Daryl Somers

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Daryl Paul Somers OAM (born Daryl Schultz August 6, 1951 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia), sometimes referred to as Dazza or Dags, is an Australian television personality. The son of a dairy farmer and a cabaret singer, Somers rose to national fame as the host of the long-running comedy-variety program Hey Hey It's Saturday.

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[edit] Early life

Somers, who has an Irish Catholic heritage, was educated at Christian Brothers College, St. Kilda but failed his matriculation year. A drummer, he joined a group playing music in the style of Herb Alpert which began under the name "Pasquale and his Mexican Rhythm." Under another name, the group appeared on GTV-9's talent quest programme New Faces, winning their way to the finals, only to be beaten by John Williamson.[1]

[edit] Television

Somers started professional TV work on 14 July, 1971 as the presenter of an afternoon children's program called Cartoon Corner.

Later that year, on October 9, 1971, Hey Hey It's Saturday started. Somers at first co-hosted with footballer Peter McKenna but eight weeks later, his co-host became the pink hand-puppet Ossie Ostrich, who was operated by former In Melbourne Tonight staff writer Ernie Carroll. McKenna continued to appear on the show for some time.

Originally created as a Saturday morning children's cartoon show, the program gradually expanded in both size and scope. Gradually, additional cast members joined, including co-host Jacki MacDonald and booth announcer John Blackman, who also voiced many (unseen) characters.

Album cover from the 1976 comedy release Keep Smiling with Daryl and Ossie.
Album cover from the 1976 comedy release Keep Smiling with Daryl and Ossie.

The program's production crew also began to play a prominent role in the series, with sound-effects technician Murray Tregonning adding humorous sound-bites and sound effects from a huge bank of pre-recorded eight track cartridges, and personnel such as long-serving cameraman "Lucky Phil" Lambert making regular appearances.

Props assistant Ian "Krystal" Murray provided props, most famously the "Dicky Knee" character:

“ "I hit my knee on the desk one morning and said, 'Oh, I've got a dicky knee', and this voice immediately answered 'G'day' [...] A week later Krystal came up with this hairdressing polystyrene head with a wig on and wearing a school cap. It popped up in front of the desk and became a permanent character."[2] ”

Hey Hey was also notable for breaking the so-called fourth wall, often turning the cameras around to show what was happening in the studio and on many occasions (as portable cameras came into use) roaming at will through and outside the studios.

The series' distinctive brand of irreverent humour soon attracted a sizable adult audience and by the mid-1980s it had become so popular that Nine made the unprecedented decision to move it to a primetime Saturday evening timeslot, where it remained for the rest of its run. At its height, Hey Hey It's Saturday was one of the most popular and consistently high-rating series in the history of Australian television, winning many awards including several Gold Logie awards for Somers. In 1983, Somers was crowned King of Moomba with Edna Everage as his Court Jester.[3]

Hey Hey screened for twenty eight years (1971 - 1999) on the Nine Network across Australia. It had by then become an institution, so there was considerable shock when the Nine Network announced that the series was to be axed at the end of 1999.

During the five years after the show's demise in December 1999, Daryl Somers rarely made public appearances, with the exception of a court appearance in 2001 to answer a drink driving charge (after which Somers admitted he was "...a bloody idiot" - a reference to a famous anti drunk driving advertising campaign of that time), and an appearance as a guest on the Network Ten program Rove Live.

[edit] Dancing With The Stars

In late 2004 Somers returned to the small screen when he made the controversial move to sign with Nine's arch rival, the Seven Network, hosting Dancing with the Stars a live program where 10 celebrities battle it out each week in a dance competition.

In May 2006, Somers was voted the Worst Male TV Personality and Hey Hey was voted Australia's All Time Most Overrated TV Show[4] on the Fuglies which is the Australian television "anti-awards".

On November 30, 2007 Somers announced that he would leave Dancing with the Stars and despite no longer being involved with the show or signed to the Seven Network, accepted the show's Logie at the 2008 Logie Awards and took it home, much to the bemusement of Seven.[1]

[edit] List of TV programs

[edit] Personal life

Daryl Somers is a singer and drummer and is married to Julie da Costa, a former principal dancer with the Australian Ballet Company and now a director.

Somers is a passionate supporter of the Geelong Football Club and is its #1 ticket holder. He attended the Cats' VFL affiliate side's Grand Final victory in 2007 at MC Labour Park, and after the match was heard on Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER, interviewed by VFA/VFL legend Phil "Tiger" Pearce.

[edit] References

[1]http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=457821

[edit] External links