We returned on Monday 25 March to the RMITV studio for this year’s second 31 Questions taping.
I’m told from the people upstairs in the control room, behind the cameras and in the studio audience that it went very well. Though I couldn’t help feeling a bit weird the whole night.
It started when we neglected to rehearse our opening gags. So naturally I completely forgot what I had planned to do with Anthony and Sophie when I walked out from behind the scoreboard. We had to stop and redo the opening sequence somewhere between 3 and 5 times (I lost count). And from that moment on, I had it in my head we were off to a bad night. Chalk that one up for next time: Rehearse the damn opening!
Though upon reflection, I can recall several moderately large laughs so it’s probably fine. The contestants were much better behaved this week. No talking over the top of other people (those lapel microphones pick up everything).
Something we’re doing differently this time around is actually taking a look at the footage before the next week’s taping. We weren’t able to do that last year for logistical reasons. That, combined with me not having a studio monitor while I was on camera, meant that the only way I could access the show and my performance was based on the audience’s reaction and how I felt at the time.
For some reason I had it in my head that all the gold was captured perfectly by the cameras. It wasn’t until weeks later when the episodes were being edited that we realised there were a lot of problems (the result of poor directing), which we had to disguise with clever editing. And some of those problems, we were just stuck with.
This time round, I’m exchanging long emails with the cast and director, full of notes of things to do or not do. It’s a lot to be thinking about while I’m supposed to be having fun.
I’m reminded of something Shaun Micallef said on the audio commentary of “Micallef Tonight” – that as he was also a producer, he was often distracted during the interviews about what was coming up later in the show, instead of just being in the moment and enjoying his interview with Barry Humphries.
I’m going to make a conscious effort not to think about a lot of that stuff and just enjoy myself. I have faith in Antonio in the director’s chair. He actually reads the scripts, which is a refreshing change. From here on out, I’m having fun.
In other news, I took at look at the ABC’s newest low budget panel game show “Tractor Monkeys” during the week, and I must say… excuse me while I drag out my soapbox… what a half-arsed attempt at a TV show.
The ABC keeps trying to re-create the success they had with “Spicks and Specks”. I enjoyed Spicks and Specks. But Tractor Monkeys, just like “Randling”, is no Spicks and Specks.
Firstly, it’s the same tired middle-aged comedians they wheel out for all these shows, all vying for punchlines. And with Tractor Monkeys, more so than the others, there’s really been no attempt at all to establish some sort of point of the “game”. The two teams are given out arbitrary points, culminating in a “fast-paced” final round (that’s the same speed as the rest of the show), and then the winners are announced and… Goodnight!
So Dave O’Neil’s team won. So what? They don’t win anything. There are absolutely no consequences for winning or not winning. Even a silly meaningless trophy would make it more interesting.
And could they have made the show look any cheaper? I’m not talking about lovably cheap. I mean slick, sterile cheap. A high school student could have made better segment graphics. They’re all just a pink screen with white text. The graphics for SEASON ONE of 31 Questions are better! (By the way, wait til you see our Season TWO graphics – just *Italian-style exploding fingers from my mouth hand gesture*)
To tell you the truth, I’m actually insulted a show like Tractor Monkeys would be broadcast nationally on the ABC. They should be doing much, much better.
I reckon I could make a better game show than that đŸ˜‰
Come see for yourself tomorrow night.
Kind regards,
David M. Green
I’ve never liked monkeys.
