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Tuesday May 22, 2012

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'Knob jokes have worked for me'

Posted by: Donna Demaio | 9 February, 2011 - 11:43 AM
eltron

It may have been dubbed brave and courageous by some but Ben Elton: Live from Planet Earth has been a ratings disaster for Channel Nine.

The one hour skit/comedy show, starring Elton and a solid mix of new and established talent, aimed high but rated very low.

The figures show 455,000 people tuned in at 9.30pm last night. That’s the national figure.

In Melbourne, a mere 159,000 people watched.

There were a couple of highlights, namely the celebrity interview with Ruby Rose and Elton inserting topical observations in his opening monologue.

And the comedians themselves are enormously talented. At after-party drinks with cast and crew, Elton actually asked me: “What did you think?” I checked that  he actually wanted the truth. “Yes, honestly .. but not too honest!”, he remarked. My response included a recommendation to scrap the school-girls skit and wondering out loud - why so much smut?

Elton answered just as candidly: “There were probably one too many gyno jokes but as I’ve always said, knob jokes have worked for me over the years.”

Channel Nine is believed to be hoping for at least six live episodes.

Twitter followers were quick to try to bury the show.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Interesting, but stupid. Meanwhile anyone want to even wonder why Hilary Clinton recalled all 260 ambassadors to Washington?

    Steve Thursday 10 February, 2011 - 12:19 PM

  • Have always found Elton to be un-funny. Looks like he hasn't changed. Don't know why they bothered.

    Ace Thursday 10 February, 2011 - 8:49 AM

  • Who is 'the' man at Channel 7?
    Please name him so that we can direct our displeasure directly. Give us a breakdown on their major clients, associated companies and share holders so that we can also let them know what we think of the current news management.

    Rodney Thursday 10 February, 2011 - 8:09 AM

  • Sure, the show was atrocious, but what did people expect from the creator of the worst comedy series, The Young Ones, of all time? Something that was actually funny? Dream on!

    Davo Wednesday 9 February, 2011 - 6:01 PM

  • The guys sounds like he's happy to talk about himself all day. Which he does.....
    Stick to the usual 'polluting England's mass media' type antics Ben. It's been pretty clear what peddlers like you have sold the British public. We don't need your trash here.

    Bugger off Ben Wednesday 9 February, 2011 - 2:11 PM

  • I don't normally post reviews of any sort. It's not my thing...but I feel Ben Elton's performance last night was dreadful and I had to make my opinion public, to see if I was just not 'getting it'. Seems I wasn't the only one. He opened the show complaining about the amount of US TV in OZ - well I can name half a dozen shows from the US that run rings around the junk he performed last night. The Young Ones may have been funny 20 years ago, but I'm afraid that humour is not funny anymore. And don't criticize the young for body art when you have just had a beautiful young lady covered in ink as a guest! Ben, you need to grow up.

    Mat C Wednesday 9 February, 2011 - 1:49 PM

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