On the box

My 2012 picks

Predictably, with the genesis of many digital-only stations last year, finding good-quality Australian programming is a bit like trying to find “Wally” in a sea of similarly-dressed men.

In 2012, the television network heavies – desperately vying for the attention of the tech-savvy, web 2.0 mastering, 21st-century viewing audience – are trending towards “big event television”. This means less of the news and current affairs that were popular last year and more of the “people-pleasing” ilk of Scott Cam and his renovating band of merry men. Personally, anything that isn’t recycled jokes from the 80s and dated social commentary (I’m looking at you, Ben Elton) would be acceptable, but let’s not hold our collective breath.

That said, good luck avoiding countless reruns of the only episode of The Big Bang Theory (that you caught by mistake while waiting for Attenborough’s latest polar adventure) and if you can spare a few moments away from your Google machines, be sure to look out for my top picks for the year:

The prodigal son of television, Big Brother, making his most likely unwanted return on the Nine Network, hosted by a recently network converted Sonia Kruger (network personality changeovers are given more attention than the AFL draft in my household).

The Nine network will also showcase the Australian version of last year’s surprising ratings winner The Voice. Despite the reality-talent quest genre getting a fair work out in recent times with Australian Idol, Australia’s Got Talent and X Factor (N*SYNC star Joey Fatone’s The Singing Bee is barely worth a mention), Nine hopes to attract viewers with the likes of Keith Urban, Delta Goodrem, Joel Madden (from Good Charlotte) and Seal signing on to “coach”.

Channel Ten’s Biggest Loser will revert back to its “singles” format from earlier years. Disturbingly, the program will incorporate a dating spin this season, which will no doubt horrify its audience in innovative, yet terrifying ways.

Channel 7 will also re-enter the television dating arena off the back of the lukewarmly successful Dinner Date, with Please Marry My Boy – a blind dinner date program which sees a group of pampered mummy’s boys meet prospective life partners with their mums tagging along for the dates.