Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | FremantleMedia |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Comedy television series |
| Parent | Nine Network |
Ben Elton Live From Planet Earth was an Australian comedy television series created by FremantleMedia and broadcast on the Nine Network in 2011. This live sketch and variety show was hosted by comedian Ben Elton, who also delivered stand-up routines. The cast featured performers including Paul McCarthy and Genevieve Morris. Due to low viewership, unfavorable critical reception, and negative responses on social media, the Nine Network discontinued the series after only three episodes.
Format and regular segments
The program was anchored by Ben Elton, who opened each episode with a comedic monologue. Alongside a core ensemble of nine actors—comprising several alumni from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) as well as seasoned performers McCarthy and Morris—the show presented guest comedians and musical acts. A notable recurring role was Genevieve Morris’s portrayal of Elaine Front, a celebrity interviewer character who exhibited disdain for her purportedly famous guests.
A prominent feature was Girl Flat, a live sitcom parody that depicted pop icons such as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé Knowles, Lily Allen, and Amy Winehouse as roommates sharing a house.
Reception
Live From Planet Earth debuted on Channel Nine on 8 February 2011 at 9:30 pm. Early reactions on Twitter were predominantly critical, with many predicting the program's cancellation.
Viewership numbers declined rapidly during the premiere episode, beginning with approximately 805,000 viewers following Top Gear, dropping to 633,000 within fifteen minutes, further decreasing by 33% to 421,000, and concluding at 296,000—resulting in an average audience of 455,000 over the hour. The second episode experienced a further drop in ratings, averaging 384,000 viewers and falling from 469,000 to 250,000 during its timeslot.
Critics largely responded negatively. Colin Vickery of the Herald Sun described it as "an early contender for worst show of the year," while Amanda Meade from The Australian deemed it "a screaming, embarrassing failure." In contrast, Karl Quinn of The Age suggested there were "more to like than dislike" about the series.
The third installment was moved to a later 10:40 pm slot but suffered a decrease to 189,000 viewers. On 23 February, Channel Nine officially announced the show's cancellation.