The Comedy Company
Encyclopedia
The Comedy Company was an Australian comedy
television series first aired from 16 February 1988 until about 11 November 1990 on Network Ten
, Sunday night and was created and directed by Ian McFadyen
, and co directed and produced by Jo Lane. The show largely consisted of sketch comedy in short segments, much in the tradition of earlier Sketch comedy shows, The Mavis Bramston Show
, The Naked Vicar Show
, Australia You're Standing In It
, and The D-Generation
. The majority of the filming took place in Melbourne
, Victoria
. The show had a significant effect on Australian culture, particularly on Australian youth. The Australian adoption of the word "Bogan
" was first used in its existing context by the famous The Comedy Company character, Kylie Mole.
This show should not be confused with a short-lived American sketch-comedy/variety series of the same name that ran 10 years earlier.
to produce a one hour-a-week comedy program. Within a few months, The Comedy Company became the most successful comedy program of the decade being the highest rated weekly television program, particularly of note it ran against the Nine Network
popular current events show 60 Minutes which shared its timeslot. Much of its success was due to it being the only family entertainment on television on a Sunday night. The Comedy Company remained the consistently highest rating weekly television program for two years.
Many of the stars of The Comedy Company came from a 1985 Seven Network
show called The Eleventh Hour, which starred Mary-Anne Fahey
, Ian McFadyen
, Mark Mitchell, Glenn Robbins
, Peter Moon
and Steve Vizard
. Fahey, McFadyen, Mitchell and Robbins went to The Comedy Company and Moon and Vizard went to the Seven Network
series Fast Forward.
The Comedy Company premiered many famous characters such as Kylie Mole, Con The Fruiterer, Col'n Carpenter and Uncle Arthur. Some of these characters still remain minor Australian icons. Con the Fruiterer appears even to this day on a variety of shows, as does his wife Marika. Kym Gyngell
also created a spin off series called Col'n Carpenter (1990-1991) based on his character of the same name. Kylie Mole was also featured in the second series of the ABC's Kittson, Fahey (1993). Notably, Glenn Robbins
often did public appearances as Uncle Arthur and on The Panel he often references The Comedy Company by periodically slipping in and out of the character, as well as appearing in full costume as Arthur for The Panel Christmas Special in 2005.
When the show was relaunched The New Comedy Company it featured some of the original cast and characters alongside new comedians. This series lasted one year.
In 2002, an hour of clips from The Comedy Company was edited into a special called The Comedy Company: So Excellent, with the subtitle referencing a famed line by the Kylie Mole character.
Quite a large amount of merchandise was produced for a sketch comedy series, such as a flood of spin-off books ("The Comedy Company Holiday Book", "My Diary by Kylie Mole", "Con's Bewdiful Australia") and audio cassettes and records with extracts from the series, and lunchboxes featuring Kylie Mole and T-Shirts with Con the Fruiterer or Kylie Mole displaying their famous catch phrases. Kylie Mole and Con the Fruiterer dolls were also released, which would randomly say one of an assortment of the character's catchphrases when a string was pulled.
Kylie Mole had a top 10 hit with So Excellent in 1988. The 'B' side of the single was the song 'I Go, I Go.' Kylie also interviewed many famous people including Julian Lennon
, Sylvester Stallone
, INXS
and Kylie Minogue
on the show. Minogue also appeared in some sketches on the show playing Kylie Mole's second best friend, Rebecca.
Con The Fruiterer, played by Mark Mitchell, was especially popular. Con The Fruiterer even met the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke
, on the show.
box set has been released including four DVDs with select clips from the series, the four DVDs are;
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television series first aired from 16 February 1988 until about 11 November 1990 on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
, Sunday night and was created and directed by Ian McFadyen
Ian McFadyen
Ian McFadyen is an Australian writer, actor, and director. He is best known as the producer and performer on the Australian television series The Comedy Company which ran from 16 February 1988 to 11 November 1990...
, and co directed and produced by Jo Lane. The show largely consisted of sketch comedy in short segments, much in the tradition of earlier Sketch comedy shows, The Mavis Bramston Show
The Mavis Bramston Show
The Mavis Bramston Show was a popular and award-winning Australian TV satirical sketch comedy series of the mid-1960s.-Introduction:The tremendous impact that The Mavis Bramston Show had in Australia in the mid-1960s was heightened because of its unique place in the history of the Australian TV...
, The Naked Vicar Show
The Naked Vicar Show
The Naked Vicar Show was a satirical Australian radio, television series. The classic Australian sitcom Kingswood Country was spawned from sketches in the series....
, Australia You're Standing In It
Australia You're Standing In It
Australia You're Standing In It was an Australian sketch comedy series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, first screened in 1983 with a second series made in 1984.-Cast:...
, and The D-Generation
The D-Generation
The D-Generation was a popular and influential Australian TV sketch comedy show, produced and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for two series, between 1986 and 1987...
. The majority of the filming took place in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. The show had a significant effect on Australian culture, particularly on Australian youth. The Australian adoption of the word "Bogan
Bogan
The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
" was first used in its existing context by the famous The Comedy Company character, Kylie Mole.
This show should not be confused with a short-lived American sketch-comedy/variety series of the same name that ran 10 years earlier.
Background
In 1988, the Media Arts company was asked by Network Ten AustraliaNetwork Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
to produce a one hour-a-week comedy program. Within a few months, The Comedy Company became the most successful comedy program of the decade being the highest rated weekly television program, particularly of note it ran against the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
popular current events show 60 Minutes which shared its timeslot. Much of its success was due to it being the only family entertainment on television on a Sunday night. The Comedy Company remained the consistently highest rating weekly television program for two years.
Many of the stars of The Comedy Company came from a 1985 Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
show called The Eleventh Hour, which starred Mary-Anne Fahey
Mary-Anne Fahey
Mary-Anne Fahey is an Australian actor, comedian and writer.-Biography:Fahey has starred in and written for comedy programs including The Comedy Company, Kittson, Fahey , Get a Life and One Size Fits All...
, Ian McFadyen
Ian McFadyen
Ian McFadyen is an Australian writer, actor, and director. He is best known as the producer and performer on the Australian television series The Comedy Company which ran from 16 February 1988 to 11 November 1990...
, Mark Mitchell, Glenn Robbins
Glenn Robbins
Glenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
, Peter Moon
Peter Moon (comedian)
Peter Moon is an Australian comedian, best known for writing and performing in the sketch comedy Fast Forward....
and Steve Vizard
Steve Vizard
Stephen William Vizard, born 6 March 1956 in Richmond, Victoria, is an Australian media personality, comedian, businessman and writer.-Early life:...
. Fahey, McFadyen, Mitchell and Robbins went to The Comedy Company and Moon and Vizard went to the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
series Fast Forward.
The Comedy Company premiered many famous characters such as Kylie Mole, Con The Fruiterer, Col'n Carpenter and Uncle Arthur. Some of these characters still remain minor Australian icons. Con the Fruiterer appears even to this day on a variety of shows, as does his wife Marika. Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell is an Australian AFI award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor...
also created a spin off series called Col'n Carpenter (1990-1991) based on his character of the same name. Kylie Mole was also featured in the second series of the ABC's Kittson, Fahey (1993). Notably, Glenn Robbins
Glenn Robbins
Glenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
often did public appearances as Uncle Arthur and on The Panel he often references The Comedy Company by periodically slipping in and out of the character, as well as appearing in full costume as Arthur for The Panel Christmas Special in 2005.
When the show was relaunched The New Comedy Company it featured some of the original cast and characters alongside new comedians. This series lasted one year.
In 2002, an hour of clips from The Comedy Company was edited into a special called The Comedy Company: So Excellent, with the subtitle referencing a famed line by the Kylie Mole character.
Quite a large amount of merchandise was produced for a sketch comedy series, such as a flood of spin-off books ("The Comedy Company Holiday Book", "My Diary by Kylie Mole", "Con's Bewdiful Australia") and audio cassettes and records with extracts from the series, and lunchboxes featuring Kylie Mole and T-Shirts with Con the Fruiterer or Kylie Mole displaying their famous catch phrases. Kylie Mole and Con the Fruiterer dolls were also released, which would randomly say one of an assortment of the character's catchphrases when a string was pulled.
Kylie Mole had a top 10 hit with So Excellent in 1988. The 'B' side of the single was the song 'I Go, I Go.' Kylie also interviewed many famous people including Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
, Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
, INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
and Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
on the show. Minogue also appeared in some sketches on the show playing Kylie Mole's second best friend, Rebecca.
Con The Fruiterer, played by Mark Mitchell, was especially popular. Con The Fruiterer even met the then Prime Minister Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
, on the show.
Critical acclaim
- The series won itself quite a large number of awards, however of most note is the two consecutive Logie Awards (1989 - 1990) it received for Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Program.
- Mary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne Fahey is an Australian actor, comedian and writer.-Biography:Fahey has starred in and written for comedy programs including The Comedy Company, Kittson, Fahey , Get a Life and One Size Fits All...
also won a Logie Award for Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Personality for her appearance on The Comedy Company in 1989.
Notable characters
- Mark Mitchell as Con the Fruiterer, Marika, Glenn Gelding
- Mary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne Fahey is an Australian actor, comedian and writer.-Biography:Fahey has starred in and written for comedy programs including The Comedy Company, Kittson, Fahey , Get a Life and One Size Fits All...
as Kylie Mole, Jophesine, Sharon Maclaren - Ian McFadyenIan McFadyenIan McFadyen is an Australian writer, actor, and director. He is best known as the producer and performer on the Australian television series The Comedy Company which ran from 16 February 1988 to 11 November 1990...
as David Rabbitborough - Glenn RobbinsGlenn RobbinsGlenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
as Uncle Arthur/Gary Dare, Darren Maclaren - Kym GyngellKym GyngellKym Gyngell is an Australian AFI award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor...
as Col'n Carpenter - Russell GilbertRussell GilbertRussell Gilbert , is an Australian comedian and actor from Footscray, Victoria.-Television:He has appeared in several Australian TV comedies, first attracting notice as 'Russ the Postie' on The Comedy Company , which led to a nine year stint on Hey Hey It's Saturday...
as Russ the Postie
Writers
- Doug MacLeodDoug MacLeod (TV writer)Doug MacLeod Doug MacLeod Doug MacLeod (born 13 October 1959 is a writer of books, television and theatre from Melbourne, Australia.-Television:Doug was a working writer for ABC Radio's comedy department in the 1980s, before spending two years as head writer of Network Ten's The Comedy Company. ...
- Head Writer - Rob Caldwell
- Mary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne FaheyMary-Anne Fahey is an Australian actor, comedian and writer.-Biography:Fahey has starred in and written for comedy programs including The Comedy Company, Kittson, Fahey , Get a Life and One Size Fits All...
- Russell GilbertRussell GilbertRussell Gilbert , is an Australian comedian and actor from Footscray, Victoria.-Television:He has appeared in several Australian TV comedies, first attracting notice as 'Russ the Postie' on The Comedy Company , which led to a nine year stint on Hey Hey It's Saturday...
- Tracy HarveyTracy HarveyTracy Harvey is a comedian, TV presenter, actor and writer from Melbourne, Australia.Tracy was a member of the alternative comedy breakfast panel radio show Punter to Punter with Trevor Marmalade and Dr Turf...
- Kym GyngellKym GyngellKym Gyngell is an Australian AFI award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor...
- Galia Hardy
- Peter (Jack) Herbert
- Gerard Matte
- Andrew Maj
- Ian McFadyenIan McFadyenIan McFadyen is an Australian writer, actor, and director. He is best known as the producer and performer on the Australian television series The Comedy Company which ran from 16 February 1988 to 11 November 1990...
- Rob Menzies
- Mark Mitchell
- Mick MolloyMick MolloyMichael "Mick" Molloy is an Australian comedian, writer and producer who has been active in the fields of radio, television, stand-up and film.-Biography:...
- Brad Oakes
- Glenn RobbinsGlenn RobbinsGlenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
- Peter Rowsthorn
- Jason Stephens
- Jason Van Der Velde (aka Trevor MarmaladeTrevor MarmaladeTrevor Marmalade is the stage name of a comedian from Melbourne, Australia of Dutch descent. Jason grew up in Surrey Hills in Melbourne....
)
DVD
A DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
box set has been released including four DVDs with select clips from the series, the four DVDs are;
- The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 1
- The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 2
- The Best of Con the Fruiterer
- The Best of Col'n Carpenter