The DVD Neighbours – The Iconic Episodes: Volume 1 isn’t the first place you’d look for Australian comedy, even if you’re the sort of person who finds late 80s fashions and mildly crap acting a cack. It’s more a DVD you’d buy if you have an interest in either Neighbours (obviously) or Australian social... Read More »
It was revealed in the British press last Thursday that Australia’s own Clive James is dying of cancer. He's not strictly a comedian, but his death would be a significant loss to Australian... Read More »
We’ve got nothing against The Chaser. (and let’s just pause to reflect that, by saying we have nothing against them, we’ve made certain the rest of this post will prove the opposite) In fact, while their current series The Hamster Wheel might be somewhat hit-and-miss, when it hits it’s probably the best thing they’ve done... Read More »
With Angry Boys debuting in the UK this week, the usual gushing waves of praise re: the genius of Chris Lilley have broken on a new shore. In Australia too, the fans have been fighting back against the dwindling ratings and general feel that this time out Lilley's gone off the... Read More »
If, like us, you're often sceptical of Australian TV comedies then consider this: is it better to give comedy a try and not always succeed, or to give up entirely and just import it? All too often we get defeatist about it and chose the latter, but down that path dangers lies, for history tells us that when there isn't much original, locally-made comedy on TV not only do we get lots of imported shows, but local re-makes of British shows – and is that actually what we... Read More »
It was announced the other day that Rove McManus has become the latest Australian to score a gig on American TV, and that's all well and good but why him? There are lots of other far better Australian comedians having a crack in the US, why aren't they getting... Read More »
When we haven’t been having a chuckle at Hey Hey it’s Saturday being nominated for a “Most Popular Light Entertainment Program” Logie (what, they’re handing out Logies just for turning up now?), we’ve been having a semi-serious discussion here at Tumbleweed Central: why doesn’t Australian television make more comedy for teenagers? Put another way, when... Read More »
It's hard to think of an Australian comedian more written about than Barry Humphries. If you're a Humphries fan your bookshelves are already groaning with numerous biographies and studies of the great man. Now there's a new Humphries book to add to the shelf – one that could just about replace all the Humphries books ever written - the biography One Man Show: The Stage of Barry Humphries by University of New England academic Anne... Read More »