HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Can of Worms'' is an Australian television
talk show A talk show is a television programming, radio programming or podcast genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show', pp.3-4Erler, Robert (201 ...
that was broadcast on
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
. Producer Andrew Denton pitched the show as providing "an insight into what Australia really thinks about controversial topics" by removing "the barriers of
political correctness "Political correctness" (adjectivally "politically correct"; commonly abbreviated to P.C.) is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. ...
." The first series' host, Ian "Dicko" Dickson, described the show as a " ittingbetween a talk-show and a game-show."


Production

The show first aired on 4 July 2011 until 20 May 2013. Ian "Dicko" Dickson hosted the first series along with
Meshel Laurie Meshel Laurie (born Michelle Laurie 29 May 1973) is an Australian podcaster and author. Comedy career Laurie's first Melbourne International Comedy Festival show was ''Dairy Belles'' which she performed with Corinne Grant. In 1998 she was gr ...
. During the production of the first series,
TV Tonight TV Tonight is an Australian-based website which features reviews, news and programming information related to television in Australia as well as OzTAM ratings information. The site was started by television critic David Knox in 2007 after li ...
reported that some public figures had declined to appear on show. Host Dickson confirmed that the show's premise had led to difficulty booking participants on the early episodes. Dickson left the show at the end of the first series. The second series, was hosted by
Chrissie Swan Christina Swan is an Australian television and radio presenter and media personality. Since 2023, Swan has hosted '' The Chrissie Swan Show'' on Nova FM. In 2022 and 2023, she served as a panellist on '' The Masked Singer Australia'' alongside ...
and 'man on the street' Dan Ilic. It began airing on 20 August 2012, with two 'Best of Specials' airing in November as a two-part finale. On 23 October 2012, ''Can of Worms'' was renewed for a third series that would be broadcast around the nation live. The Third Series (still hosted by Swan and Ilic) began airing on 11 February 2013 and was broadcast live.
James Mathison James Mathison (born 14 January 1978) is an Australian television presenter and radio personality, known for his distinctive interviewing style. Mathison gained recognition for his work as a host, interviewer, and journalist, covering a divers ...
, a former contenstnat, hosted the show whilst Swan was on maternity leave. Season 1 was filmed at Global Television Studios at the Australian Technology Park in
Eveleigh Eveleigh is an inner southern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eveleigh is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney. ...
,
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
. Season 2 moved produced to ABC Studios in Ultimo,
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
. Season 3 moved production interstate to
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, using studio facilities at the ABC in
Elsternwick Elsternwick is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 9 km south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne city centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Glen Eira local government areas of Victoria ...
.


Format

The titular "worms" are yes/no questions about morals, society, responsible parenting, religion, race and various other topics. In each episode, two "worms" are announced and discussed; although this was phased out during the latter half of season 2. By early season 3, there is only one major worm with audience participation and "live"
Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
/ Zeebox Australia feeds. The program features a panel of three public figures, answering questions issues that affect people every day involving political correctness, personal values and the unending capacity to make life complicated. The program is recorded live in front of a
studio audience A studio audience is an audience present for the recording of all or part of a television program or radio program. The primary purpose of the studio audience is to provide applause and/or laughter to the program's soundtrack (as opposed to canne ...
and broadcast on the following night. Most of the show revolves around the two "worms" of the evening. After three celebrity guests are introduced, the first "worm" is introduced and the guests may choose to respond "Yes" or "No". The guests are asked questions about their response to the worm. The focus is on the studio audience and talks to a few of the members of the audience about their experiences and beliefs in relation to the worm. Afterwards there is results of a Roy Morgan poll of the "worm". The following segment called "Moral Minefield" is similar but a shorter version. There are six categories (two per guest) each of which has a question (similar to a "worm", but not referred to as such). After picking one of the categories, the guest must answer truthfully, and see if it agrees with the studio audiences majority vote. The second "worm" is run similar to the first. The show encouraged widespread discussion via
social media Social media are interactive technologies that facilitate the Content creation, creation, information exchange, sharing and news aggregator, aggregation of Content (media), content (such as ideas, interests, and other forms of expression) amongs ...
. Viewers could post views by Tweeting using @CanofwormsTV or a specified hashtag, or posting onto the Can of Worms Facebook page. During the discussion of the "worms," Tweets and Facebook posts were included at the bottom of the screen.


Reception

The show debuted on 4 July 2011 with 930,000 viewers, and was the 11th most-watched show of the evening. By its second series, ''Can of Worms'' was the 18th most-watched program of the evening, averaging a "metro audience" of 572,000. In 2012, ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
'' gave the second series a positive review, writing, "It's a show that continues to evolve," and "it reliably delivers honest opinions." Swan was praised for having, "a wonderfully warm, relaxed screen presence." However, it was noted that "the quality varies depending on the guests, and the topics."


Controversies

During the first series,
TV Tonight TV Tonight is an Australian-based website which features reviews, news and programming information related to television in Australia as well as OzTAM ratings information. The site was started by television critic David Knox in 2007 after li ...
noted ''Can of Worms'' "has laid claim to its uncompromising, potentially controversial television," referencing Australian television presenter Don Burke saying "fuck" on the series' second episode. On the 18 July 2011 episode, former
Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is a professional Australian rules football club based at Princes Park (stadium), Princes Park in Carlton North, Victoria, Carlton North, an inner suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. The c ...
President John Elliott caused controversy by referring to
Indigenous Australians Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...
using the
pejorative A pejorative word, phrase, slur, or derogatory term is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hosti ...
"abos." Elliott apologized, but he and the show faced backlash on social media. TV Tonight pointed out that ''Can of Worms'' was pre-taped and questioned if the slur should have made it to air. During the second series,
conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
political activist group CANdo: Australia's Voice started an online
petition A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer called supplication. In the colloquial sense, a petition is a document addressed to an officia ...
against the show after contestant James Mathison made crude, comedic remarks about conservative broadcaster Alan Jones on the 8 Oct 2012 episode. The petition sought a retraction from Mathison and wanted the show to be canceled. Network Ten declined both requests, saying the network had complied with broadcasting regulations and "carried appropriate warnings about potentially offensive behaviour."


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Can of Worms Network 10 original programming Australian television talk shows Australian non-fiction television series 2011 Australian television series debuts 2013 Australian television series endings Australian English-language television shows Television controversies in Australia