The Dream with Roy and HG
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting, Sports comedy |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Roy and HG |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia; International (2000 edition) |
Key people | Roy, HG |
| Products | Sports comedy talk show |
The Dream with Roy and HG was a nightly sports comedy talk program aired during both the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics, hosted by the Australian pair Roy and HG.
Regarded as one of the most beloved Olympic broadcasts, the show attracted athletes from around the globe who were keen to participate. Interview gifts became highly prized collectibles. The 2000 edition ran for two hours and was distributed internationally, coinciding with Australia's role as host nation; in contrast, the 2004 version was a one-hour segment aired solely within Australia.
Roy and HG were noted for their witty and satirical commentary on events such as men's gymnastics, coining humorous expressions like "battered sav", "Chiko Roll", "flat bag", and "Dutch wink". They skillfully combined playful seriousness with fabricated "facts" about competitors, which heightened audience interest. Recurring comedic elements included slow-motion clips of Greco-Roman wrestling set to suggestive Barry White tunes and remarks about the snug attire of male rowing teams.
The duo also championed Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat as their unofficial mascot, openly rejecting the official mascots "Olly, Millie, and Dickhead". Fatso's rising fame caused friction with the Australian Olympic Committee, who initially sought to prohibit the character after athletes appeared holding Fatso dolls during medal ceremonies. During a charity auction connected to the series, Seven Network CEO Kerry Stokes acquired Fatso for A$80,450. Subsequently, a statue commemorating Fatso was erected at Olympic Park.
Roy often directed his humor towards New Zealand, particularly mocking their medal achievements. For instance, following New Zealand’s gold medal in Rowing at the 2000 Summer Olympics, he joked: "New Zealanders perform at their best when they're sitting down going backwards." In 2004, his satire extended to include Norway and former host city Atlanta, which he disparagingly referred to as "the toilet."
Spin-off shows
The popularity of the 2000 season spawned two Australian-exclusive spin-offs: The Ice Dream, which aired during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and The Cream, broadcast during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The format also inspired The Monday Dump, a weekly sports talk show that maintained a similar style but without focusing on a single event.
Awards
In 2001, the program earned the Most Popular Sports Program award at the Logies and was nominated again in this category in 2005.