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!
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.
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!
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…
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.
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!
Stephen Hall is one of the writers on Mad As Hell, not to mention a number of Shaun’s other shows, an actor, and really nice guy. Last year, he gave me some of his time in the hallways of the ABC for a chat.
Before we began, Stephen indulged me in a “nerd-off” on the topic of James Bond – he being one half of the team behind Bond-A-Rama. We came to agreement that “The Man with the Golden Gun” had one of the worst theme songs. When that was done, the questions began!
Me: I was going to ask if the writers ever get to say any lines, as previously you’ve appeared twice [in Mad As Hell], but tonight’s episode (Episode 9) that was proved wrong!
Stephen: That character is called Lionel.
He was carrying a lot of toilet paper around.
You noticed that did you?
It got more and more (in the shot pieces) – was that me?
No, I think that was Lionel.
The people in Glenhuntly Road (where the vox pops are shot) must think there’s some strange characters around.
We got looks, and people stood around. I’d be more worried if there weren’t looks – it’s not New York, it’s Elsternwick ladies and gentlement. I didn’t know what voice to do, because I didn’t think he was ever going speak. Shaun said make it counter to what we think it’s going to be. So I made it after Noel Coward or Lionel Barrymore. Named after Lionel Barrymore actually.
So they named him before the voice?
He was always called Lionel. He always had a caftan. Always had a WW1 flying helmet. That was Shaun writing that for me to do – as a mark of respect.
How does the writing process work? There’s five of you…?
Yes, there’s Shaun, Gary Mcaffrie, Michael Ward, Tony Moclair and me. Gary and Michael are on five days a week, Tony and I are on three days a week. Tony, Gary, Michael and I share an office, and we sit at our computers and write. We read the news everyday, and watch the news everyday and try to think of funny stuff that’s happening, in the various formats of sketches for the show. We email them to Shaun, print it out and put it in the script box at the same time, and he has the final say on them.
You were involved in [the writing of] TAYG as well, and Newstopia too?
Yes. Gary and Michael have written with Shaun a lot longer than I have; Gary and Shaun have known each other since they were teenagers.
[Gary] was the foot in the door [to the industry] for Shaun I believe.
I first met Shaun in 1996 on Full Frontal, where Wardy and I both started in Melbourne professional comedy writing. Wardy had been in Canberra before that, doing breakfast radio. Canberra’s 92.3 Kook and the Bambino in the Morning – I just made that up.
It sounds like something it would be. How is writing for TAYG different to Mad As Hell? Were you involved in the questions, or monologues?
It’s a different beast. There was [writing for] intros and outros, and bits where we had other people coming in and fanciful conversations with Hello Kitty. And the end game envelope delivery, ideas for those. We alternated – Wardy would write the script one week, and I the next and send it through to Shaun. As on this, he was the final arbitor. The content of the games was largely dictated by the producers of the show, and if we had ideas we could slot them in, but everyones ideas were listened to. It was a group beast. Our brief was to write the gags for Shaun, within the structure of the show. Trying to say the same thing different ways, hundreds of times.
Do you find the process of writing for TAYG different to Mad As Hell?
It’s the same people, which is really nice, and a lot of the production team are the same. It’s very different content, it’s much more challenging as it changes every day, and there are days when we look through the newpaper and say “for goodness sake, can’t something usable happen in the world.” And, it’s difficult to make jokes about death and destruction, so we shy away from those things. [If they’re] absurd, pompous and basic wankery – there’s always a good time. Tony Abbott’s hair net tour is a case in point.
Other people would be familiar with you in your acting, such as in The King or on stage as well, and you do a lot of writing. Do you have a preference?
I’ve had a lot more work writing than acting, acting is tougher, and as I have a certain look which people don’t always think of me [for roles]. With writing, it doesn’t matter as much. Things lead to other things, as much of you do something and do an OK job, and people think for you for the next thing and they contact you.
But acting not so much, in my experience there’s no such thing as a big break. You think “this will lead to other things”, but it hasn’t happened so much. For me, and my particular “journey”, I’ve had a lot more work writing than acting. But having said that, acting’s much more fun. Ideally it’s great to do stuff you’ve written, which is why Bond-o-rama is fantastic, because Wardy and I wrote it together, we gave me the really plum roles. How else am I going to get cast as Sean Connery?
Thanks for your time Stephen – we look forward to seeing your appearances during Season 2.
Starting Wednesday 20th, you will be able to watch 1 and a half hours of continuous Shaun (excluding ad breaks and the moments when he’s off camera).
Mr and Mrs Murder begins on that night at 8:30pm on Channel Ten, following Mad As Hell, which airs at 8pm THE SAME NIGHT! (but different bat channel, the ABC to be exact).
If you’ve been living under a rock, Mr and Mrs Murder is a new comedy/drama starring Shaun and Kat Stewart, who are professional crime scene cleaners and amateur crime solvers. Read more here.
So just 2 more weeks till you get more Shaun than you could ever hope for.
Mad As Hell is back for its second season- and this time Shaun promises he knows what he’s doing.
This year it has moved to Wednesday nights (from the original Friday night time), probably to line up with the ABC’s traditional comedy night.
It returns 20 February 2013, Wednesdays 8pm on ABC1.
(Now I need to calm down from all this excitement.)
Last year, I had the enviable task of interviewing Shaun about his latest works. Unfortunately we ran out of time, so he kindly answered the rest via email… and through the busyness of last year – I forgot to post it!
So, as originally promised, part 2 of the 2012 interview: (some facts may have changed since first answered)
Me: You’ve traditionally been very private about your family and home life, what made you decide to participate in Who Do You Think You Are?
Shaun: I would never want to take part in a documentary about myself. I don’t even like doing an interview unless I’m plugging something and I can do some shtick. Sometimes if it’s someone I know well, I’ll do it (like Tony Martin) but otherwise I just assume people really wouldn’t be that fascinated by me blathering on about myself. It’s okay on a website like this because people come looking for it – but on TV it’s a bit different and has a slightly higher obligation to be a bit entertaining (sorry Stuart). WDYTYA was a bit different though: part history lesson and part travelogue. I thought it would be interesting and was surprised that I opened up emotionally (for me).
Your appearance on the show got such a response from people who felt connected to your story. Did you imagine that would happen?
I must admit I hadn’t thought about that. I was amazed at the number of people who watched it, who actually knew my father. Quite a few people lived in the same street and remembered the bombing. My cousin contacted me (I have not seen her for many years) to tell me the two little girls who were killed (and who shared our surname) were, in fact, related to us. Very sad obviously. But the whole point of the series is to connect with people – and it did that.
Has what you found out in WDYTYA changed things for you and your relationships? (If it’s not too personal)
Well, it did for a while – I was all charged up with embracing my family and looking up relatives I haven’t spoken to in decades – but I have since reverted to my usual aloof self.
How long have you been planning Mr and Mrs Murder? Is there anything you can give away about it?
Mr & Mrs Murder was an idea Jason Stephens and I had a couple of years ago. We had been trying to hatch a project for myself and Kat for a while ) We’d both come up with Newstopia back in 2008 – along with Gary and Michael). There was a sketch show the ABC were interested in which turned out to be too expensive (the doctor-wants-your-husband’s-bed sketch from MAH was written for the Pilot). Mr & Mrs is the one that TEN liked. Can’t give away too much as TEN like thinking they are in charge and will get cross if I reveal anything…like that my character is a Martian and Kat’s character is actually a robot. Oops.
Are you looking forward to concentrating more on the acting?
I’m always acting – even when I’m not on screen. But I am looking forward to just acting and not having to produce or write the show.
You worked with Kat in Newstopia, and obviously developed a bond. Was it a preference to work with her in a more dramatic role rather than having her join Mad As Hell?
Well, I loved working with everyone in Newstopia but we wanted to make Mad as Hell a new show – or as new as possible, given the type of show it was – and that is why we didn’t use the same cast. I’d work with Kat in anything – the same goes for Nicholas Bell, Julie Eckersly, Ben Anderson and Peter Houghton. All brilliant.
Jenn asks: After a busy year with TAYG, MAH and Mr and Mrs Murder, will you be taking a break or are you keen to jump straight into the next project (or the next season of MAH?)
MAH returns early next year. Not sure what’s happening beyond that. I may get time to work on my new book.
There have been a few in-jokes in MAH – such as the parrot sketch reference, the two iced vovos, the TV guide description mirroring Welcher and Welcher – do you (or the other writers) like to add them for those who’ll notice them, or purely for your own enjoyment?
Michael Ward wrote the sketch with the dead parrot reference, Gary wrote the one with the iced vovos in it and I wrote the program descriptions. Personal tics and favourite references turn up all the time but are rarely the point of a joke or front and centre in a sketch. I suppose it’s a way of personalising the material. Gary’s sketches tend to have characters named after SANFL footballers and be about form rather than character, Michael’s tend to be mostly about characters who are idiots and mine involve me sitting at the desk, nodding.
Mr Griffiths asks: Where do you get your ideas for your sketches from?
There’s an internet site we use.
Have you enjoyed bringing back old characters like Nobby and Milo?
In MAH we had some jokes which required an immensely stupid character, so I resurrected Nobby. Milo didn’t make an appearance (unless you count Francis’s impression of him in the last episode). I did notice that Nobby seemed a bit sad and lonely looking. My hair is now so white Nobby had to wear a beanie.
What does Gary think of these old characters returning!?
I think Gary was happy to see Nobby. He used to write the sketches for him when he was on Full Frontal. Hard to tell what Gary is thinking. He’s so mysterious.
Has Mr William Duthie become a new favourite?
I liked him. Michael Ward and I wrote the sketches. He might have done his dash though as he became increasingly senile over his five appearances. Keen eyed viewers will note he looks a bit like a character I played in the Micallef Program who burns down a nursing home.
Alex asks: I’m all the way up here in Brisbane, and it’s hard for me to get down to Melbourne, but one day I would love to meet you Shaun! Do you have anything planned in the future in terms of a tour?
Nothing planned as yet, Alex, but I’m always thinking about doing a stage show of some description – perhaps with Francis. I have the title: ‘An Audience in front of Shaun Micallef (and Francis Greenslade) but no actual show written as yet.
Mardi asks: On the scale of one to ten, do you still have the superball I gave you?
Green.
Jenn asks: What is your weapon of choice in the inevitable zombie apocalypse?
Ka-Bar Black Cutlass Machete. Maybe also take out an AVO.
Thanks to Shaun for continuing to be pestered by my questions!