Urzila Chiller Diller

When it comes to sketch shows, we’ve learned not to pass judgment until at least week two. First week, pretty much every sketch show seems fresh and funny. Second week? Oh look, turns out all those fresh and funny sketches are going to be reoccurring, pounding the same handful of jokes into the ground week after week. Who likes repeat comedy characters? Nobody except the writers, who don’t have to come up with new gags each week.

The good news is, in week two Urzila only features one returning sketch. Looking ahead, while there’s a few more returning characters in coming weeks, they’re scattered throughout the series. So no “it’s the same characters you know and love!” back week in week out. No catchphrase comedy either, thank fuck.

As for the subject matter? Well, the show’s titled Urzila, and Urzila Carlson is a successful stand-up comedian with a well-established brand, so it’s no surprise there’s some overlap. “Middle-aged lesbian makes jokes about being a middle aged lesbian” isn’t exactly a news flash. That said, it does stand out a little in the world of ABC comedy, in that it feels just that little bit more personal than their usual output.

Put another way, the ABC tends to like comedy that feels like the kind of comedy you get from the ABC. Your Optics, your Dog Parks, your Gold Diggers. Did someone mention the Mother and Son reboot? Even when it’s a personal project, it usually has the feel of something that’s had a bit of ABC editorial input. Possibly due to this being a co-production with Warner Brothers Australia, Urzila feels more like a show that could have turned up anywhere. Hopefully it’s the beginning of a trend.

Something else we’d like to see become a trend: comedies that are funny. Carlson knows what she’s doing and she’s a very funny performer, so it’s no real surprise the sketches here are consistently strong. The stand up segments between them are a little more uneven, but that’s largely down to length. Carlson is someone who can milk every possible laugh out of a situation, and both the stand up and sketches often get funnier the longer they go on.

Sure, a few outstay their welcome. And not all the big name guest stars serve up their best work here either. It’s a sketch show; you expect things to be a little uneven. But on the whole, this is a quality package, one that showcases Carlson’s talents while leaving room for the supporting cast to shine.

It takes a confident comedy show to end with bloopers. If the mistakes are funnier than the actual show, that’s not a good look. If the mistakes aren’t funny, why show them to us? Urzila hits the sweet spot with its end credits, a collection of screw-ups that sell this as a fun show first and foremost. Carlson is a safe pair of comedy hands, and here she serves up a winner.