Latest news with #JonathanLaPaglia
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'I didn't get a call': Jonathan LaPaglia reveals the blunt way he was dumped as Survivor Australia's host by Network 10 after nearly a decade on air
Jonathan LaPaglia has finally opened up about his shock axing from Australian Survivor. The 55-year-old television host has claimed that despite years at the helm of one of Network 10's biggest shows, he was not even given the courtesy of a phone call. "The speculation online was that I received an email. But no, it was a call to my manager in Australia," LaPaglia told The Watchlist on Sunday. "I didn't get a direct call, which, I'll be honest with you, was disappointing. "After 10 years of helming their flagship show, it would have been nice to get a direct call from the people at the top, but I didn't." Fans were stunned back in June when the Adelaide-born star confirmed his departure in a fiery Instagram post. "Australian Survivor has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all… because it happened to me," he captioned a clip of himself being hit by a giant boxing glove. LaPaglia signed off with a stinging punchline: "(Ps. Whoever said a blindside is the most humane way to put someone down is an idiot. It hurts like a b****!) #SurvivorAU." Reflecting on the post, the father of one acknowledged that his honesty was likely the reason he was let go. "I'm sure the network wasn't happy, but I've always been honest with the audience, and I think that's part of what they appreciate about me," he said. "Honestly, that's who I am. And maybe that's why I'm in this position, because I am a little too honest about stuff, and maybe I'm not very good at playing the game." Despite the blow, LaPaglia said he is happy to be back on screens in what will be his swansong season, Survivor: Australia v The World, which premiered on Sunday night. The blockbuster edition sees homegrown favourites George Mladenov and Shonee Bowtell battle international legends Cirie Fields, Tony Vlachos and Parvati Shallow in a high-stakes contest filmed in Samoa. Also in the mix is Perth model David Genat, the All Stars winner tipped to succeed LaPaglia as host. Genat has already carved out an impressive reality TV resume, having claimed the $500,000 Survivor prize in 2020 before pocketing a staggering $US5.8 million (about $AU9.2 million) in March on NBC's Deal or No Deal Island. LaPaglia conceded it is fitting that his final outing coincides with such a monumental season. "If you're going to be dispatched as host of Australian Survivor, this is the one season that it should happen, right?" he joked. "This is the one season that all the fans have been screaming for years (to see). And I've always thought it was a great idea to do it." Still, he wishes he had been told "prior to filming" that it would be his last. "I didn't actually get to say goodbye to Australian Survivor; Australian Survivor said goodbye to me," he laughed. But with no hidden immunity idol to save him this time, the longtime host admits he may now follow in the footsteps of his older brother, 66-year-old actor Anthony LaPaglia. For now, though, he's still waiting on his next gig. "I haven't received any calls yet," he said. "I'm just busy refreshing the LinkedIn profile."
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Outgoing ‘Survivor' host Jonathan LaPaglia reveals how he was really sacked
Ousted Survivor Australia host Jonathan LaPaglia has revealed how he was really fired. Back in June, the long-running host of the Ten reality show announced on Instagram he'd been blindsided by executives who informed him they were 'going in a different direction' with a new host, as reports quickly surfaced LaPaglia was brutally sacked via email after 10 years with the program. While LaPaglia says that wasn't exactly how it went down, the method was equally as hurtful. 'The speculation online was that I received an email. But no, it was a call to my manager in Australia,' he told Stellar. 'I didn't get a direct call, which, I'll be honest with you, was disappointing. 'After 10 years of helming their flagship show, it would have been nice to get a direct call from the people at the top, but I didn't.' LaPaglia, 55, is now appearing in his final series with the upcoming 13th season of Survivor: Australia V The World, which started airing on Sunday night. He didn't know at the time of filming it would be his last. 'I didn't actually get to say goodbye to Australian Survivor. Australian Survivor said goodbye to me,' he added to the outlet. 'I'm going to be perfectly honest. I am going to miss it. I'm going to miss the incredibly talented crew because we spent 10 years in the trenches together, and became this tight, dysfunctional family. 'I'm really going to miss all of them and I'm going to miss the players. That was the favourite part of my job, and it was a difficult job.' While Channel 10 are yet to announce a replacement host, it's been rumoured former Australian Survivor winner David Genat is next in line to take over. The 45-year-old most made headlines earlier this year for winning a life-changing $US5.8 million ($A9.21million) – 'the biggest prize in prime time history' according to NBC – on the second season of American series Deal or No Deal Island. An industry source told the decision to axe LaPaglia – a fan favourite on local TV – came down to financial strain amid the network's bid to slash costs. LaPaglia was in Los Angeles, California, at the time of his sacking, where he's based with his wife Ursula Brooks and their daughter Tilly. In February last year, Ten's parent company Paramount Global announced it was axing hundreds of positions worldwide to streamline costs, with the Australian broadcaster among those impacted. Most famously, current affairs program The Project came to an end after in June after 16 years on-air. Ten has since reshuffled its evening line-up, with its new news program 10 News+ airing from 6pm, while game show Deal or No Deal moved to 7pm. It remains to be seen if Ten will be further impacted in the wake of Paramount's headline-making merger with Skydance Media, which was approved in July. The $US8 billion merger was greenlit by Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with Paramount Global and Skydance forging a new entity known as Paramount Skydance Corporation.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia reveals the brutal way he found out he had lost his job after a decade on the show: 'I didn't even get a direct call'
Jonathan LaPaglia shocked fans in June when he confirmed he had been axed from Australian Survivor. The TV personality, who has hosted the Channel Ten series for nearly a decade, was met with a rally of support after he revealed he would be fronting the show for the last time in the Australia V The World series, which will hit screens later this year. Now, the 55-year-old has detailed the brutal way he found out he had lost his job. 'The speculation online was that I received an email. But no, it was a call to my manager in Australia,' he told this week's Stellar. 'I didn't get a direct call, which, I'll be honest with you, was disappointing. 'After 10 years of helming their flagship show, it would have been nice to get a direct call from the people at the top, but I didn't.' Earlier this month, it was revealed that production was already underway for the 2026 season, with David Genat taking over as the show's new host. David was recently spotted arriving overseas to begin filming the new season, but insiders have confirmed 'behind the scenes' dust is far from settling. Jonathan had helmed the hit reality franchise for nearly ten years before being unceremoniously axed. And insiders say the show's shocking new theme, 'Revenge and Redemption,' is a thinly veiled swipe at his unexpected exit. 'Jonathan is gutted,' a friend of the ousted host told Daily Mail Australia. 'This theme feels personal. Everyone in the Survivor community can see it for what it is.' Producers replaced the charismatic TV host with David, a former contestant whose unexpected promotion has sparked backlash among fans and confusion on set. 'It's a cost-cutting move, plain and simple,' a source close to production revealed. 'But replacing a seasoned host with a player who's barely earned his stripes? It's baffling.' The series, which promises to spotlight castaways who've been 'burned, betrayed or blindsided', is filled with drama both on and off the screens, according to insiders. 'Jonathan is furious,' one producer confessed. 'He's been calling past players privately. Not just to say goodbye but to vent. He was blindsided and he's not hiding it.'
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Screen Queen TV Reviews: Survivor: Australia V The World, Invasion, The Rookie & Amanda Knox drama
Gutted. That's the only way to describe how I felt upon reading that long-time Survivor Australia host Jonathan La Paglia (or JLP to his friends and fans) would be stepping away from his beloved show at the end of this final Australia V The World season. He posted the news on June 30, and as he explained, he never saw it coming. 'Australian Survivor has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all . . . because it happened to me,' he wrote on social media. 'I received a call from the network thanking me for all my hard work and dedication to the show but for next season they are 'going in a different direction'.' And just like that — our world was rocked. I'm just not buying Ten's whole 'taking things in a new direction'' excuse; I suspect the decision had more to do with budget than anything else. I think I speak for all (passing and ardent) fans when I say JLP WAS Aussie Survivor and he will be sorely missed. Ten years ago, he stepped in to fill Jeff Probst's very big shoes in the local version of this long-running reality show — a seemingly impossible ask. And he not only exceeded expectations, but won fans both here and internationally. Rumours are swirling that two-time Survivor Australia winner and Perth lad-about-town David 'Golden God' Genat might step into the hosting role. He's competing in this season, alongside fan faves George from Bankstown, Luke Toki, Shonnee and many familiar faces from the US series and other international seasons. Don't get me wrong, he's a formidable competitor: he recently won Deal Or No Deal Island in the United States, a game show hybrid that saw him walk away with the biggest cash prize in the history of network television ($US5.8 million dollars!). But is he host- worthy? In my dreams, Jeff announces his retirement and JLP slides seamlessly into his hosting duties in the US. Until then, I'll watch him one last time — and wordlessly shake my fist at this utterly head-scratching decision. I've spoken before of my shock at discovering you guys absolutely LOVE The Rookie. Having now watched a few eps, I'm struggling to fully comprehend why , though this column is nothing if not a safe space, and who am I to judge? After all, during lockdown in Melbourne in 2020, I watched every episode of Escape To The Chateau, got to the end, then started at the beginning and watched them all again. So yeah, I get it. Anyway, good news: this week sees the premiere of the newest, seventh season. It's coming to 7Plus, whose team reliably informs me it's the most-streamed show on their platform right now — go off, Rookie fans! Enjoy this latest crop of eps. You've seen Claire Hooper's local version, now check out the original, with everyone's favourite writer/producer/podcaster at the helm. Interested to know how you think it stacks up. Does the truth exist if no one believes it? That's the question this new eight-part drama asks, as it delves into the strange-but-true story of American student Amanda Knox, who was falsely accused of murder while studying in Perugia in 2007. She's an EP on this, alongside Monica Lewinsky — it's getting lots of buzz. Love yourself a high-concept alien invasion series (we're looking at YOU The 100 fans)? The third season of this cult show drops this week.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
We're STILL not over JLP's Survivor axing
Gutted. That's the only way to describe how I felt upon reading that long-time Survivor Australia host Jonathan La Paglia (or JLP to his friends and fans) would be stepping away from his beloved show at the end of this final Australia V The World season. He posted the news on June 30, and as he explained, he never saw it coming. 'Australian Survivor has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all . . . because it happened to me,' he wrote on social media. 'I received a call from the network thanking me for all my hard work and dedication to the show but for next season they are 'going in a different direction'.' And just like that — our world was rocked. I'm just not buying Ten's whole 'taking things in a new direction'' excuse; I suspect the decision had more to do with budget than anything else. I think I speak for all (passing and ardent) fans when I say JLP WAS Aussie Survivor and he will be sorely missed. Ten years ago, he stepped in to fill Jeff Probst's very big shoes in the local version of this long-running reality show — a seemingly impossible ask. And he not only exceeded expectations, but won fans both here and internationally. Rumours are swirling that two-time Survivor Australia winner and Perth lad-about-town David 'Golden God' Genat might step into the hosting role. He's competing in this season, alongside fan faves George from Bankstown, Luke Toki, Shonnee and many familiar faces from the US series and other international seasons. Don't get me wrong, he's a formidable competitor: he recently won Deal Or No Deal Island in the United States, a game show hybrid that saw him walk away with the biggest cash prize in the history of network television ($US5.8 million dollars!). But is he host- worthy? In my dreams, Jeff announces his retirement and JLP slides seamlessly into his hosting duties in the US. Until then, I'll watch him one last time — and wordlessly shake my fist at this utterly head-scratching decision. Season seven of THe Rookie is headed to 7Plus. Credit: Kevin Foley / ABC I've spoken before of my shock at discovering you guys absolutely LOVE The Rookie. Having now watched a few eps, I'm struggling to fully comprehend why , though this column is nothing if not a safe space, and who am I to judge? After all, during lockdown in Melbourne in 2020, I watched every episode of Escape To The Chateau, got to the end, then started at the beginning and watched them all again. So yeah, I get it. Anyway, good news: this week sees the premiere of the newest, seventh season. It's coming to 7Plus, whose team reliably informs me it's the most-streamed show on their platform right now — go off, Rookie fans! Enjoy this latest crop of eps. Richard Osman's House Of Games is screening on ABC Credit: BRIAN J RITCHIE You've seen Claire Hooper's local version, now check out the original, with everyone's favourite writer/producer/podcaster at the helm. Interested to know how you think it stacks up. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is streaming on Disney Plus. Credit: Andrea Miconi / Disney Does the truth exist if no one believes it? That's the question this new eight-part drama asks, as it delves into the strange-but-true story of American student Amanda Knox, who was falsely accused of murder while studying in Perugia in 2007. She's an EP on this, alongside Monica Lewinsky — it's getting lots of buzz. Invasion Series three is streaming on Apple TV Plus Credit: Supplied Love yourself a high-concept alien invasion series (we're looking at YOU The 100 fans)? The third season of this cult show drops this week.
