David M. Green: Purveyor of fine humour

Tag: Glenn Ridge

  • What is this, a REAL TV show?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzhPX_5ggF4&feature=g-all-u

    A big thanks to the good folk over at Channel 31 Melbourne & Geelong who put that 31 Questions promo together for us!

    However, I feel I am obligated to point out that “it’s the quiz show like no other” might not actually be the best description, considering we parody segments from several other TV game shows and the gist of the format is lifted straight from “Sale of the Century” and really any game show that features a host asking questions…

    A more accurate line might be: “it’s the quiz show like most of the others”.

    But yes, we now have a promo airing on Channel 31 and all of a sudden OH MY GOD! I’M ON TV!

    A similar feeling must also be gyrating through the trousers of the good folk involved with RMITV’s NEW flagship show “Live on Bowen”, which also debuts this weekend on Channel 31. Friday evening 8.30PM to be precise.

    Thus called because RMIT University is… whatever the opposite of girt is… by Bowen Street in the north-east quadrant of the Melbourne CBD.

    Now, there’s surely a score of TV producers who, given the opportunity, may have been tempted to call the show “Live on Swanston” in order to more clearly communicate their unique brand of Melbourne-focused program content. But not these guys. Bowen Street is where it’s at. Literally.

    “Live on Bowen” replaces RMITV’s previous flagship late night comedy show “Studio A”. If you’re not familiar with why Studio A was cancelled, have a quick gander at this completely unbiased article from an impartial author: Channel 31’s Best Show Cancelled For Some Reason

    So, new cast and new writers! I for one think this is a great thing because there are very few opportunities to get hands-on experience in television comedy in this country.

    Speaking from my own experience, I joined RMITV shortly after I moved to Melbourne in February 2010. And one of the first things I did was put my hand up to audition to be a cast member and writer on Studio A.

    Wouldn’t you know it, I was unsuccessful. Which was fair enough. It’s a tough contest, and at that point my only TV experience was being an extra in “McLeod’s Daughters”. And that scene was deleted.

    But the cast and writers of Studio A remained unchanged for the next 2 years!

    For any inexperienced writer or performer who walked into the RMITV office in 2010 or 2011, the only way you could write for TV was to become a producer and pitch your own show. A task that’s considerably easier said than done (but which is infinitely more rewarding).

    Of course, a lot of writers can’t be arsed doing all that producing crap. I sure as hell wasn’t keen on it.

    So that’s why it’s great that “Live on Bowen” has come along and given some fresh faces an opportunity to see their gags performed on the small screen. It’s what RMITV and Channel 31 should be doing. And they are. So good on ’em.

    And may I wish the team at “Live on Bowen” all the best for their debut season.

    Now, “Live on Bowen” may have a bigger budget, a flash new set, a more professional cast and crew, big name celebrity guests and the honour of being RMITV’s “flagship” show… but do they have DMG-cam?

    I highly doubt it…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg5Oij6X6z8&feature=g-all-u

    Right! Back to 31 Questions.

    Episode #1 will air on TV this Saturday. Be warned though, it is the 2nd pilot episode, which we shot as a once-off back in June 2011.

    The set is slightly different (mainly less stolen than in later episodes) and instead of series co-hosts Anthony McCormack and Sophie Loughran, it’s Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall and Melanie Valentine on board.

    Now, there’s probably a score of TV producers who, given the opportunity, would probably not allow the pilot episode to be broadcast… But not us!

    We figured there’s enough laughs to justify salvation from the cutting room floor.

    So it’s going to air – production mistakes, continuity errors, awkward audience shots, Glenn Ridge cameo and all – on Channel 31 Melbourne & Geelong this Saturday June 9 at 10PM.

    If you’ve ever wanted to see just how many things can go wrong while making a pre-recorded TV game show, now’s your chance!

    So tune in.

    And don’t forget you can tweet along too: @31Questions #31Questions

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    davidmgreen.com – #1 biased source of David M. Green news

  • Panelling it like it is.

    I’m proud to announce I’m back in the panel-operators’ club! I now work at Melbourne Talk Radio MTR1377!

    It’s been a long time since my last paid panel-operator gig at Adelaide’s SAFM ended with me being replaced by a computer.

    That was August 2008. I was young and inexperienced. And it was in that brief period after the job cuts of the global financial crisis but before the increased opportunities that came from digital radio. But hey, that’s all water under the burnt bridge… 😉

    So it’s only taken 3 years, a Graduate Diploma of Journalism, a move to Melbourne, and 76 job applications since October (not even joking), but I’ve finally found another job in radio.

    So far I’m enjoying working at MTR. Everyone I’ve met has been fantastic. There’s a strong news culture. And it’s no secret I’m a fan of talk back radio (See On The Yacht).

    I’ll be working on a casual and fill-in basis for now, which suits me perfectly, as that will allow me to work on my Channel 31 game show 31 Questions over the next few months. A big thank you to MTR operations manager Jason Taylor.

    I’m particularly enjoying the idea of working in the same building as Steve Vizard and my childhood TV hero, Glenn Ridge! Actually, it’s kinda strange having filmed that sketch with Glenn just last month, and now I’m seeing him every Saturday night when I arrive at MTR just as he leaves.

    So tune in to 1377AM if you’re in the Melbourne area, or listen online. You just might hear the audible results of me pressing buttons and moving faders.

    I’ll leave you now with a tune that sums up this moment perfectly, from a fellow panel-operator by the name of Radio’s Sam Mac…

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    Back on the buttons!

  • Such a tease, 31 Questions…

    That ought to get your mouth watering for my new TV game show. It’s our opening sketch with special guest, former host of Sale of the Century, TV’s Glenn Ridge! Also, you might want to grab a napkin.

    Yes! I can now officially announce 31 Questions (finally) will be taping its special second pilot on the evening of Wednesday June 29, 2011. This show will hopefully become episode 1 of our 13-episode first season.

    If you’ll be in the Melbourne area and are interested in joining our studio audience, you can get the details and RSVP to the event on Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook, what the hell are you doing?

    Alternatively, send an email to producer/director Simon Eastwood (simonpeter.eastwood@gmail.com).

    Space is limited, so if you really want in, RSVP early.

    And don’t forget to LIKE US ON FACEBOOK and SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE for all the latest news, photos and video.

    Let’s ask 31 Questions!

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    Whoo!

  • 31 Questions is back on track BABY!

    I used to watch “Sale of the Century” religiously when I was a kid, growing up in the early to mid-90s pre-Internet world. So it was a small dream fulfilled to not only meet former host Glenn Ridge, but to also film a sketch with him!

    It’s been quite some time since my last update on the progress of my RMITV Student Television game show production for Channel 31: “31 Questions”.

    The last piece of news I shared was when Channel 31 reviewed our pilot and said they wanted us to make another one. We were planning on filming a second pilot in late March, which would then allow us to go ahead with a 13-episode season.

    Unfortunately, it didn’t go as smoothly as we would have hoped. We weren’t allowed to shoot our second pilot and for a while there our whole show had actually been canceled by RMITV. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go into the details, but I’m sure it will all come out years from now when someone decides to write a book on the history of RMITV… And when that happens I’ll be all too happy to provide insight.

    But anyway, the important thing is that after two months of production gridlock, we’ve finally been allowed to film our second pilot. And we kicked it off in style, by filming a sketch with TV legend Glenn Ridge!

    The shoot could not have gone better. Glenn very kindly donated his time and his production company office (Q Media) in Port Melbourne. Great guy and a total pro. An absolute pleasure to work with.

    We’ll have that sketch online soon. So make sure to SUBSCRIBE TO 31 QUESTIONS ON YOUTUBE and LIKE 31 QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK to get all the latest notifications.

    This is hopefully going to be a recurring theme – tracking down notable past and present TV game show hosts and getting them to make cameo sketch appearances.

    TV’s John Burgess of “Wheel of Fortune” and “Burgo’s Catch Phrase” fame has said he’s up for it. Unfortunately though, he lives on the Gold Coast… so we’re not quite sure how we’re going to film it… You can always help out by throwing us a bone? There’s a donate button on the left side of my website.

    We haven’t got a studio date yet to film pilot #2, which will hopefully be episode #1 of a 13-episode first season. But we’re aiming to do it within the next month. Stay tuned.

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    31 Questions
    Host – Writer – Producer