a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 27 years on the Nine Network from 9 October 1971 to 20 November 1999 (there was a recess in 1978). Its host throughout its entire run was Daryl Somers, who later also became executive producer of the program. The original producer, Gavin Disney, left the program in the 1980s and Somers then jointly formed his own production company, Somers Carroll Productions, with on-screen partner Ernie Carroll, the performer of Somers' puppet sidekick Ossie Ostrich.