Have You Been Paying Attention?
Have You Been Paying Attention? (abbreviated on social media as HYBPA? and stylised on-screen as Have you been paying attention? in sentence case) is an Australian game show on Network 10. The series, which is produced by Working Dog Productions, is a mix of news and comedy which sees host Tom Gleisner quiz five guests (of whom Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang are permanent panellists) on the week's top news stories.[1][2]
| Have You Been Paying Attention? | |
|---|---|
 2019 Title Card | |
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by | Tom Gleisner |
| Starring | Ed Kavalee Sam Pang |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 187 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Santo Cilauro Tom Gleisner Michael Hirsh Rob Sitch |
| Production location(s) | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Editor(s) | Phil Simon |
| Running time | 30 minutes (2013–2014) 60 minutes (2014–) (Both inc. adverts) |
| Production company(s) | Working Dog Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Network 10 |
| Picture format | 576i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 3 November 2013 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
| Production website | |
Despite a disappointing start in ratings, and initially a change in timeslot and format, the series has proven to be a consistent performer for Network Ten, having its ratings increase with successive seasons and receiving critical acclaim.[2][3] The show won two Logies in 2017 for Best Entertainment Program and Most Outstanding Entertainment Program, one in 2018 for Most Popular Comedy Program and two in 2019 for Most Outstanding Entertainment Program and for Most Popular Comedy Program.
Format
The series sees the host ask guests a range of news-related questions. In turn, guests frequently give humorous or satirical answers, but only correct answers are awarded points. The series has also become known for its banter between its serious moderator and its not as serious contestants. In addition to questions regarding the previous week's events, the contestants are also quizzed in various other games. Generally, two of these segments are played in each episode.
Regular segments
- General subject segments: News events from the past week which can be grouped into the categories of Showbiz or Sport.
- Guest Quizmasters segment: Often about ten questions in length at each interval in the program. The questions asked are usually related to the guest quizmaster.
- Rapid Recall: This is the final round and segment of the show and sees contestants required to answer as quickly as possible as the segment is timed. This is the only segment during the show where the scores are not readily shown.
Occasional Segments
- Over or Under: Each contestant individually watches a clip from RBT and must guess if the person is "over or under" the legal blood-alcohol limit (.05%, as per Australian law).
- Trash or Treasure: Each contestant individually watches a clip from Antiques Roadshow and must guess if the item the person has is worth under £1000 (trash) or is worth over £1000 (treasure).
- Going, Going, Gone: A series of questions about famous items being sold over the past week and contestants must answer what it is famous for, or which famous person used or owned it.
- Either/Or: The original variation of the above three and is used primarily to test the contestants' understanding of complicated (or amusing) names in the news. (Several versions of this game have since been developed including Rapper or Restaurant / Oui or Non/ Tennis Player or IKEA Furniture etc.)
- Identify These International Versions of Well Known (Reality) TV Formats: Each contestant individually watches a short clip of an international version of a well known reality television format. Contestants are awarded 10 points for correctly guessing the format and 10 points if they can guess the country the clip is from (e.g. if a clip from the Israeli version of Survivor was shown, a contestant would receive 10 points for answering Survivor and/or 10 points for answering Israel).
- Celebrity Questions: Added in 2015, a celebrity asks a set of questions based on them or their work. Similar to the Guest Quizmasters segment in nature.
- Around the Grounds: News events around Australia.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 8 | 3 November 2013 | 22 December 2013 | |
| 2 | 26 + 1 Special | 23 February 2014 | 29 September 2014 | |
| 3 | 28 + 1 Special | 11 May 2015 | 23 November 2015 | |
| 4 | 27 + 1 Special | 9 May 2016 | 21 November 2016 | |
| 5 | 29 + 1 Special | 8 May 2017 | 27 November 2017 | |
| 6 | 27 + 1 Special | 14 May 2018 | 19 November 2018 | |
| 7 | 28 + 1 Special | 13 May 2019 | 25 November 2019 | |
| 8 | 9+ | 4 May 2020 | TBA | |
Cast
Hosts
- Tom Gleisner
- Jane Kennedy (4 episodes)[4][5]
- Chris Brown (1 episode)
- Chrissie Swan (2 episodes)
Guests
Production and broadcast
The series was first commissioned by Network Ten on 25 October 2013, with the first season to consist of eight episodes which would air over the final four weeks of ratings season and first four weeks of summer ratings.[6]
In February 2014, it was reported in an interview with host and co-executive producer Tom Gleisner that Network Ten had given the series an "open-ended" run for its 2014 season.[1] The second season premiered on 23 February 2014 in the new timeslot of 6pm Sunday.[1] On 9 April 2014, part way through the second season, it was announced that the show would be moved from the 6pm Sunday timeslot to 9.30pm Monday, and expanded to a one-hour format. The later timeslot would allow the series to include more adult themes. Following a six-week hiatus, the show returned on Monday 19 May 2014.[7][8][3] Beginning on 14 July, season two moved an hour earlier to 8:30pm as a result of the low ratings of 24: Live Another Day which previously occupied the timeslot.[9]
On 29 September 2014, it was reported that a Year in Review special had been commissioned which would air later in the year.[10] The special aired on 17 November 2014, reviewing the top news stories of the past 12 months.[11] The special saw the introduction of guest quizmasters to the format, which have since become a recurring feature of the series.[3][11]
On 14 November 2014, the series was renewed for a third season,[12] which premiered on 11 May 2015.[13]
A second Year in Review special aired following the third season, premiering on 23 November 2015.[14]
On 26 October 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season,[15] which premiered on 9 May 2016.[16] In October 2016, part of the set was revamped to include illuminating buzzers and minor changes in graphics.
A 2016 Year in Review special premiered on 21 November 2016.[17]
In October 2018, Working Dog Productions agreed with Ten Network Holdings to sell international rights to the format to the network's parent company, CBS Studios International.[18]
Filming
The series is filmed at Network Ten studios in South Yarra, Melbourne in front of a live studio audience.[19] The series was originally filmed on a Saturday,[1] but successive seasons saw filming moved from Mondays to Sundays.[20] Filming the day prior to airing, the series aims to be as current as possible.[1][20] When the show aired at 6pm on Sundays, multiple endings were filmed in case the removal of inappropriate or potentially offensive answers resulted in a different winner during post-production.[20]
Impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on Season 8 (2020)
In 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Season 8 was recorded with only Gleisner and a handful of production crew filming the show from the South Yarra studio, with all of the contestants working from home and video conferencing in to enforce social distancing. There was also no live studio audience.[21]
International versions
CBS Studios International (owned by Network 10 parent ViacomCBS) owns the format for international distribution, their first non-United States format for distribution internationally.
New Zealand
A New Zealand version, Have You Been Paying Attention? New Zealand, first aired on 24 July 2019 on TVNZ 2, hosted by Hayley Sproull, starring comedian and HYBPA? Australia regular Urzila Carlson and ZM radio host Vaughan Smith.[22]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Logie Awards of 2016 | Best Entertainment Program | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Nominated | |
| Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | Nominated | ||||
| 2017 | Logie Awards of 2017 | Best Entertainment Program | Won | ||
| Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Logie Awards of 2018 | Most Popular Comedy Program | Won | ||
| 2019 | Logie Awards of 2019 | Most Popular Comedy Program | Won | ||
| Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | Won |
Controversy
The series came under criticism as a result of jokes relating to the death of King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej during the episode airing on 17 October 2016 (Season 4 Episode 23). As a result, Network Ten issued a formal apology to Thailand's Ambassador to Australia Chirachai Punkrasin, and the footage in question was removed from Network Ten's website, social media, and was removed from the episode for future broadcasts.[28]
References
- Knox, David (18 February 2014). "Paying Attention to Tom Gleisner". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- Ratliff, Elissa (8 October 2016). "It's time you paid attention to the greatest show on Australian TV right now". Mamamia. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- Vickery, Colin (15 September 2015). "Have You Been Paying Attention? was a ratings basket case but now it is a consistent performer". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- Knox, David (9 July 2015). "Tom Gleisner, Working Dog's working host". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- Knox, David (30 September 2016). "Have You Been Paying Attention?: Oct 3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- Idato, Michael (25 October 2013). "Ten beckons Working Dog for 'least-rich quiz show'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- "HYBPA Coming soon to Mondays 9.30pm". Working Dog Productions. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014.
- Vickery, Colin (9 April 2014). "Channel 10's Have You Been Paying Attention? to move from Sunday night slot to a mystery one-hour late spot". news.com.au. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- Knox, David (10 July 2014). "Bumped: 24, Have You Been Paying Attention?". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- Knox, David (29 September 2014). "Have You Been Paying Attention?: Sept 29". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- Knox, David (1 November 2014). "Have You Been Paying Attention?: Year In Review special". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- Knox, David (14 November 2014). "TEN 2015 highlights: Celebrity, Drama, Sport". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- Knox, David (27 April 2015). "Returning: Have You Been Paying Attention?". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- Knox, David (21 November 2015). "Have You Been Paying Attention: Year in Review". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- Knox, David (26 October 2015). "Axed: Wonderland". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- Knox, David (8 May 2016). "Have You Been Paying Attention?". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- Knox, David (21 November 2016). "Have You Been Paying Attention?: Nov 21". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- Carmody, Broede (23 October 2018). "CBS snaps up Ten's Have You Been Paying Attention?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
- "Have You Been Paying Attention? – Studio Audience". Eventfinda. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- Knox, David (17 November 2014). "Alternate endings all the fun of Paying Attention". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
- Quinn, Karl (25 April 2020). "Have You Been Paying Attention, The Weekly return to a grave new world". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- "Have You Been Paying Attention? NZ (@HYBPANZ) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- Knox, David (8 May 2016). "2016 Logie Awards: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- Knox, David (28 March 2017). "Logie Awards 2017: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- Knox, David (27 May 2018). "Logie Awards 2018: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- Knox, David (26 May 2019). "Logie Awards 2019: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- Knox, David (30 June 2019). "Logie Awards 2019: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- Bowden, Ebony (19 October 2016). "Thai ambassador puts Have You Been Paying Attention? on notice over 'disrespectful' skit". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
