Examine individual changes

'{{other uses|Roller coaster (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2011}} {{infobox television | | show_name = Rollercoaster | image = [[File:Rollercoaster Logo.gif]] | caption = Logo | format = Comedy-Wrapper-Kids | runtime = <br> 60 mins (2005-2009) <br> 120 mins (late 2009-2010) | creator = | development = | producer = | executive_producer = | starring = Elliot Spencer <br> Ruben Meerman | country = [[Australia]] | network = [[ABC1]] <br> [[ABC3]] | first_aired = 25 February 2005 | last_aired = 29 January 2010 | num_seasons = 5 | num_episodes = 1000 (as of 7 August 2009) | list_episodes = | website = }} '''''RollerCoaster''''' is a children's television show broadcasted from 2005 to 2010 on the [[Australian Broadcasting Company]] in [[Australia]]. Hosted by Elliot Spencer, it was aimed at an older audience than [[ABC Kids (Australia)|ABC For Kids]]. RollerCoaster was a "wrapper" show, usually incorporating three to five externally produced animated programs (formerly a mix of animated and live action shows) of varying lengths, which were interspersed with locally-produced studio or location segments hosted by Spencer. It was aimed at older children and young teenaged audiences. The host, [[Children's programming on ABC Television|Elliot Spencer]] was usually the sole presenter, dressing up as characters for short sketches sometimes; on occasion members of ''Rollercoaster'' [[television crew|crew]] also appear in gags and sketches. The show also included regular features jointly presented by Spencer and [[National Science Week|Ruben Meerman]], "The Surfing Scientist".<ref name="2009Format">{{cite web |url=http://new.throng.com.au/rollercoaster/rollercoasters-1000th-episode |title=RollerCoaster's 1000th Episode |work= |publisher=Throng Australia |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> ''Rollercoaster'' followed a well-established format for Australian children's television. In order to comply with government-mandated Australian content regulations, local broadcasters have traditionally engaged a local presenter or team of presenters to "wrap" (or "top and tail") pre-produced segments such as cartoons. These shows offer a relatively inexpensive means of filling children's viewing times on Australian TV—the wrapper segments are generally made with a small crew and feature minimal production values; in the early days of Australian television the wrapper segments were performed live, although today they are now usually pre-recorded. The outsourced content is often purchased at relatively low cost, and for many decades Australian networks have been offered package-deal rates by American production houses and networks, as an incentive to purchase bundled content. The 'outsourced' segments of the show were most commonly short animated series. Many of these programs are produced outside Australia with most sourced from other English-speaking countries, chiefly the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. RollerCoaster alternates these short programs (e.g. ''[[Shaun the Sheep]]'', ''[[The Mr. Men Show]]'') with longer animated or live-action children's programs in a variety of genres, such as ''[[Roman Mysteries]]'', ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)|Wolverine and the X-Men]]'', ''[[Naturally Sadie]]'', ''[[Young Dracula]]'', and more recently, the children's [[reality TV|reality]] competition ''[[Escape from Scorpion Island]]''. Such programs are usually produced for American or Canadian commercial or cable TV and are structured to allow the insertion of advertising breaks, so they have a slightly shorter running time on ''Rollercoaster'', since the ABC carries no external advertising. The locally-produced portions of RollerCoaster featuring Spencer featured a number of recurring segments including: "Fetch", ""Feed Me", "Now Poll", "MEE News", and "The Surfing Scientist" and "Professor Slo and Doctor Mo". Many of these segments included elements of audience participation or contributions via email or the RollerCoaster website's moderated chat rooms and message boards. On 30 January 2010, Elliot Spencer announced he was leaving the show after five years of hosting, the ABC decided not to replace him and end the show completely. The show has been succeeded by [[Studio 3 (TV series)|Studio 3]].<ref name="ByeElliotByeRollercoaster">{{cite web |url=http://new.throng.com.au/rollercoaster/elliot-spencer-resigns-abcs-rollercoaster-after-five-years |title=Elliot Spencer Resigns From ABC's RollerCoaster After Five Years |work= |publisher=Throng Australia |date=7 December 2009 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> == History == === Beginning === The series began in February 2005, filling a slot once occupied by ''The Afternoon Show''. It broke over the Australian summer school holidays and was replaced by a special Christmas line-up. During the holidays there were generally three or four popular shows repeated every day, rather than interchanging every day. Sometimes instead of the usual three or four shows a 'special' would be shown. These included 'double episodes' of ''[[Degrassi: The Next Generation]]'' and the ''[[Edgar and Ellen]]'' Specials. ''[[Wallace and Gromit]]'' stop motion animation movies were shown as well. Each year, the last week of Rollercoaster would air Christmas related programmes or holiday themed episodes of series which have aired on the show previously. === Broadcast === Graphics for the studio segments are produced using [[Chroma Key]] or [[green screen]] technology. This means many gags, information segments, and backgrounds, can be used and changed quickly. Props are kept to a minimum, like in the Feed Me segment where a preparation table and mixing bowl are used, or in Chatter and other segments where a retro style yellow table appears, now a Rollercoaster signed table with green and black stripes on the front and a storage on the back. The theme tune "([[Rollercoaster (song)|Rollercoaster]])" was performed and co-written by former ABC-TV ''[[Creature Features]]'' presenter Nick Hardcastle. The full-length version was played in 2005 along with a video clip featuring Hardcastle and a man dressed as a rabbit. The opening graphics were computer generated and feature an interdimensional trip through a collection of images and 3D graphics, culminating by racing through a portal into a white universe with a complex 3D image of a space station style city with roads, skyscrapers, cars, butterflies and robots before the ''Rollercoaster'' logo appears from outside the screen to form itself in front of the base of the floating city. This theme has remained unchanged since 2005 however though cut-down in length nearing the shows end. === Rewind === From Monday 19 June 2006, ''Rollercoaster Rewind'' began on [[ABC1]] in early weekday mornings, the show repeated the programming from four months earlier in reverse order originally until from 9 July 2007, where this was changed so that the programmes were aired in the correct order, though later again reverted to reverse order. Because ''Rollercoaster Rewind'' runs in the non-ratings season and the regular show does not, in early 2008 ''Rollercoaster Rewind'' caught up to the current broadcast of Rollercoaster, resulting in the ABC replacing their early morning programming to other series until 'Rewind' resumed from where it left off. On Friday 21 December 2007, the last show of ''RollerCoaster'' aired for that year, returning on Monday 25 February 2008 for its first show of the new year. === Revamp === From 2 March 2009, the show moved from its previous time slot of 5:00–6:00 p.m. [[AEST]], and moved down an hour earlier, from 4:00–5:00 p.m.. The presentation also changed to filming in a real set in contrast to previously, where they would film in front of a green screen with closed captions. It remained a wrapper program, and the segments remained the same, however the programs were no longer interchanged, and each day featured the same line-up of shows. Another change was that it only included animation now, with live action shows not 'boxed' by the Rollercoaster format and were seen following in the 5pm-6pm slot.<ref name="2009Format" /> === ABC3 === From 7 December 2009, Rollercoaster began airing on the then recently launched children-orientated multi-channel [[ABC3]] following the original screening on its sister channel [[ABC1]] from 4-5pm. A ''Rollercoaster Rewind'' carbon copy version of the show entitled ''Rollercoaster on Vacation'' aired on ABC3 during the 09-10 Australian school holidays.<ref name="RollercoasterJoinsABC3Family">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/10/meet-the-faces-of-abc3.html |title=Meet the faces of ABC3 |work=David Knox |publisher=TV-Tonight.com.au |date=23 October 2009 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> === Ending === At the end of the Friday 29 January 2010 edition, Spencer announced that he was leaving the show and thanked viewers for his five years as presenter and writer of the series. By the same date, the main ''Rollercoaster'' URL was redirecting visitors to the new [[ABC3]] website; some pages including "Elliot's Blah" still function, though now carry the disclaimer that they are no long being updated as well as a link redirecting visitors to a new Rollercoaster section in the ABC3 site. Elliot sang a song entitled [[For the First Time (The Script song)|Bye for now, forever!]] and explained "it was a good five years".<ref name="ByeElliotByeRollercoaster" /><ref name="RollercoasterEnds">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/11/can-we-help-dumps-studio-format-for-2010.html |title=Can We Help? dumps studio format for 2010 |work=David Knox |publisher=TV-Tonight.com.au |date=25 November 2009 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="ElliotendsRollercoaster">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/12/elliot-ends-the-rollercoaster-ride.html |title=Elliot ends the Rollercoaster ride |work=David Knox |publisher=TV-Tonight.com.au |date=8 December 2009 |accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref> == Segments and features == ''Rollercoaster'' sometimes show special weeks either to celebrate an event or an incoming show, like Roma Week, which centres on the incoming show of ''[[Roman Mysteries]]'' in 2007; Christmas week, celebrating Christmas by showing programs relating to Christmas; magic week, celebrating magic by showing a magic trick done by a professional every episode. Theme weeks have also included Feed Me Week with Feed me being presented every day, also done in a similar way with Elliot and the Surfing Scientist on National Science Week. There have also been Sports Week, with Elliot finding out about different sports; and a character week when Elliot dressed up as characters that he has dressed up as before. In 2009 there are themed days as well as weeks. As well as special segments, special weeks and days are sometimes scheduled according to a general theme. In 2007 'All New Tuesday' made all shows shown on Tuesdays new, and on Thursday the theme was 'Rollertoons Day'. In 2008 'All New Tuesday' has been replaced by a new 'Rollertoons Day', Thursday shows are all Australian-made, Friday shows all have a "creepy" theme, and Mondays have been set aside purely for comedy shows as 'LOL Day'. This is not used anymore in 2009 since the same shows are on each day of the week. One time, Elvis Presley ( acted out by Elliot Spencer) was on Rollercoaster on Wednesday of June in 2009 and included a Whizz Quiz about Elvis and a NOW Excuses about Elvis' CD. '''Regular segments include:''' *''''Feed Me'''', a cooking segment where Elliot attempts to cook and then try a recipe sent in by an audience member (on Wednesday) *''''Feedback'''', when viewers send in letters to Elliot (on Tuesday and Thursday) *''''Chatter'''', Elliot reads chats that had been sent on the website on a particular topic. He also reads jokes and acronyms (on Tuesday, sometimes) *''''LOCIW'''' Elliot reads acronyms sent in by viewers (on Monday) *''''Fetch'''', a segment where people send in their made-up words with their definitions. Elliot tries to put all these words into a weird anecdote (on Friday). *''''What Career am I?'''', where Elliot gives clues and then reveals a career. He introduces someone that has that career and gives them a challenge. Similar segments called "Where in the world am I?" and "Which Olympian am I? Past or present" have also featured in the past. Now they no more showing it. *''''Elliot and The Surfing Scientist'''', where Elliot and Ruben Meerman do simple experiments (on Tuesday). *''''El Lamo World Records'''', where viewers send in record attempts for Elliot to 'attempt but not necessarily complete' one or even two at once of these on air (on Tuesday, sometimes). *''''Roller Tale'''', where viewers send in stories which must be about Elliot's fictional alter egos Tapioca Toe Maker and Pocket Waffle. These are acted out by Elliot (on Friday, now the story finished). *''''Sponge Brain Quiz'''', a true or false quiz, shown before ''Naturally Sadie'' with nature-themed questions. In the past it has been about ''Roman Mysteries'' and ''Dinosapien'' and themed to these shows. Since Naturally Sadie ended, the Quiz is still present in the same time slot. In 2009 it was renamed Whizz Quiz and was not nature-based. (on Wednesday). *''''MEE News'''', Eliot dresses up as Michael Eion Everyringtone and presents a news bulletin. (on Friday) *''''NOW'''', Elliot presents the audience a poll, hypothetical situation or question on one day. Viewers vote on the show's website and the results are featured on the next day's episode. (Monday/Tuesday for polls, Tuesday/Wednesday for HPS, Wednesday/Thursday for questions) *''''Replay Bits That we've played already'''', where viewers request segments previously aired to be replayed (on Thursday). *''''Professor Slo and Doctor Mo'''', where Elliot and Ruben Meerman dress up as the segment's namesakes and show a science experiment in slo mo (on Thursday). *''''Triple Triple Triplets'''', 'The Kransky Sisters', where music critics review an album or explain it (on Monday, sometimes) *''''Jaxon's 5'''', a play on the [[Jackson 5]], this features a food corrospondent explain a meal's top five highlights (on Wednesday, sometimes). * Booked out, a book review performed by Geoff Hutchison's son Hugh (unknown day). *''''Jade's Movies'''', a play when a movie corrospondent explain a movie, past or present, and gives how many reviews out of 5 is the movie (on Monday, sometimes). *''''T5'''', Elliot reads tongue-twisters (On Friday, sometimes). *''''Talk To Me'''', Elliot tells a question from the viewers and answer it. *''''Best of ABC3'''', Elliot to be Rollercoaster from the viewers and answer it from Rollercoaster in ABC3. See a [[ABC3]]. Other segments are used only once or rarely, as in Your Jokes, a division of Chatter, where viewers send in jokes. It is sometimes used as fill-ins for updated segments, such as when the Now technology was being "re-now-ified". == Website == "Rollercoaster" is also the name of the show's website, which was created a few years previous to the show itself and features the phrase 'Rhymes with toaster'. The website itself was advertised as 'Rollercoaster' on the current timeslot taken by the show for a couple of years before the show began. The website features articles on shows and games and other entertainment related to shows or the general youth genre. This site is also where polls, voting, feedback and other interactive content could be submitted. == See also == *[[Children's programming on ABC Television]] == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.abc.net.au/rollercoaster/ Rollercoaster website] * [http://www.abc.net.au/abc3/rollercoaster ABC3 Rollercoaster Website] {{Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rollercoaster (Tv Show)}} [[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation shows]] [[Category:Australian children's television series]] [[Category:Television shows set in Australia]] [[Category:2005 Australian television series debuts]] [[Category:2010 Australian television series endings]] [[Category:2000s Australian television series]] [[Category:2010s Australian television series]] those shows mau include : my ass in ur ass and dicks sucking dicks'