Marking 90 years as part of the Australian media landscape, ABC 90 Celebrate! will include live crosses from all over the country, a lengthy list of appearances by Australian entertainment legends, and some high profile musical guests to top it all off.
Holding down the fort for the two hour live broadcast will be Craig Reucassel, Zan Rowe, and Tony Armstrong.
Mediaweek spoke to Reucassel ahead of ABC 90 Celebrate! going to air on Thursday, 30 June at 8.00 pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Pictured left to right: Craig Reucassel, Zan Rowe and Tony Armstrong
Hosting alongside Rowe and Armstrong, Reucassel says that it was an enthusiastic ‘yes’ when approached about the gig.
“I was lucky enough to be asked! I just I guess just hung around the ABC for long enough that they finally thought ‘we’ll get him to do this, he seems like he’s been here for 90 years!’”
In his own life, Reucassel says that one of the most meaningful things about the ABC is that it has “just always been there.”
“I wasn’t fully country, but I lived outside the city. The ABC was a window into these amazing comedy groups like The Doug Anthony All Stars – I remember watching them on The Big Gig and being amazed by it.
“It was a big part of growing up, Triple J was as well. I remember listening to the Hottest 100 in the days when it wasn’t done by year – there were something like nine songs by The Cure.”
One of the major components of the night will be trawling back through the ABC’s extensive archives, and Reucassel says there is something for everyone.
“There are packages of everything from drama, to comedy, to kids’ TV – it’s going to show the ABC over the ages and how it’s changed. I can’t wait to see that.
“I grew up on ABC comedy – The Big Gig, Frontline, that kind of stuff. I can’t wait to see the comedy over the ages for instance, and how it’s changed. Same with drama – but even in news, everything has changed so much. I can’t wait to see the growing up of the ABC – which is hard to say, it feels like when we were in there it wasn’t really that grown up!”
Alongside the archival footage, there is a huge lineup of guests getting ready to take part in the night. From Cate Blanchett to Molly Meldrum, Reucassel says that there are a handful of guests he’s particularly excited for.
“All the musical acts look amazing – the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Jason Arrow, Casey Donovan, Kate Miller-Heidke, they all look very exciting.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some of the presenters come back that I grew up with – Dr. Karl, Monica Trapaga, Richard Morecroft. It’s going to be a memorable night.”
As for what viewers can expect from the broadcast? Reucassel says it will be a trip down memory lane.
“We’ll be delving into the whole history of the ABC and great moments in the past. I’ve watched the ABC or listened to it since I was a kid – there are big shows that stand out for me, but I think what’s going to be fascinating are the ones that you’ve forgotten you used to watch.
“Remember G.P.? That was on for ages on the ABC. I think it’s going to be fascinating to see all these things and think ‘I had forgotten that that used to be part of my life.’”