Before The Game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Before the Game is an Australian rules football/comedy television show in Australia on the Ten Network. The show is hosted by Andrew Maher, with regular panelists including Peter Helliar, Dave Hughes, Sam Lane, and Lehmo. The format of the show is a light-hearted discussion of issues relating to the weekend's matches played so far in the Australian Football League. Andrew Maher replaced Anthony Hudson as the host of the show at the end of 2005. Before the Game returned on the 31 March 2007.
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[edit] After the Game
Before the Game first aired during 2003 as After the Game. Originally, it was a half-hour broadcast following the Saturday night AFL match, aired at either 10.30pm or 11.00pm (depending on whether the televised match was live or delayed). During the existence of After the Game, the show was rated M and contained occasional coarse language. The show was a cult hit.
[edit] Before the Game
Following the show's success in its late timeslot, it was moved to a 6.30pm time slot in 2004. When it moved to the primetime slot, to make it more 'family friendly', it was given a PG rating (but this had little effect on its comedy).
The show airs in between the Saturday afternoon and Saturday night matches. It usually goes for one hour, but sometimes it is a shorter half-hour version, if the AFL match to follow is live at 7:00pm (It is delayed in Brisbane and Sydney often after midnight). A post-match show called The Fifth Quarter is screened after the match.
[edit] Segments
[edit] Until the Fat Lady Sings
When the show started there was a segment called The Game's Not Over Until the Fat Lady Sings, where an overweight lady would go to a game and sing when she thought that the Game was over. This segment was scrapped due to the fat lady being fired for singing after the siren had gone.
[edit] Diary of a Footballer
Another segment that was on the earlier program was Diary of a Footballer, a segment in which a well known footballer would read out a page of their diary.
[edit] Jumping in Hot Water
Sponsored by Aquamax, a company that produces water heating units, a football player has to answer ten questions about the history of their football club. The junior football club of the player with the highest score at the end of the year would receive a hot water system.
| Year | Winner | AFL Club | Score | Junior Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | David Wirrpanda | West Coast Eagles | 9/10 | Healesville Football Club |
[edit] Banners
In the current program, the Banners segment still exists, where each comedic panelist creates a banner for a specific football club, often to reflect events scrutinized by the media.
[edit] Bryan Strauchan
A regular segment on the show follows talentless, blonde, overweight youngster Bryan Strauchan (played by Peter Helliar) as he tries to make a career for himself at the Collingwood Football Club.
Bryan Strauchan is also known as Bryan Superstar Strauchan and Strauchanie. On the 2006 Grand Final episode of Before the Game he was involved in a Wayne Carey like incident, and this has forced him to leave the Collingwood Football Club and look for a new home in 2007. Strauchanie has expressed an interest in the Western Bulldogs but he would not rule out a move to the Kangaroos. Strauchanie looks far from making his AFL debut match, but he will not give up the hard work he has shown at Collingwood Football Club. Bryan Strauchan's overwhelming success on this show has led to him releasing his new DVD: "Strauchanie: Pure BS".
[edit] Tool of the Week
The Tool of the Week, the most popular segment of the show, is an award given by Dave Hughes and sponsored by Home Hardware. The award is given to a particularly embarrassing performance by somebody related to the AFL, either on or off the field. The "best" or most memorable of these tools is given the "Tool of the Year".
| Year | Winner(s) | AFL Club(s) | Offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Nick Dal Santo | St Kilda Football Club | Wearing rather inappropriately colored bathers to the beach. |
| 2005 | Tony Pasquale (non-AFL player) | Subiaco Grounds Manager | Pestering umpires and players on match day in numerous occasions. |
| 2004 | Brett Voss | St Kilda Football Club | Publically changing his bathers in front of the camera. |
| 2003 | Shane Wakelin, Shane Woewodin, Alan Didak, | Collingwood Football Club | Participation in Sun Silk shampoo advertisement: Very poor acting. |
[edit] Production details
Before the Game is produced by Roving Enterprises, the TV production company owned by Rove McManus, an Australian television personality who appears on his own comedy/interview show Rove, formerly known as Rove Live. Peter Helliar and Dave Hughes are also regulars on the show.
