Tag: countdown

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Images of celebration and degeneration

To everyone who came to my birthday party yesterday, or who sent messages, thank you very much.

Apart from a series of disjointed memories and unexplained bruises, there is also photographic evidence that it was a fun time. There’s this portrait of me by Kate Carruthers, for instance [embiggen]. This crowd scene by Nick Hodge, with Ben Grubb lurking on the left. And a whole series of photos by misswired including one of The Hive Bar’s proprietor Nick hard at work on the Endless Stream of Mojitos™.

If there are any other photos, please let me know.

Special thanks to Nick Hodge for reminding us of this special moment in Australian television, and for providing the little glittery things that imprinted a purple mark on my forehead.

Extra special thanks to Streamer and Balloon Blondie who, by simply existing, ensured that I wouldn’t be the biggest embarrassment of the day.

Do not adjust your set. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

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Weekly Poll: How do you feel about Supernaut re-forming?

Supernaut: click to watch video

Three polls in a row about Australian politics is enough. There are more important issues than defending the constitution or the PM blaming an interest rate rise on state debt when there is no state debt — and then spending taxpayer’s money to advertise the lie.

No, what concerns us this week is the news that Supernaut has reformed for the Countdown Spectacular 2…

I’ve written about Supernaut before. But for readers younger than… well, for younger readers, here’s a quick refresher.

Supernaut was one of the finest musical acts of the 1970s. Watch the video of their number 1 hit I Like It Both Ways and you’ll agree. You’ll naturally want to see She’s Too Hot to Touch and Kids Art Out Tonight as well.

Tonight on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Debate, the sublime Paul McDermott recalled that I Like It Both Ways was his favourite song as a child.

“I like it both ways.” I was 7 years old at the time. I didn’t know what it was about…! It was 3 years before I found out what it meant. And even then I would have preferred it was from someone my own age, rather than a 45-year-old postal worker with tight, tight shorts who went by the name of Saddle Face.

As I say, Supernaut has reformed. Please, go to the website, vote, and tell me how you feel about that. And do add your comments…

[poll id=”5″]

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Take my hand…

It’s totally safe. Our journey involves YouTube, a cleanskin Cabernet Merlot and that blurry hour before the sleeping pill kicks in. There is no need for alarm. Let us begin…

  1. All systems are go!. And once you learn the lyrics, sing along!
  2. Play the Countdown version and/or the Bandstand version, and explain which you prefer.
  3. Discuss whether the follow-up single release was a mistake or not.
  4. Should I admit to owning an autographed copy of that band’s album, or explain how it came to be in my possession?
  5. Does the knowledge that the album was produced by Ian “Molly” Meldrum change your answer to the previous question?
  6. Are cover versions ever acceptable?
  7. Does Adam Richard speak the truth?
  8. Come to Daddy.
  9. Grand Finale.

You may now each ask one question related to the above. I shall answer truthfully.

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“Whose ABC?”: the first 100 pages

Cover of Whose ABC?

I’ve just read the first 100 pages of Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983-2006. I’m enjoying the journey, but I’m wondering if “eminent historian” K S Inglis is talking about the same organisation where I worked from 1984 to 1991.

You see, at my ABC we used to make programs.

Inglis’ ABC is a boardroom, a managing director’s office, and the occasional brawl with politicians.

So while I half-recognise what he’s talking about — someone called Geoffrey Whitehead as MD, the re-naming of Radio Two to Radio National and all that — very little of what he’s saying seems to reflect the day-to-day reality of broadcasting.

Continue reading ““Whose ABC?”: the first 100 pages”