Live on Bowen

Live on Bowen

Company type	Community television program
Industry	Television production
Founded	2012
Defunct	2015
Headquarters	Melbourne , Australia
Products	Comedy talk show, variety show
Parent	RMITV

Live on Bowen was a Melbourne-based one-hour comedy talk show and variety show produced by RMITV with backing from the RMIT Student Union, broadcast on C31 Melbourne. The program included humorous sketches, interviews with special guests, and musical performances by artists ranging from emerging talents to well-known figures. Similar to its forerunner Studio A, it served as a showcase for Melbourne’s rising stars.

Origin of the name

The title Bowen is taken from the street that runs through RMIT City Campus, where building 12—the location of the TV Studios—is found.

Live broadcast

During its initial three seasons (2012–2013), the show was transmitted live on C31 Melbourne from studios at RMIT University's City Campus. In Season 4 (2014), following C31 Melbourne’s move near Flagstaff railway station, the microwave link between RMIT and C31 was no longer functional. Consequently, episodes have since been recorded live before a studio audience approximately one week prior to airing.

Hosts

Australian actor and comedian Rob Lloyd served as host until Episode 8 of Season 2. During Rob’s tour with Who, Me at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Aaron McCarthy stepped in as host and subsequently led Seasons 3 and 4. From Season 5 through the concluding sixth season, comedian and writer Simon Taylor assumed hosting duties.

Guests

Prominent guests featured on the show include Shaun Micallef, Amberley Lobo, Roz Hammond, Tim Ferguson, Rebecca Barnard, Sean Maher, Mitch Pileggi, Scott Allie, Marieke Guehrer, Cosentino (illusionist), Father Bob, Steve Bastoni, Adam Richard, Jason Chatfield, Paul Verhoeven, Andy Murphy, Claire Hooper, Catriona Rowntree, Scott Darlow, Zoe Tuckwell-Smith, Peter Hitchener, Graeme Simsion, Jarryd Blair, Erin Holland, Randy Feltface (Heath McIvor), Shura Taft, Tom Ward, Virginia Gay, Tom Hafey, Tottie Goldsmith, John Safran, Lola Berry, Steph Hickey, Nicholas J Johnson, Faiser Heigns, Jimmy James Eaton, Liam Amor, Brodie Harper, Lee Chan, Elena Kirschbaum (Ella Bella), Rachel Bergman, Danny McGinley, Greg Male, and Lili Kendall.

Comedians

Stand-up performers showcased include John Dore, Russell Wiggington, Rob Caruana, Demi Lardner, Jay Morrissey, Peter Jones, Sonia Di Lorio, Wendy Little, Simon Taylor, Hayman Kent, Bad Boys of Musical Theater, Michael Connell, Anthony Jeannot, Dilruk Jayasinha, JMac, Toby Halligan, Em O’Lockland, Charles Barington, Kate McLennan, Jennifer Wong, Wrongtown, Dave Warnake, Petra Elliott, Ryan Coffey, Alasdair Temblay-Birchall, Phil Andrews, Tim Clarke, Jack Druce, Tony Besselink and Adam Francis.

Musicians

Musical acts have included Benjamin Provest, Joshua Aiello, Woodlock, Better than Wizzards, Buchanan, Amistat, Shelley Segal, The Zanes, The Mear Poets, Dizzy Dee, July Days, Ben Abraham, Ten Thousand Blackchords, Nicholas Roy, Red Ink, Jen Cloher, Courtney Barnett and EMPRA.

Graphics and titles

The animated visuals and opening titles for the series were created by Jumbla Pty Ltd.

Cast

Presenter	Role	Duration
Simon Taylor	Host/Co-host	2014–2015
Peter Jones	Co-host	2015
Elizabeth Davie	Co-host	2015
Lauren Bok	Co-host	2014
Michael Connell	Co-host	2013–2014
Claire Sullivan	Co-host	2014–2015
Rob Caruana	Co-host	2014–2015
Rob Lloyd	Host	2012–2013
Aaron McCarthy	Host/Co-host	2012–2014
Hayman Kent	Co-host	2013
Dilruk Jayasinha	Co-host	2013
Susie Paterno	Co-host	2012
Stefan Taylor	Field Reporter	2012
Craig Annis	Field Reporter	2012

Aaron McCarthy served as a substitute presenter for Rob Lloyd.

Antenna Awards

Year	Program/Individual	Award Category	Outcome
2014	Live On Bowen	Outstanding Comedy Program	Nominated
	Live On Bowen	Outstanding Creative Achievement In A Program	Nominated
	Aaron McCarthy	Outstanding Male Personality	Nominated
2019	Live On Bowen	Best Comedy Program	Nominated
	Francis McKenna, Alex Marshall, Edward Hirst, Krissie Karpinski, James Bull	Outstanding Sound in a Program	Nominated
	Simon Taylor	Personality of the Year	Nominated