Rachel's blog

The GC‘s pilot ratings came in with an estimated 370,660 watching the show.

It was the most-watched show on TV3 last night, with about 30,000 more viewers than 3 News.

How does this rating compare?

You could rightly point out that both TV2 and TV ONE had more people watching their shows on at the same time.

You could wonder why more people watched The GC last night than have ever tuned in to an episode of The Almighty Johnsons, or why more people watched The GC’s pilot than any episode this season of Go Girls, or why Outrageous Fortune didn’t achieve that sort of viewership until series three.

Or why only one episode of Campbell Live in the past year (Wheee! Live snow in Wellington!) had more people tune in than The GC‘s debut.

Or why only the season finale of New Zealand’s Next Top Model last year had more people watching than The GC.

Food for thought for “unpopular” headlines.

New Zealand’s reality TV show queen Julie Christie has done it again with what could well be her biggest show to date: The GC. Hate it or love it, you’re talking about it. You’re quoting it. And as to be expected, #TheGC trended worldwide.

I’ve no idea why promotional articles about the show were at such pains to say that it is nothing like MTV’s Jersey Shore or its official UK adaptation, Geordie Shore.

Let’s be completely honest about it: TV3′s The GC is completely and utterly our unofficial adaptation of those shows. Continue reading »

Hello! I’m currently over in Australia, and haven’t set the My Sky to record anything tonight, but I think Last Chance to See at 7:30pm on PRIME looks fantastic tonight:

Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine head off to see the nocturnal flightless parrot, the Kakapo, right here in New Zealand. They fly in a helicopter through the dramatic landscape of Fiordland – the last location of the Kakapo on the mainland. The travellers encounter Kiwi in the woodland and learn a little about flightless birds and evolution in New Zealand. They then travel to Wellington and see a Maori Kakapo cloak made of Kakapo and Kiwi feathers, before travelling to an island to see the Weta – the biggest insect in the world. They also meet Peter Jackson the director of Lord of The Rings and a funder of Weta Conservation.

What are you watching tonight?

I’m not watching anything…

Hello! I’m currently over in Australia, and haven’t set the My Sky to record anything tonight.

If you’re a fan of Winners and Losers, it’s the season finale tonight! I only ever saw the pilot and never got around to watching any more episodes. Season two hasn’t started over here in Australia yet.

If you’re a fan of Gary Busey, he’s guest-starring on Two and a Half Men tonight. And, if you watch Shortland Street, here’s what’s happening tonight.

What are you watching tonight?

I’m My Skying Go Girls and MasterChef

I’m off to Melbourne later today, so I’m going to be recording a few shows to watch on my return: including tonight’s episode of Go Girls (sounds like a good one!) and MasterChef.

I’d love to watch We Bought a Zoo on my flight if I can get the chance (not so easy with two littlies):

What are you watching tonight?

I’m planning on watching Revenge and Homeland

Ok, so I love both of these shows so much and I’ve written about them before, but I really ought to check out Junior Masterchef Australia over on PRIME. I know so many people who love it and keep raving on and on about it. Tonight’s episode is all about chocolate. Could you name the 20 ingredients that go into Rocky Road without cheating?

What are you watching tonight?

Stuff is reporting that TV3 is set to screen a reality TV show along the lines of “Keeping up with the Kardashians” about Sally and Jaime Ridge. TV3 and Jaime Ridge have neither confirmed nor denied the story.

Now whether it’s true or not hardly seems to matter: it seems everyone has something to say about it.

The first I heard of the story was on Facebook where a friend commented: “When the buttons fall off the paper lamps, the cats s*** on the flower cushions and no-one wants your overpriced knickers … why not make a reality tv show? What’s the bet this brings Nicky Watson and Charlotte Dawson out from under their [collagen] rocks..” while another said “faith in humanity status: dwindling”. There’s over 200 comments on Stuff’s story in just a couple of hours. I read through them for a while and couldn’t find a single comment remotely in favour of the idea.

Call me crazy, but with such fervent reaction to the show’s concept, it makes me think that the show could be ratings gold. Kiwis would secretly tune in to fulfill their favourite pastime: hating on anyone who’s a local celebrity (unless they’re a sports star) and there’s already a long list of specific reasons why people love to hate Sally and/or Jaime Ridge too. The show would be a chance for people to add more reasons to that list.

PS. Geordie Shore. Need I say more?

I’m planning on watching Portlandia

TV3 is starting screening this show tonight from 10pm (taking over the slot left by WANNA-BEn. Season 2 has just finished in the US, and it’s already been renewed for another season.

Or, if you’re wanting to see a movie tonight, there’s a decent amount on offer on Sky Box Office, including:

The Help, Drive and One Day.

I loved The Help and want to read the book. Just don’t be eating your dessert while watching the movie… I saw Drive at the theatre (cough, Ryan Gosling) but I only really loved the first scene (incredible) and the music, but the rest wasn’t exactly my genre…

What are you watching tonight?

I’m planning on watching The World’s Strictest Parents

The World’s Strictest Parents heads to an Australian Outback farm tonight. I have a thing for the Outback. Sometimes I watch blob out shows like this.

On a more serious note, a while ago a friend recommended Inside Job so we rented it on itunes. It’s a fascinating documentary and if you haven’t seen it, and you’re interested in how the world economy got so screwed up, this is a must watch on Rialto. IMDB gives this an 8.2/10.

What are you watching tonight?

I’m planning to watch…

The Sinking of the Laconia – Prime’s new two-part drama at 8:30pm. IMDB rates it as 7/10. It looks really good.

The History Channel has a documentary on Wikileaks tonight also at 8:30pm, with interviews with Julian Assange and Bradley Manning.

Oh, and I’ll be My Skying The Almighty Johnsons.

What are you watching tonight?