The Footy Show

Tomorrow night after 18 years filled with fun, frivolity, controversy and no-holds-barred rugby league action The Footy Show celebrates 500 episodes.

The man who was there right at the start, Paul “Fatty” Vautin, takes a trip down memory lane with his long-time partner in crime, Parramatta great Peter “Sterlo” Sterling, as they look back on the best and funniest moments from the six-time Logie Award-winning show.

Joining Fatty and Sterlo to celebrate tomorrow night at 9.30pm on Channel Nine will be Mario Fenech, Darryl Brohman, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Tigers winger Beau Ryan.

Each panellist will select a favourite moment over the years, including the best of Mario Fenech and Robbo, while The Footy Show’s resident funny man, Beau Ryan, does his reveal-all segment when Beau Knows The Footy Show.

The lads will also recap the big stories audiences have tuned in to over the years and former Footy Show regular, Paul “The Chief” Harragon, will look at the best of Beat the Boys, Daredevil Dudes, One-on-One and Chief vs. the Chimp.

Enjoy 18 years of highlights selected by Footy Show viewers, relive the best music parodies and live crosses gone astray, and don’t miss the obligatory bloopers reel.

Meanwhile the tables are turned on Ryan Girdler’s popular segment, Their House, when we catch up with Ryan at his house.

And the show crosses live to Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston and Broncos skipper Darren Lockyer in Brisbane ahead of the big Friday Night Football clash on Nine at 9.30pm.

The Footy Show: Thursday at 9.30pm on Nine (11.15pm VIC, 11.45pm SA/WA)

Channel Seven mourns the passing of football and TV icon Bob Davis.

Davis was a Geelong captain and premiership coach but his legacy stretches far beyond the playing field.

As part of the Channel Seven team in Melbourne, Davis was a pioneer of sports broadcasting and particularly the magazine show format.

He started as a match-day commentator with Seven in 1959 before entertaining generations of Australians over four decades on programs including World of Sport, League Teams and Sportsworld.

With his signature catchphrase “fair dinkum unbelievable” Bobby was revered for his cackling laugh and sense of fun as well as his insights into the game. Alongside fellow football legends Lou Richards and Jack Dyer he also became known as one of the so-called ‘Three Wise Monkeys’ on League Teams every Thursday night, their largely unscripted banter winning legions of fans everywhere.

He remained on air with Seven’s Footy Panel show until 2001.

His loss is felt by all at Seven, including long-time colleague and sports presenter Sandy Roberts, former Geelong captain and AFL commentator Tom Harley and journalist Rebecca Maddern, Geelong Football Club’s number one female ticket holder.

Channel Seven Melbourne general manager Lewis Martin said:

“Bob Davis was not only a great football personality on Channel Seven, he was a television pioneer and his legacy can be seen today in sports entertainment television.

“He was and always will be a beloved member of the Seven family from who we learned a great deal.  Bob will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Margaret and the Davis family.”

Long-time football producer Gordon Bennett, who worked with Davis on League Teams and World of Sport, said:

“Bob was a natural. He didn’t need a script, he didn’t need make-up, and it didn’t matter if the cameras were on or off. He was just good TV. He was funny and he made sense.

“But he never had an ego, even though he deserved to have one. He was always a good bloke, he was always dressed impeccably, he always stopped to talk with fans, and he always loved football.”

Trevor Marmalade will return to The Footy Show tonight for the sports show’s 500th edition.

Marmalade will be joined by original presenter Eddie McGuire on the show tonight after he was dumped from the panel in 2008 after 15 years on the show.

“I haven’t (watched a minute since),” Marmalade said. “It was the end of an era.

 “Every day I have people come up to me saying ‘we don’t watch it anymore’ or ‘we miss you on the show’.”

“It doesn’t matter where I go. That’s nice of them.”

The 500th episode of the AFL show screens tonight on Nine at 9.30pm.

Source: Herald Sun

Brendan Fevola’s interview last night on The Footy Show boosted the audience for Channel Nine in Melbourne, pulling in nearly half a million viewers.

The nearly two-hour episode, which marked the 2011 return of the show, peaked at 511,000 viewers with an average throughout of 414,000.

The show was the best performing one of the night in Melbourne across all major demographics.

In the paid interview, Fevola discussed his suicide attempt and his ongoing battles with depression, alcohol and gambling.

Source: HeraldSun

Can’t believe it’s almost Footy season already!

The NRL season gets a two week head start over the AFL, kicking off on Friday March 11, 2011. AFL starts Thur Mar 24.

The Footy shows are back on Nine in 2011, with the NRL Footy Show returning to Thursday nights, from March 10, at 9.30pm in NSW and QLD (late night in other markets).

Then, on Friday night, the 2011 premiership season kicks off, with the Roosters Vs the Rabbitohs live from 7.30 for NSW, and Broncos Vs Cowboys live from 7.30 for QLD. Each match will be followed with the other at 9.30 (so NSW sees the QLD game at 9.30, and visa versa).

New episodes of CSI: Miami will have only been on for two weeks in NSW and QLD before giving up the timeslot for the NRL Footy Show.

The AFL Footy Show will also return in March.

The extra week for the AFL season will mean an extra week of AFL based Footy shows.

Footy Classified will air tonight (Mon Sept 27) on Nine in its usual timeslot of 10.30pm in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, while the AFL Footy Show will have an extra episode at 9.30pm Thursday Sept 30 in those markets (after the NRL Footy Show in Syd and Bris). 

In Melbourne, it means they will stay one week behind with Cops LAC as the planned double can no longer be shown until the following week.

There will also be another Sunday Footy show on Sunday Oct 3, the day after the Grand Final replay, at 11am.

There will also be changes on Seven with the likelihood of an extra AFL Game Day Prime time on Thursday and possibly another Before the Game Grand Final edition on Ten. Details will be advised as they come through.

A major revamp is set to take place with Channel Nine’s premiere rugby league show The Footy Show over the off-season in order to bring it up to standard for next year.

The weekly NRL show will be worked on ahead of its return in March next year, with Nine’s chief executive David Gyngell saying that the format will face an overhaul to modernise it.

“The show has been on air for 17 years,” Gyngell said, “so it’s time we put some work into it and relaunched the program next season.”

Gyngell has laughed off suggestions Nine were going to take the show off-air due to ratings.

“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Gyngell said.

“The show makes money and it still wins its timeslot.

“Having a Footy Show is part of our commitment to broadcasting rugby league and we’ll just be looking at ways of making improvements, as you would with any show that has been on air for that length of time.”

It is believed that show may take on a similar format to that of the AFL show in Melbourne, which is hugely popular in the Victoria region.

Gyngell has also confirmed that host Paul “Fatty” Vautin will return to host the show again next year.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Channel Nine are sticking to movies on Sunday nights – at least for those leading up to the NRL Grand Final on October 3.

On Sunday September 12, at 8.30pm, the movie is Iron Man. The following week, Sept 19, sees the free to air premiere of The Dark Knight, then on September 26, it’s The Incredible Hulk. The NRL Grand Final follows the week after on October 3.

The Throng guess for the two Sundays after The NRL (Oct 10 & 17) is that the two telemovies Nine have ready to go will air. One is from the Underbelly franchise – Tell Them Lucifer Was Here, while the other is Panic at Rock Island. This, of course, is all to be confirmed.

To Monday nights now, and the network will be split with the season finale of Rescue: Special Ops. To avoid conflicting with the Brownlow Medal, The season finale in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth will be seen at 8.30pm, Monday Sept 27, while in Sydney and Brisbane, it remains at 8.30pm, Monday Sept 20. In its place in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth is a special called The 10 Things You Need to Know About Sleep.

The season finale of Hot In Cleveland will be seen at 8pm, Monday Sept 27. The Secret Millionaire also concludes that night at 9.30pm.

While the one week delay for the finale of Rescue Special Ops in some markets puts the possible season return of the Mentalist back a week, the conclusion of Hot in Cleveland and Secret Millionaire paves the way for a night of new premieres – Nine, if they chose to, could – or rather should – fast track new episodes of Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and The Mentalist to Monday nights from October 4. Whether they do so or not, is to be seen.

On Tuesday nights, the mixed bag of programming at 9pm after Top Gear continues. On Tuesday September 14 at 9pm, the Real Hussle will be seen. Then on Sept 21, it’s a special called Darren Brown: The Events. 9pm Sept 28 is yet to be decided.

On Thursday Sept 30, Cops LAC will be a double episode in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth to make up for the missing episode from the previous week where the Grand Final edition of The Footy Show starts at 8.30pm. In NRL markets, the Grand Final Footy Show still starts at 9.30, so Cops LAC still remains at 8.30 every Thursday night.

Some changes to Nine programming as well in the week leading up to the AFL Grand Final.

With the Browlow Medal on Monday Sept 20, and everyone to do with AFL at the event, Nine has moved Footy Classified from that night to the special time of 10pm Tuesday Sept 21. This, of course, is in AFL markets only.

On Thursday Sept 22, the AFL Footy Show will start an hour early at 8.30pm for its Grand Final Special. That means, Cops LAC won’t be seen that week in AFL markets.

UPDATED: Cops LAC has a double episode in AFL markets Sept 29 to make up for the one missed Sept 22.

Nine has the exclusive live rights to the NRL finals series, with matches being shown on Friday nights at 7.30, Saturday nights from 7.30 and Sunday afternoons as well in Syndey and Brisbane. Replays can be seen on Fox Sports. There are four matches for the weekend of Sept 10-12 and Sept 17-19, with two that decide who goes in to the Grand final on the weekend of Sept 24-26. Some matches shown late night in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth – check local guides if interested.

In other Nine programming news, Sunday nights after 8.30pm are movies for now. The NRL Grand Final is on Sunday October 3, 2010. Possible new programming from October 10 until the end of the ratings year – perhaps they might fast track the new season of CSI for Sunday nights from October 10.

Earlier on Sunday nights, at 7pm following RBT, is a new series called Hot Pursuit. It’s a UK produced series, more likely a temporary fill for that timeslot than a long term programming move.

Meanwhile, the finale of season 2 of Rescue Special Ops in on Monday September 27. There will be a third season of the show, to return mid-2011. It was to be seen on Sept 20, but Nine moved to avoid conflisiting with the Brownlow Medal. This is the same in ALL markets now.

Controversial rugby union defector Sonny Bill Williams makes an exclusive announcement on THE FOOTY SHOW tonight, and the show also crosses live to the NSW Blues who are in camp at Lennox Head on the State’s north coast.

Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah joins host Peter Sterling and Darryl “Big Marn” Brohman on the panel ahead of State of Origin game two.

THE FOOTY SHOW’S Paul Vautin, Brad Fittler, Mario Fenech and larrikin jockey Allan “Robbo” Robinson will join the NSW Blues – and the locals – at the Lennox Point Hotel in Lennox Head, where a devastating tornado ripped through the town last week.

Ex-Bulldog Sonny Bill Williams will make an exclusive announcement about his playing future on the show and one viewer will get the chance to be in Williams’ corner for his second professional boxing bout on June 30.

Maroons Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater tell THE FOOTY SHOW how Queensland will win their historic fifth straight Origin series.

Also joining the boys in the studio will be South Sydney flyer Nathan Merritt to discuss the Rabbitohs’ round 14 clash against the Brisbane Broncos which Nine will show LIVE at 4.00pm AEST on Sunday.

Plus Newcastle Knights’ try-scoring machine Akuila Uate and team-mate Cory Paterson will be in the studio to discuss their match against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday.

The Footy Show: Tonight at 9.30pm on Nine (11.45pm VIC/SA/WA)