The Cage (radio show)

The Cage is the name of two different breakfast shows on Australian radio network Triple M, broadcasting in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Previously Sydney and Adelaide received the Melbourne version, however these cities now have their own individual shows.

The Melbourne Cage finished up at the end of 2007. They broadcasted the last show after 6 years in November. It was announced that the team and Triple M have decided not to continue after long time member James Brayshaw decided not to return. [Hargreaves, Wendy, "Radio Waves", TheAge.com.au, 4 October 2007] From 2008, comedian Peter Helliar will take over the Melbourne breakfast spot [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22530647-10229,00.html Comedian Helliar takes on new radio gig] - AAP, "4 Oct 2007"] with co-host Myf Warhurst.

The Cage (Brisbane)

The breakfast show on Triple M Brisbane is The Cage.

It's funny, it's informative and is so Brisbane you can almost hear the thongs. Breakfast begins from 5:30am weekdays with The Cage with Ian Skippen, Marto, Sully and Sami Lukis on 104.5 Triple M.

The Cage (Melbourne)

The Melbourne version of The Cage is made up of Peter Berner, Brigitte Duclos, James Brayshaw, Matt Parkinson and Mike Fitzpatrick, however they are often referred to by their nicknames: 'Pete', 'Brig' (or 'Top Flight'), 'JB' (or also 'Top Flight' by Brigitte and Gay Icon), 'Parko' (or 'The Walking Comedy Unit') and 'Fitzy' respectively.

The show runs from 6 am to 9 am weekdays (AEDST), and contains such regular segments as Jason Donovans Autobiograhpy, Parko's Idiot Box, JB's Spin On Sport, The Duclos Report (featuring cutting and insightful political commentary), JB's Internet Joke, Happy News and the Scared Weird Little Guys doing "Song of the Week", the Great Cage Debate as well as celebrity interviews, snap "cage" phone polls (or 'schnappies'), music and comical chatter.

It features characters created by Matt Parkinson including Nurry from Frankston, Ivan Inkling of Special Squad, Doctor G.I. Low, Keith McKorkin (the man who does the talkin'), Nicky Knuckles, Hugh Jorgen (West-Indian cricket commentator), Gene Creamer, Gavin Spotsworth (Brigitte's first true love), Randy Buff, Antonio Banderas, Captain Speaking and Becks.Duclos also contributed her own character in one episode, to gender-balance the characters on the show. Her character was known as 'Pretty McClitty' and Duclos basically talked in a drawn-out bogan style voice.

Regular celebrity guests include Garry Lyon, Jason Dunstall, Laura Csortan, Jules Lund and Peter Rowsthorn.

Previous regular Cage members include Tim Smith ('Timbo'), Matthew Quartermaine ('Quarters'), Russell Gilbert ('Gilbo'), and Trevor Marmalade ('Trev').

Events

In March 2007, The Cage held an exhibition of Brig's "meditation art', consisting of a painting of an orange Elephant, an orange lady, a Brown Bear and a blank canvas for the week Brig missed class. $1850 was raised at auction and donated to the Camp Quality charity. Former comedian and former National Gallery of Victoria President Steve Vizard was one of the bidders.

To coincide with the 12th FINA world championships in Melbourne, The Cage held a Suburban Swim Challenge on 23rd March 2007 at the Waves Leisure Centre in Highett, Victoria.

In February 2007, the Cage held a night of stand up comedy The Cage on Stage to raise money for those affected by the Victorian bushfires. Comedians on the night included all the Cagers as well as Wil Anderson, Greg Fleet and Cal Wilson.

During the period of 16-20 October 2006, The Cage ran a competition where listeners had to travel across Australia to Escape the Cage - this meant that teams of people had to get as far away from either Sydney or Melbourne within 5 days and whoever went the furthest distance would win $5000 cash.

History

The show began in Melbourne at the start of 2002, when Tim Smith was given free rein to put together a new drive time show. ["Rebels without a pause", http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/16/1079199226259.html, smh.com.au, 17 March 2004 ] When the breakfast show at the time flopped, The Cage was moved to the vacant breakfast slot only 3 months after it began. A relay of the breakfast show, with about 20% new content, was played in the drive slot. Triple M eventually decided in July 2002 to concentrate The Cage on breakfast only.

While Triple M Melbourne’s line-up was proving successful during 2003, the Sydney station was in a ratings dive, partly due to the popularity of a new competitor, Nova. In August 2003, Triple M networked The Cage into Sydney, adding former Sydney breakfast member Peter Berner.

At one time, the show also broadcast into Adelaide. This was eventually replaced with a local show, The New Zoo.

In 2005, The Cage was the number 1 FM breakfast radio show in Melbourne and number 2 in Sydney.

In October 2006, Sydney radio ratings [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/jones-stumbles-but-book-not-to-blame/2006/10/31/1162278141733.html Jones stumbles, but book not to blame - TV & Radio - Entertainment - smh.com.au ] ] had 2Day FM winning the FM market and Triple M, with the Cage breakfast team slipping to 6.8 per cent, down 1.2 points, and reigniting speculation over whether the show will continue next year.

At the end of 2006, it was reported that the drive-time program The Shebang would replace The Cage in the breakfast shift in Sydney, due to declining ratings, put down the shows inability to be able to talk about local issues due to the Sydney/Melbourne duality of the show. [ [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20689478-5006002,00.html Fifi's big brekkie break | The Daily Telegraph ] ]

Austereo announced on 14 December 2006 that The Shebang would move to the morning shift for Triple M Sydney in 2007. [http://www.austereo.com.au/corporate/press/2006/triplem_lineup.php]

From January 29th 2007, The Cage has only the morning shift in Melbourne. The cast remained unchanged from 2006. As of November 2007, the Melbourne Cage will finish up and from 2008, comedian Peter Helliar and former Triple J/ABC personality Myf Warhurst will take over the Melbourne breakfast spot. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/martins-get-this-gets-the-chop/2007/10/15/1192300688768.html Martin's Get This gets the chop] - The Age, "16 Oct 2007"]

References

External links

* [http://www.triplem.com.au/melbourne/shows/thecage Official website for the Melbourne Cage]
* [http://www.triplem.com.au/brisbane/shows/thecage Official website for the Brisbane Cage]