What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 18, 2024
What's New November 23, 2018
20 years to the day: Martin Molloy call it quits
The Fox’s groundbreaking Drive show Martin Molloy called time 20 years ago today, on November 23.
Tony Martin and Mick Molloy broadcast their show from 1995 to 1998. The final broadcast took place on December 4, 1998.
The hugely successful show, which was the first ever nationally syndicated Drive show, featured everything from brilliant satire to hilarious low-brow sketches.
It was networked into every capital city, as well as 47 regional stations.
Martin Molloy dominated the ratings during their time on The Fox, and the pair also released three double CD albums.
They paved the way for shows like Hamish & Andy, Kate, Tim & Marty, Kennedy Molloy, Hughesy & Kate, and other Drive shows at a time when ‘talent driven shows’ were almost exclusively restricted to the Breakfast slot.
“Four years of fart jokes, gratuitous pot-shots and public figures and doomed attempts to work out exactly what Paul Hester is crapping on about have taken their toll,” said Martin Molloy in a statement, 20 years ago today.
“Usually when a show like ours pulls up stumps it’s because the idea is exhausted — in this case it’s the participants who need a lie-down.”
On their final show, Tony and Mick would famously forego the final song on their playlist – ‘Cruel’ by Human Nature — in favour of a highlight reel of past shows.
The last skit was based on newsreader Jim Waley, whose soundbites were arranged to sing a song called ‘Crazy Lesbians Full Of Beans’ to the tune of ‘Voodoo People’ by The Prodigy.
Related news
What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 18, 2024
What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 18, 2024
Radio Ratings
BY Staff Writer April 18, 2024
People talk about Hamish and Andy a lot these days. They are/were good, great even… but not a patch on what Martin Molloy was. Not a patch on content, humour, ratings (especially Sydney), and impact. They made the best radio show in this country. Ever. Period.
Still the best drive show ever aired in Australia. It was absolute gold.
Radio Gold !
The originals and still the best
I always felt like Tony was clearly the brains trust behind this operation, yet somehow the public resonated more with Mick which was reflected in Mick gaining more high profile gigs after the split.
I feel bad for Tony, especially after Mick shafted him with the whole Boy Town DVD debacle.
Get This and Martin/Molloy…the good old days!
The irony is Mick’s new show is not rating well especially in the Sydney market. Mick without Tony doesn’t cut it. They were the best on air team ever. Nothing else has come close. Even Carrie Bickmore and Hughesy and Kate are beating Molloy’s show. Get the boys back together please.
Alright, that’s good stuff
Tony Martin was a content machine.Incredible mind.History tells the story of how good that team was,but damn the music they placed around them was “brown”.Shame on you Music Director.They could have played Walter Ostanek and Eddie Blazonczyk polkas and would have gotten the ratings.
Oh, how good is this?
Tony for PM !
Why doesn’t one of the networks play best of’s Martin Molloy. I’d listen again.
Mick’s new show isn’t a patch on Martin Molloy. He hasn’t done anything decent since Martin Molloy. Tony was the brains no question.
Mick is away more than King Kyle at least Kyle is Number One.
How about an interview with Tony and Mick.