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Seven to screen Hey Hey We’re 50

"We’re honoured to be part of what promises to be a wonderful celebration," says Seven.

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Seven network has confirmed it will screen a special event Hey Hey We’re 50 later this year.

Daryl Somers will host the 50th anniversary celebration, which will feature some of the favourite characters from long running Hey Hey it’s Saturday.

The original show, with segments including Red Faces, What Cheezes Me Off, Celebrity Head, Plucka Duck, Joking Off, Phunny Fotos and Chooklotto encompassed a 28 year run on Nine, before 20 more episodes in 2010.

Daryl Somers, who also moved to Seven for Dancing with the Stars, said, “I was absolutely delighted when Seven suggested a 50th anniversary Hey Hey special.

“Trawling back through the vast archive has been almost as much fun as doing the show in the first place, so I hope we can offer a few laughs, not only to the diehard Hey Hey fans but to all Australians, as we desperately need a touch of levity at this time.”

Seven Network Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said: “There are very few Australian TV shows as loved as Hey Hey and we are really pleased to be able to work with Daryl and his team on this fantastic special event.

“For three decades, Hey Hey was one of the funniest, most entertaining and most unpredictable shows on TV. We’re honoured to be part of what promises to be a wonderful celebration.”

Hey Hey marks 50 years on October 9th (and yes it’s a Saturday!).

Hey Hey We’re 50 is a Somers Carroll production.

43 Responses

  4. The reason that Hey Hey is not on air today, and will not return to TV as a regular series, has nothing to do with being “woke”. Variety shows like this are not on TV anymore because they are too expensive to make. The End.

    1. Being “too expensive to make” is quite simplistic and brings up an interesting question. How did all the TV networks afford to make 2, 3 or even 4 Variety type shows each a week back in the 70’s and 80’s, plus all their other locally made content? Considering Australia’s population has pretty much doubled since then, there’s never been a greater opportunity to create something to attract all those additional eye balls and advertising revenue.
      The obvious answer is there is more competition these days with streaming Netflix etc. However one thing that TV still has over these is the ability to have programming that is live and appointment viewing. I’m still hopeful that someone one day will figure out a format to give it another modern take relevant to todays audiences. It will just take one show to get it right and the others will follow. Start small, let it breathe and build and off we go. For every Don Lane Show or Hey Hey there were others that tried and didn’t make it…

    2. I agree too many blame “woke” culture but I think it is more than just cost, I think people’s taste have overall changed. Hey Hey was before my time yet I have seen clips and to be honest I can’t really understand what was so entertaining about this show. The jokes don’t seem funny, the games boring and the segments hold no interest. If a show like this was brought back today I wouldn’t watch it.

  5. No inclination to report on Daryl’s quote claiming that Seven suggested the special when it’s already been widely reported that it he shopped to Channel 9 first (who turned it down)?

  6. Will not be watching. I did love it back in the day, but that was when I was a kid and society has progressed. A lot of the content was sexist, racist or homophobic and thankfully society has moved past it. This is not about being “woke”, it’s about not using someone’s personal trait as the butt of the joke. I mean, did they joke about Daryl’s whiteness or his straight-ness or male-ness?

  7. This won’t be the first time Channel 7 are playing Hey Hey material.
    Not long after Dancing With The Stars started back in its heyday (no pun), Channel 7 screened a repackaged and shortened version of The Best And Worst Of Red Faces in 7 x 30 minute episodes. The originals that were screened on Channel 9 went for an hour.

  8. This is exciting news for many Australians. It will likely rate very well, but a re-boot there after would likely decline quickly as viewing habits have moved on from Variety TV.

    It’s a timely reminder that as we evolve as a society that we also recognise it’s not up to individuals or their campaigns be it through tweets or on forums such as this to pressure networks into what people can and can’t watch.

    I seen a comment above that said a re-boot would be as boring as watching a Dishwasher. I fear even this trip down memory lane could actually be just the same due to the woke brigade. Isn’t all Australian humour past and present now deemed offensive? A lot of stuff won’t be able to be revisited and I’m sure lots of the pre-recorded banter and ad lib in this special will hit the editing floor.

    Looking forward to watching Hey Hey We’re are 50! Thanks for giving it the opportunity Seven.

  9. Wishful thinking here, but I would like to see it air on the Saturday night, on it’s “actual birthday” on October 9. But can’t see that happening. Seven usually airs these “special events’ on big nights,

  10. Shows have changed to different networks before but this is a bit different. The anniversary is related to the time it was on Nine so it’s a bit odd in that sense. It could also be that Seven is trying to gain the anti-woke audience in contrast to the shows that have woke followings.

  14. Sad, very sad. If it’s not on Nine it shouldn’t be on at all. It’s like Ford making Holden Commodores, it’s just not right. Also an insult to those who worked on the show at Nine for all those years.

    1. Huh? What’s wrong with all the shows other networks picked up after cancellation that went on to success e.g. Neighbours. I think I’ve watched a lot of the US ones that survived swapping banners i.e. JAG, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Scrubs, Diff’rent Strokes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I don’t understand the suggestion of insult – there is no loyalty any more.

  16. I hope this rates well enough for a reboot. Saturday night could do with some aussie shenanigans and laughter. Some original content would be nice too. Let’s bring back Variety and comedy to Aussie TV.

    1. I’ll be watching for nostalgia but an ongoing reboot would not be advised since the woke brigade would ensure it’s as dull as dishwater. That’s why there is no comedy or variety anymore, you’re just not allowed to have fun.

      I too hope for some original hi-jinks but some of the cast/regulars have passed away or are not in the limelight anymore, somehow it might be best to remember them in there prime.

    1. This comment intrigues me. Do people actually not watch something that interests them because it’s on a channel they don’t like or don’t usually watch?!?

    2. Channel 9 doesn’t give a hoot what the audience wants. There is absolutely nothing on nine worth watching. The only show on 9 that I have watched this year was Doctor Doctor, just to see how they closed the series out. Last year I watched The Voice but I don’t need to go to 9 for that anymore, similarly when AGT is next on it’s 7 again.

    2. Do you really think in this woke society that it would be allowed to air in any sort of racist or sexist capacity? I see no problem with a bit of nostalgia and light hearted Aussie entertainment. There’s a lot worse around.

      1. Amen, if you don’t wanna watch the dont, what is it with these people who love to tear down stuff that was enjoyed and loved. People’s and society’s views change in 10, 30 or 50 years, stop this constant beat up on how something was so bad…

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