Nov 19 2021
Actual Late Show cast member Jason Stephens joined the Champagne Comedy podcast and gave us the lowdown on:
Check out the video version below, or subscribe to the podcast!
Sep 06 2021
By the time Saturday July 3, 1993 came around for Australian television audiences, The Late Show had finally found its feet with their second season.
Already four episodes in, the ‘Champagne sketch Comedy’ routine was about to be cemented as an iconic moment in TV comedy history, Piffy The Bellringer gained traction and was invited into the studio for for Episode 5 after his appearance in the Pot Luck toilet break, and the Musical Closings were getting more clever and a ‘must watch’ as Mick Molloy was constantly misunderstanding Tony Martin‘s requests to get certain musicians in to perform their signature tunes.
in Season 2 Episode 5, Frente’s hit tune Accidently Kelly Street was still running fresh in the minds of Australians, and after a hilarious parody in Season 1 Episode 20 in 1992. So, Tony puts in a request for Mick to get Frente on board, but Mick ‘accidently’ gets What’s Cooking? TV chef and personality Gabriel Gâté instead – with his natural French accent.
Speaking on Episode 25 on the Champagne Comedy Podcast, Gâté chats about his connection with the D-Generation / Working Dog team, as well as his preparation for the routine, which he absolutely loved doing. Here’s an excerpt of the 6 minute chat:
To hear the full interview, listen to Episode 25 of the Champagne Comedy Podcast – a fan podcast made by fans, for the fans.
This episode also features Remi Broadway – aka Piffy The Bellringer – as special guest reviewer.
Spotify | iTunes | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | Amazon
This podcast has no direct association with the Working Dog team, the ABC, and Co.
A big thank you to Gabriel Gâté for the chat. You can follow him on instagram here.
Aug 22 2021
On Saturday 26th June 1993, a week after their appearance on Hey Hey It’s Saturday (coincidentally), the Australian folk-rock band Things Of Stone And Wood were about to be lampooned for their ARIA Top 10 hit Happy Birthday Helen, where lead singer Greg Arnold and band members strutted around Melbourne.
The nearly accurate portrayal by Rob Sitch and fellow D-Generation members based the parody of the song and music clip by highlighting landmarks of the original video clip, and mocking the fact that every spot was a ‘Melbourne Cliche’.
On episode 24 of the Champagne Comedy Podcast, Arnold himself sat down for a chat from Geneva (far from Melbourne) to talk in depth about the history of Happy Birthday Helen, as well as his thoughts of the parody that is on par to be their second biggest single they ever made… an extract of the chat is below:
To hear the full interview, listen to Episode 24 of the Champagne Comedy Podcast – a fan podcast made by fans, for the fans.
Spotify | iTunes | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | TuneIn
This podcast has no direct association with the Working Dog team, the ABC, and Co.
A big thank you to Greg Arnold for the chat.
Socials: Facebook.
Aug 17 2021
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Jul 14 2021
While Working Dog have your attention on Monday nights with the news quiz show Have You Been Paying Attention?, they request your ongoing attention with a new show.
Starting Tuesday July 20 at 9pm, The Cheap Seats will be a companion piece for your entertainment.
Melanie Blackwell and Tim McDonald
Hosted by Have You Been Paying Attention? regulars Melanie Bracewell (ex-New Zealand) and Tim McDonald (ex-Jobseeker), The Cheap Seats takes a comic look back at the week that was.
Major news stories, not-so-major news stories, stories involving cats, entertainment, sport and viral videos, it’s a Reader’s Digest of world events for a generation who simply don’t want to read.
If it was broadcast, released, published, viewed, shared, clicked on, or simply trending for 30-seconds, then it’s likely to be a part of The Cheap Seats.
So get set to experience a new view of the world… from The Cheap Seats.
The Cheap Seats – Premiering 9pm Tuesday July 20, 2021.
The Cheap Seats on Twitter.
Jul 11 2021
Saturday June 5, 1993 marked the return of The Late Show on ABC TV. The D-Generation were fresh from nearly an entire year of rest, along a makeover of the show. A new cast member Judith Lucy, a new brighter set, and new sketches.
One of these new sketches was Charlie The Wonderdog, starring four children known collectively as “The Pissweak Kids”. Starring Tom Gleisner’s dog Charlie, veteran actor Charles (Bud) Tingwell, the concept was so pissweakery – think the hallmarks of Skippy but on a budget and with intentional bad acting. The Pissweak Kids would get into or discover debacles, with Charlie coming to save the day.
The oldest Pissweak Kid, Justin Anderson, spoke with the Champagne Comedy podcast team to talk about being part of the show and what was involved in filming the popular series. Here’s a tiny snippet from Episode 21 of the podcast where Season 2 Episode 1 of The Late Show was discussed:
To hear the full interview, as well as a chat with TV Historian Andrew Mercado about the synopsis of the Paradise Beach sketch, listen to Episode 21 of the Champagne Comedy Podcast – a fan podcast made by fans, for the fans.
Full podcast episode:
Spotify | iTunes | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | TuneIn
This podcast has no direct association with the Working Dog team, the ABC, and Co.
If you want to read the 2012 interview with Justin and brother Nic, read here.
Jun 07 2021
On Saturday 12th December 1992, Australia watched a lampoon of what would be an iconic music video from a popular Australian pop-folk band Frente and their hit song “Accidently Kelly Street“.
While we all laughed at Tony Martin, Mick Molloy and Santo Cilauro dress up as the band members and mimic the music video and Jane Kennedy doing her best rendition of lead singer Angie Hart, not many people knew how the actual band thought about it.
It is on record (on the Champagne Edition Best Bits of The Late Show DVD) with Mick Molloy explaining on the commentary track that the girlfriend of a band member had ‘dumped him’ after the parody, we spoke directly to Hart about her thoughts on the satirical sketch, nearly 30 years later after the original broadcast.
To hear the full interview, listen to Episode 20 of the Champagne Comedy Podcast – a fan podcast made by fans, for the fans.
Spotify | iTunes | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | TuneIn
This podcast has no direct association with the Working Dog team, the ABC, and Co.
A big thank you to Angie Hart for the chat.
May 03 2021
Back in the days of ’90s radioland, where a bunch of comedians were vying for your attention for your breakfast, morning tea and your drive home… nothing much has changed really.
In 1997, MAD Magazine Australia published a 4 page illustration by artists Chris Wahl and Jason Davis covering the perils of commercial radio – mainly Sydney and Melbourne based.
Imagery of Triple M’s Andrew Denton, Amanda Keller, Dave Gibson, Doug Mulray, Triple J’s Paul McDermott, Mikey Robins, The Sandman, Helen Razor, Judith Lucy, Dr Karl, Michael Tunn, 2UE’s John Laws, 2DAY’s Mick Molloy, Tony Martin, Pete Smith, and Ugly Phil O’Neil are all lampooned in high quality MAD humour.
Take a step back in time and don’t crease the fold-in.
Dovetail: It’s not the first time Martin/Molloy were turned into cartoons. Example here.
Apr 20 2021
Park your bott-bott on the couch as Australia’s favourite news quiz show hosted by Tom Gleisner returns for Season Nine on Monday May 3, 2021 on Channel 10.
Along with regular panel players Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang, the Logie Award winning comedy show will entertain Australian audiences with news and punchlines galore with rotating guests and special quizmasters.
Have You Been Paying Attention? – returns Monday May 3rd, 2021 on Channel 10.
While you wait, feel free to listen to our interview with Tommy G from 2014, when HYBPA? was only a couple of seasons young. Skip to 2 minutes in if you wish.
Have You Been Paying Attention? – Official Facebook page.
Apr 04 2021
A new item for your electronic device or bookshelf – depending on which one you prefer.
The Late Show Season 2, Crackerjack and Bad Eggs star Judith Lucy had a new book arriving April 7, 2021.
”Turns Out, I’m Fine – How Not To Fall Apart” is a new entry into Lucy’s life, based on love, hope and lack of family.
Judith Lucy was just Great!
Sure, the last remaining member of her immediate family had died, she was menopausal, she suspected her career was in the shitter and it seemed like the world was going to hell in a handbasket – but she was about to move in with the love of her life! Everything would work out because SHE HAD A MAN.
Then, in the space of twenty-four hours, her relationship came apart and so did she. A broken heart became the catalyst for a complete existential melt down. She was nearly fifty, suddenly alone and unsure about every aspect of her life.
How had this happened? Should she blame one of her four parents? What part had the comedy world played and was her disastrous history with men about more than just bad taste?
In her most candid and insightful book yet, Judith figures out what went wrong and then turns her attention to finding out what her life might look like if it went right. She tries everything from dating a tree to getting a portrait of her vulva done to swimming with a whale shark. Thanks to a series of revelations and a slight drowning experience, Judith slowly starts to realise that her life is still full of possibilities and despite death, heartache and a dry vagina it turns out … she’s fine.
Available in Paper, eBook and Audio through Booktopia and other retailers.
