Spicks and Specks (TV series)

Spicks and Specks is an Australian music-themed comedic television quiz show. It aired on ABC1 at 8:30pm on Wednesday nights, with the show repeated on Thursdays on ABC2 at 8pm. The previous year's season was repeated every Friday at 2:30pm on ABC1. Currently, repeats of the show screen at 7:30pm weeknights on ABC TV Plus. It was filmed at ABC Melbourne's studios in Gordon Street, Elsternwick. The program has won three Logie Awards and numerous nominations. In August 2019, it was announced that the series will return with the original hosts for a four-episode reboot in November 2019 and continuing in 2020.[1]

Spicks and Specks
Presented byAdam Hills
StarringAlan Brough
Myf Warhurst
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes277
Production
Running time27 mins. (some special episodes ran for 58 minutes)
Release
Original networkABC TV
Picture format576i (SDTV)
720p / 1080i (HDTV)
Original release31 January 2005 (2005-01-31) 
23 November 2011 (2011-11-23)
External links
Official website

Synopsis

The show takes its name from the 1966 hit single by the Bee Gees. It was hosted by stand-up comedian Adam Hills who posed questions to two teams each headed by a permanent team captain, actor/comedian/author Alan Brough and radio announcer Myf Warhurst. They each have two guest panellists, generally one from the world of music and one from comedy. They vary from week to week, but regular guests included Hamish Blake, Tim Minchin, Frank Woodley, Colin Lane, Ross Noble, James Morrison, Renée Geyer, Ella Hooper, Meshel Laurie, Denise Scott, Antoinette Halloran and Dave O'Neil. With the exception of Dave O'Neil, Blake appeared more often than any other guest panellist,[2] and his comparative lack of musical knowledge was a running gag.

The show's general style, employing a mix of music and comedy, is similar to the British show Never Mind the Buzzcocks and fellow Australian TV show RocKwiz, but the question formats and program style (Satirical vs. Family vs. Pub Quiz) are different.

The show returned for a seventh season on 4 May 2011. On 25 May 2011, it was announced the seventh season would be the final season and the show would end on 23 November 2011.[3]

2014 relaunch

ABC Television announced on 28 November 2012, during their 2013 program launch that Spicks and Specks would be returning in the new year but without Hills, Warhurst or Brough.[4][5] However the re-launch of the series was delayed by the broadcaster until 2014, with the first episode airing on 5 February. The new host was comedian Josh Earl with Adam Richard and Ella Hooper as team captains.[6][7][8]

The revival was axed after 20 episodes due to low ratings, with the final six recorded episodes airing over the summer non-ratings period.

Games

The show sticks to a simple quiz-show format, with host Hills asking the teams varying music-themed questions. Some rounds are played on an "open-to-all" basis, i.e. both teams can answer the questions, but in most rounds each team gets their own questions to answer – although the other team may answer the question if the first team doesn't know it. Scores are kept, but the prize for the winners is simply personal satisfaction. Many segments are named after, or otherwise reference, well known song titles. Regular segments include:

  • Know Your Product, where each team chooses one of four given topics – three questions around this topic are then asked which either team can answer. The questions are usually ordered by points allocated and the number of answers needed. (e.g. first question is worth one point, but only one answer is needed, the second question is worth two points and requires two answers, and the final question is worth three points and has three answers). This game is played first in every episode. In special episodes the topic is the show's theme which has 5 questions of which the 4th & 5th questions have 4 & 5 answers respectively. Named after the song by The Saints.
  • Substitute, where one panellist from each team sings three well-known tunes, substituting words from a text provided by Hills. This is usually a technical manual or some kind of text humorous given the context (texts used have included Datsun 180B Service Manual, 2004 Australian Government Tax Pack and A Guide to Yabbie Farming). The other panellists of that team then guess the songs. This game is loosely based on One Song To The Tune Of Another from the BBC Radio 4 panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Adam Hills' own minor hit with "Working Class Anthem", in which he sang the lyrics of the Australian National Anthem to the tune of Jimmy Barnes' "Working Class Man". Named after the song by The Who.
  • Cover Versions in which one contestant is chosen to draw pictures (in silence), representing firstly album covers and then song titles in later episodes, as their panel attempts to guess which album/song it is. Contestants are not allowed to use words or numbers. Music used during this round is Axel F.
  • Samplemania/Videomania, where five or six songs/music video clips are edited into one short 30-second clip. Players must identify the different songs/videos in the clip after they have all been played, and are not allowed to take notes.
  • Turning Japanese in which the lyrics of well-known song are translated into Japanese using an online web translator. The lyrics are then translated back into English using the same translator. Contestants must guess the title of the song the mismatched lyrics are from. Named after the song by The Vapors
  • Please Please Tell Me Now Hills presents part of a music video clip, and the teams must answer questions about the video. Named after a line in Is There Something I Should Know? by Duran Duran
  • Musician or Serial Killer, in which each team is shown a photograph of a person and is asked to identify whether they are a musician or serial killer. Early episodes tasked individual panelists with identification, resulting in six rounds of this game.
  • Sir Mix'n'Matchalot, where each team is given three famous people and three facts about each of these people. They have to match the fact with the correct person. A play on rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot.
  • Bottom 100 in which Hills provides each team with a choice of two awful songs and asks them to determine which was rated worst by a given group or list. A play on the Triple J Hottest 100.
  • You Can Buy Me Love in which Adam reads out three celebrity themed items that have been found on eBay (e.g. A tour jacket, keychain with artist/band name). Some of these items are the usual merchandise, while others are down-right weird. The teams are then asked to place each item in order from cheapest to the most expensive. Named after the song Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles.
  • Common People in which the teams identify the commonality between three musicians/musical personalities or songs/albums. Named after the song by Pulp.
  • Malvern Stars on 45 in which a single contestant rides a bicycle which powers a record player. The speed each record plays at is determined by the speed at which the contestant pedals. The contestant must continue to ride until their panel correctly guesses as many songs as possible in the time limit. Named after the bicycle manufacturer Malvern Star and the band Stars on 45.
  • Mondegreens, in which teams are given a short piece of text that vaguely sounds like real lyrics or a set of lyrics. They must then identify the real lyrics.
  • Looking for Clues, where teams have to guess the name of a band from a cryptic clue given by Hills. Named after the song by Robert Palmer.
  • Look What They've Done... where song clips have been changed and the players must identify the tracks. Most commonly, a guest artist or group is used to play the tracks in a different style from the original, however the songs have also been played backwards, which later became its own game (Step Back In Time), through headphones played to maximum volume, through ringtones, over the top of each other, on a malfunctioning radio, etc. Named after the song What Have They Done to My Song Ma by Melanie Safka.
  • Something's Missing, where the teams are shown album covers with an item or word blanked out, and they must identify the missing item. Named after the song Something's Missing (In My Life) by Paul Jabara and Donna Summer.
  • One out of Three Ain't Bad, where teams are given a relatively obscure musical story and are presented with three possible endings. Teams must select the true ending to the story. Named after the song Two Out of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf.
  • Word Up, in which teams are given five random words from the lyrics of a song, and they must then identify the song. Named after the song by Cameo.
  • You're The Voices, where a member of each team must stand next to the opposite team and sing a song from a book (by only singing la la la). The first team to get their member's song correct wins a point. Named after the song You're the Voice by John Farnham.
  • All Shook Up, in which each team is shown a series of anagrams of musicians' names (e.g. "Bomb Early" – "Bob Marley"), and they have to unscramble the anagram. If nobody guesses the anagram immediately, Hills will give a clue. Named after the song by Elvis Presley.
  • Two Little Words, where one member of each team is blind-folded by wearing the Spicks Specs and the others are given the name of a musician or band. The two other team members must get their teammate to guess correctly which musician they are given using only one one-word clue each. Named after the song Three Little Words by The Rhythm Boys.
  • Counting the Beat, where one member of each team plays songs on a keyboard while the others try to guess the song. Keyboardists are given a list of numbers corresponding to the order in which they should play the notes, but are given no indication of the rhythm in which they should be played. Introduced in 2008. Named after the song by The Swingers.
  • I'll Jumble For Ya, where one team member is given thirty seconds to correctly match nine song titles divided in half and mixed up on a magnetic board. Named after the song I'll Tumble 4 Ya by Culture Club.
  • Step Back in Time, where songs are played backwards and must be identified by the teams. Named after the song by Kylie Minogue.
  • What's The Story?, where the team presented three stories of an opposing team member, with each story either true, half true and untrue, their job is work out which one is true, half true and untrue. Named after the album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis.

The final round of each program, The Final Countdown, is devoted to a generic musical quiz. This is a beat the buzzer round, and is the only round in which points are deducted for incorrect responses. Named after the song by Europe.

Many of these rounds have proven more popular than others. Substitute was used consistently throughout the early history of the show appearing in almost every episode (although later in the programs run was sometimes excluded in favour of Cover Versions occasionally), whereas some were only used every now and then and others used much less. Some other segments which proved to be popular early in the show's history but have been used less or even abandoned later : Musician or Serial Killer and Bottom 100 were both commonly used early in 2005, but are rarely later. Some games were also introduced later in the series, and occasionally a game will be temporarily changed in some way (e.g. Musician Or Serial Killer was changed once to ARIA winner or Audience Member on the ARIA special episode).

Despite points being awarded for each round, there are no prizes for the winners, except on rare occasions where Hills decides to award some convenient prop for comedic effect – a "Fools' Gold" sandwich very similar (they used strawberry jam as opposed to grape jam) to that eaten by Elvis, for example.

Episode list

Series 1 (2005)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 2 February 2005 Cal Wilson & Kram Dinah Lee & Ross Noble
2 9 February 2005 Eddie Perfect & Ross Wilson Angie Hart & Hamish Blake
3 16 February 2005 Katie Underwood & Scott Edgar Jim Keays & Hamish Blake
4 23 February 2005 Beccy Cole & Greedy Smith Simon Tedeschi & Scott Edgar
5 2 March 2005 Toni Lamond & Andy Lee Murray Cook & Terri Psiakis
6 9 March 2005 Emma Pask & Jeff Green Barry Crocker & Cal Wilson
7 16 March 2005 Geraldine Turner & Frank Woodley Lucky Oceans & Bill Bailey
8 23 March 2005 David Hirschfelder & Terri Psiakis Loene Carmen & Ross Noble
9 30 March 2005 Ella Hooper & Scott Edgar James Morrison & Colin Lane
10 6 April 2005 Brian Cadd & Scott Edgar Slava Grigoryan & Ross Noble
11 13 April 2005 David Hobson & Rich Hall Angry Anderson & Kitty Flanagan
12 20 April 2005 Toni Lamond & David McCormack Brian Mannix & Hamish Blake
13 27 April 2005 Deni Hines & Pete Smith Mick Thomas & Hamish Blake
14 4 May 2005 Beccy Cole & Earl Okin Frankie J. Holden & Andy Lee
15 11 May 2005 Richard Clapton & Wendy Harmer Guy Sebastian & David O'Doherty
16 18 May 2005 Diana Doherty & Paul Capsis Renée Geyer & Colin Lane
17 25 May 2005 Alice McNamara & Rusty Berther John Paul Young & Wendy Harmer
18 1 June 2005 Todd McKenney & Hamish Blake Greedy Smith & Denise Scott
19 8 June 2005 Ali McGregor & Scott Brennan, Paul Mac & Greg Fleet
20 15 June 2005 Ella Hooper & Andy Lee Jud Arthur & Frank Woodley
21 22 June 2005 Emily Taheny & Reg Mombassa Rob Guest & Colin Lane
22 29 June 2005 Guy Noble & Cal Wilson Chris Cheney & Dave O'Neil
23 6 July 2005 Maya Jupiter & Shane Bourne Jimmy Barnes & Scott Edgar
24 13 July 2005 Renée Geyer & Rusty Berther Normie Rowe & Hamish Blake
25 20 July 2005 Brooke Fraser & Adam Rozenbachs James Morrison & Frank Woodley
26 27 July 2005 Richard Gill & Cal Wilson Liam Finn & Greg Fleet
27 3 August 2005 Ali McGregor & Carlotta Courtney Murphy & Hamish Blake
28 10 August 2005 Katie Melua & Scott Edgar Marty Rhone & Frank Woodley
29 17 August 2005 Simon Tedeschi & Andy Lee Murray Cook & Denise Scott
30 24 August 2005 Terri Psiakis & Kram Rhonda Burchmore & Shane Bourne
31 31 August 2005 Clare Bowditch & Ross Noble Jane Scali & Tim Ross
32 7 September 2005 Ella Hooper & Gavin Wood Richard Frankland & Colin Lane
33 14 September 2005 Aaron Choulai & Wilbur Wilde Venetta Fields & Ross Noble
34 21 September 2005 Jade MacRae & Jonathan Biggins John Young & Colin Lane
35 28 September 2005 Harry James Angus & Fiona O'Loughlin Daryl Braithwaite & Dave O'Neil
36 5 October 2005 Geraldine Turner & Pete Smith Stuart McLeod & Dave O'Neil
37 12 October 2005 Jenny Morris & Murray Cook Simon Tedeschi & Hamish Blake
38 19 October 2005 Debra Byrne & Andy Lee David Hirschfelder & Frank Woodley
39 26 October 2005 Clare Bowditch & Adam Rozenbachs Glenn Shorrock & Hamish Blake
40 2 November 2005 Russell Morris & Scott Edgar Todd McKenney & Meshel Laurie
41 9 November 2005 Robert Forster & Dave O'Neil Sharon O'Neill & Colin Lane
A Very Specky Christmas 2005 18 December 2005 Belinda Emmett & Hamish Blake James Morrison & Rove McManus

Series 2 (2006)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 15 February 2006 Kate DeAraugo & Adam Richard Peter Brocklehurst & Dave O'Neil
2 22 February 2006 Kate Miller-Heidke & Hamish Blake Tony Sheldon & Ross Noble
3 1 March 2006 Richard Gill & Eddie Perfect Toby Allen & Fiona O'Loughlin
4 8 March 2006 Ali McGregor & Danny Bhoy Alex Lloyd & Ross Noble
5 15 March 2006 Christine Anu & Adam Richard Billy Field & Denise Scott
6 22 March 2006 Toni Lamond & Adam Rozenbachs Pete Murray & Colin Lane
7 29 March 2006 Ella Hooper & Grahame Bond Les Gock & Meshel Laurie
8 5 April 2006 Kate Ceberano & Michael Chamberlin Murray Cook & Arj Barker
9 12 April 2006 Ella Hooper & Rich Hall Darryl Cotton & Dave O'Neil
10 19 April 2006 Beccy Cole & Stephen K. Amos Rosario La Spina & Denise Scott
11 26 April 2006 Chloe Dallimore & Glenn Wool David Page & Jason Byrne
12 3 May 2006 Ali McGregor & Francis Rossi Rick Parfitt & Meshel Laurie
13 10 May 2006 Lenka & Earl Okin Joe Camilleri & Ross Noble
14 17 May 2006 Ngaiire & Lulu McClatchy Tom Burlinson & Hamish Blake
15 24 May 2006 Yumi Stynes & Wilbur Wilde Jeff Duff & Dave O'Neil
16 31 May 2006 Jon English & Fiona O'Loughlin Jon Toogood & Frank Woodley
17 7th Jane 2006 Tiffany Speight & Colin Lane Stephen Cummings & Denise Scott
18 14 June 2006 Sarah Lee Guthrie & Gary Eck Colin Hay & Hamish Blake
19 21 June 2006 Lisa McCune & Colin Lane Toby Martin & Meshel Laurie
20 28 June 2006 Melinda Schneider & Cal Wilson Leo Sayer & Dave O'Neil
21 5 July 2006 Renée Geyer & Wilbur Wilde Molly Meldrum & Mikey Robins
22 12 July 2006 Colleen Hewett & Adam Richard Justin Burford & Frank Woodley
23 19 July 2006 Simon Tedeschi & Julia Morris Lee Simon & Dave O'Neil
24 26 July 2006 Denise Drysdale & Steven Gates Lior & Denise Scott
25 2 August 2006 Diana Doherty & John Chaplin-Fleming John-Michael Howson & Hamish Blake
26 9 August 2006 Sharon Jones & Meshel Laurie Martin Plaza & Dave O'Neil
27 16 August 2006 Angie Hart & Amanda Keller Al Clark & Frank Woodley
28 23 August 2006 Stephanie Ashworth & Andy Lee John Schumann & Mikey Robins
29 30 August 2006 Mary Schneider & Rusty Berther Carl Cox & Meshel Laurie
30 6 September 2006 Kirsty McCahon & Hamish Blake Suffa & Frank Woodley
31 13 September 2006 Debra Byrne & Jesse Griffin Andy Anderson & Dave O'Neil
32 20 September 2006 Martha Wainwright & Ross Noble Rob Mills & Hamish Blake
33 27 September 2006 Patience Hodgson & Jonathan Biggins Val Jellay & Frank Woodley
34 4 October 2006 Antoinette Halloran & Denise Scott Stephen Mallinder & Anthony Morgan
35 11 October 2006 Ella Hooper & Akmal Saleh Robin Lumley & Hamish Blake
36 18 October 2006 Rebecca Barnard & Tim Minchin Mike Brady & Frank Woodley
37 25 October 2006 Grace Knight & Adam Rozenbachs Dan Kelly & Fiona O'Loughlin
38 1 November 2006 Ian Turpie & Cal Wilson Dave Graney & Dave O'Neil
39 8 November 2006 Kate Neal & Scott Edgar Harry James Angus & Denise Scott
40 15 November 2006 Ali McGregor & HG Nelson Katie Noonan & Hamish Blake
Another Very Specky Christmas 17 December 2006 Debra Byrne & Frank Woodley Dame Edna Everage & Ross Noble

Series 3 (2007)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 14 February 2007 Nancye Hayes & Jonathan Biggins Dann Hume & Dave O'Neil
2 21 February 2007 Sarah Blasko & Frank Woodley Brian Ritchie & Hamish Blake
3 28 February 2007 Damien Leith & Andrew McClelland Fernando Saunders & Meshel Laurie
4 7 March 2007 Lisa Kekaula & Terri Psiakis Guy Noble & Hamish Blake
5 14 March 2007 Ari Up & Peter Helliar "Weird Al" Yankovic & Dave O'Neil
6 21 March 2007 Geneviève Lemon & Josh Lawson Gerry Buckley & Frank Woodley
7 28 March 2007 Rhonda Burchmore & Adam Rozenbachs Jeff Lang & Dave O'Neil
8 4 April 2007 Taasha Coates & Danny Bhoy Stuart Maunder & Frank Woodley
9 11 April 2007 Darren Hayes & Tim Minchin Jonathon Welch & Meshel Laurie
10 18 April 2007 Holly Throsby & Mark Watson Richard Gill & Jason Byrne
11 25 April 2007 Vika Bull & David O'Doherty Anthony Callea & Stephen K. Amos
12 2 May 2007 David Hobson & Cal Wilson Carl Cox & Colin Lane
13 (Mother's Day Special) 9 May 2007 Rebecca Barnard & George McEncroe Julie Anthony & Denise Scott
14 16 May 2007 Juanita Stein & Anh Do Gina Jeffreys & Frank Woodley
15 23 May 2007 Niki Vasilakis & Dave O'Neil Brian Mannix & Denise Scott
16 (100th Episode Special) 30 May 2007 Antoinette Halloran & Hamish Blake Wilbur Wilde & Amanda Keller
17 6 June 2007 Katy Steele & Shane Jacobson John Reid & Mikey Robins
18 13 June 2007 Casey Bennetto & Andy Lee Max Merritt & Julia Morris
19 20 June 2007 Richard Gill & George McEncroe Laurie Cadevida & Jonathan Coleman
20 27 June 2007 Lyndsay Hammond & Adam Richard Dave Williams & Hamish Blake
21 4 July 2007 Lin Buckfield & Adam Rozenbachs Mike Chapman & Peter Helliar
22 11 July 2007 Suzanne Dowling & Scott Edgar Gotye & Denise Scott
23 (ARIA Hall Of Fame Special) 18 July 2007 Frank Ifield & Cal Wilson Brian Cadd & Mikey Robins
24 25 July 2007 Ali McGregor & Shane Jacobson Richard Gottehrer & Russell Howard
25 1 August 2007 Lara Goodridge & Wilbur Wilde Brian Canham & Hamish Blake
26 8 August 2007 Ella Hooper & Brendon Burns Jamie Redfern & Fiona O'Loughlin
27 15 August 2007 Tal Wilkenfeld & Justin Hamilton Geoff "Coxy" Cox & Meshel Laurie
28 22 August 2007 Margret RoadKnight & Hamish Blake Josh Pyke & Casey Bennetto
29 (Music from the Movies special) 29 August 2007 Emily Browning & Shane Jacobson Bill Hunter & Dave O'Neil
30 5 September 2007 Antoinette Halloran & Matthew Hardy Glenn Tilbrook & Denise Scott
31 12 September 2007 Claire Edwardes & Stephen K. Amos Keith Potger & Frank Woodley
32 19 September 2007 Ali McGregor & Hamish Blake Paul Grabowsky & Denise Scott
33 (Children's Music Special) 26 September 2007 Charli Robinson & Jay Laga'aia Justine Clarke & Murray Cook
34 2 October 2007 Emily Browning & Sammy J Lloyd Cole & Dave O'Neil
35 10 October 2007 Katie Noonan & Gary Adams Brian Mannix & Andrew Denton
36 17 October 2007 Diana Doherty & Corinne Grant James Lynch & Frank Woodley
37 24 October 2007 Anne Kirkpatrick & Hamish Blake Ohad Rein & Fiona O'Loughlin
38 (Halloween Special) 31 October 2007 Deborah Conway & Adam Rozenbachs Guy Noble & Dave Hughes
39 7 November 2007 Elenoa Rokobaro & Dave O'Neil Ignatius Jones & Anthony Morgan
40 14 November 2007 Emma Jane Murphy & Santo Cilauro James Reyne & Hamish Blake
Best of 2007 21 November 2007 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2007.
A Very Specky Christmas 2007 16 December 2007 Missy Higgins & Hamish Blake Rhonda Burchmore & Andrew Denton

Series 4 (2008)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 6 February 2008 Guy Sebastian & Cal Wilson Guy Pratt & Dave O'Neil
2 13 February 2008 Jade MacRae & Hamish Blake David McAllister & Denise Scott
3 20 February 2008 Caroline O'Connor & Frank Woodley Julien Temple & Dave O'Neil
4 27 February 2008 Richard O'Brien & Meshel Laurie Richard Gill & David O'Doherty
5 5 March 2008 Sally Seltmann & Colin Lane Jacki Weaver & Peter Helliar
6 12 March 2008 Ali Campbell & Felicity Ward Barry McGuire & Dave O'Neil
7 19 March 2008 Eddi Reader & Adam Rozenbachs Idan Reichel & Ross Noble
8 26 March 2008 Matthew Murphy & Ryan Shelton Steve Lukather & Meshel Laurie
9 2 April 2008 Mark Seymour & Fiona O'Loughlin Newton Faulkner & Jason Byrne
10 9 April 2008 Brian McFadden & Stephen K. Amos Casey Bennetto & Meshel Laurie
11 16 April 2008 Nicolette Fraillon & Hamish Blake Mike McLeish & Peter Rowsthorn
12 23 April 2008 Clare Bowditch & Frank Woodley Stephen Schwartz & Fiona O'Loughlin
13 30 April 2008 Rachael Beck & Hamish Blake Kurt Elling & Meshel Laurie
14 7 May 2008 Lorna Luft & Jonathan Biggins Wilbur Wilde & Felicity Ward
15 14 May 2008 Lisa Miller & Greedy Smith Dylan Lewis & Judith Lucy
16 21 May 2008 Marina Prior & Dave Hughes Denise Scott & John Amis
17 28 May 2008 Amanda Pelman & Ryan Shelton James Ash & Mikey Robins
18 4 June 2008 Clare Moore & Shane Jacobson Ray Burgess & Meshel Laurie
19 11 June 2008 Dan Sultan & Denise Scott Geoffrey Rush & Hamish Blake
20 18 June 2008 Natalie Pa'apa'a & Dave O'Neil Damien Leith & Cal Wilson
21 25 June 2008 Taryn Fiebig & Tommy Dean Mike Rudd & Hamish Blake
22 2 July 2008 Sipokazi Luzipo & Adam Rozenbachs Kaz James & Shaun Micallef
23 9 July 2008 Tom Zutat & Jason Byrne Brian McFadden & Felicity Ward
24 16 July 2008 Nell Campbell & Frank Woodley Muscles & Hamish Blake
25 23 July 2008 Vanessa Amorosi & Mark Watson Steve Weltman & Amanda Keller
26 (Australia vs. NZ Special) 30 July 2008 Jenny Morris & Tony Martin Pete Murray & Meshel Laurie
27 6 August 2008 Ali McGregor & Peter Helliar Carl Cox & Denise Scott
28 13 August 2008 Faustina "Fuzzy" Agolley & Hamish Blake Kim Salmon & Dave O'Neil
29 20 August 2008 Kate Ceberano & Maeve Higgins Paul Dyer & Reginald D. Hunter
30 27 August 2008 Nell Campbell & Ross Noble Troy Cassar-Daley & Felicity Ward
31 3 September 2008 Ali McGregor & Sammy J John O'Connell & Hamish Blake
32 10 September 2008 Brett Weymark & Al Pitcher Jae Laffer & Denise Scott
33 17 September 2008 Judy Stone & Arj Barker Rob Mills & Reginald D. Hunter
34 24 September 2008 Antoinette Halloran & Hamish Blake Ron Sexsmith & Dave O'Neil
35 1 October 2008 Rhonda Burchmore & Mark Watson John Butler & Kristen Schaal
Behind The Scenes Special 8 October 2008 This behind the scenes special hosted by Hamish Blake took a tour through the studios and dressing rooms of the ABC studios in Elsternwick and conducted interviews with show personnel.
37 15 October 2008 Kate Miller-Heidke & Frankie J. Holden Anne McCue & Amanda Keller
38 22 October 2008 Kaki King & Adam Rozenbachs Richard Gill & Dave O'Neil
39 29 October 2008 Mia Dyson & Heath Franklin Ian Dickson" & Des Bishop
40 5 November 2008 Leo Sayer & Eddie Perfect William Barton & Denise Scott
41 12 November 2008 Christine Anu & Hamish Blake Geoffrey Rush & Felicity Ward
Best of 2008 19 November 2008 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2008.
A Very Specky Christmas 2008 21 December 2008 Ella Hooper & Frank Woodley Carl Cox & Meshel Laurie

Series 5 (2009)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 4 February 2009 Rebecca Barnard & Dave O'Neil Guy Pearce & Felicity Ward
2 11 February 2009 Antoinette Halloran & Heath Franklin Bruce Woodley & Meshel Laurie
3 18 February 2009 Georgie Parker & Hamish Blake Allan Zavod & Stephen Curry
4 25 February 2009 Sharon Jones & Tommy Dean David Bridie & Amanda Keller
5 4 March 2009 John Wood & Denise Scott, Max Sharam & Danny Bhoy
6 11 March 2009 Renée Geyer & Jesse Griffin Chris Cheney & Meshel Laurie
7 18 March 2009 Kim Walker & Celia Pacquola Pete Murray & Rhys Darby
8 25 March 2009 Tina Arena & Tim Minchin Bob Evans & Dave Hughes
9 1 April 2009 Katarina Kroslakova & Adam Rozenbachs Luka Bloom & Peter Helliar
10 8 April 2009 Guy Garvey & John Moloney Seasick Steve & Nina Conti
11 15 April 2009 Jade MacRae & Steve Coogan Suggs & Stephen K. Amos
12 22 April 2009 Pete Smith & Gina Riley Kram & Rusty Berther
13 29 April 2009 Taryn Fiebig & Dave Hughes Guy Pratt & Meshel Laurie
14 6 May 2009 Kate Miller-Heidke & Mike Keat Bart Willoughby & Hamish Blake
15 13 May 2009 Katarina Kroslakova & Scott Edgar Speech & Judith Lucy
16 20 May 2009 Silvie Paladino & Shane Jacobson Chris Bailey & Dave O'Neil
17 27 May 2009 Sophie Koh & Mark Trevorrow Ross Wilson & Cal Wilson
18 3 June 2009 Kaki King & Frank Woodley Michael Smallwood & Amanda Keller
19 (1950's Special) 10 June 2009 Toni Lamond & Pete Smith Frankie J. Holden & Hamish Blake
20 17 June 2009 Shelley Harland & Mike Wilmot Iain Hewitson & Janeane Garofalo
21 24 June 2009 Brett Kelly & Denise Scott Paris Wells & Dave Hughes
22 1 July 2009 Antoinette Halloran & Trevor Marmalade David Campbell & Meshel Laurie
23 8 July 2009 Jim Keays & Geraldine Quinn Wes Carr & Hamish Blake
24 15 July 2009 Ella Hooper & Adam Rozenbachs Murray Cook & Dave O'Neil
25 (1960's Special) 22 July 2009 Denise Drysdale & Adam Richard Brian Cadd & Ian Turpie
26 29 July 2009 Donna Simpson & Scott Edgar Denis Walter & Colin Lane
27 5 August 2009 Jane Rutter & Rusty Berther Matt Taylor & Denise Scott
28 12 August 2009 Natalie Bassingthwaite & Meshel Laurie Al Clark & Reginald D. Hunter
29 19 August 2009 Tim Finn & Jackie Loeb Lucy Durack & Dave O'Neil
30 26 August 2009 Glenn Hughes & Sarah Millican Jason Mraz & Jason Byrne
31 2 September 2009 Charlie Thorpe & Dave Hughes Paul Gray & George McEncroe
32 (200th Episode Special) 9 September 2009 Ella Hooper & Hamish Blake Paul Grabowsky & Meshel Laurie
33 16 September 2009 Peter Combe & Celia Pacquola Tony Mott & Stephen K. Amos
34 23 September 2009 Nick Seymour & Eddie Perfect John Swan & Denise Scott
35 (1970's Special) 30 September 2009 Molly Meldrum & Noeline Brown Michael Gudinski & Tommy Dean
36 7 October 2009 Sophia Brous & Rusty Berther Robert McComb & Dave O'Neil
37 14 October 2009 Suze DeMarchi & Russell Kane Chip Monck & Rich Hall
38 21 October 2009 Megan Washington & Adam Rozenbachs Jon Farriss & Scott Edgar
39 28 October 2009 CW Stoneking & Hamish Blake Jordie Lane & Denise Scott
40 (1980's Special) 4 November 2009 Ally Fowler & Dave O'Neil Brian Mannix & George McEncroe
Best of 2009 11 November 2009 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2009.
Deleted Scenes 2009 18 November 2009 Compilation episode – A selection of the Deleted scenes from 2009. This special was hosted by Alan Brough & Myf Warhurst.
A Very Specky Christmas 2009 20 December 2009 Jarvis Cocker & Dave O'Neil Peter Garrett & Denise Drysdale

Series 6 (2010)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 3 February 2010 Sarah Blasko & Hamish Blake Dave Faulkner & Cal Wilson
2 10 February 2010 Mihirangi & Denise Scott Richard Gill & Kitty Flanagan
3 17 February 2010 Missy Higgins & Magda Szubanski Dan Sultan & Ernie Dingo
4 24 February 2010 Florence Welch & Dave Callan Scott Carne & Meshel Laurie
5 3 March 2010 Neko Case & Rusty Berther Carl Cox & Dave O'Neil
6 10 March 2010 Antoinette Halloran & Jason Cook J. Mascis & Colin Lane
7 17 March 2010 Patti Newton & Eddie Ifft Chris Durling & Fiona O'Loughlin
8 24 March 2010 Colette Mann & Cal Wilson Paul Dempsey & Tony Martin
9 31 March 2010 Mama Kin & Tommy Dean Ian Moss & Denise Scott
10 7 April 2010 Amanda Palmer & Scott Edgar Joe Chindamo & Phil Nichol
11 14 April 2010 Lara Mulcahy & Rich Fulcher Doc Neeson & Meshel Laurie
12 21 April 2010 Darlene Love & Steve Hughes Darren Cordeux & Reginald D. Hunter
13 28 April 2010 Amandah Wilkinson & Hamish Blake Mark Holden & Felicity Ward
14 5 May 2010 Adalita & Jimeoin Meat Loaf & Magda Szubanski
15 12 May 2010 Sarah McLeod & Frank Woodley Matisyahu & Tony Martin
16 (Britannia Special) 19 May 2010 Ritchie Yorke & Hamish Blake Jamie Cullum & Sarah Millican
17 26 May 2010 Bob Brozman & Denise Scott Beth Nielsen Chapman & Craig Hill
18 2 June 2010 Mary Gauthier & Tommy Dean John Foreman & Kitty Flanagan
19 9 June 2010 Felix Buxton & Damian Callinan Mark Opitz & Meshel Laurie
20 16 June 2010 Lisa Lambert & Jimeoin Amber Lawrence & Tony Martin
21 23 June 2010 Rohan Brooks & Andrew O'Neill Christa Hughes & Hamish Blake
22 (Americana Special) 30 June 2010 Diana Trask & Denise Scott Barbara Morrison & Tommy Dean
23 7 July 2010 Jacqueline Porter & Des Bishop Ron Peno & Meshel Laurie
24 14 July 2010 Sam Moran & Dave O'Neil Gemma Ray & Tom Binns
25 21 July 2010 Felicity Urquhart & Hannah Gadsby Phil Jamieson & Ross Noble
26 28 July 2010 Megan Washington & Damian Callinan Brian McFadden & Gina Yashere
27 4 August 2010 Henry Wagons & Celia Pacquola Chrissy Amphlett & Denise Scott
28 (Europa Special) 11 August 2010 Richard Gill & Joe Avati Jens Lekman & Meshel Laurie
29 18 August 2010 Ann Vriend & Jon Richardson Steve Kilbey & Dave O'Neil
30 25 August 2010 Gil Askey & Frank Woodley Ella Hooper & Dom Irrera
31 1 September 2010 Benjamin Northey & Denise Scott Katrina Noorbergen & Greg Behrendt
32 8 September 2010 Casey Bennetto & Tim Vine Kamahl & Meshel Laurie
33 15 September 2010 Little Pattie & Ross Noble Paul Stewart & Francesca Martinez
34 (Australiana Special) 22 September 2010 Gabriella Cilmi & Dave O'Neil Troy Cassar-Daley & Frank Woodley
Best of 2010 29 September 2010 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2010.
Deleted Scenes 2010 5 October 2010 Compilation episode – A selection of the Deleted scenes from 2010.
A Very Specky Christmas 2010 24 December 2010 Sia Furler & Jimeoin Jimmy Barnes & Denise Scott

Series 7 (2011)

Episode First broadcast Alan's team Myf's team
1 (Comedy Special) 4 May 2011 Doc Brown & Kitty Flanagan David O'Doherty & Stephen K. Amos
2 11 May 2011 Anthony Warlow & Colin Lane Grace Woodroofe & Hamish Blake
3 18 May 2011 Marcia Hines & Justin Heazlewood Shaun Diviney & Peter Helliar
4 25 May 2011 Vince Jones & Scott Edgar Matt Lee & Meshel Laurie
5 1 June 2011 Christie Whelan Browne & Tommy Dean Brian Mannix & Dave O'Neil
6 8 June 2011 Jane Badler & Adam Richard Ben Folds & Denise Scott
7 22 June 2011 Azmarino & Tommy Dean Glenn Wheatley & Peter Helliar
8 29 June 2011 Finbar Furey & Scott Edgar Shane Nicholson & Dave O'Neil
9 13 July 2011 Diesel & Judith Lucy Chris Botti & Damian Callinan
10 20 July 2011 Geraldine Quinn & Scott Edgar Courtney Taylor-Taylor & Peter Helliar
11 27 July 2011 Kellie Dickerson & Tommy Dean Quan Yeomans & Cal Wilson
12 3 August 2011 Paris Wells & Jimeoin Iain Grandage & Frank Woodley
13 10 August 2011 Sharon Millerchip & Dave O'Neil Justin Burford & Meshel Laurie
14 17 August 2011 Marina Prior & Lawrence Mooney Mic Conway & Denise Scott
15 24 August 2011 Antoinette Halloran & Tom Ballard Wendy Stapleton & Damian Callinan
16 31 August 2011 Leah Flanagan & Jimeoin John Williamson & Dave O'Neil
17 7 September 2011 Elana Stone & Dave Thornton Iva Davies & Frank Woodley
18 14 September 2011 Richard Gill & Meshel Laurie Ella Hooper & Hamish Blake
19 21 September 2011 Jane Clifton & Lawrence Mooney Winston McCall & Peter Helliar
20 28 September 2011 Sharon Jones & Felicity Ward Michael Chugg & Tommy Dean
21 5 October 2011 Pigeon John & Damian Callinan Patrizio Buanne & Meshel Laurie
22 12 October 2011 Bernadette Robinson & Peter Helliar Ross Wilson & Denise Scott
23 19 October 2011 Fiona Campbell & Greg Fleet Lee Kernaghan & Rusty Berther
24 26 October 2011 Hugh Halliday & Dave O'Neil Kram & Josh Earl
25 2 November 2011 Takesha Meshé Kizart & Scott Edgar Red Symons & Denise Scott
Best of Spicks & Specks (Part 1) 9 November 2011 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2005-2011.
Best of Spicks & Specks (Part 2) 16 November 2011 Compilation episode – A selection of the best scenes from 2005-2011.
28 (The Finale) 23 November 2011 Ella Hooper, Scott Edgar, Rhonda Burchmore, Adam Richard, Darren Hayes, Amanda Keller, Antoinette Halloran, Tommy Dean, Megan Washington & Peter Helliar Geoffrey Rush, Dave O'Neil, Brian Mannix, Felicity Ward, Brian Cadd, Jimeoin, Richard Gill, Shane Bourne, Dan Sultan & Denise Scott

Specials

A Very Specky Christmas

Since 2005, an annual hour-long Christmas episode, entitled "A Very Specky Christmas" or variations thereof, has been screened on the Sunday night before Christmas. All questions are either about Christmas songs, or music from the previous year. While these episodes remain true to the standard format with three members on each team, adaptions are made to allow more guest stars to appear. Additional or notably different games have included:

  • Mistletoss, a physical challenge in which the teams are required to throw Christmas presents into a goal in a given time limit. In 2005, the teams threw CDs into the chimney of a model house; in 2006, wrapped gifts were thrown into celebrities' Christmas stockings of different sizes; in 2007, wrapped gifts were thrown through the windows of a "rehab clinic" with a guard out the front, Frank Woodley.
  • Sir Mix'n'Matchalot is adapted so that three additional celebrities appear and are arbitrarily given Christmas presents by the show. The panel then asks questions and attempts to allocate the presents.
  • Substitute is adapted so that trained choirs sing the tunes of Christmas songs with the words from famous quotes and works from the past year, such as controversial pieces of legislation, political speeches, or pop culture.

Best Of

As the last episode of each year, Spicks and Specks reflects back on all the highlights, lowlights and memorable guests throughout the year.

100th episode

On 30 May 2007, Spicks and Specks celebrated its 100th episode. Instead of the show being divided into rounds, teams were asked 100 questions – one from each of the previous 99 episodes, and one new question, "What is the last question on our 100th episode?" which was correctly answered: "What is the last question on our 100th episode." by Antoinette Halloran. Alan Brough's team was victorious although it did come down to the very last question.

Behind the scenes

This was the first episode of Spicks and Specks where the game is not played at all. Instead, this behind the scenes special hosted by regular contestant Hamish Blake took a tour through the studios and dressing rooms of the ABC studios in Elsternwick and conducting interviews with show personnel.

Production studio

The show was filmed at ABC Studios in Elsternwick, Victoria, which are rented by ABV-2

With ABC Studios in Ripponlea getting ready to shut down, new home is now at ABC Melbourne studios in Southbank, Victoria. With the move from Ripponlea also comes a move from ABC as the broadcast provider. It is recorded in front of a live audience of 500 people.

200th episode

On 9 September 2009, Spicks and Specks celebrated its 200th episode. The show had a number of members from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra behind the hosts, who performed the show's many musical questions including the theme song "Spicks and Specks" by the Bee Gees. The episode also included returning guests Ella Hooper, Hamish Blake, Paul Grabowsky and Meshel Laurie. The questions covered 200 years of music from 1809 to 2009.

Final episode of original series

A one-hour special, called "The Finale", was the final episode of the original series of Spicks and Specks and went to air on 23 November 2011. There was a change to the list of guests: various guests rotated during different rounds of the show. All of the credited guest appearances on the show were Ella Hooper, Geoffrey Rush, Scott Edgar, Dave O'Neil, Rhonda Burchmore, Adam Richard, Darren Hayes, Brian Cadd, Brian Mannix, Felicity Ward, Amanda Keller, Jimeoin, Tommy Dean, Shane Bourne, Dan Sultan, Richard Gill, Antoinette Halloran, Denise Scott, Peter Helliar, Barry Morgan, Megan Washington, Damian Callinan, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee (who were in New York at the time of filming for their Hamish and Andy's Gap Year).

Other specials

Special episodes have been compiled for various seasonal or arbitrary themes, including:

  • Halloween (dubbed Spicks and Spooks)
  • ARIA Hall of Fame inductees
  • Children's music
  • Music from films (dubbed Spicks and Flicks)
  • Mother's Day
  • Australia vs New Zealand
  • 50s
  • 60s
  • 70s
  • 80s
  • Britannia Special
  • Australiana Special
  • Americana Special
  • Europa Special
  • Comedy Special
  • AusMusic Special
  • 1990s Special
  • 2000s Special
  • 2010s Special

In each case, questions are written, and some games are changed slightly or new games invented, to suit the theme.

2018 one-off reunion special

On 27 August 2018, it was announced that the show would return for a one-off hour-long special as part of the ABC's "Ausmusic" month. Confirmed as panellists were award-winning rapper Adam Briggs, singer/songwriter Ricki-Lee Coulter and comedians Frank Woodley and Denise Scott, plus a line-up of famous guests to lend their musical talents and knowledge.[9]

The one-hour special aired on 4 November, with a repeat airing on ABC Comedy on 10 November. Guests included Adalita, Vika and Linda Bull, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kate Ceberano, Murray Cook, Paul Dempsey, Antoinette Halloran, Guido Hatzis, Kram, Angie Hart, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lindsay McDougall, Luke McGregor, Russell Morris, Montaigne, Pseudo Echo, Josh Pyke, Ruel, Eskimo Joe's Kav Temperley, Tripod, Cal Wilson, Ross Wilson. The show was dedicated to long time regular guest Richard Gill, who had died a week before the special went to air.[10] It ranked #1 nationally with 1.36 million viewers.[11]

2019 special and reboot

In August 2019, it was announced that the show with the original lineup would return for a one-off special in November 2019, followed by a short three-episode reboot airing in 2020. The episodes will feature original host Adam Hills and team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst, with each episode focusing on a specific generation of music.[12]

Theme and titles

The show takes both its name and theme music from the Bee Gees' 1966 song, "Spicks and Specks". The theme music is performed and produced by The Dissociatives, a duo consisting of Silverchair singer Daniel Johns and dance musician Paul Mac, and replaces all the lyrics bar the title refrain with scat singing. In addition, Mac once appeared on the show as a panellist.

Plagiarism controversy

In 2007 during the Kid's Music Special, the question "What children's song is contained in the song Down Under?" was asked. This question resulted in Larrikin Music taking legal action against Men at Work songwriters Colin Hay and Ron Strykert. The lawsuit was over the main flute riff that accompanies the line from children's nursery rhyme Kookaburra which Larrikin Music alleged was reproduced in the Men at Work song Down Under.[13] The lawsuit ruled in favour of Larrikin Music.

DVD releases

  • In 2007, the first Spicks and Specks product was launched, the Spicks and Specks Interactive Quiz DVD.
  • A Very Specky Christmas was released on 4 December 2008;[14] it contains the 2007 and 2006 Christmas Specials.
  • In 2009, the DVD Up to our Eras was released. It contained the 50s special, the 60s special, the 70s special and the 80s special.
  • Spicks and Specks: The Remixes was released on 5 August 2010 containing 4 episodes that were uncut and uncensored.
  • Spicks & Specks: World Tour was released on 4 November 2010, containing the Australiana, Britannia, Americana and Europa specials, and is said to have unseen footage.[15]
  • The Spicks and Specks Boxset was released on 1 April 2015, the 4-DVD set contains: The Remixes, World Tour, The Finale and the Pick of Spicks.[16]

Games

In 2008, the Spicks and Specks Board Game was released by Imagination Games.[17] In 2011 Spicks and Specks Quiz, an app for iPhones, was released. Users are given two play options, Quick Play or Quiz Challenge, with various games taken from the show. There are a number of top-up Quiz Packs to extend the game. On its initial release, the name of the app was automatically censored by Apple to 'S****s and Specks' because of the racist use of the word 'spick' in the US to describe a person of Hispanic heritage.[18]

Awards

YearAwardsAward TitleResult
2012Logie AwardsLogie Most Outstanding Light Entertainment ProgramWon
2012Logie AwardsLogie Most Popular Light Entertainment ProgramNominated
2012Logie AwardsSilver Logie Most Popular Presenter Adam HillsWon
2011Logie AwardsLogie Most Outstanding Light Entertainment ProgramWon
2011Logie AwardsSilver Logie Most Popular Presenter Adam HillsNominated
2010Logie AwardsLogie Most Popular Light Entertainment ProgramNominated
2010Logie AwardsSilver Logie Most Popular Presenter Adam HillsNominated
2009Logie AwardsLogie Most Popular Light Entertainment ProgramNominated
2009Logie AwardsSilver Logie Most Popular Presenter Adam HillsNominated
2008Logie AwardsLogie Most Popular Light Entertainment ProgramNominated
2008Logie AwardsSilver Logie Most Popular Presenter Adam HillsNominated
2007Logie AwardsLogie Most Outstanding Comedy ProgramNominated
2007AACTA AwardsBest Light Entertainment Television SeriesNominated
2006Logie AwardsGraham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent Adam HillsNominated
2006AACTA AwardsBest Light Entertainment Television SeriesNominated
2006Logie AwardsLogie Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy ProgramNominated
2005AACTA AwardsBest Light Entertainment SeriesNominated

References

  1. Condon, Dan (16 April 2020). "The Spicks and Specks 2000s special is on this Sunday night". Australia: ABC/Double J. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  2. "Spicks and Specks (2005) – Full cast and crew". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  3. "The red velvet curtain closes on Spicks and Specks". ABC TV Blog. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  4. "ABC TV in 2013… Amazing!". abc.net.au.
  5. "ABC's Spicks and Specks returns minus Adam Hills and Myf Warhurst". NewsComAu.
  6. "Spicks and Specks". ABC TV. ABC. 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. "Spicks and Specks is back" by Scott Ellis, The Age, 11 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013
  8. "New Spicks and Specks team tipped" by David Knox, TV Tonight, 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013
  9. "It's true! Spicks and Specks is making a special return to TV" by Belinda Jepsen, Mammamia, 27 August 2018
  10. "You Need To Watch The Huge Spicks And Specks Reunion Special" by Tom Williams, musicfeeds.com.au, 5 November 2018
  11. "TV Ratings November 4: Spicks and Specks Reunion special #1" by James Manning, Mediaweek, 5 November 2018
  12. https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/music-news/spicks-and-specks-returning-2019-2020-myf-warhurst-adam-hills-a/11427414
  13. "Down Under and Kookaburra in copyright battle". NewsComAu.
  14. "Spicks and Specks – A Very Specky Christmas". ABC Shop. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  15. "Spicks and Specks – World Tour". ABC Shop. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  16. https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies-tv-shows-on-sale/tv-comedy/spicks-specks-collection/688785/
  17. "Spicks and Specks: The Board Game (2008)", boardgamegeek.com
  18. "Apple censors 'racist' Spicks and Specks app". Ninemsn. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
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