Airdate: How Australia Got Its Mojo

In October Russel Howcroft presents a doco special How Australia Got Its Mojo on Alan ‘Mo’ Morris and Allan ‘Jo’ Johnston – the creatives behind the legendary Mojo advertising agency.

This includes interviews with Paul Hogan, Delvene Delaney, Ita Buttrose and Ian Chappell.

This is the story of how two unpretentious geniuses re-wrote the rule book on advertising. From ‘How Do Ya Feel?’ to Paul Hogan putting “another shrimp on the barbie”, they had a hit parade of jingles and ads that did much more than sell products, they changed the way we thought about ourselves, and helped take a new Australian identity to the world.

In the 70’s and 80’s Mo and Jo were the Lennon and McCartney of Australian advertising. Their TV commercials transcended the business of product pushing and became the entertainment themselves. After years of cultural cringe they celebrated and elevated what it was to be Aussie. They championed the country and made it ok to talk with a thick working class Aussie accent on TV.

Their ads made Australians feel good about themselves, we all sang along to ‘How Do Ya Feel’, ‘You Outta Be Congratulated’, ‘They said you’d never make it’, ‘A week without the Weekly’s not the same’, or the iconic clarion call to cricket fans that became an official anthem, “C’mon Aussie, C’mon”.

Through their legendary Mojo ad agency Mo and Jo sold Australia to Australians and then Australia to the USA with Paul Hogan’s ‘America you need a Holiday’ campaign; a campaign which transformed Australia’s tourism industry.

Sadly Alan ‘Mo’ Morris passed away in 2007 but surviving creative partner Allan ‘Jo’ Johnston is featured in the documentary alongside major players in the story, including: Paul Hogan, Delvene Delaney, Ita Buttrose and Ian Chappel. We also hear from industry gurus like John Singleton, Hugh Mackay and Christina Aventi about Mojo’s place in Australia’s pop culture.

Says Howcroft: “This is my love letter to Australian Advertising. Mo and Jo are two of the most important creative figures in Australian history since Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson!”

Tuesday 1 October at 8.30pm on ABC.