Strangely enough for a topic news show, the first season of Mad As Hell is making its way to DVD. It’s available from this Wednesday 3rd October from most DVD retailers or the ABC shop. We’re not expecting any special features, but if you didn’t tape it when it first aired, here’s your opportunity to complete your Micallef collection.
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Stephen Hall and Michael Ward – both part of the writing team for Mad As Hell and many other Shaun related projects – are bringing back their stage show, Bond-A-Rama!
If you didn’t think it was possible to fit 22 James Bond films into 75 minutes – you were wrong! It’s all recreated, from the villians, the Bond girls. to the stunts and gadgets. Emily Taheny and Ben Anderson, both Micallef alumni, round out the cast.
I went to see it last year, and highly recommend it. Whether you’re a true James Bond nut, or have just seen a few of the films, you’re going to enjoy this.
It’s playing at Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne for 4 weeks from the 17th October, with a national tour expected next year. Book tickets early and get a discount 🙂
It has been confirmed that Mad As Hell will return for a second series of 10 episodes, probably in February 2013. This will be after filming of Mr and Mrs Murder, which will take most of the next 6 months. Shaun’s also keen for a third season, around the time of the next federal election, but this will depend on other factors.
Friday’s episode should be one of the best yet, with a beautiful report-cross-sketch on the topic of health care with an ever-changing Xanthe, a clever four-way discussion on obesity, Gay March pops back, and hopefully the premiere of the gay Olympic table tennis team sketch, which has been teased at a few “live nights”. Josh Thomas makes a guest appearance too! Shaun was also very generous with his time to the audience, answering (and asking) questions while the cast was changing wardrobes. Even Tony Martin popped in during the taping, to wish Shaun a Happy Birthday and celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Late Show.
I also had the great pleasure to interview Shaun, as well as Tosh and Stephen, and look forward to slowly getting those written up and posted. Thanks to everyone, especially Anthony, for their time.
Our favourite quick-witted, silver-haired, worldly intelligent and charismatic comedy writer and performer has hit the big five-o. Although… he spent 10 years practising law before going into comedy, so does that make him 40?
From all your fans, Happy 50th Birthday Shaun!
A very special opportunity has come up for me to pose your questions to Shaun… and maybe some of the Mad As Hell cast and writers!
You have till this Wednesday (18th) to email or “comment” the questions you would like answered. I can’t guarantee who will be free to answer questions, but there’s only one way to find out!
Well, talking about it… he’s already “on it”. 🙂
In a tidbit with The Age’s Green Guide, Shaun talks about what he used to watch on TV when he was younger. (He revealed in an earlier interview with this website that he doesn’t watch much on TV these days.)
I remember when I was about 15 I was watching The Don Lane Show and Bert Newton rode into the studio on an elephant. I thought: ”Wow, that’s what I want to be when I grow up.’
Sadly, I am now almost 50 years old and am neither Bert Newton nor an elephant.‘
Photo by Simon Schluter
I was lucky enough to see another taping of Mad As Hell, and have a few previews to whet your appetite!
Poor Shaun fluffed his opening monologue most of the way through 3 times, and Tosh had some tongue twisting lines which forced Shaun to say “gusset” more times than I can remember!
There was a very clever debate on gay marriage (the cast were all excellent), a look at how the media can ‘hound’ their stories and a look at Gina Rinehart through the lens of pop culture.
Shaun held another real interview with the star of Queen Leer, Robyn Nevin, which was so post-modern, I couldn’t tell if it was going to be shown as is or to be re-recorded later.
I loved a segment they shot, which may have just been in-case of topical material changing later in the week, called Hey No Nanny, all about whether Shaun felt particular elements in our society were making us too much of a “nanny state” – the graphic alone is worth seeing.
I thought it was the best show yet.
Oh, and we found out at least one source for the names of the reporters – Carrington Mews is apparently an area in Adelaide!
Thank you Verity.
Will wonders never cease? In another ABC cross-over, Shaun is to guest program music video show Rage next Saturday night, a role usually filled by fellow musicians.
They must have been impressed with Shaun’s songs on ‘His Generation’ or his opinion on ‘We Built This City (on Rock and Roll)’ – “a flimsy construction method if ever I heard one”. Perhaps we’ll get some Sade? Or Duck Sauce?
It starts 11:25pm this Saturday night – the playlists will be posted on the Rage website on Friday.
I was privileged to be at the taping of the first ever episode of Mad As Hell, and am pleased to share some details – in summary, it was very funny, clever and exceeded all expectations.
Spoilers ahead!
After arriving at the ABC Studios in Gordon Street (aka. ‘the dream factory’), we waited outside, before waiting in the canteen, before finally making it to the studio. We got seats in the front row!
Here’s the set:
Shaun looked great in a three-piece suit and red tie, throwing in his glasses for good measure. (Sorry I didn’t get any other photos)
The show is delivered a little bit in the style of Newstopia, throwing to pre-recorded topical news pieces which were more in the style of a skit than Newstopia. He also interviewed the cast as different characters. But Shaun seemed more personal than in his SBS show, perhaps the TAYG experience rubbing off on him.
There was the welcome return of the faked ads, including a series about Kevin Rudd in a sitcom about his backbench antics – reminded me of this fantastic sketch from The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) days.
A very different side was an almost straight interview with the author of Putin – The Man Without A Face, which I found truly engrossing. Shaun admitted to us that it was a little bit of a new direction, a bit experimental, so hopefully you get to see it.
It was all shot fairly sequentially, and took just under two hours. A few re-takes, but the crew didn’t muck around. The writing crew was confirmed as almost the same as Newstopia: Gary McCaffrie, Michael Ward, Stephen Hall and Tony Moclair.
The cast was all excellent, each getting about 3-5 minutes screen time.
Shaun was very friendly, and interacted with the audience the most I’ve ever seen. By the end he started to mock Michael Pope, who was again the warm up guy, rolling his eyes with his strange suggestions about the background fish and other things.
A great night, I’m looking forward to seeing the final product on Friday at 8pm. Anyone else who went, feel free to add your favourite moments!
We’re only two weeks away from Mad As Hell, and we’re starting to get plenty of details.
In an interview with Time Out, Shaun admits that the show is a sort of spiritual evolution to Newstopia, which he’s wanted to return to since it ended 4 years ago. Some of the major differences will be the live audience, a more sketch show focus and national focus (rather than international), and it won’t be just a panel style show – Shaun’s sick of seeing them, enjoyable as they are.
It’s named so, because Shaun assumes the stories they pick as “big” are the ones the audience will be mad about, but will also give the best joke.
He also confirmed that TAYG is pretty much over; the run was good but the team has all moved on to other things, the the momentum would be difficult to rev up again.
We also know the show will be taped a few days before the Friday airing – similar to In Gordon Street Tonight – on a Wednesday evening. At this stage, there are 10 episodes lined up.
Finally, the official website is up!