IF YOU were a kid in the 1990s, it’s more than likely that you were glued to your TV screens after school to watch A*mazing.
It had everything you could ever want in a game show: Mario Kart, a maze filled with hidden letters and keys and a giant keyboard.
It also proved once and for all that overalls are cool.
We got in touch with James Sherry, who hosted the show from 1993-1998, and asked for him some amazing facts about the greatest kids TV show ever, A*mazing:
A*mazing contestants: There were 10 series of the show, which ran for 13 weeks per season, with five episodes a week, featuring four contestants at a time. That means 2600 kids got to play A*mazing. We’re so jealous.
A*mazing set: Because of the enormity of the set (it took a full day to set up and light the maze, the keyboard and the contestant podium) 10 episodes were recorded over two days back to back.
A*mazing keyboard: When typing on the giant keyboard, you needed to step on a small button in the top right of each letter, not just stomp on the giant key. But sometimes the keyboard appeared not to work ... that was because the other player was standing on the button of another letter. Only one letter could be pressed at a time.
A*mazing error: Part of one episode needed to be retaped a week later because James misspelt the word ‘Balloon’ — and no one initially spotted the error.
A*mazing maze: In the original maze, penguins were used where you had to push their chest to reveal a letter or key. But when the show’s production moved interstate in 1997, the penguins were changed to Gorillas.
A*mazing Mario Kart: At the end of a day’s recording, James and the contestant co-ordinators would challenge each other to Mario Kart competitions.
A*mazing selection process: Each school chose 20 candidates to appear on the show. The production team would then test the 20 kids (usually a month or so before the recording) and choose 10 contestants plus two reserves.
A*mazing breakdown: Schools would bus their contestants to the studios (Brisbane from 1993-1996 and then at Channel 7 Perth from 1997-1998). But on one occasion the bus broke down so the 10 contestants had to be rushed to the studio in taxis.
A*mazing comeback: In 2012 there was a campaign to bring A*mazing back. Unfortunately it wasn’t successful, but who knows, maybe there’s still hope. Just go to the Bring Back A*mazing Facebook page.
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