Having seen 10/15 episodes so far, the first season started strongly with biting parodies of well known figures. The Real Housewives of the World series was good and showed the older Fast Forward talent was still kicking. Gina Minehart struck a chord too. Hannah Bath's similarity with Princess Mary of Denmark is being put to use which is also good. The parodies tended to be spaced out by weaker social commentary sketches, although the natural talents of the actors get used well sometimes, like Glenn Robbins' dweeby characteristics. It's a shame the talented social comedy writers Jane Turner and Gina Reilly with the much vaunted Kath and Kim, Glenn Robbins' successes with All Aussie Adventures, Shane Jacobson's larakin Aussie with Kenny, and Michael Veitch (Fast Forward), Stephen Curry (the Castle), Marg Downey (Fast Forward) and Magda Szubanski (Kath and Kim) just being...well...themselves, haven't cut through here as much as they might. A lot of it often feel more like one line jokes in sketch comedy routines than jokes that can be played out.
With the insight and ability to tap into culture demonstrated by the very talented cast (and I need to also mention Emily Taheny who has runs on the board from Comedy Inc and Mad as Hell), it seems that the show intended to take a lot of risks - at least that's what the intro from the first half the series promised. It seems like all the brilliant minds that are vested in this project need a blank canvas to go nuts, take bigger risks, and come out with some (hopefully) brilliant unique characters that can carry the series. Kath and Kim, after all, was a one-sketch joke at one point.
Foxtel needs to renew this show, and give them what the title promised - an open slather creative licence to find their voice. Either the show should soar like an eagle or go down in flames, but a "safe" middle grounded production helps no-one.
With the insight and ability to tap into culture demonstrated by the very talented cast (and I need to also mention Emily Taheny who has runs on the board from Comedy Inc and Mad as Hell), it seems that the show intended to take a lot of risks - at least that's what the intro from the first half the series promised. It seems like all the brilliant minds that are vested in this project need a blank canvas to go nuts, take bigger risks, and come out with some (hopefully) brilliant unique characters that can carry the series. Kath and Kim, after all, was a one-sketch joke at one point.
Foxtel needs to renew this show, and give them what the title promised - an open slather creative licence to find their voice. Either the show should soar like an eagle or go down in flames, but a "safe" middle grounded production helps no-one.