So… What Now?

What Now’s final show of 2023. Source: Richie Mills / @whatnownz on Instagram. 

What Now, the iconic show that babysat us when our parents wanted to sleep in on a Sunday morning, has quietly undergone major changes that seem to have slipped under the radar. 

Without any official announcement, the kids’ show has cut its live broadcast and moved to a digital content platform. A one-hour episode still airs on a Sunday at 8:30am, but the live audience that we all craved to be in no longer exists. 

What Now producer Emma Martini told The Spinoff that the show must “pivot”, also commenting that they “want to be where [their] tamariki are, which is very much online, watching content when they want.” 

Deanna Young, Head Teleop Coordinator in 2023, was a staff member when the news broke that What Now was entering a new era. The NASDA student called it the “best job ever” due to the fun behind the scenes, the fascinating world of live broadcasting, making cameos on television, and meeting celebs like Emma Memma and Bluey. 

But despite the all the fun and the gunge, the end of the live broadcast meant that Teleops no longer existed in this new version of What Now. An email from Whitebait Media directors Jason and Janine Gunn closed this chapter, leaving some staff members feeling a little bitter, Young explained. 

"We kind of just got told, 'hey, you don't have a job anymore’,” Deanna recalled.  

“And we could see everyone who was cc’d into that email, and I think that's what caused a lot of drama and upset a lot of people… some people had been there for ten years and got cc’d into the same email, and I’d only been there for four months.”  

To The Spinoff, Martini offered high praise for the live studio crew, and said they were “specialised at what they do”. 

She said it was sad to say goodbye to the “family fun” environment and to the crew – very gently acknowledging the large dismissal of many staff members due to the shift to digital content. 

Young understood that times are changing for them, and the desire to adapt in order to continue the show, but she couldn’t help but sense the “eerie kind of feeling” that was in the building during the final episode. 

From an outsider’s point of view, it appeared to be a big celebration of Stella Maris’ four years at What Now, with free burgers and coffee, dance numbers, and the emptying of the renowned prize cupboard. 

But in reality, it was the end of a chapter for many in that studio – not just Stella Maris. 

The state of media in Aotearoa has an uncertain future. With Newshub closing and The Project’s quick dismissal, alongside various other shows, What Now was forced to pivot in order to keep a Kiwi treasure alive. So let’s take a moment to reminisce on the show that got us out of bed every Sunday morning. 

What Now has babysat children for 43 years now, so not only did it raise us, but it also raised our babysitters: the hosts. 

Wells, left, with co-host Stella Maris. Source: What Now / Facebook. 

Erin Wells, former host, said applying for the role “was kind of a no-brainer”. After an unsuccessful application in 2015, Wells tried out again in 2018 for the “dream job”– which turned out to be everything she had hoped for. 

Reflecting on her five-year journey with What Now, Erin Wells expressed nostalgia for the unique experiences that only a host of the show can relate to. This chapter came to an end in June 2023 when she moved to London. 

"It feels so weird that for six years of my life, it was just a common occurrence to get gunged. It's been nearly a year now, and I just haven't been messy, and some days I just want to look wild." 

Over her five-year tenure, Wells noticed changes in their audience's media consumption habits. After hitting the road, dealing with lockdowns, and eventually returning to the in-person studio, viewership of the live broadcast reduced as digital habits developed. 

“Kids are changing… the way they learn and the way they take things in. So if What Now is not changing with it, then it’s gonna get left behind… as much as I love live What Now, I think they’re absolutely smashing it in this new format as well,” she said. 

Wells loved the adrenaline of the live broadcast; the challenge of trying to find her way through it often became her favourite moments. In the finale episode of 2022, “Shakira Shakira” kept replaying in their in-ear monitors, forcing them to uncontrollably laugh and cut to an ad break. 

The format changes occurred six months after her departure to London. Wells expressed sadness at the loss of the live broadcast, which she was a big fan of: "So many people who were involved in live broadcasts suddenly can't be involved in that anymore." 

She acknowledged the challenges faced by those in the industry. "Now so many people there are having to fight for not as many roles. It's actually heartbreaking.” 

Despite the minor challenges, like waking up at 4am on Sundays, dealing with brain blank, and technical malfunctions, Wells reminisces on her time on What Now fondly. 

“No matter what format it's in, the core of [What Now] is always the same and always so iconic. It's gunge, fun, kids… it's just in a different space at the moment.” 

Fellow London resident and former host Charlie Panapa echoed Wells' sentiments; he shares a love for the live broadcast. 

“That’s the thing with the magic of live television and working with kids, is that you never know what you're going to get.” 

Panapa's journey to becoming a What Now host began when he was "in the right place at the right time”. He crossed paths with a What Now producer who pursued him for the role, eventually securing him as a host. 

Entering the role as a “perfectionist” was tough, but his self-critique led to newfound confidence, enhancing his skills. “I realised my worries could make things more interesting. Turning mistakes into TV gold became one of my greatest strengths.” 

This was evident in a memorable moment with a young Justin Bieber, where an L&P bottle sprayed everywhere, leading to a funny exchange after JB walked out of the interview. 

“But that poor little girl was distraught and was like, ‘why did you do that to Justin!? He’s never going to come to New Zealand again, he hates us now!’,” Panapa laughed. 

Panapa, left, during the chaotic Bieber incident. Source: What Now / YouTube. 

Panapa occupied television screens every Sunday morning from 2005 to 2011, in an era where linear television was all there was. Due to being the only kids’ TV programmed on Sunday mornings, “everyone was watching it,” Panapa said. 

“Even parents and hungover university students were watching it, because it was before digital TV sort of came into play.” 

Finishing up his hosting duties in 2011, he felt as though his time at What Now was “coming to the end of truly terrestrial television before digital.” 

Hoping that the new version of What Now “finds a new sort of life online”, he elaborated on the iconic status the show has had in Aotearoa television history.  

“It would be sad for it to go altogether. So even if it now exists as an online platform, a new generation of New Zealand kids can come to love and appreciate the show and the heart of What Now.” 

But amid all the changes, Panapa believes one crucial thread must remain: the strong connection between the presenter and the children. 

“The thing that makes What Now is the connection with the audience. If I ever went anywhere in New Zealand, kids would talk to me as if they knew me, because in a way they did. They were spending like two hours of every week with me. And so they did feel that they had that connection.” 

What Now's transformation is more than just a change in format; it's a reflection of how media is evolving. The show’s new life in the digital age isn’t just about keeping up with the times but also about preserving its essence – the connection it fosters with its young audience. The shift to digital-first may mark the end of an era for What Now, but its spirit lives on in the memories in the hearts of Kiwis young and old.