Spicks and Specks is an Australian music-themed comedic television quiz show in which the host,Adam Hills, asks two teams, of three people each, varying music-themed questions in different games. Team leaders areMyf Warhurst andAlan Brough. Members of each team vary from episode to episode; one per team generally comes from the world of music and the other from comedy. Scores are kept, but the prize for the winners is simply personal satisfaction. Many games are named after, or otherwise reference, well known song titles.
The series originally aired onABC1 at 8:30pm on Wednesday nights, with the show repeated on Thursdays onABC2 at 8pm. The previous year's season was repeated every Friday at 2:30pm on ABC1. After the show's end in 2011, and an unsuccessful 2014 relaunch featuring new hosts, a 2018 reunion special with the original hosts aired, the success of which ensured several more themed specials, and an eventual revival of the show.[1][2]
The show's general style, employing a mix of music and comedy, is similar to the British showNever Mind the Buzzcocks and fellow Australian TV showRocKwiz, but the question formats and program style (Satirical vs. Family vs.Pub Quiz) are different.
Although there are no prizes for the winners, on rare occasions Hills decides to award some convenient prop for comedic effect – a"Fools' Gold" sandwich very similar (they used strawberry jam as opposed to grape jam) to that eaten by Elvis, for example.
The show takes both its name and theme music from theBee Gees' 1966 song, "Spicks and Specks". The theme music was performed and produced byThe Dissociatives, a duo consisting ofSilverchair singerDaniel Johns and dance musicianPaul Mac, and replaced all the lyrics bar the title refrain withscat singing. In addition, Mac once appeared on the show as a panellist.
The show is hosted by stand-up comedianAdam Hills who poses questions to two three-person teams each headed by a permanent team captain, actor/comedian/authorAlan Brough and radio announcerMyf Warhurst.[3]
Notable games in the show include:Substitute, in which one member from each team sings three well-known tunes, substituting unrelated words from a text provided by Hills, while the other team members have to name the song;Musician or Serial Killer, in which each team member is shown a photograph of a person and is asked to identify whether that person is a musician or a serial killer; andThe Final Countdown, always the final game of each program, in which members of both teams compete to be first to attempt to answer general questions on music.
In 2007 during a game calledKid's Music Special, the question "What children's song is contained in the songDown Under?" led to music publisher, Larrikin Music, taking legal action againstMen at Work songwritersColin Hay andRon Strykert over the main flute riff. After three years of litigation, the lawsuit was settled in favour of Larrikin Music after Down Under was deemed to have used key elements of the Australian children's nursery rhymeKookaburra.[4]
The show returned for its seventh season on 4 May 2011. On 25 May 2011, the ABC announced the seventh season would be last, with the last program on 23 November 2011.[5] Hills, Warhurst, and Brough had agreed upon a "one in, all in" plan, and wanted to make sure the show didn't drag on.[6][7]
In 2011, it was announced that Hills, Warhurst, and Brough would take the popular TV format on a farewell tour, in the "Spicks and Speck-tacular - The Finale" tour.[8][9] The tour comprised 32 shows in nine cities across Australia, and was "loosely based" on the series.[10]
The ABC announced on 28 November 2012, during its 2013 program launch, thatSpicks and Specks would be returning in the new year with comedianJosh Earl hosting, and musicianElla Hooper and comedianAdam Richard as the team captains.[11][6][12] The re-launch of the series was delayed by the broadcaster until 2014, with the first episode airing on 5 February.[citation needed]
The revival was axed after 20 episodes due to low ratings, with the final six recorded episodes airing over the summer non-ratings period.[13]
In August 2018, it was announced that the show would be brought back with Hills, Brough, and Warhurst for a reunion episode later that year.[14][15] After the episode's success, four more specials, each with a different theme, were commissioned through the end of 2020.[16]
In 2021, the ABC announced a new 10-episode series, hosted by Adam Hills and the original team leaders.[17][18] Much like those specials and the 2014 series, it featured new games along with classic games, withKnow Your Product,Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma,Substitute, andThe Final Countdown all appearing in every episode.[citation needed]
The series was filmed during theCOVID-19 pandemic while "stage four lockdown" was occurring, leading to some minor changes to the show's set, which was redesigned to have a curved outline, and solo buzzers instead of a single team buzzer. Physical comedy was frequently used in the rebooted series, which mostly came fromDave O'Neil, who appeared as a guitarist, a banana, a lost luggage collector, an ice cream van owner, amobile DJ, the sole owner ofKurt Cobain's MTV Unplugged guitar, aZoom comedian who has a puppet bat, a bootleg merchandise seller, and a "Dave-A-Roo" deliveryman.[citation needed]
The ABC renewed the series for a second season in 2022,[19] this time with a live audience. The second season premiered on 7 August 2022.[20] Following the death ofQueen Elizabeth II, the season's sixth episode was pushed back by a week.[21] The show returned in 2024 with shorter episodes.[22]
In the majority of games, each team gets its own questions to answer — although the other team members may answer the question if the first team doesn't know it. In the remaining games, both teams can answer the questions.
Know Your Product, in which each team captain chooses one of four given topics. There are three questions from the topic that either team can answer. The questions are usually ordered by points allocated and the number of answers needed (i.e., the first question is worth one point and requires one answer, the second question is worth two points and requires two answers, and the final question is worth three points and requires three answers). This game is played first in every episode. In special episodes the topic is the show's theme which has five questions of which the fourth and fifth questions have four and five answers respectively. The game is named after the song byThe Saints.
Substitute, in which one member from each team sings three well-known tunes, substituting words from a text provided by Hills. This is usually a technical manual or some kind of text that is humorous given the context (texts used have includedDatsun 180B Service Manual,2004 Australian Government Tax Pack,A Guide to Yabbie Farming andBe Bold with Bananas). The other members of that team then guess the songs. This game is loosely based onOne Song to the Tune of Another from theBBC Radio 4 panel gameI'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Adam Hills's own minor hit with "Working Class Anthem", in which he sang the lyrics of theAustralian National Anthem to the tune ofJimmy Barnes's "Working Class Man". The game is named after the song bythe Who.
Cover Versions in which one team member is chosen to draw pictures (in silence), in initial episodes representing album covers and in later episodes representing song titles. The other team members attempt to name the album/song. The drawings are not allowed to contain words or numbers. Music used during this game isAxel F.
Samplemania/Videomania, in which five or six songs or music video clips are edited into one 30-second clip. Players must identify the different songs/videos in the clip after they have all been played, and are not allowed to take notes.
Turning Japanese in which the lyrics of well-known song are translated into Japanese using an online web translator and then translated back into English using the same translator. Contestants must name the title of the original song. The game is named after the song "Turning Japanese" bythe Vapors
Please Please Tell Me Now Hills presents part of a music video clip, and the teams must answer questions about the video. The game is named after a line in "Is There Something I Should Know?" byDuran Duran
Musician or Serial Killer, in which each team is shown a photograph of a person and is asked to say whether that person is a musician or a serial killer. Early episodes tasked individual panelists with identification, resulting in six rounds of this game.
Sir Mix'n'Matchalot, in which each team has to match three famous people with three obscure facts about them. The game title is a play on rapperSir Mix-a-Lot.
Bottom 100 in which Hills provides each team with a choice of two awful songs and asks the team members to say which was rated worse by a given group or list. The title of this game is a play on theTriple J Hottest 100.
You Can Buy Me Love (titledCan Buy Me Love in the 2021 reboot) in which Adam reads out three celebrity-themed items that have been found oneBay (e.g., a tour jacket, keychain with artist/band name). Some of these items are the usual merchandise, whereas others are down-right weird. The teams are then asked to place each item in order from cheapest to the most expensive. The game is named after the song "Can’t Buy Me Love" bythe Beatles.
Common People in which the teams identify the commonality between three musicians or musical personalities, or songs or albums. The game is named after the song "Common People" byPulp.
Malvern Starson 45 in which a single team member rides a bicycle which powers a record player. The rotation speed of each record is governed by the team member's pedalling speed. The pedaller must continue until the other team members name as many songs as possible in the time limit. The game is named after the bicycle manufacturerMalvern Star and the bandStars on 45. In the 2021 reboot, a mobile DJ manages the record player.
Mondegreens, in which teams are given a short piece of text that vaguely sounds like real lyrics or a set of lyrics. Teams must then identify the real lyrics.
Looking for Clues, in which teams have to name a band from a cryptic clue given by Hills. The game is named after the song byRobert Palmer.
Look What They've Done... (to my song, ma) (occasionally calledName That Tune) in which song clips have been changed and the players must identify the tracks. Most commonly, a guest artist or group is used to play the tracks in a different style from the original, however the songs have also been played backwards, which later became its own game (Step Back In Time), through headphones played to maximum volume, through ringtones, over the top of each other, or on a malfunctioning radio. The game is named after the song "What Have They Done to My Song Ma" byMelanie Safka.
Something's Missing, in which the teams are shown album covers with an item or word blanked out, and must identify the missing item. The game is named after the song "Something's Missing (In My Life)" byPaul Jabara andDonna Summer.
One out of Three Ain't Bad, in which teams are given a relatively obscure musical story and are presented with three possible endings. Teams must select the true ending to the story. The game is named after the song "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" byMeat Loaf.
Word Up, in which teams must identify the lyrics of a song from five random words. The game is named after the song "Word Up!" byCameo.
You're The Voices, in which a member of each team must stand next to the opposite team and sing a song from a book (by singing only la la la). The first team to get its member's song correct wins a point. The game is named after the song "You're the Voice" byJohn Farnham.
All Shook Up, in which each team is shown a series of anagrams of musicians' names (e.g. "Bomb Early" – "Bob Marley"), and team members have to unscramble them. If nobody guesses an anagram immediately, Hills gives a clue. The game is named after the song "All Shook Up" byElvis Presley.
Two Little Words, in which one member of each team is blind-folded by wearing "Spicks Specs" and the others are given the name of a musician or band. The blind-folded member must name the musician or band from one-word clues given by the other two team members. The game is named after the song "Three Little Words" byThe Rhythm Boys. Music used during this game isGreen Onions.
Counting the Beat, in which one member of each team plays songs on a keyboard while the others try to name the song. Keyboardists are given a list of numbers corresponding to the order in which they should play the notes, but are given no indication of the rhythm. The game was introduced in 2008 and is named after the song "Counting the Beat" bythe Swingers. In the 2021 reboot, the game is played on a giant keyboard played by feet.
I'll Jumble For Ya, in which one team member is given thirty seconds to correctly match nine song titles divided in half and mixed up on a magnetic board. The game is named after the song "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" byCulture Club. in the 2024 series, the game was changed to have eight song titles
Step Back in Time, in which songs are played backwards and must be identified by the teams. The game is named after the song "Step Back in Time" byKylie Minogue.
What's The Story?, in which a team receives three stories about an opposing team member. Team members must decide whether each story is either true, half true, or untrue. The game is named after the album(What's the Story) Morning Glory? byOasis.
Turn Turn Turn, in which each team is presented with asliding block puzzle of a famous album cover, and members have to work together to solve it. The blocks are double sided, with the main cover on one side, and several decoy covers on the other. Both teams battle it out, and points are given to the team completing its puzzle first. The game is named after the song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" written byPete Seeger, and made famous bythe Byrds.
Reelin' in the Years, in which each team is given ten songs and ten years, and have to match the songs to the years of first performance. The game is named after the song "Reelin' In the Years" bySteely Dan.
F.A.C.T. In The U.S.A., in which team members are given musical facts based on towns they select on a map of the USA, and have to say whether the fact is true or false. The game is named after the songR.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. byJohn Mellencamp
Toss the Telly, in which a member from each team tries to throw TVs out of a hotel window. Points are scored based on how many TVs are successfully thrown.
Spickety Blanks, in which each team is presented with a quotation from a famous musician in which one of the words is blanked out; team members have give the missing word. This game is a satirical take on the showBlankety Blanks.
Disco v Punk, in which each team has to knock over punks (bowling pins) with a disco ball (bowling ball.) Points are scored based on how many punks a team is able to knock down.
Dancing Substitute, in which one member from each team is chosen to perform well-known dance moves for the other members to name. This is a variation of the gameSubstitute.
Apprentices Masters, in which teams have to guess album covers that are painted in the style of European masters.
Sixties Jumble, in which teams are given a set of songs and events, and have to match them to the year they happened or were released.
Across the Ditch, Bro, in which each team is presented with a list of songs from either Australia or New Zealand, and have to match the songs to their country of origin.
Mistletoss, in which teams deliver Christmas presents by throwing them into a goal within a given time limit. Points are scored based on how many presents a team successfully delivers. Different variations of this game exist, such as the teams throwing fruit at singers who are keeping baby Jesus awake at the inn, throwing CDs into the chimney of a model house, presents into windows of a rehab clinic or simply into pairs of stockings.
Who? Who? Who?, in which teams have to identify a music-industry personality dressed in a Christmas outfit.
The Final Countdown, in which players beat the buzzer to answer generic musical quiz questions. This is the only game in which points are deducted for incorrect responses. The game is the final game of each program and is named after the song "The Final Countdown" byEurope.
Many of these games have proven more popular than others.Substitute was used consistently throughout the early history of the show, appearing in almost every episode (although later was occasionally excluded in favour ofCover Versions). Other games were used only every now and then and others were used even less frequently. Some other games which proved to be popular early in the show's history have been used less or even abandoned later includingMusician or Serial Killer andBottom 100. Both were commonly used early in 2005, but rarely later. Some games were also introduced later in the series, and occasionally a game will be temporarily changed in some way (e.g. Musician Or Serial Killer was changed once to ARIA winner or Audience Member on the ARIA special episode), or only ever used in one episode (e.g. Disco v Punk.)
Cover Cover Cover Cover Chameleon, in which each team is presented with a person dressed up like someone from a famous album cover, who then reveals a recreation of it using real life objects and a soundstage. The team must identify what album the person is trying to recreate. The game is named after "Karma Chameleon" byCulture Club.
Art For Art's Sake, in which the teams are presented with crudely drawn fan art of famous musicians and must identify the person portrayed. The game is named after the song "Art for Art's Sake" by10cc.
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?, where each team is presented with a mysterious musician through aSkype call (with the musician's face and voice replaced), whose identity is revealed after ten "yes or no" questions are asked. The game is named after the song "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" byThe Angels. The game itself is based on "Who am I?" games.
Never Tell Us Apart, in which the teams are presented with clips of two songs with rhyming names (e.g., "Fast Car" / "All Star") played at the same time, and teams must identify each song. The game is named after "Never Tear Us Apart" byINXS.
Papa's Left His Brand New Bag, in which each team is presented with an item of baggage left at the airport by famous musicians, and must guess the musician by looking through its contents. Every member is given some unique item, resulting in six rounds of the game. The game is named after "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" byJames Brown.
On My List, in which each team is presented a question with multiple possible answers, and the team must write the correct answer.
Picture This, in which each team is provided a set of "cryptic" images that refer to a song title, and must identify the song title from the images. The game is named after the song "Picture This" byBlondie.
Tuberstylin', in which each team must guess a song based on YouTube comments left on its music video. If a team member does not guess it within a single comment, another comment providing a clearer hint is given. The game is named after "Superstylin'" byGroove Armada.
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fashion, in which each team is presented with six images of a famous musician from different career stages and must sort them from oldest to newest. A song by the artist will play in the background while they sort. The game is named after "Fashion" byDavid Bowie. in the 2024 series, the game was changed to have five images
Adam and The Antonyms, in which each team must give a song's title from its opposite (e.g., "Wintertime Happiness" / "Summertime Sadness"). The game's name is a play on the name of the English rock bandAdam and the Ants.
Listomania, in which each team is presented with a list of an artist's top five favourite songs, and must predict the correct order using a magnetic board. Then a pre-recorded video of the artist explaining the correct order is played. The game's name is a pun on the fan frenzy known asLisztomania.
Secret Song: in which clues to a song are hidden throughout each episode, and teams must identify the song, which is asked as the final question inThe Final Countdown. Teams that are correct are awarded five points.
Stand & Delivery, in which each team must identify a musician from that person's home deliveries. Similar toPapa's Left His Brand New Bag, but teams are given only a single container. The game is named after "Stand and Deliver" byAdam and the Ants.
In Da Club, in which all team members must stand in a faux nightclub queue and ask the manager clues about what act is performing. The game is named after the song "In da Club" by50 Cent.
The Kids Are Alright, in which teams are shown clips of kids describing music videos, and have to guess which song they are talking about. The game is named after the song "The Kids Are Alright" bythe Who.
Another Brick in the Wall, in which teams have to guess iconic outfits worn by various musicians. Each outfit is modeled behind a giant wall, with bricks able to be taken out to reveal a part of the outfit. Points decrease as bricks are removed. The game is named after the song "Another Brick in the Wall" byPink Floyd.
Counting the Bells, in which teams (along with Hills) playorchestral handbells whilst trying to name the song they are playing. Teams are given a sheet indicating the notes of the bells and which hand each bell is in, but no indication of rhythm. This is a variation on the gameCounting the Beat.
Seven Donation Army, in which teams have to identify a musician based on various pre-loved items (eg.Eminem being identified by a toy rabbit, a name tag, and a sweater stained with vomit and "Mom's spaghetti.") The game is named after "Seven Nation Army" bythe White Stripes.
Idiom Killed the Radio Star, in which teams have to guess if various idioms have musical origins. Each team is presented with an idiom, and must decide if the given origins are true or false. The game is named after "Video Killed the Radio Star" recorded byBruce Woolley and the Camera Club, andthe Buggles.
I'll Be Missing Woo! in which teams are given song lyrics, and have to identify what nonsense word or sound (ie. la, ah, zig-a-zig, woop) is missing, with Hills punctuating each blanked out phrase with various squeaky toys and noisemakers. The game is named after "I'll Be Missing You" bySean Combs.
Blah Blah & The Blah Blahs, in which teams are given the second part of a band name, and must name the first half (eg. 'The Mechanics' being 'Mike')
Musical Chers, in which teams compete in a group game ofmusical chairs. A well-known song is performed in a children's music style, with players attempting to name the song, sitting on a 'Cher chair' once they know the answer. The last person standing is eliminated. However, if someone gets the answer wrong, they are eliminated, with the player who initially failed to sit being reinstated. The game continues until there is one player left, earning one point for their team. The game has nothing to do with the singerCher, only featuring chairs decorated with the singer's face.
What's the Story, Morning Glory, in which teams are read children's stories based on the lyrics of songs, and have to guess what song the stories are based on. The game is named afterOasis' 1995 album of the same name.
Plant Music, In which teams must guess if given names are bands, or a story from the ABC TV showGardening Australia.
This was the first season since 2022 in whichSecret Song was not played, instead featuring numerous cameos by bands and characters, many of whom appeared on the show over the years.
Since 2005, an annual hour-long Christmas episode, entitled "A Very Specky Christmas" on the Sunday night before Christmas (though more recent seasons do not include a Christmas special.) All questions are either about Christmas songs, or music from the previous year. While these episodes remain true to the standard format with three members on each team, adaptions are made to allow more guest stars to appear. Additional or notably different games have included:
Mistletoss, a physical challenge in which the teams are required to throw Christmas presents into a goal in a given time limit. In 2005, the teams threw CDs into the chimney of a model house; in 2006, wrapped gifts were thrown into celebrities' Christmas stockings of different sizes; in 2007, wrapped gifts were thrown through the windows of a "rehab clinic" with a guard out the front,Frank Woodley.
Sir Mix'n'Matchalot is adapted so that three additional celebrities appear and are arbitrarily given Christmas presents by the show. The panel then asks questions and attempts to allocate the presents.
Substitute is adapted so that trained choirs sing the tunes of Christmas songs with the words from famous quotes and works from the past year, such as controversial pieces of legislation, political speeches, or pop culture.
As the last episode of each year of the original series,Spicks and Specks reflects back on all the highlights, lowlights and memorable guests throughout the year.
On 30 May 2007,Spicks and Specks celebrated its 100th episode. Instead of the show being divided into games, teams were asked 100 questions – one from each of the previous 99 episodes, and one new question, "What is the last question on our 100th episode?" which was correctly answered by Antoinette Halloran. Alan Brough's team was victorious although it did come down to the very last question.
This was the first episode ofSpicks and Specks in which the games are not played at all. Instead, this behind-the-scenes special hosted by regular contestantHamish Blake took a tour through the studios and dressing rooms of theABC studios inElsternwick and conducted interviews with show personnel.
The show was filmed at ABC Studios in Elsternwick, Victoria, which were rented byABV-2.
With ABC Studios in Ripponlea getting ready to shut down, the program's new home is now at ABC Melbourne studios inSouthbank, Victoria. With the move from Ripponlea also comes a move from the ABC as the broadcast provider. It is recorded in front of a live audience of 500 people.
On 9 September 2009,Spicks and Specks celebrated its 200th episode. The show had a number of members from theMelbourne Symphony Orchestra behind the hosts, who performed the show's many musical questions including the theme songSpicks and Specks by theBee Gees. The episode also included returning guests Ella Hooper, Hamish Blake,Paul Grabowsky and Meshel Laurie. The questions covered 200 years of music from 1809 to 2009.
A one-hour special, called "The Finale", was the final episode of the original series ofSpicks and Specks and went to air on 23 November 2011. There was a change to the list of guests: various guests rotated during different rounds of the show. All of the credited guest appearances on the show were Ella Hooper, Geoffrey Rush, Scott Edgar, Dave O'Neil, Rhonda Burchmore, Adam Richard, Darren Hayes, Brian Cadd, Brian Mannix, Felicity Ward, Amanda Keller, Jimeoin, Tommy Dean, Shane Bourne, Dan Sultan, Richard Gill, Antoinette Halloran, Denise Scott, Peter Helliar, Barry Morgan, Megan Washington, Damian Callinan, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee (who were in New York at the time of filming for theirHamish and Andy's Gap Year).
On 27 August 2018, it was announced that the show would return for a one-off hour-long special as part of the ABC's "Ausmusic" month. Confirmed as panellists were award-winning rapperAdam Briggs, singer/songwriterRicki-Lee Coulter and comediansFrank Woodley andDenise Scott, plus a line-up of famous guests to lend their musical talents and knowledge.[25]
In August 2019, it was announced that the show with the original lineup would return for a one-off special in November 2019, followed by a short three-episode reboot airing in 2020. The episodes featured original host Adam Hills and team captains Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst, with each episode focusing on a specific generation of music.[28]
Four specials were broadcast; theAusmusic special, the 90s special, the 2000s special and the 2010s special. Because music from the 2010s was not included in the original Spicks and Specks show, Adam Hills said it was his favourite to film.[29]
In 2007, the firstSpicks and Specks product was launched, theSpicks and Specks Interactive Quiz DVD.
A Very Specky Christmas was released on 4 December 2008;[30] it contains the 2007 and 2006 Christmas Specials.
In 2009, the DVDUp to our Eras was released. It contained the 50s special, the 60s special, the 70s special and the 80s special.
Spicks and Specks: The Remixes was released on 5 August 2010 containing 4 episodes that were uncut and uncensored.
Spicks & Specks: World Tour was released on 4 November 2010, containing the Australiana, Britannia, Americana and Europa specials, and is said to have unseen footage.[31]
Spick & Specks: The Finale was released on 1 December 2011, containing the final episode andThe Best of Spicks & Specks.[32]
Spicks & Specks: The Pick of Spicks was released on 5 April 2012, containing extended versions of four classic episodes chosen by the hosts.[33]
TheSpicks and Specks Boxset was released on 1 April 2015, the 4-DVD set contains:The Remixes,World Tour,The Finale andthe Pick of Spicks.[34]
In 2008, theSpicks and Specks Board Game was released byImagination Games.[35] It was followed by "Up To Our Eras" in 2010, and an "Ausmusic Edition" in 2019.
In 2011, Spicks and Specks Quiz, an app for iPhones, was released. Users are given two play options, Quick Play or Quiz Challenge, with various games taken from the show. There are a number of top-up Quiz Packs to extend the game. On its initial release, the name of the app wasautomatically censored by Apple to 'S****s and Specks' because of the derogatory use of the word 'spick' in the US to describe a person of Hispanic heritage.[36]
