First Impressions: Moonman in the Morning

Former Assistant Editor
Image: Instagram / moonmaninthemorning

Triple M Sydney debuted its new Breakfast show today, with Moonman in the Morning replacing The Grill Team after nine and a half years.

As its name suggests, the show is built around Melbourne-based comedian Lawrence Mooney, who moved from Triple M Brisbane after helping its The Big Breakfast to a market leading position in 2018.

He’s joined by former 91.9 Sea FM Brekky host Jess Eva, who recently starred on the 2018 edition of Nine’s The Block, while Chris ‘Pagey’ Page and Gus Worland remain from the old guard.

Moonman and the Morning made its debut a week before the first ratings period for the year gets underway, perhaps giving Triple M the opportunity to do some sampling.

Overall it was a strong first show, with the four members having good chemistry. Lawrence is a consummate professional so its little surprise that he was able to find his feet almost immediately, and he brought plenty of his own personality to the show on day one.

Despite being from Melbourne, touring Australia with his comedy shows down the years allowed Lawrence to effortlessly rattle off local anecdotes, even tying in his own experiences at Rooty Hill RSL into his Malcolm Turnbull impersonation segment.

Speaking of impersonations, his ‘Russell Crowe‘ was also very funny, used in a segment about NRL player Dylan Napa‘s sex tape.

Queenslander Jess is also looking like a great addition to the show, with radio experience showing through. It was clear from the start that she’s not just there to make up the numbers.

The show covered plenty of other topical content including the new season of I’m A Celebrity, Bernard Tomic‘s explosive press conference after losing in the Australian Open last night, and a hilarious ‘You Can’t!’ segment on Karl Stefanovic splitting from his ex-wife Cassandra (which they played twice).

It also covered the more serious trending topic of pill testing, with Lawrence and Gus butting heads with differing points of view and sharing their experiences with their own kids going to music festivals.

They also teased a million dollar giveaway, sounding similar to a promotion currently running on WSFM.

It was a fairly music-heavy show, with around eight songs spun per hour, clearly as a means of easing the new team into the shift together. It sounded similar to the Pure Gold Breakfast format.

The Grill Team held a fairly consistent 5-6% share last year, so ensuring that the Moonman in the Morning team doesn’t lose any of that audience will be priority #1 for SCA.

From there it will be interesting to see where they will pull listeners from.

New audience could potentially cross over from WSFM with the new show having some similarities to Jonesy & Amanda, or even from 2DayFM if its new show doesn’t stick this year.

Overall it seems to be a show that’s put together well, and given time should perform strongly. The turnaround on Triple M Brisbane last year is clear proof that with the Moonman at the helm, anything is possible.

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Recent comments (23)
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George
15 Jan 2019 - 9:42 am

Absolutely sensational new show – well done MMM – I think we have a new contest !!

Gary
15 Jan 2019 - 9:45 am

Why isn’t Jess in the billing of the show ? Typical Triple M not showcasing the female in the show. She’s as good as the new guy mooney.

Ian
15 Jan 2019 - 10:59 am

Quite funny for a Melbourne born and bred based in Melbourne.

Mick
15 Jan 2019 - 11:35 am

Dont like name of show much what about other team members

Bruce
15 Jan 2019 - 11:36 am

Hope it rates better than their Melbourne drive show. Molloy is so out of date now.

Nick
15 Jan 2019 - 1:38 pm

I think Lawrence and Jess are fantastic additions to the Triple M Sydney breakfast show. Gus is the main reason I didn’t like The Grill Team, he just doesn’t resonate with me and it feels like he’s just a bit of the old show lingering.

The whole show felt a bit Mulray-esque, in terms of content and the sweeps but that’s not a flaw. Things should look up for Triple M in 2019!

Michael
15 Jan 2019 - 2:56 pm

Very dated ‘ comedy ‘ show and Gus not right.

Pete
15 Jan 2019 - 5:35 pm

This show could be great. Back in the 80’s

Dave
15 Jan 2019 - 6:08 pm

Loved the first outing. Jess is a crack up. Can’t wait to see where they take it. Finally something fresh in Sydney.

Peter White
16 Jan 2019 - 8:43 am

The Moonman is great , I like the music format . Why did they persist with Worland he is a dead weight. The show started this morning with him bragging about Hugh Jackman we are sick of hearing this rubbish. Go the Moonman looking forward to the new year with you.

Rachel
17 Jan 2019 - 11:17 am

I get that they had to try something different but Moon sounds scripted and not that relatable.

Jim
17 Jan 2019 - 10:51 pm

Like the new show, like Mooney… really dislike the branding “Moonman”… I’ve never heard him called that before anywhere?? Unless I’m hearing different. Why not “Mooney, Gus & Jess” or something.

I think we need to put radio nicknames to bed, keep it real and highlight all of the talent!

Looking forward to hearing this team develop.

Dave
18 Jan 2019 - 5:58 pm

I live in the west of Sydney, I hear time and time again negativity surrounding Gus. Very similar comments to what nick says at 1.38. He’s not relatable to 40 something bloke who lives in The parramatta to Penrith region triple m heartland. My impression is outer west males want to like triple m and seem to continually sample it however, I feel from the comments I hear Gus is a major handbrake for Triple M tsl. Also seems to be a view he’s trying to paint himself as a sports lover but can’t speak credibly in NRL and other sports.

Chris
21 Jan 2019 - 1:24 pm

Gus is OK but he needs Matty Johns to give the show credibility. What you have now is three old people trying to start or hold onto the start of a media career, and one radio pro (Chris Page). Bad idea, actually I think they ran out of them altogether. Won’t last.

Arlo
22 Jan 2019 - 9:54 am

i have to keep turning to another channel, as moonman and Jess are rubbish. they talk about the same shit as all the other nerdy stations. Gus was funny when the grill team took the piss now seem try hard. miss the grill team. think i will be finding something else to listen to now.
bad move triple m

Jacqui Hives
31 Jan 2019 - 1:25 pm

Love it!! Mooney is SO good on radio! The only guy who makes me laugh out loud to myself constantly! Jess is pretty good too – always liked her on the Block.

Jim: “Moonman” is a long time nickname for Laurence.

jaz
24 Mar 2019 - 11:14 am

I hate hearing the word ‘moonman repeated’ one thousand times in the show – it’s way too much and turns me off listening to the show – choose another name for goodness sake

Mick
26 Mar 2019 - 10:31 am

Get rid of Gus , obviously knows people in the business otherwise he wouldn’t even get a start calling bingo .

Peter
24 Apr 2019 - 12:45 pm

I think the show is getting better all the time and would soar if it wasn’t for the boring Worland he is not a good fit for the show and certainly does not have anywhere near the talent of Jess, Chris and Lawrence . Please get him to stop talking about his best mate Hugh we are over it. Go moonman

joey j
28 May 2019 - 8:58 am

this show has gone downhill since matty J left,even emma freeman was a better fit gus
is hanging in there ..

Peter Barrington
6 Jun 2019 - 12:02 pm

The breakfast show in Sydney now.
They should have stuck with the Grill team format not blow ins from other states.

Never ever thought I’d be listening to Kyle and Jackie but they are way better than the MMM rubbish

Wazza
30 Jun 2019 - 7:28 pm

Hey it’s Wazza from Windang. This show is the best all team members are awesome. Moon man is the best. Leave Gus alone with ya grubby comments. He is a weapon. Jess is cool as. On ya Pagey. Keep it up

Rod
10 Aug 2019 - 3:14 pm

Went to watch sharks lose to Penrith last night I stayed overnight at Penrith and I was driving home this morning to Newcastle and I was absolutely pissing myself laughing at your show and I completely lost it listening to Rudy’s comments about free to air television. I would love to get hold of an audio so that I can share with my family and friends it was so funny oh and by the way I agree with you what’s the point of being 80 something years old a woman in a nursing home you know and saying I didn’t get enough cock

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