Let me start by saying: I cannot see anything good coming of this. But I am happy to be wrong (I usually am).
We already have Spicks and Specks, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation and, to a lesser extent, The Trophy Room. While some of the side talent they’ve brought on will be great, it’s the core combination of McGuire and Molloy (and, to a lesser extent, Fitzgerald) that worry me. McGuire’s breakfast radio show in Melbourne isn’t really lighting up the ratings, even with added Molloy. Why should it work on TV? We’ll know by 9:30pm Thursday night. From the press release:
Thursday nights are set for a fresh injection of humour when Between The Lines premieres on Thursday, May 12, at 8.30pm on Channel Nine.
Between The Lines is a sports-themed comedy show featuring two teams of three players going head-to-head in a quiz.
Hosted by Eddie McGuire, the teams are captained by Mick Molloy and Ryan Fitzgerald. Each team features a different comedian/celebrity guest and a well-known sporting identity each week.
Sports stars and celebrity appearances will include Giaan Rooney, Kris Smith, Grant Hackett, Cal Wilson, Danny Green, Merrick Watts, Steven Bradbury, Jimeoin, Dermott Brereton, Billy Brownless and international comedians Mark Watson and Reginald D Hunter.
The quiz will test the participants’ sporting knowledge, but you certainly don’t need to be a sporting genius to play along at home.
Competitors will take part in Q&A segments with pictures, video clips, guessing games, special guest rounds, performance rounds and sporting challenges.
Each episode will feature guest appearances from sporting identities who will provide anecdotes from their careers. The teams will then be required to say whether the stories they’ve just heard are true or false.
Between The Lines will also include a special segment that gives viewers a rare peek into the locker room to hear never-before-told tales from Australian sporting heroes.
Between The Lines – Thu 8.30pm, Ch9.