13 schoolyards, Author at Australian Tumbleweeds
John Safran Speaks!
It’s been a long time between drinks for John Safran. His last major issue-tackling role on our screens was back in 2016 with The Goddamn Election; a decade later he’s looking at the touchy topic of free speech with Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran!. Is Australia’s most notorious prankster finally about to say... Read More »
Shaun Micallef is Harshing My Vibe
Shaun Micallef’s back! Not being funny or anything though, he’s got another one of his “what the fuck is wrong with you people” documentaries on the ABC. Titled Shaun Micallef’s Going for Broke, this time he’s got gambling in his sights. And no-one is safe! Just kidding, the whole thing (well, the first episode of... Read More »
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... Read More »
Dropped Into the Grinder
Press release time! To be honest, this doesn’t look as strong out the gate as we were hoping. But it’s also the kind of concept that probably needs a bit of background – as in, getting to know the characters – to work. Comedy sports shows (as opposed to sports comedy) often struggle a bit.... Read More »
A Few Quick Thoughts on Bad Company
Usually we’re more than happy to go off on a series after nothing more than a brief glimpse at a cast photo. But Bad Company? We’re still mulling the first episode over. So while we wait for out no doubt amazingly insightful full-length review a bit further down the track, here’s a few odds and... Read More »
Vale The Weekly 2026
Every time The Weekly tries to act like it’s built up enough goodwill to get self-referential, it’s a reminder that it really is, in more ways than we can express, shithouse. Not every segment, not every joke, but taken as a whole it’s just garbage. Twelve seasons of it! The opening segment of this year’s... Read More »
Hostile Intervention
The thing that stands out with Glenn’s and Mick’s Celebrity Intervention is that it’s not a comedy show for the young. Australian comedy has been skewing older of late, but shows like Taskmaster or Have You Been Paying Attention? keep a few seats free for fresh young faces. Celebrity Intervention? No room on the couch... Read More »
April Fools 2: The Hits Keep Coming
Press release time! What Do You Call Five Comedians Ready To Kick Some Task? Taskmaster Australia!Season Five Premieres Thursday, May 7 At 7.30pm On 10. In a competition where simple tasks rarely stay that way, Taskmaster Australia returns for its fifth season with a brand-new lineup of comedians ready to take on the absurd and... Read More »
The Deb/bie Downer
Back in the depths of time, when this blog was still somewhat new and exciting, we would occasionally get feedback from various aggrieved comedy insiders complaining that we were living in the past. Why were we still saying nice things about ancient programs like The Games and The Late Show when there were hilarious new... Read More »
April Fools
Press release time and geez there’s been a lot to announce this last week. Sketch comedy? In 2026? On the ABC? There’s an entire generation of television viewers acting like the ABC just announced Pot Black was returning to prime time. Good thing it’s unapologetically funny, they wouldn’t have much room for the comedy if... Read More »