Working Dog Productions (originally Frontline Television Productions Pty Ltd) is a film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia. It was formed in 1993 by actors Santo Cilauro, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner, and producer Michael Hirsh.
History
Frontline Television Productions Pty Ltd was formed in 1993 by five collaborators who had worked together on earlier comedy projects, actors Santo Cilauro, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner, and producer Michael Hirsh. The group of actors became known through their earlier hit comedy sketch show The D-Generation (1986–1987) and The Late Show (1992), forming their production company with producer Michael Hirsh before creating Frontline under the banner of Working Dog.
It adopted the name Working Dog Productions in the mid-1990s. The founders have described the company origin as "five friends formed a production company with a dodgy camcorder and a dream".
Description Working Dog Productions is a film and television production company based in Melbourne, Victoria.
The company name logo (an Australian Cattle Dog) reflect the founders' affection for dogs, and the company has retained the original creative core across decades while expanding into multi-platform production and a small executive/staff structure. They picked a female dog for the Australian cattle dog breed.
Productions In addition to television and film, Working Dog Productions have also ventured into books, stage shows, and podcasts. Television Programs with a shaded background indicate the program is still in production. Title Network Genre Years Seasons Frontline ABC Comedy, Satire 1994–1997 Behind the Frontline ABC Documentary 1995 Funky Squad ABC Comedy 1995 The Campaign ABC Documentary 1996 A River Somewhere ABC Documentary 1997–1998 The Panel Network Ten Talk show 1998–2004 All Aussie Adventures Network Ten Mockumentary 2001–2002, 2018 The Panel Christmas Wrap Network Ten Talk show 2003–2007 Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge Network Ten Mockumentary 2004 Thank God You're Here Network Ten (2006–2007, 2023–present) Seven Network (2009) Improvised comedy 2006–2009, 2023–present Thank God You're Here NBC Comedy 2007 The Hollowmen ABC Comedy 2008 Santo, Sam and Ed's Cup Fever! SBS Sport, Comedy 2010 Santo, Sam and Ed's Sports Fever! 7mate/Seven Network Sport, Comedy 2012 Pictures of You Seven Network Talk show 2012 Audrey's Kitchen ABC Comedy 2012–2013 Santo, Sam and Ed's Total Football Fox Sports Sports, Comedy 2013–2015 Have You Been Paying Attention? Network Ten Game show 2013–present Utopia ABC Comedy 2014–present Pacific Heat The Comedy Channel Animated Sitcom 2016–2017 The Cheap Seats Network Ten Comedy, Current Affairs 2021–present
Film
Title Genre Release date Distributor The Castle Comedy Village Roadshow The Dish Comedy Roadshow Entertainment Any Questions for Ben? Comedy Roadshow Films
Books Books which have been published by Working Dog include, but are not limited to, mock travel guides. Books published by Working Dog include: Molvania: A Land Untouched by Modern Dentistry by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2003. Phaic Tan: Sunstroke on a Shoestring by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2004. San Sombrero: A Land of Carnivals, Cocktails and Coups by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch, 2006. Molvanian Baby Names: With Meanings, Derivations And Probable Pronunciations, by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch 2009.
Stage Working Dog produced the stage show The Speechmaker. The show was written by Working Dog's Sitch, Cilauro, and Gleisner and had a sellout season at the Melbourne Theatre Company. Gleisner has produced a musical under the Working Dog brand titled Bloom.
Podcasts Santo, Sam & Ed's Total Football Podcast (2017–present on ABC iview) Santo, Sam & Ed's Cup Fever! Podcast (2018 on ABC iview)
See also
List of film production companies List of television production companies
References
External links