Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos

Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos

Company type	Television special
Industry	Television entertainment
Founded	September 3, 1992 (1992-09-03)
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Products	Comedic television special
Parent	Nine Network

Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos is a comedic television special from Australia that aired on the Nine Network on 3 September 1992. This unique one-time spin-off of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show showcased sexually explicit clips. In an unprecedented decision, the network's owner, Kerry Packer, abruptly halted the broadcast midway through its debut and only episode.

Background

The original Australia's Funniest Home Video Show premiered in 1990, featuring humorous amateur videos submitted by viewers. Clips judged as the "funniest" earned prizes. Occasionally, producers received risqué footage unsuitable for the family-oriented program; since submissions were non-returnable, these videos were archived by the station. These collected materials eventually formed the basis of a special edition aimed at adult viewers.

Unlike its family-friendly predecessor, Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos introduced a new opening sequence, an altered theme tune, and a slightly redesigned set. Hosted by Australian radio figure Doug Mulray, the show was scheduled for 8:30 PM and began with a warning about mature content, emphasizing that it was separate from Australia's Funniest Home Video Show.

Content

The format closely resembled that of Australia's Funniest Home Video Show, with brief video segments interspersed with comedic commentary from Mulray. Mulray frequently ridiculed the clips, describing them humorously as "The most sensational collection of home videos since Rodney King nicked out for a pizza recently." His style included humorous voice-overs reminiscent of Danny McMaster’s approach on the original show.

The footage contained explicit imagery involving animal genitalia, sexual acts between humans and animals, accidental nudity, and bawdy humor. Examples ranged from a child grabbing a kangaroo’s testicles to public sexual activity in parks, highlighting the provocative nature of the content.

Cancellation

Kerry Packer, owner of the Nine Network at the time, was informed about the show's content by acquaintances during dinner. Offended by what he saw when watching the broadcast on TCN-9, he immediately demanded its removal, exclaiming, "Get that shit off the air!" The program was taken off within minutes. Viewers witnessed a Nine Network ident interrupting the show accompanied by announcer John Martin’s explanation of a "technical problem" before switching to a rerun of Cheers.

Due to differing time zones across Australia, the Nine Network ident appeared at various intervals: in eastern states (excluding Victoria), it showed during scheduled commercial breaks; in Victoria, it abruptly cut to Cheers nearly 46 minutes into the program without explanation; while in South Australia and Northern Territory, it appeared shortly after Mulray’s monologue or a segment involving a kangaroo. The show never aired in Western Australia; instead, a cancellation notice was displayed followed by Cheers.

The interruption announcement stated:

We apologise for this interruption.
Unfortunately, a technical problem prevents us continuing our scheduled program for the moment.
In the meantime, we bring you a brief, alternative program.

— John Martin, Nine Network continuity announcer.

Despite Packer’s disapproval, the special gained popularity. Filmed before a live audience, Nine received thousands of calls after the cancellation—65% opposed pulling it off air—contrasting with only around 60 complaints during its brief broadcast. Audiences were left puzzled by the sudden switch to Cheers, learning about the cancellation through news reports.

The following day, an enraged Packer confronted Nine’s executives, condemning the program as "disgusting and offensive shit." Subsequently, Mulray and several key staff members were dismissed; Mulray received a lifetime ban from Channel Nine. Kris Noble, head of drama and entertainment, secured the original tape within Nine’s Willoughby studio archives.

At the same time, over 150 complaints prompted an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; about 25% of callers objected to even the truncated airing. The tribunal ultimately determined that the program conformed to standards and was appropriately classified AO.

On his radio program, Mulray quipped: "I am the first man in Australian history to be pulled off by Kerry Packer."

Mulray later returned to Nine as a judge on the 2005 series StarStruck, shortly before Packer passed away on 26 December that year.

Rebroadcast

In 2008, the head of factual programming at Nine discovered the original recording of the show, which had been concealed by Noble. This full version was aired at 8:30 PM on 28 August 2008, almost sixteen years after the initial special. Marketed as "the show Kerry Packer didn't want you to see," it included commentary from Bert Newton; following Packer's death in 2005, Mulray declined Nine's invitation to serve as host.

Approximately 36 minutes into the broadcast, a Channel Nine bumper and a "technical difficulties" notice briefly interrupted the program before Newton resumed with a monologue, humorously referencing Packer "shouting at you" during the airing. The previously unaired segments were then shown. Nonetheless, this rebroadcast was subject to censorship, with certain parts of Mulray's routines—such as jokes targeting "fat kids"—being excised due to their unsuitability by modern standards.

See also

• Turn-On, an American sketch comedy series that was canceled during its premiere episode.
• Videos After Dark, a 2019 U.S. adaptation of Australia's Naughtiest Home Videos, which was also pulled after just one broadcast.