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Changes to The Bounce team

Exclusive: Four writers, a Line Producer and a part-time Script Co-ordinator are no longer working on The Bounce following differences on the "family show" brief.

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EXCLUSIVE: Since premiering less than a week ago, a number of production staff on Seven’s new AFL show The Bounce have left following some discussion on the brief of the show.

Four writers, a Line Producer and a part-time Script Co-ordinator are no longer working on the sports variety, hosted by Peter Helliar.

Executive Producer Rick McKenna confirmed the changes to TV Tonight as the result of discussions over the brief as a family entertainment show, but attributed the changes to start-up teething problems.

“You bring together a bunch of people and hope it will work out,” he said.

“Of the dozen people who contributed writing to the show, four had trouble dealing with the brief of a family show.

“We agreed on Friday after episode one that it hadn’t worked out.”

McKenna says a reshuffle isn’t unusual at an early juncture in a new project, particularly for a show that has had a speedy start-up in a primetime slot.

“I never like losing any staff but when you get to a point when you go ‘This isn’t working’ …it doesn’t damage the fabric of what we’re doing.

“Some people just didn’t get where we were headed. You get to a point where you think ‘We’ll both be happier if we move on.'”

McKenna is confident it will have minimal impact on the show, which remains under watch by himself and Helliar. None of the senior creatives working on the show have left the series.

“The bottom line is the key creatives are still on the show and we look forward to Thursday,” he said.

Seven’s AFL show got a fairly positive reception for its debut last week, even being accused of using canned laughter and audio ‘sweetening.’

“The key thing is when I meet people who say ‘I wasn’t sure about the show but my kid and I watched it, and me and my 12 or 13 year old loved it,’ that’s music to my ears. It was the start of my pitch to Seven,” he said.

“To then get a belt for allegedly having canned laughter when we didn’t have any was actually quite flattering.”

McKenna says he hopes the show will shortly go to air live, rather than at its pre-record of 6:30pm.

“Overall we and the network are really happy and just looking forward to getting a few more under our belt.”

24 Responses

  2. @Steve, doesn’t really sound like the show is in turmoil though. It rated well, there’s still script writers, just a few didn’t fit with what the show was going for, they’ve realised that now and moved them on. Not really any different to 7PM Project beginning with 5 cast members but then realising Ruby Rose wasn’t good for the show and getting rid of her, the shows survived so far.

    All i was really saying though, was commending David for a great blog that reports fact, unlike the articles i read in the tabloid that in my opinion was a beat up over a few changes.

  3. The age also went with the turmoil line and said that writers walked out in disgust after the way a producer was treated. Sounds like turmoil to me.

  4. @jb….They have had quite a few months to get this ready…there fore I think its an appropiate headline…”The Bounce in Turmoil” after sacking writers after 1 (very ordinary) show!

    Even before it aired I mentioned that Peter Helliar is not a host! Maybe Tim Watson as host??

  7. David, can i just say you are an excellent journalist and your blog is a an excellent source of news and of a high quality.

    Just had to say that. You gave this story yesterday, provided the facts, not a drama. Read the Herald Sun today and it was a complete beat up of how there’s anarchy at The Bounce and it’s falling apart with people being sacked after only one week.
    Read a story not long ago too in the tabloid newspapers that drama is no longer watched anymore and that its dead in this country, despite the fact NCIS, Packed to the Rafters, Underbelly, The Good Wife, The Mentallist all rate highly. They just have no idea.

  9. What was so unbearable? The show has only been on one week and granted the first show was horrible but it was the first show. Just interested to know why so many left a show as McKenna didn’t really explain it in those quotes.

  10. There was not twelve writers, there was 5 senior writers (who were very close with helliar) and four of them left, along with two senior producers, because it had become an unbearable scenario.

  11. Everyone please watch on thursday for the ‘call of the wild’ segment. My friend AJ Meissner did a commentary and I would love some feedback to pass on:)

  12. Steve I would be getting some new friends, nothing about that first show was funny. It was horrible stuff and I’m shocked that it had any writers at all. I just presumed Heliar came up with the awful content.

  13. ch7 seem to have a large amount of writers as a strategy, doesn’t always work. but tvburp even as a 30min show had 11 writers some of which had quite a name for themselves. and i’m sure i can remember an excessive amount of writers on this is your laugh coming up in conversation.

    but more jobs for Australians nonetheless.

  14. I cannot believe that 12 writers can only come up with that lame effort … when overseas we can get brilliant shows from just 1 writer … get one talented writer and save a fortune …
    Jack!

  15. It seems unanimous … Hellier is a huge put-off for viewers … never liked him, totally overrated and unfunny!
    Bounce the show off the air is my recommendation!
    Jack!

  17. I would not be surprised if its a bit of spin from Rick Mackenna as most people who I know watched thought it was very unfunny!

    Think they might be trying to get people to look at it again??

    hmmm…I will be washing my hair that night!!

  22. While you’re making changes Rick…Pete should not deliver his monologue with his back to the audience. It might look cool, but it’s not anchored in truth.

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