Author: Stuart

Mad As Hell returns Wednesday

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As many will already know, Mad As Hell is back from next week, the same time slot as last season – Wednesday 8pm on ABC1 (plus repeated throughout the week).

The cast and crew have already been back in the studio filming some sketches, which hopefully we’ll get to see throughout the season.

The ABC have also launched a new website for the show, although it seems like it’s more to suit their new style, as there’s actually less content on this one (so far).

In the meantime, strap yourself in for the Micallef train!

Shaun wins AACTA award

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The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) (formerly known as the AFI), held their annual awards for 2014 on January 30th.

And the winner for Best Performance in a Television Comedy? Shaun Micallef (of course), for Mad As Hell. Apparently he gave a cheeky speech poking fun at his fellow nominees (but I’ve haven’t seen it yet).

And Kat Stewart, his Mr & Mrs Murder co-star, won Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her role in Offspring.

Huzzah!

(You can now watch it at TenPlay; Shaun’s award is at 43:20 and he presents Best actress in a television drama at 52:00)

Mad As Hell back very soon

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The word is that the third season of Mad As Hell will be hitting our screens “sometime before March”, but we’re waiting on official confirmation from the ABC on the exact date (or even day of the week: will it stay on Wednesdays?!)

With the season starting so early in the year – could we expect a double-hit this year? I don’t know, I’m asking you!

 

Shaun summarises 2013

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As part of the ABC “New Years Eve 2013” broadcast, month-by-month highlights of 2013, separated into 4 parts, were scattered throughout the broadcast. And they were all voiced by Shaun, in his usual style, and were some of the funniest moments from the whole show.

You can watch the broadcast on iView until the 14th, the packages are placed: at the start, 41min,  1hr 16min and 2hr 15min.

Shaun also sent his personal New Years greetings whilst on his Mykonos holiday with Tony Jones.

New Book in 2014 – “The President’s Desk”?

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Shaun joined Tom and Alex on Triple J Breakfast today, and was his usual irreverent self, discussing his award wins, his impressions and the non-sequitur discussions on his Vega breakfast show.

He also revealed he has been working on a book in his break from Mad As Hell, which he revealed as being titled “The President’s Desk” (although this could be a red-herring). We should expect to see it hit real and virtual bookshelves next year! Hooray!

Shock Horror Shaun

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The ABC series “Shock Horror Aunty” has aired over the last few weeks, looking at ABC TV’s most shocking moments.

The last episode concentrated on those who dared take on society’s sacred cows, and the Micallef P(r)ogram(me) was noted for two sketches: Wayne’s character’s statue of the horrors of war, complete with erections; and the documentary of Weary Dunlop: Transexual. The ironic part about the Weary Dunlop sketch is that it was never aired because of the media backlash over the very thought of it, however the sketch itself actually only went for 10 seconds before it was designed to cut away to a complaints desk – mocking the exact scenario that actually happened!

Shaun pens an “It’s a Date” story

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It’s a Date has been an eight part comedy series on the ABC focusing on couples and the rules of dating. Each episode has featured 2 couples, and revolved around topics such as “How Important Is Honesty On A First Date?”. It featured an all star cast, including Asher Keddie, Lisa McCune, Shane Jacobson and Ross Noble, and was created and primarily written by Peter Hellier.

In the last episode, “Does Age Matter?”, one of the stories focused on Michael and Alison, two med students who may be about to move to the next stage of their relationship, if it doesn’t all fall apart. And it was written by Shaun! Check out the episode on iView (for the next 2 weeks) – so I won’t spoil it here, but I will post in the comments…

Stephen Hall’s new one-man show

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Stephen Hall, one of the writers of Mad As Hell and star of Bond-A-Rama (and also interviewed on this site), is performing a new show at the Melbourne Fringe Festival during September and October: Raiders of the Temple of Doom’s Last Crusade.

As you might have guessed, it’s the first three Indiana Jones films (or all three, if you don’t count the fourth as being worthy) packed in to one hour.

Bond-A-Rama was a thoroughly entertaining show and Stephen is very funny, so if you’ve enjoyed any of the Indiana Jones films – you’re going to like this.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/raidersofthetempleofdoomslastcrusade. Tickets are on sale now.

10 years ago, the axe fell

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The day after the 13th episode of Micallef Tonight, 10 years ago today, Shaun’s Channel 9 variety show was axed. The show itself had started to gather some momentum with its irreverent humor, and had been extended from the original 12 week run by 20 weeks. So it came as a complete shock to the whole production team, especially Shaun, when it was cancelled – never to return to our screens.

At the time, it probably created a low point in Shaun’s career, and it wasn’t until Thank God You’re Here, three years later, that Shaun was again making regular TV appearances, leading of course to Newstopia in 2007.

Shaun himself had a little nod to the show in the fifth episode of Mr and Mrs Murder, “Lost Soul”, with Charlie whistling the theme tune while he worked.

The Expurgated Micallef Tonight DVD was released a few years later, with the 13 episodes condensed down into eight.

Shaun calls Channel 9 to complain about Micallef Tonight