By TANIA PHILLIPS
Saturday Night Crack Up,
ABC TV, 7.30pm, Saturday 10 October
FOR the second year in a row the ABC is again focusing a week of programming across TV, radio and online on mental illness, health and well-being to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
In 2014, Mental As… was the biggest cross-platform marketing and programming event the ABC had ever held.
It attracted a TV audience of 5.9 million over the week, with all radio, news and online platforms enjoying high levels of audience engagement.
It all culminated in the Saturday Night Crack Up – a live event, which ended up being a massive success and fund-raiser.
Hosted by the multi-talented and charismatic Eddie Perfect, this was a huge night of entertainment. And it was nice to see personalities from across the TV networks joining in with this giant variety show – which included musical numbers by Eddie himself, Missy Higgins, Tripod, Tim Minchin and Home and Away stars among many others and lots of sketches by comedians including Frontline’s Mike Moore (aka Rob Sitch), Shaun Micallef and Clarke and Dawe.
The night even featured Hamish Blake in a toucan outfit, Luke McGregor being hugged by Redfoo and Michala Banas and Shane Jacobson talking about depression before throwing pies in each other’s faces.
It was nice, thought-provoking and yet fun and it’s back again this Saturday night.
And the ABC has promised “so much more” this year! Should we be scared? Maybe.
Once again filmed live in front of a studio audience, Eddie is back to host and Aunty has “guaranteed” loads of Australia’s biggest stars, catchy tunes, side-splitting comedy and plenty of fun for all the family.
Last year’s show helped raise $1.5 million for the Society for Mental Health Research.
Once again you can make a donation during the show, head to abc.net.au/mentalas or SMS “MentalAs” to 0455 021 021 for more information or to make a donation.
