E132 | Jeremy Wells

Episode summary | Jeremy Wells

Jeremy Wells is one of New Zealand’s best and highest profile broadcasters.

Five days a week he bookends his days as co-host of the Matt and Jerry Breakfast on Radio Hauraki and Seven Sharp on TVNZ with Hillary Barry. And over summer can often be heard commentating cricket with the Alternative Commentary Collective.

Jeremy rose to fame in the late 90s as "Newsboy", reading the news on Mikey Havoc's breakfast show on student radio station 95bFM, and 1997 the pair made the shift to the small screen and that blossomed into television anarchy. He graduated to satire and parody exactly with Eating Media Lunch and The Unauthorised History of New Zealand.

But before the fame was the lowest point of his life when he was expelled from high school which set the wheels in motion for his success today. Jeremy’s style of broadcast and comedic timing was a huge influence for us growing up. You might be able to tell but we were pretty excited for this one.

Show notes | Jeremy Wells

0:00 Broadcasting pillars of influence

4:27 How busy is Jeremy Wells?

6:18 Seven Sharp

17:32 The difference between TV and radio

20:32 Radio Hauraki word sneak

22:56 Chemistry, luck, and broadcast partnerships

29:25 Family and opportunity cost

41:18 Marijuana and expulsion from Wanganui Collegiate

54:22 The influence of Hamilton

59:05 The Havoc years

1:09:26 The Live Eye

1:13:57 Looking back on Havoc, Eating Media Lunch, and The Unauthorized History of New Zealand

1:18:41 The Alternative Commentary Collective

1:24:43 The Late Night Big Breakfast

1:27:50 What does the future look like?

1:28:46 Last words from Steve, Seamus, and Jeremy