The Shak at Home

The Shak at Home (on-screen title The Shak) is an Australian children's television program that was broadcast on the Nine Network from 2009 to 2010.[1] The cast for series one included Drew Jarvis, Beau Walker, Jacqueline Duncan and Kendal Nagorcka, with Libby Campbell joining the cast from series two onwards, portraying characters Curio, Nitro, Eco, Picasso and Willow respectively. Throughout each episode, viewer questions, queries, dares and challenges are answered in an entertaining and educational manner along with intersecting storylines.

The Shak
Starring	Drew Jarvis Beau Walker Kendal Nagorcka Series 1 Libby Campbell Series 2
Country of origin	Australia
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	130 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	30 Minutes (including commercials)
Release
Original network	Nine Network
Picture format	576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	20 April 2009 – 20 April 2010

Overview

Series One

Curio, Nitro and Picasso, former television presenters of the series The Shak, move in together to a sharehouse which is owned by Aunt Agnes and Aunt Beatrice. They deal with everyday issues. Picasso leaves the house to attend the New York Academy of Performing Arts, which leaves Curio and Nitro, the only people living together in the house.[2]

Series Two

After Nitro and Curio feel lonely they search for a replacement, later finding Willow.[3] The house now back to its original number of house-mates, once again deal with every day issues. Months into living in the house, Karl Stimpson marries Aunt Agnes, in order to evict the house-mates, however after his plans fail, he zaps Curio, sending him back in the past, leaving Nitro and Willow the only ones living in the share house.[4]

Production

The series was announced as a revamp in late 2008, however it is actually classified as a spinoff/sequel to the original show The Shak.[5] The show features new theme song created by the same composer of the original shows theme which maintains the same 'surfie' melody but with a more prominent acoustic guitar, thus making the song have a more contemporary, rock feel. The opening segment has changed to a montage of Shaksters. The closing credits are now accompanied by bloopers accumulated throughout the show's shooting of its various segments and storylines. After Picasso left the show, a search for a Shakster competition was launched in which they cast Libby Campbell as Willow.[6] the first series premiered on 20 April 2009 and finished airing on 17 July 2009. The second series premiered on 31 April 2009, airing each Monday in an afternoon time-slot. The series then shifted to airing every weekday at the same time-slot, until the final episode aired on 20 April 2010.

Controversy

On 26 May 2010, The Shak was announced as having breached the children's television standards for endorsing a product by 'The Australian Communications and Media Authority'. The claim was made when Kendal, Drew and Beau were seen riding scooters with close up scenes during a prize segment. On the entertainment news site 'TV Tonight' comments on the story were mostly negative and damming to the ACMA.[7]

Withdrawal

On 13 January 2010, the Nine Network cancelled the show, claiming that it was an "economic decision".[8]

Segments

• Dare Nitro
• What's With That
• Lift Off
• Cooking With Jan
• Dexter Fry's Unexplainable Mysteries Explained
• Warren's Gaming Lounge
• Review This
• Hollywood Magic
• Back to the Wild
• Kharlie Kheribs World of Wonder
• Milton The Crash Test Dummy
• Nitros World of Sports
• Professor Peel (Numerous Segments)
• Jenkins (Numerous Segments)

Cast and characters

• Curio (Drew Jarvis) is an expert when it comes to all things science movies, books, experiments. He founded the shak and is a natural leader,Science runs in the family. He worked at a robotics company, however quit after he didn't like working conditions, after quitting he became a writer. He had a crush on Picasso.
• Nitro (Beau Walker) is a fan of romantic comedies and is a daredevil. He works with his friend designing streetwear and surfwear. He is good friends with Curio and gets frustrated when playing monopoly. He had a crush on Penny, but is dating Fern.
• Picasso (Kendal Nagorcka) loves art and pop culture. She is outgoing and is very close to her friends. She was an actress in the Australian Police drama 'Cop That', however she left to travel to New York, so she could study acting at the Academy of Performing Arts.
• Willow (Libby Campbell) is a pop culture buff and loves animals, she moved into the shak house after Picasso left. Her favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio. She likes playing netball and talking to Penny, her next door neighbour. She is dating Gus, Curios Friend.
• Penny (Jo Heath) lives next door to the shak house with her father. She likes Curio and wanted to be his girlfriend. She likes hanging out with the group watching movies, playing games and talking. She rejected Curio after he admitted he likes her.
• Gus (Rob Mills) is Curios good friend, he came to the shak house on his Curio's birthday to cheer Curio up because Nitro and Picasso were busy. He is dating Willow which was a surprise to Curio and Nitro.
• Whitney (Tessa Scott) was Picasso's best friend. She appeared on the reality show 'The Meadows'. Her and Curio were dating, until they broke up. However Whitney could not take the news and she pretends that Curio is still her boyfriend, especially when Curio sends the wrong valentine card.
• Aunt Agnes (Uncredited) is Curios Auntie, she rented out the sharehouse to Curio, Nitro and Picasso. She is very annoying to the group. She likes to garden a lot and lives with her longtime friend. She is married to Karl Stimpson.
• Karl Stimpson (Drew Jarvis) is the owner of Stinson Robotic, Curio worked for the company however he quit after being treated badly by Mr. Stinson. He tried to take over the world but the Shaksters managed to foil his plans. He then tries to evict the Shaksters out of their home.
• Aunt Beatrice (Drew Jarvis) is Curio's Aunt, she lives with his other Aunt Agnes. has a crush on Nitro, much to his dismay and invested her money in his company. She owns only a quarter of the shak house which was the reason she couldn't stop Karl from evicting the Shaksters.
• Leo (Joel Spreadborogh) is Willow's former boyfriend, he first met Willow when she accidentally made her face green, however he saw through her green face and remained her boyfriend. Willow decided to be just friends with Leo.
• Fern (Georgia Cranstoun) is Curio's friend from high school they were good friends back then and share similar interests to each other. Fern works at Wildlife Rascals and met Curio again after getting rid of a possum for them. She is dating Nitro.
• Gabby (Moyra Majors) runs a column in a newspaper called 'Dear Gabby'. Picasso sent in a letter to her saying she was deciding to move out of the shak. Willow and Curio are huge fans of Gabby. Gabby comes to The Shak house after the group thinks one of them wrote it, unaware to them it was Picasso and the newspaper they read was old
• Reggie (Shaun King) used to attend Nitro's school where he bullied Nitro because every wanted to be his friend, he came to the Shak House to apologize to Nitro, he came back again to help Curios internet bullying problem.
• Prue (Uncredited) is an Literary Agent who works for many of the big name Australian authors. She was hired by Curio and was going to make his story published, however after Prue edited it, Curio declined the offer.
• Cheerleading Coach (Georgia Cranstoun) is Nitros cheerleading coach, she is very proper and speaks in a French accent and tends to call him Nit-tro. When she came to the shak house, she found out that her and willow used to go to the same school.
• Amanda (Tessa Scott) is a news reporter and television presenter, she was hosting the science competition between Nitro and Curio's former boss Karl Stimpson. She works for Channel 8.
• Cecilia (Uncredited) is one of the Shaksters neighbours. She was thought to be a witch after cursing Curio, however it was later on discovered she is a nice caring person and she wasn't cursing Curio at all.
• Justin (Marc Vanderbent) is a personal trainer who works at a local Gym near the Shak house. He was Picasso's Boyfriend until Curio exposed the true side of Justin a cheating liar.
• Nitro's Teacher (Moyra Majors) is a business teacher who helped Nitro learn how to run a business after Nitro decided he wanted to create a clothing label, Curio and Willow were also taught by her, however they were only there to support Nitro.
• Van Gogh (George Canham) is the opposite of Willow, he is one of the hosts of The Shed. He likes everything pop culture related. He used to live with his co-hosts opposite the Shak House. He moved to Hollywood with his television series 'The Shed'.
• Cosmo (Tori Cranstoun) is the opposite of Curio she is one of the hosts of The Shed. She likes everything science related. She used to live with her co-hosts Turbo and Van Gogh. She moved to Hollywood with her television series 'The Shed'.
• Turbo (Verity Hardy) is the opposite of Nitro she is one of the hosts of The Shed. She likes everything sport related. She used to live with her co-hosts Cosmo and Van Gogh. She moved to Hollywood with her television series 'The Shed'.
• Hannah Greaves (Belinda Carlisle) is the opposite of sensible.

Episodes

Series 1: 2009

Episode #	Title	Original Airdate
1	"Moving In"	20 April 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro move into a sharehouse
2	"Best Mates/ Flat Mates"	21 April 2009
The group are celebrating their new arrangements
3	"The Girl Next Door"	22 April 2009
Curio And Picasso meet their new neighbour
4	"Bad Habits"	23 April 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro learn their bad habits
5	"Lost And Found"	24 April 2009
Nitro loses his keys
6	"Love"	27 April 2009
Nitro admits to Curio he likes Penny
7	"The Intruder"	28 April 2009
There's a creature in the house
8	"The Call Back"	29 April 2009
Picasso's waiting for a call back and won't let Curio or Nitro use the phone.
9	"Laundry Day"	30 April 2009
Nitro runs out of clean clothes and borrows Curio's
10	"Blown The Budget"	3 May 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro waste their food budget
11	"Cooking Roster"	4 May 2009
Curio keeps cooking disgusting tasting food, so Picasso and Nitro make a plan to tell him without hurting his feelings.
12	"The Sock Monster"	5 May 2009
One of the house mates has been stealing socks, shampoo and milk
13	"Be Yourself"	6 May 2009
Curio tries to be cool like Nitro in order to fit in
14	"The Video Game"	7 May 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro become obsessed with a video game
15	"Sick Day"	8 May 2009
Nitro has a cold, which forces Curio and Picasso to watch over him
16	"The Monopoly Match"	11 May 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro play a game of Monopoly
17	"The Secret"	12 May 2009
Piccaso has been hiding from Curio and Nitro
18	"Big Trouble"	13 May 2009
Someone's in trouble
19	"Alpha Female"	14 May 2009
Curio and Nitro are trying to determine who is the man of the house
20	"Rules of Borrowing"	15 May 2009
Curio and Nitro break Picasso's movie and decide to remake it.
21	"Fright Night"	18 May 2009
Curio, Picasso and Nitro take part in a scary movie marathon
22	"The Couch Hog"	19 May 2009
Curio becomes lazy and sits on the couch all day
23	"Leave A Message"	20 May 2009
The group each receives phone messages for each other, however forget to tell anyone
24	"The Distraction"	21 May 2009
Curio's trying to finish his screenplay in time, however keeps getting distracted.
25	"The Inspection"	22 May 2009
Curio's Aunties inspect the house
26	"Shak to the Future"	25 May 2009
Curio and Nitro travel to the future to rescue Picasso
27	"Its Tradition"	26 May 2009
On Christmas day, the group all learn they have different traditions.
28	"The Pet"	27 May 2009
Picasso gets a pet without telling the other house mates.
29	"Left Out"	28 May 2009
Nitro has been spending more time with Penny than Curio.
30	"Another Secret"	29 May 2009
Curio's has been keeping a secret from Nitro and Picasso.
31	"Games Night"	1 June 2009
Nitro invites Penny to a game night.
32	"Lice/Itchy And Scratchy"	2 June 2009
Picasso has lice.
33	"Got Mail"	3 June 2009
Picasso has been getting gifts from a secret person.
34	"The Musician"	4 June 2009
Curios tries to discover his hobby, trying nut numerous activities.
35	"The Jinx"	5 June 2009
Curios been jinxed by an old lady who living down the street.
36	"Curio's Blankie"	8 June 2009
Picasso tries to wash Curio's blankie, much to his dismay.
37	"The Thunderstorm"	9 June 2009
A storm is coming, which causes the group peril.
38	"The Megastar"	10 June 2009
Miley Cyrus stays at the house without Curio And Nitro knowing.
39	"Insominia"	11 June 2009
Nitro can't sleep and is disturbing Curio and Picasso.
40	"Dreamworld Special Superheroes"	12 June 2009
The group turns into their superhero alter-egos.
41	"The Stage Mum"	15 June 2009
Curio and Nitro support Picasso too much with acting.
42	"Dreamworld The Lie"	16 June 2009
Nitro tells a lie to an old high school buddy that he is rich.
43	"The Stand Ins"	17 June 2009
Curio And Nitro get a job as extras in Picasso's television series 'Cop This'
44	"Forget Me Not"	18 June 2009
Curio has temporary memory loss and Nitro And Picasso try to help him remember his life.
45	"Picassos The Man"	19 June 2009
Picasso Auditions for a show for the parts of two characters, one a Male.
46	"Haunted House"	22 June 2009
The group thinks the house is haunted.
47	"Picassos Boyfriend"	23 June 2009
Picasso introduces her boyfriend to the boys.
48	"The Pimple"	24 June 2009
Nitro has a pimple on the day he organised a date with Penny.
49	"The Meadows"	25 June 2009
Picasso's friend Whitney stars in a new reality show and becomes famous.
50	"Curios Birthday"	26 June 2009
Picasso And Nitro invite an old friend of Curios to the shak while they're out.
51	"Helping Out"	29 June 2009
The group helps out.
52	"Good Luck Pants"	30 June 2009
Nitro thinks his pants are lucky
53	"The Job"	1 July 2009
Curio and Picasso wonder where Nitro is, when he's not at Penny's and not surfing.
54	"The Decision"	2 July 2009
After the boys make Picasso angry and Whitney offers Picasso to live with her.
55	"The Shoot"	3 July 2009
Curio has finished his script.
56	"The I in Team"	7 July 2009
The Group produces a commercial to enter in a competition.
57	"The Phone Bill"	8 July 2009
Nitro runs up the phone bill talking to Penny.
58	"Stressing Out"	9 July 2009
Picasso learns that the New York Academy of Performing Arts is enrolling and Nitro is having his school formal reunion.
59	"The Pressure"	10 July 2009
Nitro and Picasso pressure Curio to join a Gym.
60	"Locked In"	13 July 2009
After the ladder falls the group is stuck upstairs.
61	"The Whisper"	14 July 2009
Penny is stuck in a love triangle with Curio and Nitro.
62	"The Break Up"	15 July 2009
Penny breaks up with Nitro.
63	"The Feud"	16 July 2009
Nitro is angry at Curio because Penny likes Curio instead of him.
64	"Love Again"	17 July 2009
Curio goes out with Whitney.
65	"The Goodbye"	17 July 2009
Picasso is leaving the share-house to attend the New York Academy of Performing Arts, however before she leaves, she does all the things she ever wanted to do.

Series 2: 2009–2010

Episode #	Title	Original Airdate
1	"Twos Not Enough"	31 August 2009
After Picasso leaves the shak, Curio and Nitro look for a new house mate.
2	"How Nitro Got His Groove Back"	7 September 2009
After Nitro loses his job at "Taco Party Town" Nitro tries to regain his confidence.
3	"My Girlfriends Back"	14 September 2009
Curio's old girlfriend is back and still believes that their relationship is still on.
4	"The Lovely Ugly"	21 September 2009
Willow's addition to the house is freaking Curio and Nitro out.
5	"The Sleepwalker Texas Ranger"	28 September 2009
Someone has been sleepwalking and trashing the house.
6	"The Witch"	5 October 2009
The group assumes their neighbour's a witch, however they find out differently.
7	"Pants Again"	12 October 2009
Curio uses the Good Luck Pants to win a jousting competition.
8	"Super Juice"	19 October 2009
Willow becomes addicted to super juice to help her get energized.
9	"Willow in Wonderland"	26 October 2009
Willow enters a door into a different version of the shak.
10	"The Idol"	2 November 2009
Curio wins a dinner with the new "Party Town Taco" Mascot, however he's not what he seems.
11	"Nitros Bully"	9 November 2009
Nitro's old bully from school is coming to visit Nitro.
12	"Penny For Your Thoughts"	16 November 2009
Willow invites Penny to games night.
13	"My first Real Friend"	12 December 2009
Willow has an imaginary friend.
14	"Who Done It"	19 December 2009
When a house warming gift is broken, the house has become a who done it scene.
15	"Willows New BFF"	21 December 2009
Willow's tired of her old girlfriends and tries to find new ones, however Curio and Nitro have other plans.
16	"Worlds Best Couple"	22 December 2009
Curio and Willow pretend to be the world's best couple to win a new television set.
17	"Auntie for a Day"	23 December 2009
The group has to look after Aunt Agnes for a day.
18	"Back to School"	24 December 2009
Nitro goes to school to learn about business after his Best friend starts a clothing label.
19	"Static Psychic"	15 February 2010
Nitro Gets zapped by lightning and thinks he is a psychic.
20	"Blast From The Past"	16 February 2010
When a rat is in the house the group calls wildlife rascals, however the worker looks familiar to Curio.
21	"The Job Interview"	17 February 2010
Curio and Nitro have an interview for their dream job.
22	"One of the Boys"	18 February 2010
Willow thinks that she will never have a boyfriend.
23	"Not Another Secret"	22 February 2010
Nitro has a new hobby.
24	"I'd Give It A 7"	23 February 2010
Curio thinks honesty is the best policy and starts telling it like it is.
25	"Pet Sitters"	24 February 2010
The group takes care of a pet without knowing the full responsibilities.
26	"Small Good Things"	25 February 2010
Willow believes that "Big things come in small packages" however she is discouraged when she struggles with being small.
27	"I Dream of Penny"	26 February 2010
When Curio has a dream about Penny does he discover feelings for her.
28	"The Sales Pitch"	27 February 2010
Nitro tries out his business skills.
29	"Beauty and the Beast"	1 March 2010
Willow is worried when her friend comes over because she turned her face green somehow.
30	"I Spy"	2 March 2010
The company Curio works for sends a robot double of Curio.
31	"Don't Call Us Prue Call You"	3 March 2010
Curio submits a script to a publisher, however there are a few script changes that need to be made.
32	"Zombie Goat From Mars"	4 March 2010
Curio enters a story contest, however soon finds out he copied a famous author.
33	"Dear Gabby"	5 March 2010
When reading a columnist's article in the newspaper about a housemate that wants to move out, the group accuses each other of sending the letter, will someone leave?
34	"The Willow Most Likely"	8 March 2010
Willow is confused about her love life.
35	"Split Deciscion"	9 March 2010
Willow is split between who she likes.
36	"Gus Who's Back"	10 March 2010
Curio's friend Gus returns to the house.
37	"My Best Enemy"	11 March 2010
When Willow finds out Nitro's cheer leading coach was a mean person from high school, she invites her to dinner to hopefully get an apology, However are they both as bad as each other.
38	"The Negotiators"	12 March 2010
Nitro does not want the Guide Dog they were training to go, so he holds it in his room and barricades the door.
39	"I'm with the Band"	15 March 2010
Willow tries to get the sax and the axe back together, however Nitro and Curio don't want to.
40	"The Visitor"	16 March 2010
Willow's uncle from the circus comes to stay, however he won't go, so the group hatch a plan to make him leave.
41	"Circus Substitute"	17 March 2010
Willow's family asks her to fill in at the circus and Curio and Nitro try to help.
42	"Suit You"	18 March 2010
After the group takes a one-day job working at a convention, they find themselves stuck in their costumes.
43	"Try-Athlon"	19 March 2010
Curio and Willow are training for a triathlon because Nitro's two team mates are injured.
44	"Choose Your Own Adventure"	22 March 2010
After the group stay up all night playing a game, they all realize they are late for something.
45	"You Can't Handle The Tooth"	23 March 2010
When Curio still believes in the tooth fairy, Nitro and Willow go out of their way to make sure the tooth fairy comes.
46	"I Love It So Much I Could Lie"	24 March 2010
Willow pretends to be in-ties with famous singers to impress a record executive.
47	"Ring Ring Annoying Thing"	25 March 2010
Curio and Willow love Nitro's new phone ringtone Until his phone keeps ringing.
48	"CuL8R Will-O"	26 March 2010
Nitro and Curio ask Willow to update their Facebook page, however she soon gets addicted to the social-networking site.
49	"Man Up, Man"	29 March 2010
Nitro loves Romantic-Comedies, however he keeps it secret from Curio and Willow.
50	"Three Housemates and a Baby"	30 March 2010
The group have to babysit a plastic baby for their neighbour.
51	"Picture Perfect"	31 March 2010
Willow has a zit and doesn't want to take her photo for a fan website.
52	"Thank You Mr Carnegie"	1 April 2010
Everyone is sick of Curio talking about science fiction, so Curio tries to change his personality.
53	"What's Yours Is Mind"	2 April 2010
In a freak storm Curio, Nitro and Willow swap Minds.
54	"The Shed"	5 April 2010
When people move in the street, the group finds out their just like them called The Shedsters with their own television series.
55	"Project Runaway"	6 April 2010
Nitro shows off his new designs at a fashion show
56	"Cyber Bully"	7 April 2010
Curio is getting bullied online so Nitro helps him.
57	"Criss Cross"	8 April 2010
Everyone is keeping secrets about whom they have feelings for.
58	"Inside Voices"	9 April 2010
The group are keeping secrets from each other, however things become clear when they start talking to each other.
59	"Valentines Day"	12 April 2010
Its time for the group to confess their feelings for each other.
60	"My BFFS BF And GF"	13 April 2010
Curio feels lonely now Nitro's with someone and Willow's with Someone.
61	"Despicable Plea"	14 April 2010
When Curio's boss tries to take over the world it's up to the Shaksters to stop him.
62	"Surprise Surprise"	15 April 2010
Aunt Agnes new boyfriend is a big surprise to the Shaksters, after he tries to convince Aunt Agnes to sell the sharehouse.
63	"The Penny Issue"	16 April 2010
Nitro and Willow make Curio face the Penny Issue
64	"Eviction Part 1"	19 April 2010
After Karl Stimpson marries Aunt Agnes, she gives him her share of the Shaksters house and Karl decides to evict the Shaksters so his plan for revenge is complete, and move in with Aunt Agnes. The episode ends with Nitro, Willow and Curio walking out of the house with their belongings.
65	"Eviction Part 2"	20 April 2010
After the Shaksters have raised the money to buy the other half of the share house through an online show, Curio decides he wants to leave the share house to pursue his writing career, however before he leaves Barney Stimpson Zaps him with a time machine ray and sends him in to the past. The episode ends with Nitro and Willow talking to each other in the loft, instead of Curio

References

1. "New Nine Children's Show". Youth Television News. 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
2. "The Shak Axed". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
3. "The Shak Auditions". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
4. "Program Guide" (PDF). TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
5. "Shak-ing up". Debritz. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
6. "Your Chance To Shak up". Debritz. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
7. "The Shak breaches Children's TV rule". TV Tonight. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
8. "The Shak Axed". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 May 2010.

External links

• Official website