Good sports ready to make the crowd go wild

Andrew Mulligan (left) and co-host Mark Richardson, fetching in beige.

Prime launch their "relaxed" sports magazine show The Crowd Goes Wild at 7pm on Monday, with hosts Mark Richardson and Andrew Mulligan.

Rebecca Barry asked the former Black Cap and his fellow broadcaster to tell us why we should tune in.


ANDREW MULLIGAN

We hear you and Mark have great onscreen chemistry. Please explain.

Mark was already a favourite of mine when he opened for the Black Caps. The time when he cramped up in India and fell to the ground in pain like he was shot from a grassy knoll will always be a sporting highlight for me.

Does having a non-sporting background make you a better journalist (as opposed to your co-host), and why?

I wouldn't be so bold as to call myself a journalist. The only story I've broken was a cassette tape of Bad Jelly the Witch when I was 8.

Having a non-sporting background, however, means that I have a fan's perspective, which contrasts nicely with Mark's professional sporting experiences. We already have Pulp Sport and Sports Tonight.

Why is there room for this show too?

I've worked with Bill and Ben (and no, I'm not showing off - I got hotdogs and tapes for them) and they're nice guys. But they would be the first to admit that their show isn't really a sports show, more a skit show.

As for Sports Tonight, we're a little more considerate than having an 11.15pm start time by being at 7pm.

The Crowd Goes Wild is on after the sports news - what will we see that's new?

Not only will we point out the good bits and have a bit of fun with the day's sports news but we'll be more in depth. We'll have interviews with the newsmakers, and Mark and I will discuss both sides of the issues.

We get a full half -hour whereas Prime Sports News only get five to six minutes. That's just not fair for sports fans!

This won't turn into a rugby show, will it? Which sports are we likely to see getting airtime?

If you want rugby, get the Rugby Channel. Balance is the name of the game and the resources we have, with Sky's rights to all the great sports, there just won't be enough time to cover rugby for 15 minutes. Don't get me wrong, we have Melodie Robinson, who is an excellent rugby journo, so we won't be light on rugby either.

What's in it for the ladies?

Well, Mark's going bald on top and I have a receding hairline so neither he nor I will be Cleo bachelor-of-the-year candidates. But we will be informative without excluding occasional sports fans. And Mark has said he won't don his beige lycra suit, which is a bonus.


MARK RICHARDSON

We hear you and Andrew have great onscreen chemistry. Please explain.

If I could explain chemical reactions then I wouldn't have failed School Cert chemistry. It might have something to do with all the hair product Andrew uses and the resulting fumes.

Does having a sporting background (as opposed to your co-host) mean that you can pull rank?

You bet. I'd imagine any disputes will be solved with the tried-and-true "How many tests did you play, pal?" line. It's Ian Smith's favourite. I think he learned it from Richie Benaud.

We hear you've sold the beige suit, so what's in store for your wardrobe on this show?

It's a sit-down show and I've been a couch potato for the past two years so something a little looser, I think. Although I'd expect, based on what I could do for the beige, I'll make anything look good.

How are you planning to make the show faster in pace than your average test innings?

By talking faster - mainly about my best and longest innings. You've proved you can be a controversial interviewer.

Why should we trust you?

Nothing I've done on television so far has been anything but straight up. I really don't know what you're on about.

What's in it for the ladies?

Those who saw me in beige know exactly what's in it for them.

* What: The Crowd Goes Wild

* Where & when: 7pm, Monday to Friday, Prime.