Merrick and Rosso
| Company type | Comedy duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Comedy |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Radio shows, television programs, live comedy tours, DVDs, published works, podcasts |
Merrick and Rosso formed a prominent Australian comedy partnership active between 1996 and 2009, comprising Merrick Watts (Merrick) and Tim Ross (Rosso). Their collaboration began with stand-up comedy, initially joining forces for a single performance in 1996. They rose to fame through a combination of syndicated radio shows, television appearances, live comedy tours, DVDs, and published works.
Radio program
The duo initially attracted attention on radio station Triple J by appearing weekly as guests on the drive-time show in 1998, eventually becoming full-time hosts for a two-year period. Regular contributors to their program included Myf Warhurst and Peter Helliar.
In 2001, they transitioned to the commercial broadcaster Nova 96.9, taking over the breakfast slot (6am–9am) and maintaining this role until the show's conclusion. Their co-hosts over time were Sami Lukis until 2007, followed by actress Kate Ritchie from 2008 onward. Meanwhile, in 2009, Lukis began co-hosting a rival Sydney breakfast show on Triple M. On 10 November 2009, Ross declared his exit from the Merrick, Rosso & Kate program, bringing an end to their eleven-year radio collaboration. Ritchie also departed at that time, while Watts intended to continue his radio career independently. Their final joint broadcast aired on 4 December 2009 and featured tributes from comedians such as Peter Helliar and Judith Lucy, as well as appearances by media personalities including Tom Williams and Ray Hadley. The episode also showcased compilations of memorable moments and prank calls.
Television programs
Their initial foray into television was with the subscription channel show Planet Merrick and Rosso (later renamed Super Planet Merrick and Rosso) airing on The Comedy Channel. In 2003, they debuted Merrick and Rosso Unplanned on the Nine Network, an unscripted comedic chat series that ran for three seasons. In 2005, they headlined The B Team broadcast on Network Ten. Additionally, they performed at the Live Earth event held on 7 July 2007.
Merrick Watts pursued individual acting roles in series such as The Hollowmen, Thank God You're Here, and portrayed Marty Johnstone in the drama Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. In 2008, the pair starred together in The Merrick & Rosso Show on The Comedy Channel.
The Merrick & Rosso Show
In 2008, Merrick and Rosso introduced The Merrick & Rosso Show on Australia's Comedy Channel. This original production blended sketches, pranks, and parodies featuring celebrity guests, quickly becoming the highest-rated program on the channel in fifteen years. The first season included appearances by notable figures such as Ray Martin, Kate Ritchie, The Veronicas, Hugh Jackman, and Peter Helliar.
One memorable sketch titled 'The Almost Transformers' gained viral popularity on platforms like YouTube and FunnyorDie; it involved the duo disguised as household appliances surprising shoppers. Another remarkable stunt entailed adopting a village in Papua New Guinea, renaming it Merrick & Rosso Land, and distributing branded T-shirts emblazoned with humorous slogans.
The second season featured guests including Will Ferrell, The Wiggles, Magda Szubanski, Eskimo Joe, and cricketer Stuart MacGill. The show also introduced "anti-testimonials," where celebrities recorded scripted excuses explaining their absence from the program. Participants included prominent personalities such as Will Smith, Lily Allen, Russell Brand, and Seth Rogen.
Podcast
In addition to their official Nova 96.9 breakfast show podcast, Merrick & Rosso created a separate daily podcast titled Original Pirate Material. This series included segments such as reading listener emails, uncensored material, and prank calls. The podcast concluded with its last episode on 15 November 2006.
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak position (AUS) |
|---|---|---|
| Choice Cuts |
|
— |
| From Us to Youse |
|
52 |
Video albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Live and Totally Wrong |
|
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "Teenage Mullet Fury" (with The Echuca Moama Sound Machine) |
1998 |
ARIA Music Awards
Since its inception in 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the ARIA Music Awards have recognized outstanding achievements and innovation within Australia's music industry.
! |- | 1999 | Teenage Mullet Fury | rowspan="3"| ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release | | rowspan="3"| [1] |- | 2003 | From Us to Youse | |- | 2008 | Live and Totally Wrong! |
External links
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