Funny man Tim Ferguson has several irons in the
fire, writes Cameron Smith
Comedian Tim Ferguson is a man of many talents.
Busy writing another book, Ferguson is also in the
middle of making a new television program. However, he
won't be the star this time.
Ferguson has decided to follow in the footsteps of
his father, Tony, a former Four Corners and
This Day Tonight producer.
Tim's new show looks like being released next year on
cable televison station TV1.
Based on the exploits of a fictional radio talkback
sensation called Barry Gold, Shock Jock is
assured of having that Ferguson humerous touch - a touch
he has been developing since his debut on The Doug
Anthony All Stars.
The show, which is being made entirely in Melbourne,
is co-produced with Mark Gracie, who gained fame as the
producer of Totally Full Frontal.
"People get sick of seeing me on TV. I want to put
other people there instead," Ferguson says. Also keeping
Ferguson busy is Channel Ten's Unreal TV. He
loves hosting the show, though his children find their
dad's humour a bit dry.
But that is another matter - and one he will not go
into.
Ferguson believes it is very important to keep
private and public life separate.
"The program (Unreal TV) is based around
taking the mickey out of the show and taking the mickey
out of me," he says.
As for its adult-only specials - that's what viewers
want, the one-time Logie winner says.
"We have a bizarre following but the show is a lot of
fun," he says.
His book is also something out of the ordinary - it's
about casino culture.
Ferguson says he decided to write on the topic
because it hadn't been written about before.
"The casino makes a great metaphor for Australians in
the new millenium, when the value of the dollar relative
to the US dollar is going down faster tan a blackjack
player's pile of chips," he says.
Ferguson says one observation he has made about
casinos is that they attract people who wear tracksuits
and those who drive Rolls Royces - though he makes it
clear he doesn't visit them very often.
You're more likely to find him at home with his wife
and three children watching his favourite shows, which
include The Simpsons and The Panel.
Unreal TV, Channel Ten, Wednesday,
8pm.
