Jason Gunn
Encyclopedia
Jason Gunn is a New Zealand
television personality. He is now best known as the main host of the hit New Zealand
entertainment television show, Dancing with the Stars
, Wheel of Fortune
, and The Rich List
.
He hosted After School
(1989) and co-hosted The Son of a Gunn Show
(1992–1995) and Jase TV
(1992) with his sidekick Thingee
a grey puppet with bulbous eyes. Jason and Thingee also starred in Jase and Thingees Big Adventure, a straight-to-video kids movie based on The Son of a Gunn Show. Thingee infamously lost an eye during one Son of a Gunn broadcast, before returning to his home planet on an episode of What Now?
After the end of Son of a Gunn in 1995, Gunn began to expand his demographic, hosting performance showcase McDonald's Young Entertainers
, and the show Small Talk, in which contestants guess how children will answer questions.
finished (due to TVNZ moving their children's television operations to Wellington
), Jason became a radio announcer for More FM
. Between 1997 and 1999 he hosted a variety show, McDonald's Young Entertainers
, and at one stage was the voice for a New Zealand pre-school character, Bumble
.
Breakfast show in Christchurch
.
More recently, Jason has hosted the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons of Dancing with the Stars
.
He hosts game show, The Rich List, weekly on TVNZ channel TV1.
Jason is a patron of the National Youth Theatre Company of New Zealand NYTC
He also runs a production and facilities company, Whitebait-TV
, in Christchurch
with his wife, Janine Morrell-Gunn, for which he writes, directs and produces for television, including children's show, What Now
and oversees the production of television commercials.
Jason gunn hosted the One new year countdown on 10:30pm 31 December 2009 - 12:01am 1 January 2010
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
television personality. He is now best known as the main host of the hit New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
entertainment television show, Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
, Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (New Zealand)
Wheel of Fortune is a long-running New Zealand television game show that is hosted by television personality Jason Gunn and co-host Sonia Gray. It screens on TVNZ channel TV ONE.-History:...
, and The Rich List
The Rich List
The Rich List is a game show which has the following versions:*The Rich List , formerly aired on Channel Seven and hosted by Andrew O'Keefe*Rich List , currently airs on Sat.1 and is hosted by Kai Pflaume...
.
Early career
Gunn is best known for being "the face of children's television" during the late 1980s and 1990s.He hosted After School
After School
After School may refer to:* After-school activity, special activities that are done at the school after the day is over* After school special, a type of television program-Films:* After School , a 2003 Singaporean film...
(1989) and co-hosted The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show was a long-running New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995....
(1992–1995) and Jase TV
Jase TV
Jase TV was a short-lived New Zealand children's television show in which hosts Jason Gunn and Thingee introduced cartoons. It aired on TVNZ in 1992 and eventually led into The Son of a Gunn Show....
(1992) with his sidekick Thingee
Thingee
Thingee is a puppet which was used as an unofficial ambassador and icon for New Zealand children’s television during the 1990’s, appearing in multiple television shows such as The Son of a Gunn Show, and also children's programme, What Now...
a grey puppet with bulbous eyes. Jason and Thingee also starred in Jase and Thingees Big Adventure, a straight-to-video kids movie based on The Son of a Gunn Show. Thingee infamously lost an eye during one Son of a Gunn broadcast, before returning to his home planet on an episode of What Now?
After the end of Son of a Gunn in 1995, Gunn began to expand his demographic, hosting performance showcase McDonald's Young Entertainers
McDonald's Young Entertainers
McDonald's Young Entertainers was a New Zealand teenager talent reality series that ran from 1997 to 1999 on TVNZ's TV2 at 6:30pm on Sundays. It was hosted by Jason Gunn, and endorsed by the McDonald's franchise....
, and the show Small Talk, in which contestants guess how children will answer questions.
Other works
When The Son of a Gunn ShowThe Son of a Gunn Show
The Son of a Gunn Show was a long-running New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995....
finished (due to TVNZ moving their children's television operations to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
), Jason became a radio announcer for More FM
More FM
MORE FM is a New Zealand radio network playing adult contemporary music or Pop music. It is operated by MediaWorks New Zealand.MORE FM broadcasts in 22 centres throughout New Zealand with local programming in most markets between 6am and 1pm and networked programming the rest of the day...
. Between 1997 and 1999 he hosted a variety show, McDonald's Young Entertainers
McDonald's Young Entertainers
McDonald's Young Entertainers was a New Zealand teenager talent reality series that ran from 1997 to 1999 on TVNZ's TV2 at 6:30pm on Sundays. It was hosted by Jason Gunn, and endorsed by the McDonald's franchise....
, and at one stage was the voice for a New Zealand pre-school character, Bumble
Bumble (TV Series)
Bumble was a New Zealand children's television series for children ages 2–7 featuring a magical bee. The title character was played by Jason Gunn. The series was produced for TVNZ by the Gunn's wife, Janine Morrell-Gunn....
.
Present career
Jason is the co-host of the Classic Hits FMClassic Hits FM
Classic Hits is an Adult Contemporary music radio network broadcasting in 25 markets throughout New Zealand, targeting 25 - 55 year olds. Its a family-focused radio network with some of New Zealand's most experienced broadcasters on air and behind the scenes. It currently has around 387,000...
Breakfast show in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
More recently, Jason has hosted the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
.
He hosts game show, The Rich List, weekly on TVNZ channel TV1.
Jason is a patron of the National Youth Theatre Company of New Zealand NYTC
NYTC
NYTC is a not-for-profit organisation that runs Theatre training workshops and musical productions in New Zealand...
He also runs a production and facilities company, Whitebait-TV
Whitebait-TV
Whitebait-TV is a local independent New Zealand production company producing children's programmes. It was founded by Janine Morrell-Gunn in 1998.-History:...
, in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
with his wife, Janine Morrell-Gunn, for which he writes, directs and produces for television, including children's show, What Now
What Now
What Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
and oversees the production of television commercials.
Jason gunn hosted the One new year countdown on 10:30pm 31 December 2009 - 12:01am 1 January 2010
Filmography
- "Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (New Zealand)Wheel of Fortune is a long-running New Zealand television game show that is hosted by television personality Jason Gunn and co-host Sonia Gray. It screens on TVNZ channel TV ONE.-History:...
" (2008–2009) - "The Rich List" (2007–present)
- "Dancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
" (2005–2009) - "Sparkle FriendsSparkle FriendsSparkle Friends was an animated series produced for New Zealand's long running children's show, What Now?. The series stars the What Now presenters as children and also a magical creature named Gun-gi who vomits a green liquid which makes the presenters have super powers...
" (2005–2008) - "SquirtSquirt (TV series)Squirt was a New Zealand children's television show, produced in Dunedin. It had been aired since 1996 and on two different TV networks, coming to a close on 25 November 2006. Squirt was aired every Saturday morning, originally from 7am to 9am, then from 8:30am to 10am, but now only 30 minutes...
" (2001–2003) - "BumbleBumble (TV Series)Bumble was a New Zealand children's television series for children ages 2–7 featuring a magical bee. The title character was played by Jason Gunn. The series was produced for TVNZ by the Gunn's wife, Janine Morrell-Gunn....
" (2000) - "McDonald's Young EntertainersMcDonald's Young EntertainersMcDonald's Young Entertainers was a New Zealand teenager talent reality series that ran from 1997 to 1999 on TVNZ's TV2 at 6:30pm on Sundays. It was hosted by Jason Gunn, and endorsed by the McDonald's franchise....
" (1997–1999) - "New Zealand's Funniest Home VideosNew Zealand's Funniest Home VideosNew Zealand's Funniest Home Videos was a New Zealand reality television program on TVNZ channel, TV2 in which viewers were able to send in humorous homemade videotapes...
" (1993–1995) - "The Son of a Gunn ShowThe Son of a Gunn ShowThe Son of a Gunn Show was a long-running New Zealand after-school, children's television show, hosted by Jason Gunn, that aired on TVNZ from 1992, to the final episode in 1995....
" (1992–1995) - "Jase TVJase TVJase TV was a short-lived New Zealand children's television show in which hosts Jason Gunn and Thingee introduced cartoons. It aired on TVNZ in 1992 and eventually led into The Son of a Gunn Show....
" (1992) - "What NowWhat NowWhat Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
" (1991–1993) - "After SchoolAfter SchoolAfter School may refer to:* After-school activity, special activities that are done at the school after the day is over* After school special, a type of television program-Films:* After School , a 2003 Singaporean film...
" (1989) - "Small TalkSmall TalkSmall Talk was an American game show hosted by comedian Wil Shriner and produced by Reg Grundy Productions that aired on The Family Channel from September 30, 1996 to January 3, 1997...
" - "After 2"
- "Look Who's Famous Now
External links
- Jason Gunn biography on NZ On ScreenNZ On ScreenNZ On Screen is an online showcase of archival New Zealand television and film. The website is fully funded by NZ On Air and provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide authoritative background information.The site...