On New Years Day our local PBS station broadcast an all day marathon of The Games, an Australian TV series in documentry style about the people running the Sydney Olympics logistics office. It was bloody brilliant! The closest thing I can compare it to in terms of writing and style is Yes, Minister or, in a strange way, parts of Sports Night.
Who are these people? Have the writers and actors done anything else that has been exported? I noticed Sam Neill in one episode, but no other stars that I recognized. Gina, John, and Brian are perfect in their roles. Was everything scripted or did they ad lib any of the scenes?
I particularly liked the episode with the Bulgarian/Scottish Wrestler/Skeet Shooter, the translations were hysterical. I don’t know how the actors kept a straight face. And of course the way the Americans were represented was spot on.
So, what did the Aussies think of the show? Was it on during the run up to the games?
I saw the same marathon you did. This is quite possibly the funniest show ever made. After twelve hours of it my interior monologue has an Australian accent.
The scene where they’re discussing the actual length of the hundred-metres track is brilliant.
John Clarke and John Dawes, the 2 guys behind all this, have been foisting various forms of silliness on Australia for many years. John Clarke is actually a New Zealander and has written books appeared on TV and radio and delivers all his stuff with the same deadpan humour.
Their first regular stint on TV that I recall was on a nightly current affairs program. Every Friday they did an interview, much like the one I have linked to, where John Clarke pretended to be whoever he wished to pillory without any attempt to imitate them. Everyting they have ever done is great even the show on men’s health which had hysterical introductions.
7.30 Report. They still do it. I’m surprised the Govt don’t watch it and recognise the stupidity of their actions, instead of them just laughing at it as though it was a comedy sketch.
The Games was two series, by the way, so I don’t know if they played both. Also, a lot of the things they talked about were real issues of the time, so it was very topical, and often what they were lampooning as predictions actually came to pass!
Has anyone got the script books for The Games? You can get them at ABC shops (or used to be able to). Anyway, it’s just as hilarious on paper, it really reads more like a play than a TV script.
I came across The Games while flipping channels, and got sucked in for a couple of hours. Hilarious stuff. I liked the apology to aboriginal Australians, from the guy with the same name as the prime minister.
(paraphrased):
“That’s not John Howard!”
“Yes it is. His name’s John Howard!”
“But he’s not the prime minister!”
“But his name’s John Howard.”
Heehee.
Britcoms took the States by storm. Could Auscoms be next?
Darn. I’ve seend plenty of Aussie soaps, and they are pretty abhorrent, but I don’t think I’ve seen any Australian comedy shows, except The Games. I was hoping they were all that good.
It seems not. Oh well.
The Late Show (the D-Generation one, in case of confusion)
The Micallef Program/Programme/Pogram
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
Backberner
CNNNN (Chaser Non Stop News Network)
Good News Week
Of course, I wouldnt strictly call any of these a sitcom. And I dont know how easy it is getting any of them overseas.
What was the timeframe of the show? I’m assuming it was fairly current satire when it aired.
Another snipit that stuck in my memory was John trying to make a mobile phone call from the car. Finally, after losing the signal numerous times he chucks the phone out the window and says “Bill! Bill! He probably has about the same chance of hearing me now.”
“Has anyone done an analysis of the LA public transport during the Olympic Games?”
“I don’t believe so”
“Well, why not?!”
“Brian…”
“Because LA has no public transport system.”
And the episode when (for reasons I’ve forgotten) the John, Gina, and Brian are all talking like Paul Hogan.
