Thank God It’s Friday at the Zoo

1 9 7 8 (Australia)
7 x 60 minute episodes

Despite the title, this Australian disco show aired on Monday nights (Thursday nights in Brisbane).

The Channel 10 show stole its title and ideas from the dismal low-budget American disco craze exploitation film Thank God It’s Friday and was similarly intended to exploit the disco craze.

Musical guests were interviewed at the “Oasis Bar” by Sydney radio DJ Ian MacRae (from 2SM), and an inarticulate DJ called Karol Lopez – who constantly referred to herself as “Mama” – did the announcing.

Girls in leopard skins waited on the invited audience (specially selected for their disco dancing ability), and a dancer named “Angy” seemed to have a thousand cousins – all of them on the dancefloor.

The show premiered on 14 August 1978 with Aussie musical acts Sherbet, John Paul Young, The Studs, and Delilah, and special guest David Frost (who, coincidentally, had an interest in the company producing the show, McCabe Paradine).

Guests on other episodes included Stylus, Darryl Cotton, Peaches, actor Jack Thompson, and a telephone interview with Great Train Robber-on-the-run Ronnie Biggs.

The camera work was sloppy, the disco dancing was unimaginative and boring to watch, and pitched against the ratings-topping Don Lane Show on Channel Nine, the show never really stood a chance.

It was gone by the end of September.

Hosts
Ian MacRae
The Hon. Nick Jones
Karol Lopez