What Now
What Now is a New Zealand children's television programme that premiered on Saturday 9 May 1981. It is currently filmed before a live audience at a different school in New Zealand, which is selected every week. The show airs every Sunday at 8.30 am on TVNZ 2 and has such as Tamariki Titans, DareDevil Levels and Hoover Hover. It has no adverts, due to the Broadcasting Act 1989 which states that no advertising can be shown on New Zealand television between 6 am and noon on Sundays. History. "What Now" (alternatively titled as "What Now?" or "WN ) was created in 1981 by TVNZ producer Rex Simpson before he left the state broadcaster in 1988 to set up a children's department for then upcoming new channel, TV3. The show was originally half an hour in duration and screened on Saturday mornings on TVNZ 1 between 10-10.30am. The original hosts in the first year were Steve Hooper along with four children, Merryn Pugh, Richard Hillock, Oliver Huggins and Lucy Briant (and Murdoch the dog). According to Rex Simpson at the time the whole idea of the programme [was] to create healthy leisure attitudes" and followed on from  the template set by his previous children's show, "How's That?", of introducing children to fun and educational activities (and which had been hosted by Stu Dennison the previous year in 1980). For the 1982 series of "What Now" new segments added to the format included illustrated comic book character Captain Leisure (drawn by artist Ashley Smith), comedic character Murray Slack (portrayed by comedian Jon Gadsby in 1981 and then by actor Tony Wahren in 1982) and a "New Games Competition" co-presented by Peter Williams and Yvonne Moore. In 1983 the programme format was revamped again and new  solo presenter Steve Parr was brought in to anchor the show, with the timeslot shifting to 8.25-9.30am. While sitting behind a studio desk Steve Parr introduced segments covering morning keep-fit exercises, sketches involving recurring characters such as complaining old man Clive Grumble (portrayed by Jim Hopkins), simple recipes by Alison Holst, trivia from Frank Flash (Alasdair Kincaid), law and safety with Constable Keith and Sniff (a puppet police dog), nationwide talent quest "Starbound", and a serialised interactive detective series called "The Retrievers", interspersed with regular cartoons. The opening theme song used for the show from the mid 1980s  to early 1990s was "Get Out of Your Lazy Bed", by Matt Bianco. In 1984 the timeslot again changed from 8.30–10am, and then in July 1985 onwards increased to a whole two hours duration, screening from 8-10am. When Steve Parr left the show after two years as the main presenter the number of hosts also increased, usually to three, beginning with Danny Watson (from "Spot On") joining in April 1985. Michelle Bracey, who had been part of show segments the year before in 1984, became a more prominent co-presenter and Frank Flash was given a central comedic manic  role. When Michelle left the show, she was succeeded by Michele A'Court in April 1987. During the Steve Parr years onwards the show changed from being pre-recorded to live broadcast, and comedy sketches, interactive phone calls and competitions with the viewing audience, plus magazine-style segments going out and about, all became a more central part of the format. The style remained this way for many years, as hosts evolved and were replaced, until today where the format now involves live audiences of crowds of children, but still is closely faithful with the core concept established early on. In  November of 1989 the show moved channels to TVNZ 2 and then in 1996 began screening on Sunday mornings. An after school version of "What Now", "What Now PM", also ran on TVNZ 2 during the week between 1997 and 2002. The weekdays version of "What Now" became its own separate show known as "WNTV". First hosted by Carolyn Taylor and a face in a computer screen played by Mikey Carpenter. Later the show changed dramatically, but kept the same WNTV name. It became a drama showing behind the scenes of a children's afternoon magazine show. This was hosted  by Antonia Prebble and Tom Hern, and featured several other characters. Anna Allbury and Jo Tuapawa featured as reporters. The "What Now" show was moved to TVNZ's Avalon studios in Lower Hutt in 1999 until TVNZ shut down its Children's Department at the end of 2003. "What Now" the show was then brought back to Christchurch in 2004 to be produced by an independent company Whitebait Productions, headed by Janine Morrell-Gunn and Jason Gunn. "What Now" has been funded by NZ On Air since NZOA's inception in 1989; prior to that it was funded by TVNZ . In 2004 the afternoon show "WNTV" was cancelled and replaced with the old children's afternoon TV show Studio 2 produced by Ian Taylor and Taylormade Productions. Although Taylormade was based in Dunedin, "Studio 2" was produced live to air at TVNZ's Auckland studios. Various programme partnerships over the years have seen "What Now" promoting 'healthy eating healthy action', water safety and old-fashioned letter writing amongst many other things. "What Now" has a long-standing association with the Weet-Bix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon, and with Sport and Recreation New Zealand whose 'Push Play' message encourages children to be  physically active. Early "What Now" presenters were also credited as writers. They were people like Michele A'Court, Danny Watson, Al Kincaid, Michelle Bracey, Simon Barnett and Catherine McPherson, some of whom have gone on to roles as directors and writers. A more recent presenter who made a significant behind-the-scenes contribution was Anthony Samuels, who also trained as a director. Off-screen personnel who have shaped "What Now" over the years are many. They include camera operator and director Alan Henderson (also the brains behind Jason Gunn's sidekick Thingee), Directors Keith Tyler-Smith, Bill de Friez, Peter Verstappen , Mike Rehu, Brian Wickstead, Mark Owers, Mike Ritchie, Jason Gunn and Richard Hansen. Producers include Richard Driver, Mike Rehu, Tony Palmer, Anne Williams, Emma Martini(Gribble), Reuben Davidson, Jo Eade, Adam Percival and Executive Producer Janine Morrell-Gunn. Gunge. Throughout the years, "What Now" has maintained the use of gunge and foam. Children, celebrities, parents and sometimes the presenters are often the subject of embarrassment in various gunge games. Examples include Happy Feet, Gunge Matters, Target your Teacher and Tug of War and general gunging.