TV tune-ins: The Voice returns with lowest premiere, Commonwealth Games train wreck draws 1.3 million

Last night’s return of The Voice on Nine drew 1.029 million overnight metro viewers – a strong showing but its lowest in its Australian premiere figures.

It was 1.27 million overnight metros in 2017 and 1.4 million in 2016.

Its highest premiere figure in this country was at its first season with 2.9 million.

But Nine seems destined for another strong run, based on last night’s episode, which showed sharp editing, and new judge Joe Jonas proving to be likeable and an instant heart throb.

One of the acts was a long time Jonas obsessive who didn’t turn any of the coach’s chairs but didn’t care as it gave her the opportunity to meet her idol.

“Pinch me, pinch me!” she kept squealing excitedly as Jonas came up onstage and did a duet with her on one of his hits.

This season is also pushing the “journey” button even more than before, where the audience instantly identifies with an act based on how music has played a major role in their coping with crap lives.

First act on, 18-year-old Mikayla Jade from South Australia,  clearly suffering from nerves, nevertheless got all judges to turn after a poignant rendition of Calum Scott’s ‘Dancing On My Own’ which got her an ovation from coaches and studio audience.

She said that 2017 had been the worst in her life due to bullying, and chose Delta Goodrem as her coach as Goodrem’s music had helped her through her struggles.

Also turning four chairs was 17-year-old Aydan Calafiore from Victoria who’d been unsuccessful last year and sang the Spanish version of ‘Despacito’ despite not knowing the language (which put him one step ahead of Justin Bieber), and Sydney’s Erin Whetters who gave up singing for a time after being told to lose weight, and proved to have a marvellous blues-rock voice.

Also impressing was country-rock sibling trio Homegrown from rural Queensland with a harmony-filled rendition of Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’.

Turning to other television viewing fraom last night, public opinion via social media confirmed what Commonwealth Games organisers had already admitted. The Closing Ceremony was self indulgent and under-whelming.

Seven’s decision not to include the entry of the athletes into Carrara Stadium pissed off everybody, including the athletes most of whom headed off for their own parties leaving the stadium half empty.

Refunds? #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/eKc7DqryLP

— Dan Oliver (@danwaterski) April 15, 2018

Seven instead wanted to screen My Kitchen Rules.

In one way a bad decision given that 91 world and Commonwealth records had been broken during the meet. But in another, it was a strategy that worked out as MKR drew 1.3 million overnight metros compared to the 1.14 million who tuned in to the Closing Ceremony.

The music component was an ambitious one although let down in parts by not enough rehearsals.

It used the Games’ other theme of inclusion and camaraderie with a theme of love.

It began with Archie Roach on his ‘Let Love Rule’, accompanied by Amy Shark and an indigenous youth choir.

It ended with the entire music ensemble, led again by Roach, on the ‘60s hit ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’.

One segment featuring Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project and Ricki Lee paying tribute to Australian songs while Usain Bolt did a cameo DJ set following those done at a Gold Coast nightclub a few days before.

The Sisters was a collection of female artists including Ceberano, Kate Noonan, Deborah Conway, Emma Donovan, The Veronicas, Kira Puru, Emma Donovan, Dami Im and Thandi Phoenix.

Shout outs to @kirapuru, Kate Cebrano, and whomever else was on stage in that awesome display of female musicianship that the live editor didn't care to show at all. SMH.

— Zan Rowe (@zanrowe) April 15, 2018

They set the scene with ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’ before running through in various combinations Australian hits fronted by the sisters, including Conway’s ‘It’s Only The Beginning’, Kylie Minogue’s ‘Can’t Get You out of My Head’, Renee Geyer’s ‘Say I Love You’ and Ceberano’s ‘Bedroom Eyes’.

Why is someone other than Kate Ceberano singing Bedroom Eyes when Kate Ceberano was just standing right there?? #ClosingCeremony #GC2018

— Nez (@fraggle73) April 15, 2018