Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television
Encyclopedia
Back Of The Y previously known as Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television is a cult New Zealand TV series, created by Chris Stapp
and Matt Heath
. Featuring such memorable characters as Randy Campbell, Danny Parker, Dick Johansonson, Cindy Cockburn and Spanners Watson, the show glorified stunts and the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. The Hollywood special episode featured Randy Campbell jumping off the back of the Y in the famous Hollywood sign.
Back of the Y is centred around a mock live TV show, featuring segments such as Randy Campbell's Extreme Stunts and "Cunstables". The show was low budget and apparently filmed with amateur equipment and edited on home computers. The show description at the start of the first episode references one of the cast members and sets the agenda for the rest of the show "Phil Bruff had a dream
. To make a New Zealand
TV show that wasn't complete shit. He failed... Miserably!!!"
The show consisted of 7 episodes of Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television and The Back Of The Y Goes To Hollywood Special.
In addition to being screened upon New Zealand television, the show has been given airtime on MTV2
in the UK and on Channel V in Australia. They are also responsible for 'That Cunt Rabbit' (an animated TV show for MTV UK), Heck (animated show also for MTV UK) and Balls Of Steel
(for Channel 4 UK).
Back Of The Y features the New Zealand band "Deja Voodoo
", originally a fictional house band. After Back Of The Y Stapp and Heath developed Deja Voodoo into a proper band.
In 2005 Back Of The Y released a TV special, "Bogan's
Heroes" a comedy based on life in prison.
In 2007, Stapp and Heath released The Devil Dared Me To
(The Randy Campbell Story). The film is backed by Headstrong Productions, in association with the New Zealand Film Commission
. The film tells the story of Randy Campbell, Back of the Y's Stuntman character, and how he rose to become "the worlds greatest stuntman". The film stars Chris Stapp as the titular Randy Campbell, and Matt Heath as Dick Johansonson as well as an all-star New Zealand cast.
Back of the Y begun shooting a second series from Monday 24th Sept 2007 - Friday 28th Sept 2007 at Henderson Valley Studios
in Auckland
.
The second series of Back of the Y was aired on C4 in New Zealand from 26 May 2008. Series 3 is made up of 6 episodes and a making of special.
They've also had a series in 2010 called "Bogan Family Films" which has already screened earlier in the year.
parody. Set in a post apocalyptic future where all women have been destroyed. The men fight over ripped up porno mags and vaseline. All is settled following the tragic explosion in the lubridome.
Bottlestore Galactica: Battlestar Galactica
parody. Space pilots Steineken and Heinlager get drunk and fly around the galaxy. Most episodes centred around drinking copious amounts of alcohol and the viewer observing the effects.
Chris Stapp
Chris Stapp is a New Zealand actor/director/musician best known for his role of stuntman Randy Cambell in Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television. He and Back of the Y co-star Matt Heath appear in season 6 of Eating Media Lunch. In 2005 the pair also hosted a weekly radio show Thursday Drive on bFM...
and Matt Heath
Matt Heath
Matthew Philip "Matt" Heath is an English footballer, playing for Colchester United. His position is centre half.-Leicester City:...
. Featuring such memorable characters as Randy Campbell, Danny Parker, Dick Johansonson, Cindy Cockburn and Spanners Watson, the show glorified stunts and the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. The Hollywood special episode featured Randy Campbell jumping off the back of the Y in the famous Hollywood sign.
Back of the Y is centred around a mock live TV show, featuring segments such as Randy Campbell's Extreme Stunts and "Cunstables". The show was low budget and apparently filmed with amateur equipment and edited on home computers. The show description at the start of the first episode references one of the cast members and sets the agenda for the rest of the show "Phil Bruff had a dream
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
. To make a 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...
TV show that wasn't complete shit. He failed... Miserably!!!"
The show consisted of 7 episodes of Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television and The Back Of The Y Goes To Hollywood Special.
In addition to being screened upon New Zealand television, the show has been given airtime on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
in the UK and on Channel V in Australia. They are also responsible for 'That Cunt Rabbit' (an animated TV show for MTV UK), Heck (animated show also for MTV UK) and Balls Of Steel
Balls of Steel (TV series)
Balls of Steel is a Channel 4 comedy series developed by Objective Productions and hosted by Mark Dolan, his special guests would perform stunts and hold their nerve during hidden camera set-ups in the presence of celebrities or the British public....
(for Channel 4 UK).
Back Of The Y features the New Zealand band "Deja Voodoo
Deja Voodoo (New Zealand band)
-History:Deja Voodoo began as the fictional house band in the New Zealand television show Back Of The Y Masterpiece Television, which featured them in 15 seconds of mimed rock n' roll at the start of each episode. This led to a nationwide tour, which featured a finale where the band members smashed...
", originally a fictional house band. After Back Of The Y Stapp and Heath developed Deja Voodoo into a proper band.
In 2005 Back Of The Y released a TV special, "Bogan's
Bogan
The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
Heroes" a comedy based on life in prison.
In 2007, Stapp and Heath released The Devil Dared Me To
The Devil Dared Me To
The Devil Dared Me To is a New Zealand film written by and starring Chris Stapp and Matt Heath. The film revolves around a fictional stuntman, Randy Cambell, who aspires to be the greatest living New Zealander in that profession...
(The Randy Campbell Story). The film is backed by Headstrong Productions, in association with the New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand Film Commission
The New Zealand Film Commission is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films...
. The film tells the story of Randy Campbell, Back of the Y's Stuntman character, and how he rose to become "the worlds greatest stuntman". The film stars Chris Stapp as the titular Randy Campbell, and Matt Heath as Dick Johansonson as well as an all-star New Zealand cast.
Back of the Y begun shooting a second series from Monday 24th Sept 2007 - Friday 28th Sept 2007 at Henderson Valley Studios
Henderson Valley Studios
Henderson Valley Studios is New Zealand's largest film studio complex, located in Henderson, West Auckland. Entrances to the complex are on on Hickory Ave, Henderson Valley Road and Rabone Street, Henderson....
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
.
The second series of Back of the Y was aired on C4 in New Zealand from 26 May 2008. Series 3 is made up of 6 episodes and a making of special.
They've also had a series in 2010 called "Bogan Family Films" which has already screened earlier in the year.
Short films
Vaseline Warriors: Mad MaxMad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
parody. Set in a post apocalyptic future where all women have been destroyed. The men fight over ripped up porno mags and vaseline. All is settled following the tragic explosion in the lubridome.
Bottlestore Galactica: Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
parody. Space pilots Steineken and Heinlager get drunk and fly around the galaxy. Most episodes centred around drinking copious amounts of alcohol and the viewer observing the effects.
Releases
- Complete Artswholes - A video cassette no longer available to the general public, this video contains every single second of Artswhole to ever be aired on the television show Space, including an episode that was banned.
- Back of the Y 2002 Annual - A book containing jokes, stories, pictures and comics. Only 10 copies ever made.
- Back of the Y Masterpiece Television Series One (VHS) - A video containing the six episodes that played on Channel 2 in 2001.
- Back of the Y: the Two DVDs - Contains all seven episodes of series one, and a number of bonus features.
- Back of the Y movie: The Devil Dared Me To, Released on October 11 2007.
External links
- Official "Back Of The Y" website
- The Devil Dared Me To movie site
- "Back of the Y" C4 website
- "Back Of The Y" videos at NZ On ScreenNZ On ScreenNZ On Screen is an online showcase of archival New Zealand television and film. The website is fully funded by NZ On Air and provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide authoritative background information.The site...