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Tim Ross to host new Seven comedy, Australia Versus.

Sophie Monk v Keira Knightley? Khe Sanh v Satisfaction? Tim Ross will host a new show for comedians.

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Comedian Tim Ross will front a new comedy series for Seven, Australia Versus.

The ‘pop culture series’ will pit Australian comics against UK and US comedians. Set to feature are Peter Helliar, Rebel Wilson, Fiona O’Loughlin, Peter Berner, Greig Pickhaver, Hale and Pace, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Pauly Shore.

“It’s just comedians being funny, Ross told the Sunday Telegraph. “There are so many talking heads on TV who are not funny. I loved it, as it was a great premise for the comedians – not just the Aussies, but the Poms and Americans.

“Some of the debates are ridiculous – who’s got the sexiest starlet, Sophie Monk v Keira Knightley? – but it’s a great premise for jokes.

“The music stuff is great, with some uneven contests – Can Khe Sanh really take on (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction?”

Not the first time that style of question has been proposed for Light entertainment. Nine’s excruciating Big Questions, hosted by Jules Lund, came with a similar premise. Hopefully this one improves on that.

Meanwhile Seven is believed to have abandoned plans for its own 20 to 1 style show, once titled as ‘Ultimate Countdown.’

Australia Versus will debut later this year.

Source: Sunday Telegraph

27 Responses

  1. the release today says it will be made by fremantle media, so the ch7 curse might not apply as most of the failed attempts have been made by ch7 in-house.

  4. @David – DWTS is not an original 7 production.

    @Jerome – Matty Johns is actaully doing quite poorly, hovering around the 250 mark each week in Sydney. The only reason its still there is 7 are too proud to admit they made a mistake in signing him.

  7. with the little information we have. i’d like to see it take a comedy debate type format. ie. one topic gets debated but for 30 mins. and only have it as a 30min show. maybe pair it with a import comedy or TVbup if it is returning. i think 30min variety/comedy works well and a lot of failed 1hr variety shows really could have been more sucessful in a 30min format.

    looks like it will be going to 8:30 as 7’s 7:30 slots will be chockers at that time of the year. there were already more shows that coud fit.

    @selma, Matty Johns has lasted much longer than 3 weeks and is rating quite well.

  9. Berner was great on the Einstein Factor, Helliar on the other-hand is usually unfunny and arrogant. Isn’t Greig Pickhaver part of Roy & HG? He should be interesting. Hopefully it’ll be better than ‘The White Room’.

  11. Will 7 finally have their first variety hit since Steve Vizard Live in the early 90’s???

    With 7’s track record in comedy/variety, I trully doubt this “panel show” will last longer than three weeks.

    Look at this year alone – The White Room, Matty Johns, The Bounce.

  12. Rosso should no better that 7 and comedy don’t go together. And 7 should know that Rosso and tv dont mix either. All it is, is a bunch of D grade celebs (which half of them aren’t even funny). 7’s pushing there luck if they think this will last!!!

  14. I remember watching Tim Ross when he was on the Today show for a few weeks late last year and he looked like he was a rabbit caught in the headlights!

    Not sure if he is hosting this show…but I rate him below Peter Helliar in the funnyman stakes…and if it lasts more than 2 weeks….I will be very surprised!

  16. There is something seriously dysfunctional at Seven this year. Of all the ideas and shows they must get pitched they go with the worst. Apart from the two Aussie dramas they are warehousing for no apparent reason – the second half schedule is no different to the first half.

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