- Micallef Tonight
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Micallef Tonight 
Format Variety Presented by Shaun Micallef Country of origin Australia No. of episodes 13 Production Running time approx 60 minutes (plus commercials) Broadcast Original channel Nine Network Original run 12 May 2003 – 4 August 2003 Micallef Tonight was a short-lived Aria Award–winning Australian variety show that aired on the Nine Network in 2003. It was hosted by comedian Shaun Micallef and also featured the talents of Francis Greenslade, Jason Geary, Livinia Nixon and Pete Smith.
Contents
Show content
Much like a typical variety show, each episode of Micallef Tonight featured a number of interviews with celebrities bookended by regular segments (such as "Shaun on his High Horse", which featured Micallef ranting against pop culture while straddling a gymnast vaulting horse) and a musical performance. However at the times the show also delved into the realm of parody, such as introducing guest Jamie Durie with a long-winded opening only to dismiss him immediately afterwards, and requesting that guest Alison Whyte hold an inflatable fish while Micallef himself danced on his desk, in an otherwise unrelated interview.
Other in-show shenanigans included stealing musical guest Delta Goodrem's shoes as she played the piano, deliberately leaving actress Melissa George, live via satellite from Hollywood, on hold for over five minutes (she had guest starred in a supersized episode of Friends earlier that night, effectively delaying the broadcast of Micallef Tonight by several minutes), and requesting singers insert random words in to their musical performances to prove they weren't lip-synching. Notable examples were David Campbell inserting the word "lamington" into his performance and Amiel inserting the word "dolphinarium".
Micallef would end each episode with the line "See you in the Monkey House Australia!" and the show would usually close with a musical performance from Greenslade that was never quite what the audience expected; such as a rendition of Billy Joel's "Piano Man" played on the guitar.
Micallef previously parodied the variety show format with 1998's The Micallef Program.
Episodes
Cancellation
The series premiered on 12 May 2003 and thirteen episodes were aired. The first episode rated strongly and although ratings declined steadily thereafter, it was announced in June 2003 that the series would be extended for a further 20 weeks.
Episode 12 (28 July) included a segment involving a midget hassling random restaurant patrons; after it screened, guest Tony Martin pointed out that the last show he had been involved in which featured the same midget actor -- (The Mick Molloy Show) -- had been axed. In an example of history repeating itself, Micallef Tonight was cancelled the following week. In addition, on an earlier episode during a live cross to promote the movie Bad Eggs, a visibly intoxicated Mick Molloy warned Micallef to "watch (his) arse" when he learned that the show was on the Nine Network.
Micallef ended his series with an interview with Ricky Martin in which both he and Martin used an expletive on live television, then called channel Nine live on air to complain about the language used on his show. Ironically, the interview was pre-recorded in the previous week to fit in with Martin's schedule, a fact alluded to by both Micallef and comedian Dave O'Neil during the actual live segments of the episode.
At the conclusion of what ended up being the final show, Micallef said that band The Dandy Warhols would be on the next week’s show. The camera cut to the band on stage, ready to perform. Micallef informed the band that it was the next week they were meant to be on.
Critical reception
Similarly to the equally short-lived The Mick Molloy Show (also shown on Nine), Micallef Tonight was ostensibly cancelled because of dwindling ratings, in this case against fellow comedian Andrew Denton's interview series Enough Rope. In a memorable parody, whilst Danni Minogue was performing on Shaun's show, the camera cut to him only to see Shaun watching Andrew Denton's show (which aired simultaneously on another channel).
Critics also claimed that the show may have been too sophisticated for most audiences on the notoriously "mainstream" Nine Network, and was an acquired taste. Others have said that part of the axing was due to a segment which made fun of Alan Jones' morning message segment on the Australian Today show.[citation needed] The segment began with one video on screen then became two, then four, then eight and so on until it reached dozens and although nothing said was comprehensible, they all ended at the same time with 'I'm Alan Jones'. This segment apparently angered Channel Nine owner Kerry Packer[citation needed] (who was also a close friend of Jones), and he ordered the show to be axed after less-than-impressive ratings for what turned out to be the final episode.[citation needed]
At the time of its airing, the show was critically acclaimed and became a cult favourite, even having followers internationally due to its irreverent humour and absurdity.[citation needed]
DVD releases
The Micallef Tonight show was released on DVD as a "best of" compilation, that included some un-aired material.[1] The Expurgated Micallef Tonight: The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight Show was released through Shock on 26 November 2007. On 19 October 2008 the DVD release won an ARIA Award for best comedy release.[2]
Awards
- 2008 Aria Award Best Comedy Release - The Expurgated Micallef Tonight: The Very Best of Shaun Micallef's Short-Lived but Brilliant Tonight Show
See also
References
- ^ "Shaun Micallef.com". http://www.shaunmicallef.com/. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
- ^ Cameron Adams & Jane Metlikovec (20 October 2008). "Dandenong teenager Gabriella Cilmi: she'll be sweet". The Age. http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24521049-2902,00.html. Retrieved 2008-10-20.[dead link]
External links
- Information site for Shaun Micallef
- Episode guides of Micallef Tonight
- Micallef Tonight at the Internet Movie Database
- The Rest of the World is Missing Out! - A synopsis of the "alternative Harry Potter" sketch from the show.
Categories:- Australian variety television shows
- Nine Network shows
- 2003 Australian television series debuts
- 2003 Australian television series endings
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