The Scoop: Matty Acton, Mark Wahlberg and Pink make entertainment headlines
From the reality of radio to celebs out and about, get all of this week’s entertainment news with The Scoop.
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From the reality of radio to celebs out and about, get all of this week’s entertainment news with The Scoop.
CREEK TO COAST: HOW EMBARRASSING
As Queensland TV fave Creek to Coast gets ready to celebrate its 25th anniversary this month, Scoop thought it was time for its presenters to confess to what really happens off camera.
Scott Hillier recalls a particularly painful- but rather amusing - fishing incident in Gladstone in 2016.
“I’d just caught a little mackerel who didn’t want a piece of us” he recalled.
“I held him up for a close-up and he decided to go crazy... hitting yours truly repeatedly in an area us gents know isn’t pleasant. The cameraman found it hilarious, the producer was in stitches. Me, not so much.”
Kimberley Busteed’s most embarrassing moment also occurred during a fishing trip.
“It was a very choppy day and we were in the middle of a piece-to-camera with our rods in the water when I had to vomit mid-sentence,” she revealed.
“Scott didn’t know where to look. It was windy, and I wasn’t cute, but a Mahi Mahi had hit my line so I had to wipe the vomit from my face, tears from my eyes and soldier on. Not pretty.”
It seems Scoop stumbled upon a common theme, with Olivia Degn also sharing a horror seasickness tale.
“At the start of my Creek to Coast career, I didn’t want anyone to know I suffered from sea sickness,” she said.
“On a particularly rough day offshore, I delivered a piece to camera fighting a vomit. I calmly took myself down to the bathroom onboard the boat, subtly threw my lunch up and returned to the top deck ready to deliver my next line thinking no one noticed.
“I, of course, forgot to take into consideration the mic attached to my chest. Our cameraman heard every bit of my time below deck. Not as subtle as I had hoped.
Gary Howard shared his scariest moment - simulating a rescue off the Gold Coast.
“Perhaps my scariest moment was when I had to jump into the water off the Gold Coast hanging onto nothing but an epirb (emergency positioning-indicating radio beacon) as I waited for the water police and coast guard to come and drag me out to simulate a rescue,” he revealed.
“I have a fear of sharks and dangling in the water was not a pleasant experience for me.”
Liz Cantor’s most memorable mishap happened while sand tobogganing on Stradbroke Island.
“Creek to Coast certainly keeps you humble. I’ve had a few spills in my time,” she said.
“But one I do remember - thankfully - was when we were sand tobogganing on Stradbroke Island.
“A face plant into the dunes wasn’t my finest moment... but hey, it looked great on telly.”
Creek to Coast will air a special 25th anniversary celebration episode on August 10 at 5.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
MATTY REVEALS REALITIES OF RADIO
B105 is dominating the Brisbane radio ratings charts at the moment, but that doesn’t mean it’s hosts are raking in the big bucks. At least that’s according to breakfast co-host Matty Acton.
While the job might seem glamorous to the public, Acton claims the off-air grind of the job is very real and that he is definitely not rolling in cash.
“I think people hear about radio hosts like Kyle and Jackie O who are getting paid $1m a year and think it’s the same for everyone – which it definitely is not,” Acton said.
Speaking to Scoop from his 10-year-old Holden Captiva, Acton highlighted the stark contrast between the mega salaries of some of his interstate counterparts and the more modest earnings of many in the industry.
“We’re not struggling, but I wouldn’t call myself rich. I am rich in love, though,” he added with a laugh.
The early mornings are another significant challenge.
“People always talk about the early starts, and they do suck,” Acton admitted.
Acton says his day doesn’t end at 9am when the show wraps up.
“People often think we work just three hours a day and then relax – and that’s how you’d like to think it would go” he said.
But post-show meetings, constant brainstorming for content, and managing a buzzing group chat are all part of the job.
“You’re on 24/7, always available to be contacted,” he explained.
“We’re on at six to nine, and then after the show, we have meetings and we might record anything that needs to be recorded, and then once we get out from that, although we’re not in the office, the group chats pinging away all day,
“The whole day you’re mining, trying to look for content to come to the show.”
The pressure to perform is another aspect often overlooked by the public, Acton says.
“There’s always pressure, whether you’re at the top or bottom,” he said.
WAHLBERG TAKES ON THE GC
Mark Wahlberg has been out and about on the Goldy in a big way since arriving last month to make his latest movie.
The Hollywood A-lister is on the Glitter Strip filming comedy flick Balls Up and has been shacking up in style at the Langham Hotel in Surfers Paradise, reportedly in the $4500-a-night Chairman’s Suite.
He’s been spotted indulging his love of golf at local courses including Royal Pines, hanging out at the Surfers franchise of his eponymous burger chain Wahlburgers and visiting various Coast churches to worship (he’s a devout Catholic).
Wahlberg has also been spruiking his sport clothing label Municipal, with backdrops including The Langham and the famous Surfers skyline.
Balls Up is forecast to inject almost $65m into the local economy and employ 250 local cast and crew members.
PARKO’S ICONIC SURF PHOTO REVISITED
This week’s so-called best-ever Olympics photo would have brought back fond memories for Gold Coast surf star Joel Parkinson.
The incredible pic of Brazilian Gabriel Medina and his board seemingly floating above the water after flicking off a ferocious wave during the Paris Olympics surfing event in Tahiti went viral, attracting millions of page views.
But 25 years before Medina melted the internet, a similarly spectacular photo of Parkinson – running in the air after winning the 1999 Billabong Pro world championship tour event as a teenage wildcard – wowed the masses.
“Parko”, now 43, went on to win the 2012 world title before parlaying his surf earnings into a successful business career.
CARL’S JR SALES SURGE IN QLD AMID CLOSURES
Sales at the Queensland stores of burger chain Carl’s Jr have surged, following the shock announcement on Monday that 20 of its Victorian eateries would close.
CJ’s QSR Group, which is the corporate entity that rules Carl’s Jr’s brand in Australia, appointed KPMG as voluntary administrators last week, with the firm shutting 20 Victorian branches immediately.
All 13 Queensland stores remain open and unaffected, however, as they are independently owned and operated by third party sub-licensees.
But as customers feared Sunshine State eateries would also be closed, they rallied behind the fast food brand, causing a dramatic spike in sales.
Carmen Jennar, operations manager at QSR Foods, the franchise holder for multiple Carl’s Jr restaurants in Queensland, expressed gratitude for the support.
“We’ve seen a spike in sales and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our supporters who are instrumental in preserving 450 (Queensland) jobs,” she said.
GAULTIER, GRACE COLLAB
For Cairns-based artist Grace Lillian Lee, the revered French designer Jean Paul Gaultier isn’t just a hero but now a mentor and friend.
“Grace’s technique is like a sculpture – she’s beautiful at what she does,” Gaultier said of Lee’s unique weaving technique that has seen her become one of Australia’s most buzzed-about First Nations creatives.
Now, Lee’s designs will appear in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show, a stage show that documents Gaultier’s illustrious career, running at the Brisbane Festival from August 30.
Lee even spent time with Gaultier, visiting his personal archive in Paris earlier this year. “The fact that I’m a Far North Queensland Cairns girl, going to Paris to meet Jean Paul … for me, that’s a dream come true,” she says.
P!NK POPS UP AT ESTIMATES
In an entertaining twist at this week’s budget estimates hearing, LNP Education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan channeled his inner pop star, weaving P!nk lyrics into his grilling of Education Minister Di Farmer.
With subtle but unmistakeable references to “Get This Party Started,” the doctor brought some unexpected musical flair to the usually dry proceedings.
The LNP were fired up about Ms Farmer’s decision to attend a P!nk concert to network with fellow department staff instead of an emergency meeting with parents at Rochedale State School following a troubling asbestos discovery in 12 classrooms.
The lyrical digs were amusing to those watching on in the media room - at one point Dr Rowan even asked Ms Farmer who was “waiting for you to arrive”?
But the references seemed to fly over Ms Farmer’s head. Perhaps she was too busy mingling at the concert, as she claimed, “who knew?”
Meghan snubbed in Harry birthday photo tribute
An image shared by the royal family to mark Prince Harry’s 40th birthday has caused a storm amid claims Meghan Markle was cropped out.
Star’s ‘childless cat ladies’ rant; Aussie wins gong
Selena Gomez has let rip at the Emmys as Elizabeth Debicki celebrates a major win.