SportsCafe
Encyclopedia
SportsCafe is a New Zealand Sports TV show. The shows original run was hosted by Lana Coc-Kroft
, Marc Ellis
, Leigh Hart, Graeme Hill
, Ric Salizzo and reporter Eva Evguenieva. In 2001 Leigh Hart was added to the cast under his persona of 'That Guy'.
The show first screened on New Zealand television in 1996 on Sky Sport, however those without a Sky
subscription could view Sports Cafe without a UHF Sky Decoder by tuning their TV to the Sky Sport UHF channel, as the signal was not scrambled during this show. In 2002, Sports Cafe moved to Sky 1 and in 2003 to TV2.
It featured interviews with current sports stars and comical skits about sports.
Each episode lasted 60 minutes, including commercials.
The show was pulled at the end of 2005 after the 'Celebrity Drug Scandal' but it is understood that this was not the reason for the show going off the air. The grand final screened November 23rd, 2005 and at the end of the show the presenters actually destroyed the set on the air, as The Exponents
played their hit song "Why Does Love Do This To Me?".
On Sunday June 22nd, 2008 it was announced in the Herald on Sunday newspaper that SportsCafe would return for a final season, to begin on July 9th, 2008. The show featured most of the original cast, and aired on Wednesday nights at 9.30pm on TV2.
In 2011, SportsCafe returned for 3 exclusive online episodes, in order to celebrate the fact that New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup later in the year. 3 shows were confirmed, and broadcast on July 8th, 15th and 22nd. Recordings of these episodes can be found on You Tube. It is unknown whether any further episodes will be made.
Lana Coc-Kroft
Lana Coc-Kroft is a New Zealand television and radio personality, and was Miss Universe New Zealand in 1988.Coc-Kroft began her television career appearing in Sale of the Century, and in 1991 on the New Zealand version of Wheel of Fortune as the co-host with Phillip Leishman, later Simon Barnett....
, Marc Ellis
Marc Ellis (rugby)
Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis is a New Zealand businessman and television presenter, and former rugby league and rugby union player. A graduate of the University of Otago, his primary business interests are in Charlie's, a juice company...
, Leigh Hart, Graeme Hill
Graeme Hill
Graeme Hill is a New Zealand broadcaster. He has been a weekend and fill-in host for Radio Live since the station's inception, and currently hosts a 10:00 to 14:00 talk show with a focus on music and science. He was previously an announcer on Radio Sport...
, Ric Salizzo and reporter Eva Evguenieva. In 2001 Leigh Hart was added to the cast under his persona of 'That Guy'.
The show first screened on New Zealand television in 1996 on Sky Sport, however those without a Sky
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
subscription could view Sports Cafe without a UHF Sky Decoder by tuning their TV to the Sky Sport UHF channel, as the signal was not scrambled during this show. In 2002, Sports Cafe moved to Sky 1 and in 2003 to TV2.
It featured interviews with current sports stars and comical skits about sports.
Each episode lasted 60 minutes, including commercials.
The show was pulled at the end of 2005 after the 'Celebrity Drug Scandal' but it is understood that this was not the reason for the show going off the air. The grand final screened November 23rd, 2005 and at the end of the show the presenters actually destroyed the set on the air, as The Exponents
The Exponents
The Exponents are a New Zealand rock group led by vocalist and songwriter Jordan Luck.Their major hits, including "Why Does Love Do This To Me", "Who Loves Who The Most", "Victoria", "I'll Say Goodbye " and "Whatever Happened To Tracey" have been taken up by successive generations of younger New...
played their hit song "Why Does Love Do This To Me?".
On Sunday June 22nd, 2008 it was announced in the Herald on Sunday newspaper that SportsCafe would return for a final season, to begin on July 9th, 2008. The show featured most of the original cast, and aired on Wednesday nights at 9.30pm on TV2.
In 2011, SportsCafe returned for 3 exclusive online episodes, in order to celebrate the fact that New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup later in the year. 3 shows were confirmed, and broadcast on July 8th, 15th and 22nd. Recordings of these episodes can be found on You Tube. It is unknown whether any further episodes will be made.