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Andrew Günsberg in the spotlight

Andrew Günsberg has come close to US gigs before, but landing the CBS reality series, Live to Dance, is just about as big as it gets.

He has been living in Los Angeles since for six years, but it’s CBS’ Live to Dance that has given Andrew Günsberg his first big US break.

The artist formerly known as Andrew G is now being seen by millions of Americans in the new reality series, pitched as Paula Abdul’s follow up to her residency on American Idol. That certainly puts Günsberg in the spotlight, as he explains to TV Tonight.

“I was in Australia for my photo exhibition when CBS was casting the show originally,” he says. “However when I got back to LA it seems they were still without a host, and my name came up. A few quick meetings with the bigwigs at Reveille, culminating in a very Hollywood meeting on a Sunday afternoon with Paula Abdul at the Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel, and I had the gig. A dream come true!”

When he wasn’t busy with Australian Idol Günsburg has based himself in Los Angeles with actress /producer and wife Noa Tishby (Party Down, In Treatment, Big Love, The Deep End), mostly as an opportunity to have better access to artists for media interviews.

“At first this was for Channel [V] and Take 40 Australia, although the last year has been for the new radio project The Hot Hits Live from LA and The 7pm Project. The fact that I’m able to live in the same city as my wife while doing all of this is very handy too!” he says.

“I’ve been taking meetings since I first got here, because life is too short not to give it a go, right? I came really, really close to quite a few shows, met some huge players and shot a few pilots that didn’t get picked up. So six years of hustle finally paid off I guess!”

Based on the UK format, Got to Dance, the American Live to Dance welcomes dance competitors of all styles and all ages. Joining Abdul on the judging panel are Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls and Michael Jackson’s long-time choreographer Travis Payne.

Günsberg has been a quick convert to Abdul’s hands-on approach to producing.

“Paula Abdul is without doubt the most talented person I have ever worked with,” he says. “Her experience is without comparison in entertainment. As an Executive Producer, Paula is in touch with every single aspect of the production. From mentoring the contestants, to conceptualising the lighting and projection cues, to guiding the overall feel of the show – she’s working super hard to make this show a hit.

“I’m so lucky to be able to have the chance to work with someone with such passion for the success of the production and experience in showbusiness. I’m learning so much from her every day!”

But with a network show, the pressure is on. Media reports are already noting viewing numbers were down 25% after the first episode.

Such pressure is but one of the many difference he notes from the Australian industry.

“The economy of scale is the most noticeable thing. I mean, the population of Greater Los Angeles alone is more than that of the whole of Australia, so everything is bigger times about ten. It is most definitely the big leagues, as everyone takes the minute by minute numbers very, very seriously – because they’re worth millions of dollars,” he says.

“It is a fascinating thing to be a part of, and an amazing experience to be driven by the pressure at this level. I’m really lucky to experience it first hand, working with some of the biggest TV producers in the business.”

Television is such a church for the masses then even the contestants approach television with a different outlook.

“The biggest difference is that Americans are just born talkers. They all speak in sound bytes as if they have done it a thousand times before. It’s great, because it makes my job easier!”

And while live television experience may not be able to prevent trainwreck moments, it can arm you with better coping skills.

“There was a moment during the first live show that we did, where, as I announced the winning act, one of the dancers hugged me really hard and in doing so, hooked a thumb behind my IFB (interruptable fold back) earpiece, and ripped the tubing right out,” he explains.

“We use the earpiece because it allows me to hear everyone on set -my hearing is pretty bad, and in a big studio full of hundreds of screaming fans I can’t hear a thing unless the microphones are patched through to my earpiece- and allows communication between me and the control room.

“The director cues me through my IFB when the floor manager is on the other side of the set, and my producer also feeds constant time calls in my ear to tell me if we have enough time to chat with contestants and experts, or if we have to hurry up and cut to commercials.

“I managed to ‘Frankenstein’ it back together for the next three segments, but it fell to pieces during the second last commercial break and so I had to go on ahead without a vital tool for live broadcasting. Thankfully, I am blessed to have seven seasons of Idol and seven years of live TV at [V] and all the associated technical hiccups under my belt, so it was a little tense, but it was just one of those things that happens when going live.

“Between the floor manager and I we managed to get out on time and wrap up a great first live show.”

So, now that he has his first US gig on air, how does he view TEN’s decision to wrap up Australian Idol after seven seasons?

“Look, some productions don’t get seven episodes before being cancelled let alone seven seasons! I am incredibly grateful to every single day I worked in Idol, to every moment of experience that I gained, and all of the great people who worked on the show who taught me so much about what it was to make live Network event television.

“Of course I loved the job, but the very nature of TV is that if you make it past three seaons, anything else is a blessing. Idol has been an amazing door opener for me here in the USA, and gave me a skill set that hopefully will allow me to keep working for years to come.”

Live to Dance premieres 7:30pm Wednesday on FOX8.

10 Responses

  1. I worked with Andrew when he first joined Channel V from Brisbane radio. He had wide eyes, a shocking ponytail the length of his back, was eager to learn and always came into the control room after every show to thank the crew. He co-hosted a show with a girl named Paula;

    Andrew’s now hosting a US dance show. I saw Paula on TV last month….in a Fantastic Furniture ad. ‘Nuff said.

  2. Andrew is perfect – he is slick, cute, confident, Australian – always popular – gals swoon over the Aussie accent (Chris Hemsworth, Sam Worthington, Simon Baker….) He had the far better handle on his role on Aust Idol – the straight guy, and he handled himself fine once James departed. But does the world need another dance show????

  3. Andrew G is the perfect host for Amercan reality TV, a pretty boy with mediocre talent. On Aus Idol, James Mathison was always the better host, imo.

    (though I must say well done Andrew G, this is a big gig!)

  4. WIthout doubt the most egotistical, humourless and pompous face on Aussie TV in recent memory. And yes, despite the hate I still read the story. Because I like to torture myself.

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