Working Dog Productions
Australian production company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Working Dog Productions (originally Frontline Television Productions Pty. Ltd.) is a film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia.[1] It was formed in 1993 by actors Santo Cilauro, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner, and producer Michael Hirsh.[2]
- Santo Cilauro
- Rob Sitch
- Jane Kennedy
- Tom Gleisner
- Michael Hirsh
| |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Production company |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Website | www |
History
Working Dog was formed in 1993 by five collaborators who had worked together on earlier comedy projects; the company initially traded as Frontline Television Productions before adopting the name Working Dog Productions in the mid-1990s.[3] The founders have described the company origin as “five friends formed a production company with a dodgy camcorder and a dream.”[4]
The company name and mascot (an Australian Cattle Dog) reflect the founders’ affection for dogs, and the company has retained the original creative core across decades while expanding into multi-platform production and a small executive/staff structure.[5]
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Television
Programs with a shaded background indicate the program is still in production.
| Title | Network | Genre | Years | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontline | ABC | Comedy, Satire | 1994–1997 | 3 seasons, 39 episodes |
| Behind the Frontline | ABC | Documentary | 1995 | 1 documentary |
| Funky Squad | ABC | Comedy | 1995 | 1 season, 7 episodes |
| The Campaign | ABC | Documentary | 1996 | 2 episodes |
| A River Somewhere | ABC | Documentary | 1997–1998 | 2 seasons, 13 episodes |
| The Panel | Network Ten | Talk show | 1998–2004 | 7 seasons, 237 episodes |
| All Aussie Adventures | Network Ten | Mockumentary | 2001–2002, 2018 | 3 seasons, 20 episodes |
| The Panel Christmas Wrap | Network Ten | Talk show | 2003–2007 | 5 annual specials |
| Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge | Network Ten | Mockumentary | 2004 | 1 telemovie |
| Thank God You're Here | Network Ten (2006–2007, 2023–present) Seven Network (2009) | Improvised comedy | 2006–2009, 2023–present | 5 seasons, 49 episodes |
| Thank God You're Here | NBC | Comedy | 2007 | 1 season, 7 episodes |
| The Hollowmen | ABC | Comedy | 2008 | 2 seasons, 12 episodes |
| Santo, Sam and Ed's Cup Fever! | SBS | Sport, Comedy | 2010 | 1 season, 26 episodes |
| Santo, Sam and Ed's Sports Fever! | 7mate/Seven Network | Sport, Comedy | 2012 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Pictures of You | Seven Network | Talk show | 2012 | 1 season, 16 episodes |
| Audrey's Kitchen | ABC | Comedy | 2012–2013 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football | Fox Sports | Sports, Comedy | 2013–2015 | 2 seasons, 56 episodes |
| Have You Been Paying Attention? | Network Ten | Game show | 2013–present | 10 seasons, 261 episodes |
| Utopia | ABC | Comedy | 2014–present | 5 seasons, 40 episodes |
| Pacific Heat | The Comedy Channel | Animated Sitcom | 2016–2017 | 1 season, 13 episodes |
| The Cheap Seats | Network Ten | Comedy, Current Affairs | 2021–present | 4 seasons, 91 episodes |
Film
| Title | Genre | Release date | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Castle | Comedy | 10 April 1997 | Village Roadshow |
| The Dish | Comedy | 19 October 2000 | Roadshow Entertainment |
| Any Questions for Ben? | Comedy | 9 February 2012 | Roadshow Films |
Other
In addition to television and film, Working Dog Productions have also ventured into books, stage shows, and podcasts.[6]
Books
Books which have been published by Working Dog include, but are not limited to, mock travel guides.[2] Books published by Working Dog include:
- Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2003. ISBN 1-58567-619-5
- Phaic Tan: Sunstroke on a Shoestring by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2004. ISBN 0-8118-5365-9
- San Sombrero: A Land of Carnivals, Cocktails and Coups by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2006. ISBN 0-8118-5619-4
- Molvanian Baby Names: With Meanings, Derivations And Probable Pronunciations, by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch 2009. ISBN 978-1-74066-859-0
Stage
Working Dog produced the stage show The Speechmaker. The show was written by Working Dog's Sitch, Cilauro and Gleisner and had a sellout season at the Melbourne Theatre Company.[2] Gleisner has produced a musical under the Working Dog brand titled Bloom.[7]
