The Shak at Home


The Shak at Home is an Australian children's television program that was broadcast on the Nine Network from 2009 to 2010. The cast for series one included Drew Jarvis, Beau Walker, Jacqueline Duncan and Kendal Nagorcka, with Libby Campbell joining the cast from series two onwards, portraying characters Curio, Nitro, Eco, Picasso and Willow respectively. Throughout each episode, viewer questions, queries, dares and challenges are answered in an entertaining and educational manner along with intersecting storylines.

Overview

Series One

Curio, Nitro and Picasso, former television presenters of the series The Shak, move in together to a sharehouse which is owned by Aunt Agnes and Aunt Beatrice. They deal with everyday issues. Picasso leaves the house to attend the New York Academy Of Performing Arts, which leaves Curio and Nitro, the only people living together in the house.

Series Two

After Nitro and Curio feel lonely they search for a replacement, later finding Willow. The house now back to its original number of house-mates, once again deal with every day issues. Months into living in the house, Karl Stimpson marries Aunt Agnes, in order to evict the house-mates, however after his plans fail, he zaps Curio, sending him back in the past, leaving Nitro and Willow the only ones living in the share house.

Production

The series was announced as a revamp in late 2008, however it is actually classified as a spinoff/sequel to the original show The Shak. The show features new theme song created by the same composer of the original shows theme which maintains the same 'surfie' melody but with a more prominent acoustic guitar, thus making the song have a more contemporary, rock feel. The opening segment has changed to a montage of Shaksters. The closing credits are now accompanied by bloopers accumulated throughout the show's shooting of its various segments and storylines.
After Picasso left the show, a search for a Shakster competition was launched in which they cast Libby Campbell as Willow.
the first series premiered on 20 April 2009 and finished airing on 17 July 2009. The second series premiered on 31 April 2009, airing each Monday in an afternoon time-slot. The series then shifted to airing every weekday at the same time-slot, until the final episode aired on 20 April 2010.

Controversy

On 26 May 2010, The Shak was announced as having breached the children’s television standards for endorsing a product by 'The Australian Communications and Media Authority'. The claim was made when Kendal, Drew and Beau were seen riding scooters with close up scenes during a prize segment. On the entertainment news site 'TV Tonight' comments on the story were mostly negative and damming to the ACMA.

Withdrawal

On 13 January 2010, the Nine Network cancelled the show, claiming that it was an "economic decision".

Segments

Series 1: 2009

Series 2: 2009-2010