Foxtel_Magazine_July_2017

MUST WATCH
Talk
of the
TOWN
Hailed as the ‘companion piece’ to Gogglebox Australia, new observational series
Common Sense will put the week’s news and current affairs into perspective
COMMON SENSE Wednesdays from July 5 at 7.30pm on Lifestyle [106] part of the ENTERTAINMENT pack
W
ith five hilarious seasons
under their belts, we’ve
been entertained and
amused by the witty
banter of everyday Australian couch
critics commenting on TV shows on
Gogglebox Australia. In fact, the format
has proved so successful it’s earned the
local production two Logie Awards.
Now, be prepared to be glued to your
screens once more as the creatives
behind everyone’s favourite series
introduce us to a whole new format
guaranteed to have everyone talking.
Common Sense moves the action
into the workplace, where friends and
colleagues will discuss the big news
and current affairs topics of the week.
Among the 10 workplaces featured
are a bra shop, a retirement village,
a butcher’s shop and a hairdressing
salon, while the people range in age
from 21 to the ripe old age of 92.
Intrigued? Foxtel magazine went to
the source and got executive producer
David McDonald to tell us all about this
enthralling TV series in his own words.
THE PREMISE
Gogglebox is seeing the week in review
told through the prism of television
shows, whereas Common Sense is the
week in review in terms of news and
current affairs. That’s the biggest change.
Common Sense will be the definition of
water cooler chat – it’s people in their
work environment, chatting about the
news and current affairs of the day
while they work, like we all do.
THE CAST
The cast are incredibly warm, funny and
honest. They’re the kind of people that
you’re gonna want to spend a bit of time
with. They’re from all walks of life, split
straight down the middle, male and
female. In terms of ages, it’s the broadest
age demographic we’ve had: 21 to 92.
Casting is important – there’s always
someone you’ll recognise, whether
it’s you or someone you know. I think
that’s part of the broad appeal – every
voice is represented.
THE WORKPLACES
There are 10 workplaces. We have some
young real estate agents, a couple of
butchers, two barristers, a team from
a retirement village, there are a couple
of women that work in IT in a start-up.
We have salespeople, the oldest
vegetable-sellers at the Sydney Markets,
a couple of hairdressers, another small
business dealing in furnishings and
homewares, and furniture removalists.
WHY WE’LL LOVE IT
It’s a companion piece for Gogglebox,
but tackling different subject matter
in different environments. Once you
go into workplaces you get a different
dynamic. The conflict between points
of view might be because people come
from different backgrounds and that’s
formulated their opinions; they won’t
necessarily always agree. They’re all
big characters with great stories, which
is essential. If you love Gogglebox then
you’re going to love Common Sense.
Opposite: there
has been plenty
happening in the
news this year to
keep us talking,
including: shock
celebrity deaths
and some messy
break-ups, an
Oscars debacle,
the US President
who can’t help
making the
daily headlines,
plus convicted
drug smuggler
Schapelle Corby
returning home
while another
Aussie woman
is held on drugs
charges in
Colombia
THE SIMILARITIES
TO GOGGLEBOX
It’s unfettered, honest opinions about
what’s going on. It’s normal Australians
talking about the things that affect
their lives and how they react to the
news and politics. It’s unguarded, honest
comments that often are light and funny.
THE TURNAROUND
It’s the same as Gogglebox. We shoot for
a week – we start on Wednesday – and
it’s on air the next Wednesday. It really
is the news of the last seven days. We’re
constantly on our toes. But that’s the
way we get our news now, especially
through digital media, it’s constantly
being updated, so as stories are
breaking or evolving, our opinions
will be changing as well.
THE MEANING
BEHIND THE NAME
It’s the common people making sense
of it all. When the news stories are
presented and you’re like, ‘Why are
they doing that? Why wouldn’t you
do that?’ It’s just common sense!
THE CASTING PROCESS
It’s actually very extensive and it is quite
difficult, too. It’s a lot of going out and
finding people and presenting the show
and seeing if they’re interested in taking
part. From there we do a run-through
of current affairs to see what their chat
is like. If they’re funny, warm people we
think will contribute the right way to
the show, they get cast from there.
WORDS: CAROLYN HIBLEN. PHOTOS: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY; GETTY IMAGES; NEW YORK POST; THE ADVERTISER; THE BOSTON GLOBE; THE COURIER MAIL
30 FOXTEL JULY