Attendees yesterday were gripped for half-an-hour by the silliest, most-engaging SXSW panel in the history of the festival as Andrew “Bucky” Bucklow took to the stage for a movie and TV trivia competition to further News Australia’s fan engagement around free streaming service Tubi.
Bucklow was joined on stage by three contestants: Loren Barry, co-host of ‘The Hot Hits with Nic & Loren’ on The Hit Network, influencer Mitchell Coombs, and audience ring-in Christina – an accountant from Brisbane.
What became evident from Bucky as he steered the audience through very important (some would say ridiculous, but Mediaweek would never) questions about topics as far ranging as Titanic 2 and The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, is that he really missed his calling as a game show host.
Mediaweek caught up with Bucky just after the game show. Not only did he delight on stage, but he’s also Australia’s leading expert on all things Tubi, so we obviously had questions.
Mediaweek: What’s your top three Tubi recommendations?
Bucky: Well, it’s really tough. The movies change quite often. I think American Gangster starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe is awesome.
I really like some of the dodgy horror movies that you can see on there, like Chopping Mall. It’s stuff that you can have a few drinks with your friends, watch it and just be like: “How did this ever get made?” And I do love a little bit of trashy TV. So, The Simple Life starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie was so big when I was going through school and to be able to re-watch that… iconic.
Mediaweek: The title that everyone mentions seeing is Titanic 2. Have you watched it?
Bucky: I haven’t watched it. I’ve read the blurb and I was like: “Well, I have to save that for a special night. And I haven’t got to the special night yet.
I believe it’s set 100 years after the Titanic disaster. So, it’s not like Jack is clinging on to the door and that’s the beginning of the movie.”
Mediaweek: What’s the most surprising thing you have seen?
The thing about Tubi is it really is like a rabbit hole. You just Google something you kind of like on there or go on Tubi and search for something you like there. And you just find all these random, random things related to it.
And then you spend seven or eight hours. I love Michael Jackson, right? And I was like, I wonder if there’s anything Michael Jackson-like. And they’ve got this Michael Jackson documentary on there called, I think it’s called Ungloved.
And I spent like half an hour watching that. And I’m just like, I didn’t even plan to watch a documentary today. Whatever your interest is, you can usually find something on Tubi that relates to it.
Mediaweek: When people ask you, what is a Tubi? How do you explain it?
Bucky: It’s like every other streaming service, but it’s completely free.
And you can’t get a better deal than free these days. I’d say it’s full of not only good content, but also random content. Just go on there and have a look and you’ll find something you like.
And it’s free. The woman who just took part in our quiz today, she was like, “I didn’t even know what Tubi was”. She was saying: “we always just have one streaming service for a month because we can’t afford others.”
And I was like: “Now you can have Tubi for free all the time and get your kids entertained.” And she was like: “Yeah, that’s a win.” She also won a $300 voucher.
Mediaweek: What makes for a good quizmaster?
Bucky: I think the ability to just roll with the punches. And if something goes wrong, to make light of it. Because at the end of the day, we just need to have fun and entertain people.
Mediaweek: How did you prepare for today? Did you load up YouTube for examples?
Bucky: I didn’t actually. No. But I grew up watching people like Larry Emdur. Who else did I love? Burgo. They were my quiz show icons. Hopefully I had a little bit of Larry in me today. That sounds bad.
Mediaweek: Have you watched any game shows on Tubi?
Bucky: I’m sure there are some. But I haven’t.
I’m too busy watching things like Titanic 2 and Michael Jackson.
Mediaweek: May I recommend loading up Tubi’s greatest game show? The compilation TV’s Greatest Game Shows.
Bucky: They’ll have to do an updated version and see if we make it in.