Three years of SMO
Well whoop-dee-do, this site has managed to be here for 3 years – that’s longer than the whole internet!**
Since then, we’ve reclaimed the original ShaunMicallef.com (our spiritual predecessor), interviewed Shaun twice, enjoyed MAH, TAYG, M&MM (to name but a few) and built our own lion park.***
Thanks for visiting and making this site worth it, as we look forward to the next exciting projects from S. Micallef.
** A lie.
*** Also a lie.
Shaun takes over Adam Hills’s show… again
Adam Hills almost didn’t make it back from London in time to host his tonight show, but Shaun still took the liberty of taking over the hosting duties – until Adam intervened and took control back. You can watch it here and see some behind the scenes footage here.
It wasn’t the first time, as when Shaun appeared as a guest at the end of Season 2, he pretty much took over then too!
Tags: Adam Hills
Shaun Running That Town
There’s a new iOS app by the Australian Bureau of Statistics called “Run That Town”. The premise is instead of just saying “I could run this town better” – you can actually try it. Using real census data, you can try running any town in Australia to determine if you actually can make a difference.
So why mention it? Because it’s narrated by Shaun of course! (see here) It’s not the first time he’s done work for the ABS, with the pre-census spotlight website. (still online too!)
Find out more about the game at runthattown.abs.gov.au.
It’s looks quite slick, but as I don’t have any iDevices, I haven’t played it. Please post comments if you have!
Mr & Mrs Murder coming to DVD
Now that we’ve been treated to the full 13-episode series of Mr and Mrs Murder (without a timeslot change either!), you can now get all the episodes on DVD… as of 19th June.
Pre-order from JB Hi-Fi or your favourite DVD retailer.
Shaun on a break
With Mad As Hell finishing last Wednesday, and Mr & Mrs Murder next Wednesday, it looks like we’re going cold turkey on Shaun for a while.
As alluded to at the end of the last MAH episode, there will be no more episodes before the federal election (September), which was mentioned at the end of season 1 as a possibility for new episodes. In fact, two sources at the show have advised there is no confirmation of a third season at all yet, but we remain hopeful.
Likewise, we have no confirmation on a second season of Mr and Mrs Murder – this probably depends on a number of factors, including funding and network support.
Shaun’s been flat out since Mad As Hell first aired this time last year, going straight into filming M&MM then the second season of MAH, so most likely he’s taking a bit of a break. Maybe to complete work on a new book?
[Edit: I didn't double-check my facts, and Mr & Mrs Murder is actually a thirteen week series - I originally suggested they had both already finished. Oops.]
Free Calotto Ham
For every visitor to this site, a free Calotto Ham is on its way to you!**
**Your address must be registered at the Vomitoria Catchment blog.
The Penultimate Shaun night
We’ve now been treated to 10 solid weeks of back-to-back Shaun each Wednesday, with Mad As Hell followed by Mr and Mrs Murder. But that unfortunately means we’re down to the last 2 weeks of both shows (what a coincidence?!). Knowing Shaun and the writers, we’re in for some really enjoyable moments.
What have you enjoyed so far about either show, and which would you most look forward to returning?
The trouble with satire
Not usually one to opine on this website, I did get an email from someone who quite strongly felt that tonight’s Mad As Hell disrespected the ANZACs, and I felt it was worth discussing.
The issue was probably due to the opening sketch and the interview with Francis’s character. (Hopefully I get around to fully re-capping it) In the opening sketch, soldiers were being told they were landing at ANZAC Cove on the 25th of April to honour the memory and skill of footballers (for which the soldiers felt unworthy) – basically a reversal of the real life situation where footballers play a “blockbuster match” to honour the ANZACs. With Francis’s character, I felt the intent was to lampoon the way the events of the day itself can be not in-keeping with the spirit of the day. (By the way, I don’t usually sit and analyse the show so much – this comes from thinking about why I was chuckling when I watched it).
Whether or not the sketches will get any publicity is uncertain, but with its proximity to ANZAC day, it’s a small possibility - emotions will be strong. It’s something satirical material can easily become victim of: the audience misunderstanding the point due to a strong reaction against it. In some ways, it’s a good thing that people have the moral compass to reject it, but obviously it causes conflict with the writers actual intent.
It happened to The Chaser with their Make a Wish sketch, but I felt even then, the satirical point wasn’t strong enough to make it appropriate. In MAH’s case, I actually agree with the points – I’ve never understood the ANZAC day blockbuster, when we don’t play football on Good Friday. Actually, I felt the whole episode tonight was firing on all cylinders, and the team are really doing a good job now at satirising politics, culture and world events.
Sorry to blather, feel free to comment (but keep it constructive) 
Recap: Mad As Hell, April 10th 2013
This weeks episode was dedicated to the memory of Annette Funicello.
There was good and bad news from the yin and yang desk this week – joy over the closeness of the federal election, but sadness because the North Korea nuclear doomsday stopwatch says we’re going to be wiped out in the next week or so. Kim Jong Il was just a loveable nutcase, but his son is not quite as amusing – a bit like the Pink Panther and son of Pink Panther. His threats are even impossible: “throw all enemies in the cauldron [and] break their waists…” – how do you break a waist, not to mention where do you get a cauldron without the internet?
In response, Beijing and Washington have been testing their defence hotline, which reporter John Garnaut described as “not quite… Dr Strangelove..”. Shaun tested that theory with his own War Room round table, including Vice Rear Cabin Boy Bobo Gargle (Francis), who opined that North Korea couldn’t reach the US with its long range missiles. But when Shaun suggested they could hit Australia, and Gillard had indicated her support for the South, Gargle went to call Lucas Heights. But Dr Strangelove himself (Shaun) had his own diabolical plan… involving poisoning meals and breeding Logie award winners down the bottom of mines.
Gillards message to China during her visit was clear and strong; buy our minerals and protect us from North Korea. Why go to China? With a 30% popularity rating, that means 403 million people still like you, plus the traffic is better than western Sydney.
Kevin Rudd was even further away, and described the situation with North Korea being like “a rerun of a bad 1930′s movie.” Shaun wasn’t sure what he was referring to (except maybe “She Done Him Wrong”), or how it related to his electorate, but if you do know, you can write in c/o the ABC – and possibly win some Annabelle Crabb sticks.
The government has committed 20 million to remake 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (even though you can hire it for $3), but MP Ed Husic says he “doesn’t need 20,000 leagues of sea”, rather an MRI at Mt Druitt Hospital. Professor Ian Orbspider (Francis) says he’s wrong, describing in a long-drawn out way how leagues cannot be a volume, plus $1000 a league is a bargain – if Ed Husic cannot see that, he needs his head read. Perhaps with an MRI, which he doesn’t have. We only have to wait till May to see the Budget, and at a recent press conference, David Bradbury ensured the word budget was well used. And while budget was the key word, speculation was another one. Julia and Tony were in a speculation to-and-fro, feeding rumour and speculation. It’s like if the human centipede
was a ringworm (no graphic available).
Vomitoria (Roz) says the Julie Bishop is extremely right by suggesting Labor is creating speculation on superannuation by not revealing information fast enough. Lily Dwarf-Planet (Emily) thinks the plan makes sense, ignoring the fact Labor leaked the plan it its usual cocked up manner, and that the speculation is caused by the media looking for any story. Lily asked Shaun to compare it to any of the oppositions policies, Vomitoria suggesting immigration when Shaun couldn’t think of one, and how they have little to no detail at all with no scrutiny or speculation. And Vomitoria can only speculate that the coalition will win the next election in a landslide.
But the Coalition really do have a plan, and Tony Abbott has been clutching it in recent media events. Shaun thinks it’s more of a pamphlet than a plan, and Shaun re-dubbed recent footage to make it more accurate. Brochure would have been fine too.
As part of a special HYPERthetical, Shaun raised the topic of Euthanasia. Abraham Plunkett believes in Euthanasia, and would hyperthetically have his mother, Chloris Webbler, euthanised if she was 93 and had in-curuable leprosy, and would take her to Belgium where it would be legal. Didi Dofnut, from Belgium’s tourism council, would welcome them with open arms, but if she was hypothetically the Prime Minister and hadn’t legalised euthanasia as promised, Abraham wouldn’t take her. Chloris thinks hiking through the Arden would be a nice alternative. Barry Groans would hyperthetically resign her position if former Prime Minister Didi Dofnut, but former footballer Peter Astley wouldn’t know what to do if he was George Pell acting as Didi Dofnut – his opinion would be untenable. Chris Crocker lept to his defence. Chloris thinks that it wouldn’t be wise for her hypothetical self to be on a hiking holiday, even if she was to meet Peter as George as former PM Didi, and Waleed Aly thinks the trip might kill her. But as that’s death by mis-adventure, it’s legally OK. Solved.
Shell is closing its Geelong oil refinery and moving production off-shore, but Capslock Pimento points out that Shell is an energy company, which is good, not an oil company, which is bad. He says they want to heal the earth, and feel terrible for the workers losing their jobs, who still want to produce a pollutant every day. If they could convert it to something that harnessed the sun’s rays, they would. And if they can’t sell it – they’ll burn it and collect the insurance. (“Should burn like buggery too.”)
In news from countries other than Australia, Indonesia has been advised by Australia that it has 5 Hercules aircraft for sale – however they only have 6 hours before the sale on eBay ends. In Germany, a remaining piece of the Berlin Wall has been spared as a monument to it being torn down – ?! And to reduce tensions with North Korea, the US has suspended a missile test – sure to upset the NRA. Shaun then deferred to two ambassadors over the the recommendations for all embassy to leave Pyongyang - Christopher Hill, a former US ambassador, and Golden Slipper ambassador, Tammin Sursok.
Maggie Bathysphere reported on the new FIFA goal line camera technology, which allows the precise position of the ball to be monitored between the umpire, the bookmakers, the moles and and insiders, who can then determine if it was a goal within 10 short minutes.
Before Shaun’s Stemetil takes effect, he spoke to talkback listener Casper Jonquill about the plan to give kidney doners 6 weeks of paid leave, and he was outraged about the likelihood of exploitation by unwed mothers – he’s been waiting 8 years for an arthroscopy he doesn’t need, the CAA claim it’s not their responsibility to fix his dripping tap and if they want purer blood, they should stop inbreeding.
Shaun wins the Golden Molkie… again
The 2013 Molkies have happened, and The Person You Always Change Channel To Watch (also known as The Gold Molkie) is… Shaun Micallef. And Shaun posted a video thank you. See it all here.
