Quiz master: Rove McManus has all the answers in Show Me the Movie!

Entertainer Rove McManus is eyeing a big year in television with the return of his hit quiz Show Me the Movie! and a full season of Bring Back Saturday Night.

Rove McManus is back with a vengeance. The 45-year-old is hosting two prime-time shows in 2019 — a decade after he shocked Aussie viewers with his decision to walk away from Rove Live.

The triple Gold Logie-winner is fronting the second season of Show Me the Movie! and will follow that with a full season of Bring Back Saturday Night.

That is a win-win for McManus, who has been pretty quiet on the television front in recent years.

There were occasional fill-in spots on The Project (which McManus’ Roving Enterprises produces), a guest appearance on Hughesy, We Have a Problem and Whovians on ABC Comedy.

Joel Creasey, Rove McManus and Brooke Satchwell star in Channel 10 movie quiz show Show Me the Movie!

McManus’ foray into radio is best forgotten. His breakfast show with former Bachelorette Sam Frost was axed by 2DayFM after just one year amid falling ratings.

The first season of Show Me the Movie! — a game show based around films — wasn’t a blockbuster but rated well enough for Ten to commission a second go-around.

Joel Creasey is back as one of the team captains. Brooke Satchwell replaces Jane Harber who is chasing acting work in Hollywood. The program moves from Thursday to Friday night.

“The guys behind Show Me the Movie! (Ben Davies and Paul Clarke) were responsible for putting Spicks and Specks together so it sounded enticing and I said yes,” McManus says.

“I’ve seen plenty of movies but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert. Joel’s knowledge is pretty bad unless it is Mean Girls or Mariah Carey’s Glitter. He only won one show last year but has got personality to burn.

“I’ve known Brooke for as long as I’ve been in the business. She is one of the first industry friends I had — when I was starting out on Channel 9.

“She was in the cast of Neighbours on Ten. We were around the same age and became friends very quickly.

“She has done a lot of panel shows (including Dirty Laundry Live) so having her as our replacement for Jane is a smart move. She is a walk-up start.”

A single episode of Bring Back Saturday Night, by the same team as Show Me the Movie! screened as part of Ten’s Pilot Week.

Judith Lucy provided pithy voiceover comments. McManus called on mates including Delta Goodrem to add star power to comedy segments. Merrick Watts was the show’s roving reporter.

Rove McManus and wife Tasma Walton arrive at the 2018 AACTAs. Picture: Richard Dobson

Although the pilot episode didn’t set the ratings alight — it averaged 198,000 across the five capital cities plus another 26,000 in catch-up — the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“It (getting a full season commission for Bring Back Saturday Night) is validation for what I had been harping on about — that there is a place for a show like this in the Australian television landscape,” McManus says.

“I got pushback from the networks saying ‘it’s been done — no-one is interested’ but the people on the street (said the opposite).

“I’m one of those people who enjoy these type of shows so I thought ‘maybe if we created the supply it would work’.

“I’m very excited that it was received so well. That means a lot to me. It is marvellous that Channel 10 decided to make it a permanent fixture this year.”

So why did McManus decide to pull up stumps on Rove Live at the end of 2009? McManus married Tasma Walton in June that year. Was it all about starting a new phase of life?

“It was about taking a break, stepping back and thinking what to do next,” McManus says.

“I was celebrating Rove Live being on air for ten years and we did a lot of press where people said ‘will there be another ten?’

“You can’t do it forever. Maybe you could do a Hey Hey It’s Saturday and run for 30 years but at some point you have to say ‘this is it’.

“You want to get out on top. We were thinking about a re-set for the show and a lot of the core team were moving on to The Project which we were just starting.

“I thought that in two or five years’ time people could be saying ‘why are you still on air because the show is tired’.”

In 2011, McManus and Walton moved to Los Angeles. McManus had a regular segment “Rove Across America” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also hosted talk show Rove LA on FOX8.

Rove McManus hosts Dr Who fan show Whovians. Picture: Supplied

In 2014, McManus fronted Riot, which was executive produced by Steve Carell (The 40 Year Old Virgin). The following year he hosted Lie Detectors.

McManus and Walton’s daughter, Ruby was born in 2013.

“I loved my time in America,” McManus says. There are almost too many things to mention — the friends I made and the experiences I had.

“I’m in a fortunate stage of my career where I have the ability to choose the work I want to do. There is not a need to have to do anything. It really is about what I feel like doing, what I connect with and what I think I might enjoy.

“That broader, family-friendly style of comedy (on Rove Live, Show Me the Movie!, and Bring Back Saturday Night) is what works for me.

“I enjoy it and it seems to connect with the people at home as well. It (ending Rove Live in 2009) was the right decision. It gave me longevity. Here we are with people saying “we’re ready for you to come back now”.

WATCH — SHOW ME THE MOVIE!, CHANNEL 10, FRIDAY, 7.30PM

Originally published as Quiz master: Rove McManus has all the answers in Show Me the Movie!