This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2013) |
What Now | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Genre | Children's entertainment |
Created by | Rex Simpson |
Presented by |
|
Opening theme | What Now 2024 |
Country of origin | New Zealand |
Production | |
Producer | Whitebait Productions |
Camera setup | Multi-Camera |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | |
Release | 9 May 1981 – present |
What Now is a New Zealand children's television programme that premiered on Saturday 9 May 1981.
The show airs every Sunday at 8.30 am on TVNZ 2 and has segments such as Turtle Town, Fancy Feeds, and Gaming with Grandpa. It has no adverts, due to the Broadcasting Act 1989 which states that no commercial advertising can be shown on New Zealand television between 6 am and noon on Sundays.
What Now (alternatively titled as What Now? or WN) was created in 1981 by TVNZ producer Rex Simpson before he left the state broadcaster in 1988 to set up a children's department for then upcoming new channel, TV3. [1]
The show was originally half an hour in duration and screened on Saturday mornings on TVNZ 1 between 10-10.30am. The original cast in the first year were Steve Hooper along with four children, Merryn Pugh, Richard Hillock, Oliver Huggins and Lucy Briant (and Murdoch the dog). According to Rex Simpson at the time the "whole idea of the programme [was] to create healthy leisure attitudes" [2] and followed on from the template set by his previous children's show, How's That?, of introducing children to fun and educational activities (and which had been hosted by Stu Dennison the previous year in 1980). For their scripted scenes Steve and the children would interact in a clubhouse set (recorded in TVNZ's Christchurch studio), and these would be interspersed with externally-filmed games and activity ideas, or skits by comedic character Murray Slack (portrayed by comedian Jon Gadsby in 1981, and then the next year by actor Tony Wahren).
For the 1982 series Lucy Briant and Oliver Huggins were retained as part of the cast but five new children were introduced - Carol Hoy, Jeffrey White, Debbie Matoe, Scott Flanagan and Adrian Sexton. Other segments were also added to the format such as illustrated comic book character Captain Leisure (drawn by artist Ashley Smith), and a "New Games Competition" co-presented by Peter Williams and Yvonne Moore. [3]
In 1983 the programme format was revamped again and new solo presenter Steve Parr was brought in to anchor the show, with the timeslot shifting to 8.25-9.30am. While sitting behind a studio desk Steve Parr introduced segments covering morning keep-fit exercises, sketches involving recurring characters such as complaining old man Clive Grumble (portrayed by Jim Hopkins), simple recipes by Alison Holst, trivia from Frank Flash (Alasdair Kincaid), law and safety with Constable Keith and Sniff (a puppet police dog), nationwide talent quest "Starbound", and a serialised interactive detective series called "The Retrievers", interspersed with regular cartoons. The opening theme song used for the show from the mid 1980s to early 1990s was Get Out of Your Lazy Bed , by Matt Bianco. [4]
In 1984 the timeslot again changed from 8.30–10am, and then in July 1985 onwards increased to a whole two hours duration, screening from 8-10am. When Steve Parr left the show at the end of 1984, after two years as the main presenter, the number of hosts also increased, usually to three, beginning with Danny Watson (from Spot On ) joining in April 1985. Michelle Bracey, who had been part of show segments the year before in 1984, became a more prominent co-presenter and Frank Flash was given a central comedic manic role. When Michelle left the show, she was succeeded by Michèle A'Court in April 1987.
During the Steve Parr years onwards the show changed from being pre-recorded to live broadcast, and comedy sketches, interactive phone calls and competitions with the viewing audience, plus magazine-style segments going out and about, all became a more central part of the format. The style remained this way for many years, as hosts evolved and were replaced, until today where the format now involves live audiences of crowds of children, but still is closely faithful with the core concept established early on. [5]
In November of 1989 the show moved channels to TVNZ 2 and then in 1996 began screening on Sunday mornings. An after school version of What Now, What Now PM, also ran on TVNZ 2 during the week, between 1997 and 2002.
The weekdays version of What Now became its own separate show known as WNTV. First hosted by Carolyn Taylor and a face in a computer screen played by Mikey Carpenter. Later the show changed dramatically, but kept the same WNTV name. It became a drama showing behind the scenes of a children's afternoon magazine show. This was hosted by Antonia Prebble and Tom Hern, and featured several other characters. Anna Allbury and Jo Tuapawa featured as reporters.[ citation needed ]
The What Now show was moved to TVNZ's Avalon studios in Lower Hutt in 1999 until TVNZ shut down its Children's Department at the end of 2003. What Now the show was then brought back to Christchurch in 2004 to be produced by an independent company Whitebait Productions, headed by Janine Morrell-Gunn and Jason Gunn. What Now has been funded by NZ On Air since NZOA's inception in 1989; prior to that it was funded by TVNZ.
In 2004 the afternoon show WNTV was cancelled and replaced with the old children's afternoon TV show Studio 2 produced by Ian Taylor and Taylormade Productions. Although Taylormade was based in Dunedin, Studio 2 was produced live to air at TVNZ's Auckland studios.
In 2024 What Now halted its live studio production for the first time in its history. The show announced itself as "digital first" with the aim of growing it's Youtube subscriber base to reflect the shift in viewing habits of its young audience. [6] 2024 also saw the return of Christopher Kirk as host.
Various programme partnerships over the years have seen What Now promoting 'healthy eating healthy action', water safety and old-fashioned letter writing amongst many other things. What Now has a long-standing association with the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon, and with Sport and Recreation New Zealand whose 'Push Play' message encourages children to be physically active.
Early What Now presenters were also credited as writers. They were people like Michele A'Court, Danny Watson, Al Kincaid, Michelle Bracey, Simon Barnett and Catherine McPherson, some of whom have gone on to roles as directors and writers. A more recent presenter who made a significant behind-the-scenes contribution was Anthony Samuels, who also trained as a director.[ citation needed ]
Off-screen personnel who have shaped What Now over the years are many. They include camera operator and director Alan Henderson (also the brains behind Jason Gunn's sidekick Thingee), Directors Keith Tyler-Smith, Bill de Friez, Peter Verstappen, Mike Rehu, Brian Wickstead, Mark Owers, Mike Ritchie, Jason Gunn, Richard Hansen, Matt Barrett, Kerry DuPont and Kingsley Hockley. Producers include Richard Driver, Mike Rehu, Tony Palmer, Anne Williams, Emma Martini(Gribble), Reuben Davidson, Jo Eade, Adam Percival and Executive Producer Janine Morrell-Gunn.
Host | Role | Duration |
---|---|---|
Chris Kirk | Studio host | 2015-2020, 2024-Present |
Throughout the years, What Now has maintained the use of gunge and foam. Children, celebrities, parents and sometimes the presenters are often the subject of embarrassment in various gunge games. Examples include Happy Feet, Gunge Matters, Target your Teacher and Tug of War and general gunging.[ citation needed ]
In 2024, What Now performed it's most extreme gunging ever, dropping over 375 litres of gunge from a helicopter onto its host. [8]
1News is the news division of New Zealand television network TVNZ. The programme is broadcast live from TVNZ Centre in Auckland. The flagship news bulletin is the nightly 6pm news hour, but 1News also has late night news bulletins, as well as current affairs shows such as Breakfast and Seven Sharp.
Fair Go is a New Zealand consumer affairs television programme hosted by Pippa Wetzell. First aired in 1977, it is New Zealand's second longest-running local programme. It is also one of its highest-rated programmes, frequently placed high in the New Zealand TV Guide list of most viewed programmes.
Good Morning was a New Zealand morning magazine lifestyle television programme, the original concept put to TVNZ Head of Programming Mike Lattin by the then Head of Production and later CEO of Avalon Studios Phil Wallbank.. It aired weekday mornings from 9am on TVNZ 1 from April 1996 to 2015. The programme was hosted by Jeanette Thomas. Episodes typically included segments on cooking, craft, exercise, fashion and beauty, and topical discussion panels, as well as interviews with celebrities and other noteworthy people. The show was typically broadcast live, with the usual exception of advertorials that were embedded in the programme. From July 1997 to August 1999 the previous day episodes were played on TVNZ 2 at 3.30am.
20/20 is a New Zealand documentary television programme hosted by Carolyn Robinson, and is based on the American Broadcasting Company programme of the same name.
Jason Kenneth Gunn is a New Zealand television and radio personality. He is known for The Son of a Gunn Show, What Now, Dancing with the Stars, Wheel of Fortune, and The Rich List, and also afternoon shows on radio stations Classic Hits and More FM.
Play School was a New Zealand educational television show for children. It was based on the British Play School show. The series first aired in 1972, and ended in 1990.
Thingee is a puppet which was used as an unofficial ambassador and icon for New Zealand children's television during the 1990s, appearing in multiple television shows such as The Son of a Gunn Show, and also children's programme, What Now. He appeared on T-shirts, dolls, puzzles and advertising all over New Zealand. He was voiced by After School camera operator and director Alan Henderson, who died on 15 February 2020.
Sparkle Friends is a New Zealand animated series and segment produced by Mukpuddy Animation for New Zealand's long running children's show, What Now. The series stars the What Now presenters as children and a creature named Gun-gi, who vomits gunge, something that features heavily in What Now.
Studio 2 LIVE is a New Zealand children's television show. It was originally named Studio 2 up until 2010, when it was renamed Studio 2 LIVE. It premiered on 22 March 2004 after WNTV was cancelled. It screened weekdays from 3:30–4:30 p.m. on TV2. The series ended on 1 October 2010.
Matthew Phillip "Matt" Gibb is a television presenter in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known for presenting the children's television show Studio 2 from 2004 until 2010.
The Son of a Gunn Show was a New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995. It was produced in the Christchurch TVNZ Building and finished when the production of children's programmes was moved to Wellington.
Jase TV was a short-lived New Zealand children's television show in which hosts Jason Gunn and puppet Thingee introduced cartoons. It aired on TVNZ in 1992 and eventually led into The Son of a Gunn Show.
WhitebaitMedia is a local independent New Zealand production company producing children's programmes. It was founded by Janine Morrell-Gunn in 1998.
Keith Arthur Bracey was a New Zealand television reporter and host who with his goatee beard was one of Television New Zealand's most recognised figures.
After School was a New Zealand children's television programme that aired weekday afternoons on TV One and, later, Network Two from March 1981 to December 1988. It was produced in-house by TVNZ.
Carolyn Keep is a New Zealand television personality and presenter. Taylor is known as one of the prominent faces for New Zealand Children's television in the late 1990s, as one of the hosts for What Now. Taylor began her broadcast career the young age of 18 years old, before television, Taylor had studied in Wellington at the Victoria University of Wellington.
Janine Rania Morrell-Gunn is a children's television producer from New Zealand.
Michèle Edith A'Court is a New Zealand comedian, writer and feminist. She has toured New Zealand and international venues with her standup comedy shows and in 2010 was awarded the Female Comedian of the Decade at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards. A'Court has appeared in many TV shows since the late 1980s including What Now, 7Days and The Project. She is a regular columnist with The Spinoff and the author of two books. She was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the entertainment and comedy industries, in the 2023 New Year Honours.
Eve Marama Morrell Palmer is a New Zealand television presenter and actress.