1 00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:11,972 Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B. 2 00:00:12,373 --> 00:00:16,173 Speaker 1: Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:16,613 --> 00:00:18,773 Speaker 2: John Prior has been a big name in New Zealand 4 00:00:18,813 --> 00:00:21,213 Speaker 2: media for a couple of decades, now Hit TV, show's 5 00:00:21,293 --> 00:00:24,213 Speaker 2: massive social media presence, stunts, pranks, and currently on the 6 00:00:24,293 --> 00:00:27,093 Speaker 2: Jonathan Ben and Meghan Breakfast Show on the Hits. Now 7 00:00:27,173 --> 00:00:29,133 Speaker 2: he's going out on his own with a non Ben 8 00:00:29,253 --> 00:00:31,693 Speaker 2: show He's written, produced and start in a new comedy 9 00:00:32,133 --> 00:00:35,333 Speaker 2: starting on TV three tonight at eight thirty pm and 10 00:00:35,453 --> 00:00:38,693 Speaker 2: on demand on three now. And he's here with us. 11 00:00:38,732 --> 00:00:41,653 Speaker 2: So John O tell us about the new show, Vince. 12 00:00:41,933 --> 00:00:47,452 Speaker 3: Well, it's basically about a self obsess narcissistic broadcaster who 13 00:00:47,933 --> 00:00:51,292 Speaker 3: loses his job after an unfortunate incident at a children's 14 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:54,373 Speaker 3: hospital whereas his trousers come down and live on television 15 00:00:54,413 --> 00:00:57,773 Speaker 3: and so essentially canceled, and he's trying to claw his 16 00:00:57,853 --> 00:00:59,613 Speaker 3: way back and get his job. 17 00:00:59,453 --> 00:01:01,493 Speaker 2: Bat But he doesn't pull his trousers down. His trousers 18 00:01:01,493 --> 00:01:01,973 Speaker 2: just come down. 19 00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:02,973 Speaker 3: They just come down. 20 00:01:02,973 --> 00:01:06,533 Speaker 2: But that's a bit of a plot point, okay, because 21 00:01:06,573 --> 00:01:08,333 Speaker 2: this happened to you, didn't At Christmas in the park 22 00:01:08,973 --> 00:01:11,453 Speaker 2: you were getting a photo with some kids and your 23 00:01:11,493 --> 00:01:13,173 Speaker 2: pants came down. But that wasn't on purpose. 24 00:01:13,253 --> 00:01:16,013 Speaker 3: There was no unintentional I had my arms around both 25 00:01:16,093 --> 00:01:18,973 Speaker 3: children as the mother was taking the photo, and the 26 00:01:19,053 --> 00:01:22,813 Speaker 3: exact moment I'm pretty sure she hit hit the photo button, 27 00:01:22,973 --> 00:01:27,093 Speaker 3: the pants came down, some vaping scllywag come up behind, 28 00:01:27,292 --> 00:01:28,893 Speaker 3: and yeah, yeah it was. 29 00:01:29,093 --> 00:01:29,452 Speaker 2: It was a. 30 00:01:29,413 --> 00:01:30,453 Speaker 3: Textbook down trail though. 31 00:01:30,533 --> 00:01:33,133 Speaker 2: We'll give that to The Wiggles have been very careful 32 00:01:33,133 --> 00:01:35,093 Speaker 2: about things like that, got a lot of protocols in 33 00:01:35,093 --> 00:01:37,213 Speaker 2: place when they're around kids. They got their their fingers up, 34 00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:38,773 Speaker 2: the finger guns, the finger games. 35 00:01:38,733 --> 00:01:40,372 Speaker 3: We had a photo with them and you go to 36 00:01:40,373 --> 00:01:42,253 Speaker 3: put your arms around them, They're like, no, no, slit's 37 00:01:42,292 --> 00:01:42,812 Speaker 3: finger guns. 38 00:01:42,813 --> 00:01:45,493 Speaker 2: The finger guns was invented so you could always see 39 00:01:45,493 --> 00:01:48,413 Speaker 2: their hands. So everything was There was no questions he 40 00:01:48,453 --> 00:01:50,533 Speaker 2: ever asked of the Wiggles. So you've done a lot 41 00:01:50,533 --> 00:01:53,813 Speaker 2: of I guess skip Baits comedy over the years, with 42 00:01:53,973 --> 00:01:56,733 Speaker 2: you know, Johno's New show and the Jonavan Ben show. Bat. 43 00:01:56,773 --> 00:01:58,733 Speaker 2: That's a bit bit of a step up having to 44 00:01:58,813 --> 00:02:01,413 Speaker 2: write full episodes and a series arc. 45 00:02:01,533 --> 00:02:04,573 Speaker 3: How was that It was a huge learning experience, to 46 00:02:04,613 --> 00:02:07,293 Speaker 3: be honest me, I know you've obviously you've written a 47 00:02:07,293 --> 00:02:10,053 Speaker 3: movie before and deviled in it before, but you learn 48 00:02:10,293 --> 00:02:12,133 Speaker 3: so much along the way, and it was actually really 49 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:16,333 Speaker 3: very satisfying and humbling experience, to be honest, because Jonathan 50 00:02:16,373 --> 00:02:19,692 Speaker 3: Ben absolutely loved the years that we had making that show. 51 00:02:20,053 --> 00:02:22,573 Speaker 3: But it was such a willwind, you know, like a 52 00:02:22,613 --> 00:02:24,413 Speaker 3: week to week will w and we were just meeting 53 00:02:24,453 --> 00:02:26,733 Speaker 3: this deadline of Thursday night and Friday night whenever it 54 00:02:26,773 --> 00:02:29,653 Speaker 3: was on air, and so you never as it was happening, 55 00:02:30,093 --> 00:02:32,053 Speaker 3: got to really appreciate what was happening. 56 00:02:32,093 --> 00:02:34,893 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not till after the offeat. It's kind of 57 00:02:34,893 --> 00:02:36,533 Speaker 2: like a radio show. It just goes and goes and goes. 58 00:02:37,053 --> 00:02:39,252 Speaker 3: Never like one day and fifty years we were sitting 59 00:02:39,252 --> 00:02:42,373 Speaker 3: back and oh yeah we did. Some didn't appreciate it 60 00:02:42,413 --> 00:02:44,053 Speaker 3: at that time, but yeah, so I guess the difference 61 00:02:44,093 --> 00:02:46,413 Speaker 3: between when we're making that show and to what this was. 62 00:02:46,453 --> 00:02:49,173 Speaker 3: It was a very slow moving train. Like you you 63 00:02:49,252 --> 00:02:51,693 Speaker 3: write a pilot script, you see, if a network wants it, 64 00:02:51,693 --> 00:02:53,133 Speaker 3: then you have to apply for your zealing on air 65 00:02:53,213 --> 00:02:55,053 Speaker 3: funding and they give you some development money. So it's 66 00:02:55,093 --> 00:02:58,453 Speaker 3: all it was all very slow. But actually, in being 67 00:02:58,493 --> 00:03:01,132 Speaker 3: so slow, you get to appreciate and really put your 68 00:03:01,133 --> 00:03:03,493 Speaker 3: all into each step of the process, so you feel like. 69 00:03:03,453 --> 00:03:06,012 Speaker 2: You had the script just absolutely screwed down by the 70 00:03:06,013 --> 00:03:08,373 Speaker 2: time you started shooting, Yeah, because it had been. 71 00:03:08,653 --> 00:03:10,373 Speaker 3: Like three or four years by the time. 72 00:03:10,493 --> 00:03:13,972 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I would say, very slim chance of you 73 00:03:14,013 --> 00:03:14,613 Speaker 2: getting it on here. 74 00:03:14,773 --> 00:03:16,893 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was very surprised when when the funding came 75 00:03:16,933 --> 00:03:19,653 Speaker 3: through and it was yea, the whole thing was surreal. 76 00:03:19,693 --> 00:03:22,452 Speaker 3: I didn't really expect the funding to get through, And yeah, 77 00:03:22,613 --> 00:03:25,973 Speaker 3: just thanks to TV three for taking a gamble on it. 78 00:03:26,013 --> 00:03:29,813 Speaker 3: But you turn up to work and you've probably had 79 00:03:29,853 --> 00:03:31,413 Speaker 3: this when you guys did your movie. You turn up 80 00:03:31,413 --> 00:03:33,692 Speaker 3: to it and you go, oh, there, dumb idea. 81 00:03:33,373 --> 00:03:36,453 Speaker 2: That that we had has now employed forty people, you know, 82 00:03:36,613 --> 00:03:39,973 Speaker 2: And yeah, I found that very humbling, kind of like 83 00:03:40,013 --> 00:03:43,133 Speaker 2: a war. Just the pure logistics of getting it done, 84 00:03:43,293 --> 00:03:47,213 Speaker 2: the locations, the lighting trucks. It's quite a thing into 85 00:03:47,253 --> 00:03:50,013 Speaker 2: its south. How did you find that whole process eye opening. 86 00:03:50,133 --> 00:03:53,853 Speaker 3: I'll never watch another show sort of like this and 87 00:03:54,893 --> 00:03:57,333 Speaker 3: not appreciate how much work goes into it, Like, and 88 00:03:57,373 --> 00:04:00,413 Speaker 3: there's there's so many talented people in that industry. We 89 00:04:00,493 --> 00:04:02,733 Speaker 3: had to go around with a location scout and look 90 00:04:02,733 --> 00:04:05,813 Speaker 3: at locations and that the catering, the makeup and quite 91 00:04:05,853 --> 00:04:08,613 Speaker 3: like everything, like even you'd walk into a be a 92 00:04:08,693 --> 00:04:11,413 Speaker 3: room and then someone would have to design the room. 93 00:04:11,453 --> 00:04:14,573 Speaker 3: The stuff you've written down on paper, not even thinking, and. 94 00:04:14,533 --> 00:04:17,173 Speaker 2: So that part of it was really high and they 95 00:04:17,213 --> 00:04:19,093 Speaker 2: come up to you and they've done two days work 96 00:04:19,133 --> 00:04:21,173 Speaker 2: on one bit you wrote that you didn't even think about. 97 00:04:21,493 --> 00:04:23,573 Speaker 2: It wasn't even important, and they're like, I've got that, 98 00:04:23,613 --> 00:04:24,973 Speaker 2: and you're like, oh, you should have just come and 99 00:04:24,973 --> 00:04:26,973 Speaker 2: talk to me. I would have had have deleted that. 100 00:04:26,933 --> 00:04:29,373 Speaker 3: And a lot of time you're like, these poor people's 101 00:04:29,373 --> 00:04:31,493 Speaker 3: been twelve hours trying to make this image that you 102 00:04:31,573 --> 00:04:34,373 Speaker 3: blindly wrote. But it's thankfully But yeah, well you had 103 00:04:34,813 --> 00:04:36,173 Speaker 3: a really great team. Yeah. 104 00:04:36,173 --> 00:04:39,133 Speaker 2: I'm always really impressed with the location people because things 105 00:04:39,133 --> 00:04:41,373 Speaker 2: you would never think about. You see an exterior of 106 00:04:41,373 --> 00:04:44,133 Speaker 2: a building and then someone walks in and something happens 107 00:04:44,213 --> 00:04:46,373 Speaker 2: and there's someone's had to deal with the parking for 108 00:04:46,413 --> 00:04:48,813 Speaker 2: all the trucks, they get the they've had to get 109 00:04:48,813 --> 00:04:52,693 Speaker 2: the council across the line, get the permits, find space 110 00:04:52,733 --> 00:04:56,173 Speaker 2: for the catering. Argued with the neighbors. It's it's the 111 00:04:56,253 --> 00:04:59,533 Speaker 2: logistics are so intense, especially now, even more because back 112 00:04:59,533 --> 00:05:02,253 Speaker 2: when you were shooting Johonaan being back then you could 113 00:05:02,253 --> 00:05:03,693 Speaker 2: be a but loose. You just sort of turn up 114 00:05:03,693 --> 00:05:05,173 Speaker 2: at Mission Bay and hassle some people. 115 00:05:05,413 --> 00:05:07,573 Speaker 3: It was a lovely you're right, Yeah, just the amount 116 00:05:07,613 --> 00:05:10,293 Speaker 3: of the amount of work that goes and you know, 117 00:05:10,333 --> 00:05:12,173 Speaker 3: you just flick on Netflix and you're like, don't like 118 00:05:12,213 --> 00:05:14,333 Speaker 3: that show, and you're like, three hundred people have just 119 00:05:14,413 --> 00:05:16,693 Speaker 3: worked their guts out on that for about two years 120 00:05:16,893 --> 00:05:19,093 Speaker 3: and you don't even see most of the work on 121 00:05:19,173 --> 00:05:19,653 Speaker 3: the screen. 122 00:05:20,013 --> 00:05:22,413 Speaker 2: So you're a famously nice guy. You never hear anyone 123 00:05:22,453 --> 00:05:25,093 Speaker 2: saying anything but positive stuff about John O, right, and goes, God, 124 00:05:25,093 --> 00:05:27,333 Speaker 2: he's a great guy. But you've always sort of had 125 00:05:27,373 --> 00:05:31,093 Speaker 2: this tendency towards that shocking, edgy stuff. Yeah, why do 126 00:05:31,093 --> 00:05:31,693 Speaker 2: you think that is? 127 00:05:31,893 --> 00:05:35,013 Speaker 3: I My mum's got a very dark sense of humor, 128 00:05:35,373 --> 00:05:37,333 Speaker 3: and I think it came my mum was a journalist 129 00:05:37,373 --> 00:05:41,933 Speaker 3: for the press in christ Church, and yeah, she spent 130 00:05:42,013 --> 00:05:43,973 Speaker 3: a lot of time at Thomas some of the politicians 131 00:05:43,973 --> 00:05:47,293 Speaker 3: and stories she would tell, like very dark senses of 132 00:05:47,373 --> 00:05:49,573 Speaker 3: humor in that in that world, and so yeah, I 133 00:05:49,573 --> 00:05:51,293 Speaker 3: think that's where I got it from and I remember 134 00:05:51,333 --> 00:05:53,573 Speaker 3: actually when we're doing John and Ben would film the 135 00:05:53,613 --> 00:05:57,133 Speaker 3: show live and as comedians, he was warming up the audience, 136 00:05:57,173 --> 00:05:59,533 Speaker 3: as they say. And then after the show, Mum, she 137 00:05:59,573 --> 00:06:00,933 Speaker 3: was at the show. She came up to Sam and 138 00:06:00,973 --> 00:06:03,693 Speaker 3: she's like, you're very good at that job. And he's, oh, 139 00:06:03,733 --> 00:06:06,933 Speaker 3: thank you, you know, very commanding. You can, you can you 140 00:06:06,973 --> 00:06:08,773 Speaker 3: can hold an audience like lah. 141 00:06:09,213 --> 00:06:12,933 Speaker 2: And this is Amazon, what do you mean? She's like, well, 142 00:06:12,973 --> 00:06:13,213 Speaker 2: he was. 143 00:06:13,253 --> 00:06:16,453 Speaker 3: He was charismatic, He held a room, he held a 144 00:06:16,533 --> 00:06:19,973 Speaker 3: room's attention. So she's that's her sense of humor, right, So. 145 00:06:19,893 --> 00:06:24,173 Speaker 2: It's come through to you. Yeah, And so you've obviously 146 00:06:24,293 --> 00:06:27,213 Speaker 2: been it's been Jonathan, Ben done TV shows together, you 147 00:06:27,253 --> 00:06:29,853 Speaker 2: do the Hits Show, You've been very successful together. So 148 00:06:29,933 --> 00:06:34,213 Speaker 2: this is kind of the first project that's basically all JOHNO. 149 00:06:34,493 --> 00:06:35,853 Speaker 2: How's for a while. How's that? 150 00:06:36,013 --> 00:06:39,533 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's it's been Honestly, it's been different. It has 151 00:06:39,573 --> 00:06:43,853 Speaker 3: been weird. It's really felt unusual in parts, and we 152 00:06:44,253 --> 00:06:46,893 Speaker 3: both have since the TV show wrapped up, have just 153 00:06:46,933 --> 00:06:50,613 Speaker 3: been you know, pitching shows together and doing all sorts 154 00:06:50,693 --> 00:06:52,973 Speaker 3: of mate. If you want to tell you what if 155 00:06:52,973 --> 00:06:54,573 Speaker 3: you want to pitch for a TV show. We've got 156 00:06:54,573 --> 00:06:57,013 Speaker 3: to play desktop full of the mat. We'll pitch you 157 00:06:57,053 --> 00:07:00,533 Speaker 3: a show. But no, none of me, excuse me, none 158 00:07:00,533 --> 00:07:03,293 Speaker 3: of been really sort of landing for you know, whatever reason. 159 00:07:03,333 --> 00:07:05,892 Speaker 3: The industry is having an interesting time at the moment. 160 00:07:06,933 --> 00:07:10,413 Speaker 3: And so yeah, this wasn't sort of like mindfully me going, oh, 161 00:07:10,413 --> 00:07:12,333 Speaker 3: I'm going to go off and do something by myself. 162 00:07:12,373 --> 00:07:15,213 Speaker 3: It was just so genuinely much like you like writing, 163 00:07:15,893 --> 00:07:20,053 Speaker 3: find it really satisfying. And it just kind of started 164 00:07:20,133 --> 00:07:21,693 Speaker 3: naturally that way. I was locked in a room with 165 00:07:21,733 --> 00:07:24,533 Speaker 3: COVID during COVID and yeah, that's kind of it. So 166 00:07:24,573 --> 00:07:26,333 Speaker 3: it wasn't like, oh, I'm going to break away and 167 00:07:26,373 --> 00:07:28,613 Speaker 3: do my own thing by any stretch. And yeah, just 168 00:07:28,653 --> 00:07:31,773 Speaker 3: over a four year period, the snowballs started to grow 169 00:07:31,773 --> 00:07:32,493 Speaker 3: with this idea. 170 00:07:32,653 --> 00:07:34,573 Speaker 2: Yeah, did you use that script writing book I sent 171 00:07:34,613 --> 00:07:35,093 Speaker 2: you that time. 172 00:07:35,773 --> 00:07:39,133 Speaker 3: Yes, absolutely, that's bloody great. And I've got to send 173 00:07:39,173 --> 00:07:41,173 Speaker 3: you one too. Have you read Rick Rubin's one? 174 00:07:41,373 --> 00:07:44,293 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, creativity or whatever it's Yeah, they are. Yeah, 175 00:07:44,293 --> 00:07:46,293 Speaker 2: I just bought that for my son. That is so good. 176 00:07:46,373 --> 00:07:49,133 Speaker 3: Yeah. If you don't know, Rick Rubens very famous music producer. 177 00:07:49,173 --> 00:07:52,013 Speaker 3: He's produced some of the world's biggest albums and just 178 00:07:52,053 --> 00:07:54,053 Speaker 3: his approach to creativity is amazing. 179 00:07:54,293 --> 00:07:56,613 Speaker 2: Yeah. Oh well, you're a great New Zealander. I can't 180 00:07:56,613 --> 00:07:57,973 Speaker 2: wait to see the show. You've done so much good 181 00:07:57,973 --> 00:08:01,733 Speaker 2: stuff before and you're a beloved figure, so looking forward 182 00:08:01,773 --> 00:08:04,373 Speaker 2: to seeing your pants get pulled down and see where 183 00:08:04,413 --> 00:08:04,933 Speaker 2: it goes from there. 184 00:08:05,013 --> 00:08:06,693 Speaker 3: Oh man, it's been a pleasure, mate, Thank you you 185 00:08:06,813 --> 00:08:08,293 Speaker 3: enjoying this was the show? 186 00:08:08,453 --> 00:08:12,693 Speaker 2: I love it? Yeah, I love dream result results. 187 00:08:13,253 --> 00:08:16,653 Speaker 3: Manheath has got the ultimate radio gig, perfect hours on 188 00:08:16,693 --> 00:08:19,093 Speaker 3: the biggest station and doing a great job. 189 00:08:20,653 --> 00:08:21,213 Speaker 2: Cheers mate. 190 00:08:22,213 --> 00:08:24,853 Speaker 1: For more from News Talks at b listen live on 191 00:08:24,933 --> 00:08:27,893 Speaker 1: air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever 192 00:08:27,933 --> 00:08:30,533 Speaker 1: you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.