Blokesworld
Encyclopedia
Blokesworld is an Australian television
lifestyle series. It was originally shown on Channel 31 in 2003, then on Network Ten
from 2004 to 2005, usually anytime between 11.30 pm and 12.30 am on Friday nights (following Sports Tonight
).
It is currently being shown on Aurora Community Television
channel on the pay TV network Foxtel
. It is also long-running in New Zealand on Triangle TV
and Stratos TV.
Supporting presenters on Blokesworld include former Australian Penthouse
Pet and now burlesque dancer Rachel "Miss Blokesworld" James (Rachel St. James), exotic dancers Lolli, Misty and Bobbi (a.k.a. 'The Vertical Bar Team') and Scott Bon. Other regular presenters on the show have included Chinese restaurateur-cum-stuntman Billy Mok and Australian country music star Adam Brand
.
The music throughout Blokesworld is provided by Holeshot, who are in fact Ado, Ben Wah and an undisclosed member, with the band in disguise as motocross contenders.
Although Blokesworld is shown on a commercial network, advertising is present as sponsorship throughout the show rather than in conventional TV advertisement breaks.
, following years of playing in bands together and dabbling in music journalism
. They had the idea that Australian television needed a more "bloke friendly" program, and set about completing six episodes of a show that combined the dirt biking theme with pole dancing, discussion on all matter of trucks and cars, and various other "blokey" subjects. The episodes were then submitted to Channel 31, in hopes that a late-night slot could be secured. When Channel 31 suggested that six more episodes be made in order to constitute a full series, Ado and Ben Wah moved production into the former's Queensland home and took odd jobs to make ends meet. Blokesworld began on Channel 31 in February 2003 and was an instant cult hit. Much of the funding for the series at the time came from sponsorship deals with companies such as Globe and 1-800 Reverse.
Many unsuccessful attempts to sell Blokesworld to the commercial networks followed. Eventually, Steve Dundon of the Melbourne-based production company Cornerbox expressed interest in the show and convinced Network Ten
to place Blokesworld in a Friday night graveyard slot. In order to be closer to Cornerbox, Ado and Ben Wah relocated the production from their Queensland to Whittlesea, Victoria, during 2004.
Ten launched the second series of Blokesworld in September 2004. By now the show had better editing and sponsorship from more lucrative companies like Ford Motor Company
(which ties in with the show's obsession with Ford's V8 engine utilities). It has consistently won its timeslot ever since.
Blokesworlds final season for Channel Ten concluded in November 2005. The latest season, subtitled Spin The Globe, was filmed in Europe and Japan during 2006, and began appearing in November that year on the community cable channel Aurora (via Foxtel/Austar). An anthology of the each of the show's first three seasons has been released on DVD.
at the start of October.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
lifestyle series. It was originally shown on Channel 31 in 2003, then on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
from 2004 to 2005, usually anytime between 11.30 pm and 12.30 am on Friday nights (following Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight
Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten . The program was broadcast on Weeknights at 10.30 pm; at 11.00pm , Fridays at 12.00am , and on Sunday from 7:30pm AEDT Sports Tonight was an Australian sports information program broadcast on Network Ten (and on...
).
It is currently being shown on Aurora Community Television
Aurora Community Television
Aurora Community Channel is an Australian subscription television channel that screens locally produced community television programs. It was launched on the 1 March, on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus Digital Networks and can be found on channel 183...
channel on the pay TV network Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
. It is also long-running in New Zealand on Triangle TV
Triangle TV
Triangle Television and Stratos Television are public service television stations based in Auckland, New Zealand. Triangle broadcasts across Auckland on analogue UHF, while Stratos broadcasts around New Zealand on the Freeview, Sky TV and TelstraClear cable digital platforms...
and Stratos TV.
The show
The creators and main presenters of Blokesworld are "Ado" and "Ben Wah". The format of the show is based around regular segments that focus on subjects like motor sports, exotic dancing (and other sexually themed topics), and unique aspects of Australian culture and society. In most episodes a connecting theme is interspersed among these segments.Supporting presenters on Blokesworld include former Australian Penthouse
Penthouse (magazine)
Penthouse, a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and softcore pornographic pictorials that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore. Penthouse is owned by FriendFinder Network. formerly known as General Media, Inc. whose parent company was Penthouse International...
Pet and now burlesque dancer Rachel "Miss Blokesworld" James (Rachel St. James), exotic dancers Lolli, Misty and Bobbi (a.k.a. 'The Vertical Bar Team') and Scott Bon. Other regular presenters on the show have included Chinese restaurateur-cum-stuntman Billy Mok and Australian country music star Adam Brand
Adam Brand
Adam Brand is an Australian musician who sings country music. Active since 1997, he has released seven studio albums and thirteen singles. His first three albums are all certified platinum in Australia...
.
The music throughout Blokesworld is provided by Holeshot, who are in fact Ado, Ben Wah and an undisclosed member, with the band in disguise as motocross contenders.
Although Blokesworld is shown on a commercial network, advertising is present as sponsorship throughout the show rather than in conventional TV advertisement breaks.
History
Blokesworld began as a slow-paced, low-budget Saturday night program on the national community network Channel 31 in 2003. The concept of the show stemmed from Ado and Ben Wah's new found interest in dirt bikingMotocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
, following years of playing in bands together and dabbling in music journalism
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
. They had the idea that Australian television needed a more "bloke friendly" program, and set about completing six episodes of a show that combined the dirt biking theme with pole dancing, discussion on all matter of trucks and cars, and various other "blokey" subjects. The episodes were then submitted to Channel 31, in hopes that a late-night slot could be secured. When Channel 31 suggested that six more episodes be made in order to constitute a full series, Ado and Ben Wah moved production into the former's Queensland home and took odd jobs to make ends meet. Blokesworld began on Channel 31 in February 2003 and was an instant cult hit. Much of the funding for the series at the time came from sponsorship deals with companies such as Globe and 1-800 Reverse.
Many unsuccessful attempts to sell Blokesworld to the commercial networks followed. Eventually, Steve Dundon of the Melbourne-based production company Cornerbox expressed interest in the show and convinced Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
to place Blokesworld in a Friday night graveyard slot. In order to be closer to Cornerbox, Ado and Ben Wah relocated the production from their Queensland to Whittlesea, Victoria, during 2004.
Ten launched the second series of Blokesworld in September 2004. By now the show had better editing and sponsorship from more lucrative companies like Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
(which ties in with the show's obsession with Ford's V8 engine utilities). It has consistently won its timeslot ever since.
Blokesworlds final season for Channel Ten concluded in November 2005. The latest season, subtitled Spin The Globe, was filmed in Europe and Japan during 2006, and began appearing in November that year on the community cable channel Aurora (via Foxtel/Austar). An anthology of the each of the show's first three seasons has been released on DVD.
Controversy
On 16 September 2005, a live-show spinoff of Blokesworld, "Blokesworld Live", was banned by Brisbane City Council fifteen hours before the event was to commence at Brisbane's RNA Showgrounds. Though the organisers stressed that the event was well-organised and in accordance with public liability, security and OHS regulations, Brisbane City Council had given in to political pressure from individuals and groups such as the Young Women's Christian Association to stop "Blokesworld Live" from going ahead. The event was rescheduled to nearby IpswichIpswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
at the start of October.