News Free Zone

[ShitScared]

Here's a challenge for the hardcore Aussie Comedy nerds.

Does anyone have any information or video based on News Free Zone?

This is all I have. (other than NFSA)

ABC / 50x30m-e / 1985 (29 July - 3 October)

Early evening, week night sketch show hosted by the often controversial Grahame Bond of Aunty Jack fame, a regular segment of the show saw Bond take on the guise of Rick Veneer an obnoxious TV critic.

"News Free Zone" was broadcast in 1985 on ABC-TV, intended to be an entire evening's entertainment in one half hour with no news (shown at the same time the three commercial networks showed their evening news) - a sitcom (85 Australia Street), a game show (Neverending Story), and a soap opera (Party Line which always started with a voice over saying "A wise man once said..."), along with Kev Kevanagh's Kulture, and Vintage Video which showed old Aunty Jack sketches. The show ended each night with a reading from The Book Of Wisdom, usually a vague saying of doubtful value, before Bond sang "Please Respect Me". Bond and O'Donoghue recreate this at the end of the second disc.

[baudrillard]

I used to watch it as a kid and one of my first girlfriends had a 7" that her father had bought.

But then I did hear something my mother told me when she met Graheme Bond and it wasn't good news... I'll leave it at that.

[13 schoolyards]

Considering the amount of Bond stuff the ABC's been releasing over the last year or so, a "best-of" wouldn't be entirely out of the question. Not exactly likely, but still...

Oh and as for actual useful information: sorry, nothing here from me.

[ShitScared]

The main reason that I brought it up is that one of my mates at work (who is about 5 years older than me) shares the same passion for vintage nostalgic Australian TV. But other than myself, he's actually been old enough to watch it when some shows originally ran.

He said that something on the weekend reminded him of a character that Grahame Bond did and the character had a peculiar "Eh! Eh!" laugh. Originally he thought it was from "Australia - You're Standing In It" until after some minor research, it came from News Free Zone.

[baudrillard]

Hmm... I wish I could remember more. Considering I used to watch it, I feel kinda stupid I can't remember the character. Or really anything that much about the show. Hey SS ask you friend about the Gillies Report!

[13 schoolyards]

I bought the VHS of The Gillies Report off eBay a while back. Some fine watching there. And you can pick the book up from almost any decent 2ndhand book place.

So I do know something sorta useful after all.

[ShitScared]

Yes, he's heard of Gillies Report. He's heard of basically all of the comedy shows, but he had me stumped on News Free Zone. Damn him

[menagers]

"See you round like a rissole! Eh! Eh!"

The character was Kev Kavanagh, he said this and gave the peace sign. This is the best info site on Grahame Bondgoing around. I think I read on there (a long time ago now) that there was no way we were going to see it released because Mr. Bond himself had no desire to ever see that happen.

Actually, I'll never forget News Free Zone being shown in '85 on The Afternoon Show. It was absolutely my antidote to too much Doctor Who at the time.

[ShitScared]

That's it menagers!! Thankyou heaps!


Now just to find footage.

[Bean Is A Carrot]

I remember NFZ, vaguely. The main thing I remember is they'd do a serial where all the characters represented a different Australian state. They were called things like Sunny Brisbane and, um, Adelaide.