1994: November 26-December 2

tvweek_261194Cover: Tim Allen (Home Improvement)

Paul raises interest in money
Paul Clitheroe‘s Money program has been a ratings hit for Nine — but nobody was expecting much when the program was first proposed. Images of fawn-suited accountants, whiteboards and endless figures had the network’s creative heads cringing. But Money went on to be a ratings hit, and host Clitheroe attributes much of its success to the colourful, creative anecdotes used to illustrate the various case studies discussed in the program. He also has to admit that a lot of that creativity is not his. “I don’t have a creative bone in my body,” he told TV Week. “I’m a banker, for heaven’s sake. I’m not meant to be creative. I thought when Nine first rang me up that I would be standing in a blue suit and using a whiteboard. That certainly hasn’t been the case. I would have to say that, nine times out of 10, a story on Money would come from my knowledge of the subject, but the anecdotes come from my producer and the rest of the team.” Critics of the show say that Money must have a short life, that there are only so many finance stories to go around. “We will never run out of topics,” Clitheroe insists. “The economy is constantly changing, and with that there are always new things happening.”

alistairmacdougallAlistair’s American acting bonanza
Former Home And Away star Alistair MacDougall (pictured) moved to Los Angeles more than a year ago but has suddenly had the dilemma of choosing between two TV roles offered to him on the same day — a role in the spin-off series from last year’s Bonanza telemovie and another in a new series, Search And Rescue. Production schedules of both projects meant he couldn’t agree to both, but he had only been on a holding contract for Bonanza. With both Bonanza and Search And Rescue coming under the NBC network, MacDougall was able to be released from the Bonanza contract for the Search And Rescue role. His only regret is that in Bonanza he would have been working with Leonard Nimoy. “I would have been working with Spock!,” he said.

Briefly…

  • The British obsession with Neighbours continues, with Chris Lowe of the pop group Pet Shop Boys insisting on a walk-on role for him during the group’s Australian tour. Actors Equity rules prevented him for any major appearance, so he was only to appear in one scene driving through Ramsay Street in a sports car.
  • Michael Craig has denied rumours that he is leaving GP for an extended holiday in the UK. “I am contracted to GP through to October, 1995, and what happens after that is not up to me,” he told TV Week.
  • brianwenzelstuartwagstaffharrycooperWho are this bunch of unlikely performers giving their tribute to the hit film The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert? None other than Brian Wenzel (formerly of A Country Practice), Stuart Wagstaff and Talk To The AnimalsDr Harry Cooper — performing at the recent Telethon for Perth’s TVW7, which raised more than $2 million.

TV’s Top 20 (Week Commencing 6 November): 

Rank Program Network Day(s) Viewers
1 Movie: The Bodyguard Nine Sun 2146000
2 Just Kidding Nine Tue 2037000
3 National Nine News Nine Sun 1950000
4 60 Minutes Nine Sun 1790000
5 Australia’s Funniest Home Video Show Nine Tue 1763000
6 Home Improvement Seven Sun 1732000
7 World’s Greatest TV Commercials Seven Sun 1730000
8 Money Nine Wed 1716000
9 Fast Forward’s Funniest TV Send Ups Seven Wed 1708000
10 A Current Affair Nine M-F 1689000
11 Home Improvement Seven Wed 1682000
12 Our House Nine Wed 1680000
13 National Nine News Nine Sat 1620000
14 National Nine News Nine M-F 1545000
15 Lois & Clark The New Adventures Of Superman Seven Mon 1522000
16 Halifax fp Nine Wed 1516000
17 Hey Hey It’s Saturday Nine Sat 1514000
18 Getaway Nine Thu 1497000
19 Sale Of The Century Nine M-F 1428000
20 SeaQuest DSV Ten Sun 1407000

Lawrie Masterson: The View From Here

“I don’t recall another Australian state premier ever being asked on television whether he is “a half-caste Melanesian bastard”. That happened to Don Dunstan. Nor do I recall an Australian state premier — former or currently in office — being asked on television whether he is homosexual. That happens to Don Dunstan in A Life. You’ll have to watch the program if you don’t remember Dunstan’s answer to the first question, which was asked some years ago, or are fascinated about his response to the second. It is put to him by George Negus during an engrossing hour of television. No matter what your political persuasions, it is impossible not to regard Dunstan as one of the most interesting politicians of the modern era.”

Program Highlights (Melbourne, November 26-December 2):

The non-ratings season means that a lot of titles are taken out of circulation for the summer, leaving viewers with delightfully few highlights during the week and plenty of re-runs.

kylieminogue_0001Saturday: The First Test (10.50am, Nine) continues from the Gabba, Brisbane, through until Tuesday. Kylie Minogue (pictured) makes a guest appearance in the last Hey Hey It’s Saturday (6.30pm, Nine) for the year. The Hollywood movie classic Gone With The Wind (8.30pm, Seven) runs for four-and-a-half hours.

Sunday: Current affairs program Meet The Press (11am, Ten) presents its last show for the year. Sunday night movies are Down And Out In Beverly Hills (repeat, Seven), The Colour Purple (repeat, Nine) and Always (repeat, Ten). Sunday Stereo Special (8.30pm, ABC) presents the Australian Opera production of Cavalleria Rusticana.

Monday: US sitcoms Major Dad (6.30pm, Ten) and Step By Step (7pm, Seven) begin as summer replacements for Neighbours and Home And Away respectively. Arts program Review (10pm, ABC) presents its last show for the year.

Wednesday: Russell Crowe hosts the special Nescafe Big Break (7.30pm, Ten), profiling the eight young Australians being awarded $20,000 grants to pursue their talent and ambitions. The Elle McFeast (Libbi Gorr) special Sex, Guys And Videotape (8.30pm, ABC) is given a re-run. In the movie-length series final of Heartbreak High (8.30pm, Ten), Nick (Alex Dimitriades) refuses to believe his relationship with Jodie (Abi Tucker) is over; Rivers (Scott Major) is the prime suspect when Deloraine’s (Stephen O’Rourke) office is broken into; and Rose (Katherine Halliday) goes into labour in the school’s science lab. In the return of interview series A Life (9.30pm, ABC), George Negus interviews former South Australian premier Don Dunstan.

Thursday: Sandy Roberts hosts live coverage of the Greg Norman Holden Classic (12pm, Seven) from Royal Melbourne; which continues through until Sunday. Getaway (7.30pm, Nine) and Beyond 2000 (7.30pm, Ten) present ‘best of’ stories from the year.

Friday: The One-Day International, Australia v Zimbabwe, is live from Perth (4.30pm-6pm, 7pm-8.15pm and 8.45pm-11.30pm, Nine). In the series final of The Great Outdoors (7.30pm, Seven), Ann Maree Biggar visits Glen Innes and discovers Australia’s very own Stonehenge — The Standing Stones; Frankie J Holden flies a stunt kite; Bridget Adams experiences the thrill of Jet Sprint Racing; and Neil Crompton road tests the Jaguar XJS.

Source: TV Week (Melbourne edition), incorporating TV Times and TV Guide. 26 November 1994. Southdown Press

 

 

 

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