Spark-ula: Twilight hits bookstores and turns vampires dreamy

🧑‍⚖️ Supreme Court Soap
Harriet Miers is tapped to replace Sandra Day O’Connor and America collectively Googles “Who?” A loyal Bush insider with zero judicial experience tries to sell a “practicing lawyer’s perspective.” Conservatives grumble she’s not conservative enough, liberals cry cronyism and the vibes are awkward. A case study in how not to roll out a lifetime gig.

🌍 Quake Lines Snap
A 7.6 earthquake slams Kashmir on Oct 8. Towns buckle, mountain roads vanish, helicopters thud nonstop. The week ends with rescue, grief and a bitter reminder that winter’s coming fast for millions now homeless.

🏉 Benji’s Flick Pass Lore
Oct 2, NRL Grand Final: Wests Tigers beat the Cowboys 30–16 and the highlight reel gets a new deity. Benji Marshall’s no-look flick to Pat Richards becomes instant pub mythology. First premiership for the joint-venture Tigers. Goosebumps on loop.

🎬 Veggie Monster, Big Box Office
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit opens and claymation rules the weekend. British puns, humane pest control, a giant veggie-chomper, and Gromit’s side-eye carry the crown.

🎵 Nickel’s back
Nickelback drops All the Right Reasons and “Photograph” turns nostalgia into a meme before memes are memes.

📺 Crown Me, But Make It 2005
Australian Princess leans hard into etiquette bootcamp and tiara energy. It’s makeover TV before Instagram filters, where posture lessons and place settings equal “personal growth.”

📚 Ringside Uplift
Cinderella Man is still in cinemas reminding you that Depression-era boxing plus Russell Crowe equals premium dad-movie tears. Paul Giamatti steals scenes, again.

📖 Book Talk, Fang Talk
Twilight chatter is building in the background. Team “vampires sparkle” vs team “vampires do not.” Early signs of the internet’s future hobby: arguing about YA like it’s constitutional law.

Hang with us on socials to chat more noughties nostalgia - Facebook (@tminus20) or Instagram (tminus20podcast). You can also contact us there if you want to be a part of the show.

Transcript

Transcript is generated automatically.

The year is 2005. Anakin turns to the Dark side, YouTube debuts, and we couch jump for Mariah Mcdreamy and a girl with the Dragon Tattoo t -, 20 rewind 20 years with Joe and Mel. 

So. 

T -, 2012 show minus. 

20 The nice breaker. Don't judge me yet. This is bananas. Do you see? 

My question is, who approved that this? 

Where this is going? 

Not really. 

Remember when your iPod doubled as something you could stick under the leg to correct a wonky table or reality TV, you still finding it's it's weird little legs, and then Nickelback ruled the charts and the memes. Yeah, that's what we do here. Welcome to T -. 20 the podcast. 

Graph. 

So he raided The Time Machine, crank it back exactly 20 years, and relive the news, music, movie, sport and pop culture that made the mid 2000's The Glorious Mess that it was with your hosts 2 glorious messes in and of themselves, Joe and Mel. Hello, Mel. You're glorious. Yes. 

Hello and welcome. Yes, you can absolutely sit with us as we rewind to the 2nd to the 8th of October 2005. 

Now 3 stand out stories this week. The almost justice this story about Harriet Myers that we're going to get to in the news, her nomination to the Supreme Court. It crashed and it burned in record time. I don't actually have a grab to promote it. 

So I'm just gonna photograph. 

Yeah, why not. 

Every every time I do it. Makes me laugh. And then we had this. 

The quake took more than 85,000 lives as it wiped out entire towns and villages. Just. 

I way too much enthusiasm. When I introduced that bit offer, I forgot what we were talking about. There is a very, very sad. 

Yeah, yeah. The stated earthquake. Yeah. 

Story of the. News, unfortunately, and it's one of the biggest natural disasters in history. So we really do need to cover it, but we will redeem ourselves with some sport. 

Right foot kick down the ground into the in goal almost Hudson cuts it off Hodson, taken by Norton. 

And we'll see what ray rabbits. Warren. Yeah. A classic grand final this time 20 years ago. W tiger. 

Was that rabs? I thought so, yes. 

Players versus the Cowboys. I think it was. 

Hmm. 

Can we just rewind a second back to the Justice Harris? Yes. 

The Supreme Court Justice Harry admired the one that I didn't have a grab for. 

Yes. 

So. I had to. 

This photograph. 

Which has absolutely nothing to do with court. 

Every time I do it really makes. Me laugh, yeah. 

The courtroom I had to do a little bit of research this week because my understanding of the US Supreme Court is pretty much non-existent, except for the notorious RGB Ruth. 

Uh-huh. 

Peter Ginsburg, who passed away a couple of years ago. I've never heard them. 

Yeah, yeah. 

That's all I. 

Know notorious? Sure. 

Notorious. Yeah, that's all I knew. So I had to do a little bit of research because besides that, the only other exposure I've had to the court courtroom is, do you remember at school when you had school court or the mock trial? I was relying on that. 

Ohh, the mock trial, yes. 

College. And it wasn't too helpful. Did you do? 

From the mock trial. 

Through that. 

I no, I did not. I think I was on trial a couple of times. I was. I was fiercely mocked as well at school so. But I guess kind of in that kind of a way, but I knew what it was and I was always jealous cause that it seemed to be the really upstanding students, like the school captains who would be on the. The mock trial team you know? 

Mock trial was kind of a step above the debating team. It had carried more authority in weight. The debate. I was a debater. We were laughed at and shamed. 

Well, yes. 

But the mock trial participants, they were gods. 

Ohh, it's yes law and order style gods. School Victory unit, the law and Order, school victories, units. Some students just want to pass legal studies. Others want to crush the opposing team. These are their objections. Yes, absolutely. 

And you gotta roll. The teacher handed out roles like you had the judge you had. The jury, the. 

Yeah. 

Prosecution. The defence? Yeah, I think I was the note taker. You know the person. That takes the notes. 

Ohh really the stenographer? You are the poor stenographer. 

Yeah, I think I got that job. Very important job I would have liked to. 

Wow. 

Be the sketch. Artist actually be ohh. Imagine the drawings. 

Yes, that would have been fun, wouldn't it? That doesn't look anything like me. All I did in high school was draw ***** on things, though. Ohh geez, look at the size of the on that witness. Ohh, it's him flopping it out on the table. 

Or in order Wang unit. 

Special. Now look, let's let's move on from that. I'd like to think I've matured. 

But they did. They handed. 

It. 

They handed it out and because we did it. 

Yeah. 

Well, we started. In Year 6, we did it in year 6, but it was more like, you know, who stole so and so is My Little Pony. Or he wrote someone. 

Ohh really? 

You had mock trial in year 6. 

On the under on the under on the under side of the. Desk well it was. Kind of just like classroom courtroom kind of thing. But then when you got to high school and I think it was more a private school thing, like you had the legit mock trial. And I'm pretty sure that law firms would kind of sponsor it and somehow. 

Yeah. 

Involved. And I think I I I pretty sure because I never was in like the full mock trial I was in the debating, I was too busy debating crap. Yeah, but I think for the kids that got through and you'd you'd go against other schools, it was a big deal. And I think you'd kind of get to like the the grand final of the mock trial and you'd go in an actual courtroom. They do it in a courtroom. 

Uh-huh. 

Yes. Yes. And you have the mock trailer, yeah. 

Somewhere. 

Yeah, that was the big incentive. That's why they were guys. Exactly. 

So you got to go to court. Be Judge Judy. Well, Matlock. 

Them, yes. And I like it. You'd have some photographic evidence you could approach the stand every time I do it. 

Objection. Objection, your honour. 

Makes me laugh. Ah, hot keys to go. Go tonight. I'm having a great time with these sound effects and it's time for another little sound effect here. Well, what you heard? There was the the recorder sting Mel doing. 

The Recorder of destiny. 

The Recorder of Destiny, played by one Mel doing the that's if you didn't know what that tune was. It's it's a it's an appropriated version of the Entertainment Tonight theme song, because that's what you all and that's what you're experiencing Entertainment Tonight or this morning or whenever today. 

Yes. Hmm. Yes, it's a very good version. Today, yesterday, I don't know some some stage will be entertaining, sure. 

Whatever point in town. Yeah, we do this little thing called the hatches matches and dispo. Matches clue whereby we play a little sound bite for a little segment that we're going to do at the little end of the little show. You got it? Yeah. This this week it's a cell. Ohh. This is wow. I'm like 2 for two for the just. 

Hmm. Yes. 

You're a bit too excited. 

The poor. 

The poor lead INS and the excitement for sad stories because this was a celebrity who passed away. 

Yes. 

Who said this? 

Good evening. I'm speaking to you tonight once again as the chairman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of this pronunciation. Society formed to help people who can't say they're worms correctly. I myself often use the wrong worms. And that is why I was erected, charming of the society. 

But at least he's a funny guy. Right. 

Ah, I used to watch that with my dad memories. It's such a dad show, isn't it? 

Ohh, so funny. Yes the mess. Yes. And I I mean this might be giving too much away, but I could all I I never knew which one was which you know what? I'm. 

I still don't. 

Saying we'll find out at the end. 

3rd of. Tober 2005, Harriet Meyers is nominated to the US Supreme Court. 

What is it means? I thought it was Myers cause it's MIRS like so you know. 

Ohh, maybe it's Myers. I say me as you say, Myers, Harriet, we'll just go with Harriet. 

Mears mice. Well, we've covered. We've covered all bases and you know it's official because. 

Important. 

There we go. 

Exactly. You gotta present all the facts and options and. 

Yes, we're at the we're at the supreme. Court, right? 

We are, yeah, we are. She gets nominated by the president. So I had to do some research because my Supreme Court knowledge, like I said, it's pretty much back with the mock trial. I didn't really know what happens in the Supreme Court. I'm like, is she the big boss of the Supreme Court? How does the Supreme Court work? Does she make all the decisions who nominates her? How? How does this happen? 

Well, yeah. And. 

Does she? 

Right. 

Right. 

Have to do a speech I don't understand. 

This was a big story in the states, but I think because there was so much going on in the world at the time, I I barely remember it. But I do. I do know that it's been quoted quite often throughout history since, but it was just that it was such an intense week. 

Hmm. 

That we kind of. We dropped the ball a little bit. On this one. 

So yes, quick explainer. There's 9 justices, there's nine of them. There's one Chief Justice and then 8 associate justices. Yes, they serve for life. 

Yes. 9 justices of the Supreme Court. Yes. Ohh really Sir? 

Unless they decide to retire, resign or impeached, basically they they can't leave till they cark it. It's like the Pope. 

But they can't. They can't leave once they're appointed. Once they're appointed. Yeah. So once once the 9 have been appointed, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

That there's no smoke. 

I thought though. 

Yes, didn't didn't Trump recently? Like sacked the Supreme Court justices or something? 

There's, but yes, we'll we'll get to that. But now we're just doing we're we're just doing an quick explainer. Thank you. Can I continue? There's been 9. That's the standard since 1869. 

Ohh OK, good. Yes, I sorry spoilers. OK. Gotcha. Yes, thank you. 

Yeah. 

And Congress technically controls it and could change the number, but they've decided not. 

Right. Yes. OK. 

To. So when one of the justices retires, resigns, impeached or dies, yes, the president appoints a new justice with the Senate's consent. So the president chooses. 

And then the Senate go. Yep. Good choice, mate. And away you go. Yep, tick. 

Yeah, well done. We accept that. And the role of the Supreme Court Justice? It's the highest court, right. Their decisions are final. Full stop. No repeats, no appeals. They hear cases that raise major constitutional or federal law questions. So think civil rights, presidential powers, voting rights, free speech, abortion. 

Now returns. Yep. Abortions. Would be a. Page 1. 

And each justice has one vote. Doesn't matter if your head honcho, Chief Justice or an associate. Yeah, your vote counts the same. 

So is that. Is that why there's nine? Because it's an odd number like that makes more sense so that you always get a definitive ruling. There's never a tie. There's never a tie breaker or anything where they have like a. 

Yeah. You don't get a tie. Yeah, you don't get a tie. 

Justice off or anything? No. No, but. 

Thing with with the Supreme Court so going back to when they carkett retire, resigner impeached, and the president chooses. 

Yes. Yeah. 

The president gets to choose, so the makeup is really important because unlike Parliament or Congress, they're not representing constituencies. They're not balancing political views. They're appointed for life and basically. 

Yes. No. By the well by the President, then, with the blessing of Congress. 

By the president. And so when you think about it, the President is obviously gonna pick someone with the same philosophy as them. That's in their best interest. 

But is that not a conflict of? 

Interest then? Well, they appoint them. So no, I think the Senate has to consent. 

So they're they're Atlanta. Yeah. 

But you find, depending on which President is in when they're nominating. Yeah, yeah. 

So it's like a perk. Yeah. I could just make my mate one of the Supreme Court justices if we can get. 

It by Congress they serve for decades as well, which means that a president's choice can influence rulings of the Supreme Court, and years after they leave office. So if they if there's a change in in government, you still have potentially the same people. 

For years, decades. Holy legacy bag. 

The Supreme Court. 

Man. 

So there's a. 

Lot to it, there really is and I feel like it's. I don't know. Like like when I listen to what you're saying about, I don't think that's a good deal. 

No, it doesn't, because there there's no ruling that it has to. There has to be diversity of views. Yeah. In terms of the justices. 

Yes. 

Or just I just I hmm. And obviously the president usually picks aligned with their parties view, for example, which Speaking of Trump, he nominated 3 conservatives. 

Yes, he did. That's right. It was in the news like last year, I think it. Was and everyone. Was like, I can't believe it. 

While Obama's picks. Yeah, we're liberal. 

Yes. 

So in terms of like you said, one of the big topics has been abortion through the Supreme Court. 

Hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Well, especially recently because of the decision to, I think reverse. 

Yes. So 1973, we had Roe versus Wade, which legalised abortion nationwide. A 7, two decision which included. 

Yep. And that's that's that's Nixon area area era. I don't wanna know about Nixon's. 

Yeah. Yes. 

Area woah, get out of it. Yep. 

No. 

Then, in 1992, they reaffirmed Roe but gave more power to the states. 

Hmm. 

That's a bit of a cop out, isn't it? When? They defer to the states. 

And then the 2022 which you were alluding to, they overturn Roe, which was driven by the Conservative majority that Trump built within the Supreme Court. 

With the. Yeah. So he's well, I mean, you got three out of nine in. There and I. 

Don't know. I don't know where the other few leaned already. 

Well there. But there's it's. Yeah. Well, it's 6. So I mean, yeah, there's there's a lot more or less room for. There's never gonna be a tie breaker anyway, right? But it's gonna be even more heavily influenced when you got three out of nine in there. Like 1/3 of that group of your mates. 

Right. 

Yeah. Yeah. Back to Harriet. Yes. Nominated obviously by George W Bush to replace another female Justice, Sandra Day. O'Connor. Mm-hmm. So Sandra was the first woman on the court. Yeah. Pointed in 81 by Ronald Reagan. 

Yes. Yes. Yes. Ohh Nancy. Yeah. 

And then our second female, the notorious RBG Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was the second woman appointed by. 

Hmm. 

Bill Clinton. And has become pretty iconic and obviously passed away recently, but pretty iconic in some of the the decisions and viewpoints that she put forward, very progressive the older BG. 

Yeah. Yes. Yeah, but Harriet Harriet's. 

Not so much. 

Well, she was. She was the first woman to lead a major Texas law firm in Texas. 

Hmm. Yes. 

And she was the first female president of the Dallas Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. I feel like they'd have peanut shells on the floor at the State Bar of Texas, like, you know, the lone house. Yes. Was that what is Lone Star Lone Star, the loan house. The hell is a lone house. The Lone Star. It was a great gimmick. Australia wasn't ready for. 

Yes. Line star as that was a good gimmick, wasn't it? Good, good gimmick. The Lone Star, though, I don't think they didn't last long. 

No, those Lone Star Rd houses. I think there was 1. 

They there was one at the Central Coast at the Westfield in Tuggerah. 

There was one in Sydney up in the I think it was the centre point building. No, I feel like there was one maybe out in camp. 

Never got one near us. It's a shame. 

Old Town or something as well, but yeah, peanut shells on the floor. Umm, Coffs harbour. There was one at Coffs Harbour. 

That fits. That's some bread. She she she'd never been a judge. But she's gonna bring a practising lawyers perspective, apparently. But it was it. 

No, she hadn't. She had it? Yes, she said it. Look, I don't have any. What is? What is your experience? Well, I've never been a judge, but I have been a practising lawyer. And look. 

And I watch a lot of Matlock, Judge Judy, one of my. 

Faves president of the Dallas Bar Association? Exactly. 

Law and order. As for you got. It on repeat. 

I. 

Got it on Blu-ray. Of course, perfect. Right. Yeah. The cronyism concerns. Ohh. Your long, long time Bush confidant and personal lawyer. 

Reckon yeah. Yeah, well, she. Personal lawyer, I think is a is a big red flag there. 

Raising a few doubts about independence. Yeah, people also weren't clear on her stance on the key issues that often came up in the Supreme Court. Things like abortion, privacy, civil rights, very ambiguous. 

Right, yeah. Yep. 

Hmm. 

There was resistance from both sides. Surprisingly, conservatives wanted a proven conservative. Yeah, because they didn't know where. 

Yeah, because she's well, she hasn't got any judicial experience. There's no track record. They were. They'd be like, why? Like even they were like what? 

She stood. No track records. And Democrats, obviously transparency and privilege concerns. 

Yeah. 

The religious right were particularly sceptical that she, whether she was conservative enough, they thought she might turn out to be a surprise liberal, is that. 

Ah, there's there is nothing worse than a surprise liberal, you know, like. 

Like a surprise chef. Ohh peekaboo here I am. 

So you're sitting at at your little conservative soiree, haven't you? Conservative cocktails? I don't even know they that have mocktails that are conservative soiree. 

Monsters. Yes. What would they be talking about? Money. 

I don't know. And then all of a sudden? Yeah. And they're just, you know, having a, having a conversation about money and business and tax evasion and whatnot. And then and then all of a sudden surprised like. 

Or their businesses. Church. 

Pull pulls out a joint and a bottle of gin and says let's go and they're. All. Like, yeah. 

Ohh, we didn't expect that. Didn't see that coming. So surprised. 

Yeah, starts talking about. I don't know, you know, starts talking about their woke agenda and equal rights for everybody and you know, taxing the rich in order to. 

Ohh, not for work agenda. 

Help the poor, yeah. 

Ohh, that would have been a great event. 

Be good to be a fly on the wall at that party. When that happened when? 

The surprise Liberals showed up. The Conservatives were worried about the surprise liberal, but the Liberals assumed she'd be reliably pro Bush and pro. 

Business tonight on surprise liberal. 

And watch that. Yeah, but it didn't last very long. 

They're pro Bush. They've got hairy armpits. 

Fast forward to October 27, 2000. And five, she. Withdrew her nomination after three weeks of controversy too much. 

She couldn't take the heat. She got out of the kitchen. She's like this. She's like this. This is ridiculous. I'm copying it from all sides. 

I'm a surprise liberal. I'm a conservative. 

Yep, Yep. 

Too many questions, you know. Just wanna watch law and order. Just want to catch up on. 

Yes, that's right. Let let's let Vincent, Don Frio ask the questions. 

What's happening on SVU? 

He was. Was he Goran, wasn't he? That was him. Yeah, he was. Gorin. Yeah. 

We'll. 

See, I don't know. I don't think I've. Ever watched it? 

What? That's a great show. Great show. Ice T plays a cop in it, which I just think is extraordinary. 

Yes. 

Ohh yeah, he's good, he's good. 

I I still played a cop. 

Yeah. Good. So that was the end of that over almost as quickly. As it started, no more Harriet. 

Well, yeah, it's it. Well, it was. That's what not to do, really. When you're nominating a Supreme Court Justice. But it hasn't really stopped. 

But yes. No, no. 

From doing whatever the hell they want anyway. OK, we need to. We really do need to shift gears a little bit here. This story is a terrible, terrible story. But Sir, it is one of the biggest natural disasters of all time. We're talking about the the Kashmir earthquake that devastated South Asia on the 8th of October. In 2005, the epicentre was near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. There was very strong shaking felt across northern Pakistan, parts of India and Afghanistan, a magnitude of 7.6 which is I think the maximum intensity it it's is it is the most extreme. We don't have a lot that isn't sort of from Indian news networks that we can really play. 

Stream. 

That Tom Brokaw, who was a US network TV journo, did narrate this little video for the IRC, which is it more of a promotional thing. But it was talking about the. Activities taking place with the International Rescue Committee after the earthquake had hit. They were sort of going into areas where some of the other. Aid agencies couldn't go. 

The quake took more than 85,000 lives as it wiped out entire towns and villages and left three and a half million people homeless. The International Rescue Committee. The IRC has been working in Pakistan for 25 years. Within hours, IIRC, emergency teams were on their way to the. 

Perhaps the stone? 

Hardest hit areas. In villages such as Arbora, the IRC distributed crucial emergency supplies, including tents, blankets, food, milk and water. 

OK, next. 

We've selected this place because it was identified as an area where none of the international aid organisations have been. Our teams have been driving through the area. They're constantly approached by people who say that that nobody has stopped here. 

Yeah. So that, that that was just one arm of obviously the rescue efforts after the event, the human impact was absolutely massive. As you heard their deaths between 73 and 86. 1000 in Pakistan, about 1300 in Indian administered Kashmir, over 70,000 people injured severe injuries reported in early assessments, broader estimates around a 100,000. I think about 2.8 to 3.3 million people rendered. Harmless. And that's just, I mean, the human toll in and of itself is utterly shocking. And then there's the the infrastructure as well. 

Yeah, over 200,000 houses destroyed just under 200,000 damaged widespread losses to schools, health facilities, roads, utilities across the 8 hardest hit. Districts the economic toll was about $5.2 billion. In the aftermath, there was massive as we heard international mobilisation. We had UN agencies, NATO NGOs, helicopter access was critical given the terrain we're heading into winter over there. 

Yeah. 

So because they're. 

Looking at like basically was the only way I could kind of describe it when I saw the images of it was like a mountain range had collapsed an entire mountain range had basically collapsed. These two tectonic plates just came together and fell in on on themselves. 

Yeah. And they had to airlift. Over 3000 tonnes of supplies and medical and engineering unit. And the the challenge is, well, was this area known as the Cross LOC or Lock which is a de facto military boundary that divided the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, not an internationally recognised border. 

Yeah. 

But rather the ceasefire line that was agreed after conflicts between the two countries. 

Yeah, well, they're not the best of neighbours, right? So there's there's, there's that as well. But and I think. It's just the obviously everything is so inaccessible as well it's it's, you know, the and then you've got the sort of the politics at play from that ceasefire line to go with it. 

Yeah. Lock or line of control. I think it's called. So they agreed to open 5 crossing points across there, but it was just so dangerous and treacherous to try and and cross. So that also hindered the aid efforts. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. And I think that's the real a real tragedy too, because it's like they couldn't even get past, I guess, their differences in bureaucracy, they they still had to be like, Oh no, there's only five points that you can go in or out from. 

Hmm. 

Yeah. And it just made. It a lot harder. 

Yeah, there was a lot of delays, particularly in reaching the remote valleys. 

And and the other thing that was a big problem that everyone was in fear of at the time as well. Like you've just had a 7 point whatever magnitude earthquake, one of the biggest of all. Time 7 point. 6 right, aftershocks like that aftershock, people were terror. Fired, absolutely terrified. And it was only a matter of seconds that this all happened as well. It was a few seconds and it just changed the whole landscape there. So you could imagine the fear after that one minute you're standing somewhere, the next minute you're upside down. 

Yeah. And I think afterwards too, they did do a bit of investigating and the the. Building codes weren't up to scratch, so they they weren't resilient for earthquakes. 

No, of course not. 

Schools they needed safer construction for schools, better hazard risk management. There was also findings around mismanagement of the earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority. They were responsible to coordinate the rebuilding in the longer term work to focus on more safety and earthquake resistant. 

Yeah. 

Housing. But apparently there was a lot of embezzlement through the programmes. And yeah, there's a lack of accountability. 

Yeah. 

There as well. 

Yeah, I think it's, you know it's we were reeling I think from we had Hurricane Katrina, Rita and now the the Kashmir earthquake. We were pretty done with natural disasters by this time back in 2005 was very sad. On the attack now, at least with a change of pace, with a bit of sport, I think always the NRL. I mean we're at, we're at Grand final season, I love Grand final season like. 

Yes, OK. Ohh. It's when I pay attention I usually don't pay attention until we get there and and I get a bit excited. I get caught up. 

Yeah. Well, just the grant and the the finals, I mean. Ohh, my God, the finals this year. 

In the excitement. People putting streamers on their cars dressing up. 

Yes, yeah, I mean Canberra this year has been going berserk because the Raiders are not not only half a chance but a really good chance. However, at the time of reporting they are playing in a sub. 

Hmm. 

At the time of recording, well, we don't know. 

That's final and and like I think by the end of the recording, we'll probably know I wanna watch the replay when we're finished. I don't want any spoilers, so no death hex. Yes, understood. Yes, but that it's just the passion. This is when the passion for rugby league, you know, Happy Rugby league. 

Well, let's not put the death hex on them, please. I know, but also we don't wanna put this. Yes, that's that's worried. It is. It is. It's when people spray paint their hair in the colours of the team or a wig. The big, big novelty wig in the colour of your favourite. I like that. I really like it when they match the PMS. Like the Bulldogs. You often see the wigs in the exact Bulldogs blue and I think that's beautiful. 

Yes, the Hairspray. Ohh yes. Yes. 

Yeah. 

And I mean Canberra, Canberra is fantastic because it's the lime. 

Lawn burning? 

Green shout out to Stuart, who comes down to trivia whose grandchildren had some green Hairspray when they went to the semi final last week, or a few weeks ago. By the time you hear this and I thought old Stewart has a beautiful grey beard and the the son, you know who the father of the grandkids is like, what do you reckon? 

Ohh. He got spritzed. 

Yes. 

Yes. 

Kids, don't you reckon Granddad would look great? And they're like, yay, so he couldn't let them down. So. 

Ohh, you can't because they're kids. The kids are. 

And out with this dirty lime green beard to the to the Raiders game. 

Right. 

Ohh, it really is an unfortunate shade. I remember there were Maltese Terriers in a house that used to bark at us when we rode our bikes. They died them green, but it was like I think it was the the 80s on when they were in the ohh no early 90's. The Grand final the the back to back attack. 

It's hard to get out. They died of died of green, yeah. 

Yeah, and the dogs were green. That was good. 

Slack 2 giant boogers running around with malteser lindbeck's butchery and green bean the green sausages. Ohh. 

Yeah, yeah. Ohh they do the. It is. It's an exciting time, isn't it? 

Shout out to Barbie, who cooked a whole bunch of them for his crew at all bids the other week. Yeah, he bought photos. I'm like, I really don't wanna see your sausage. 

Ohh did. Of course he did, no. Put your green sausage away anyway, this one wasn't the Raiders, though. We're talking the West Tigers versus the Cowboys. 

Like, ever. Ever, ever. Yeah. No, unfortunately yes. Exactly. And this was the first ever NR. Well, grand final and I think title for the joint venture W Tiger Spoiler Alert. The Tigers won because they were Balmain. Yeah. And so it was the Western Suburbs Magpies. 

Ohh cause they were Balmain and the Magpies so it was a beautiful, beautiful blending of two bogan booner, not bogan. Actually boona, Boona and Westies colliding. 

Black, white and orange. 

Tight black jeans, desert boots just coming together. Rollers. 

Hmm. 

Yep rollers. Those shoes. 

And an unkept mullet. Not not these beautiful, well manicured. 

Yeah. Yeah. No, that's probably done at home, probably done at home. 

Mullets we see today. And a pack of Willy Blues up the. Please. 

I used to go and watch the Magpies play at Campbelltown Stadium back in the day. Back in the days of do you remember cement? David Gillespie cement? Yes. Yeah, that back in those days. Ohh yeah. Careful. Town Stadium was great. The fan it wouldn't. You wouldn't even see the like the. I think the opposition was so scared to go out there and watch because of the fans. 

Did Jim? Ohh yes. Rough crowds. 

But the fans are even they're on the same side, would fight each other. It was madness. It was, but it was really great that had taken area guys. If you see a fight break out, we're getting out of here. But yeah, so obviously this is, you could imagine the controversy when the two clubs had to merge. 

Perfect. Perfect. It was great to hear for the whole family. 

Would they they? 

Would have been pretty big rivals too. 

There's just so much. There's so much heritage with all of these clubs. It's like, you know, the North Sydney Bears, the Newtown Jets. All of that. Yeah, yeah. 

Ohh, I remember the Bears. They had a beautiful combo of red and black and white. 

And I think this is like post Super League and this is how these clubs have to survive too. I think they had to merge financially. It was just a sensible thing to do. Plus you obviously had to. 

Ah, that's right. Yes. 

Teams like the North Queensland Cowboys, there was more Queensland teams coming into the competence that it was the Cowboys first ever grand final experience. So both clubs have these reputations as battlers because you know they there's a lot of other powerhouse clubs at the time and they certainly weren't seen as that. So people were quite thrilled. They thought this was a great, this was very refreshing. 

And this was their first grand final appearance as well. Couple of third. Yes, yes. 

I guess, and it definitely cemented the Tigers as that beloved that snacking side, a gay fence or rare fairy tale ending. 

Hmm. 

And I think the the part of the fairy tale ending is the the Benji flick pass try as commentated so beautifully by the living legend. God. I hope he's still living. I don't want the curse. To hit this guy. As well, Ray rabbits warrant. Ohh now, I've. Ohh God, I'm so worried. 

Anyway, just listen right foot kick down the ground into the. Goal almost Hudson cuts it off Hudson taken by Norton. He took him late. Marshall skips away. Marshall skips away. Marshall still going. Marshalls got Richards coming up outside now inside. Richards pursued. He puts it into the. Patricians. Richardson scored a magnificent try lead to the field stuff. 

Ohh that is one of the great Grand final tries. 

It sure was length of the field. How mist is rabbits. Warren, I think like I just think he just left the biggest. 

Yes. 

Role in rugby league commentary. When he retired, he is just one of the great voices of Australian sport commentary. Ohh. Golden tonsils I. They're just beautiful. They're beautiful. They should be. After he dies, they should remove his tonsils and encrust them or galvanise them. 

Yes. Golden tonsils. I do I. Do miss this country. Into yes, that could be the new cup because you can't have Winfield Cup anymore. The the Golden tonsil trophy, the trophy. 

Well, put them up in a museum. At the very least. Just something for someone to aspire to or remove them and transplant them into somebody else so we can still have his have his tones because it's just not the same without him. It just really is. And I know that's bordering on a boom, but. 

Into AI. 

Hmm. 

No, it's not. It's not. 

I just. I just love Rabs's car. He did get a bit adult later on in in the piece though, he started to kind of get a bit muddled up sometimes with his commentary, but I still I'd I'd trade all of that for that excitement and that energy that he brings, the energy and the bellowing, the big bellowing. Oh, it's it's too much to take but. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, yeah. 

Yeah. So that was a very that was a standout moment. There with Benji killing the the past. 

It was, and it was close at at some points because the Tigers jumped to an early 12.6 lead and then they levelled the score. 

Yes. 

Was at 12 all but then set the second half the time just. 

Well, that was Jonathan, thanks to Jonathan Thurston. Yeah, we did. He's walking through Kingston. 

JT We saw him the other. Day. That was exciting. I just, you know, I I was. I looked at him like, oh, there's Jonathan Thurston. And I went hang on a minute. There's Jonathan. And like, I just saw him and I knew it was him, but I didn't register that I. 

It's. Thurston, yes. 

That I should be shouldn't be seeing him there. 

Have you? Have you seen him working on TV? I don't think much registers with him. 

Ohh. He's he's lovely. He's. 

It's great rugby league player, Lovely Guy, but he's rubbish on the TV. 

It was very exciting and I think I said it a bit loud because he walked off very quickly like ohh gosh, she's seen me. 

Yes, I think so. I think Cam Smith was there too. Somebody told me that I didn't see him. Yeah, I would. 

Yeah, he was. I saw him. Yeah, it took me and I couldn't figure out who he was for a few seconds. 

That's no you probably thought that there was a grub just moving around somewhere, that's all. 

And I was like ohh that's that. Ohh hush. 

Yeah. So I think you could. He was off to rendezvous with the referees and give them a kickback or something. I don't know. Jim Smith is a. He's he. I'm surprised he didn't. Become a referee after he retired. Anyway, yeah, so the the the Cowboys fight back. But the Tigers eventually get him. They get him. Yeah, it was a very it was a very tense second half of them. The Tigers just pulled away. And of course, Benji Marshall, 20 years old back then, he's now coaching them, for God's sakes. Yes, side steps. Vision. That flick pass that we talked about. He was a superstar. Scotty Prince, remember Scotty. 

They do. Ohh. Easy. 

Prince yeah, the captain and the halfback of the Tigers at the at the time he controlled the whole game really kicked very accurately. Got the Clive Churchill Medal for that. Best on ground. Pat Richards, the winger. The Benji flicked the flick past two. He scored two try. 

Yes. Yep. No, no. 

Place and he had an ankle injury at the time too, so he, but he just you know what it's like when they played grand final football. They it's funny because, you know, in a normal season they'd. 

Can't feel it? Keep going. 

Be like uh. The the The you know hit the showers, but they always tend to kind of needle them up and get them back out there. And then of course, right, you know Jonathan Thurston was was dangerous for the Cowboys all night, but they just. 

Yeah, you'll be. 

He just couldn't keep his team in it at the end, which was the same. That was only his second season there and I mean this was. Sort of part of the the legend being built for 1st and he was still very early days for him at the Cowboys, but a great game and just one more time for. 

Hmm. 

Yes. 

For rabs. 

Right foot kicked down the ground into the ingoal almost. Hodgson cuts it off Hudson, taken by Norton. He took him rape. Martin skips away. Marshall skips away, Marshall still going. Marshalls got Richard's coming up outside now inside, Richards pursued. He puts attention away. Pat Richard. Pete Richardson scored a magnificent try. 

It's just wonderful, like, you know when you're playing footy with yourself out in the backyard when you're a kid and you'd commentate. Yeah, that's the voice that you need in your head. I would like to have that commentary just with me doing the. 

Is that the voice that's in your? In your head. In life. Housework or getting up? Getting me up and. Out of bed in the morning. 

Into the kitchen now. And he's unstacking the. 

Dishwasher ohh. He's opened the door. Well, he's pulling out the forks and Nice. He's stacking them neatly in the correct order in the door and the plates. The plates are going in correctly as well, and they're all gonna perfect cheat on him because he managed to take the ringside. 

Alright, it's time to open the boom box to save space for your book. Complaints that you can message us about if you've got any time on your hands or you just feel that way, incline t -, 20 podcast on all the social platforms, I thought I'd introduce it really quickly this. Week so you can boom. 

Way. OK, we're gonna boom away with at Ray. Let Ray let Ray. 

Let is that ohh. Because I've got a friend. 

Named Ray Ray does like booms and I think Ray was gonna send in another book. Maybe. No, I don't think it's the same. I don't think. 

I'm like is there? I think it's it. 

It's ray in. Disguise. Ohh and high heels. 

What's a ray? Let it's like Ray with lipstick. 

Oh. 

Hi, it's rayland. Sounds a lot like Lois. 

Really. Yeah. Yes. 

Hmm. 

Uncanny. How I am millennial philtres spam calls. Colon. If my phone rings, it's spam. 

Ohh yeah, isn't it what? 

Who even answers the phone anymore? Isn't that funny? 

Nobody. Nobody. And you know you did. There's no such thing as cold calling these days. Well, then there is, because the boom is still cold. Call the boomers cold. Call all the time. And the only people that do, they're the ones that face. Total it. And why shouldn't they? Because back in our day. 

On FaceTime with no warning. 

You didn't have any idea who was ringing. It was always a surprise. Who could that be? Hello. 

You just picked it up exactly. Could be your best friend. Could be Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

Could be spam. It could be spam, but you never knew and that was part of the excitement. And you would even race. You would race your siblings to go. 

You just didn't know. 

Could be spare. 

None. Part of the joy. 

Yeah. 

On seriously now. 

That cause you'd fight over who got to. Pick up the phone. 

These days it's spam and heaven forbid if somebody calls up unannounced like this, it's like I'm gonna send a text. But can I call you? 

You need a warning. Yes, you need at least three business days warning. So you. 

I'm going to start just. I'm just. Yeah, I'm gonna start. Yeah, it's like. Oh, thanks. This, this, this. 

Can prepare yourself. Let me think about this for three days. Suck myself up, yeah. 

This inbox is not man's, you know. We'll get back to you within 24 hours or just reply. No, no. 

Over to the charts. Now we will start with number one in the UK has been #1 before, popped back into the number one spot this week. Oasis the importance of being idle. 

Ohh. I I didn't. I didn't get it. 

Maybe you could do a? 

Rendition. I don't, I don't know. Or something. Something. Looking at my toes don't give about. And you are talking about a man with a fork in a world of Souper. 

Fork in a world of soup. Hate my brother. Yeah, great. Number one in Australia. Ohh noisy. 

Oh, oh, nosey. 

Shine. That was #1 here is. Really are off his album second studio album Lift Lead. 

Yes. 

Single number one, obviously in Australia I spent two weeks at #1 certified Platinum. 

He likes like one word. Instructions doesn't. He yeah. Lift helpful. Shine. Hmm. Does he have one called drive? I bet he. 

What else? 

Does think he? 

I. 

Does. Yeah. Or is it? No, it's it's let's drive, but still. 

Jeezy drives. He drives the ride on Mower. Well, I've been watching him a lot on Instagram. 

Instructions nosie. 

On his ride on Mower, it's very exciting. 

Ohh yeah, cause knows he's pretty buff now too, isn't he? Does he drive the ride on Mower with his shirt off? 

Yeah. Ohh no. Usually a tank top though, so you can see enough there's enough on display. 

Does he? Umm. I'll bet he does. There's enough. There's enough to help you out there. Yeah. Whatever cuts your grass. Yep. 

Yes, ended up being. One of the. 

Top ohh, that's a bit much. I'm gonna have to. 

Empty the catcher, one of the top best selling singles in Australia for 2005. We loved it because we love Knowles. Love Knowles up, upbeat, pop track very much in the noisy wheelhouse, inspirational big chorus, radio friendly. 

Yeah. 

Shine. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yes. Ohh so radio from you know, it's funny, the compression on it. There is no dynamics whatsoever. I was looking at the wave. 

All about. That's fine. 

Form when I was bringing my little grab of shine in and the compression of it is so great, it just looks like a flat ribbon the entire way. 

Beautiful. Beautiful straight lines, just like he's mowing. 

So much compression. Yeah, it does. That's what it looks like. It looks like a little strip that knows he's just passed across on. 

Just like his mommy. Fantastic. 

Yeah. 

His right on. Beautiful. Leave you emptying your catcher. 

It's about rising above challenges and letting yourself shine. Mm-hmm. We loved it. I think it's been used on a few ads. 

Yeah. 

As well, over the years. 

Ohh I think so. It's one of one of those inspirational Australian songs, so I think it was like at the I I'm I bet you they used it on the biggest loser back in the day. Ohh they absolutely would. 

For. Or helped establish him beyond being the idol runner up showed he had real staying power cause a few years later. Now heavy radio rotation. One of his signature hits and fans often point to it as peak Knowsley. 

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 

MHM. 

Ohh yeah, probably well, well knows he had peaked. 

I don't know. What about me is still always Nelson for me. 

I think, well, you reckon he paid 20. He was the runner off. 

Yeah, I think he pegged. I just think that that was picked nosey. Doesn't mean he peaked. He's still a rat. If he released a song tomorrow, it's still it's still noisy. 

When he did the. The small faces cover. He'd be packed, nosey. 

We love Nazi. 

Shades of Pete nosey, right. 

Yeah, yeah, we enjoy him. So yeah, if you're interested in his mowing, follow him on Insta. 

Yeah, yeah, he's has he got a big following. 

That's my advice. On there, I think so, yeah. 

Yeah, well, at least he's influential. Still, I think that's good. Like, you know who? Your influencers? Not nosey. Ohh, yeah. You know, he could? Well, yeah, of course. He puts Jim to shame, doesn't he? 

Hmm. 

Who are you mowing influencers? Nosy. That yard work. He does? Yeah, he. 

Does step aside Jim mate diggity. There's a new. 

Mode. No doubt. Let's go to the US charts now. See you nosey. 

They got you. 

Look at this photograph. Somebody who makes our eyes get so. I never have nobody tell me like you. 

Now Adam being with different kind of girls like gotta see no more, but ain't none of them at all. I ain't saying she a gold digger. Broke broke. Now I ain't saying she a gold digger, but she messing with no broke bro. Get down, girl. Go here. Get down. 

Wow, that's a that's an interesting top five this week. 

It's definitely eclectic, actually. You know what I did this past week? I just asked Siri to play my Apple iTunes. Is it iTunes still? Yeah, I think it's for iTunes. Whatever. Whatever the apple thing is, I don't know. I just said Siri, just play on the song. 

Yeah. 

What? 

Yeah. Ohh apple music. I think it's called whatever it is, yeah. Yeah, and I. 

Just figured out how eclectic my playlist is like I went from. We don't bite our friends yo Gabba Gabba. 

Ohh the kids stuff, yeah. 

To never tear us apart by the string orchestra version from the wedding over to baby sleep music, over to the voice over I did for bunions. Jumping back over Bow Wow. Popped up in there. I didn't realise that I'd added bow. Wow. I'm not little Bow Wow. Bow Wow. Voice Broken Bow. Wow. As a Bow Wow song popped. 

After in the. Ohh there's all these. Oh. 

The. 

Key life moments in music. 

It was, yeah. Ohh Skid Row. 

Yes. Really. 

Pumped up and then I had that that that say La Vee song say it's true say to me say La Vee, it's the Irish band. Yeah. It's like it's more their names, bewitched, bewitched. And I the song gets stuck in my head every time I wash, wash my face with that. 

When were you broke? Say levee. That's just the way it. Goes. Ohh really? That's just the way it is. Ohh really were they like? 

Seravee. Yeah, face. 

Wash. Sarah VI got you you. Is that where you're brushing your face? Yeah. Brush while you're brushing your face. Sorry. 

Say say it's true. Say to me. Sorry. Anyway, I highly recommend. 

Sorry, wolf man. Yes, OK. 

Well, you know, I am of that age. The hairs are peeking through, but I do highly recommend just if you want something a little bit different and eclectic. Just get Siri to play your your iTunes. It's very interesting. Very interesting. Bow Wow is in there just like this in this top five. Let's bring it back. OK, my humps. #5 new entry from Nickelback. 

Yeah. You you most you most listen to right. Thou ours. Yes, yes. 

Uh-huh. 

#4 phonograph, like you. Bow. Wow, #3. Shake it off. Marine #2 gold. 

Yes. 

Digger. Kanye #1. 

Yes, but I think that the the pivotal thing here is that white people are in the charts. It feels like it hasn't been white. People in the charts for a for a couple of weeks at least. And it's a band. It's always a band. 

Yeah. Yes. 

It's always band and in. 

Yes. 

This case, it's Nickelback photograph. 

What the hell is Angela? This is where. I grew up. 

What the hell is on Joey's head, Chad? 

What was he? Is that what he was laughing at? Yeah. Didn't like Joey. Joey. 

Yeah. And the fact that their eyes got so red and they didn't know what Joey had on his head. I think they were. I think they were a bit cooked. 

Propeller hats. Ohh OK, I have no idea what that song's about, but it became one of their biggest hits. 

Yeah, I got cooked. Well, it's a food. He's reminiscing. It's semi autobiographical. It's Chad reflecting on his life, his teenage years in, in Hannah, Alberta in Canada. Ohh, very sentimental. It's a banger. 

Great. 

Hmm. 

Yeah, it's a banger. 

It wasn't it's biggest year. 

It's about friends. It's about youth. It's about memories attached to photos. I mean, you know. 

Look at this photograph. 

Every time I do it. 

Makes me laugh. It did become a meme, though, because the music video is just him holding. 

Yes. 

Up a frames. 

The yeah. 

Photo that made him laugh. Hmm. But then the Internet happened, and internetted and people started photoshopping different photographs into the frame that he holds. 

Yeah. Yeah, I think the Internet has been really good for Nickelback. 

I think so too. 

I honestly. I think they went through a bit of a dark period. Yeah, but I think the internet's been pretty good for Nickelback. I feel like they've had a renaissance. There's. 

I think we've come I. Think we've come full circle and we've now got. Ohh, you know we're a bit. Harsh. 

They're big on TikTok there. There's always a nickelback tune on TikTok. 

Yes. Yeah, they were meming the photos. I think Ryan Reynolds did it, didn't he? Put Pikachu in one of the photos or something, I think. 

And then. 

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, pretty sure they've meaned it, but I mean, I mean this is off the album. 

But in fun, it's all in fun. Now. We're not being we're not hating on them. We're we're just laughing at along at the photograph. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is off the album. All the right reasons, which came out at the same time as well. So we've not only got photographs in the charts straight up. 

It did, yes. 

It's like debuts it. No, I don't know if it debuted at #4, but it's in there and it's gone up to #4. It's gone up to #4 and then the album all the right reasons comes out on the. 

It's in there. It's in the top five. 

4th of October and this was just massive. 

I need to ask you don't read the notes. Have you heard their song called side? 

Yeah. 

Of a bullet. 

Yes, I have. I absolutely have it. Well, see, so Nickelback were really good friends with Pantera, that Chad and Vinny Paul. Very good friends. Yeah. Which is Dimebag's brother. And so after Dimebag's death that they wrote the song side. 

And do you know what it's? About. I did not know this. Did not know this. 

Of a bullet. 

I wanna. 

That was the heaviest track on that album too. And like I I think it like I kind of like that. They pay tribute to him, but then I when I listen to the lyrics and I'm just like, OK. 

I never knew. About that, but that is very heavy for Nickelback, isn't it? 

So we're talking about a guy that died from gun violence, and then you've got a song called sight of a bullet, which is about basically writing the name of the guy that killed the guy that you liked on the side of a bullet. And it's like gun violence perpetuating more gun violence. And I'm like, I don't think that's cool. Nickelback. I much prefer it when it's. Every time I do, it makes me laugh, you know? Not that. But that, I mean, that was a very heavy song for. 

777 singles released from. 

That album. Yeah, a really big ones. And like far away, which was the power battle. And do you remember the one rock star? 

That album, hmm. 

Hilltop. I'll stay skinny. Well. 

You just feel like we're in cowboy boots and taking shots to that, don't you? Bit bit country, that one. 

Just getting drunk, getting drunk people to bang up. 

Didn't didn't mind that one. That's actually my favourite off that album. 

Of problems on that album, look I and I'm, I've I have. I've gone through the full gamut. I've hated Nickelback and I've and now I've and I've liked Nickelback. I won't say I've loved Nickelback. It's not like I've gone out of my way to buy any of their recordings. But it's, you know, if it's on right, it's alright, it's alright. I mean, I love watching. 

Actually. 

So. 

I don't mind. 

That. 

You know, girls dance with their cans out on it to tick. On TikTok. Ohh, they love they love dancing around at the nickelback in their tight jeans and yes. 

I can imagine. I can imagine looking at photographs. The album cemented their status fans. Sorry, they're the biggest bands of the 2000s nostalgic bangers. And like you say, popping up again all across social media decades. 

Yes indeed. Hmm. 

Terry. 

Later. 

Let's have a look at the movies, you know. 

Umm, we've got an animated number one over in the. US week. 

Ohh this is this is great. I loved Wallace and Gromit. Did you love Wallace and Gromit? Yeah. Full feature after Chicken Run was so successful we had this. 

Curse of the Wear rabbit I do. 

From it or pal, I'll need assistance. 

How? 

Once an inventor. 

Just a bit of harmless brain alteration, that's. 

All who never says die. 

Full suction. 

The other is his dog, who never says anything. They've made gadgets, they've made contraptions. And they've made a movie. 

They they did. They made a movie and it takes them a long time to make these movies cause there's stop motion animated. Movies. 

Hmm, claymation, isn't it? Isn't that what they call it? The clay animation? They run a in the movie Wallace and Gromit, run a humane pest control company called Anti Pesto, protecting the giant vegetables before the annual vegetable competition. Yes, the wear rabbit, however, starts wreaking havoc. 

Claymation, yes. Yes. Uh-huh. Anything else started? 

Yeah. 

That's right. He's got other ideas for those vegetables. 

Umm and Wallace and Gromit try to catch him with. 

Hmm. 

But any harm? Because remember, humane pest company. 

Yeah, it was just such a, a a masterpiece. I think like the admin clay nation, it's. I mean, that's a very much a lost art form. And that was like so painstaking like 85 minutes of it. And it's just wonderful. And it it's there's a lot of stuff happening in it. The attention to detail. It's beautiful. The characters are wonderful, Wallace, voiced by Peter. Dallas Grommet, of course, who doesn't say anything but says so much just with that character and the way that that he is animated and then they had Victor Quartermaine who was actually voiced by Ray Fines and Lady Tottington who was voiced by Helena Bonham Carter. I mean, it was just great and they everyone loved it. I mean, there was nothing not to love about it won the Academy Award for Best Animated feature in 2006. 

Hmm. 

Which beat Tim Burton's corpse Bride and. The the manga house moving castle. It was the first non US made animation to win that Oscar 192 million at the box office on a $30 million budget and they they just became massive. And I I I. Loved Wallace and grommet. Just in the short episodes like the wrong trousers and that, you know, they were great. And then to see it at a full length film. Awesome. 

Was the largest scale stop motion project that Aardman had tackled at the time, with hundreds of sets and thousands of clay mode. However, the partnership between Admin and DreamWorks sawed soon after with some creative differences. This was actually their last full feature together. 

What a shame. But I mean, at least ardman still went well, did they? There's a bit of news next week about Ardman animation. We'll get to. That's actually quite tragic. Let's move on to something else though. Australian icon. 

Hmm. 

Or is he from New Zealand? It depends what? When he's good, when he's good. He's from Australia. When he's bad, he's when he's chucking phones. He's from New Zealand. We're talking about Russell Crowe and he was in this film, the Cinderella Man. 

Ohh, we claimed him, didn't we? When he's when he's throwing phones he's he's a Kiwi. Yeah. Yeah, frosty. 

I believe we live in a. The country. 

I need 9 men and only 9. 

Country. That's great enough to help a man when he's in trouble. I had a run of bad luck. I owe everybody money. I didn't always lose. Don't always lose again. I can still fight. 

Alpha God sakes. Look, it's it's OK. It's that's a bit. It's a bit of a long winded trailer, but it is a great, great movie. Actually it's directed by Ron Howard. And it's about James Braddock, who Russell Crowe plays. Renee Zellweger plays his wife May. Paul Giamatti plays his manager, Joe Gould. It's a biographical sports drama. James Braddock was a depression. You're a boxer who was a promising fighter, but his career kind of went downhill due to injuries and owing people. Money in basically unemployment in the 30s and God knows what else hardship people had to do. With then and so he worked on the docks, he accepted government relief. He was on the welfare, but he made a comeback. And this is about his comeback, where he defeated a whole bunch of heavyweights and he fought and he beat Max Baer in 1935 and became the World Heavyweight Champion. And it is, it is quite gritty, but it's also a really hopeful. Nice movie. And Russell Crowe was awesome in. It really good. Good, very physical role for him. He was in good shape back then when he did it, Renee was it was great as well. Renee Zellweger. We're on a first name basis. So I just, you know, Renee Swagger. 

Hmm. 

It's fit, hmm. Ohh good, good mates. Here's your. 

Mate. Walk away, Renee. It's not my mate Paul Giamatti as well. I mean, he's just a great actor in everything he's in, and he was great in that. He got nominated for an Academy Award for that one. It's a it had a pretty positive response with critics. An old fashioned inspirational sports drama, 108 million bucks at the box office world mine on an $88 million budget. So not as successful as the characters that were made of clay in the aforementioned movie and Ron Howard. I mean, just he he was on fire with his dramas. They love his dramas. Beautiful mind came a few years before this one, of course, which had Russell Crowe. 

In it as well, there was a bit of controversy. No, the family of the IRL boxer. 

Ah yes, they're always easy, isn't it? 

Criticise the movie for painting him as a sadistic killer in the ring. 

Ohh that was Max buyer that was the he he that was the. That was the opposition. The guy that he was going up against. So he's that was the champion that he beat. So it's like they you know they really they did kind of colour and like good guy bad guy and it's like they're two boxes you know. 

His family. Ah, the other guy. Ah. So. Made him look like they're bats. Yeah. Well, he did kill two people in the ring. 

Uh. 

He did. He did in boxing. 

But I think that happened a fairly it's back in the day, it did happen. 

It happened in both accidents happen in Box boxing in the 1930s. I mean this is, you know, yeah, there's no such thing as CTE or any of that stuff. Hmm. There's people getting knocked out multiple times and probably coming back weeks later and getting in the ring. So is it any wonder, you know, people were dying? 

You know it's a different time, different time. 

In that sport, yeah. 

Yes, but they said they they unfairly demonised him to make addicts underdogs. Still a little bit more exciting. 

Look, I'd I'd probably I'd probably agree with that. I'd probably agree with that. I mean, and just like now, like, you know, I think people have unfairly demonised Russell Crowe just to heighten his underdog story. 

We had a very exciting debut here in Australia. On this screen on the 5th of October. 

Ohh you know what? I I tried to forget this show and this. 

Ohh miss, I miss this. No it's like. 

I don't what this is like. I was looking in the show notes and then I got the trailer. 

Yes, you do. Ohh yes you do. 

There is a Princess inside everybody, mums. If you're a boy too. 

I think which is the least ghastly Princess. And bigger balls and nice blokes. 

I thought maybe you got. I and had a cup of tea. You. For once seeing a. Married man. I'm just the party girl. Princess, go. Me. 

What the hell do you do with this? 

There's there was a revolting. 

Australian Princess. 

It was a revolting show, the revolting show. It was one of those car crash type shows. You couldn't look away. 

We're gonna be princesses. Everyday Australian women competed to transform into princesses, learning etiquette, fashion, grooming, public poems. 

I don't think they were. I I really think. I think it's offensive to call them everyday Australian women. Like I would say, common Australian women. Not every day though, and hosted by Jackie. Oh, I mean, really, you know, you know how this is. I think you know how this is gonna go, right. 

Hosted by Jackie O. Ohh it end for two seasons. 

Yeah, there's like this. 

This he came back for more. 

My Fair Lady meets reality TV in Australia. 

They had training in table manners, etiquette, walking lessons. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. Deportment department. Yeah. They put the book on their head. 

I feel like we're missing this as a society. 

We're missing it as a. 

Society, I think we should bring back etiquette. 

Ohh yes and I was. I was. I thought you were gonna say Australian Princess and I'm. 

But for everyone, not just girls. I do Miss Australian projects, I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, but I I I think etiquette is a long lost art form, I feel like we don't focus enough on good posture. 

Like. No, no. I I 100% agree with you. 

And but I think for everybody, not just, not just females. I think for everybody we could do with some posture, some manners. 

Ohh 100% agree with you some table manners like chew with your mouth closed. People you know? Yeah, yeah. 

Nanners public speaking. People aren't debating in mock trialling anymore, aren't they? 

No. And you know what? If they did debate in mock trial, I'd probably be a lot less conflict. In the world would. 

Yes, they can handle it. Handle it yourself. 

You be able to actually have a conversation exactly. 

Win. Season 1 Rihanna, BREANNA, Brianna gun. 

Brianna. Yeah. Brianna. Gun. Yeah. 

Brianna Gunn Young one from QLD. Who beat out eleven other contestants? Possibly. Possibly. 

Yeah, like, physically like she physically beat him out. She is. I mean, she's a young mum. 

From Queensland winner a second season, Kate Bevan Baker. 

Bevin or Beaven? 

Ohh, maybe Beaven Beaven Beaven Baker. Hmm. Bevan Baker, lover Beaven bake. 

Even. 

Ah. 

Mcmuffin yeah, could I have a beef and Bacon Mcmuffin please? 

They won a makeover, a luxury wardrobe, sometimes even international travel opportunities, as the Australian Princess. 

Yes, but I think a lot of them, I think a lot of them had their visas revoked. Yeah. Trying to smuggle drugs into Bali or. 

Something. Yeah, a lot of criticism for being outdated and sexist. Pushing the idea that women should aspire to be a Princess and unrealistic standards behaviour. 

Ohh yeah. Yeah, here's you saying ohh. I think we should bring it back. But I understand. I. 

I think manners and posture. I've got terrible posture because I was never taught posture. I wish I was taught that walking with the book on your head, I got it like I've. 

Understand. I think manners and posture are good. Weren't you? Ohh, I had it. I had it drilled into me. 

Got a lumpy, lovely lady Lump in my neck. My humps, my humps, my humps, because I didn't walk with a book. 

Oh, Christ, yeah. 

On my head. 

John, I'd love to see you gyrate with that in the music video. Throw it around the back. The big hump on the. Back of your neck. Yeah. Check it out it. 

Goes off, yeah. On the DF solid ratings, solid ratings because it was it was a bit of a parody of the reality makeover boom of the time. Cause went queer eye, Extreme makeover, Next Top Model solid ratings. 

Wow on the TF. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Hmm. 

And people love Jackie O. People still do love Jack. I love Jackie O Pete, Jackie O era though. 

Yeah. Well. 

Remember that she was on Thorpe's Angels. 

Ohh right, she was an Angel. Yeah, for salty. 

And she, her and Kyle hosted Big Brother, didn't they? A few times. 

Ohh, I don't think we were they were up to hosting Big Brother just yet. I don't think so. I think it was still Gretel at. 

Ohh, I think we're close. 

This stage hmm. 

But they they did a lot of TV stuff, pop stars. They hosted pop stars. 

Yeah, yeah, they're on stars. That's right. I mean, this is where we get to there. So you had the, there were certain tears of reality TV. There's like, the prime time reality TV. Like Big Brother and Australian Idol and that that's the stuff that was sort of cruised from like maybe 7:30 to the 9:30 time slot, right? 

OK. 

Made a lot of money with the voting the 1800 numbers. 

Yeah. And then and then you had your second tier and I'd say this is like second, third tier that 9:30 to 10:30 time slot, if it's doing well, sees Season 2, that's probably a OHS miles sort of like if one of the other prime time reality shows. 

Where's the male? Where does the male go? Ohh, we love to yeah, probably tier. One hmm. 

Ends at, say, 830 starts. If it's only a one hour reality show, I think the mole kind of comes in there at 8:00. 

Hmm. 

Yeah, I must do that. Yes. A bridging mole. Hmm. Great. 

30. As like a A as a bridge, as a bridge between Tier 1 and and whatever Tier 2 is. Yeah, it's. It's like a little mole hole in the middle. So so like it's it's it's a time thing. And I think by season 2, instead of 930, this had been pushed back to 10:30 just because the the, the, the ladies in it. 

11. 

Hmm. 

Were so repulsive. Ohh. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, their behaviour was very bad. 

And this. 

Their behaviour was bad. I do remember that and it was extremely. I don't think I remember it. I remember watching it. Mm-hmm. For a few episodes, maybe one or two. And I was. 

It was cringe, yeah. 

Like I'm not, I'm. 

I think we got one on a VHS. I think we got a preview copy because I was working at at the. 

Yeah, an advanced copy. 

The TV place. 

And and and. You're like, I've seen enough. I have seen enough, but I'd say, I mean, we did get pretty weird in early 2000s with reality shows. And I think this was the height. 

We did. 

Of it. Over the books we didn't read. 

I thought you owned these. 

Books. No. No, I I. No, no, I did not. I did not. But I will confess that I bought. I bought some of the True Blood books after the TV series. But what I what? I didn't. Yeah. What? What? What crept up on me with the True Blood books. 

I think you. I'm sure you did. Ohh OK but seem like you had. 

Is because they're all written from Sookie Stackhouse's perspective, so I I I wasn't. I wasn't prepared for the vampire sex scenes from a woman's a female perspective of. 

Ohh, you're getting it on with the scars guard. The yes from female. Yeah. Was it good? Did you enjoy? 

And I it's it's not that it was. It felt quite strange actually. 

I. 

With bill. Yeah, the scar scard. 

Ohh let me tell you. Yeah, I am. Yeah. Well, there wasn't a dry seat in the house. Look, it was difficult. It's difficult to get through, so I didn't. I didn't finish that. So there there's still books I didn't read either, cause I got up to that and I'm like, I can't. I. 

Skarsgard, that's good. OK. Wrong vampires. Anyway, you didn't. 

Ah. 

Cannot do I. Can't do this. I can't. I can't like in my mind's eye go into the. Character and and be violated by Bill Compton. Or the Skarsgard. I just can't do. It. 

What about the werewolf? Was that the Manganiello guy? Ohh. 

Ohh the werewolf. The Manganiello the Manganiello was OK. I was like. I'm walking again. Joe, call me. 

Stunning, stunning werewolf. 

You know, it was it was tough. 

OK, no scars. Scars. No, no, man. Canellos, we're talking about the release of the very first twilight book. 

Tough sledding, good, good. 

Ohh. 

Jenny, is it Maya? Maya. Who knows? 

Stephanie Meyer. Maya. I don't know. She's hanging out with Harriet in the Supreme Court. As far as I'm. Concerned. Ohh, just these are the first thing about twilight that I have to say really sticks in my craw is it's vampires that sparkle. 

Well, you did watch it sparking. You watched it. 

Sparkler. Yeah. In the daytime. And they go out in the sun and they don't catch fire or explode into blood. So I didn't. I watched the movie. The first one. And I was like, this is really this is this I I think I I think I'd rather be violated by Phil Compton and the Skarsgard and the Manganiello. I think that would be much better. All three. 

Mm-hmm. 

Yes. 

You were upset. Yeah. 

Once. You know that's how bad it. That's how bad Spark killer is. I hate it. Depends on how you look. 

Yeah, yeah. All good. OK, let's can you give us give us a synopsis for those that haven't read it. It's just a. It's a very short synopsis. 

At it. Ohh, OK well, what do I have? I have some. Dark suspense, that sounds. 

I think you're glitching. 

Yeah, probably. Ohh, there you go. OK. And so this is the thing, OK, about 3 things, I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him and I didn't know how dominant that part might be. They're thirsty. Thirsted that thirsted that thirsted for my blood and 3rd I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. Deeply seductive and extraordinary suspenseful. Twilight is a love story with bites. Stick that in your Manganiello and your scarce. 

Guard. There was lots of reviews as you can. Imagine there was. 

Yes, million. 

Like millions of five star reviews on the good reads for this millions in the millions, and I'm like, I'm not going through that. 

Yes, five star reviews of twilight. There. There I tell. 

Ya, there'd be lots of people with lust reviews. 

It's a high risk manoeuvre, hmm. Teeing off on twilight. 

Because it is. 

Yeah, because they're they're a little bit kind of goth and a little bit kind of they're just, they're dedicated fans, OK. 

You know, like the swifties, they'll come after you. Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. That's fine because. 

They will come after you, yes. 

I was. 

It's fine because I'm wearing a scarce guard. 

I was ferreting around the one star review. 

Ohh really? 

And I found Steven. Yeah. Stephen one star. And instead of doing a review, Steven, One Star offers us. 

Uh-huh. 

Let's just wait for the glitch. 

Yeah. 

The Vampire compatibility test alright. Would you like to take Stephen? One stars vampire compatibility? 

All right. Is this like, what? What do you have to do for a vampire compatibility test? Do you like have to stick a swab up its nose and just, like, touch the back of its throat to like, and then and then pull it back out and then swish, swish it around in the solution and then, like? 

Yeah. 

I just wanna wait. Wait. I'm not sure if you're a vampire. Please don't attack me. 

Squeeze. It. 

If we could just set a timer for 15 minutes after I put this on the little the little cassette. Yes, and see if there's a stripe there. No. OK, right. Good. 

What's the? Stripe go up, yeah. No, it's nothing like that, Stephen. One stars vampire Compatibility test is a series of questions are. 

Yes. 

You ready to take? 

Yes, I I'm very ready. Ohh I have to take it. 

The. Compatibility tests. You have to take it, and you've. Gotta keep score so you can hang. 

We need. 

We need to do some maths as well, so can you bring up your phone? Ohh, some project scores. I'll do your scores. Alright. Ohh watch me multitask. No, I don't think so. 

So does this mean I I can't bring up my phone? OK. I can. I've got a hand. I can use my. I've got a hand. I might go back to. The True Blood books. Whoa. 

Yikes. OK, Are you ready for Stephen? One star vampire compatible question. 

Yes. Sure. Uh-huh. 

Yes. Which of the following best describes your favourite kind of vampire? A sparkly, epically emo and unable to look threatening without legal counsel and a tactical nuke B underwear model hotness with perfect hair who smells like the beach and has eyes that can cause a person's naughty bits to spontaneously combust? 

Ohh. 

See, Chalky Skin Supercuts hair, stylistically challenged clothing, with or without Liberace, Cape with long nails, ivory fangs, and a ******* accent. D ugly and wreaking of ickiness with deformed monster like physical appearance and sharp, nasty animal like teeth and claws. 

Oh, that's very yeah. OK. 

Note long black tongue like appendages is optional E so freaking menacing and out of this world disgusting that sightings will cause spontaneous development of Tourette's syndrome, loss of bladder and temporary voice in Modi. 

Oh. 

Relation. 

I I'm definitely doubt I'm definitely going with with like EI think like I want my. 

What are you going for? Spontaneous Tourettes with your vampire. You wanna lose your bladder. Alright, OK. 

Yeah, they're freaking menacing. Yeah. Where? I'm just like, yeah, well, absolutely. Be terrified. You'd be scared of the vampire. 

Question 2 which of the following best describes your desire to become a vampire like those in your favourite stories? 

Uh-huh. All right. 

A. Yes. Yes. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Yes, yes, yes. 

Oh. I'll have what? She's having B yeah. 

Yes, I think it would be pretty. Cool. See close, but no. I think the loneliness, lack of vitamin D and dietary restrictions outweigh the longevity and the cool soulful hipness. 

Yeah, you don't wanna be like a vampire with, like, a gluten into. 

Terrence D No way I would rather die than become one of those things. Yeah. AE, are you ******* psycho? Not only would I rather die, but I would personally hog tie my best friends and leave them for the creatures to munch on while I made good my escape. 

Hmm. 

Yeah, yeah, that's mine. EE absolutely EN. So it's E2E's. OK. Hmm. 

Eight. OK, great. OK. We're gonna go question #3, which of the following best describes how you would respond if a casual acquaintance asked if they should check out the popular twilight series by Stephanie Mya? Mia. Maya. 

All right. 

There. Just wait. 

This is someone's review, right? OK, yes. Keep going. Steven once does compete. 

This is the review, this is Stephen one star. A I would say yes, because it is the best book since crime and punishment. No way. The best book ever. And everyone should read it be I would say yes, but I would spend the next 20 minutes qualifying my answer using phrases like well, some people find it kind of cheesy and it's not exactly quality pros and you should know that I'm pretty forgiving of the plot. 

Just. 

Because I love the. Characters don't ******* look at me like that. I mean, sold like a Gillian copies and it can't be all bad like Gillian. 

Right. 

A gagillion. 

Me, even though I really like it, I'd be too embarrassed to admit that I read it and would tell the person no and they should read Ulysses instead because it's like, way deep. Dee, I would say no and tell them to go read Dracula because it's an excellent vampire story. EI would stare at them stunned for several seconds and then ***** slap them hard across the face. 

Ohh, so yeah OK. 

Ask me such a dumb question, screaming that vampires do not sparkle, wear hair gel or play baseball. Ever. 

So E and because I've actually done that. 

Mm-hmm. 

I think you just did. You just did. 

I've done it to someone. Yes. Hey. Yeah. 

Last question, Question 4. It's a very long review, but it's it's worth it, it's worth it. 

OK, wow, there's a lot here. It really is. I I yeah. OK alright. 

Right. If they made a major Hollywood movie of your favourite vampire movie, what rating would the MPAA give it? AP's to PG. 

OK. 

That's the Motion Picture Association of America, by the way. Yeah. Hmm. 

Correct. 

PG to PG13 for emo adult situations, snarky adult language and boring violence, B, PG13 for strong sexual situations, strong to very strong. 

Sure. Yep. 

Huh. 

For strong sexual sexual situations, as well as strong to very strong sexual situations, that's the main, isn't it? Obviously, it's gonna CR for adult language. Sweet bloody violence. Yeah, fright and nudity followed by bimbo deaths. 

Right. Yes. Yeah. OK. Yeah, right in the Manos. Ohh. See, that's tempting, yeah. 

Very tempting. DNC 17, banned in the US for almost continuous gore on a massive scale. Vampire is more disgusting than a sumo wrestlers bowel movement and lots and lots and lots of nudity, because why not? 

That's D all the way. So it's I think it's 3E's and D it's E. 

OK. 

For me. 

He well, he didn't give us an E for that one. He just stopped. It too. Must have got bored. Stephen Monster 15. 

Yeah, I know. So it's what? So I think what are the's worse? Points. They're 20. They're easily worth 20. These are 15. So I'm. 

Ohh he's A20156075. Alright, here we go with the points. 

Yeah. There you go. 75 points. Yeah. OK. So, what do you what do? 

OK, let's go through the scoring. OK, Zero to 10 points. Ignore the one star rating above by first printings of all four of the Twilight books and read them over and over until. 

I. Get would you break down the scoring just in case? Yes. Yeah. 

Ah. 

Your eyes bleed. 

Well, that's definitely not me. 

If you scored 15 to 20. Points Twilight is probably a two star read, and you might think about squeezing it in between episodes of Jersey Shore. 25 to 50 points best to skip Twilight as it's not likely to be a memorable read for you. 50 points are over this as you because you were 75. Avoid at all costs. 

Hmm. 

75 is like top top of the games. 

Twilight is your vampire kryptonite and reading it will make you think less of yourself and may cause severe and longer lasting anger and or depression at the. 

No, he's at what? 

Current state of the. 

World I already have. I already have that I'm very depressed at the current state of the world and this was back in 2005. I was OK. 

And then. 

With 2005, sorry. 

Yes. So I don't think you should read it, but Stephen OnStar also had to put some review notes and comments at the bottom. 

I don't think it's a good idea. Some caveats. 

Hmm hmm. 

Single asterisk, yeah. An apology for this review to my wife who loves. These books. 

Ohh wow, he's jealous. 

Asterisk, Asterisk Heights saying that word an apology to my 2 beautiful daughters for telling them that Mummy had problems. 

You love these books more than me. 

For loving these books. Esther. Ask asterisk. Ask the risk. Yes, three cheers for my beautiful wife for getting that. I was just trying to be funny and doing this reviewing didn't really mean all the things that I. 

I told you, man, I don't. The only thing that's more scary than twilight? Well, twilight isn't scary, but they're fans are. 

Wrote no, of course not. 

I mean, you can like it. It's OK. Like whatever you want. Like, whatever you want. You know, the I I actually am a big fan of. Of the actors that were in in the twilight film, I think they all went on to well, especially Robert Pattinson, Great. Kristen Stewart, Fantastic Massive fan of their work. It's just wow. I mean, that's hard entry, isn't it, to come into a film that is so polarising, sparkler. Anyway, it's the hatches. 

That's fine, that's fine. Ohh, they're all doing big things now but. Yeah, that's true on them well. It's not. They're just not their sparkles. 

Matches and dispatches segment, which means it's time for this. This was a I mean, it was very sad because it's a death, but it was a very funny person that said this. 

Good evening. I'm speaking to you tonight once again as the chairman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of this pronunciation. Society formed to help people who can't say they're worms correctly. I myself often use the wrong worms and that is why I was erected. Charming. Of the society. 

Genius. If you said Ronnie Barker. You would be correct. I don't know it's cause for a celebration cause he passed away. Born on the 25th of September 1929, I almost **** pronunciated that in Bedford in England he worked in a bank before he pursued acting. He died on the 3rd of October 2005. He was doing theatre in the 40s, stage comedies and whatnot, moved into radio commentary, comedy. Again, I'm pismo enunciating this into radio comedy. He was a BBC Radio show called the Navy Lark from the 50s to the 70s. Then he was on the Frost report with John Cleese and that's where he met Ronnie. Corbett in the 1960s and then in 1971 he teams up with Ronnie Corbett and of course. Boss, the two Ronnies is born a sketch comedy series that ran for 16 years. Have you ever heard of a sketch comedy show running for 16 years? Ever, except for that one, an absolute institution and a career highlight. And it was just it was the writing, the word play, the innuendo. They were very, very clever. 

Yeah. 

Gosh. 

Hmm, regularly pulling audiences of over 15,000,000. Like I said, one of my dad's favourite used to watch it with my dad. 

Very clever. Yeah. Yeah, it was really good. And then he went on to porridge that, that show about prison in from 1974 to 77 where he played Norman Stanley Fletcher the the lovable. 

Side goods. 

No BBC sitcom that was just very highly acclaimed even to this day. Open All Hours, very Granville. That was a great show. Open All Hours. That was, I think, that well, it was on in 76. And then they brought it back in 1981 and it ran for about four years. He he was arc. Right remember in that. 

Ah yes. Yes, that was great too. 90s, yeah. MMMM. 

Which was another great one, and he was just a master of of character acting. He could do accents and personas really seamlessly. I love the newsreader and him with Ronnie Corbett, for though that time was just amazing slapstick and silliness. But so much satire as well. He retired in 80. 7 because he just wanted to chill out and collect antiques, and he ran a second hand bookshop as well, and then he came back for some projects in the 90s and early 2000s. And then, of course, on the 3rd of October 2005, at age 76, he died from heart failure, which was very sad, very sad. He was a comic genius and he continues to have a massive influence on British comedy. If you look at people like. 

Oh. 

Ricky Gervais or shows even like Little Britain. You know, a lot of his comedies are are represented. The four candle sketch is is a great one to look up. That was one of the funniest ones ever on broadcast TV. And I used to love it when the two ronnies did mastermind the quiz show. 

And so to our first. Contender. Good evening. Your name, please? Good evening. Your first heat. Your chosen subject was answering questions before they were asked. This time you have chosen to answer the question before last. Each time is that? Correct, Charlie Smithers. And your time starts now. What is palaeontology? Yes, absolutely correct. What's the name of the directory that lists members of the? Peerage a study of old fossils. Who are Lynn Murray and Sir Geoffrey Howe burks? Correct. What is the difference between a donkey and a Ness? Once a trade Union Leader or the other as a member of the cabinet? 

OK. 

That goes on for quite a few minutes and it's very, very good. And that's it. That's all we got time for this week. Rest in peace. Ronnie Barker. I yeah. Cause I always got confused. Always got confused as to which Ronnie it was. 

Hmm. 

But Ronnie Barker was the big Ronnie. Ronnie Corbett was the little Ronnie, just as a point of clarification. That's it. We're done for this week. 

Yes, right. Weren't we saying that Ronnie Corbett? Not no. 

Now, he said Ronnie. Barker. Ohh OK. Yes. See, you're confused as well. Yeah, it's, it's Ronnie. Ronnie Barker. No, not Ronnie. 

Yes, got my lorries wrong. Wrong, wrong, Ronnie. 

Corbett, did I say. Did I say Ronnie Corbett? I may have said Ronnie Corbett. I'll have to go back and check the tape. I'm not doing it now. That's it. What do we got next week? What's happening next week? 

Oh, OK, check the check. Next. We're going into space. 

Ohh, I love it when we go to space. 

We're going to Bathurst. 

Ohh down to Bathurst and. 

Well, yeah. 

Space, another Big Apple launch as well. And we're gonna talk about Dolly Parton cause we can. 

Yes. Yes, I love Dolly too. She's wonderful. She's wonderful. She's a living legend and an absolute treasure. 

I love Dolly. 

Alright, well we're. You you guys are treasures as well. Thank you so much for listening to our podcast. Come and find us on the socials if you wanna hang, talk, do whatever. Search for t -. 20 podcast, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube we're there, but we're not there right now because we're just about to wrap this up. So thank you very much. And we'll see you next week. 

Yes, see ya. 

Thanks for taking the time to rewind. Join us next time for another week. That was 20 years ago. In the meantime, come and reminisce on the socials search for T -, 20 podcast on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.