The Bounce gets bounced until AFL Finals
Channel Seven has pulled The Bounce from its schedule, but vowed to return the show in time for AFL finals.
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Channel Seven has pulled The Bounce from its schedule, but vowed to return the show in time for AFL finals.
The Peter Helliar-hosted show is to be reworked rather than axed by the network, and goes into a ‘production hiatus.’
Head of Programming and Production, Tim Worner said, “We set out to do something fresh and something different in terms of a family friendly football show.
“We knew going in, it was a tall order but wanted to give it our best shot,” he said.
“We can’t defend the ratings – they are perfectly clear. But there are some great things happening in the show that we love.
“Anecdotally – from players, clubs and viewers alike – there is a great deal of warmth for the show.
“That’s why we’ve decided to take some time to rethink some aspects of the show and bring it back during the Finals Series.”
On Thursday night the show was fourth in its timeslot in its AFL cities of Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, pulling just 161,000, 73,000 and 62,000 respectively.
Worner told TV Tonight the show would return at a time when there would be a lot more interest in AFL and the competition would be less.
“We didn’t think it was going to be easy. We went into it knowing it was going to be a pretty difficult challenge, but we wanted to give it our best shot. We don’t think we’ve done that yet, the show’s still got legs, there’s no question.
“The ratings tell one story. But looking at the show, and from what people tell you about the show, there’s another story.”
Worner remains supportive of Helliar and envisages the show returning in its early evening timeslot.
“He’s put his heart and soul into that show. He’s bloody funny,” he said.
“It’s always been our ambition to come up with something that’s family friendly, as a point of difference. We want something that’s fun that everyone can watch. There are parts of that show that are incredibly good fun.”
Reviews for the show were middling while word of mouth was not positive. The show also took a blow when it lost 6 of its production crew in creative differences. Producer Rick McKenna told TV Tonight at the time that there were some differences over the “family friendly” vision of the show.
Seven launched The Bounce in a 7:30pm timeslot in AFL states while launching The Matty Johns Show in NRL states. This week The Matty Johns Show enjoyed a lift in its figures thanks to the NRL scandal involving Melbourne Storm.
“We want to thank Pete and the team who have put their heart and soul into the show,” said Worner.
The Bounce is one of several AFL shows the network has attempted following Live and Kicking and 4 Quarters. AFL Game Day continues on Sunday mornings.
AFL finals take place in September.
“We are looking forward to the next taxi ride to The Bounce -and we are hoping that ‘Colin Banks’ will not take off with the tipping money,” said Worner.
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- Tagged with 4 Quarters, AFL, AFL Game Day, Live and Kicking, NRL, The Bounce, The Matty Johns Show
60 Responses
Yay!!!
Now all they need is to forget to bring it back in September … as i said before … Peter Hellier is a bore, not funny at all and painful to listen to and look at … get him off the air for good … and make that awful Dave Hughes the next to be dumped … there are so many people with mch more talent and appeal who shoudf be in their place …
Jack!
So are we getting The Vicar of Dibley in Brisbane at 12am in place of The Bounce?
It took Ch7 5weeks to realise that ‘The Bounce’ was a Dud, The next to go will be ‘The Matty Johns Show’. The only reason it survived this week was the Melbourne Storm fiasco!
yay hate those shows the sdeny herald said it be back in september
and omg why dont the bloody put ghost whisper back on in that slot or change the repeats on 7 two to new eps i hate seven when they do this
so rather then let the show develop identity, style and charm with itself and its audience. ch 7 is removing from the air and will develop it out of sight?
Although it wasn’t a great show, it had potential but needed to be at a later timeslot.
For a network that’s had the biggest association with AFL/VFL (excluding 2002-2006) it’s a sad reflection on Seven that they’ve never really been able to compete with the other networks in this area.
Yet another example of Seven giving a show no time to grow an audience.
Take a page out of Ten’s book… Masterchef was a dog to begin with now look at it. 7PM was ripped apart by the media and online forums (fair call given it’s ratings) but has become a solid contender for it’s time slot thanks to the time it has been given to develop.
Channel Seven let nothing grow… we hear about all the shows they pilot but when something finally gets to air they give it a month then panic and pull it.
Live television doesn’t have the luxury of post production to help it. It needs constant nurturing and development.
They say The Bounce is coming back but it’s shame they don’t just keep it on air and give it a chance to grow.
Another Channel 7 variety show bites the dust.
Tonight with Steve Vizard remains 7’s only variety show to last more then a season over the past 40 years.
What show will take its place in its timeslot.
I didn’t care sbout the Bounce at all-never even watched a episode of it.
The Vicar of Dibley for now.
what is the bloke smoking. the show is rubbish and no new time slot would save it. he must be talking to the players that are contracted to seven and the workers at 7 and the people that worship 7. if he thinks people think this is a good show
What will be interesting is if the bounce does comeback at all? Or will they start again?
Glad they yanked it of the schedule – Peter Helliar is crap and C7 were stupid enough to believe that he was funny and would rate.
He and Myf Warhurst had a radio show that bombed and so i don’t see why being on TV would be any different
Is Tim Worner the only person in Australia who thinks Peter Helliar is bloody funny?
Peter tries real hard but he’s just not funny.
They’re waiting for the finals for there to be more interest in football? This is Melbourne, there’s always interest in football. If it’s not rating now, it’s not going to be rating come September.
The real reason The Bounce failed while The Matty Johns Show lives on is that there are a wealth of AFL shows on TV already, and only a pair of NRL shows. Obviously the questionable talent of Peter Helliar has nothing to do with it as Johns has the talent of a plank of wood.
peter should have stayed with ten
But how will people enjoy the show and then go to the Website after to look at more info on their favourite teams? 😉
Hopefully, Seven will have the sense, to network Matty Johns into Melbourne for the next few weeks. The Storm saga (let alone the program going into Melbourne) will give a lift to the credibility of their NRL product.
Adelaide and Perth can surely put up with reruns, of factuals, for a couple of weeks.
Either that, or Seven will have split scheduling, with Johns in Syd/Bris and factual reruns elsewhere.
Why not put it on at 7pm during the finals before the game at 7.30?
Just saw the promo for The Vicar of Dibley for Thursday 7.30pm and I wondered what happened? Then I came here and saw why.
I agree with the other comments.
The Bounce has the potential to be a great show…if they got rid of the godawful Peter Helliar.
He’s just not that funny.
They need to ditch the ‘taxi’ thing, and cut the skits crap… Its a footy show, get back to what its meant to be about… It should have debuted during the finals last year!
They’re at pains to convince us it will come back. And yet I’m not.
Get rid of Hellier and you might be on your way…
Well done Seven, The sooner the incredibly unfunny Helliar disappears the better.