Asylum seeker? Reports from the heart of the nation say that Denis Shanahan, The Australian’s political editor, is making preparations for regime change. Crikey hears Shanahan will be heading to Washington after the election, even though the paper’s man in DC, Geoff Elliott, is not due to return until after the presidential campaign. There has been no official announcement, but Shanahan has reportedly been discussing the move with the Australian Embassy in Washington – and also with the Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter Hartcher. At the time of going to press it was not known if Shanahan had converted his savings into Krugerrands.

Triple J breakfast host headed to the dark side. It looks like Triple J breakfast co-host and Spicks and Specks star Myf Warhurst is going to take the commercial dollar and join Peter Helliar as a co-host on Triple M’s new Melbourne breakfast radio show. According to a report in the Herald Sun it will be the first commercial venture for Warhurst. She has developed something of a following for her good natured approach to life on Spicks and Specks and it shouldn’t be a career ending move insofar as the ABC program is concerned: host Adam Hills is an independent comedian and her opposing team captain, Alan Brough, is in commercial radio. But teaming with the unfunny Peter Helliar might be problematic. Triple M is something of a black hole and Helliar continues to survive probably because of his associated with Rove McManus and his appearances on Rove. Is Corinne Grant still on the outer? — Glenn Dyer

Last night’s TV ratings
The Winners: The Force was No.1 for Seven at 8pm with 1.948 million viewers; ahead of Border Security at 7.30pm with 1.934 million. City Homicide was next with 1.635 million and Seven News had 1.527 million. Home and Away was next with 1.510 million, followed by Today Tonight (1.399 million), Nine News (1.251 million), A Current Affair (1.241 million), Criminal Minds (1.202 million) and Temptation (1.105 million). The 7pm ABC News averaged 1.074 million and Australian Idol had 1.042 million. Mythbusters on SBS, 555,000. Enough Rope, 834,000 for an average program.

The Losers: Nine was third from 7.30pm onwards with Commercial Breakdown, 816,000, and Just For Laughs, 654,000. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (848,000) was saved by the 301,000 who watched in Melbourne (world’s third largest Greek city!). Idol was weak and the core audience is being battered. Californication, did well in 18 to 49s for Ten, but with a 842,000 average, that’s all you can say. Is that why Ten congratulated Seven for getting 56% of the over 50 audience last night? Weeds only had 395,000 for Nine at 10.30pm. Why bother?

News & CA: Seven News won nationally and in every market but Sydney. Today Tonight won everywhere but Melbourne and Brisbane. Karl Stefanovic was sitting in for Tracy Grimshaw who’s on holidays. Ten News averaged 819,000; the Late News/Sports Tonight, 290,000. Nightline, 162,000 at 11.35pm (behind a pack of beaten programs). The 7.30 Report, 800,000; Lateline, 327,000; Lateline Business, 119,000. 4 Corners, 623,000; Media Watch, 627,000. SBS News, 194,000 at 6.30pm; 136,000 at 9.30pm. 7am Sunrise 408,000; 7am Today, up to 308,000. Is that because Lisa Wilkinson is away in France on hols and the viewers tuned in for Kelli Connolly?

The Stats: Seven won with 36.8% (34.9%) from Nine with 21.8% (22.6%), Ten with 19.6% (20.1%), the ABC with 15.5% (14.3%), SBS with 6.3% (8.1%). Seven won all five metro markets and leads the week 33.0% to 24.5%. In regional areas a similar result with Prime/7Qld winning with a 34.9% share from WIN/NBN for Nine with 22.6%, Southern Cross (Ten), with 20.1%, the ABC with 14.3% and SBS with 8.1%.

Glenn Dyer’s comments: As expected another miserable night for Nine and Ten as they were crunched by Seven’s much stronger line-up, and we will see that again tonight. Nothing more should be said. Nine and Ten are just wasting their time at the moment, though Nine says it is sort of having a go from October 22 with Eddie McGuire and his 90 Minute $5 million Millionaire special. It won’t make much of a difference. Tonight its Dancing With The Stars and All Saints on Seven. Nine fills its timeslots, as does Ten. Seven has already won the week. It leads the week by more than eight points. Now I forgot Collectors last Friday. I promised to give the audience: it was 810,000 and that’s roughly what it has been averaging at 8pm without the footy on Nine and Seven.

Source: OzTAM, TV Network reports