What sort of interview do you get when Shane Warne interviews mate, James Packer, the media and gambling tycoon? Surprisingly, a pretty good interview, on an even better show. Media Man and Gambling911 take another swing with the bats and balls this special report on the debut of the highly anticipated 'Warnie'...
The intro even featured gambling themes, with playing cards flying left, right and centre, one of his sports cars and more.
Shane 'Warnie' Warne's first swing into the world of TV chat shows has been declared a "solid first innings" by insiders, with Warnie (and Packer) fans lapping it up. Christmas had come early, for the viewers and Network Nine advertisers and ratings puppet masters.
Most TV critics, most assuredly the Media Man team, agreed the spinners chat with the publicity-shy gambling and media king James Packer was the highlight of the first episode of Warnie, which debuted on Channel Nine last night.
In his first TV interview in 15 years, Packer opened up about his late father Kerry, stating despite "ups and downs" their relationship "ended in the best spot we almost ever were".
Warnie, "Packer said of the backroom deal that had enticed him on to the show, "it was a late night, and you know, you're one of my dearest friends and another one of my dearest friends (David Gyngell) happens to run Channel Nine, and so I find myself here – I don't know quite how I find myself here – but I find myself here. I'm looking for the door."
Packer, who these days is a very close friend of Warne’s, got brave when he mentioned J.P's weight while filming a cameo role, basically a glorified extra, in Tom Cruise's 2003 action flick The Last Samurai.
"They didn't really find it too easy in make-up to find the right size samurai suit. I need a few diuretics," he added, in reference to Warne's 2003 drug test controversy.
Despite the mostly positive reviews, Warnie didn't fully capitalise on The Block's monster lead-in of 1.7 million average viewers but still averaged a healthy audience of 854,000 in preliminary ratings.
Channel Seven's back-to-back episodes of City Homicide, running from 8.30 to 10.30pm against Warne's one-hour talk show plus program aired at 9.11pm, averaged 887,000 and 779,000.
Warnie sweetly beat Channel Ten shows The Good Wife and House.
Australian TV critics expressed some optimism after viewing the first Warnie.
Herald Sun's TV writer Colin Vickery went with the show "a solid first innings".
"Warne doesn't have the skills of the famed British interviewer (Michael Parkinson) but the former Aussie spin king has a knockabout charm that brought out the best in his guests," Vickery said.
Veteran interviewer and radio host Derryn Hinch told the newspaper he was pleasantly surprised after initially fearing the show "had bogan written all over it".
"Take it for what it is, it's entertainment and I think Shane Warne has, what I've seen at this stage, done a pretty good job," Derryn 'The Human Headline' Hinch said.
"It's just straight up and down, it's folksy and chatty, it's light and entertaining and it will go quite well."
Professional blogger Karl Quinn, from The National Times, a Fairfax Media publication scribed the program as "neither a disaster nor a world-changing event".
"It was exactly what you might expect from Shane Warne: affable, blokey, and not to be taken too seriously," Quinn said.
Other celebrities to feature on the show include Sting, Pink, Chris Martin and Daniel Radcliffe.
Quotes From Warnie And Guests...
Warne: "Did you ever think, 'I wish I could be a plumber for a day, or drive a truck and deliver beds or deliver pizzas?'"
Packer: "To be honest, not a lot. I sometimes wished I was you, but if I can't be you I'm happy being me."
Sam Kekovich: "A life spent making mistakes is more honourable and more useful than a life spent doing nothing," he said. Claiming he was quoting George Bernard Shaw, but everyone knew who he was really talking about.
Our rating: 9.5 out of 10. Yep, Warnie hit em for 6, with Packer chipping in being a good sport, making sure it would be a success. Not quite a Packer whacker, but not a puff piece either. Warnie could well be heading for a jackpot next week. Don't change your dial, and always remember to spin to win.
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Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? How did you like the first episode of 'Warnie'? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
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