Ossie Ostrich in 2nd Hey Hey special
Oswald Q. Ostrich will make an appearance in the second of the two Hey Hey specials.
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Smart move here.
Oswald Q. Ostrich will make an appearance in the second of the two Hey Hey specials.
The beloved character, famously commandeered by Ernie Carroll, left the series 5 years before its exit. Carroll is now 80 years old and it has been widely expected he would not be in full attendance for the reunions.
Daryl Somers said: “Ernie is 80 years old now and I’m just so excited that he is bringing Ossie back for our second show. He was the man who auditioned me for my very first job at Channel Nine. From day one, the rapport between us was just natural. Throughout the history of Hey Hey, I never spoke to Ernie during the show. I would always directly address Ossie. To me, Ossie was real.”
The Ostrich himself said: “I’m preening my feathers and can’t wait to get out there again. In fact, I’m so excited I almost laid an egg. After a long break, this will be a great chance for me to take my head out of the sand.”
Holding off on Ossie’s return in the first special is strategic given the second show needs to deliver a sustained audience if it is to have any viability as an on-going series. Most expect the first reunion to resonate simply from its nostalgia. Nine wants to be sure that viewers will return a week later before it works out whether to proceed with more Hey Hey this year and beyond.
Updated: Ossie’s appearance will be live in the studio.
Also set to appear in the second special, on October 7th, is Harry Connick Jr.
Of course, there is also the possibility that by bolstering the second episode with Ossie’s return it won’t give a true reflection of figures the show would attract as an on-going entity anyway.
Still, Ossie is a legend. Probably still looks young without any need for Botox.
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25 Responses
My family and I enjoy that wonderful icon Ossie Ostrich, ernie Carroll is indeed a wonderful performer and we would be most honoured if ernie could allow us a signed photo and short biog for our family icon album, we have many other entertainment icons in the album and to have the ostrich would be a bonus.
Thank you in anticipation
John you should contact Nine not me.
@Patrick – Daryl still seems to think he’s funny and relevant, and he hasn’t ever been that.
David you are right about favourite networks. hate 9 hardly watch, must be the packer thing, always favoured 7 although i criticise 7 on a regular basis, still love our aunty
Thanks David. I had a feeling it might not have been called Hey Hey in the afternoons…but it had Daryl and Ossie right or is my memory a bit hazy?
A Hey Hey reunion wouldn’t be the same without Ossie so it’s great they’ve been able to secure Ernie Carroll. Let’s not forget though that Ossie was not there at the end…was Ossie leaving Hey Hey’s jump the shark moment? I can still remember when Hey Hey was an afternoon show with Daryl and Ossie in the 70s, in fact it was the first thing that came on the screen when we switched on our first colour TV for the first time, so I have quite fond memories of the show. Am hoping the specials will as fun as the originals.
Actually the arvo show was Cartoon Corner as a daily show.
OK back on topic. A man’s arm will have fabric wrapped around it with a a beak at the top! …it’s must see TV folks! ..I am clearly in the minority cause I just can’t get excited about this.
Curtis x jay jay = 9 PR squared.
Back on topic guys? No law against people having favourite networks. Some people are as fervent as a network as they are about a footy team.
Comes on guys… if Curtis really worked for 9, wouldn’t he have spelt Daryl’s name right?
@jay jay I don’t think Curtis’ less than conversational language helped. I’m sure Curtis doesn’t work for Nine – maybe Somers Carroll? (ha) – but when you write a comment that reads like a press statement, these things happen.
Excellent use of sarcasm Curtis!
I love how a positive 9 comment = 9 employee, but no one ever questions the 7 groupie comments. I’m certain a lot of you want to have 7’s babies
Curtis=Queenslander.
I was cursing Channel Nine on Sunday for dredging up the same old clips for it’s nostalgia special. I’m excited about the return of Hey Hey because it’s not just another cobbled together best of clip show. I really hope they can make the format work and bring the raw fun and excitement of variety television into the 21st century.
I drifted away a little in the last days of Hey Hey’s life but have fond memories of the naughtiness of the saturday morning version and the early days of Hey Hey it’s Saturday Night. Still have the 21st anniversary special on video somewhere. it’s fitting that the show should return so close to our birthdays- Hey Hey made it’s debut on October 9 1971, I made mine the day after. I suppose that;s why I have a soft spot for it.
Thinking back over the years of Hey Hey some of my favourite moments are some of the things Ossie said. Very quick and very funny! I hope he still has it.
Also, will he be on for the whole show like old times or just make a special appearance for one segment?
Curtis = Nine PR
Every time I hear that Ossie is going to be a part of this, it just makes it all the more cooler! Really can’t wait to see this on TV again and I hope it goes very well!
Curtis, your not part of channel 9 management/employee by any chance?
@ Patrick
Daryl has said in the weekend newspapers that if the Hey Hey specials don’t rate he will simply slip away.
In regards to Ossie, I really admire Ernie Carroll coming out of retirement and doing the 2nd show as he doesn’t crave publicity and doesn’t need the money.
Ernie Carroll himself should really be given more credit in the Australian Television industry, he was one of the comedy writers for the likes of Graham Kennedy, acted in various shows as Professor Ratbaggie and made a pink Ostrich a star in many peoples eyes.
His quick wit and timing is 2nd to none.
I love Ossie.
It wouldn’t be the same without him.
Curt: Here’s something to chew over.
Second Hey Hey special, will be delayed by one hour into Queensland, due to daylight saving starting that week.
Also, The Brisbane fiftieth special on August 16 rated a lot higher than the “Best of The Best” special that aired on Sunday night.
It’ll be interesting to see how they go.
I’ll certainly be watching to see how Daryl fares – considering he’s been obsessed with bringing the show back since it ended a decade ago.
Having said that, if the ratings aren’t as good or Ch 9 decides not to proceed then Daryl should finally learn to let go of the past.
Even if a new show proceeds it remains to be seen whether it can rein in the huge budget such a show needs – which was one of main reasons why it finished in the first place.
But I won’t be too much of a killjoy – good luck to Daryl – it should at least be an entertaining 2 shows.
This is simply fantastic news – I hope this reunion works out well for Nine (and Darryl), and may Hey Hey Its Saturday enjoy a new life in providing Australia with good family entertainment for another generation. On top of the successful GO! Channel, these decisions taken by Nine’s management will help reinstate the network to “Still the One”