The Main Event (Australian game show)
| Company type | Television game show |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Epping, New South Wales , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Larry Emdur (Presenter), Don Blake (Announcer), Niel Chantler (Announcer), Craig Johnston (Creative Director) |
| Products | Television game show |
The Main Event was an Australian game show broadcast weekly for an hour on the Seven Network between 1991 and 1992. The program was presented by Larry Emdur, with Don Blake and Niel Chantler fulfilling announcer duties.
The concept was developed by ex-footballer Craig Johnston, who was also credited as the show's "Creative Director."
Game play
Two competing teams, identified by red and yellow colors, each consisted of three studio celebrities alongside up to four family members participating from home. Their objective was to accumulate points, with the team achieving the highest total awarded a brand new car.
At the start of each round, the number of points available was disclosed.
Round One
This segment included various mini-games presented in a random sequence.
What do you know?
Teams buzzed in to respond to questions. Points were granted for correct answers, while incorrect responses resulted in that team being excluded from further clues, giving the opposing team an opportunity to answer. There was no penalty for incorrect replies. Each team had a single buzzer, and individuals answered independently without team discussion. Sample categories included:
- Name That Tune: A music video containing hints was played; correctly naming the song earned 10 points.
- Odd One Out: Five items were displayed; identifying the item that did not fit awarded 10 points.
Who am I?
A video revealed progressively older photographs and clues about a well-known individual. Correctly naming the person earned 10 points.
Name That Film
A film clip with gradually more revealing clues was shown; correctly identifying the movie granted 10 points.
Home Team Question
Home viewers were shown a film clip accompanied by a clue. While they could discuss among themselves, only the designated captain was permitted to buzz in. A correct response earned 20 points; if incorrect, the other family had a chance to guess from remaining options. No penalties applied for wrong answers.
Round Two – Picture This
Six concealed numbered images were displayed. Team members took turns selecting numbers to uncover portions of a subject. Successfully identifying each subject earned 10 points. Incorrect guesses carried no penalty. Team members could collaborate, but only the player in control made the final guess.
Round Three – Who Lives Here?
This round was played individually by each team across three stages.
Part One – Who Lives Here?
Both celebrities and home players watched a video showcasing the interior and exterior of a famous celebrity’s residence. Celebrities attempted to name the homeowner; home players either agreed or provided an alternative guess. Correct celebrity answers earned 20 points; if the home team’s differing guess was accurate, they received 40 points. No penalties were given for incorrect guesses.
Part Two – Under the Spotlight
Celebrities viewed footage of the celebrity from Part One answering fifteen questions (questions not shown). They had 30 seconds to recall five of those responses and match them to their corresponding questions. Teams took turns answering, with the option to pass if uncertain. Successfully matching all five responses awarded 20 points.
Part Three – Would You Believe…
Home players saw a video featuring the Part One celebrity making a statement about themselves, which could be true or false. Teams guessed whether the statement was accurate; a correct guess earned 20 points with no penalty for incorrect answers. The opposing team then repeated this round with another celebrity.
Round Four – Identification Challenge
This round was conducted using buzzers and divided into two segments.
Segment One – Identify the Person
Participants were presented with blurred images of famous personalities accompanied by audio hints. As the clues advanced, the pictures gradually became clearer. The first contestant to buzz in and accurately name the celebrity earned 10 points. The adults successfully identified the initial two celebrities, while the children correctly named the third, receiving a themed special prize.
Segment Two – Predict the Outcome
Celebrities watched a paused video clip and were provided with three possible scenarios predicting what would happen next. The first team to buzz selected one option; the opposing team then chose from the remaining alternatives. Correct predictions garnered 20 points, with no deductions for incorrect guesses.
Round Five – Detail Recall
This round was played individually by team members. Celebrities viewed a movie or television segment, then answered questions about specific elements within it without consulting teammates. Each correct response awarded 20 points, while incorrect answers resulted in a 20-point penalty. Questions were posed sequentially from left to right and occasionally asked by a guest celebrity associated with the clip.
The team with the highest score received a premium prize, which varied from a year’s supply of groceries to an Australian $5,000 Citibank Cash Management Account—retained regardless of final game results.
Round Six – Final Showdown
Each team competed individually in this concluding round. The leading home team selected one of two categories, leaving the remaining category to their opponents. The trailing team had 45 seconds to answer five true-or-false questions within their assigned category—correct answers earned 20 points each, while wrong answers deducted 20 points. The leading team then tackled their chosen category under the same conditions, even if already in the lead.
The team with the highest overall points won the competition and received a brand-new automobile; the runners-up were awarded a cash consolation prize.
Celebrities
Prominent figures who participated or appeared as special guests on The Main Event included Kym Wilson, Agro, Louise Anton, Mary Coustas, Lisa Curry, Robert DiPierdomenico, Nick Giannopoulos, Wally Lewis, Barton Lynch, Greg Matthews, Bruce McAvaney, Georgie Parker, Guy Pearce, Collette Roberts, Shirley Strachan, and Adriana Xenides. Additionally, American actors George Kennedy and Darius McCrary made guest appearances.
Sets and Remote Broadcasts
The studio set, created by Diaann Wajion and Phil McLaren, was designed as a theatre-in-the-round resembling a two-tiered football stadium complete with cheerleaders and a large jumbotron-style screen. Filming occurred at Channel 7 studios located in Epping, New South Wales.
Two remote units facilitated live satellite transmissions of family teams participating from their homes across Australia. Each episode also featured a new car arriving at family residences driven by a celebrity, concluding with the victorious family celebrating alongside their prize vehicle.
Theme Music
The show's theme was an instrumental adaptation of Walking on Sunshine, an international hit originally written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina and the Waves from the UK. This version, arranged by series composer Jamie Rigg, included female vocalists repeating The Main Event as its only lyric.
Foreign versions
Grundy Television developed a British rendition of The Main Event, broadcast on BBC One between 1 May and 24 July 1993, with Chris Tarrant serving as the host. This adaptation featured extra, frequently innovative mini-games.