Hey Hey it's a success!
2.16 million Australians can't be wrong. That's the number of nostalgic viewers who tuned in to watch Daryl Somers and the Hey Hey gang back on their box.
There were wrinkly jokes, buffoonery, script-less chaos, musical acts -- even a kid smearing himself with Vegemite. And the audience just loved it.
For three hours -- 30 minutes longer than planned -- Australia relived its adolescence and was even prepared to pretend it was a Saturday, just to have a familiar friend back on the box. As the Kerrigans once said in The Castle, "The only thing better than Hey Hey it's Saturday is The Best of Hey Hey it's Saturday."
Any fears that Daryl Somers and his sidekicks wouldn't have their old magic back were quickly shelved. The show rolled from Celebrity Head to Red Faces and Plucka Duck with its sense of humour planted in wholesome, if unsophisticated, glee.
John Blackman and Dickie Knee dropping in gags, Wilbur, Red, Russel Gilbert, Livinia Nixon and even Molly Meldrum and his dog were happily entrenched in GTV9, dragging the past into the present. Broadly popular names including Jimmy Barnes, John Farnham and even well wishes from Kylie Minogue demonstrated this show was unashamedly aimed at middle Australia.
The show was even the number one trending topic on Twitter around the world.
The good news for Nine, which won the night by a stunning margin, was bad news for TEN. Celebrity MasterChef Australia had 1.35m viewers in its new one-hour format. INXS rocker Kirk Pengilly was the first celebrity to proceed to a semi-final. NCIS: Los Angeles averaged 943,000 against tough competition.
Over on the ABC, the new Denton-produced show Hungry Beast had a soft debut of just 551,000 viewers, while Seven's line-up was also thumped with World's Strictest Parents sitting at just 912,000.
The Hey Hey team returns next week for one more reunion special where Ossie Ostrich is set to return, and after all the pleading by Somers, maybe, just maybe, Jackie MacDonald too?
What did you watch last night? Leave your comments below, or head to the forum and vote in our poll!
I always enjoyed watching HHIS on a Saturday night so was looking forward to the Reunion shows. It was like someone had suddenly turned the clock back 10 or more years only with older faces....same gags but enjoyed it immensely. It was a little bit of mindless entertainment...something you could watch without having to think too much after a long day in the garden or visiting those dreaded relatives. Bring it Back.....please!!
Well PiperPrueLover4 I am glad that you couldn't get a hold of the remote. Obviously you do not understand classic Australian TV. It was loved then and by what the article above said 2.16 million viewers couldn't be wrong either. The show was fantastic. Our family use to get together and watch it when it was on back then and we all got together on Wednesday to watch it all over again. I say also that we should make it PERMANENT. It is something that Australian viewers have been missing. Lets get it back on Saturday nights. Channel 9 I am glad that you put this together but now is the time to realise that this is what the Australian Public wants and sign it up again. Even over the off season of AFL and NRL season would be a good IDEA. The ratings will surely be there for the taking. Also Jackie MacDonald if you are reading this PLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEE come back!moreless
MAKE IT PERMANENT. WHAT MASTERCHEF DID DO, WAS REMIND AUSSIES HOW MUCH WE NEED AND LOVE FAMILY VIEWING, A SENSE OF HUMOUR AND GOOD, OLD FASHIONED VALUES. WE'RE SICK OF REALITY TV, SPECIALLY THE AMERICAN CRAP EVERYWHERE AND ON ALL CHANNELS. GIVE US BACK DECENT, LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. ROVE'S DAY IS GONE, DARYL IS, IRONICALLY, FRESH AND INSPIRED. GOOD SHOWS NEVER TIRE OR GO OUT OF FASHION. ONLY TV BOSSES' PERCEPTION OF WHAT'S POPULAR.BRING HEY HEY BACK. IT WILL GET THE VIEWERSHIP. SATURDAY NIGHT IS BORING AS HELL AND NOT ALL OF US WANT TO GO OUT EVERY NIGHT. SOMETIMES WE WANT TO STAY IN AND CURL UP ON THE COUCH.
Hey Hey of course!
Defiantly watched it last night, how could you not! Exactly as you put it, an old friend returns. We can only hope they will stay a while!