Countdown

Countdown season is upon us again! And no, I am not referring to the barrage of “best of the year” lists and reflection over the past year stories that typically fill our media this time of year! Countdown season is that one month that ABC’s Rage goes retro playing old Countdown episodes in their entirety, unedited, as they were when they originally aired. Continue reading »

In what is devistating news to fans of the show and the huge cult following that has developed, SBS have made the decision to “rest” Letters and Numbers – which more than likely means it will not return.

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Countdowns are back on Rage Goes Retro tonight, with three full episodes from 1980 ans 1981, as well as the Class of ’84 Special about jobs in TV. Much of the rest of the night focusses around the music of the early 1980′s. Rage airs on ABC1, from just after 11.30pm tonight (Saturday Jan 14).

The journey back in time continues with week 3 of ‘rage Goes Retro’!

rage fans will have the chance to reminisce with full episodes of ‘Countdown’ featuring Molly Meldrum, ‘Rock Arena’ and lots of old school clips from the past few decades.

We’ll take you on a musical journey spanning back to the early days of ‘Countdown’ featuring a largely requested performance by The Dugites in 1980 and pop princess Sheena Easton also takes the stage and audience by storm in an episode from 1981. We will bring back memories with an episode of ‘Rock Arena – Rock n Roll Ladies’, hosted by Andrew Peters in August 1983, featuring performances by The Divinyls, Sharon O’Neill, Marianne Faithfull, Grace Jones and Martha Davis & The Motels.

Other retro clips to please all the retro fans out there include The Sunnyboys, Flash and The Pan, The B-52s, Supertramp, Bryan Ferry, Tactics & Sandii & The Sunsetz.

Here’s the playlist:

Molly Meldrum’s brother says he is close to being transferred to private rehabilitation, a month after he fell at his Melbourne home.

Meldrum’s brother, Brian Meldrum, said doctors were happy with the celebrity interviewer’s recovery.

‘They are pleased with the progress being made by Molly Meldrum, and that he was moving closer to being transferred to private rehabilitation,’ Mr Meldrum said in a statement on Thursday.

‘They emphasised, however, that his recovery, while proceeding well, would a long, slow process.’

Earlier this week Meldrum’s manager, Mark Klemens, said the 65-year-old was now able to engage in some limited conversation from his hospital bed, although his progress could be measured in ‘baby steps’.

The music industry icon suffered the injuries after falling three metres down stairs near the spa at his Richmond home while he was putting up Christmas decorations.

He was put under heavy sedation and on a ventilator and later underwent several operations to relieve swelling to his brain and repair a fractured collarbone and ribs.

Source – Sky News

This Saturday (January 7), Rage Goes Retro goes …. really retro – with music and shows from the 1960′s until 5.30am. A number of episodes of Hit Scene from 1969 feature in the mix as well as various classic songs from the era.

Countdown host Molly Meldrum is finally communicating with nurses and showing ‘relieving’ signs of life after being taken off life support on Christmas Day.

The television host and music critic spoke his first words since his fall; but reporters from the Sydney Morning Herald claim they were almost random, and not in response to any questions.

Something he did mutter though, was a very comforting ‘I’m sore, I’m tired’, indicating that he has suffered no brain injuries that could result in paralysis.

It will still be some time yet before Molly is fully recovered, but it is great to see this larrakin heading in the right direction.

Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum’s brother, Brian Meldrum, has confirmed that Molly yesterday underwent a four-and-a-half hour operation to address injuries he suffered in a fall at his home last Thursday night.

“Surgeons were successful in repairing a broken collar bone, and extensive breaks and fractures he suffered to his left rib cage,” Brian said.

“A metal plate was screwed into place to reconnect his clavicle bone, and soluble screws and plates were used to repair the damage to his ribs.

“The operation on his rib cage will make it easier for Molly to breathe, and will bring forward the time when he can be taken off the ventilator.

“Molly’s condition is still considered to be serious, and he was returned to intensive care after the operation. However the success of today’s operation will assist greatly in his overall recovery.”

Mark Klemens, agent for Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, has confirmed that Molly has shown some limited but encouraging signs of progress in his recovery.

Under instructions from a nurse, Molly was able to open his eyes briefly during the night as his level of sedation was gradually decreased. He has also opened his eyes on several other occasions today, albeit very briefly.

However Molly has not regained consciousness and is still listed as being in a critical but stable condition at The Alfred Hospital.

Doctors and his family are encouraged by the progress but have warned it is still very early days in his recovery. 

“Obviously this gives us hope and we retain a sense of cautious optimism but he still has a very long road ahead,” Mr Klemens said. 

Molly Meldrum suffered a fractured skull, punctured lung and fractured clavicle, ribs and vertebrae after falling at his home last Thursday. He also has brain bruising.

This picture from Nine 4.30pm news Friday December 16 – the day after Molly Meldrum’s ladder fall that has seen him hospitalised in a coma, as the news service reported what had happened to Molly in the past 24 hours.

Having seen Molly on Countdown since the mid-late 70′s, has he EVER been a singer?

Surely someone at Nine could have picked up this mistake?

Nine News’s mistakes aside, Molly’s condition, as at time of writing, has neither deteriorated nor improved.

We wish Molly all the best.

A true Australian Icon.

Molly Meldrum was apparently hanging Christmas decorations in preparation for a party when he fell 10 feet (3 metres) from a ladder. He apparently has several broken ribs and swelling of the brain according to 3AW. He is apparently now in sugery. Sky News has reported that Brian Walsh, director of television at Foxtel, that he has is suffering from a collapsed lung and also has many broken bones.

The doctors are working in earnest to help him. His gardener discovered him unconscious. They are trying to relieve pressure on his brain – the next 12 to 24 hours are crucial – according to Williams.

Paramedics were called to a residence in the inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond, about 6.40pm (AEDT) on Thursday and treated a man who had fallen from a height off a ladder, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.

“He fell from a ladder, at some height, he was unconscious when we arrived,” she told AAP.

“He has been placed in an induced coma and taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.”

A hospital spokesman confirmed to AAP the man was Meldrum and his condition remained critical.

There were unconfirmed reports Meldrum was in surgery on Thursday night.

The news has sparked an outflow of concern and messages on Twitter and Facebook.

The hashtag Love You Molly has featured a number of well-wishers and prayers for 65-year-old Meldrum from Australian music and media celebrities.

Danni Minogue tweeted that she’s “thinking of him tonight”.

Seven Sunrise host Melissa Doyle says Molly is “truly one of the good guys. Love him dearly and hope he’s OK.”

The hashtag is strongly trending on Twitter as hundreds of people send their wishes for a speedy recovery and reminisce about his contribution to Australian music.

Meldrum’s name is synonymous with music in Australia. He has hosted TV show Countdown, regularly appeared on variety show Hey Hey It’s Saturday and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the music world.

Most recently, he interviewed global music sensation Beyonce. His interview sparked an internet rumour that the singer’s baby bump was a prosthetic.

Meldrum, who is famous for his trademark stetson hat, has also been a successful producer. He produced the hit song The Real Thing for Australian star Russell Morris.His Melodian brand also produced the likes of Indecent Obsession and Jo Beth Taylor.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1986 for services to the fostering of international relief and to youth.