The show was the Australian version of the highly popular
SMTV Live in the UK hosted originally by
Ant & Dec and
Cat Deeley. In both seasons, the show began at 10am, (following "Double Up", an early morning block of back to back Nicktoons on weekend mornings) with a short introduction, and then premiere of a new episode of a favourite Nickelodeon show. (Shows such as
SpongeBob SquarePants,
The Fairly OddParents,
Saved by the Bell and in Series One
CatDog were generally shown). Then various segments and skits would be performed. In Series One, celebrities in Australia (such as
Britney Spears, who helped launch the show) would be featured in the "Strip Search" where
Natalie Garonzi would ask as many questions in one minute as she could such as "Cats Or Dogs?", "Peanut Butter or Vegemite", and "Shower or Bath". During the show, four half-hour Nickelodeon shows would be played. "Mates", a panto-style sketch, was always the last segment (as the outro, while the credits were displayed) in the first and second season.
Series one Series One was very successful,
sn:tv being the first show on Foxtel to beat
The Simpsons from its #1 rating position in more than 7 years. Segments such as "Wonkey Donkey" and "Mates" (a parody of the television show
Friends based on a Chums sketch.) attracting viewers of all ages. The format included an audience attending ABC Studios in Melbourne and various game shows such as "Strip Search" and "Challenge Dave", where host Natalie Garonzi would mediate a battle of the wits between
Dave Lawson and an audience member. The winner would receive a Nickelodeon Merchandise Pack, the loser would receive a "Snot Pot" (another piece of Nickelodeon Merchandise). The series was launched with the help of
Britney Spears and had US guests such as
Destiny's Child,
Justin Timberlake and
Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Series two After the success of series one, and the leaving of two hosts (Kambo and Nat), Nickelodeon decided to give the show a new format, with new segments and new look. (Although the sets were renovated, it was still shot in Melbourne and still used the same logo). The only segment kept was "Mates" (due to its success). The audience members, would, at the beginning of the show be divided into two-halves. The teams would nominate their names (after a Nickelodeon show - e.g. The Catdogs or
The Angry Beavers) and various games would be played - usually one kid from a team versing a kid from the other team, although sometimes against hosts (e.g. Jesse would verse a kid, to see who could balance a rotten egg on their head the longest). The games usually involved mess of some sort (e.g. one game, titled 'Vomit Comet' involved Dave and Emily giving questions to the kids on stage on the opposing teams with 'yes' or 'no' answers. If the kid hesitated, said 'ah' 'um', 'yes' or 'no', the kid on the other team would win and receive points, whereas the other team member would go into an elevator, and have a bucket of artificial slime poured on his head) By the end of the show, the team with the most points would each receive a piece of Nickelodeon Merchandise. Celebrities were featured less on
sn:tv than in the first season - the second season was more focused on kids. ==Hosts==