Rove McManus is in high-level discussions with Network Ten
to produce and host a modernised version of the classic game show format
Blankety Blanks.
It is the understanding of this publication that Rove
McManus and his production company Roving Enterprises are keen to develop a
game show format for the 6pm timeslot to provide a stronger lead in for
underperforming news program The Project.
The Project has recently been gaining some rating momentum
after struggling for the last three years after a series of programming
decisions from Ten, however its first half hour in the 6:30pm timeslot is still
dire and is not assisted by having such a week lead in program with repeats of
The Simpsons averaging a mere 350k in the 6pm timeslot against the might of
News bulletins on the other commercial networks
In a recent interview with TV Tonight, host of The Project
Charlie Pickering said:
“I don’t
think shows should be overly-dependent on their lead-ins. Shows should stand as
shows themselves. But that said, when 6:30 on Seven and Nine are getting handed
1.2m consistently a night as their starting point, we talk around the office
about what would be something good in that office,” he says.
Tactfully he adds,“I cannot be clearer about this: I don’t know what Hamish (McLennan)
or Beverley’s (McGarvey) plan is.”
“But
we’ve been saying for a long time that something like an edgy game show, or something
that is ‘on brand’ with Channel TEN. It can’t be something lame or whatever. Deal or No Deal and Hot Seat actually pull pretty
consistent numbers. People like game shows and that play-at-home aspect. It’s
something that’s missing at the moment in the broader line-up at TEN.”
While Rove McManus is better known as a Talk Show host he
has previously hosted the game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th
Grader for Ten in 2007. Blankety Blanks was based on US game show The Match
Game, It was hosted Graham Kennedy and aired from 1977 to 1979.
At the time of publication, Rove McManus was unavailable for comment.
