Why do Australian television networks love broadcasting stand-up comedy? Not only has ABC2 just got into the act with Comedy Next Gen, a sixteen-part series focusing on up-and-coming stand-up – well, it’s kind of hard to call Aunty Donna up-and-coming after a bunch of pilots and a US series on the way, but they’re in... Read More »
Keeping kids entertained isn’t an easy task – especially when there’s scary costumes to be worn and pumpkin-shaped lollies to be eaten – but the Halloween special of Gristmill’s primary school sitcom Little Lunch (which aired earlier today on ABC Me) did a pretty good job of it. Like any Gristmill production, Little Lunch has... Read More »
Often the funniest thing about an improvised show is when one of the producers or performers does an interview where they say the dialogue is so wacky “you couldn’t write this stuff!” This usually comes right after describing a process that is, for all intents and purposes, writing: topics are chosen, people sit around coming... Read More »
Are you a fan of Tom Gleeson? Is Tom Gleeson the reason why you watched every episode of The Weekly? Do you have fond memories of the days when he used to promote himself as “the ginger ninja”? Do you have the best-of DVD of Skithouse so you can rewatch the best of his “Australian... Read More »
You can see the logic in sandwiching Rosehaven between Upper Middle Bogan and The Last Laugh – established, popular favourites help launch the newcomer – problem is, unfamiliar, slow-paced Rosehaven’s such a contrast to the well-established characters and fast-moving storylines of Upper Middle Bogan that it looks less good than it possibly is. Or maybe... Read More »
The Wrong Girl, aka Channel Ten’s latest attempt to force drama and comedy to breed together, is probably the closest the network is going to get to a sitcom any time soon. Lacking the dramatic heft of Offspring – c’mon, John Edwards and Asha Keddie are basically the Scorsese and Streep of Australian TV drama... Read More »
It’s been a long time coming, but that Working Dog animated series announced back in 2014 is finally within sight – especially if you’re the kind of person who’s okay with illegal downloads (and we don’t mean the Get This CD): Netflix is amping up its animated slate with a new comedy, “Pacific Heat,” hailing from... Read More »
Here’s all we know: No Activity is returning to Stan with new episodes on October 26th. As the press release says: Rose Byrne and Damon Herriman join Patrick Brammall, Darren Gilshenan, Genevieve Morris, Harriet Dyer, Dan Wyllie and David Field for more action, more romance, more… well, just more sitting around. We weren’t exactly massive... Read More »
There’s an argument that mass-appeal TV comedy is dead, and that broadcasters and streaming content providers should focus their attention on niche audiences. It would probably be a good thing for comedy if that happened; people who like edgy material can enjoy it, while its makers don’t have to have to worry about offending people... Read More »
So who knew Soul Mates series 2 wrapped last week? Not us, clearly – we bought the DVD when it came out last week and finished up the series by watching that rather than stuffing around with all that old-fashioned television bizzo. Yes, basic maths would have pointed out that a six part series was... Read More »