The Nation
StarringMick Molloy (host)
Paul Calleja
Tiffany Cherry
Gary Eck
Jackie O
Nikki Osborne
Akmal Saleh
Pete Smith
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes13 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time60 minutes per episode
including commercials
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release5 June (2007-06-05) –
29 August 2007 (2007-08-29)
Related
The Mick Molloy Show (1999)

The Nation was an Australian satirical sketch comedy and discussion series covering the week's events across political and social spectrums, premiering on Tuesday 5 June 2007 at 9:30 pm on the Nine Network.[1]

It was hosted by Mick Molloy with a supportive cast of Akmal Saleh, Jackie O, Tiffany Cherry, Gary Eck, Paul Calleja, Nikki Osborne and Pete Smith as the announcer for the show. The show was taped at the GTV-9 Melbourne studios in front of a studio audience.[2] The first guests on the show were Peter Garrett, Stephen Curry and Lisa McCune. The final episode was broadcast on Wednesday 29 August 2007.

Ratings

The Nation's initial episode was the Nine Network's top rating program within the 16- to 39-year-old demographic in Melbourne, Sydney and the east coast. However, the program was third nationally, beaten by Channel Seven's Crossing Jordan (974,000) and Channel Ten's Numb3rs (910,000).[3] After the first episode, ratings began to decline with the ratings for the second episode dropping just over one fifth of the audience.

Over the course of the series, changes to the format were made. Veteran announcer Pete Smith and WSFM 101.7 compere Amanda Keller were additions to the cast. On 4 July 2007, the Nine Network confirmed that The Nation would move from its primetime Tuesday timeslot to a new time of 10:30pm on Wednesday nights, in direct competition with Ten Late News and Channel Seven's The Unit.[4]

The ratings for episodes were as follows:

Criticism

The Herald Sun reported that The Nation had received a mixed reaction on the initial episode, with dozens of viewers complaining to the Nine Network about bad-taste jokes made on-air.[16]

References

  1. ^ Australian Associated Press (25 May 2007). "Mick Molloy takes on The Nation". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  2. ^ Ellis, Scott (4 June 2007). "Taking the Mick". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  3. ^ Dale, David (6 June 2007). "The ratings race: Week 23". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  4. ^ "Funnyman Molloy on skit row". Sydney Confidential. The Daily Telegraph. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  5. ^ Nine Network (6 June 2007). "Nine – Ratings results for Tuesday, 5 June". ebroadcast.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  6. ^ Dale, David (13 June 2007). "The ratings race: Week 24". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  7. ^ Seven Network (20 June 2007). "Seven - Daily Ratings Report". ebroadcast.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  8. ^ Dale, David (27 June 2007). "The ratings race: Week 26". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  9. ^ Dale, David (4 July 2007). "The ratings race: Week 27". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  10. ^ Dale, David (12 July 2007). "The ratings race: week 28". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  11. ^ Dale, David (19 July 2007). "The ratings race: week 29". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  12. ^ Dale, David (27 July 2007). "The ratings race: week 30". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  13. ^ Dale, David (2 August 2007). "The ratings race: week 31". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  14. ^ Dale, David (9 August 2007). "The ratings race: week 32". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  15. ^ Dale, David (16 August 2007). "The ratings race: week 33". The Sunday Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
  16. ^ "Complaints over Molloy jokes". Confidential. Herald Sun. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2007.

External links

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