Hobba and Hing
Hobba and Hing are an Australian comedy duo formed in 2020 by Lewis Hobba and Michael Hing. Best known for hosting the drive time slot on Australian youth radio station Triple J for three years, they now produce a weekly podcast that began in 2024. The duo have also presented a comedy wellness podcast called Silver Bullet, a television special called Australia's Best Competition Competition, and several live shows.
Background
[edit]Lewis Hobba had been hosting Triple J's Drive since 2015 alongside Veronica Milsom.[1] Prior to this, he had presented weekend programs on the station and was involved in the Australian stand-up comedy circuit. Michael Hing was a presenter on the programs Good Game: Pocket Edition on ABC2 and The Feed on SBS Viceland.[1]
Career
[edit]Their partnership began in February 2020, when Hing joined Hobba as co-presenter on Triple J's Drive after Milson's departure.[2] Hobba said the appointment was initially only meant to be a "stop-gap for nine months".[1] At the start, their program was subtitled Lewis and Hing, but it was swiftly renamed to Hobba and Hing after community support.[3]
The duo's best known segment was Simply the Jest, which featured listeners' unbelievable stories. It was presented alongside fellow announcer Jess Perkins every week in a half-hour slot. Due to its success, the segment was turned into a standalone podcast in March 2021.[4]
While at Triple J, the duo performed shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival three years in a row. In 2021, they hosted I Can’t Believe It’s Not Radio!, featuring several of their radio show's most popular segments in a live format.[5] In 2022 and 2023, the duo presented live versions of Simply the Jest, in two shows titled Welcome to the Boardroom (Forum Theatre) and Golden Hamshake (Melbourne Town Hall).[6][7]
Hobba and Hing hosted their first television special in October 2022 with Australia’s Best Competition Competition. A co-production between ABC Television and Triple J,[8] and broadcast on ABC TV Plus, it was an exploration and ranking of community competitions across the nation, including woodchopping and Turkish oil wrestling.[9]
In July 2023, Hobba and Hing announced their departure from the drive time slot.[1] In their last week, they unveiled statues of themselves at Newcastle Museum, which were built in just 48 hours. Hobba commented that Newcastle was chosen for the effigies because: "our national radio show rated weirdly well there, and frankly, we love to reward loyalty with shoddy merchandise."[10]
From August through to September, the duo went on a farewell tour around Australia called The Last Show Ever.[11] Abby Butler and Tyrone Pynor took over Drive presenting duties from August.[12] In their absence, Hobba and Hing announced a new weekly comedy podcast titled Silver Bullet, distributed by the ABC. The show features guests who recommend self-care and wellness activities to the duo, who try out the technique and review it.[11]
In January 2024, Hobba and Hing independently launched a new weekly self-titled podcast.[13]
Podcasts
[edit]- Simply the Jest (2021–2023), distributed by the ABC[4]
- Silver Bullet (2023), distributed by the ABC[11]
- Hobba and Hing Podcast (2024–present), distributed independently.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Mitchell, Thomas (12 July 2023). "Radio favourites Michael Hing and Lewis Hobba to depart Triple J". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Zanda (4 February 2020). "Michael Hing joins Lewis Hobba for Triple J Drive". Radio Today. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "By popular demand Hing and Lewis are no more". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Hobba & Hing's Simply The Jest segment on Triple J turned into podcast". Radio Today. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Grab free tix for Hobba & Hing I Can't Believe It's Not Radio!". Triple J. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Hobba & Hing will be live at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival". RadioInfo Australia. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Triple J's Hobba & Hing to put on free funnies at MICF". RadioInfo Australia. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Watson, Meg (27 October 2022). "These Triple J hosts are 'saving the dying art of TV' one oil wrestle at a time". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Jenke, Tyler (7 October 2022). "Triple J's Hobba & Hing To Host ABC TV Show 'Australia's Best Competition Competition'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ McCarthy, Simon (11 August 2023). "How these jokers got statues in Newcastle before Andrew Johns did". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 22 December 2024 – via Proquest.
- ^ a b c Varvaris, Mary (12 July 2023). "Hobba & Hing To Depart Triple J & Reveal New Podcast". The Music. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ "Abby & Tyrone to take Triple J drive after departure of Hobba & Hing". Mediaweek. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Hobba and Hing Podcast". Spotify. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.