Tearful finale as The Circle bows out in style
VIDEO: There were tears, criticisms, live telly highlights and a set ripped out while the show was still on air. The Circle has left the building.
- Published by David Knox
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It was an emotional day on the set of The Circle today, their final show after 2.5 years, while TEN chose to retain the low-rating Breakfast.
Denise Drysdale and Chrissie Swan returned to join Gorgi Coghlan and Yumi Stynes, Chrissie joining on the same day as her second child’s 1st birthday.
They were joined by Colin Lane and Meshel Laurie, plus a host of regulars including Indira Naidoo, George McEncroe, Marc Fennell, Richard Clune, Andrew McClellan and more.
But it was producer Pam Barnes, the force behind the show, that many reserved their tributes for. A tearful Barnes said, “This is the best job I have ever had.” Peppers Resorts threw in a 5 night holiday for her.
Denise Drysdale admitted that when Barnes first approached her about being on a new morning show called The Circle, she thought it was for her to do the advertorials. She was shocked that at 63, she actually wanted her as one of the hosts.
The show opened with Rhonda Burchmore, accompanied by John Foreman, singing ‘Cry Me A River.’ Foreman criticised the decision to axe the show, noting  that for TEN “Monday will be the first day in more than 20 years that we haven’t had an Australian made chat show in this time, and more than 20 years since this studio began.”
it will be the first time in more than 20 years that an Australian-made chat show won’t air in this timeslot.”
He added that Pam Barnes “should be getting a gold watch and a speech at the Christmas party but instead has been given a week to pack up her desk and I think that is shocking.”
But it was the usually ‘choir boy’ musical director John Foreman who damned management over the cancellation, pointing out that from Monday: “it will be the first time in more than 20 years that an Australian-made chat show won’t air in this timeslot.”
Yumi Stynes admitted that on the day they all first met “I hadn’t had a root for two years!” and added, “We’ve got a whole lot more shit to come today!”
She threw to an advertorial with: “Do we really need to do this? Another bloody advertorial?! Ah yes, it wouldn’t be The Circle without Pat Panetta!”
With a straight face (but a twinkle in her eye) Gorgi said: “I’m really going to miss those advertorials!”
In the last hour of the show, the crew keep walking on to the set and removing items one by one so that the set is looking more and more empty!
Yumi: “Are they striking our set or are they stealing our set?”
Gorgi: “Check on E-Bay tomorrow I guess!”
At one stage Denise Drysdale even grabbed a hammer to help destroy the set. Ahh, live telly.
Emails were read out from fans and celebs – even the US ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey L. Bleich wrote: “May The Circle be unbroken.. and great shows like yours continue to be made.”
The team threw to Natarsha Belling (spelling?) for the final hour news break. Belling started to read the Olympic headlines, then threw her script in the air and said “You know what? Forget about the news, because today is really important for all of you guys … ” and then thanked them all personally, with a special mention for Barnes. “Forget about your alleged TV talents Pam, you are responsible for keeping me on the dance floor until 4am at this year’s Logies!”
Belling then danced in the Sydney news studio while Colin Lane danced in the Melbourne studio to “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” before Belling also shed a tear as the team said goodbye to her for the last time.
Yumi thanked all the crew (as they appeared on camera) and made the point that most of them were now out of a job.
Chrissie Swan thanked all the men on the crew for “not pressing charges.”
Gorgi Coghlan told viewers to write “a massive petition for us to come back in 2013 with a kick-arse prime-time, once a week show…”
In the penultimate segment everyone was in hysterics with Andrew McLelland with his collection of weird clips and photos from the internet. Chrissie was worried she would “wet herself.”
The show ended with an almost empty studio and Grinspoon’s Phil Jameson playing guitar as Coghlan sang, followed by all cast and crew gathered in an empty studio as Pam Barnes gave a final teary farewell, Â Barnes made a dignified speech, but struggled to shield her hurt at management’s decision.
Then the picture cut to colour bars, a test pattern and tv static.
Whether management were unhappy with the show’s on-air comments is unclear, but TEN has already removed The Circle from its website show list and erased the show from its iPhone application. Quick work….
Following the show, the team headed to a wrap lunch where around 30 – 50 people who have lost their jobs, celebrated their run.
More YouTube clips here
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbY1Moqj_pU[/youtube]
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- Tagged with Breakfast, Logie Awards, The Circle
35 Responses
Hi David, the circle’s web segment is/was with Andrew McClelland. Great post btw.
shame on channel 10 for axing this show.
what the networks particularly 9 and 10 need to realise is that if they want to be successful and get the ratings they want they need to listen to their viewers , the public and show quality programming at a regular time. the circle was one of those shows that was quality australian television that was axed because of money and ratings and there are more out there that have also been axed only to be replaced with american tv shows that are often of a lesser standard. originally television was created to provide a service to the public and to showcase talent. less and less australian talent is on free to air television currently and that is sad.
The only thing that would have saved The Circle is if Paul Henry had been part of the panel – poor ratings wouldn’t have mattered then!
If ten want a breakfast show with a point of difference why don’t they have a panel format like the circle. The massive irony in all of this is that if the circle were to replace breakfast the ratings would smash anything the current breakfast will ever achieve.
It’s right that the network failed another of its shows. Chrissie and Denise should have been replaced immediately, as some days we were left with only Yumi or Gorgi as the only main host with 3 guests. The guests were good but it was too random and there was no chance to develop the magic that four constant hosts can get. David I’d be interested to see how the last show rated compared to The Morning Show, and whether it was up on a normal Circle viewing audience. These guys were more real than Sonia and David on Nine will ever be. Would love to see them once a week on Sunday night for example. Couldn’t be worse than the boring tripe that “Rove” became! And striking the set while they were still on air? That reeks of disrespect. Apart from the odd bit of swearing (which I thought was cheeky!) the girls showed class the whole way when they could have been bitchy. What did they have to lose? But they showed their loyal audience a good time as they have done from day 1.
I honestly don’t think Ten expected this sort of reaction.
Thank you for the reply David re- yum-e,one of our biggest problems in this Country is hanging on to hate.
We all must move on and the decision to axe this show was a classic example of perceived expectations by mainstream media that the persecution of Stynes was somehow what the viewer required little attention was paid to Roberts-Smith’s acceptance of the apology
This programme simply should not have been made a scapegoat and it was a bad decision.
Oh, and more industry people out of work to make way for American programming. Good job 10.
I never saw the program but from a 10 management decision it seems to be in the same basket as the Renovator’s launch in the Masterchef finale.
Considering the backlash on this site and others the axing is obviously a bizarre decision.
A sad farewell. Yet another very bad decision from Ten in the last two years.
I’ll miss The Circle. It was great to have the original 4 back. Gorgi was amazing.
Its sad to see it go and feel sorry for the people who have lost their job. Maybe if Masterchef moves to Melbourne they’ll get. some work.
Admittedly, I almost never really watched the show but caught it in full today. Absolutely loved the “last day of school ever” vibes and the rampant sardonicism. Bad decision, Ten!
David – I think with regards to John and giving a gold watch he was talking about someone else and not Pam Barnes as he prefaced it with saying how he had spoken to a lady who had worked there for 20 years.
Leigh H – you can see the full episode if you go to the video section of The Circle website which can be found at ten.com.au/thecircle
Anyway, I agree with John it is all a bit sad. To think there has been a show there for around 20 years and now it is just stuff from the US? Really thought The Circle would last longer than this!
This show should’ve been axed the day they made fun of the VC war hero. good riddance!
Shame you didn’t accept the apology as Corp. Ben Roberts-Smith did.
They left exactly as they arrived… with dignity, good humour and a whole lot of class.
Will miss you guys
Interesting that George McEncroe said on radio that she got offered a full time gig on the couch last friday then told monday it was getting axed. Why didnt they appoint her earlier. They took to long to appoint someone.
It was a good show and I alwys got good recipe ideas in the cooking segment. Hopefully Georgie Coughlan will be back on our tv. I know 10 are keeping her and she will probably pop up on the project.
Watched the last 20 minutes of Breakfast today before The Circle started… what a Boring program.
At least The Circle made up for it with laughs and tears for the final show. The Circle should have replaced Breakfast for sure.
Is there anyway to watch this last episode now?
So sad to see The Circle finish up.It was a good alternative to the other two.
Why don’t we just stop watching channel 10. Hit them where it really hurts? Appalling that they would dismiss such gutsy women.
Oh ya girls! You did a fantastic job!
Now i’m gonna have to watch the morning show on 7.
I really hope Breakfast loses even more viewers now. Absolutely ridiculous!
Yeah noticed it had been removed off the ten site by early afternoon. Interesting considering it took them over a month to remove The Game Plan(AFL) from its website. Even now under NRL we can apparently get AFL news.
The Circle axing could hurt TEN buy the sounds. A loyal following not happy. All those jobs gone while Henry and Bolt are allowed to continue. I just don’t know how Henry can accept his pay cheque each week!!!
OK so lets put it out there – What stupid decision will Ten make next????
This was definitely a terrible decision.
TEN failed the circle, not the other way around.
They didn’t even bother finding 2 new hosts, and didn’t give the show a chance to spread its wings.
Poor girls, and now we are left with breakfast…blughhhhh
The final show was great. Natarsha Belling was hilarious. Once Chrissie and Denise left the show lost most of its humour and spark. The Circle was never going to be a ratings winner but it certainly had a loyal following. The saddest thing is to see so many talented crew lose their jobs.
I am really at a loss when it comes to Ten management. The Circle was doing better than the diabolical Breakfast in the ratings. There is no way Breakfast will improve unless Henry is shown the door.