Eddie McGuire mentioned on his Triple M breakfast show this morning that producers that pitched giving the show a new name of “More Than A Game” this year to differentiate the new format from the Sam Newman era. However, Nine Management in Sydney overruled this and instructed that the new show must continue under “The Footy Show” brand.
5 Likes
That’s actually not a bad name. It’s clearly related and a callback, but not that the same show.
5 Likes
I would have called the new show “More Than A Game” also, given its in the theme song, and given a new chance. Then i would have aired the promised “AFL Footy Show Specials” a go too. Airing that every couple of weeks. If it failed by mid year, then axe.
3 Likes
Eddie hinted on radio today that there could still be a farewell special later in the year with the full original cast.
5 Likes
Let’s be honest, like Hey Hey, the format was just a relic of the past. The attempt to rejig it basically turned off all the rusted on viewers it had left. Nine have enough Footy shows to fill the gap as it is.
7 Likes
I agree. When Nine launched both versions of The Footy Show in the mid-90s, it was a time the network still had a relatively strong portfolio of live entertainment/variety shows…that would all farewell their audiences before the turn of the millennium.
…which unlike the Thursday (or more recently, Wednesday) night edition, actually seem to talk about football.
The Footy Show’s ratings were still very strong until as late as 2016 (in Melbourne anyway)
The Brisbane rugby league version of The Footy Show was the original and the first to be axed, lasting just a couple of years. I remember host Chris Bombolas being devastated when the show was replaced by the Sydney version.
2 Likes
Feel that the way Nine announced the show’s cancellation was a ‘cop out’ on their behalf. Since management knew they were going to cancel the show last night, they should have informed the team of that in the last ad-break so that the presenters could have at least announced the news and pay tribute to the show’s history on-air.
2 Likes
Yeah, I was referring to the other live variety/entertainment shows on Nine (eg, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Midday) at the time both Footy Shows launched, rather than The Footy Shows themselves.
Outside of Melbourne though, I don’t think ratings for The Footy Show had been that strong for many years? Certainly the NRL version we got up here should’ve been axed a decade ago despite being quite popular until the mid/late 2000s when it seemed most of the cast other than Fatty left.
I wonder if there’s a few people up in Brisbane who were still disappointed that their local version of The Footy Show was cancelled in favour of the Sydney version some 10-20 years later? 
…or better yet, inform the presenters/crew before the show went to air so a proper farewell could be produced?
2 Likes
Crawf’s account (above) hints that they didn’t know until well after filming
Last ad break? I think that would be even worse.
1 Like
Now I think about it, last night’s show may have only went ahead in order to fulfil Nine’s contractual obligation to the distributor of Pokemon: Pikachu Detective by running the Shane Crawford/Ryan Reynolds promotional interview as this had already been filmed the prior week. They would likely have paid for Crawford’s trip to Japan.
Sportsbet was the only major sponsor this year and I’m guessing Nine will provide them contra through ad spots in other sports shows on the network.
2 Likes
I saw that. My point is since Channel Nine management knew the decision they were going to make/announce, everyone involved with the show should have been informed earlier so that at least the presenters could have acknowledged the news
2 Likes
I’m surprised they didn’t try to milk it a little bit. Announce it beforehand, promote it as such, and turn it into an event. Maybe you’d get a few more eyeballs tuning in for nostalgia’s sake.
3 Likes
A new football show could air on Nine on Sunday nights
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/gossip-queen-shane-crawford-james-hird-game-for-new-football-role-at-nine/news-story/581c3629a24178c33a701ee1f0ec30f6
Some quotes from the article:
AFL greats Shane Crawford and James Hird are the frontrunners to revive Channel 9’s flagging football show fortunes.
It is understood the Hawthorn and Essendon legends have pitched a round-in-review style show aimed at a late-night Sunday timeslot.
While contracts are yet to be signed, Channel 9 has expressed interest in the new offering.
The footy stars are expected to be joined by Gold FM breakfast radio host Christian O’Connell.
Crawford, Hird and O’Connell quietly filmed a pilot for the program at the end of December.
It’s believed the earliest a new show could go to air is July.
Nine’s programming director, Hamish Turner, said on Friday the network would be looking for new AFL-focused TV opportunities.
“We’d be stupid not to be looking at ways we can provide an alternative and a connection to that (AFL) brand,” Turner said.
“We’ll definitely be looking at alternatives going forward.”
2 Likes
Also, to help rebuild the Nine brand in Melbourne, which has been struggling somewhat against a very local faced Seven.
Not to Forget the 2010 Grand Final Show Opener Which Parodied Seven’s Woeful The Bounce Which lasted Five Weeks, Nine Years On They’re Splashing with The Front Bar While the Final Footy Show’s Line Up we’re Petite.
2 Likes