The Big Bang Theory

‘Twas the week before ratings and Nine got in as many Big Bang Theory repeats as they could! Week 6 sees One Day Cricket return to Sunday and Friday nights, New Mentalist NOT on Monday night (amended out again), Two and a Half Men on Tuesday (now a repeat) and more Excess Baggage, including encores at 1pm Tuesday-Friday. Also at 9am weekdays from Monday Feb 6 Nine’s new Morning show – simply called Mornings airs for its first week (read more about that here).

Sun Feb 5 NSW & VIC
2.00 Cricket. One Day Series – Australia Vs India. First Game.
6.00 Nine News Sunday
6.30 One Day Series – Australia Vs India. First Game.
10.00 Movie: 16 Blocks (more likely 10.30 if the second session of cricket goes full 50 overs)
12.00 Flashpoint – new

Sun Feb 5 QLD
1.00 Cricket. One Day Series – Australia Vs India. First Game.
5.00 Antiques Roadshow
5.30 Cricket. One Day Series – Australia Vs India. First Game.
6.00 Nine News Sunday (cricket continues on GEM)
6.30 One Day Series – Australia Vs India. First Game.
9.00 Movie: Gran Torino (more likely 9.30 if the second session of cricket goes full 50 overs) 11.30 Flashpoint – new

Mon Feb 6
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 The Big Bang Theory – NEW episode: The Shiny Trinket Maneuver
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
9.00 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
9.30 The Mentalist – rpt
10.30 The Mentalist – rpt
11.30 Harry’s Law

Tue Feb 7
Note: One Day Cricket Sri Lanka Vs India on GEM
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt
9.00 Two and a Half Men – rpt.
9.30 Top Gear – rpt – Bolivia Special
11.10 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares

Wed Feb 8
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
9.00 Movie: Bride Wars
11.00 TBA (possible Excess encore?)

Thur Feb 9
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 RBT – New
8.30 CSI – New
9.30 CSI: NY New
10.30 CSI: NY – rpt
11.30 Fat Sick and Nearly Dead

Fri Feb 10 NSW & VIC
3.00 One Day Series – Australia Vs Sri Lanka
6.00 News(cricket continues on GEM)
6.30 One Day Series – Australia Vs Sri Lanka
7.00 The Big Bang Theory
7.30 One Day Series – Australia Vs Sri Lanka
11.00 Movie: Executive Decision

Fri Feb 10 QLD
2.00 One Day Series – Australia Vs Sri Lanka
6.00 News
6.30 One Day Series – Australia Vs Sri Lanka
10.00 Movie: Executive Decision

Sat Feb 11
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos NEW series for 2012!
7.30 Movie: TBA
9.30 Movie: TBA
1.00 Movie: Spys

Correct as of January 28, 2012. Guide for NSW, VIC & QLD only. Other states check local guides.

This sure is getting hard to keep up with…

Nine have chanaged their programming AGAIN for Monday, January 23.

A SECOND repeat episode of The Big Bang Theory has been added to the night – which now means there are three episodes in a row, kicking off with the NEW episode which, according to the EPG for the night, now airs from 8.16pm.

That means the premiere of Excess baggage now runs over 75 minutes. Still, that is a few mniutes shorter than the season three premiere of My Kitchen Rules on Seven which airs  from 7.30 that night.

Here’s how the night looks now in Nine.

5.59 News
6.30 ACA
7.01 Excess Baggage Premiere
8.16 The Big Bang Theory – The Speckerman Recurrance – THIS IS the NEW episode
8.46 The Big Bang Theory – The Bothowitz Deviation – rpt
9.13 The Big Bang Theory – The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary – rpt
9.43 The Mentalist – Code Red – rpt
10.41 The Mentalist – Red Box – rpt
11.36 Damages – new

Check out the rest of the week’s programming on Nine here.

Next Monday, January 30, Nine have changed their programming, adding a repeat of The Big Bang Theory at 8.30pm after the new episode, moving Harry’s Law back to 11pm and inserting TWO repeat episodes of the Mentalist in between from 9-11pm, instead of the NEW episode previously scheduled.

Now I have to say, I am not aware of how much Nine has promoted the return of the Mentalist for next Monday, other than the generic ads “New Mentalist soon on Nine” but, if they had promoted the return of new episodes on Monday, they will now be misleading viewers.

The changes to Nine next Monday are clearly reactionary on Seven’s line up for the night. On Seven, My Kitchen Rules premieres of season three at 7.30pm but doesn’t finish until 8.45pm – or, more realistically, as is usually the case – 8.55pm. Given the first episode runs for 55 minutes without ads, and is likely to start more like 7.35pm, an 8.55 finish is more likely.

MKR will be closely followed by new series Please Marry My Boy.

It seems that Nine have chosen NOT to risk – or even waste – a new episode of The Mentalist that night, rather waiting to see how ratings go for Seven and leaving The Mentalist for either the following Monday February 6 or even not until February 13 when we are into ratings season for 2012.

Repeats of Big Bang and The Mentalist have been doing very well for Nine lately. Repeat Big Bangs last Monday reached over a million – spurred on by the new episode in between, while repeats of the Mentalist are pulling up to 800,000.

These figures, however, are more likely the consequence of “nothing else to watch” as opposed to destination viewing as not everyone cares about the tennis on Seven, and nor do they care for Modern Family and NCIS: LA repeats on Ten.

Repeats of The Mentalist on Nine, in times when there IS significant competition from the other networks struggle in comparison.

In my opinion, the 9pm start for The Mentalist is not a bad move, but why not keep the new episode on? From what I’ve seen of Please Marry My Boy, there will be a large migration of viewers when My Kitchen Rules finishes on Monday night – the repeat episode of the Mentalist may drive them back to Seven, or over to new NCIS: LA on Ten – which, so far still starts at 8.30pm.

Then there is the question of whether Excess Baggage will run over time by 15 minutes like what happened many nights with Celebrity Apprentice last year – another spanner in the works for the nights’ programming – which would result in new Big Bang at 8.15, repeat at 8.45 (mmm – just in time for people to flick over to Seven) and repeat Mentalists from 9.15.

Whether it all works or not for Nine that night, or if Seven run off with another huge win, we will find out on Tuesday January 31 when the ratings come out for the night. With new content on Ten form 8.30, we may even find a battle between Nine and Ten for second.

Whatever happens, it will be an interesting night on ratings.

Nine have changed programming for next Monday January 30, adding in a repeat episode of The Big Bang Theory, pushing back Harry’s Law to 11pm, and slotting in TWO repeat episodes of The Mentalist from 9pm, instead of the NEW episode previously scheduled.

Seeing that repeats of both the Big Bang Theory and The Mentalist are doing so well so far, Nine wmay continue to use repeats until we move into 2012 ratings after February 12.

The repeat Big Bnag at 8.30pm Monday and Tuesday could be to accomodate regional affilaites who have ACA at 7pm and therefore Excess Baggage at 7.30pm instead of 7pm. In these markets, the only difference in programming therefore becomes the loss of one Big Bang repeat.

Monday January 30 on Nine:
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 The Big Bang Theory – NEW
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt
9.00 The Mentalist – rpt
10.00 The Mentalist – rpt
11.00 Harry’s Law – New
12.00 Damages – New

Monday January 30 on NBN (and other regionals with ACA at 7pm):
7.00 ACA
7.30 Excess Baggage
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt***
9.00 The Mentalist – rpt
10.00 The Mentalist – rpt
11.00 Harry’s Law – New
12.00 Damages – New

*** I note the current EPG for NBN (Newcastle & Nth Coast) has the new episode of Big Bang scheduled for 8.30pm Tuesday. Beware this may change to Monday 8.30pm in light of Nine’s changes to the Monday night schedule.

Correct as at January 25.

The Big Bang Theory (Premiere), 7.30pm, Nine
Sheldon becomes jealous and considers taking his relationship with Amy to the next level when Stuart from the comic book store asks her out on a date.

Home and Away (Return), 7pm, Seven
Charlie is found unconscious after being shot and Sid is confronted by Alan, Stu’s father.

The Biggest Loser Australia, 7pm, TEN
Join the Biggest loser trainers as they travel the country to collect this year’s contestants. The trainers each spend a day in the lives of their team members before heading back to camp.

A Current Affair, 6.30pm, Nine
Host Tracy Grimshaw is back as this program covers the realms of politics, crime, human rights, science, technology, celebrities and entertainment.

South Park, 10pm, SBS
What begins as an innocent game between the boys turns serious when Cartman joins the US Border Patrol. Not surprisingly, Cartman turns out to be really good at stopping Mexicans from crossing the border.

UPDATED. In week 5, Nine launches new weight loss series Excess Baggage on January 30. Twenty/20 Cricket with Australia Vs India airs on Wednesday February 1 and Friday February 3. New CSI returns, but new episodes of The Mentalist are pre-empted for more repeats (please – everyone stop watching repeats so they don’t rate so well so we can get new episodes on! Or at least anyone with people meters!). That’s a total of FOUR Mentalist repeats airing this week.

Sun Jan 29
6.30 The Big Bang Theory
7.30 60 Minutes – new but will contain some repeat stories
8.30 The Mentalist – rpt
9.30 The Mentalist – rpt
10.30 CSI: NY – rpt
11.30 Flashpoint 

Mon Jan 30 UPDATED
5.59 News
6.30 ACA
7.01 Excess Baggage Premiere
8.16 The Big Bang Theory – The Speckerman Recurrance – THIS IS the NEW episode
8.46 The Big Bang Theory – The Gothowitz Deviation – rpt
9.13 The Big Bang Theory – The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary – rpt
9.43 The Mentalist – Code Red – rpt
10.41 The Mentalist – Red Box – rpt
11.36 Damages – new

Tue Jan 31
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.00 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
8.30 The Big Bang Theory – rpt.
9.00 Two and a Half Men – rpt.
9.30 AACTA Awards
11.30 Men Of A Certain Age

Wed Feb 1 NSW & VIC
6.30 ACA
7.00 Twenty/20 Australia Vs India
10.30 Excess Baggage (Monday night replayed)
11.30 Excess Baggage (Tuesday night replayed)

Wed Feb 1 QLD
6.30 Twenty/20 Australia Vs India
9.30 Excess Baggage (Monday night replayed)
10.30 Excess Baggage (Tuesday night replayed)
11.30 Memphis Beat (final)

Thur Feb 2
7.00 Excess Baggage
8.30 CSI NEW – return
9.30 CSI: NY new
10.30 CSI: NY – rpt
11.30 Southland – new (now two episodes in a row)

Fri Feb 3 NSW & VIC
7.00 Twenty/20 Australia Vs India
10.30 Excess Baggage (replay of Thursday night)
12.00 Movie: Half Past Dead

Fri Feb 3 QLD
6.30 Twenty/20 Australia Vs India
9.30 Excess Baggage (replay of Thursday night)
11.00 Movie: Half Past Dead

Sat Feb 4 NSW
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Indigenous All Stars Vs NRL All Stars LIVE
9.45 Movie: Batman Begins
12.40 Movie: The Gumball Rally

Sat Feb 4 QLD
6.30 Indigenous All Stars Vs NRL All Stars LIVE
8.45 Movie: Batman Begins
11.40 Movie: The Gumball Rally

Sat Feb 4 VIC
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Movie: Big Momma’s House
9.35 Movie: Batman Begins
12.30 Indigenous All Stars Vs NRL All Stars

Correct as of January 27, 2012. Guide for NSW, VIC & QLD only. Other states check local guides.

With Nine’s Excess Baggage not premiering until January 30, and Ten’s seventh series of The Biggest Loser effectively having a one week head start on the new Nine series, Nine are hoping to lure viewers with copious quantities of Big Bang Theory episodes, starting from Sunday night (January 22).

Episodes of the hit sitcom are scheduled on Sunday night at 6.30 and 7.00pm, weeknights at 7.00pm, Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm as well as Monday and Tuesday 8.00pm. Then on GO!, there are another two on Sunday night from 8.30pm, then episodes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights as well.

And where is the new episode? Be careful – the one and only new episode for the week airs at 7.30pm Monday January 23. Then, the following week, assuming Excess Baggage airs for one hour on its premiere night of Monday January 30, the new episode of Big Bang for that week will air at 8.00pm (although history tells us, that is more likley to become 8.15pm).

So here is the summary of when The Big Bang Theory airs on Nine and GO! for the week January 22-28. All repeats except Monday January 23 7.30pm.

Sunday January 22.
6.30pm Nine The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation
7.00pm Nine The Jiminy Conjecture
8.30pm GO! The Jerusalem Diary
9.00pm GO! The Batjar Conjecture

Monday January 23
7.00pm Nine The Gothowitz Deviation
7.30pm NEW EPISODE Nine The Flaming Spitton Acquisition
8.00pm Nine The Pirate Solution
8.30pm GO! The Nerdvana Annihilation

Tuesday January 24
7.00pm Nine The Creep Candy Floating Corollary
7.30pm Nine The Cornhusker Vortex
8.00pm Nine The Guitarist Amplification

Wednesday January 25
7.00pm Nine The Adhesive Duck Deficiency
7.30pm Nine The Vangeance Formulation
9.00pm GO! The Bad Fish Paradigm

Thursday January 26
7.00pm Nine The Gorilla Experiment
7.30pm Nine The Maternal Congruence
9.00pm GO! The Codepiece Topology

Friday January 27
7.00pm Nine The Psychic Vortex

Episodes of Big Bang also air on The Comedy Channel at 5pm weeknights as well as Sundays from 4.00pm – 6.30pm. Interestingly, 5pm on Comedy means they also air at 7pm on Comedy+2 weeknights – same time as Nine. On Sunday, between The Comedy Channel, Nine and GO!, you could, if you chose to, watch a total of NINE episodes of The Big Bang Theory on the one day! Wonder how many of those you will have already seen too many times?! 

With the Third test from the WACA most likely to be over some time on Sunday (Jan 15), Nine will return to regular programming during the day, and into prime time on the eastern states.

This post is the update of Nine programming for the week, without any cricket, thereby showing what will air with the Third Test finished.

Sun Jan 15
6.30 David Attenborough’s Madagascar
7.30 60 Minutes – new but will contain some repeat stories
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 CSI
10.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights
12.00 Flashpoint – new

Mon Jan 16
6.30 ACA – and every weeknight
7.00 The Big Bang Theory – continues weeknights 7pm
7.30 The Big Bang Theory
8.00 The Big Bang Theory
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 Harry’s Law – new
10.30 Harry’s Law – new
11.30 The Unusuals

Tue Jan 17
7.30 The Big Bang Theory
8.00 The Middle – new
8.30 Two and a Half Men
9.00 Mike & Molly – new
9.30 Top Gear
11.00 Weeds
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Wed Jan 18
7.30 RBT
8.30 Underbelly Files: Infiltration
10.20 True CSI: Cold Blood
11.20 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Thur Jan 19
7.30 Getaway new
8.30 Unforgettable
9.30 CSI: NY new
10.30 Nothing Trivial
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Fri Jan 20
7.30 Two and a Half Men x 2
8.30 Movie: Maverick
11.00 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Sat Jan 21
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Movie: Monster House
9.30 Movie: TBA
12.00 Movie: Cross of Iron

Note – that cricket coverage continues on GEM from 6.00pm – 6.30pm when Nine goes over to the nightly News. If the cricket finishes early, regular programming will resume including The Big Bnag Theory at 7pm weeknights, ACA at 6.30pm.

Information above for NSW, VIC and QLD only. SA, NT and WA check local guides.

Correct at January 10, 2012. Subject to change.

With Ten launching its new look this week, and Seven deep in the second week of The Australian Open, all that Nine erally has to offer is more of The Big Bang Theory – with one NEW episode to air on Monday night at 7.30pm, amidst a sea of repeats airing at 7pm weeknights, as well as 7.30 Tuesday to Thursday and 8pm Monday and Tuesday. On top of that, there are still episodes on GO! this week as well.

Nine are hoping to keep viewers away from Ten’s Biggest Loser by scheduling extra Big Bang episodes at 7.30 as well on the nights Loser airs. Given that Nine’s Excess Baggage will ultimately air at the same time, Nine will not want Ten’s seventh season of Loser to get too much of a head start.

UPDATED. Excess Baggage premieres Monday January 30, at 7pm, and continues Tuesday January 31 and Thursday February 2 (but not Wednesday February 1 due to cricket commitments). The show then continues Monday-Thursdays 7pm (subject to cricket).

UPDATED: CHange to Sunday night 6.30pm with two episodes of Big Bang instead of David Attenbourough’s Madagascar (which actually aired last Sunday Jan 15 when the circket finished early).

This, of course, could change with little or almost no notice – we will keep you up to date.

Sun Jan 22
6.30 The Big Bang Theory x 2
7.30 60 Minutes – new but will contain some repeat stories
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 The Mentalist
10.30 CSI: NY
11.30 Flashpoint

Mon Jan 23
7.00 The Big Bang Theory – continues on weeknights 7pm
7.30 The Big Bang Theory – NEW – but will this new episode be lost is a sea of repeats?
8.00 The Big Bang Theory
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 Harry’s Law – new
10.30 Harry’s Law – new
11.30 The Unusuals

Tue Jan 24
7.30 The Big Bang Theory
8.00 The Big Bang Theory
8.30 Two and a Half Men
9.00 Mike & Molly – new
9.30 Top Gear Botswana Special
10.40 TBA
11.30 The Unusuals

Wed Jan 25
7.30 The Big Bang Theory
8.00 RBT
9.00 Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away
11.00 True CSI: Cold Blood
12.00 Weeds

Thur Jan 26
7.30 The Big Bang Theory
8.00 Getaway new
8.30 Unforgettable
9.30 CSI: NY new
10.30 CSI: NY
11.30 Eclipse Music Australia Day Special
12.00 Southland

Fri Jan 27
7.30 Two and a Half Men x 2
8.30 Movie: S.W.A.T.
11.00 Movie: Ballistic

Sat Jan 28
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Movie: Zathura: A Space Adventure
9.35 Movie: Licence to Wed
11.35 Movie: Suspect Zero

Correct as of January 25, 2012

It’s all about the cricket on week 3 on Nine as the Third Test, being played at the WACA in WA, eats into prime time for the eastern states (and SA). In this test, Australia will be looking for a win to “put the Indian’s away”. Australia currently leads the Vodafone series 2-0 after 2 games. The fourth test plays in Adelaide during the week of Australia Day.

Sun Jan 15
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) 60 Minutes – new but will contain some repeat stories
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 CSI
10.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights
12.00 Flashpoint – new

Mon Jan 16
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.00 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.30 The Mentalist
9.30 Harry’s Law – new
10.30 Harry’s Law – new
11.30 The Unusuals

Tue Jan 17
6.30 Cricket – Third Test live from WACA
7.30 (QLD Only) The Big Bang Theory
8.00 (QLD Only) The Middle – new
8.30 Two and a Half Men
9.00 Mike & Molly – new
9.30 Top Gear
11.00 Weeds
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Wed Jan 18
6.30 ACA
7.00 The Big Bang Theory
7.30 RBT
8.30 Underbelly Files: Infiltration
10.20 True CSI: Cold Blood
11.20 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Thur Jan 19
7.30 Getaway new
8.30 Unforgettable
9.30 CSI: NY new
10.30 Nothing Trivial
11.30 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Fri Jan 20
7.30 Two and a Half Men x 2
8.30 Movie: Maverick
11.00 2012 Santos Tour Down Under Highlights

Sat Jan 21
6.30 Australia’s Funniest Home Videos Summer Series
7.30 Movie: Monster House
9.30 Movie: TBA
12.00 Movie: Cross of Iron

Note – that cricket coverage continues on GEM from 6.00pm – 6.30pm when Nine goes over to the nightly News. If the cricket finishes early, regular programming will resume including The Big Bnag Theory at 7pm weeknights, ACA at 6.30pm.

Information above for NSW, VIC and QLD only. SA, NT and WA check local guides.

Correct at January 10, 2012. Subject to change.