Revenge

It’s a whole bunch of specials next week for Seven – the first of two Easter non-ratings weeks.

On Monday April 2, at 7.30pm, is Unlikely Animal Friends 2. What happens when a sheep befriends an orphaned baby elephant? Do dogs get along with polar bears? Can a leopard and a golden retriever grow up together? Find out what makes these unlikely animal friendships so unique.

A new episode of Revenge follows at 8.30pm.

Then at 9.30pm, another special: McDonald’s Gets Grilled.
Fast food is full of fat, sugar and preservatives. It’s slowly killing us, contributing to a worldwide epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. This documentary targets one of the world’s most famous but equally controversial companies, McDonald’s. Six members of the public are given an all-access pass to McDonald’s, set out to ask the tough questions about what goes into the food they eat, including the use of pesticides and preservatives, as well as issues surrounding staff exploitation, hygiene, holding periods and how the food tastes. As we follow this intriguing journey it will be more than a program about fast food. It’s a social experiment. One that tests whether people, when faced with overwhelming evidence challenging their long-held prejudices, can ever accept the truth.

Tuesday April 3 at 7.30pm sees World’s Strictest Parents (UK) return in a new episode: Barbados. Tonight spoilt Nicole and school dropout Nathan, both 16, get new parents in Barbados. For a week they will be living under the strict rules of the Harris family. They have prepared a set of rules including no smoking, no drinking, no swearing and respect at all times for the parents. But on the first night Nathan refuses to hand over his cigarettes and Andrea orders him out of the house until he complies with her rules. Things get worse when the teens skip school forcing Dad Kenrick to leave work to search for them. Will one week of tough love help to tame these wild teens?

Movies return to Tuesday nights, with The Boys are Back at 8.30pm – a premiere for Seven.

On Wednesday April 4, at 7.30pm is the special 5 Days in the Red Zone. Follows the unlikely Rural Drink Drive Team from Alexandra who were unexpectedly called into Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake. Sergeant Bruce Martin and two Constables made their way to Christchurch’s red zone with documentary-maker, Pip. What emerges is a unique view into the disaster – of the new population of the of Christchurch’s central city; rescue crews, emergency services and military. They occupy a broken world that once belonged to the thousands who worked and lived in the central city. These rural officers hoped they would be saving lives and rescuing people but what they discover is an eerie place full of strangeness, sadness, bizarre moments and the challenge of dealing with the dead, not the living.

At 8.30pm is a double episode of Criminal Minds from season 6 – episodes 17 and 18 (Valhalla and Lauren).

To Thursday April 5, and the movie The Queen plays at 8.30pm in non-AFL markets.

Good Friday April 6 has Gosford Park as the movie at 8.30pm.

Movies on Saturday April 7 include Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit at 6.30pm and Dante’s Peak at 8.20pm in non-AFL markets.

On Easter Sunday, April 8, Sunday Night remains at 6.30pm, followed by Border Security and the Force, then Bones and Castle repeats from 8.30pm.

Easter Monday April 9 sees Revenge have a week off, with a yet to be named movie to air in the 8.30pm timeslot.

The Amazing Race continues at 9.30pm Wednesday April 11, followed by a Titanic special at 10.30pm, called Words of The Titanic. Marking the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful voyage, voices from that infamous journey are brought back to life in this special program. Famous faces join with relatives of survivors to read the words of original letters, diaries and memoirs in this powerful landmark documentary. Richard E Grant, Roger Allam and Nancy Carroll paint a fresh and vivid picture of the events building up to the fateful night in April 1912. From the engine room hands to the ships commanders, from the plight of the third class passengers to the stories of the first class state room passengers, their testimonies combines to create a colourful and deeply moving account of the doomed voyage and its effect on the lives of the survivors. Narrated by CHARLES DANCE.

Then, on Thursday April 12, Seven’s regular Thursday night line up returns. Better Homes and Gardens at 7.30pm in AFL states, Property Ladder elsewhere, followed by Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Private Practice.

There are still a number of TBA’s for the second Easter non-ratings week, which should be updated early next week.

Programming correct at March 29, 2012

8:30pm – Monday, March 26 on Seven

This week on REVENGE, Emily’s double life gets dangerously close to being uncovered.

CCH Pounder (“The Shield”) and Margarita Levieva (“Adventureland”) Guest Star

The Graysons’ 25th wedding anniversary is a less than celebratory occasion when their desire to lay low is interrupted with a high profile story in the paper and a volatile family dinner featuring unwanted guests.

The fate of Lydia hangs heavy over everyone, and Frank, desperate to prove his steadfast loyalty to Victoria, digs deep into Emily’s past and uncovers too much.

REVENGE stars MADELEINE STOWE as Victoria Grayson, EMILY VANCAMP as Emily Thorne, GABRIEL MANN as Nolan Ross, HENRY CZERNY as Conrad Grayson, ASHLEY MADEKWE as Ashley Davenport, NICK WECHSLER as Jack Porter, JOSH BOWMAN as Daniel Grayson, CHRISTA B. ALLEN as Charlotte Grayson and CONNOR PAOLO as Declan Porter, with AMBER VALLETTA as Lydia, JAMES TUPPER as David Clarke and ASHTON HOLMES as Tyler.

The Ricky Gervais Show, 10.05pm, SBS ONE
In a new series, this show is based on the audio podcasts of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, the program sets the trio’s musings on numerous inane topics to irresistible animation.

Revenge, 8.30pm, Seven
The Grayson’s 25th wedding anniversary is a less than celebratory occasion when their desire to lay low is interrupted with a high profile story in the paper and a volatile family dinner featuring unwanted guests. The fate of Lydia hangs heavy over everyone, and Frank, desperate to prove his steadfast loyalty to Victoria, digs deep into Emily’s past and uncovers too much.

Australian Story, 8.01pm,  ABC1
He’s a Hollywood ‘Mr Big’ with a bad boy past. John Polson’s amazing Australian story. He is an Australian actor, director and the founder of Tropfest.

How I Met Your Mother, 9.30pm, Seven
For Valentine’s Day, Lily and Marshall invite Robin and Kevin on a weekend getaway to Vermont, where Kevin and Robin discuss taking their relationship to the next level.

Extraordinary Ten Year-Olds, 8.30pm, Bio.
This remarkable documentary looks at the lives of three ten-year-old children who have triumphed over extreme adversity. Each of these children has dealt with traumas that most adults will never experience in a lifetime. The film tells their stories and celebrates the heroics of three youngsters who, despite everything, remain lively, happy and grounded.

9:00pm – Monday, March 12 on Seven

This week on REVENGE, Victoria is overwhelmed with feelings of guilt over a lifetime of bad decisions.

Victoria’s more vulnerable side shows through when lingering feelings of guilt over her involvement in David Clarke’s demise and an unforgivable rift with her daughter become too much to bear.

Lydia returns with a vendetta against Emily and the Graysons that will soon come back to haunt her.

Now wise to his father’s transgressions and a duplicitous betrayal by his friend, Tyler, Daniel decides to make a major life change.

And Charlotte and Declan find themselves in an unlikely predicament together.

8:30pm – Monday, March 5 on Seven

This week on REVENGE, Emily’s next victim is a renowned therapist in this tightknit community, and her very public takedown will also expose some of these women’s darkest secrets.

The recent scandals have the Graysons on edge, driving Conrad to pay a secret visit to Lydia, and Victoria to submerse herself in her Mothers and Daughters charity event for mental health.

The benefit provides the perfect opportunity for Emily to train her sights on taking down
Dr. Michelle Banks, the psychiatrist responsible for institutionalising her as a little girl, separating her from her dad for good.

Meanwhile Jack and Declan face a difficult decision about the future of the bar, and Daniel’s college buddy, Tyler, gives proof to Emily’s apprehensions.

REVENGE stars MADELEINE STOWE as Victoria Grayson, EMILY VANCAMP as Emily Thorne, GABRIEL MANN as Nolan Ross, HENRY CZERNY as Conrad Grayson, ASHLEY MADEKWE as Ashley Davenport, NICK WECHSLER as Jack Porter, JOSH BOWMAN as Daniel Grayson, CHRISTA B. ALLEN as Charlotte Grayson and CONNOR PAOLO as Declan Porter, with AMBER VALLETTA as Lydia and JAMES TUPPER as David Clarke.

8:30pm – Monday, February 27 on Seven

This week on REVENGE, the future of a major political figure hangs in the balance as Emily plots to avenge her father’s life and death.

With unexpected assistance from her new ally, Nolan, Emily makes it her mission to destroy the political and professional life of the district attorney who convicted her father.

Victoria very privately grieves the loss of her only true love while plotting to confirm her suspicions about Emily’s past.

Meanwhile, Daniel exposes a side of himself that Emily finds impossible to resist.

REVENGE stars MADELEINE STOWE as Victoria Grayson, EMILY VANCAMP as Emily Thorne, GABRIEL MANN as Nolan Ross, HENRY CZERNY as Conrad Grayson, ASHLEY MADEKWE as Ashley Davenport, NICK WECHSLER as Jack Porter, JOSH BOWMAN as Daniel Grayson, CHRISTA B. ALLEN as Charlotte Grayson and CONNOR PAOLO as Declan Porter, with AMBER VALLETTA as Lydia and JAMES TUPPER as David Clarke.

8:30pm – Monday, February 20 on Seven

This week on REVENGE, Emily plots to single-handedly take down one of Wall Street’s top hedge fund managers.

Emily sets her sights on her next target, Bill Harmon, a wealthy hedge funds manager and trusted family friend who testified in the trial that wrongfully convicted her father. She uses her connection with Nolan to her benefit, unbeknownst to him, and also manages to go on her very first date with Daniel.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s suspicions about Emily grow and she starts digging to find out a little more about this new arrival to the Hamptons.

And the situation over at the Stowaway Tavern gets even more dire for the Porter men.

REVENGE stars MADELEINE STOWE as Victoria Grayson, EMILY VANCAMP as Emily Thorne, GABRIEL MANN as Nolan Ross, HENRY CZERNY as Conrad Grayson, ASHLEY MADEKWE as Ashley Davenport, NICK WECHSLER as Jack Porter, JOSH BOWMAN as Daniel Grayson, CHRISTA B. ALLEN as Charlotte Grayson and CONNOR PAOLO as Declan Porter, with AMBER VALLETTA as Lydia and JAMES TUPPER as David Clarke.

If you missed the big premieres this week on Seven and Nine, both networks are offering encores so viewers can catch up or watch again if they chose.

Seven will replay Revenge at 2pm this Monday Feb 20, while the Tuesday’s Packed to the Rafters double episode season return will be replayed at midday on Tuesday Feb 21.

Nine are replaying Alcatraz after the Cricket on Friday night Feb 17 – which means it could start anything from 10pm to 11pm – be sure to add at least an hour if recording – while Sherlock will be replayed on GEM in HD from 9.30pm the same night. The 2 Broke Girls pilot is on GO! tonight at 8pm.

New episodes of Revenge air on Seven Monday nights at 8.30pm, Packed to the Rafters Tuesdays 8.30pm. On Nine, new Alcatraz airs at 8.30pm Mondays, while Sherlock is played Wednesday nights at 8.30pm.

So waht happens to digital channel ratings when all the main channels are loaded up with their prime new content? And what happens to new content on digitals as a result?

Answer – the main channels take the majority of the viewers while the digitals suffer lowered ratings due to the smaller audience left over. And for new content on digitals airing at the same time, it simply means they rank poorly than they otherwise should.

Which promts the question – why put SO MUCH  new content on one night? Sure the digitals have to compete for ratings points as well – but pitching new shows on digital channels – that are not repwated or even available in catch up services surely is a ratings kiss of death for these shows.

In the days leading up to Monday night, and even subsequent, I have seen comments form many viewers suggesting how difficlut the night was to decide what to watch. Even those with a twin channel PVR found themselves arranging their viewing for the night based on what would be encorred or availble on internet catch up services.

With over 2 million watching Revenge on Seven, and over a million on Nine at the same time, not to mention MKR hammering the 7.30-8.30 timeslot, and Big Bangs doing the same for Nine at the same time, the commercial digitals on Monday night took an absolute hammering. Shares were all pushed down below 3% each other than 7TWO which itself was lower than it has been at 3.5% and the digital channel top 20 only featured four prime time programs with the rest being ABC4 Kids shows – as their figures of course are not affected by the prime time shift of audience.

The digital channel ratings were topped by a repeat of Heartbeat on 7TWO with 329,000 tuning in, followed by Neighbours at 299,000 – so far this year, it has struggeld to get much more than 300,000. Spicks and Specks on ABC2 (which airs at 7pm, right after ABC4 Kids says goodnight) was watched by 184,000.

Comedy nights on Monday continue to pay off for ONE with Straussman Live: Get Chucked reaching 175,000. Doctor Who on ABC2 was just outside the top 20 with 160,000 viewers, while Friends on GEM reached 158,000. GEM’s last minute airing of The Body Guard starring Whitney Houston averaged 146,500.

Brand new Supernatural on ELEVEN was watched by just 146,000 while the last ever episode of Smallville on the same channel had less than 69,000 tuning in.

7mate’s Hardcore Pawn, Operation Repo and Lockdown were trounced – some nights these shows manage over 200,000 or more – Monday night between 105,000 and 111,000 for these shows.

Even a stray Big Bang episode on GO! was on watched by 109,000. Excess Baggage earlier in the evening was watched by just 118,000 for its first night on GO!. SBS TWO made it into the top 100 digital shows for the night with The Moon watched by 91,000.

Shares for the night saw 7TWO lead the digitals on 3.5%, then ELEVEN and GO! levelled on 2.8%, a three way tie on 2.7% for ONE, GEM and SBS ONE while 7mate’s share was 2.5%. ABC2 2.2%, SBS TWO 1.2%, ABC3 & News 24 0.6%.

For those of us who enjoy new content over repeats, is it really fair to cram so much into the one night over so mnay channels? I know I have said this before, but maybe time the free to air digital channels look at Foxtel for some programming guidance and consider replaying prime time shows at other times.

Replays of new content late night or during the day would make a refreshing change to the drival some of these channels offer outside of prime time. They really need to remember, that people watch TV outside of prime time too, and that people these days prefer options when chosing what to watch.

It is wrong to have a night saturated with too much to watch, resulting in shows that would otherwise be watched not be watched, while other nights and times have virtually nothing over 15 channels to watch.

Quite a night of TV with so much on offer including two new Big Bang Theory’s, and the ultimate premiere show battle: Revenge on Seven Vs Alcatraz on Nine.

The two Big Bang that aired last night – including the show’s 100th episode – were perhaps the best of the season so far – with some classic lines leaving audiences laughing out loud.

My Kitchen Rules featured the third instant restaurant of the second group which saw the boys Nic and Rocco from South Australia yield the highest score in MKR history. Read more here.

Ten’s Biggest Loser saw the very emotional elimination of Brenda from the red team – which featured one of the white team voting her out, despite a so-called pact the two teams had made. Read more here.

And how many fans of Excess Baggage have followed Nine’s Weight Loss series to GO!? At the earlier time of 6.30pm, it still overlaps with the Biggest Loser. Check out what happened here.

But the real deal of the night was whether you were choosing Revenge or Alcatraz at 8.30pm. Most polls – including ours on Throng – point towards Revenge being the winner of the time slot. Those who have watched the first episode of Revenge seem to be hooked and can’t wait for next week’s episode.

Over to digital and the last episode EVER of Smallville aired on ELEVEN – a show many die hard fans have followed through multiple time slots over its years while GEM through in at the last minute The Bodyguard featuring the late Whitney Houston.

What did you watch? What did you enjoy? Let us know – and feel free to contribute.