HEY Hey, it could be over - again - for Daryl Somers, with Channel 9 set to decide the retro variety show's future at week's end.

The move follows dismal ratings for the Somers-hosted show in recent weeks.



Hey Hey It's Saturday averaged 801,000 viewers last week - a third of the audience for last year's reunion specials. It was smashed by MasterChef Australia, which hit more than two million viewers last week.



Nine is to screen two more episodes of Hey Hey, culminating in the much-publicised appearance by Kylie Minogue on the July 21 show. Hey Hey was set to run for 15 episodes, ending on August 4, followed by another five later in the year.



Nine's decision has stopped the show in its tracks after 13 episodes. Nine programming director Michael Healy praised its performance "as a terrific job in a competitive environment", and said Nine hoped to schedule the remaining episodes.



Somers last night told viewers reports of the show's demise should be disregarded. He said the initial run of shows had actually been extended and the remaining episodes would air after the Commonwealth Games.



"We will be back at the end of the year and that comes from the programming department," he said. But critics doubt it will be back.



"They (Nine) can't afford to have it at 7.30pm with only 800,000 viewers," media analyst Steve Allen said. "Providing Nine has the programming firepower (to replace Hey Hey) you won't see it again."



A Nine insider said, "I don't think a decision will be made until the end of the week."



One of the show's stars, Russell Gilbert, recently admitted it was taking the crew time to hit their straps after the mega-success of last year's reunion specials. "We've been finding our feet," he said. "It's like a footballer who does a knee and misses a year. We broke our legs and missed 10."



Corrinne Lawrence, the fan who spearheaded a Facebook campaign to bring the show back, defended it this week.



"Daryl is only doing this for us - he could be doing anything but he's doing this for our nation," Lawrence said.

- with Colin Vickery and Siobahn Duck

Originally published as It could be over for tired old Hey Hey