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TOP TEN PROGRAMS – Monday 9 March 2009

Source: Official OzTam Ratings

�• SEVEN NEWS (457,000) was Seven’s most-watched program and the leading news provider, finishing ahead of ‘Nine News’ (391,000), ‘ABC News-EV’ (307,000) and ‘Ten News at Five’ (295,000).

• At 6:30pm, TODAY TONIGHT (378,000) dominated, while ‘A Current Affair’ (362,000) trailed.
• Melbournians loved BROTHERS & SISTERS (372,000), choosing the family drama over Nine’s ‘Crime
Investigation Australia’ (354,000) and Ten’s ‘NCIS Mon RPT’ (213,000).

• DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (352,000) rounded at the Top Ten, while Ten’s ‘Good News Week’ ranked 24th, sustaining only 222,000 viewers.

MELBOURNE

1 UNDERBELLY: A TALE OF TWO CITIES Nine 691,000

2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 457,000

3 CUSTOMS Nine 394,000

4 NINE NEWS Nine 391,000

5 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 378,000

6 BROTHERS & SISTERS Seven 372,000

7 TWO AND A HALF MEN -MON Nine 372,000

8 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 362,000

9 CRIME INVESTIGATION AUSTRALIA Nine 354,000

10 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Seven 352,000

(Share: ABC: 12.9%; Seven: 27.2%; Nine: 32.6%; Ten: 19.2%; and, SBS: 8.1%)

NATIONAL

1 UNDERBELLY: A TALE OF TWO CITIES Nine 2,267,000

2 SEVEN NEWS Seven 1,639,000

3 TODAY TONIGHT Seven 1,400,000

4 CUSTOMS Nine 1,312,000

5 CRIME INVESTIGATION AUSTRALIA Nine 1,265,000

6 NINE NEWS Nine 1,235,000

7 A CURRENT AFFAIR Nine 1,196,000

8 TWO AND A HALF MEN -MON Nine 1,186,000

9 HOME AND AWAY Seven 1,161,000

10 ABC NEWS-EV ABC1 1,063,000

(Share: ABC: 14.0%; Seven: 25.9%; Nine: 33.0%; Ten: 19.3%; and, SBS: 7.7%)

Monday 9 March 2009

HOME GROWN CITY HOMICIDE WINS ON SUNDAY

Source: Official OzTam Ratings

Seven’s CITY HOMICIDE was the country’s number one pick for crime drama last night - winning its timeslot in Melbourne and across the country.

In Melbourne, CITY HOMICIDE (319,000) convincingly beat Ten’s So You Think You Can Dance Australia (277,000); Rove (287,000) and Nine’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (283,000).

CITY HOMICIDE was comfortably within the Top Ten shows for the night, ranking 5^th locally and nationally last night.

Viewers around Australia have consistently chosen Melbourne-made CITY HOMICIDE over Nine’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Since it returned for a third season of all-new episodes last month, CITY HOMICIDE has also led on Ten’s Rove.

On next week’s episode of CITY HOMICIDE, Detective Superintendent Bernice Waverley (NONI HAZLEHURST) continues to fight charges of corruption…but there’s something far more dangerous and sinister that she’s about to face.

MELBOURNE

(Share: ABC: 15.3%, Seven: 28.6%, Nine: 26.7%, Ten: 23.7%, SBS: 5.7%)

NATIONAL

(Share: ABC: 15.9%; Seven: 29.2%; Nine: 26.0%; Ten: 24.3%; and, SBS: 4.6%)

Exclusive to Seven

“Possibly the hottest British comedy export since Ricky Gervais” – VARIETY

(March 9, 2009): On the eve of Russell Brand’s first Australian performances, Channel Seven today announced it has acquired his BAFTA-nominated television series, Ponderland.

‘Russell Brand’s Ponderland’, coming soon to Seven, is freeform comedy at its best – an inspired mix of stand-up, nostalgia and archival TV footage that’s quite unlike anything else on tv today.

Each episode tackles a different topic – from love, family and pets, to holidays, crime and sport – as Russell muses on changing attitudes and behaviour in his inimitable outrageous and irreverent style.

Hailed by TIME OUT as “The most exciting comedian of his generation”, Brand is best known for his scene-stealing performance as British rock star Aldous Snow in Judd Apatow’s, ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’. More recently he starred alongside Adam Sandler and Australia’s Teresa Palmer in ‘Bedtime Stories’.

Brand will reprise his role as Snow in the new Apatow film, ‘Get Him To The Greek’, and stars with Dame Helen Mirren in the forthcoming big screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s, ‘The Tempest’.

Brand brings his sell-out UK stand-up tour, “Scandalous”, to Melbourne and Sydney next week. For ticketing info, go to www.abpresents.com.au

Thursday March 19 at 7:30pm on Seven (M)

This week on GHOST WHISPERER, Melinda engages in a game of hide-and-seek when a little girl’s imaginary friend disrupts a wedding.

Melinda plays a game of hide-and-seek when a child’s make-believe friend causes havoc during a wedding party and Melinda attempts to calm the ghosts running amok.

GHOST WHISPERER stars JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT as Melinda Gordon, DAVID CONRAD as Jim Clancy, CAMRYN MANHEIM as Delia Banks, CHRISTOPH SANDERS as Ned Banks and JAMIE KENNEDY as Eli James.

Saturday March 21

- LAUNCH OF V8 SUPERCAR SEASON

1:00pm –

V8 Utes and Australian GT Championship

The first V8 Supercar event of the year kicks off with great racing action from the real Aussie V8 Utes Race 2 and some of the most expensive sports cars around in Race 2 of the Australian GT Championship.

Today’s coverage is hosted by MATTHEW WHITE while AARON NOONAN leads the commentary.

2:00pm –

V8 Supercars CLIPSAL 500

The V8 Supercar Season launches on the streets of Adelaide with the Clipsal 500. Today features highlights of qualifying and then the first race for the year over 250 kilometres.

MATTHEW WHITE leads a commentary team of NEIL CROMPTONK, MARK SKAIFE, MARK LARKHAM and MARK BERETTA.

Friday March 20 at 7:30pm on Seven (PG)

Tonight on BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS: What happens when good pot plants turn bad. Fast Ed’s new version of an Italian classic. How to grow your own garlic. Dr Harry shows why ducks could be great in your backyard. Tara has tips on making your own pottery, an ancient craft back in fashion. Karen’s great value smoked trout and avocado salad. A DIY toy garage for little car collectors. What your orchids and fuschias need this weekend.

Dr Harry shows how to bring a touch of country life into your suburban backyard by keeping one of the cutest critters on webbed feet… ducks! We all love the idea of backyard chooks, but have you ever thought of keeping a couple of ducks in your yard? Ducks make interesting and comical pets that provide you with delicious fresh eggs. They will even clear out all the pests in your backyard.

Forget about smoked salmon, smoked trout is an unusual and delicious alternative that is great value for money. While at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Karen whips up a delicious trout and avocado potato salad in the beautiful grounds of Como Historic House and Gardens in Victoria.

Fast Ed visits the markets to see what’s in season in March. Capsicums are at their best right now so Ed presents a special capsicum twist on the classic Italian bruschetta. He shows you how to transform ordinary capsicum into a gourmet bruschetta like you’ve never tasted before.

Garlic is one of the most popular ingredients used in cooking today and, as Graham explains, it is one of the easiest to grow. Today there are over 600 cultivated sub-varieties of garlic throughout the world. Graham shows you how & why you should plant this easy to grow seasoning.

Rob’s new project will have the kids driving you mad to build them one! Little ones love playing with toy cars, trucks and helicopters so, inspired from a letter sent in by viewer Harry from Tasmania, Rob is making a brilliant toy garage and streetscape.

Pruning, feeding and a bit of care is all it takes for a healthy garden and now is a great time to do it. Orchids and Fuchsias are favourites in so many gardens and with a bit of love now, you’ll get them looking their best! Graham’s plant of the week is the new release Lomandra ‘Silver Grace’ – one of the toughest natives around.

Jason shows you what to do when indoor plants turn bad! Ramana lives in a small inner city terrace where he has been enjoying the privacy that the large ficus in the back garden has been providing – however he is concerned that it may cause damage in time if left unchecked.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS is presented by JOHANNA GRIGGS, with GRAHAM ROSS, DR HARRY COOPER, ROB PALMER, ED HALMAGYI, JASON HODGES, KAREN MARTINI and TARA DENNIS.

Thursday March 19 at 10:30pm on Seven (PG)

This week on SCRUBS, the hospital’s new interns are put to the ultimate test when they’re asked to perform in the annual sketch show.

J.D. and Turk organise their historically unfunny annual sketch show with the new crop of interns.

SCRUBS stars ZACH BRAFF as J.D., SARAH CHALKE as Elliot Reid, DONALD FAISON as Chris Turk, JOHN C. McGINLEY as Dr. Perry Cox, JUDY REYES as Carla Espinosa, KEN JENKINS as Dr. Bob Kelso and NEIL FLYNN as the Janitor, with ROBERT MASCHIO as Todd, ALOMA WRIGHT as Nurse Roberts, ELIZA COUPE as Denise, BETSY BEUTLER as Katie, TODD BOSLEY as Howie and SONAL SHAH as Sunny.

Thursday March 19 at 9:30pm on Seven (M)

- ALEXIS DENISOF AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS GUEST STAR

This week on PRIVATE PRACTICE, Addison treats two pregnant women who unknowingly share the same husband.

Addison treats two pregnant women who unknowingly share the same husband; a visit from an Alzheimer’s patient and her loving husband forces Sam and Naomi to look at their own relationship; Violet confronts Charlotte about her relationship with Cooper; and Dell reveals a very special woman in his life to his surprised co-workers.

PRIVATE PRACTICE stars KATE WALSH as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, TIM DALY as Dr. Pete Wilder, AUDRA McDONALD as Dr. Naomi Bennett, PAUL ADELSTEIN as Dr. Cooper Freedman, KADEE STRICKLAND as Dr. Charlotte King, CHRIS LOWELL as William Dell Parker, TAYE DIGGS as Dr. Sam Bennett and AMY BRENNEMAN as Dr. Violet Turner, with special guests ALEXIS DENISOF as Daniel, DAVID SUTCLIFFE as Kevin and BILLY DEE WILLIAMS as Henry.

Thursday March 19 at 8:30pm on Seven (M)

- AUSTRALIA’S MELISSA GEORGE DEBUTS AS NEW INTERN, ‘SADIE’

- MARY McDONNELL ALSO GUEST STARS

This week on GREY’S ANATOMY, one of Meredith’s oldest friends becomes an intern at Seattle Grace, causing turmoil at the hospital and in Mer’s personal life.

Melissa George debuts tonight as Sadie, one of Meredith’s oldest friends and the newest intern at Seattle Grace, however Mer’s friends are less-than-welcoming to her.

Meanwhile, Lexie leads her fellow interns in secretive, unorthodox surgical training sessions; and a new surgeon, Virginia Dixon, brings rules and order to the OR.

GREY’S ANATOMY stars ELLEN POMPEO as Meredith Grey, PATRICK DEMPSEY as Derek Shepherd, SANDRA OH as Cristina Yang, KATHERINE HEIGL as Isobel “Izzie” Stevens, JUSTIN CHAMBERS as Alex Karev, T.R. KNIGHT as George O’Malley, CHANDRA WILSON as Miranda Bailey, JAMES PICKENS, JR as Richard Webber, SARA RAMIREZ as Callie Torres, ERIC DANE as Mark Sloan and CHYLER LEIGH as Lexie Grey, with special guests KEVIN McKIDD as Owen, MELISSA GEORGE as Sadie and MARY McDONNELL as Virginia Dixon.

Wednesday March 18 at 10:30pm on Seven (M)

This week on LOST, the way back to the Island is revealed to the Oceanic 6.

The way back to the island is revealed to members of the Oceanic 6, but there’s trouble ahead when not all of them wish to return.

LOST stars NAVEEN ANDREWS as Sayid, HENRY IAN CUSICK as Desmond, JEREMY DAVIES as Daniel Faraday, MICHAEL EMERSON as Ben, MATTHEW FOX as Jack, JORGE GARCIA as Hurley, JOSH HOLLOWAY as Sawyer, YUNJIN KIM as Sun, KEN LEUNG as Miles, EVANGELINE LILLY as Kate, ELIZABETH MITCHELL as Juliet and TERRY O’QUINN as Locke, with special guests FIONNULA FLANAGAN as Eloise Hawking and JEFF FAHEY as Frank Lapidus.