today rated 362,000 ahead of Seven’s Sunrise which rated 344,000.

Seven was dominant in channel share with the station taking a 25.5% share ahead...

Nine’s final episode of Big Brother saw 1.473m people tune in for the winner announcement, according to preliminary overnight metro ratings from OzTAM.

However, the numbers were down on the opening episode of the reality show which rated 1.618m after being heavily promoted during Nine’s Olympics coverage.

It’s likely the final number will be revised downwards slightly because the live show overran into the next program, Embarrassing Bodies which rated 974,000.

The first part of Big Brother, which featured the contestants’ final hours in the house, averaged 1.26m.

Big Brother was the highest rating show on TV last night. it also won in the key advertisng demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54.

The last time Big Brother aired was on Ten in 2008. On that occasion – which predated the launch of the Freeview channels which has fragmented the free-to-air audience – the winner announcement rated 1.453m.

Nine won the night...

Seven’s coverage of The Melbourne Cup race was watched by an average audience of 2.664m yesterday – significantly up on last year.

However, the real number of viewers is likely to have been significantly higher because OzTAM only measures viewing at home, so does not account for people watching the race at work or in the pub.

Viewing was particularly strong in Melbourne where OzTAM recorded 1.354m viewers.

According to the preliminary overnight metro ratings, the presentation to winning horse Green Moon rated 1.951m while the pre-race programming rated 1.631m.

Last year’s race rated 2.3m for Seven.

The race was also the top program across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, while the presentation was second in 16-39 and 18-49. Seven’s The X Factor was second in the 25-54 demo.

Seven held the top seven ratings positions across the entire day, as it did last year.

ABC’s new drama Redfern Now premiered last night on ABC1 as the second most watched show in its timeslot behind Seven’s Beauty and the Geek.

Billed as the first TV series completely written, directed and produced by Indigenous Australians, the six-part series follows six different stories of life in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Redfern.

Last night’s episode, directed by Satellite Boy’s Catriona McKenzie and starring Leah Purcell, debuted with 721,000 total viewers, across the five city metro markets, according to preliminary ratings from OzTAM.

The drama, which was 12th for the night, beat Nine’s Australian Federal Police which rated 702,000 and Ten’s Law and Order: Svu on 681,000.

Cameras began rolling in May on the series which is produced by Darren Dale and Miranda Dear with Cracker’s Jimmy McGovern as story producer. The Sapphires’ Deborah Mailman and Sheri Sebbens as well as director Wayne Blair...

It.s a hard job being the multi-faceted Paul Fenech. .Running in thongs is very difficult, you have to acquire a very special set of skills, which I.ve acquired, and mate, look, the running is actually not the difficult part..

The writer/actor/director/producer of bogan comedy Housos Vs. Authority experienced other hardships during production. .In the middle of winter running in shorts and thongs, that.s difficult mate. When its zero degrees and you.re in shorts riding a sidecar motorbike in Alice Springs, the wind-chill alone.I should be in some Guinness World Record book for that..

It is all part of bringing the cast of Sbs underground comedy series Housos - which follows a group of low-income Australians living in Sunnyvale's Housing Commission public housing - to the big screen.

For populating his world with the weird and wonderful, Fenech is known for casting locals and non-actors.

Channel Nine’s Mornings has beaten rival The Morning Show across the five city metro market for the first time since it launched.

Mornings rated 141,000 and Seven’s The Morning Show rated 134,000, according to preliminary ratings from OzTAM.

The Nine show won in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane but lost in Adelaide and Perth.

Mornings launched in February with new hosts Sonia Kruger and David Campbell, taking over from previous host Kerri-Anne Kennerley who presented from October 2002 to November 2011. The debut of the relaunched show rated 104,000.

The last time Nine had a win across the five city metro market in the time slot was on 21 October 2008 with Mornings with Kerri-Anne rating 136,000 to The Morning Show’s 135,000.

Meanwhile, seasonal comedy A Moody Christmas produced respectable numbers for its ABC1 debut last night.

Airing at 8.30pm, the show, the first long form situation comedy from production company Jungleboys, rated 677,000, across the five city metro market,...

Ten has seen an immediate uplift in its Tuesday night 7.30pm timeslot after the end of I Will Survive.

While last week’s hour-long series series finale of I Will Survive rated 321,000, double episodes of Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals, each of which ran across half an hour, rated 491,000 and 484,000 according to preliminary overnight metro ratings from OzTAM.

This amounts to an audience uplift of more than 50%.

The two Jamie Oliver episodes were still only 24th and 25th shows for the night among total viewers, and fourth for their time slots. However, the shows improved slightly in the key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54.

Tuesday night’s viewing was dominated by Seven’s The X Factor which had 1.43m.

But a new episode of Nine’s The Big Bang Theory was the top show for the night across the three key advertising demographics. It rated 1.157m.

Australian documentary Chateau Chunder: A Wine Revolution,...

Us drama Castle returned to Seven with season five premiering to preliminary overnight metro ratings of 753,000 last night .

The new episode aired at 7.45pm after Seven’s number one show The X Factor which won the night and rated 1.417m and 14th in total viewers according to OzTAM.

In its timeslot, Castle was third for total viewers, beaten by ABC’s Four Corners on 897,000 and Nine’s The Mentalist on 849,000, but beating Ten’s Can of Worms which rated 567,000.

In the key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, Castle was third in its time slot behind The Mentalist and Can of Worms.

Us political drama Scandal rated 317,000 for Seven in the 9.45pm time slot after being moved back from an earlier timeslot.

The X Factor’s performance episode also won the day in 18-49 and 25-54, but was second behind Nine’s Big Brother in 16-39. Among all people,...

Brynne: My bedazzled life: ratings slump

Seven reality shows Beauty & The Geek and Brynne: My Bedazzled Life saw ratings dip last night, continuing a steady path of decline for both shows over the last four weeks.

Despite winning across all three key advertising demos in its time slot last night, Beauty & The Geek has dropped from 892,000 on its seasonal debut for total viewers to last night’s 712,000.

In its second week the dating competition rated 852,000, while last week rated 831,000, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

Likewise for Brynne: My Bedazzled Life, which airs at 8pm before Beauty and the Geek, last night rated 680,000 in third place in its time slot for total viewers behind ABC’s Catalyst and Big Brother Confidential.

Brynne: My Bedazzled Life has dropped consistently since premiering on 930,000 four weeks ago. In its second week, Brynne dropped to 809,000 and last week rated 756,000.

In the key advertising demos,...

Last night’s final episode of Gruen Planet for 2012 ended on a high note.

The advertising analysis show, featuring Leo Burnett Sydney boss Todd Sampson and Ten’s new executive Gm Russel Howcroft, received its highest ratings for the season, for both Gruen Planet and its Olympic version Gruen Sweat.

The show was also ABC1′s highest rating program for the night.

Across the five city metro market, the show rated 1.038m viewers, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

The show was fourth in total viewers for the night, and won its 8.30pm time slot.

Across the three key advertising demographics, the show improved on its total viewer ranking while remaining top in its time slot.

In the 18-49 demo, Gruen was second behind Big Brother’s daily show, while in 16-39 the ad show was third behind Big Brother Little Sister and the Big Brother’s daily show. In...

I Will Survive winner Mike Snell

Ten’s I Will Survive took its final bow last night with contestant Michael Snell winning the Broadway competition.

Based on Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, the show has suffered from low ratings – which have ranged between 400,000 and 300,000 viewers – and been shifted around Ten’s schedule.

Last night, the show rated 321,000 and ranked 32nd in total viewers in its 7.30pm time slot, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

The show faired better in the demographics placing 28th in 16-39, 24th in 18-49 and 27th in 25-54.

Snell has since gone on to be cast as Kyle, the Ups Guy in musical Legally Blonde at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

The show was fourth in its time slot, just ahead of Sbs’s Who Do you Think You Are? on 305,000.

The show debuted for Ten with 506,000 average viewers on August 21.

Winning the 7.30 time slot,...

The X Factor

Seven’s singing competition show The X Factor won Monday’s ratings race, finishing with more than 400,000 viewers ahead of Nine rival Big Brother.

While The X Factor’s performance episode rated 1.462m, Big Brother’s live nominations rated 1.019m in sixth for total viewers, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

The X Factor won across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, followed by Big Brother’s live nominations in second place, and Big Brother’s daily show in third.

Big Brother’s daily show rated 906,000 and was ninth for the night in total viewers.

Seven’s new Us political thriller Scandal, which follows The X Factor at 9pm, struggled to benefit from the singing show’s win.

In its second episode the show dropped to 543,000, exactly 200,000 viewers off its preliminary ratings from last week’s debut of 743,000.

The show placed 22nd in total viewers,...

The Chaser’s The Unbelievable Truth won its time slot of 9.30pm in its second week on air.

The celebrity quiz show rated 520,000 and in 22nd spot for total viewers according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

The show also won its time slot across all three key advertising demographics while placing fifth overall in 16-39, sixth overall in 18-49 and eighth in 25-54.

It saw only a slight drop from last week’s debut of 568,000 and 19th in total viewers last week.

In the battle for Breakfast, Nine’s Today registered a close win over Seven’s Sunrise. The Nine show rated 353,000 in 33rd spot for total viewers while Sunrise rated 348,000 and 34th in total viewers.

Today won in Sydney and Melbourne, but Sunrise won across Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Winning the night across all three demos was Seven’s Beauty and the Geek Australia and in total viewers was seventh overall.

In the battle for Breakfast, Seven’s Sunrise had a particularly high rating yesterday of 462,000 viewers - beating rival Today on Nine by over 100,000 viewers.

Korean-popstar-about-town Psy was a guest on Sunrise, with promos showing the show’s breakfast team doing the singer’s now-famous Gangnam Style dance in Martin Place.

Today ranked 23rd overall, rating with 336,000.

Seven proved strong at the other end of the day too. The fly-on-the-wall series Surveillance Oz, was the highest rating show last night in its third week out, rating 1.125m total viewers.

Last week the 8pm show has gained steam compared with the last three weeks. It was the top non-news show and third overall while in its debut week, it rated seventh in total viewers.

Highway Patrol, airing before Surveillance Oz at 7.30pm was third for the night with 1.051m viewers, just behind Seven News on 1.059m viewers, making it a podium finish for the network.

Mel B and Psy go Gangnam style

Seven’s singing competition The X Factor had its best ratings result of 2012 last night.

The show rated 1.665m, according to preliminary OzTam ratings, edging it just over its previous best of 1.662m from September 11th.

The elimination show, which saw soul vocalist Angel Tupai sent home, included K-Pop singer and cultural phenomenon du jour Psy perform his song Gangnam Style dance with former Spice Girl Mel B.

The show won across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54.

Second for the night was Seven’s local drama Winners & Losers, rating 1.152m across total people. However the show couldn’t hold its spot in the key ad demos, placing third behind Nine’s The Big Bang Theory for the 18-49 and 25-54 age groups, and fourth behind Big Bang Theory and Big Brother for 16-39.

In the 7pm timeslot,...

Scandal: followed The X Factor

Seven’s new Us series Scandal premiered with 743,000 last night.

Heavily promoted in ad breaks during the show that ran before it – Monday night’s most-watched program The X Factor – the political thriller series ranked 16th for the night for total viewers, across the five-city metro market according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.

Scandal aired at 9pm, and while no other shows across the five major channels began at this time and ran for an hour, the show was beaten by ABC1′s 8.30pm program Four Corners, which placed fifth with 1.03m viewers, and Media Watch, on at 9.20pm with 950,000 in 11th, and Q&A at 9.35pm on 858,000 in 14th for total viewers.

It was also beaten by Nine’s The Mentalist, on at 8.30pm, which rated 799,000 – just ahead in 15th position for total viewers.

Scandal did however top Ten’s Can of Worms, which...

Brynne: My bedazzled life: ratings down to 809,000

The second episode of Seven’s new reality show Brynne: My Bedazzled suffered a big drop in ratings last night – down more than 100,000 viewers on its debut last week.

The fly-on-the-wall show rated with 809,000 – down from 930,000 on its first outing, according to Oztam preliminary ratings.

The show was well beaten in its 7.30pm time slot by Big Brother on Nine, which was the highest rating non-news show of the night, with 932,000. But it bettered Ten’s Jamie’s Thirty Minute Meals, which brought in 618,000.

There was more joy for Seven reality show Beauty and the Geek, which topped the 18-49 and 16-39 demographics ahead of Big Brother – despite only ranking eighth for total viewers and averaging 852,000.

Big Brother topped the 25-54 demo.

Seven’s Sunrise was back on top of the morning time slot after yesterday’s win for Nine’s Today. Sunrise...