Live sketch and stand-up show a flop

Ben Elton's Australian comedy show, Live From Planet Earth, has been axed after just three episodes.

The Nine Network initially commissioned six episodes but pulled the plug in the face of poor rtatings.

The show, a combination of stand-up and sketch broadcast entirely live, attracted just 455,000 viewers in its first week. Estimates put the audience for last night’s show at just 186,000 viewers – though it had been shunted later in the schedules due to the coverage of the New Zealand earthquake.

Nine issued a statement saying: ‘Ben and his team have done a fantastic job uncovering new Australian talent and we appreciate all of their hard work and dedication.

‘We are all very proud of the show but unfortunately it has not found the audience we had hoped for. We thank Ben and all the cast and crew for their commitment and wish them all the best.’

Elton– who now lives mostly near Perth with his Australian wife –  had previously said comedy shows need time to build an audience, and shouldn’t be judged on instant results.

‘If numbers are what matters, and first-time media reaction is what matters, then Hitler stands vindicated,’ he said.

'I do think this idea that something has to be judged instantly sort of gladiatorial thumb up or thumb down is astonishing. You couldn’t do that to a good album, you couldn’t do that to a good film. And you can’t do that to comedy.

‘Nothing is any good after two weeks … from Little Britain to Fawlty Towers, they’ve all taken time.'

Here’s a clip from the show:

Published: 23 Feb 2011