Gruen Nation leads ABC1 to massive night
The ABC had a stunning Wednesday night, with the top three most watched shows including a blockbuster 1.6m for Gruen Nation, the highest rating show from the network in nearly three years.
The decision by the ABC to focus on the election on Wednesdays paid off hugely for the national broadcaster.
The extended version of The Gruen Transfer was just ahead of Spicks & Specks and The Chaser’s Yes We Canberra special which both delivered just under 1.5m, according to preliminary five city metro ratings from OzTam.
The last ABC program to achieve 1.6m was Spicks & Specks: A Very Specky Christmas which hit 1.601m on 16 December 2007. The last time the ABC had the top three shows was October 2007 with the Chaser, Spicks & Specks and Summer Heights High.
Gruen Nation started slowly for me and I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it, but it was terrific. John Hewson and Neil Lawrence were the stand outs for me – thoughtful and interesting. Plus Hewson was funny, which was a nice discovery. Todd Sampson needs to leave attempts at humour to the professionals. I thought the Abbott ad from The Pitch was actually weak, clearly trying to pull strings and the public would recognise that.
Agree, Niel Lawrence and Hewson were fantastic. But overall, it was a slow episode and could have easily been edited to 30 minutes.
It was a slightly slow episode, but like with any change they have to find their feet.
The Freeform ad was brilliant, and if there was one ad that should run this election – that needs to be it. I’ve never, ever before been captured and totally transfixed by an ad within its first five sections that I was compelled to watch it to the end.
I think having Gruen and the Chaser boys on the same night back to back is a mistake as well.
Annabel Crabb was the stand out for me. Neil Lawrence was extremely dull. Hewson was a surprise. He got better and better through the show.
The Chaser was simply brilliant.
@Matt Thomas
I agree. The Chasers were a let down after Gruen Nation, but standalone would have been pretty strong.
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Annabel Crabb and Neil Lawrence were both excellent.
Matt T – I am struggling to see how having Gruen and Chaser back to back is a mistake. Having close to 1.5m for 3 consecutive shows from 830 to 1030 is something channel 7 and 9 can only dream about.
i loved the national party’s 1949 TVC. I was in tears, rolling on the floor!
Chaser boys blew hard.
I thought Chaser was horrible.
It has turned into the crappy “Footy Show” humour….It was so bad, 9 could have made it!
Thought the Chaser looked like schoolboy humour. Thought the Gillard concept ad in the Pitch had far more credibility plus it tried to drive an online element which seems to be missing in all the political advertising.
The actual political ads from all the parties are drivel.
I love Todd
Sorry James I don’t think Leo’s are recruiting right now.
It was a good night but I agree they shouldn’t be shown back to back.
Definitely separate them although I guess we should wait and see how the ratings go next week.
Without picking the eyes out, they were both great presentations. The pitch ads were brilliant (at least 57 thousand times better than the party ads being run right now), presenters were brilliant, Chaser did what the Chaser has always done.
It was all the goods. Almost makes you want to have a general election twice a year….
I’ve got to agree with Fraser.
Gruen Nation was bloody wonderful. Best Gruen thingy I’ve seen so far.
More please!
Thanks for the heads up Maximus, off to post I love Jothy so we shall see how that goes…..