Hungry Beast: Should the ABC commission a fourth series?
As the end of season three approaches, series producer Andy Nehl and reporter Dan Ilic discuss Hungry Beast.
- The original vision for the show;
- How to create viral content;
- Their message to the ABC on why the show should be recommissioned.
Dan Ilic will be appearing at Mumbrella360 next week.
bloody oath it should be recommissioned.
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I love Hungry Beast! Such a well put together program. Interesting content presented in a new and visually compelling way. A great mix of interviews and graphics you dont regulary see on TV.
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Of course they should! Hungry Beast is a great source of information, touching interviews and is one of the few tv shows that understand Gen Y.
Saying that of course I know a quite a few people from other generations that love it as well.
I also think that ZOF is one of the few media creators that knows how to use every available resource including social media to allow everyone across the world to access the personal stories and the humor of Hungry Beast.
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This show should be recommissioned. It is brilliant from a content perspective and in the tone it is delivered in.
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I think this is a great show. It’d be a terrible shame if they don’t recommission at least another series as there is literally nothing else like it. However I think they could make a few improvements …
1. Do less stories in a single show – I’d say maximum 2-3
2. Make those stories based on original research – their strongest stuff (I’m thinking about the woman who cleans crime scenes, or the trans-sex interviews) comes this way, and is as compelling as anything I see on TV. As good as This American Life.
3. Less stories based on “what I read on the internet last week”
4. Less infographics
5. Please: no more comedy attempts
6. Less talking straight to the camera. Let’s face it, some of the presenters have pretty annoying faces
You’re welcome
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please no.
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absolutely – some of the journalism that is carried out is missing elsewhere in the media, and it’s good stuff.
ditch the comedy though, it’s third rate and pulls the rest of the show down.
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Yes. Enough said.
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Given that it’s the best factual show on television, I’d vote yes…
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Yes. Some of the best journalism going!
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I love Hungry Beast.
good to have some intelligent views on news and recent events.
I appreciate the mixture of comedy with serious issues.
Their method of presenting such as ‘the beast file’ is amazing.
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A million times, yes! This is the greatest show of and for the Y Gen in terms of current affairs and ‘real’ news, and I love the way that we get to see stories we wouldn’t necessarily see via other reporting mediums. This show has to be recommissioned. And given an extra half hour.. and more vox pops! 🙂
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Definitely need more episodes! One of the best shows on TV!
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Are you kidding me? Of course it needs to be recommissioned. Hungry Beast is brilliant, by far the best Australian show on TV at the moment.
And I strongly disagree with Bob Loblaw’s comment about the presenters- The Beasts are fantastic. If you’re judging their faces, you’re not listening to what they’re saying. And you SHOULD be listening!
Fresh, dynamic and engaging – why can’t more TV be like this?
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HB covers areas that are all over the internet and doesn’t offer anything new. If current affairs is about breaking new news and issues of relevance, I fail to see how HB does this. What new thought/opinion is it really bringing that ppl can’t find on Wikipedia/Slideshare/loads of other sites.
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Unquestionably, yes! I am stunned that this is even up for discussion. It’s the best television show on Australian screens, with the country’s most intelligent and digital-media literate talent.
In response to Bob Loblaw’s requested improvements:
1. The whole premise of the show is multiple bite-size pieces of related information… the same way people navigate info online. If you want fewer & lengthier stories, watch the 7.30 Report!?
2. The info / motion graphics and satire segments absolutely make the show and give it it’s unique tone. Especially the infographics, which are a graphic designer’s / typographer’s dream! I always maintain the show is like Wired Magazine for your IP TV.
…and…
3. I won’t hear a single bad word about Monique Schafter / Dan Ilic / Marc Fennel / Nicholas Hayden’s beautiful faces!
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Logic, what you say is true. All of that information is available.
What I’m happy about is that Hungry Beast is there to trawl through the data, research it, draw it down, package it up and present it in a way that’s entertaining and inspiring (in the sense that often, it’ll push me to go off and better inform myself about relevant, interesting subjects).
That’s why I like it and think it’s important.
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Definitely!! The best journalism Aussie TV has to offer, highlight of my week!!
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absolutely. some of the best journalism going around – the ‘gang of 49’ story last year was one of the best stories of last year and it scored the show a walkley nomination .
it’s news and facts that’s easy to consume and it’s rememerable content. it’s the thinking wo/man’s 7PM project.
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Best show on Aussie TV. Full stop. HB should definitely continue on.
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YEEEESSS! This is the first time I have been motivated to fill in the dialog boxes required to have my say on mumbrella (don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan, just a very VERY busy woman, and a bit shy).
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yes. intriguing, provocative, entertaining and even informative at times- what more can journalism be. it should run again, until the format sells out and the commercial channels attempt to merge it with the 7pm project running stories about pensioners and cat food.
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Yes. Because we need more shows that flip from terrible sketch comedy, to powerpoint presentations, to self important hard hitting pieces about rape, all aimed like a shotgun at young kids who the producers have decided will only pay attention to current affairs if every now and then someone with messy hair says the word “fuck” for no real reason whatsoever, other than that it’s edgy to say fuck. See? I just said it then. Fuck. And another! Godspeed fair Beastie Boys and Girls, see you in Hungry Beast 4: Citizens On Patrol.
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those kids really annoy me. and i think i’m their age!
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Yes….They’re all a bunch of self righteous lesbian hipsters….and even they need jobs.
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what a sorry, jaded person you are DaveC
it’s a brilliant, innovative show and should be recommissioned
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Yes, just no more comedy sketches please!
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Don’t ask me, I don’t watch it
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Absolutely. The stories are good. Agree about the comedy sketches though. Not much chop.
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The first season was pretty ordinary, the second not much better, but this season they’ve finally nailed it. The comedy has been dialled down to the point where it’s basically like ad break, and that makes the shift in tone less jarring, and having the episodes centred around a particular theme has helped the structure immensely (the first season really was all over the shop). Plus the hosts aren’t coming across as quite as smug as they used to. So, yes, now they’ve gotten it right – keep it coming!
(And I do wonder if DaveC above has actually seen this season, or whether his comments are based on earlier eps – in which case I get where he’s coming from)
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Sorry Sven, I didn’t realise it was brilliant and innovative. When you put it like that, I’ve clearly made a gross error of opinion, and I can only apologise for not agreeing with what is so clearly the correct answer.
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I like Hungry Beast. I am gen x. I like the fast sketches. Graphics are great. Most presenters are good.
Denton and co are great broadcasters
Recommision please:)
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P.s not all the comedy is good. I loved the alcoholics anonymous sketch though. Where Yahoo and Myspace and all the old greats shared their stories. That was funny
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@Kara Mukerjee
You cannot tell me that Nicholas Hayden does not have an annoying face! I’m getting angry just typing about it…
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Hell yes! I can’t believe there is even a question. One of best shows on TV.
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I suppose so. It’s pretty undergraduate. Kind of like Hack on Triple J. Amateurish journalism most of the time, but I think we should support kids trying to make a start in the media. Yes. Please do another series.
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Have got to say that I’ve loved Hungry Beast this year (liked it a lot last year) and appreciate the amount of effort goes into the Post Production to make the show so slick. The Beast File has really opened my eyes to some extraordinary stuff that does not get covered elsewhere. Your feature stories are top notch, but alas the sketch comedy is a little passe. Hope you get renewed for a 4th season and hopefully it will make it to our screens this year. ZOF – please consider releasing all of Hungry Beast on DVD, not just a best of.
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Yes, Id love to know how they create on the infographics, surely they have an batched way of doing it, if not, even more props
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Absolutely – RECOMMISSION!! Informative and it’s presented in a way that’s easy to digest and absorb!!
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Yes. No doubt about it. Season 3 nailed it.
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More than a 4th season is needed with a show like the Beast. It should be as common as the daily news that is put out there too increase the marketing power of the highest bidder. With a big enough budget the Beast could easly find enough compeling unknow truths too have as many news breaks and shows as any of the big networks.
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i have watched a few more recent episodes and they really have something behind them. they’ve come this far and its just like they’re getting themselves settled.
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I don’t really understand the ‘debate’ above, fact is HB is a great alternative to the suffocating encroachment of tabloid journalism into our lives and the presenters dont dumb it down…all a bit rare and lovely at the minute.
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Nope, we’ve had enough and I don’t care how many graphic designers get the arse!
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Absolutely….. my favourite show on TV, I would be devastated if it didnt come back round…..
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Definitely!! Keep it going. One of the best shows on the ABC.
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