Cheez TV
Encyclopedia
Cheez TV was an Australia
n children's cartoon
show, created by Bill McQueen, that aired on weekday mornings on Network Ten
. It began broadcasting on 2 July 1995 and it ended on 31 December 2004 with the presenters leaving. After eight months of being without presenters, it officially ended on 20 August 2005, and was replaced with Toasted TV
. Cheez TV was the first show in Australia (in 1995) to have an internet address.
based cartoons such as X-Men, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man: The Animated Series
plus several anime
series, including Teknoman
, Transformers, Eagle Riders, Medabots
and in more recent years Pokémon
, Beyblade
, Sailor Moon
, Cardcaptors, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Sonic X
, Digimon
and Yu-Gi-Oh. Other shows that have aired include the Street Sharks
, Extreme Dinosaurs
, Dragon Flyz, Biker Mice from Mars
, Earth Worm Jim
, The Tick, Garfield and Friends
, Gadget Boy and Heather, the 2003 series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
, Count Duckula
, Jimmy Neutron, Project G.e.e.K.e.R.
, Wing Commander
and Rugrats
. Cheez TV also aired during Saturday morning under the moniker of The Big Cheez and featured such cartoons as Bruno the Kid
, C.O.P.S.
, Jackie Chan Adventures
, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
and Zoids
(Cheez TV was the first Western nation to air the final four episodes of the Zoids: Chaotic Century
series in its English language version).
The two presenters, Jade Gatt
and Ryan Lappin
, editorialized and presented small variety segments in between cartoons. These short segments included parodies of Rove Live
, Gardening Australia
, Men in Black
and numerous music video
re-enactments. On occasion the hosts would interview special guests as well. For a period on The Big Cheez Gatt and Lappin were joined by another presenter, Lenka Kripac (member of Australian band Decoder Ring
).
on the Seven Network
, the 'hipper' look and (then) younger youth hosts, not to mention a larger focus on showing cartoons, allowed Ten to take the early morning children's TV crown off Seven, a situation that continues today (Seven eventually opting to focus on adult breakfast television
instead).
During the show's run Ryan Lappin was once nominated for Cleo Magazine
's Bachelor of the Year only to lose to Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill
. Jade Gatt also hosted late night music show Ground Zero.
During the later years of the show Lappin and Gatt's editorials were quickly becoming notorious for their use of more adult-oriented humour which often flew above the heads of their young audience. Lappin reportedly constantly slid hidden "anti-Rove McManus
" commentary in his editorials, which is rumoured to have been the deciding factor which nailed the coffin on the show. Jade Gatt was not immune to scrutiny either, when he would pose as a news reporter called "Dick Wadd" in one of their segments.
Saturday, 20 August 2005 was the last episode of Cheez TV broadcast after 10 years on the air, though Lappin and Gatt's final on-air appearance took place during Friday, 31 December 2004. In 2005, only cartoons showed during Cheez TV. It was replaced with another new children's show, Toasted TV in the same time slot, which continues to screen series such as Pokémon
, Naruto
, One Piece
and Winx Club
.
In 2010, a Facebook
event scheduled for 7 October 2010 appeared, attempting to gain interest in a Cheez TV reunion show. It quickly attracted the attention of tens of thousands of Cheez TV fans. Jade and Ryan both had an interview with the E Team from U20 Radio Station which aired on the 7 August 2010, where they briefly spoke to Peter Styles about the Facebook group and the show. However, after the group sent hundreds of petitioned emails to the networks, third parties made complaints which led to Facebook closing the group. It is unknown whether any consideration has been taken in relation to a Cheez TV reunion by any network contacted.
On the 28th of June 2011, the Adelaide Anime and Videogame Convention AVCon
announced Cheez TV presenters Ryan Lappin and Jade Gatt as special guests. http://avcon.org.au/2011/node/105 The pair appeared in multiple guest panels throughout the weekend. http://avcon.org.au/2011/specialguest
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n children's cartoon
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
show, created by Bill McQueen, that aired on weekday mornings 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...
. It began broadcasting on 2 July 1995 and it ended on 31 December 2004 with the presenters leaving. After eight months of being without presenters, it officially ended on 20 August 2005, and was replaced with Toasted TV
Toasted TV
Toasted TV is the successor to the children's television program Cheez TV, and airs Monday to Saturday on Australia's Network Ten. The show is hosted by Kellyn Morris and Seamus Evans...
. Cheez TV was the first show in Australia (in 1995) to have an internet address.
Programming
Cheez TV aired a number of MarvelMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
based cartoons such as X-Men, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
plus several anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series, including Teknoman
Tekkaman Blade
or Teknoman is an anime series, released in 1992 and 1995 in both Japanese and English language versions.-Plot:During the year 2300 AD , otherwise known as United Earth Year 192, the Earth is under attack from an extraterrestrial enemy known as the Radam...
, Transformers, Eagle Riders, Medabots
Medabots
Medabots, known in Japan as , is a role-playing video game franchise developed by Natsume and published by Imagineer in Japan in 1997. The video game franchise was later adapted into a Japanese anime television series produced by Bee Train. Spanning 52 episodes, the series originally aired on TV...
and in more recent years Pokémon
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...
, Beyblade
Beyblade
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki. Originally serialized in CoroCoro Comic from 2000 to 2002, the individual chapters were collected and published in 14 tankōbon by Shogakukan...
, Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
, Cardcaptors, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Sonic X
Sonic X
is an anime series based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It was produced in Japan by TMS Entertainment with the partnership of Sega and was created by Sonic Team and Sonic Project. In the United States, 4Kids currently owns and manages copyright and branding of the series.- Series 1 ...
, Digimon
Digimon
, short for , is a Japanese media franchise encompassing digital toys, anime, manga and video games. The franchise's eponymous creatures are monsters of various forms living in a "Digital World", a parallel universe that originated from Earth's various communication networks.-Conception and...
and Yu-Gi-Oh. Other shows that have aired include the Street Sharks
Street Sharks
Street Sharks is an American animated television series about crime-fighting half-man/half-sharks. It was produced by DIC Entertainment and aired from 1994 to 1995, originally as a part of the Amazin' Adventures lineup. Later, in 1996, the Street Sharks teamed up with the Dino Vengers and the...
, Extreme Dinosaurs
Extreme Dinosaurs
Extreme Dinosaurs is an American animated series from 1997 based on a 1996 toy line from Mattel starring a group of dinosaurs that were transformed into super warriors by an interdimensional criminal. They rebelled against their creator and do battle with his second group of warriors, the evil...
, Dragon Flyz, Biker Mice from Mars
Biker Mice from Mars
Biker Mice from Mars is a science fiction animated series created by Rick Ungar that began airing in 1993 in the United States and lasted for three seasons before it was cancelled...
, Earth Worm Jim
Earthworm Jim (TV series)
Earthworm Jim is an American animated television series which appeared on Kids' WB! for two seasons from September 9, 1995 through December 13, 1996. It is based on the video game series of the same name...
, The Tick, Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends is an American animated television series based on the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. The show was produced by Film Roman, in association with United Feature Syndicate and Paws, Inc., and ran on CBS Saturday mornings from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994, with...
, Gadget Boy and Heather, the 2003 series of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
, Count Duckula
Count Duckula
Count Duckula is a British animated television series created by British studio Cosgrove Hall, and a spin-off from DangerMouse, a show in which the Count Duckula character was a recurring villain. The series first aired on September 6, 1988 and was produced by Thames Television for 3 seasons and...
, Jimmy Neutron, Project G.e.e.K.e.R.
Project G.e.e.K.e.R.
Project G.eeK.eR. is an animated television series that premiered on CBS on September 14, 1996. It was created by Douglas TenNapel, creator of Earthworm Jim, with original music by Shawn Patterson...
, Wing Commander
Wing Commander (franchise)
Wing Commander is a video game media franchise consisting of space combat simulation computer games from Origin Systems, Inc., an animated television series, a feature film, a collectible card game, a series of novels, and action figures...
and Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
. Cheez TV also aired during Saturday morning under the moniker of The Big Cheez and featured such cartoons as Bruno the Kid
Bruno the Kid
-Plot:The cartoon starring Bruce Willis as the voice of an 11-year old boy who becomes a top spy for a secret espionage organization. The organization, named Globe, contacts Bruno via his computer and a special gadget watch, and are completely unaware of their top spy's young age as he hides behind...
, C.O.P.S.
C.O.P.S. (animated TV series)
C.O.P.S. is an American animated television series released by DIC Entertainment and Celebrity Home Entertainment...
, Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures
Jackie Chan Adventures is an animated television series chronicling the adventures of a fictionalized version of action film star Jackie Chan. Many of the episodes contain references to Chan's actual works. This series ran on Kids' WB! from September 9, 2000 to July 7, 2005 for a total of 95...
, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog is an American animated series that was first broadcast in September 1993, and only for one season...
and Zoids
Zoids
is a multi-media model-kit-based franchise originating from Japanese toy company Tomy ; though now produced by various companies through licenses. The majority of the franchise is built around and focused on the various model kit series...
(Cheez TV was the first Western nation to air the final four episodes of the Zoids: Chaotic Century
Zoids: Chaotic Century
Zoids: Chaotic Century, simply titled in Japan, is the first of Five anime series based on the Zoids range of mecha model kits produced by TOMY. The series was animated by XEBEC, and aired from 1999-09-04 to 2000-12-23 on TBS...
series in its English language version).
The two presenters, Jade Gatt
Jade Gatt
Jade Gatt is an Australian actor who appeared in TV commercials, films and TV shows, and has hosted many Australian TV specials....
and Ryan Lappin
Ryan Lappin
Ryan Lappin is an Australian television personality and musician best known for co-hosting the popular children's morning show Cheez TV from 1995 until 2004....
, editorialized and presented small variety segments in between cartoons. These short segments included parodies of Rove Live
Rove Live
Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television talk show which premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, before moving to Network Ten which aired the program from 2000 until November, 2009. The show was hosted by comedian Rove McManus, and featured an ensemble cast, who presented...
, Gardening Australia
Gardening Australia
Gardening Australia is an Australian television program, originally hosted by Peter Cundall, an experienced gardener with a passion for growing plants using organic methods....
, Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
and numerous music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
re-enactments. On occasion the hosts would interview special guests as well. For a period on The Big Cheez Gatt and Lappin were joined by another presenter, Lenka Kripac (member of Australian band Decoder Ring
Decoder Ring
Decoder Ring is an experimental electronic-rock crossover group from Australia.-Biography:Decoder Ring was formed in 2001, in Sydney, Australia. The original line-up consisted of Matt Fitzgerald Geoff Towner , Pete Kelly , Kenny Davis Jr &...
).
History
Initially competing against Agro's Cartoon ConnectionAgro's Cartoon Connection
Agro's Cartoon Connection was an Australian children's television show that aired on the Seven Network from 1989 to 1997. Shown on weekday mornings, it was primarily hosted by Agro, a puppet played by comedian Jamie Dunn...
on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, the 'hipper' look and (then) younger youth hosts, not to mention a larger focus on showing cartoons, allowed Ten to take the early morning children's TV crown off Seven, a situation that continues today (Seven eventually opting to focus on adult breakfast television
Breakfast television
Breakfast television or morning show , is a type of infotainment television program, broadcast live in the morning...
instead).
During the show's run Ryan Lappin was once nominated for Cleo Magazine
Cleo (magazine)
CLEO is an Australian, New Zealand, South African, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thailand and Indonesian women's magazine.Aimed at an older audience than the teenage-focused Dolly, the magazine is known for its CLEO Bachelor of the Year award....
's Bachelor of the Year only to lose to Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill
Geoff Huegill
Geoffrey Andrew Huegill , nicknamed Skippy and Skip, is an Australian butterfly swimmer...
. Jade Gatt also hosted late night music show Ground Zero.
During the later years of the show Lappin and Gatt's editorials were quickly becoming notorious for their use of more adult-oriented humour which often flew above the heads of their young audience. Lappin reportedly constantly slid hidden "anti-Rove McManus
Rove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
" commentary in his editorials, which is rumoured to have been the deciding factor which nailed the coffin on the show. Jade Gatt was not immune to scrutiny either, when he would pose as a news reporter called "Dick Wadd" in one of their segments.
Saturday, 20 August 2005 was the last episode of Cheez TV broadcast after 10 years on the air, though Lappin and Gatt's final on-air appearance took place during Friday, 31 December 2004. In 2005, only cartoons showed during Cheez TV. It was replaced with another new children's show, Toasted TV in the same time slot, which continues to screen series such as Pokémon
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...
, Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
, One Piece
One Piece
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
and Winx Club
Winx Club
Winx Club is a 2004 Italian animated television series, created by Iginio Straffi and produced by Rainbow S.r.l.. The series is aimed toward children between the ages of five and twelve, but is also popular among teens...
.
In 2010, a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
event scheduled for 7 October 2010 appeared, attempting to gain interest in a Cheez TV reunion show. It quickly attracted the attention of tens of thousands of Cheez TV fans. Jade and Ryan both had an interview with the E Team from U20 Radio Station which aired on the 7 August 2010, where they briefly spoke to Peter Styles about the Facebook group and the show. However, after the group sent hundreds of petitioned emails to the networks, third parties made complaints which led to Facebook closing the group. It is unknown whether any consideration has been taken in relation to a Cheez TV reunion by any network contacted.
On the 28th of June 2011, the Adelaide Anime and Videogame Convention AVCon
AVCon
AVCon is an anime and video games convention held in Adelaide, South Australia each year. The convention showcases Japanese Animation and Video Gaming, attendees at the convention partake in events such as cosplay, video game tournaments, anime screenings, anime music videos and more including many...
announced Cheez TV presenters Ryan Lappin and Jade Gatt as special guests. http://avcon.org.au/2011/node/105 The pair appeared in multiple guest panels throughout the weekend. http://avcon.org.au/2011/specialguest