The Joy of Sets
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | September 20, 2011 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television program |
The Joy of Sets is an Australian comedic television series that explores the components involved in creating TV programs. It debuted on the Nine Network on 20 September 2011.
The show was both written and hosted by comedians Tony Martin and Ed Kavalee, and produced by Zapruder's Other Films, a company owned by Andrew Denton. Martin and Kavalee had previously worked together on the acclaimed radio show Get This during 2006 and 2007.
Outline
Each installment concentrated on a particular element of television production. For instance, the opening episode delved into opening credits, with its title alluding to the industry phrase "selling the meat".
Recorded in front of a live studio audience at Technology Park, Alexandria, Sydney, the program was not aired live.
Promoted as providing "a unique perspective on television – the good, the bad and the gloriously misguided", it featured a format distinct from other Zapruder productions such as The Gruen Transfer.
Episodes incorporated discussions between the hosts, clips from both free-to-air and subscription TV shows, appearances by celebrity guests relevant to each topic, reenactments, and audience engagement.
Regular contributor Warwick Capper appeared in every episode, often donning gold hotpants during reenactment segments. A recurring feature called "Not on my network" invited audience members to identify which out of three improbable options was a genuine TV show, with prizes including classic television memorabilia. Another ongoing joke involved Tony Martin announcing a special segment during the closing credits—only for Ed Kavalee to remind him there was none, prompting humorous exchanges as episodes wrapped up.
Episodes
The series premiered nationally in Australia at 9:00 pm on Tuesday, 20 September 2011, with guests Warwick Capper and Peter Phelps. The first season comprised eight episodes. While the initial four episodes aired at 9:00 pm, starting from episode five, the broadcast time shifted to 10:30 pm on Tuesdays.
| Episode | Original air date | Focus | Guest(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Sell the meat" | 20 September 2011 | Opening titles | Warwick Capper, Peter Phelps |
| 2 | "The secret behind Masterchef" | 27 September 2011 | Cooking programs | Justine Schofield from MasterChef |
| 3 | "Renovations" | 4 October 2011 | Home renovation shows | Scott Cam from The Block, Deborah Hutton from Location Location |
| 4 | "Fun Family Freakshow" | 11 October 2011 | Television families | Glenn Robbins from Kath & Kim |
| 5 | "Send It Down to Forensic" | 18 October 2011 | Crime and legal dramas | Martin Sacks from Blue Heelers |
| 6 | "Who Killed Warwick Capper?" | 25 October 2011 | Character removals | Rob Carlton |
| 7 | "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" | 1 November 2011 | On-screen mishaps | Pete Smith |
| 8 | "The Final Curtain" | 8 November 2011 | Series finales | Peter Helliar |
Reception
The Joy of Sets launched with a robust audience of over 1.1 million viewers on 20 September 2011, but by the second installment, viewership had sharply decreased to 545,000. Ratings continued to fall, reaching 488,000 by the fourth episode, which led Channel Nine to move the program to a later broadcast slot. The series finale drew a mere 225,000 viewers.
Critics offered varied opinions. Andrew Murfett from the Melbourne Age regarded it as the standout Australian light-entertainment show of 2011, describing it as a "hidden gem." Crikey.com commended the clever writing and engaging hosting duo Tony Martin and Ed Kavalee. Likewise, radio commentator Andrew Williams observed that while the hosts occasionally appeared awkward, their chemistry came across as genuine. Reviews on IMDb praised Martin's extensive television expertise but mentioned that the show sometimes depended heavily on material familiar to longtime fans.
On the other hand, some reviewers criticized the program for being excessively scripted and lacking in live spontaneity. Melinda Houston of the Sunday Age labeled it the most disappointing Australian series of that year, and WHO magazine included it in its list of the worst TV shows of 2011. Ultimately, despite an initially strong audience and industry recognition for its concept and presenters, declining ratings coupled with mixed critiques hindered its overall commercial viability.