The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 58

Aliens pig out at breakfast A spaceship has landed at Channel 9 Misha Ketchell climbs aboard to discover why Hogging the limelight: Rodney (Nicholas Russell) befriends aliens Meeba, Grab and Queegle. Green (Nicholas Russell and Eve Morey), who help them avoid discovery so they can fix the space bus and get back home. Gibson says the cast and crew really did take over the studios when filming the series earlier this year. "Every now and then we'd see bits of news items being shot or Daryl Somers walking around doing a promo but basically it was just our little crew, the kids and the aliens, all over the carparks and the back lots." Gibson is among a number of performers who play the adult characters (Kim Gyngell, Paul Mercurio, Denise Scott and Peter Rowsthorn make appearances). She plays the scheming producer of the breakfast show, Di Bailey, who appears to have been surgically attached to her mobile phone and designer sunglasses.

Her modus operandi is to manipulate the breakfast-show host, her smarmy son Philip (Jeremy Hopkins). CHANNEL 9 has been taken over by aliens. Station sources last week said a spaceship crash landed at the studio over summer and aliens have been virtually running the place ever since. "Pig's Breakfast," says comedian Lynda Gibson when confronted about the situation. But she's not stonewalling; she is trying to explain.

As a cast member of the new half-hour children's show for eight to 12 year olds, Pig's Breakfast, she's been colluding with its alien stars Grob, and Meeba from the start Pig's Breakfast is the story of two young aliens who crash their interstellar school bus into the Channel 9 studio, are mistaken for comedians in rubber suits, and end up hosting a failing children's breakfast show (then the ratings soar). They become friends with two human children, Rodney and Lucy and Gibson's fruitless struggle to get the kids to be naughtier on set, she says it was fun. "There was slime all the way through it. Everyone got slimed or gooped or gunked or vomited on. Philip was the fall guy though.

There'd be days when he'd be slimed and gooed and gunked three or four times. He was always copping it." Pig's Breakfast screens at 4pm from Monday to Wednesday on Channel 9. Channel 9 and production company Southern Star were so impressed with it they struck a deal to co-produce 52 episodes without even commissioning a pilot. "We'd shoot four episodes every 10 days. It worked out about two and a half days per episode, which is just hectic.

I don't know how the crew did it. And the kids, they had to do their homework on top of that," says Gibson. Despite the heat making life difficult for the actors in the alien suits None of the adults are portrayed positively. Newsreader Malcolm Wilson (Geoff Paine) becomes a fully fledged Ken-Bruce-has-gone-mad nutcase after he sees the alien space bus and convinces himself he's on to the biggest story in town. Station manager Mr Howard (Gary Files) and the Mr Bean-like security guard, Mr Pratt (Ernie Gray), are also a sandwich short of a picnic.

Pig's Breakfast was dreamed up by award-winning children's TV writer Mark Shirrefs, and John Thomson. "Rent Smart" GranhicsCAD Workstation Dolphin Computer Tech PL 10 years worth of satisfied life specialise in Microsoft and Novell networks We have in house CNE (Certified Novell Engineer) Gigabyte P2P3 Intel BX ATX Mainbd 5- -I Deluxe lower ai A case zsow 2t 128MB 168pin 6ns PC100 SD RAM 10.2Gb WD Ultra DMA Super Hard Disk Head Office S2 pf Ringwood 105 Marooiulah Hviy 1690-694 High Street East Kew 3102 32Mb RivaTNT II M64 3D AGP Card Princeton EO705 17" .27 XGA Monitor 1 .44 Panasonic Floppy Disk Drive Honeywell PS2 Enhanced Keyboard Microsoft PS2 Intelli Mouse Mouse Pad Celenn Special Pk 103) S76 9188 Pli: (03) 9859 8409 Fax: 103) 9870 9188 Celeron 333 $1125 fin. 103) 9859 3503 PCV Server $1150 Compaq Presarlo 2294 Client server based network oirmoii, 64MB SDRAM, 4.3GB HDD Sound Card, 40x CDROM Motherboard, 1.44 FDD 17" Digital Monitor, Speakers 8MB AGP Video, Mouse Keyboard and Mini-Tower Case K62-350MHZ. 64MB RAM Celeron 366 Celeron 400 Celeron 433 Celeron 466 $1200 $1250 $1300 5X Panasonic DVD 480W Speakers 56K PCI V.90 VoiceDataFax Int. Modem Sound Blaster Live Stereo Sound Card Windows 98 on CD Rom with Manual Princeton EO900 Gigabyte BXDS Dual CPU Mbd 256Mb PCIOO ECO SDRam SGb Quantum UW SCSI HDD 15" Monitor.

Mouse. 104 Kbd Network fax solution Internet Email solution Remote access solutions software Servers and PC hardware sales 6GB HD. 24X CD. Inl 56K. 15" Monitor.

Win 98. Bundle Software $2,190 Compaq Armada 1500c P-ll Cel 300MHz. 32Mb Ram 40x pioneer SCSI Co, amb aqf Intel 10100 Lan Card. 1.44 FDD Professional Graphics Workstation IMPRESOR P-2 333 $1500 P-2 350 $1650 P-2 400 $1700 P-2 450 $1800 Network support service contracts 4GB HD. 12.1" TFT, 24X CD, Network and IT consulting FDD, Win 95 $2,990 AbitBXMB, 64MB PC100 SDRAM 6.4Gb Quantum, 40x CDROM 16MB Banshee 2D3D, 17" ADIMon Creative Ensoniq SC.1.44 Panasonic FDD Mouse, Spk, ATX case Intel BX ATX Delux Mainboard 8Gb SCSI Tape Backup Full tower ATX Case, 300W PS P3 450500550 $329536954195 64MB 166pin PC100 SD RAM Y2K Testing I Computer Upgrade Compaq Armada 1500c 6 4Gb WDFulitsu UDMA HDD P-ll Ccl 366MHz.

32Mb Ram 8mb Diamond Speedster AGP Card Cable installation On site and in bouse services POM STARTER PRINTERS MONITORS HARD DISKS TXpro Motherboard, 3.2GB HDD Video accelerator, 1.44 FDD fr1 32MB SDRAM, 16 bit SC 15V28Pioview $235 $850 4GB HD. 12.1" TFT. 24X CD, FDD. Win 95 $3,090 Toshiba Salellte 4060XCDT 64Mb Ram. 4GB HDD.

14 TFT, 24X CD, FDD, Win 98' $490 4.3g $160 6.4g WO $1091 IS' Princeton XGA Monitor 1 .44 Panasonic Floppy Drive Midi Tower ATX Case 250W PS Enhanced Win PS2 Keyboard MS Compatible Mouse Pad 44X CD-ROM 120W Speakers 32it PCI ST Sound Card 'Option: Windows 98 $150 Princeton InteMOOcel $1,295 lntel-433cel $1,350 PIMOOMhz $1,455 PIII-450Mhz $1,590 Princeton 15-EO505S28! Princeton CANON BJC285SP $140 CANON BJC4310 $200 CANON BJC5000tUt $485 CANON BJC7100 $485 IBM PR-300 IBM PR-333 K6-2333 8.40 VWD All major products and brands Dolphin Pro System P-ll 450400350, 100MHz BX Board Genuine AbitGigabyle mainboard 64MB Ram, 4.3GB HDD 1 .44 FDD 1B-EO90U92! 1D.2gWD $27a $900 15" Mod, 40X CDROM, jaatg Speakers, Keyboard, mouse CANON Laser 880 $470 17- Son 200ES $790 30 WrU $303 ir ViewSonic E771 $53! 20g WD $499 HPOJ420 $150 HP DJ895 S23S Toshiba Satellite 2540CDT MULTIMEDIA IBg 32bll 3D SCard $30 MP DJ710C $205! HP DJB60C $510 4Mb S3 Virge Video Card AMD K6M-333, 64Mb Ram, 15" Nl Cnlnnr 400 tel A ur, 15" NI Colour Monitor 4GB 14.1" SB 128 PCI $80 ZipOrtvalnl $135 Weekly Special SB Live Value SX2W HP LaserJet 1100 $870 HD, TFT. 24X CD, ZipSCSIPd $1S9 AMD K6-2'300 'Abil BX6 MfB, 64MB PC100, 1.44 FDD') 40xCD-Rom $75 IHP LaserJet 110OA 1820 Pentium II or Socket 7 Mbd FDD, Win 98 $3,890 8.4Gb Quantum, 40X CDROM 12'1 TFT. CDROM LS 120 Inl $145 HP LaserJet 2100 $126GIUvl a i-ana iB3 HP Laser 4050 a $2300DVD 6 P-oneer $209 16m Banshee 2D3D, 17" AOI Mon $4991 DiskZipiLstZO $2 Toshiba Satellite 2540CDS 4.0GB HDD, 64MB HP 710 Office Jet $780 Pane 8x4 Kit S4S5 8x4 IDE $3S9 Creative Ensoniq SC, Mouse AMD K6II-333. 32Mb Ram. SCANNERS 1.44FDD 24XCD Keytromc 104 KB Midi Tower ATX Case 32X CD ROM 16 bit Sound Blaster I20W Speakers MS Mouse and pad Windows 98 HP 3200c $1601 SCSI Controller $75 Ricoh 20x4x4 $480 Psz rvBD, 4S0W Spk, ATX case 4GB HD.

13.3" STN, 24X CD EPSON Stylus 440 $210 EPSON Stylus 640 $270 EPSON Stylus 740 $430 EPSON Stylus 000 $680 HP 4200c TV Tuner $12! FDD, Win 98 $2,950 WIN98 Hbshiba 2520CDT 8mb AGP 30 $65 P3-450 P3-500 S1900 S2300 $3201 $3551 $405 $65Sl 64MB SD RAM 4 3 Gb WDFujitsu Hard Disk 8mb AGP 3D Card 15" Colour 0.28DP Monitor 1.44 Panasonic Floppy Drive Midi Tower Case 230W PS Enhanced Whi'95 Keyboard MS Compatible Mouse Pad 40X CD-Rom 120WSpk PCI 32 Vibra 16 sound card "Option: Windows 98 $150 Option- 15'Prlneeton $3S Pill 450MHz 18Mb Banahee $138 $3150 ifcPSON Photo 700 $360 EPSON Photo 1200 $830 HP 5100c HP 5200c HP 6200c Mustek A4 U3-SS0 S2800J 16Mb RivaTNT $130 Printers Parts HP 695C $255 EPSON 1520 (A2) $880 $14! InteltiOcel $1050 PenMttO $1275 K6-23D 350 $935 KM3D400 $1050 K6-23D450 $1150 32Mb RivaTNT 2 $270 Voodoo II 12M $135 FAX MODEMS $6k Vote VM Int. POWER PARTS HP 710C $330 III 2000 $295 SCk Voice VM Ext SBO Voodoo III 3000 $389 AMDK6-2 3H $245 AUDK6-24O0 $2S5 16 Mb Viper 770 $23 SI USR Message VW $189 lntH366Cd 1245 Jf ami4Jp TirJI P-III 500MHz THroy pihmomiiz Netcomm VM $189 58 PCMCIA $2351 32Mb SO 100 Ensoniq SC $50 32MB SDRAM $60 4.3G HDD S10 56K Internal $55 64MB SDRAM $85 6 4GHDD S220 40x CDROM $75 128MB SDRAM $180 4G HDD S245 Canon 265 $140 Eoson 440 $215 HP 3200 scan S175 Canon 4310 $200 EDSon 640 $275 HP 695 S240 Canon 4650 A3 $400 Eoson 740 $445 HP 710 S299 Intel P2400 $499 64Mb SD 100 LAN PCMCIA $99 iIMb SD 100 155 Inlel P34S0 $6' Epson440640 Canon BJC265SP S165 Canon FB320P $225 HP 320QC Scanner $199 3.2GB4.3GB 6.4Gig $290 to RMIT) Groan thorough: 76 Victoria St. Tl: (03) 9663 8222 77 Grime) haw St. Tl; (03) 9432 1600 Fax: (03) 0432 1063 Fax: (03) 0663 8228 intel AMDJ1 PACKAPQ motion bcworldfgjpcworld.com.au -cwwbwn on cvw oigpTmw pcwortdpcwortd.com.au 3dfx Vnndon III Ultra Light Slimeline Models writ, Armada 3500 Sharp PC-A250 24MB Ram 2. 1 GB HDD 56K Modem 4GB HDD 4C.BIIDD $1995 24XCD ROM 12.1" Colour Win '95 -LVI'TFTXtlA -12MB Ram r2j3j'jsri 3 V-fU 'lef -6 4GB I IPPVlBWB z-nrrrr SSt -iu-tft jcSLP 32MB 61MB Ram 2.1GB HDD I2.P Colour 56K Modem 24X CD ROM -KillllDIJ TFTStrccn -24XCD ROM COMCORP 24 CD ROM I2.PTFT -SdK Mndcm 24X CD ROM -Win -15 Will i FAX: 9699-1145 2.3 0tYRd.Srt.Mrib.

$4,595 $2J95 $2,995 $2,995 $2,695 OE. Pictures for isuslratun purposes only. Prices ere subject to change wtttwut notes. Pnces advertised are tor cash or bank cheque only.System comes with 2 Years parts 5 Years Labour..