Pam Barnes (Australian television producer)

Pam Barnes is an Australian television producer and industry veteran who has worked on various Australian television programs for over forty years.[1][2][3]

Early career

Barnes was aged 20 when she began temporary work at the Nine Network, initially for one month. After the month, Barnes continued to be employed and eventually began working on In Melbourne Tonight co-ordinating scripts for the program's live commercials.[4]

Notable Television Credits

Family Feud

Barnes is currently the executive producer for FremantleMedia Australia, responsible for co-ordinating the production of Network Ten nightly game show Family Feud.[5][6] Barnes was also executive producer of the program's previous incarnation Bert's Family Feud, which was hosted by Bert Newton on the Nine Network in 2006.[5]

The Circle

Barnes was executive producer of Network Ten morning program The Circle which aired from February 2010 until it was suddenly axed by the network in August 2012.[7]

On the final edition of The Circle, former musical director of Network Ten programs Good Morning Australia and Australian Idol John Foreman criticised the network's treatment of Barnes saying it was shocking that she had been given a week to pack her things instead of being acknowledged with a speech and gold watch at the Christmas party.[8]

Ten News presenter Natarsha Belling also acknowledged Barnes during the final edition of The Circle joking that her "alleged TV talents" were unimportant compared to her ability to keep Belling on the dance floor until 4am following the 2012 Logie Awards.[8]

Hey Hey It's Saturday

Barnes had a long association with Nine Network variety program Hey Hey It's Saturday, producing the show for Somers Carroll from 1991 until its demise in 1999 before returning to serve as producer of the program's two reunion specials which aired in 2009.[9] However, Barnes declined to return for the one-off 20-episode series in 2010.

In a 2004 feature article about the program's long serving host, Daryl Somers which featured various criticisms and analysis of Somers' behaviour during the time he hosted the show, Barnes defended Somers accusing the media of having a particular way of dealing with "tall poppies" and asking rhetorically whether any of the critics could do what Somers had achieved during his career.[10]

Australia's Got Talent

Barnes served as executive producer of the third season of Australia's Got Talent which aired on the Seven Network in 2009. In the lead-up to the show, Barnes travelled around Australia to participate in the audition process, choosing which hopeful contestants would appear on the show.[11][12]

Logie Awards and Carols By Candlelight

Barnes was executive producer of the live broadcasts of 49th and 50th Logie Awards on the Nine Network in 2007 and 2008 respectively.[13] During this time, Barnes also executive producer of Nine's live telecast of Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight. In 2008, it was reported that Barnes was leaving Nine after the network told her that they were planning a different direction of both their Logies and Carols by Candlelight telecasts and that there was insufficient work to keep her employed at their station in Melbourne.[14][15]

The X Factor

Barnes was supervising producer of the first season of the Australian version of The X Factor which aired on Network Ten in 2005, prior to the program's successful revival on the Seven Network in 2010.[3][16]

The Singing Bee

Barnes was executive producer of the first season of The Singing Bee, which aired on the Nine Network in 2007.[16][3]

The Einstein Factor

Barnes was series producer of ABC Television quiz show The Einstein Factor.[17]

Dusty, Little by Little

Barnes served as series producer of Dusty, Little by Little, a 2006 7-part observational documentary about the Australian stage show about the life of Dusty Springfield called Dusty: The Musical.[3]

Test Australia

Barnes was Senior Producer of Test Australia: The National IQ Test in 2002.

Bali Bombings Telethon

Following the 2002 Bali bombings, Barnes was a producer on a special telethon broadcast organised to raise money for the victims.

Search for a Supermodel

Barnes was a producer on the first two seasons on Network Ten reality program Search for a Supermodel in 2000 and 2001.[3]

Australia Live

Barnes worked on Australia Live, a live four-hour telecast hosted by the Nine Network on New Year's Day in 1988, and simulcast on ABC and SBS to launch the Australian Bicentenary. Barnes lists the broadcast, which featured live crosses to over 70 Australian locations, as a career highlight.[18][3]

Sale of the Century

Barnes was a producer on the Nine Network's popular nightly quiz show Sale of the Century in 1988.[17]

Don Lane Show

Barnes worked on the Don Lane Show which aired on the Nine Network from 1975 until 1983.

In Melbourne Tonight

Barnes worked on In Melbourne Tonight which aired on the Nine Network from 1957 until 1970.[4]

Awards

Barnes has possession of two Logie Awards - the Logie Award for Most Popular Australian Program which was awarded to the Don Lane Show in 1974 and the Logie Award for Best Entertainment Program which was awarded to The Circle in 2011.[19]

Views About Women In Television

Barnes has said that while she thinks there are quite a few women working in television production, she believes that there is a sad lack of women in management roles at the Australian television networks.[7]

Calls for Hall of Fame Induction

In recent years, the organisers of the annual Logie Awards have experienced criticism for not inducting more females into its Logie Hall of Fame with many saying female industry veterans such as Barnes are worthy of induction.[20] To date, there are only three women in the Logie Awards Hall of Fame (Ruth Cracknell, Noni Hazlehurst and Kerri-Anne Kennerly) compared to 27 men.

Personal life

Barnes is divorced and has two daughters. Her ex-husband has since passed away.[21][22]

References

  1. ↑ I'm Just Not The Retiring Type: Pam Barnes, Executive Producer, The Circle, Mid-60's, Catherine Lambert, Sunday Herald Sun, 17 June 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ↑ On The Couch: Pam Barnes (series), Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Advanced TV presenting course teacher: Pam Barnes, Brave Studios website. Accessed 1 May 2017.
  4. 1 2 Pam Barnes on making a career for herself in television, Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, 1 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 Exclusive Interview with Family Feud Executive Producer Pam Barnes (Part II), Stephen Hall, How To Win Game Shows, 25 November 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017
  6. ↑ Grant Denyer feels 'more love from Family Feud than anything I've ever done, news.com.au, 9 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. 1 2 Ring of Confidence, David Knox, TV Tonight, 16 June 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. 1 2 Tearful finale as The Circle bows out in style, David Knox, TV Tonight, 3 August 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Hey Hey It's Still Blackers, David Knox, TV Tonight, 16 September 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  10. ↑ In search of Somers, The Age, 26 September 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  11. ↑ Brisbane hopefuls show they've got talent, Scott Casey, Brisbane Times, 6 December 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ↑ Talent search arrives in Byron Bay, Mel McMillan, Northern Star, 8 December 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  13. ↑ TV's night of nights a show out of the box, Melinda Houston, The Age, 27 April 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ↑ And the Logies don't go to Nine's Pam Barnes, The Age, 22 July 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ↑ Long service worthy of a Logie, David Knox, TV Tonight, 22 July 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. 1 2 Exclusive interview with Family Feud Executive Producer Pam Barnes (Part IV), Stephen Hall, How To Win Game Shows, 9 December 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  17. 1 2 Exclusive Interview with Family Feud Executive Producer Pam Barnes (Part I), Stephen Hall, How To Win Game Shows, 18 November 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  18. ↑ Pam Barnes on her career highlight, Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  19. ↑ Pam Barnes on her Logie Awards, Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, 5 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  20. ↑ We need to talk about the Logies & the state of Australian TV, Steve Molk, 24 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Pam Barnes on the breakdown of her marriage, Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, 4 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  22. ↑ Pam Barnes on raising two daughters as a single mum, Monty Dimond, Show and Tell, 4 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
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