'Do yourself a favour...'

Countdown was the most successful and influential pop/rock music television program ever produced in Australia. Australian music programs had been early exponents of airing promotional film clips and Countdown refined this by including the very latest film clips available for broadcast, as well as in-studio performances. Countdown had attracted a large viewing audience by 1975, using the new medium of colour television to its full effect, with colourful sets and performers in garish costumes. In that same year, Ian 'Molly' Meldrum became a regular host for the series, with his 'Humdrum' segment an essential part of the show, leading to the famous Meldrum-derived catchphrase 'Do yourself a favour.' Countdown broke new talent to its audience, with many local artists gaining their first national exposure on the show before going on to international success. International artists including ABBA, Madonna and Cindy Lauper found their first taste of significant chart success following the broadcast of their film clips on Countdown. Countdown's long history offers many highlights: a manic Iggy Pop terrifying a young studio audience, Cold Chisel's dramatically short performance at the Countdown/TV Week Music Awards, a nervous Meldrum trying to maintain calm and eloquence whilst interviewing Prince Charles, and the television debuts for many important artists. Despite becoming a Sunday night ritual for generations of viewers, Countdown ended in 1987.

The clip featured is the 1974 ABC-TV promotional film 'What Is Countdown?' used to prime a teenage viewing audience for the new show. To highlight Countdown's local and international credentials, the promo includes interview footage of well-known international rock stars David Cassidy and Gary Glitter as well as upcoming Australian artists Skyhook's 'Shirley' Strachan and singer Linda George. Ian 'Molly' Meldrum introduces the show's concept and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Countdown. We see a production meeting in progress, Robbie Weekes directing the show in the control room, hear from Executive Producer Michael Shrimpton and watch film clips being selected for broadcast. The enthusiastic responses from teenagers interviewed for the promo indicate that there was indeed a keen audience for the series.