Nearly 20 years I started watching an Australian sketch comedy show called Fast Forward. It introduced me to comedians like Jane Turner and Gina Riley who are now famous for Kath and Kim. When Fast Forward finished, Full Frontal took over with a similar format. One of its, now more well known, comedians was Eric Bana. The show was hilarious, and must see viewing for me and many peers.
Whenever I see a newer Australian sketch comedy I think fondly back to those days because the new shows have a lot to live up to and generally don’t.
The other night I was relaxing in front of the television and my nephew passed through the lounge and told me that he’s been watching Full Frontal sketches on YouTube. He said that I probably used to watch it on television.
It made me realise that because of applications like YouTube, a whole new world has been opened up to people who weren’t around or didn’t have access to rediscover shows like Full Frontal.
This one is Eric Bana doing a parody of a current affairs presenter here at the time called Ray Martin. There’s even a bit of ‘Fabio’ in here.
What was your favourite sketch comedy?
I used to love Saturday Night Live back in the 80s and early 90s but it changed and got pretty dumb/raunchy. I don’t like really dirty humor as it seems so unintelligent. I’ve always thought Monty Python was funny, and right now I’m a big fan of Ask a Ninja on the web.
I didn’t mind Full Frontal or The Comedy Company – not necessarily a sketch show, but I loved Blah Blah Blah and The Smallest Room in the House.
Last night I caught the new Mick Molloy one The Nation – the sort of sketch show where you laugh because its quite clever but oh you also cringe a little!
Has Full Frontal really been around that long?!
I remember when I was still at school watching ‘Australia, You’re Standing In It’ (I think that’s right) and loving the bits by Rod Quantock (no idea if I’ve spelled that correctly). I particularly remember the time he was writing on the camera lens – though now I couldn’t tell you what he was actually talking about!