In a recent interview, where he went seriously off track, Shaun discussed the origin of Stewart the Meerkat, who became a regular on TAYG. (And yes, we had always spelt it Stuart… wishful thinking?)
The whole purpose of Stewart was a set-up for when Kat Stewart was going to be on the show – Shaun could introduce them to each other, and repetition would ensue. He actually did – on the March 22nd 2011 episode.
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!
The secret acting role which Shaun discussed in early March has been announced – a TV show titled “Mr and Mrs Murder”. It’s a comedy/drama to appear on Channel 10 later in the year, and Shaun will star along side Kat Stewart.
A clean freak with a heightened sense of justice, and a misfit with an encyclopaedic knowledge of just about everything, married couple Nicola and Charlie run an extreme cleaning business which specialises in crime scenes. Armed with wit, smarts and the invisibility that cleaning brings, the duo solve the crimes the cops can’t in a murder mystery with a smile.
Shaun isn’t writing the show, but it came from an idea he came up with Jason Stephens, and will consult on the script. The writing team will include John Banas, Jonathan Gavin, John Hugginson, Doug MacLeod, Christine Bartlett, Katherine Thomson, Marieke Hardy and Glen Dolman.
It’s possible Shaun agreed to the fourth season of TAYG partly to ensure the pick-up of this project. Which is a good thing, because that gives us plenty of Shaun for the year!
We’ve been getting tidbits of what to expect from Mad as Hell.
It’s been announced as a half-hour weekly round-up, branding, inoculation and crutching of all the important news stories of the week. There will be reportage, analysis, discussion, argument and dissection of the week’s events and what’s making the world turn every which way.
So, the cast: not surprisingly, but very happily, Francis (Greenslade) is on board. Also from the Micallef P(r)ogram(me) days is Roz Hammond. Veronica Milsom, Emily Taheny and newbie Tosh Greenslade (related?) round out the ensemble.
The show will have a studio audience! (Ticket info here) As previously ‘guessed’, it will be shot at the ABC Studios in Elsternwick, Melbourne.
So tell your parents, friends, cat(s), re-animated corpse in the basement, and that long lost uncle who moved interstate but you still write a Christmas card for – it starts Friday May 25 at 8pm on ABC1.
Appearing on the Season finale of Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight, Shaun was his hillariously rambunctious self.
He gave Adam a bottle of Adelaide water, which was splashed all over the set, tried to take over the show, played an old Roger Explosion clip and sang The Lady is a Tramp, in memory of Tony Bennett, who he believes was beaten to death at the end of the Logies…
Watch it here. See Shaun backstage before/after the show.
Unfortunately, he didn’t share much about Mad As Hell. But it was still pretty good watching.
Every day we anticipate Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell, which starts Friday 25 May at 8pm. Now, you can get snippets of information on the official Facebook page or Twitter account.
There were no awards for Shaun at this years Logie awards, but he was the presenter for the Gold Logie itself, introduced as “one of the legends”.
Shaun has written an article in The Sunday Age about his love of 20th century writer and humorist SJ Perelman, and how that love has translated into the search for rare works, books and… a suitcase.
Quite often actually, as Shaun has produced a number of shows at the ABC Studios in Elsternwick. But in this case, he’ll be on the series final of Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight next Wednesday at 8:30pm on ABC.
We expect there to be some talk about Mad as Hell… yippee!
Returning for a second season is Laid, a black comedy written by Marieke Hardy and Kirsty Fisher. The focus of the show is Roo, a woman who finds out that all her previous ‘partners’ are dying, one by one, and with her friends, tries to determine why.
Shaun played the character of ‘G Bomb’ (ie. Roo’s gynocologist) in the first series, appearing in two episodes, and is back for the second season. How often he’ll appear, we’re not sure, but Kirsty assures us 4.75 times – or thereabouts.
Laid Series 2 starts May 2nd at 9pm.