Why mess around with expensive drama series that are grossly
under written or under budgeted, why bother with expensive non events
like Big Questions when you
can make a cheap, fun and funny comedy show - and the best part of it
all - you don't even need to write it because the actors make it up as
they go along! Since ending the successful (yet tired) The Panel, the team behind some of Australia's most successful programs (The Late Show, Frontline, The Castle)
took a hard earned sabatical from the TV landscape, only to return in
2006 with one of the most original and outrageously successful TV
programs in the last decade, and best of all, it's such a simple idea. Take
four of this country's leading comic performers, dress them up, chuck
them in a room they've never been in and see what happens. It's Whose Line Is It Anyway? meets What's In The Box? with an Aussie spin. There
are some genuine laugh out loud moments over the three discs of the
first series (which was a phenominal ratings success for Network Ten
earlier in the year), from Lano & Woodley's Frank Wood doing his
best (and worst) as a Roman Soldier, to Fifi Boxs' inability to give a
convincing English accent, to Shaun Micallef at his witty best during a
scene which forces him to teach a kindergarden class, there is very
little in the way of disapointment. It's clean, easy and enjoyable TV. I
had my doubts about certain aspects of the show - it was near perfect -
except for the constant need to stretch out the segments with pointless
chats with "Judge" Tom Gleisner....oh, and the whole "Shane Bourne"
thing. Yes, he is terrible, he is patronising (look closely at the
confused faces of the performers as his fake laughs at the end of each
joke), and he isn't all that funny. He may have gotten away with the
"Bad Gag" routine back in the 70's and 80's, but that sorta thing just
doesn'y fly anymore (which is amazing considering we all tune in our
droves to Comedy Classics on Shannel Seven). Bourne aside, this
collection of Australia's finest performers including Kate Langbrook,
Hamish Blake, Shaun Micallef - not to mention comedy finds in Josh
Lawson and Angus Sampson who were the stand outs of the year - is proof
that Australian originality isn't dead and that we are still capable of
great things that don't involve the phrase "SMS Now". DVD
Extras Considering the Working Dog team are generally quite stingy when it comes to DVD releases (Frontline and The Castle
contained a total of zero extras) this isn't to bad at all. In fact,
it's pretty bloody snazzy. There's a special little box which contains
a Thank God You're Here
game, theres out takes from the series, a truly interesting behind the
scenes featurette along with several highlights packages. Wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't turn up in a whole bunch of Christmas stockings later this year! Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 75% 
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