Planet Nerd
Encyclopedia
Planet Nerd is a television comedy variety programme broadcast on Channel 31 Melbourne
. It stars local Melbourne
comedian
s Dan Walmsley
, Paul Francis Verhoeven
, Ben McKenzie, Simon Barber, Jason English-Rees, Andrew Doodson, Lou Pardi, and Rob Lloyd
, and features other local Melbourne talent as well. Segments from the program are uploaded to YouTube
, and there is also an official video podcast
.
Planet Nerd was nominated for Best Comedy Program in the 2008 Antenna Awards
, which celebrate the best of Australian community television, though they did not win the award.
On 17 September 2008, a new interview with Rocket Boom creator, Andrew Baron
, was posted on the Planet Nerd web site. While no other new content has appeared, the original twelve episodes were repeated multiple times by Channel 31, as late as June 2009. It was also been broadcast on Triangle TV
in New Zealand
in 2007.
demographic, Planet Nerd offers a variation on the variety show format, with host Dan Walmsley acting as an anchor, sometimes accompanied by one of the other presenters, throwing to various segments which include documentaries, reviews and sketches. Each week the hosting segments are filmed in a different context, often forming a series of linked sketches themselves.
convention Arcanacon
, RoboGames
, Sony
's Wonder Technology Lab and National ICT Australia
. A similar semi-regular segment is "Geek of the Week", in which a subject is interviewed by Ben McKenzie about their nerdy hobbies or profession.
Footage of John Carnack's presentation at Apple Computer
's 2007 World Wide Developer's Conference was posted by Planet Nerd on YouTube, resulting in over 43,000 views, making the programme the number one watched comedian on YouTube for 12 June 2007.
's Transformers. Rob Lloyd's "One Minute DVD Review" awards scores out of "Seven Samurai", and instead of new releases focusses on classics, including box sets of early Doctor Who
(The Beginning), The Muppet Show
and the films of Harold Lloyd
.
newspaper's Green Guide about Channel 31 programming, in which Marieke Hardy
referred to the show as "magically dorky" and "adorably earnest".
Australian technology web site Gizmodo
reported on a Planet Nerd publicity stunt in which they celebrated the release of the iPhone
by selling an obviously fake over-sized cardboard iPhone (a prop from the first episode) on eBay
.
John Howard
's YouTube video about climate change
policy, a video later featured in a news.com.au article about the difficulty of finding the genuine article in amongst the remixes and parodies. The Planet Nerd video response has become an unofficial focus for debate on the site about Howard's announcement after commenting on the original video was disabled, with around 200 text comments and nearly 8,000 views.
Channel 31 Melbourne
C31 Melbourne, formally known as Channel 31 Melbourne , is a public television station in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-The Channel:Its signal is transmitted from Mt...
. It stars local Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s Dan Walmsley
Dan Walmsley
Dan Walmsley is a Melbourne-based comedian, writer, musician and improvisor. He is also the creator of Planet Nerd, a TV show on Community station C31 Melbourne....
, Paul Francis Verhoeven
Paul Francis Verhoeven
Paul Verhoeven is a Melbourne-based national radio announcer, writer and blogger.He broadcasts weekly for youth station Triple J, as the host of the segment on The Breakfast Show with Tom Ballard and Alex Dyson...
, Ben McKenzie, Simon Barber, Jason English-Rees, Andrew Doodson, Lou Pardi, and Rob Lloyd
Rob Lloyd
Robert Lloyd is a Cheshire-based property developer and published author. He is the Chief Executive of Eatonfield, a property development company. He was educated at Rydal School, a private boarding school in Colwyn Bay. In March 2010 he lodged a bid to purchase Portsmouth Football Club. He is a...
, and features other local Melbourne talent as well. Segments from the program are uploaded to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, and there is also an official video podcast
Video podcast
Video podcast is a term used for the online delivery of video on demand video clip content via Atom or RSS enclosures...
.
Planet Nerd was nominated for Best Comedy Program in the 2008 Antenna Awards
Antenna Awards
The Antenna Awards are an annual award ceremony that recognises outstanding community television programs broadcast on Australia's Channel 31 stations. Since their inception in 2004, the Antennas have been traditionally hosted by C31 Melbourne, and are held at a gala ceremony at Federation Square...
, which celebrate the best of Australian community television, though they did not win the award.
On 17 September 2008, a new interview with Rocket Boom creator, Andrew Baron
Andrew Baron
Andrew Michael Baron is the creator of Rocketboom, Know Your Meme and the video aggregator site, Magma. Baron holds a BA in Philosophy from Bates College and an MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design. Baron has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Parsons and was...
, was posted on the Planet Nerd web site. While no other new content has appeared, the original twelve episodes were repeated multiple times by Channel 31, as late as June 2009. It was also been broadcast on Triangle TV
Triangle TV
Triangle Television and Stratos Television are public service television stations based in Auckland, New Zealand. Triangle broadcasts across Auckland on analogue UHF, while Stratos broadcasts around New Zealand on the Freeview, Sky TV and TelstraClear cable digital platforms...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 2007.
Content
Aimed at the geekGeek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
demographic, Planet Nerd offers a variation on the variety show format, with host Dan Walmsley acting as an anchor, sometimes accompanied by one of the other presenters, throwing to various segments which include documentaries, reviews and sketches. Each week the hosting segments are filmed in a different context, often forming a series of linked sketches themselves.
Documentaries
Aside from the overt comedic content, Planet Nerd also features original, semi-serious documentary segments which explore and celebrate various facets of geek culture. Subjects have included the roleplaying and wargamingWargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
convention Arcanacon
Arcanacon
Arcanacon is a role-playing convention held in Melbourne annually. It is one of several Role-playing conventions of Victoria, Australia run through the year.Arcanacon is the longest running role-playing convention in Victoria....
, RoboGames
RoboGames
RoboGames is an annual robot contest held in San Mateo, California. The most recent RoboGames was held April 15–17, 2011.RoboGames is the world's largest open robot competition...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's Wonder Technology Lab and National ICT Australia
National ICT Australia
NICTA is Australia's Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence. NICTA's primary goal is to pursue high-impact research excellence and, through application of this research, to create national benefit and wealth for Australia...
. A similar semi-regular segment is "Geek of the Week", in which a subject is interviewed by Ben McKenzie about their nerdy hobbies or profession.
Footage of John Carnack's presentation at Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
's 2007 World Wide Developer's Conference was posted by Planet Nerd on YouTube, resulting in over 43,000 views, making the programme the number one watched comedian on YouTube for 12 June 2007.
Reviews
Paul Verhoeven reviews recent films in an anarchic sketch-based format, concentrating on genre films like Michael BayMichael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
's Transformers. Rob Lloyd's "One Minute DVD Review" awards scores out of "Seven Samurai", and instead of new releases focusses on classics, including box sets of early Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
(The Beginning), The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
and the films of Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. was an American film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies....
.
Response
Planet Nerd has gathered some positive press, most notably in an article in the The AgeThe Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper's Green Guide about Channel 31 programming, in which Marieke Hardy
Marieke Hardy
Marieke Josephine Hardy is an Australian writer, broadcaster, television producer and former television actress.-Early life and family:...
referred to the show as "magically dorky" and "adorably earnest".
Australian technology web site Gizmodo
Gizmodo
Gizmodo is a technology weblog about consumer electronics. It is part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton and is known for its up-to-date coverage of the technology industry, along with topics as broad as design; architecture; space and science....
reported on a Planet Nerd publicity stunt in which they celebrated the release of the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
by selling an obviously fake over-sized cardboard iPhone (a prop from the first episode) on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
John Howard YouTube response
Dan Walmsley posted a Planet Nerd response, the first video response (as opposed to a text comment), to Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's YouTube video about climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
policy, a video later featured in a news.com.au article about the difficulty of finding the genuine article in amongst the remixes and parodies. The Planet Nerd video response has become an unofficial focus for debate on the site about Howard's announcement after commenting on the original video was disabled, with around 200 text comments and nearly 8,000 views.