It’s Friday and the weekend is almost here, so The Gurgler editorial team decided they needed some filler for a Friday, something light-hearted, preferably sporting based, and quick and easy to balance out all the stats-heavy sporting onslaughts usually available. This week because of the tremendous feedback from the public on the Warnie telemovie we’re reaching out for funding for Five Exciting New Sports Warnie Telemovie Options.
With Warnie universally acclaimed by all and sundry (pardon the pun) our Gurgler Friday Five Think Tank has put their collective head together to come up with even more gold.
BOON 52* – THE UNTOLD STORY OF THAT INFAMOUS FLIGHT
Most people are aware of the super human drinking feat of David Boon ahead of the 1989 Ashes Series. If not, he had 52 beers between Sydney and London on his way to thatyear’s Ashes tour.
This effort will be dramatized after the great success of the Warnie telemovie, where the story behind the beers will be told.
Underbelly actor Gyton Grantley is to play David Boon, with various other roles going to actors that look vaguely like the 1980’s Australian Cricket legends. Peter O’Brien will play the unplayable Terry Alderman, Shane Jacobson plays Merv Hughes, Michael Caton takes on coach Bob Simpson, and a tree will play Geoff Marsh, because no one will notice whether he is there or not.
In honour of the feat itself, the movie will only go for 52 minutes, but Channel Nein have assured us that the ads will take the total watch to about an hour and 45 minutes.
But less is more,
YEAH YEAH THE MUSICAL – THE GREG MATTHEWS STORY IN SONG
Greg Matthews was quite the character in the cricket world in his day, so his life story shouldn’t be anything standard.
So that’s why his life story to be aired on Channel Nein later in the year will be a song and dance affair – Yeah Yeah the Musical.
The two and a half hour long musical that director Baz Luhrmann has insisted is played without ads,
There’s a hint to a lot of great musical movies in Yeah, Yeah – like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cats, the way they turn a Caribbean tour into Chicago is something not to be missed.
And the famous South Pacific song about washing people out of their hair is re-worked to include the Ashley & Martin side of Matthews’ life.
And the whole shebang ends with a tribute to Grease as Greg Matthews drives up into the sky with just himself and the pre-Ashley & Martin self sitting beside in the car.
Cricket and musical fans are well covered with this gem. No, not the channel it will probably end up on, the gem being the movie.
THE KING – THE NOEL CALLOW STORY
Whilst many big names comes and go and call themselves The King – Don, Charles, Cavalier Spaniels who have had it too good for too long, there is only one king is our eyes at The Gurgler – Noel Callow.
Don’t know the King? Your loss. He is one of those great Australians, and perennially underrated battle and honest, hard working Aussie.
The King is not an action packed, women ahoy showpiece like Warnie. It is a slow moving meander through the life of an exceptional country jockey, like the pace of The Dish movie or that Paul Kelly song From Little Things Big Things Grow.
And you wouldn’t want it any other way.
The story goes through his career from country Victoria to races all over the world, but does focus on his recent, successful move to the Gold Coast, where he rides many-a-winner, and has become involved in the maintenance of the race track.
He’s just a great guy, with an interesting story, a great Australian battler story, and one that will fill a few good hours in living rooms around Australia.
We have met the great man, who took time out of a press conference for winning on Melbourne Cup day to sign our Best Bets book. Discussion of a winning ticket not matching any of the eight horses circled in the book is just one of those everyday conversations that make the King so regal.
The hundreds of people we bumped into at rural and regional race tracks around Australia all said the same thing. How good is The King, and what a guy.
THE SHARK
A movie in the style of The Wolf of Wall Street, but with so much action that it makes the Wolf movie look like Play School.
The Shark is a fast paced look at the life and times of one of Golf’s biggest personalities.
From his golfing triumphs and tragedies, to the business deals and lifestyle away from the course, and a chunk on the LIV golf war, there’s almost not enough to unpack it all in this 5 hour super special that will be spread across three prime time nights.
Then there’s the real story behind that infamous photo shoot.
Rated R for Adult Themes and Leathery Nudity.
IAN CHAPPELL V IAN BOTHAM STYLE HATE FEST
How about an awkward hour of two people who couldn’t hate each other more?
Oh, what’s that? It’s already been done, and poorly. Shame. And almost as well received as Warnie. Wow, what a week for Channel Nein.
Well, we have heard rumours that the Ian Chappell v Ian Botham was indeed just a taster for the future with a whole series planned, with more feuds, and even more awkwardness.
In the spirit of Chappell v Botham, it will be just the two sides, sitting across from each other, this time with less cut aways for context. Just pure hate staring at each other.
So without spoiling too much, here are the potential episodes for later in the year.
- Andrew Johns v Matthew Johns
- Israel Folau v Representatives of the Communities he appears to allegedly dislike.
- Phil Gould v Buzz Rothfield
- A Wayne Bennett Press Conference
