The Early Bird Show

The Early Bird Show

Company type	Television series
Industry	Children's television
Founded	January 26, 1985 (1985-01-26)
Founder	Dixie Duncan
Fate	Rebranded as Club 10 in 1989
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia, New Zealand
Key people	Dixie Duncan (producer), Spencer Wilson (director), Ray McKenna (director), Bob Loxton (director), Darryl Cotton (host), Marie Van Maaren (host)
Products	Children's television programming

The Early Bird Show was a children's television series from Australia that aired on Network Ten between 26 January 1985 and 10 June 1989. Its success prompted the launch of a dedicated magazine in 1989.

Format

Under the production leadership of Dixie Duncan and direction by Spencer Wilson, Ray McKenna, and Bob Loxton, The Early Bird Show featured hosts including Australian rock musician Darryl Cotton, Marie Van Maaren, and Marty The Monster. This widely acclaimed family-oriented variety program was broadcast live every Saturday morning for five continuous hours, from 7am until noon.

The show regularly included segments with notable contributors such as Roy Hampson portraying the 'professor'; Liane Scurrah-Jonas, a fitness trainer specializing in VFL/AFL injury prevention; Ken Hayden, a local butcher who prepared breakfast live alongside his daughter Kate; Frits Maaten presenting animals from his nature reserve; Rosemary leading her dance school troupe; Colin Beaumont demonstrating remote control cars; Brad McLeod as 'The Computer Man'; and puppet characters Mr and Mrs Timms. Additionally, it frequently welcomed prominent guests from the music, television, radio, and sports industries.

In 1989, the program was condensed to a two-hour slot and rebranded as Club 10, which aired for ten weeks before being succeeded by Video Hits, a music video program.

Dixie Duncan's original concept remains a distinguished example of creative family entertainment, offering children chances to display their talents and participate in charitable endeavors. The Early Bird Show is still warmly recalled by its viewers and participants.

Kangaroo incident

During a 1987 broadcast, an episode featuring Rags the Kangaroo attacking Marty the Monster gained international notoriety. This event was subsequently showcased on the U.S. reality documentary series World's Most Amazing Videos, which disclosed that David Triscott was the performer inside the Marty costume.

Other versions

An earlier version titled The Early Bird Show aired from 1977 to 1980 with hosts Mike McCarthy and Marie Van Maaren. It was replaced in 1981 by the enduring breakfast program Good Morning Australia (breakfast TV). Another distinct program named Early Birds was broadcast on SAS10 in Adelaide during the early 1970s, hosted by Veronica Overton alongside Fat Cat. This show combined cartoons, contests, and music videos. Overton, previously a singer and actress, resigned live on air; she was succeeded by DiDi James and later Jane Reilly.

TVW 7 Perth (which owned TVW 7 Perth and SAS 10 Adelaide in the 1970s) also produced a well-known Earlybirds show throughout the 1970s and 1980s airing from 7 to 9 am. Featuring characters such as Fat Cat, Percy Penguin, and puppets including Wilbur Worm and Sunny Sandgroper, it had male and female hosts like Keith Geary, Ian Teasdale, Sandy Baker, Carolyn Noble, Sharon Dale, Peter Dean, and Ann Sanders. Produced at TVW Tuart Hill Studios, broadcasts often originated live from shopping centres. Initially designed as a school holiday program, it later shifted to weekdays before being replaced by Agro's Cartoon Connection and subsequent shows. TVW also aired a Saturday edition called Fat Cat's Funtime Show during the late 70s and 80s until it was discontinued by Saturday Disney.

In New Zealand, TV3 introduced its own iteration from 1989 until 1992. This version of EBS initially aired weekday mornings before moving to weekends. Hosted by Suzy Cato alongside puppet characters Russell Rooster and Aunty Kiri Kea with her Rubber Ducks family, the show included local sketches, contests, games, interviews, cooking segments featuring Annabel Langbein, Hollywood news with David Hartnell, plus cartoons such as The Super Mario Brothers Super Show, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, DuckTales, among others. Live-action programming incorporated New Zealand’s educational series Aunties' Alphabet along with U.S. shows like Get Smart and Life's Most Embarrassing Moments. Cato went on to host additional programs including Suzy's World, 3pm, and You and Me, before establishing Treehut Productions concentrating on "Blue Light" safety campaigns.