...Technology was changing - we finally got Cable TV in the 90's - but, like the rest of the world already knew - same old shit but just repeated more...Digital TV offers more hope with high definition and more variety (but I suspect this will just be more of the same shit on many newer clearer channels too)...
...And like the rest of the world reality TV syndicates were here...I'll bunch the catergories so to make it easier...
Let's start with Music ...'Popstars' On 7 - told the story of 5 girls coming together to form a gal band aka Oz spice girls - the group 'Bardot' looked cute and had a few hits as well... the next group 'Scandal'us' a co-ed group didn't favour so good...neither the next series called 'Popstar' - Kane the winner, went to his first record signing with only less then a dozen people turning up...
...of course there is 'Idol' - Oz got its own version, finding (in the words of INXS) a new sensation(in singing) and 'X-Factor' - but I've mentioned that one twice so no more to that late unpleasantness...
So if Oz wasn't singin' the last few years - we've been dancin'...'Dancin' with the stars' no less - again an Oz version of a popular UK show idea sold globally - getting celbs on the dance floor - this has been suprisingly good- God knows when spunky carpenter Tom Williams got his top off we all licked the Telly...Channel 7 kicking big goals on that one......Channel 9 went in for another global reality cult 'Survivor' - although rating well initally interest wained...that also how many deserted tropical locations are actually left in the world?
...And, of course, reality TV Staple - 'Big Brother' - love it or loathe it - this show still rates through the roof all over the world...here in Oz it has been in much controversy - especially 'Adults only' - from innies & outies, to reverse kangas, to bunny ears, the raunchy rewards room, to dancin' doonas to frank honest discussions on life love and SEX SEX SEX...Oz again got shocked big time - even Oz PM spoke out, and made 'Number 96'(see 1970's) seem as tame as afternoon tea at gran's...(unless if gran is a swinger & that opens the door to many gross things so onwards I go)...We did get our own reality TV show - "The Block' hosted by Jamie 'Manpower 'Drury - grab 4 couples and get them to renovate a Art Deco flat block in Bondi - the hook? Whoever's apartment sells for the highest price at auctions wins...Oz's love for Telly and real estate- a winning combination - well for the first season at least then no one was watchin'... ('Idol' was on the other network)...
Was reality TV the only thing we wanted and craved in Oz??? Were we, like the rest of the planet wanted more and more hits of BB fly on the wall life or celebrities dancing/singing, or surviving (Hey - wasn't that once called variety?)....
Thankfully great drama is still being produced...
'The Secret life of us' was a brilliant drama set in inner city Melbourne (St Kilda - my old stompin' ground) about a group of flatmates - their loves and hates and lives in general - a great OZ cast & script...I loved the fact they used real actual locations and made reference to real Melbourne landmarks and haunts...Channel 10 took a big risk with such a drama... and so did FOXTEL with a drama in the similar fashion 'Love my way'...
Unlike 7 with 'All Saints' - the updated drama in the hospital or 9 with & 'McClouds Daughters' the updated outback drama...
Thankfully Light Entertainment was changing - Rove McManus tonight show 'Rove' - really the only tonight show nowdays on Telly - a mix of comedy and old fashioned variety with a new twist...This golden boy Logie winner will, sorry, has taken the place of Bert and Gra Gra already......yes (groan) along with Eddy Maguire- who not only was hosting 'The Footy Show' & 'Who wants to be a millionaire', president of the Collingwood Football club but now is the head of Channel 9 - not bad for a boy from Broadmeadows...
..Yeah Oz TV got those global quiz shows too - 'Millionaire' & 'The Weakest Link' but also it's own 'Temptation' - a new take on the old 'Sale of the century' which was a take on the old 'Temptation'..hmmm Oz TV likes to be green and recycle ...Channel 7 has given us the lovely and dishy Andrew O'Keefe with 'Deal or no deal'... or is that just me on the dishy bit? And of course the dishy Adam 'everyone loves him' Hills 'Spicks & Specks' - a Oz music quiz show - a fresh take on music trivia...
And now for those other shows too hard to catergorise...'Enough Rope' Andrew Denton's interview show, 'Sunrise' with Channel 7 darlings Coshie & Mel - incredibly successful breakfast TV no less, 'At the movies' ( The old 'Movie Show') when Margaret & David moved from SBS to the ABC still giving HONEST movie reviews and 'Collectors' a cult show about collecting shit (yes it's one of my favorites)...
Comedy has been a bit disappointing at late - well when it comes to Oz comedy (overseas comedy has dominated OZ recently and has been better ) I honestly have to say the only really decent Comedy show has been 'Kath & Kim' - those crazy gals (see the 80's/90's) at it again in a reality show about suburban life in Fountain Lakes... another cutting jab at that Oz lifestyle we hold dear...and yet we still like to laugh at...thankfully...
...Overall Oz TV has managed to roll with punches pretty well, we have definitely come of age and moved beyond. I hope we can start to move away from the tide of synicated bland carbon copy reality programs the world is obsessed with - and stick to our own ideas...as they usually are not only successful but dear to our hearts..
So raise your tea cups & saucers, your wine coolers, punch glasses, mixed cocktails or tinnies and toast to a
'HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY, OZ TV'
The end.
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