Of course, people said the same thing when Dancing with the Stars started. Also, when I was growing up, one of the long running variety shows was the Black and White Minstrel Show, as was the Muppet Show. Take from that what you will.

The truth is, Variety never really left us because it doesn’t really exist as a genre. Is Hey Hey variety? Then what is similar between that show and Dancing with the Stars? How do they compare to the Brady Bunch Hour or The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour or Donny & Marie?

There’s almost no difference to what Hey Hey became late in its existence and a tonight show. Dancing with the Stars is closer linked to Celebrity Masterchef than it is to Hey Hey or the Osmonds.

So we take the term Variety out of the equation and what do we have? People feel like they’re missing something from their television experience and it somehow involves singing and dancing and family entertainment with a bit of light comedy thrown in.

What people are saying when they talk about wanting variety to come back to television is that they want is some sort of stagnation. They don’t want to think, they don’t want to learn, they don’t want to go on a journey. It’s mindless television and it must be stopped. Its nothing but a distraction and that’s not the way any entertainment should be. If, when watching television, you come away from it with nothing, was that time well spent?

I was outraged after the second reunion show when reading the Facebook messages on the Hey Hey page about the Black Faces debacle. People were offended that Harry Connick Jr was offended. How does that even make sense? This so called family entertainment is pitting us against each other.

Television is like one of those comic book devices that could save the world but in the wrong hands would mean disaster. Variety is just another word for television being in the wrong hands. It must be stopped.

In a joint statement today David Leckie, CEO of Channel 7, and Tom Maclean, CEO of Somers Carroll Productions, announced that Daryl Somers has decided not to sign for another series of Dancing with the Stars.

After seven hugely successful seasons of the show he wishes to move on.

“I’ve had a fabulous time on Dancing with the Stars but I’m ready for a new direction” Daryl said.

“To be honest, I have felt somewhat restricted by the tightly structured format and feel if I don’t move on now I’ll regret it. If the Network do another season, and I think they should, I hope they hit the refresh button. It’s been a great franchise for Seven and deserves to be taken to a whole new level. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the very professional teams at Granada and Seven and have forged some wonderful friendships along the way”.

CEO of Channel Seven, David Leckie, added: “Daryl has done a great job on Dancing with the Stars for the network but we understand his reasons for moving on and wish him well for the future”.

Firstly, after the shock of “really? seven series?” there’s only one thing that this means to me: The producers wouldn’t let Daryl play drums with the band so he’s taken his sticks and gone home.

Are there any StarDancers fans amongst the Boxcutterati? Will this make you more or less likely to watch the show? Do you think Daryl has other offers up his sleeve? Tell us in the comments.