Jono and Ben: The journey to prime time

Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce otherwise known as Jono and Ben are one of the most recognisable duos in New Zealand entertainment.

After starting out as stars in their own right they came together as Jono and Ben a juggernaut of Kiwi comedy that was one of TVs top rating shows for seven years. The show helped launch the career of many of New Zealand's top comedic acts and their skits and pranks became legendary and live on to this day.

From Ben starting out on Pulp Sport and Jono on being professionally tortured on “do stuff to Jono Friday's” they are now the hosts of the breakfast show on The Hits and their broadcast journey has mirrored their life arc with their content maturing as they have.

There is no ego with these guys despite their success, they are genuine, warm, funny and quick witted, but there's great depth to them and they touch on very serious, important themes – like asking for help – and being there for your mates in tough times.

Show notes | Episode 85 | Jono and Ben

1.50: Not the traditional three-way but a comfortable four-way including sponsors product and beard envy

2.55: Talkability promotions: Jono's Sky City marathon

6.58: Influences on the come up: Marc and Matthew, Sports Café, Eating Media Lunch

12.56: Old men reminisce about stuff: video stores and the VHS, taping songs off the radio

15.45: “Show us your crack”: New Zealand's most famous radio jingle courtesy of Ben

18.57: Pulp Sport: a YouTube show that made it to Sky Sport

23.52: The pilot skit that went very wrong for Ben

29.50: Do stuff to Jono: experiences in commercial radio

37.57 Jono gets a start in TV on C4

40.47: The making of Jono and Ben

47.28: Moving from late-night Friday TV to prime time

49.30: The cast of characters on and off screen 52.37 A review of some of the best skits: the most destructive prank ever, Jono at Blues training, House covered in Post it notes

1.01.00: Using your platform to speak about important issues

1.06.08: The evolution of Jono and Ben and the stresses of working together

1.13.29: The end of Jono and Ben

1.16.56: A brief history of radio: from The Rock, to The Edge, to The Hits

1.17.40: Creating content: the rise of viral videos, TikTok 1.20.09 A Guy Williams skit gets awkward and their appearance on the Graham Norton Show 1.24.05 Trying to stand out while interviewing celebrities: Jared Leto, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dwayne Johnson

1.30.54: Breakfast on The Hits and what the future holds

1.34.36: Last words from Steven, Seamus and Jono and Ben

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