Jul 06 2022

A Very Special Episode 40 Podcast

Since the pandemic started in 2020, ChampagneComedy.com created Champagne Comedy Podcast  – a discussion with regular contributors to this site over the years, to talk fan commentary and observation on each episode, from the very beginning, as well as other projects that Working Dog and the others have worked on.

We started with The Late Show, and the goal was to review all 40 episodes of the 1992 / 93 series. Our podcast reflected the quality of early episodes – shonky. But now, we have reached our 40th episode, as well as the final episode of The Late Show, and we managed to convince two of the Pissweak Kids – Justin and Nic Anderson – to come on and reflect on their time on the show.

Season 2 Episode 20 featured A Very Charlie Christmas – where Charlie The Wonderdog returns alive and well after an assassination attempt earlier in the season. The Pissweak Kids with Gramps (Charles (Bud) Tingwell) reflect on the adventures that Charlie went on.

“We didn’t think we were coming back” says Justin.
“Yeah, we thought it was well after” says Nic.
Justin adds “They had finished it, and the way they structured the show is that they were gonna have the first half of the series was going to be Charlie The Wonderdog, and the second half was going to be Bargearse.”

Nic and Justin Anderson.

Not to forget, it was the ending of Bargearse – an overdubbed serial of the Crawfords 70s police detective series Bluey, that relied heavily on fart jokes and was the successor to The Olden Days from Season One. While the main star of the series was Lucky Grills, he passed away in 2007, so what a better way in paying tribute to the great man than to speak to his daughter Shanra Grills (who politely answered the phone).

Speaking on the phone to the podcast, Shanra was asked about how the revival of Bluey as Bargearse helped with his newfound status.

“He actually loved it – he was so proud that they brought it back out and especially in the way that they did,” Shanra says, “because it kind of – you know – dispite the fact that he was always popular – it kind of brought everything to life again, and they brought out all the merchandise and everything like that. So he was just absolutely thrilled.”

You can watch (yes, we filmed this episode!) below, or listen just below the video.

Check out our previous podcast episodes and other bonus materials on the Podcast page.

PS: A big thank you to everyone involved, and you – the listener. Stay subscribed to the podcast as we will return!

PPS: The Champagne Comedy Podcast has no association with Working Dog, ABC, the cast, crew or any affiliates.

Jul 01 2022

ABC 90 Celebrate! – The Supercut

On June 30, 2022 ABC TV screened a live 2 & 1/4 hour special highlighting 90 years of the Australian public broadcaster, covering TV and radio.

Hosted by Zan Rowe, Craig Reucassel and Tony Armstrong, the special showed clips, live crosses and performances from various parts of Australian lives and locations. Topics included (but not limited to) Comedy, Drama, News, Music and The Arts.

The most eager part that this site was looking forward to was perhaps a reunion with the D-Generation. But sadly, that didn’t happen. However, we did get a kick out of the odd clip / reference to anything D-Gen / Late Show / Working Dog related. Even a proper snippet on the ABC drama Rush (aka The Olden Days).

Here’s all the references that relate to this site, from ABC TV. It’s a ‘blink-and-miss’ moment, but here’s the list:

  • Frontline
  • Judith Lucy performing on The Big Gig
  • The D-Generation + D-Gen alumus Magda Szubanski
  • The Late Show
  • Funky Squad
  • Utopia
  • Rush (the original Olden Days)

Happy 90th Birthday, ABC! You can stream the specil on iView now.

Dovetail: Sgt Olden is still playing the game.

Jun 21 2022

2022 Logies Wrap

After a couple of years hiatus due to the pandemic, the 62nd Logie Awards were held at The Star on the Gold Coast June 19th, 2022.

Unfortunately, Working Dog weren’t successful for The Cheap Seats Melanie Bracewell to take out the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent, but had success at Most Popular Comedy Program for Have You Been Paying Attention? , even though they were up against themselves with The Cheap Seats.

Having Tony Martin returning for the third year as the voiceover for the ceremony, there were some niche throwbacks, including a nice reference to “Bargearse” via the ABC children’s animated show Bluey. As always, here’s a supercut of Martin’s bits, with cameos by Pete Smith.

The icing on the cake was the Hall Of Fame inductee – Sports commentator Bruce McAvaney. Lo and behold – a throwback within the heart of the tribute – Rob Sitch having a brief discussion about his Bruce impression on The Late Show in 1992.

Congratulations, one and all!

 

Jun 11 2022

Interview: Skivvies Are Back for The Sharp’s Piet Collins

If you see someone wearing a piece of figure-hugging clothing that covers the neck, arms, torso and looking just a little bit daggy, you’re probably looking at a skivvy.

What makes it more entertaining for you, is that you now have this song in your head:

The lampooning of Australian rockabilly group The Sharp‘s 1993 hit single Scratch My Back done on The Late Show became so iconic, it borderline beats the original hit song.

With Rob Sitch, Jason Stephens and Santo Cilauro parodying band members Charlie Rooke, Allan Catlin and Piet Collins with their choice of uniform and body movements, it was more than necessary for the Champagne Comedy Podcast to reach out to one of the original band members to get their thoughts on the homage, nearly 30 years since the original broadcast (Season 2 Episode 15).

Original Sharp drummer Collins reveals his thoughts in the video below.

Make sure you check out our over-analysis of everything The Late Show on the Champagne Comedy Podcast here:

Champagne Comedy Podcast

May 15 2022

HYBPA and The Cheap Seats up for Logie nominations

Pang, Gleisner, Logie, Kavalee.

Congratulations to the Working Dog team for their tireless efforts to make Australia laugh, and earn some nominations for the 2022 TV Week Logie Awards.

Most Popular Comedy Program:

  • Have You Been Paying Attention?
  • The Cheap Seats

Melanie Blackwell and Tim McDonald

Graham Kennedy Award For Most Popular New Talent:

  • Melanie Bracewell – The Cheap Seats

 

May the odds be in their favour on the Gold Coast Sunday June 19, 2022, broadcast on Channel 9.

Apr 18 2022

HYBPA and The Cheap Seats return for 2022

This is the news you’ve come here for, so we’ll get straight to it. Working Dog are busy…

Melanie Blackwell and Tim McDonald

The Cheap Seats, which was a surprise hit after making its debut in 2021 (with hosts Melanie Blackwell and Tim McDonald) taking apart the news with a humourous twist, returns for a second season on Tuesday April 26, 2022 on Channel 10.

A new season of Have You Been Paying Attention? which enters its 10th season (with Quizmaster Tom Gleisner and regular panellists Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang) returns real soon on Channel 10.


No date has been set as yet, but going by previous release dates, it’s around May. (Will update when the date is 100% confirmed).

Update: HYBPA returns Monday May 16, 2022 at the regular time slot of 8:30-ish.

Mar 15 2022

Interview: Michael Warren the Pot Luck legend

In Season 2 Episode 13 of The Late Show, the golden tonsils of Michael Warren were broadcast to Australia’s ears during the Pot Luck toilet break segment, where amusing acts from the 1987 talent TV series are shown to much of our amusement – especially Bernard King’s harsh but fair remarks.

in this episode, Warren performed the Elvis Presley tune Don’t Cry Daddy. It was until after the performance ended, King put him on notice when he quizzed Warren on his talents, in which Warren infamously responded saying he’ll “be a Legend” and “be a millionaire by the time he’s 30”.

That was in 1987. Fast forward to 2022, and the Champagne Comedy Podcast caught up with Warren – or his stage name Lucky Jackson –  to reflect on performing on Pot Luck, as well as appearing on The Late Show, and if he’s a millionaire 30 years later.

Check out Warren / Jackson’s music library at mai-songsmusic.com.

Jan 25 2022

Interview: Schutz attempts Pot Luck

In Season 2 Episode 10 of The Late Show, the magical talents of Darren Schutz were on display during the Pot Luck toilet break segment, where amusing acts from the 1987 talent TV series are shown to much of our amusement – especially Bernard King’s harsh but fair remarks.

in this episode, the then 15 year old contestant performed two magic tricks: one with silks, and another one with a die disappearing visibly and invisibly. The fun part was the not-so-subtle ‘click’ noise when the die slid to the other side of the compartment.

The Champagne Comedy Podcast caught up with Darren to reflect on performing on Pot Luck, as well as magically appearing on The Late Show, and what he’s been up to nearly 30 years later.

He’s come a long way since, and you can book Darren for business or private functions. Visit Darren Schutz Magic for more.

Jan 01 2022

The Banal of The Panel

From the Champagne Comedy archives:

Step back to the year 2000. We’re on the borderline of our tax system switching over to the GST.  The Working Dog team are riding high on the decade of achievements they’ve produced, such as The Late Show, Frontline, Funky Squad, A River Somewhere, The Castle and the upcoming The Dish and All Aussie Adventures. Their current project – a late night chat show The Panel is a ratings winner.

Only satire magazine MAD knows how to pull punches. In issue 377, which came out at the change-over of June 30 / July 1 2000 where the financial year triggered the GST Australia-wide, Artist Warren Taylor and Writer D.J. Williams lampoon Tom Gleisner, Glenn Robbins, Rob Sitch, Kate Langbroek and Santo Cilauro on a two-page spread.

and here’s a screen grab of a random episode (really!!), which scarily is close to their clothing design…

Dec 04 2021

When Kenny L met Tommy G

Regular reader and The Late Show fan Kenny Lu has shared a recent meeting with Working Dog cast Tom Gleisner at Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), in which Gleisner himself is co-founder of Learning For Life – a centre which helps children with autism reach their full potential.

Dear The Late Show team,

Yes Tom Gleisner came to the talk and it was quite good and it was a good experience I have ever had and it was good there was a talk at Aspect about his life and I do like The Late Show so much.

I experienced the talk very well and Tom Gleisner did do a talk at Aspect and I really like it then.

The photos was posted on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for you to see.

I enjoyed the talk the talk was good and I experienced it it was great.

Tom Gleisner poses with fan Kenny Lu

Thank you for sharing, Kenny!