The delivery of Tony Abbott's "blog"
To be clear: there were lots of very funny moments throughout episode one. Sammy J & Randy’s carbon tax piece was pithy and got their point across very well. The interview of Akmal’s Gadaffi by host Paul McDermott had it’s moments of LOLs. Randy (the puppet) pretending to be Chris Bowen in his interview with Paul brought a layer of ludicrosity that meant that sketch was mostly funny, as opposed to a blatant Clarke/Dawes rip-off.
The moments against, however, weigh too heavily against the show. While I enjoy Paul McDermott as a singer, his Abbott song was contrived in delivery. Sammy J & Randy’s entertainment report was funny in spots, however it felt too laboured. The lines that many of the cast had to deliver at times left the performer with very little to hit as far as the gag goes. Paul delivering gags to camera from behind that big desk on a lonely set didn’t really string anything together. The comparisons to a Saturday Night Live or to Jon Stewart are too obvious, and sadly the comparsion’s aren’t in GNW’s favour.
Social media networks tipped more towards the “against” than “for” argument. Lots of people were confused by the change, unaware the show would be different. Others didn’t graps any cohesiveness in the links between sketches. Others dislike cast members. Some are unabashed fans. It’s hard to get a fair read on any show just from things like Twitter and Facebook, especially as for new shows it tends to be a race for some to predict how long the show will last. 3 weeks? A month? That’s well out of our hands. For now.
Importantly this is only the first episode of this newly reinvented series. There is opportunity to improve. Lord knows they have some wonderful comedic talent working on the show in people like Mikey Robbins, Cal Wilson, & Tom Gleeson, let alone those slaving away in the writer’s room. It wasn’t a great start, but has massive capacity to improve. Like all comedy shows taped on a weekly basis, it needs to be given a chance to breathe, to grow, to find it’s comedic voice. Is it all political satire or is it all brazillian or dick gags? The coming episodes will reveal the intent of the team – and the intent of the producers as to how they respond to support, criticism and ratings.
Overall – a C minus. Not entirely horrible, but Must. Do. Better.
Good News World – Mon 9:30pm, Ch10.
Hear, hear.
Sammy J and Randy were probably the highlights for me. Their carbon tax skit showed I’m not the only one confused by the while thing, classic satire.
The pandas had me wishing for Keith, the Moravian Swearing Bear.
I agree, C+, can do better.
Cheers
Redbeard
The big problem is, it just wasn’t that funny. I was embarrassed for them.
Spot on, Molk Man! 🙂
My (personal) dream is of an Aussie revival of traditional sketch comedy. Will it happen? Who knows, but I think the only way it will is if we see more things like this; more risks taken, more potential failures faced. Maybe Australian Sketch Comedy as a whole – as exemplified by this one show – just needs to find its feet.
We can DO panel comedy, we can totally shred improv (and even the more scripted, inverted-comma “improv”), so let’s give these other comedy styles – which we have absolutely blitzed in the not-too-distant past (think Comedy Company, early Fast Forward or The Late Show) – some fucking breathing space so they can develop.
We’re a funny, unforgiving bunch in Australia. If a local drama sucks, we quietly turn it off; if an overseas comedy blows, we switch channels; but when a LOCAL Australian COMEDY isn’t more-than-overwhelmingly side-splitting, then there’s fucking HELL to pay. Suddenly we’re all experts* on the genre, casting our vitriolic opinions forth from our armchairs. Present company obviously excluded, you’ll find very few people making INFORMED judgments of local comedy content. (This isn’t me being patronising.) I truly believe most people don’t understand WHY they are hating certain comedy* so much. So, maybe, more exposure to our (hopefully ever-improving) attempts at reinvigorating the sub-genre will pay off, and the viewing public will appreciate, respect and – ergo – enjoy it a whole lot more.
*DISCLAIMERS:
A) I’m also not an expert.
B) This is in no way a defense of LFPE. Yes, notch that show up to a valuable contribution, but having seen what was to come – believe me – a short, sharp amputation-and-cauterise was sadly just what was required.
C) Apologies for any typos. I’m tired. And full of beer and parma and Pringles. And wearing a dress, because dammit that’s FUNNY.