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The Worker of the Season is the final tally of all the points handed out each week to the hardest working cast member... Well not the hardest working, Pat and the Dans can’t be nominated... and some of the reasoning behind the points are a little weak...and the judges are easily bribed... but it really is a prestigious award. One that has achieved our goal of causing fights and tension in the Popcorn offices. Nothing makes someone work harder than the thought of seeing their name in the Worker of the Week column on a Thursday.
You can also view the WOTS past winners.
| Season 4 |
Name Name Lara Freestone Old Red Hat Frank Csapo II Tibor Csapo Michael Payne Kamuran Musker Trent Boncompagni Plastic Swords Anna Kelly Dan Auld Suzanne McGavin Inappropriate Scripts Jane Williamson "Panel Van" line Josh Moran Conference Room Table Jay Bonnor Luke Boncompagni Mark Williamson Tara Stawanski Cameron Peace Elizabeth Williamson Mitch Rowland Hostage Night Club Can Of Soup W = Win: 3 points.
M = Mention: 1 point.
N = Not Even Close: -1 point.
| Episode 13 |
Worker of the Week
Michael Payne – How can we not reward Payney for his turn as Princess Stardust. Not only for the sketch itself but for the fact that he was in character from the moment he arrived to the shoot and for being pinned into a costume so tight he couldn’t bend over.
Honourable Mention
Mark Williamson - Has been a great help all season, as studio crew and with music especially and it was Mark who worked out and recorded the music for ‘The Wollongong Song’ and got the instruments for us to REWRITE THE HISTORY OF MUSIC with.
Tara Stawanski - After doing our studio makeup for two seasons, Tara finally grabs a mention for aging Dan and Trent for the ‘future news’ ACT segment, transforming Dan, Pat and Payney for ‘2 Drag Ladies’ and making the pies while we set up the studio.
Not Even Close
Tibor Csapo - Okay so this could have been given in episode 1 or 6 but we needed a Not Even Close here. What were you thinking turning up to crew for IWT shoots in a Downstairs Studios shirt? We’re Pass the Popcorn Productions you douche.
| Episode 12 |
Worker of the Week
Trent Boncompagni - There are legends, icons and Mr. Gadros. A massive return so big we hyped it in the opening studio segment. Trent also worked hard in the ‘Trapped’ Behind the Scenes storyline and turned up to boom on ACT even though he wasn’t in the sketch.
Honourable Mention
Lara Freestone - Not that Janelle was ever any slouch, this week Lara unleashed her inner bogan as Deb in the ACT Neighbours story. Lara had to hurl abuse across the street then brawl with Dan S. Those high kicks are ridiculously awesome.
Jane Williamson - Receives a mention this week for the great Neighbours War fight in which she jumped on Frank’s back. Jane also thought she was playing Deb until Dan S told her otherwise on the morning of the shoot.
Luke Boncompagni - So playing gay is ‘cool’ right now and usually results in an Oscar nom/ win. Milk, Capote, Zac Efron (you know it) but for Luke, to play it on a community access show his only reward is an Honourable Mention.
Not Even Close
Frank Csapo II - Sure he was good trapped in an office with Pat and was a great foul-mouthed yobo in the ACT story but he was a little too good as Dan S’ three old neighbour learnt a new word that day. One that rhymes with ‘truck’ and one that she enjoyed saying often.
| Episode 11 |
Worker of the Week
Lara Freestone – Too bad if you’re not a Lara fan (They’re probably out there) as she’s everywhere in this episode. Awesome work in a variety of sketches this week as Lara appears as Bree in Home Shopping, Kim in Celebridential, Simone in the Warne trailer and was great in the ‘awkward role playing’ scene of the sexual harassment Seminar.
Honourable Mention
Cameron Peace - After being cast as the Spin King because he could spin bowl, Peacey came in and crushed the role of Warne. Bulking up with meat pies, downing a tin of cold baked beans and getting the on field celebrations right. If Peacey hadn’t enjoyed it so much he probably would have won this week.
Suzanne McGavin - Suz gets a mention for shooting the seminar scenes twice, once with just Dan S, Pat and herself and again when we managed to get most of the cast together the day of the shoot.
Not Even Close
Conference Room Table - I swear it was broken before we got there but it still might not have been the best idea to move the big table but we needed the space. Anyway it came apart and we tried to fix it but the table fell on Kam’s foot. There was swelling, blood and no Popcorn Insurance.
Michael Payne - The only guy we couldn’t get at the same time as the rest of the cast for the behind the scenes seminar. We even got Dan Auld and Kam together! Yet we couldn’t get Payney and he was shot on a separate day.
| Episode 10 |
Worker of the Week
Frank Csapo II - When Frank retires/quits/is sacked from IWT and we blackball him from this business he’ll always have taxi driving to fall back on. Just take a look at him in Taxi School. Not only that though, Frank put on a brave face to appear in ‘that scene’ and finished up with The Way Wollongong Was.
Honourable Mention
Trent Bocompagni - Gets an honourable mention this week as the ‘Comedy Ref’ was only in two segments. Three probably would have got you the WOTW. Professor Brickstaff is also an unsung hero in the Taxi School sketch.
Anna Kelly - The scene in the office. You’ll know the one I’m talking about. Dan S started calling Suz ‘Not Anna’ as a result of Anna even agreeing to be in it.
Jay Bonnor - As Trev he really didn’t want to wear the Tigers jersey, Jay also gets a mention for the his great delivery of ‘F**k you’se all’ while giving everyone at the BBQ the finger.
Not Even Close
Kamuran Musker - For no showing, without explanation or warning, on his final day of filming where he was to be involved in a final scene re-shoot of the ‘Boardies for Board’ Behind the Scenes storyline and in the final scene for the BTS storyline for episode 13, hence forcing a lot of script changing on the day of the shoot.
| Episode 9 |
Worker of the Week
Lara Freestone - Dan S would like to use this WOTW as way to apologise to you after the Surgery storyline. He said some pretty harsh stuff to you and really only meant like forty percent of it. You also had to deal with a creepy doctor and Dan S in drag make up. So three points is the least we could do.
Honourable Mention
Trent Boncompagni - Besides the usual news report Trent was outstanding this week as a cop in the True Wollongong Stories - especially when yelling “This guy’s got drugs! Where are they? Up you arse!” over and over again in a quiet car park on a Friday night.
Hostage Night Club - For letting us use their club for True Wollongong Stories free of charge, even letting Dan S get behind the DJ deck. All this and they only heard about it a couple of hours before we turned up to shoot.
Not Even Close
Suzanne McGavin - Hey, where were you this episode? Oh right, the episode breakdowns didn’t include a sketch you were in. Well, no excuses in the Worker of the Week Competition.
| Episode 8 |
Worker of the Week
Suzanne McGavin - Did you really think she wouldn’t get it this week? Suz had to contend with me doing my best to creep her out after she squashed into the Danstand couch AND she was in a catfight. Plus she buttoned up to become a member of CAVE.
Honourable Mention
Lara Freestone - Once again proving the power of people wanting to be on TV, we get Lara and Jane to hurl at each other and Suz. While bonus points go to Jane for letting Dan S call her an ignorant slut, Lara had the most fight in her.
Red Hat Gnome - Out of all the little guys we had for Gnome Means Gnome ‘old red hat’ was the one that had the unfortunate task of being the ‘sick one’ for this sketch. It would have been okay but Payney thought it was a good idea to stick him in vice and ended up crushing the poor guy. In the words of Payney “In hindsight it wasn’t the best idea.”
So long Red Hat you’ve already been forgotten.
Not Even Close
Michael Payne - See above.
| Episode 7 |
Worker of the Week
Frank Csapo II - Frank had this win in the bag when we were in primary school. For being the guy who gives us a great segment to begin with then making it even better with his fine retelling of the event, Frank picks up the points. There are some great storytellers in this world. Why would he make this up?
Honourable Mention
Suzanne McGavin - Proving that she’s still got it, Suz brought sexy back. Enough said.
Michael Payne - Even without a pipe and barely enough glue to hold the ‘mo on, Payney played a pretty convincing Doctor version of himself. Seriously if you interview yourself you’re going to get a mention. Unless you’re Pat because this will just give him more ammunition to want to film the segment Pat On Pat.
Not Even Close
Trent Boncompagni - On ACT News Active he had to carry the anchors part of the segment and quote direct dialogue from Scarface without having seen the movie so Trent wins it this week... Actually, for being a male and not seeing Scarface, Trent gets a ‘Not Even Close.’
| Episode 6 |
Worker of the Week
Lara Freestone - Picks up her first win as the always professional Bree from Home Shopping selling something she clearly knew nothing about (Lara’s not much of a wrestling fan) I suppose also for letting Dan S put her in the full nelson wrestling hold, something like, four times and spitting his gum into her hand in two takes.
Honourable Mention
Trent Boncompagni / Josh Moran - Both the guys deserve a mention this week for their excellent charity work. While most of the sketch was shot in the garage they did have to drop trou in public. Both also appeared in Gnome Means Gnome.
Anna Kelly - Turned up in many awkward sketches this week. With Dan S on the casting couch. Being approached by a pants-less Josh and Trent in Cocktober and, possibly worst of all, leaving with Luke at the end of Gnome Means Gnome. Please accept this Honourable Mention as an apology.
Not Even Close
Frank Csapo II - Yes, he brought us a tripod and camera from his brothers’ place but it took his lazy arse until 2 o’clock to do it thereby cutting our studio schedule down to two episodes for that day. Frank sealed his fate by claiming on the Monday after the shoot that we should award him ‘Worker of the Week’ for doing so.
| Episode 5 |
Worker of the Week
Jane Williamson - Picks up her first win for being the focus of a storyline and, although she paid a heavy price having to sit next to Dan S on the casting couch, didn’t crack up while on it. Her sexy whispered suggestions left a lot to be desired though. Also appeared as Shandy in ‘Bogan Knows Best’ and in the ‘joke emails’ ACT story wearing an orange T-shirt even though she hates the colour.
Honourable Mention
Frank Csapo II - Franky picks up a mention for nailing a line in the ‘Interrogation’ sketch. “What have you got? A panel van?” is random and threatening at the same time. I want it on a damn t-shirt right now! He also appeared in the ‘joke emails’ ACT story but only as a surly computer guy so it really wasn’t much of a stretch.
Jay Bonnor - His first IWT appearance sees Jay fit right in on ‘Bogan Knows Best’ where we made him wear a West Tigers jersey against his will and him legitimately taking part in the Andrew Johns saga. Great debut.
Elizabeth Williamson - Earns a special mention for stepping into the role of ‘Lucy’ in the ‘Interrogation’ sketch the morning of the shoot. Seriously Pat turned up on Dan’s doorstep with the wrong sister and she did a great job. Although it forced us to change the end of the storyline.
Not Even Close
“What have you got? A panel van?” - There was nothing wrong with delivery of the line but for some reason no one in the sketch could get through Frank saying it without cracking up for minutes after the take. The line itself isn’t even that funny but for eating into filming, this line gets a Not Even Close.
Dan Auld - The rules state that Pat, or either of the Dans can be nominated for Worker of the Week but for one time only Dan gets a Not Even Close for stumbling over the words ‘Stawanski’ and ‘Jane.’ Dan’s last name, fair enough, it’s mispronounced all the time but ‘Jane.’ What the f**k Auld? You’ve worked on this show four seasons you should know how to pronounce our names.
| Episode 4 |
Worker of the Week
Michael Payne - Wins the points this week for a particularly difficult sports report based on professional wrestling and after a lot of persuading, giving us Mika’s ‘Ca-ching!’ for the ‘What’s Gay’ segment. Payney also appeared in ‘The Playpen’ and as an American in the vox pops.
Honourable Mention
Mitch Rowland - For being one of three people in the storyline for the episode and for getting spewed on by Pat and driving us around wearing a chauffeur’s hat. Even though he should be lucky to be in the show. There were hundreds of other people who would kill to be spewed on by Pat.
Can Of Soup - Thanks can of Campbell’s chunky soup. Thanks for being so meaty and chunky and with the help of a little water making an already hung over Pat really get into character and Lara legitimately shocked.
Not Even Close
Kamuran Musker - Even though the song was good after he eventually turned up to film it, Kam gets it for not turning up to shoot ‘IWT’s War on the Chaser’ on numerous occasions, making us set up and take down the couch and chairs three f**king times just to shoot the studio segment. Not to mention the epic battle trying to get him to do the song. That couch resides UPSTAIRS Kam you bastard.
| Episode 3 |
Worker of the Week
Frank Csapo II - We probably can’t go past our first studio guest. Frank plays pissed off so well it really seems he doesn’t want to be in a stuffy garage on a hot day under lights. He hassled Pat throughout the Behind the Scenes plus he knew the entire ‘no cash’ scene from Chopper.
Honourable Mention
Lara Freestone - A welcome return of pretty lady Bree keeping IWT Home Shopping under control when Salvadore feels cheated, copped some mental abuse as Terrence Buttler told her to lay off the cupcakes and more anguish after being coupled with Frank. Lara also gets a mention for some great fake tears of happiness.
Kamuran Musker - Does a great job pitching us both ‘awkward boner moments’ and ‘Nightbox: The Crime Fighting Lunchbox.’ An idea that we’ve wanted to mention since some guy pitched it to us in a car park. Nightbox just getting airtime on IWT was an in joke for most of the cast. Yes this was a weak Mention so I’ll make it up to you with...
Not Even Close
Michael Payne - Not one but two draggers of the chain this week. The first is Payney, who scores it for running late to the Gnome Means Gnome shoot therefore making an odd looking ‘hiding scene’ for the rest of the team. It was almost Suz for the number of takes involved in Celebridential but 17 Take Dan was in that sketch too so it wasn’t all her fault.
Inappropriate Scripts - It was more bad timing then any offensive comedy on our part but one of the licences Salvadore is selling is of Heath Ledger. Bree doesn’t help the matter with “not everyone can look like Will Smith or Heath Ledger.” Plus the original name for the Gnome Means Gnome couple as ‘McGraw’ which we discovered sounds a lot like McGrath. Luckily we had a chance to change this one but seriously inappropriate scripts, clean up your act.
| Episode 2 |
Worker of the Week
Anna Kelly - Even though she debuted last week as ‘Tanya the gardening chick’ in Gnome Means Gnome, it’s in Episode 2 that Anna’s role is explained. Being given the name ‘Not Suz.’ Dan S calling her sugar tits and then sitting on the casting couch while he uncomfortably admired her gives Anna the win.
Honourable Mention
Trent Boncompagni / Luke Boncompagni / Josh Moran - Don’t know how to split the three guys this week. All of them put their bodies and sexuality on the line to fight each other with plastic swords and drawn on abs for the sake of a ‘300’ gag... and yes, someone they knew drove past and stopped while we were filming. Awkwardness ensued.
Lara Freestone - Coined the term ‘Mo dad’ which will be entered into the IWT filming dictionary to describe a cast member playing older than the rest of us in order to be the ‘parent’ in a sketch. Lara appeared as both Jason’s ‘mother’ and as ‘blonde pizza party girl.’ She also gave us some fried gold improv in ‘Trav and Trace’ with “You’d get in the Mercury.”
Not Even Close
Plastic Swords - What good are kids’ plastic swords when three grown men can’t swing them with force at each other and not break them? We must have gone through four swords filming that ‘300’ sketch. Not to mention the dangerous flying ‘chips’ these cheap, Chinese knockoffs produced every time they clashed during battle.
| Episode 1 |
Worker of the Week
Michael Payne - Pre game + Final sports rant + News Active sports report + Officer Emmany + Coups = Way too much Payney. “I made these drawings for you.”
Honourable Mention
Frank Csapo II - This could have gone to anyone in the dressing sheds sketch as the cast turned up to sit in front of us, but since Frank built/is running this website he can pretty much do what he wants with the word documents we send him. If it says Frank he has probably cut out Lara’s name and written his own Honourable Mention.
Mark Williamson - Had a hand in just about every sketch - booming in the studio segments and the Play Pen, appearing in the dressing sheds and creating new music for Gnome Means Gnome and the opening montage. If he would just get a haircut he’ll be Worker of the Week.
Not Even Close
Trent Boncompagni - Could have given this to God as well, as ‘Gnome Means Gnome’ was a problem shoot for us. We had to cancel filming five times. Trent gets it though for injuring himself playing cricket the day before and cancelling the morning of the shoot... and he ended up not even being in the sketch.