The Spearman Experiment

The Spearman Experiment
Genre	Nostalgia
Presented by	Magda Szubanski
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Running time	60 minutes
Release
Original network	Network Ten
Picture format	576i (SDTV)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	8 September – 30 October 2009

The Spearman Experiment was an Australian television series, hosted by Magda Szubanski that counts down Australian pop culture's most defining people and topics based on a public poll commented on by various Australian 'celebrities'. The series began development in May 2009,^[1] and was officially announced in early August 2009.^[2]

The show is named for Charles Spearman, who developed Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, the statistical technique used to survey the public to produce the show's rankings.^[3]

Format

The host and guest celebrities analyse, critique and celebrate Australia’s most popular topics interspersed with film clips. It has been compared to clip show 20 to 1 which currently airs on Channel 9. However, the Spearman Experiment only counts down the top 15, rather than the top 20.^[4] Channel Ten also advertises the fact that The Spearman Experiment's results are chosen by the public rather than television executives, as is the case with 20 to 1.

Episodes

• Episode 1: Aussie Comedy Characters - 8 September 2009
• Episode 2: Awesome Underdogs - 15 September 2009
• Episode 3: Cashed-up Bogans - 22 September 2009
• Episode 4: Songs You Should Never Have On Your iPod - 29 September 2009
• Episode 5: Catchphrases - 6 October 2009
• Episode 6: Weird True Freaky - 16 October 2009
• Episode 7: Animated Characters - 23 October 2009
• Episode 8: Shocking Reality TV Moments - 30 October 2009

Contributors

Angela Bishop Anh Do Anthony Maroon Bill Woods Brad McEwan Carson Kressley Charli Robinson Ciel Stowe Claire Hooper Colin Lane Chris Brown Chrissie Swan Dave Hughes Dave O'Neil Erin McNaught Fuzzy Agolley Heath Franklin as "Chopper" Holly Brisley Ian 'Dicko' Dickson James Kerley Jason Coleman Jonathan Pease Late Charlotte Dawson

Kim Watkins Marcia Hines Matt Lee Maz Compton Merrick Watts Michelle Bridges Mike Goldman Mikey Robins Natalie Bassingthwaighte Natalie Hunter Natarsha Belling Nikki Osborne Paul Mercurio Peter Helliar Samuel Johnson Sandra Sully Sara-Marie Sarah Wilson Shannan Ponton Tim Ross Tom Gleeson Zoe Naylor

Ratings

The Spearman Experiment drew 1.039 million viewers nationally for its premiere episode making it the 11th most viewed program of the day.^[5] The show's second week showed a massive decline in audience, with national ratings dropping to 699,000 viewers, coming fourth in its timeslot. In its third week ratings grew to 808,000, coming third in its timeslot. The fourth week, it dropped to 668,000 which made it the 17th most watched program that evening. On 16 October 2009, the show was moved to a Friday night timeslot of 7:30pm, to make way for new episodes of The Simpsons on Tuesday night.^[6]

Cancellation

The show was moved from its Friday night slot and replaced by The Simpsons after drawing only 540,000 viewers. The show was cancelled due to low ratings.^[7]

See also

• 20 to 1
• List of Australian television series

References

1. Knox, David (22 May 2009). "Magda tipped for TEN project". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
2. Knox, David (1 August 2009). "Magda fronts Spearman Experiment". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
3. "TV Show Homepage". Retrieved 22 September 2009.
4. http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/airdate-the-spearman-experiment.html
5. TV RATINGS - B&T Today, 9 September 2009
6. Knox, David (8 October 2009). "Bumped: The Spearman Experiment. Returning: The Simpsons.". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
7. Knox, David (2 November 2009). "Axed: The Spearman Experiment.". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2009.

External links

• The Spearman Experiment at TV.com