The Rundown: Why Aussie TV shows can’t resist signing a big international name

Jim Courier has been savaged as host of Australian Ninja Warrior but there’s method to the TV madness in signing international names.

To be fair to Jim Courier more Aussie fans may know him than local co-host Leila McKinnon.

There was some predictable whinging about US tennis great Jim Courier taking on the role as lead commentator on the new season of Australian Ninja Warrior, but he aced the gig.

International faces being part of local shows is nothing new – and they are not going away any time soon.

Adding an international name to a reality series or talent show brings a talking point to a production, may possibly encourage fans of the star to tune into the show to watch them, provides publicity in the lead up to the show airing, they may be part of an overseas version of the show so they bring some awareness and knowledge of how a commentating role or judging panel should work, and they theoretically add some weight to a program – as in if it is worth a big name making the effort to come to Australia to film then the show must have something going for.

David Walliams is being imported to add some humour to the Australia’s Got Talent panel.

Rita Ora has been a key piece of the revamped Voice on Channel 7.

The reality is big pay cheque and the chance to expand their brand in another market tends to be a greater motivation for most than the love of a format – celebrity is a business after all.

In the case of Courier, it turns out he is as good at calling acrobatic athletes taking on the oversized and extreme Ninja course as he is adding his insights to the Australian Open tennis tournament broadcast.

If Ninja Warrior is going to get slammed for having an “international” among its presenting line up then the same criticism could be directed towards SAS: Australia and Million Dollar Island which both have UK personality Ant Middleton as host, Australia’s Got Talent which has imported David Walliams and Alesha Dixon as panellists this year, MKR which has UK cook Nigella Lawson as its new star, The Voice, which has Rita Ora sitting pretty as one of its coaches, and The Masked Singer which has added ex-Spice Girl Mel B to its celebrity guessing panel this season.

We like your style @jackvidgen 🙌 #NinjaWarriorAUpic.twitter.com/EL6Vzy4dtF

— Australian Ninja Warrior (@NinjaWarriorAU) June 27, 2022

Meanwhile, Courier, a highly polished international sport commentator, was almost lost for words when confronted with a ‘victory twerk’ by a pop singer during the first episode of Ninja Warrior Australia on Monday

Former Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen busted out his bum wiggle as he took part in the show’s celebrity challenge.

“Not often seen on Ninja ….but we welcome it,” said Courier, the noted tennis commentator who is more used to calling top spin slices than mid-run twerks.

Ninja Olympics

In a surprise that no one saw coming Ninja Warrior could be included in the Olympics.

The Japanese TV network TBS, creator of the original Ninja Warrior reality competition format, has revealed to the Hollywood Reporter that the show’s obstacle course will be tested for possible inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles.

Ninja could be added to the ‘very’ Modern Penthalon at the LA Olympics.

The Ninja Warrior course is under consideration to be added as the new fifth discipline of the Modern Pentathlon. The Modern Pentathlon has consisted of five disciplines: fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, laser pistol shooting and running. But the organisers of the sport, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), announced in May that an obstacle course would be tested as a potential replacement for the riding discipline after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The UIPM confirmed that the Ninja challenges would be one of two types of obstacle courses considered.

A chatty pilot week

Abbie Chatfield’s media career continues its incredible rise with the former Bachelor contestant landing a show in Channel 10’s Pilot Week showcase.

The show, Abbie Chats, is – as the name would suggest – a chat show but with a twist.

The pilot episode will be available to view from July 4 on 10 Play along with 10s other Pilot Week choices including Courtney’s Closet an interview show were Courtney Act transforms her guest into a drag persona while teasing out their life story and Dinner Guest, where Narelda Jacobs, Melissa Leong and Susan Carland have dinner with a guest and discuss the topics of the day.

Abbie Chatfield is already locked in for the Masked Singer and will also pilot a chat show.

Logie sold on Werribee Accident

A rare piece of TV history went under the hammer in Melbourne on Sunday and was met with spirited bidding.

A Logie award, presented in 1977 to A Current Affair for the Outstanding Contribution to TV Journalism category for a report called ‘The Werribee Accident’ report, was on the block at Leski Auctions.

The award, which could do with a bit of a Silvo polish, had a reserve of $300.

Leski Auctions director Charles Leski said the statuette was expected to fetch between $400 – $600.

The Logie had plenty of admirers eventually selling for $1,100.

Survive the passports queue

The Australian Survivor cast will need to pack a passport this year.

The show is tipped to be based in Samoa in the Pacific after two years of being set in Queensland.

The decision to locate the production in Australia in 2020 and 2021 was due to Covid and the various restrictions related to pandemic management.

Channel 10 has been approached for comment.

Succession comes to Oz

Fans of the Binge series Succession are in for a treat. Brian Cox, who plays the ruthless Logan Roy on the brilliant series, is headed for Melbourne.

Cox will appear at the Melbourne Writers Festival on Saturday, September 10 talking about his career and his memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat.

Tickets are available now: mwf.com.au