From name mix-ups on live reality television to tribal blindsides and chocolate-filled bathtubs, these are the scenes that will be water-cooler conversations for years to come.
When Patrick died
This scene hit us right in the guts.
It’d be no surprise if people took a personal leave day following Patrick’s gut-wrenching death in season four of Offspring. The episode may have aired four years ago, but it’s still too soon to talk about.
When Sarah Murdoch called the wrong name
Amanda (left) was the real winner.
With live finales, everything can go wrong. But no one could have predicted the 2010 finale of Australia’s Next Top Model to go this badly. Host Sarah Murdoch announced Kelsey as the winner and then had to backtrack soon after with the news that the other finalist Amanda was the true victor. Did we mention this was live television? We will never stop cringeing.
When Claire fell from a cliff
Tess and Claire were the ultimate sister duo.
Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) and sister Tess (Bridie Carter) were in a good place while looking after Drover’s Run on the Aussie drama, McLeod’s Daughters. But good things must come to an end – Claire’s ute plummeted off a cliff in season three, with Tess watching on, clutching Claire’s baby, Charlotte. The scene had people sobbing uncontrollably for days.
When things got weird on The Bachelor
We’re still confused.
In arguably the most WTF moment of Australian TV, The Bachelor producers attempted to make a bath full of chocolate appear sexy and romantic for Richie Strahan and Alex Nation. What followed was an onslaught of memes (and so many questions) from viewers around the country.
When Kristie proved underdogs can win
Kristie pulled off the win of a century.
Kristie Bennett was the dark horse of the Australian Survivor series going up against the strong favourite – Lee. She always stayed under the radar and occasionally rubbed people up the wrong way, but against all odds, she successfully convinced the other contestants that she should take home the $500k prize.
When Cosima quit the Australian Idol race
So many what-ifs about this incident.
In the first season of Australian Idol in 2003, the nation knew it had to be Guy Sebastian and Cosima de Vito in the final. But in the final-three elimination, she pulled out the race because of a temporary throat condition, a move that stunned and shocked fans. This pushed Shannon Noll into the finale, who eventually lost out to Sebastian.
When Karl Stefanovic was drunk on morning TV
Classic Karl.
Long-time Today show host Karl Stefanovic is known for his hilarious on-screen antics and goofball nature, but this infamous segment will go down in Australian TV history. Stefanovic obviously had a few too many beverages the night before at our very own TV Week Logies in 2009, slurring and giggling his way through the morning-after broadcast. “The public have been tremendously supportive — the only drama is that every time I go out now, everybody wants me to get drunk with them,” he said in a 2014 interview. “For me to look back on it, it’s quite funny now.”
When Georgia Love kicked the puppy
Such an emotional moment.
OK, not an actual puppy, but still just as painful for viewers. After Richie picked Alex over Nikki Gogan in the previous season of The Bachelor, shattering hearts everywhere, we didn’t think there’d be a repeat. But nope, people were shocked all over again when Bachelorette Georgia Love gave the final rose to Lee instead of series favourite, Matty J.
When The Freak was buried alive
She’s going to have break out of that coffin Kill-Bill style.
Wentworth pulls out shocks and twists every single episode but the season five finale cliffhanger chilled us to the bone. Joan ‘The Freak Ferguson’ was buried alive in a coffin as revenge for Bea – it’d take a miracle to get out of that horror situation.
When Henry flipped on Asaga
Henry has his eyes on the prize.
Henry Not A Real Yoga Instructor Nicholson dubbed himself and Jacqui Patterson Survivor’s new power couple of 2017 after successfully orchestrating Mark and Sam’s elimination. He’d been ‘sharing’ an immunity idol with Jacqui, but when it came to a tribe swap, he jumped ship to Samatau without batting an eyelid. He took the idol with him, betraying Jacqui and putting himself in the firing line of a new tribe. Yeah, we’re still trying to get our heads around it, too.
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