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Comedy Inc.

Comedy Inc. The Late Shift Logo
Format Sketch comedy
Starring Scott Brennan
Fiona Harris
Simon Mallory
Paul McCarthy
Janis McGavin
Jim Russell
Emily Taheny
Rebecca De Unamuno
Country of origin Flag of Australia Australia
Production
Running time 60 minutes per episode
Including commercials
Broadcast
Original channel Nine Network
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Original run February 2003 – December 2007
External links
Official website
Comedy Inc. Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long Scott Brennan may refer to Scott Brennan (comedian, Australian actor and comedian Scott Brennan (rower, Australian Olympic rower Simon Mallory is an Australian Actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian Soap opera Neighbours in 2004 Paul McCarthy is an Australian comedy actor born in Melbourne in 1967 Jim Russell is an actor on Australian TV series Comedy Inc Also a drama teacher he works at numerous secondary colleges in and around Melbourne. Rebecca De Unamuno is an Australian actress and comedian De Unamuno has written and performed for a number of television comedy series short films and stand up comedy shows For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney 576i is a standard-definition video mode used in (former PAL and SECAM countries February 2003: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - December 2007 is the twelfth month of that year It began on a Saturday and 31 days later ended on a Monday is also the name of a Canadian Television series. See Comedy Inc. (Canadian TV series).

Comedy Inc. is an Australian sketch comedy television program produced by Crackerjack Productions. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Sketch comedy consists of a series of short Comedy scenes or vignettes called "sketches" commonly between one and ten minutes long A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Crackerjack Productions was an Australian independent Television production company headed by brothers Mark and Carl Fennessy It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the free-to-air channels along with Big Bite and skitHOUSE. Big Bite was an Australian Sketch comedy broadcast on the Seven Network in an evening Timeslot. skitHOUSE was an Australian Sketch comedy Television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten & FOXTEL The show is currently in its fifth season. Episodes from the previous seasons are repeated on the Australian pay television channel The Comedy Channel. The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy) is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television

The series debuted in 2003, rapidly gaining the highest ratings of the three sketch comedies then on Australian television. It subsequently gained numerous nominations for major Australian and international film and television awards. The show has also proved to be more commercially successful in Australia than its rivals and was the first to release a DVD of content from the series. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is

Comedy Inc. has had many different formats. For example, a more risqué variation of the series was broadcast in 2005, entitled Comedy Inc: The Late Shift. The episodes were aired at a later time, because of the content. The Late Shift has aired from 2005 until 2007.

Contents

Timeslots

When Comedy Inc. began in early 2003, it held the 8:30pm Thursday timeslot for two years before moving to 9:30pm on various different nights in 2005, when it was moved around in attempts to improve ratings.

Comedy Inc: The late shift (2005-2007)

Beginning with its 2005 season, the show aired in a later timeslot, in the process changing its name to Comedy Inc. : The Late Shift. This version was a success with both audiences and television critics, due to its slightly more risque content, as well as original new characters like "Blokeman" and "Matt and Bray". The new show marked the beginning of a collaboration between new head writer Rick Kalowski and producer/director David McDonald. Rick Kalowski is a Sydney-based Australian film and television writer David McDonald may refer to David McDonald (footballer, Irish footballer David J (After working together on 45 episodes of the show from 2004, the pair left the show at the end of the fourth series in late 2006).

The fourth series of Comedy Inc. debuted on Tuesday May 30, 2006 again on the Nine Network. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The new series marked the departure of Ben Oxenbould and Gabriel Andrews from the show, and their replacement with the popular Australian comedian Scott Brennan and actor Simon Mallory. Ben Oxenbould (born March 2 1969 is an Australian actor most known for his work on the Australian comedy series Comedy Inc Scott Brennan may refer to Scott Brennan (comedian, Australian actor and comedian Scott Brennan (rower, Australian Olympic rower Simon Mallory is an Australian Actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian Soap opera Neighbours in 2004 In a new 10. 30pm timeslot on Sundays, it again dominated its timeslot, proving especially popular with younger viewers. The fourth series, characterised by darker and even more risque material than the first series of 'Comedy Inc. - The Late Shift' (words such as fuck, for example, are no longer censored), ran 25 1-hour episodes in total, following an extension of the series by the Nine Network, making it the longest running series of the show to date. Fuck is an English Word that as a Verb, means "to have Sexual intercourse "

On Thursday 19 October 2006, the show was nominated at the 2006 "Australian Film Institute Awards" in five categories, including Best Television Comedy Series, Best Direction in Television, and two nominations for Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, one each for Paul McCarthy and Genevieve Morris. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Australian Film Institute Awards (often abbreviated to AFI Awards) are awards of merit presented annually by the Australian Film Institute. Genevieve Morris is an Australian Actress on the popular comedy show "Comedy Inc"

The fifth series of the show is currently in production. The new series is directed by Damian Davis, previously director of The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (full name The Ronnie Johns Good Times Campfire Jamboree Half Hour Show (Now New head writers are Kevin Brumpton and Angus Fitzsimons.

The 2007 return on 5 September 2007 saw most of the female cast leaving with Mandy McElhinney, Katrina Retallick and Genevieve Morris all leaving and being replaced by SkitHOUSE actress Fiona Harris, Big Bite and previously recurring actress Rebecca De Unamuno and newcomer Janis McGavin. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Mandy McElhinney is an Australian Actress appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc Katrina Retallick is an Australian Actress appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc Genevieve Morris is an Australian Actress on the popular comedy show "Comedy Inc" Rebecca De Unamuno is an Australian actress and comedian De Unamuno has written and performed for a number of television comedy series short films and stand up comedy shows

An international version of the show, comprising a series of 20 half-hour episodes, has aired on cable television in several countries. A second series of the international version of the show is due to be aired later in 2007. The international version focusses on sketches, character pieces and parodies of overseas programs, and excludes parodies of Australian programs with which a foreign audience would be unfamiliar.

Comedy Inc: Specials (2005)

In 2005 two one-hour specials called "Comedy Inc: Takes out TV" were aired, the first during the series and then the week following the final episode of "The Late Shift". They featured mostly television parody sketches with a few general sketches.

Critical and commercial response

Although critical reaction to the series on its debut in 2003 was mixed, reviews of the show have improved with each series. The 2005 and 2006 series of the show, in particular, have received both positive and negative reviews from most major Australian newspapers, some suggesting that the later timeslot has made for a darker, more interesting and funnier show. Consistent with that critical response, it is the 'later timeslot' series of the show that have been nominated for various awards.

Jim Schembri, notoriously tough television critic for the Melbourne newspaper The Age has described the show as "the hands-down funniest and smartest local laughfest on TV in 2006. [1]

However, the Sydney Morning Herald asked why Australian audiences accepted such "endless unfunny shows such as The Wedge or The Late Shift?" [2]

Commercially, Comedy Inc has also proved to be successful, although it never attained the ratings of its 2003 season. The success of the later series is often said to have had an impact on the cancellation of its competitors, such as skitHOUSE. skitHOUSE was an Australian Sketch comedy Television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten & FOXTEL

Award nominations and wins

As noted above, Comedy Inc. has received many and various nominations and awards. In 2005, the "Australian Film Institute" Awards nominated Comedy Inc - The Late Shift for Best Television Comedy Series, as well as a 2006 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Comedy Series, and 2006 Rose D'Or (Golden Rose of Montreaux) Award for Best International Comedy Series. The Australian Film Institute (AFI established in 1958 is an organisation that promotes Australian film and television through the annual AFI Awards, a membership David McDonald received nominations for Best Direction in Television, and for Best Series (in his capacity as producer) at both the 2005 and 2006 "Australian Film Institute" Awards for his work on the show. David McDonald may refer to David McDonald (footballer, Irish footballer David J The Australian Film Institute (AFI established in 1958 is an organisation that promotes Australian film and television through the annual AFI Awards, a membership

Cast

Current

Former

Skits and formula

Comedy Inc. Paul McCarthy is an Australian comedy actor born in Melbourne in 1967 Jim Russell is an actor on Australian TV series Comedy Inc Also a drama teacher he works at numerous secondary colleges in and around Melbourne. Scott Brennan may refer to Scott Brennan (comedian, Australian actor and comedian Scott Brennan (rower, Australian Olympic rower Simon Mallory is an Australian Actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian Soap opera Neighbours in 2004 Rebecca De Unamuno is an Australian actress and comedian De Unamuno has written and performed for a number of television comedy series short films and stand up comedy shows Ben Oxenbould (born March 2 1969 is an Australian actor most known for his work on the Australian comedy series Comedy Inc Mandy McElhinney is an Australian Actress appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc Genevieve Morris is an Australian Actress on the popular comedy show "Comedy Inc" Katrina Retallick is an Australian Actress appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc features original skits, impersonations and irreverent parodies of other television programmes and films. For example, popular Australian series such as Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Brainiest Kid, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and Renovation Rescue are frequently subject to many spoofs, as are Australian news and current affair programmes, such as Today Tonight and 60 Minutes. Big Brother Australia was the Australian version of the international Big Brother Reality television series Dancing with the Stars is a multi Logie Award winning Australian light entertainment television series based on the British Strictly Come Dancing Australia's Brainiest is a Television Game show series produced in Australia by Crackerjack Productions, a FremantleMedia company Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is an Australian Television Game show which currently offers a maximum prize of $ 5000000 for correctly Renovation Rescue is an Australian TV show capitalising on Australia's love affair with home renovation Today Tonight is an Australian tabloid current affairs program produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at 6 60 Minutes premiered 11 February 1979. It airs on Sunday nights on the Nine Network. In addition, the series features original skits, such as "Selina: She Grows on You", a segment which features an eccentric gardener for a wealthy woman, and her zany and original ways of keeping her garden up to scratch.

A recurring sketch features Emily Taheny as an unnamed woman who approaches other women at inappropriate and private moments such as going to the toilet, showering at a gym or giving birth to a baby.

"Matt and Bray" was an skit about family man Al (Russell) and his two odd neighbours (McCarthy and Oxenbould). The skit ended in the new 2006 season, as Ben Oxenbould has left the main cast.

"Berni (with an 'i')" (Taheny) was a 10 part skit about 'Berni' and her pathway to fame. Also featured Oxenbould as her flamboyantly gay ex-fiancé.

Emily Taheny and Mandy McElhinney played 2 women on an informercial-like programme, selling odd items or already invented items such as a decorative dynamic compression plate or an ice cube tray. Infomercials (or informercials are Television commercials that run for one minute or for as long as a typical Television program A dynamic compression plate (DCP is a metallic plate used in orthopedics for internal fixation of Bone, typically after fractures. O'Shea Jackson (born June 15 1969 better known by his Stage name Ice Cube, is an American Actor, Screenwriter, producer, and Their respective catchphrases which are said several times throughout the sketch are "sensational" and "absolutely".

A long running skit is "Blokeman" (Russell). The skit always begins with a comic strip story, explaining about an average man who made his own beer in his kitchen to have only had it explode, thus becoming "Blokeman". A comic strip is a sequence of drawings that tells a story Currently in the Western world, most comic strips are written and drawn by a Comics artist Blokeman is looked upon as a normal hero, despite his obvious "bogan" qualities (ugg boots, mullet, beer belly). The term bogan (ˈboʊgən rhyming with slogan) is Australian and New Zealand English Slang, usually pejorative for a person who is or Ugg boots are a style of Sheepskin Boot, with Wool as the inner lining and a tanned outer surface worn by both men and women Central obesity, the "apple-shaped" Obesity commonly referred to as belly fat, is the accumulation of Visceral fat ( fat deposited He is hesistant to help when people ask and usually finds the easiest way to complete the task. He has a girlfriend named "Wondermole" (McElhinney). In the later series', Blokeman has an arch nemesis, "Metrosexual Man" (Mallory). Metrosexual is a Neologism generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically seen among When Metrosexual Man appears in a sketch, he is usually followed by the phrase "gay in everyway, except for sexual orientation". In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. Sexual orientation is believed to refer to "an enduring pattern of emotional romantic and/or sexual attractions to men women or both sexes

Another sketch is a father (Russell) who tucks his young son into bed everynight, who usually asks him a question, but unbeknownst to himself, is slightly mature. An example is when the son asks his father "what happened to his cousin". Instead of telling a white lie, the father explains to his son that his cousin is gay and was thrown out by his homophobic father. A lie (also called prevarication) is a type of Deception in the form of an untruthful statement especially with the intention to deceive others often with the further In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. BenPhelpsJPG|thumb|right|Westboro Baptist Church picket signs with Ben Phelps grandson of Fred Phelps The sketch will always end with the following lines:

Another skit is 'Ernest the Engine', a spoof of 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. Ernest the Engine and Others is a sketch featured on Comedy Inc. Thomas the Tank Engine is a Fictional Anthropomorphic Tank locomotive created by the Rev This skit mainly consists of 3 characters, Ernest the Engine Car, Stevie the Steam Train, and Gale the Guards Compartment who originally made their speaking and lead roles, but now makes non-speaking cameos in other Thomas & Friends stories. The main component of this skit is Stevie's stuttering at inappropriate moments, resulting in words that sound like swearing.

Recently 'Ernest the Engine' was replaced with 'Bodgy Builder', a parody of 'Bob the Builder' featuring Bodgy a character similar to Bob except for his grey hardhat and stained workclothes who spends most of his time cutting corners on construction sites and is an unlicenced electrician. Bob the Builder is a Children's television character created by Keith Chapman.

Accompanying Bodgy is his work colleague Windy a variant on Wendy with the exception to the Piercings in her right ear and her tongue. Body piercing is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the Human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn

And Dozy a grey work truck who seems more in appearance like Lofty on the 'Bob the Builder' series. Bob the Builder is a Children's television character created by Keith Chapman.

Examples of Bodgy Builder's unlicenced work:

"How long can a head stay severed from its body? Should I be packing Bodgy's head or body or both on ice? Which direction is it to the hospital? Should I be packing Bodgy into the back of Dozy and driving flat out in that direction?"

See also

References

  1. ^ The Age review for Comedy Inc. This is an incomplete list of Australian Television series and television programs The following are currently formerly and forthcoming programs that are broadcast by the Australian Nine Network, Nine HD and their regional affiliates including at SMH.com.au
  2. ^ Has Oz comedy lost the plot? at [1]

External links

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