The Comedy Company
| The Comedy Company | |
|---|---|
 The Comedy Company logo | |
| Genre | Sketch comedy |
| Created by | Ian McFadyen |
| Written by | Rob Caldwell Mary-Anne Fahey |
| Directed by | Jo Lane Ian McFadyen |
| Starring | Mark Mitchell Mary-Anne Fahey Ian McFadyen Glenn Robbins Kym Gyngell Russell Gilbert Tim Smith Siobhan Tuke Chris Keogh Peter Rowsthorn Paula Gardner |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 3 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Melbourne,Australia |
| Production company | Media Arts |
| Original release | |
| Network | Network Ten |
| Release | 16 February 1988– 11 November 1990 |
The Comedy Companywas an Australian sketch comedy television series that first aired from 16 February 1988 until 11 November 1990 onNetwork Ten.It was created and directed by cast memberIan McFadyen,and co-directed and produced by Jo Lane.
The show largely consisted of sketch comedy in short segments, much in the tradition of earlier sketch comedy shows such asThe Mavis Bramston Show,The Naked Vicar ShowandThe D-Generationand featured cast members from the latter two shows. The majority of the filming took place inMelbourne.
The show and characters had a significant effect on Australian pop culture, and had a cult following particularly with Australian youth.
History
[edit]The Comedy Companywas created byIan McFadyenin 1987, whenNetwork Tenasked the Media Arts Company to produce a one-hour-a-week comedy program. the series premiered in February 1988 and within a few months became the most successful comedy program of the decade. It often rated as the highest rated weekly television program, which was particularly of note since it broadcast on Sunday evenings up against theNine Network's popular current affairs show60 Minutes.Much of its success was due to it being the only family entertainment on television on a Sunday night.The Comedy Companyremained the consistently highest rating weekly television program for two years.
The third and final series was titledThe New Comedy Companyand featured a mostly new cast, though some of the original cast also returned. This version (and by extension, the show) was cancelled within a year.
In 2002, an hour of clips fromThe Comedy Companywas edited into a special calledThe Comedy Company: So Excellent,with the subtitle referencing a famed line by Mary Anne Fahey's character Kylie Mole.
Characters
[edit]The series launched several popular characters including schoolgirlKylie Mole,terminally unemployed Col'n Carpenter, bumbling elderly pensioner Uncle Arthur and most especially greengrocer Con the Fruiterer.
Mark Mitchellwould continue to play Con the Fruiterer, aGreek Australiangreengrocer, for many years on and off television, including in an advertising campaign urging Australians to eat more fruit in 2010.[1]
The word "bogan"was popularised byMary-Anne Fahey's Kylie Mole character, a scowling schoolgirl who also interviewed various celebrities.[2]Kylie Mole would also feature in the second series of the ABC seriesKittson Faheyin 1993.
Glenn Robbinsoften did public appearances as hisThe Comedy Companycharacter Uncle Arthur, and onThe Panelhe often referencedThe Comedy Companyby periodically slipping in and out of the character. He appeared in full costume as Arthur forThe PanelChristmas Special in 2005.
Cast and characters
[edit]- Mark Mitchellas Con the Fruiterer, Marika, Glenn Gelding
- Mary-Anne Faheyas Kylie Mole, Jophesine, Sharon Maclaren
- Ian McFadyenas David Rabbitborough
- Glenn Robbinsas Uncle Arthur/Gary Dare, Darren Maclaren
- Kym Gyngellas Col'n Carpenter
- Russell Gilbertas Russ the Postie
- Tim Smith, various characters
- Christine Keogh
- Siobhan Tute
Celebrity guests
[edit]The Comedy Company was well-known for featuring national and international stars appearing as guests throughout the series including:Julian Lennon,INXS,Kylie Minogue,Jason Donovan,Annie JonesandSigrid Thornton.Con the Fruiterer even met the then-Australian Prime MinisterBob Hawkein one episode on the show.[3]
Merchandising
[edit]The series launched quite a large amount of merchandise for a comedy show, including the booksThe Comedy Company Holiday Book,My Diary by Kylie Mole,andCon's Bewdiful Australia,as well as T-shirts, dolls and music albums (see below).
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | ||
| 1988 | The Comedy Company Album
|
9 |
| 1989 | Comedy Company Classics
|
98 |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [4] | |||
| 1988 | "So Excellent/ I Go I Go "(byKylie Mole) | 8 | The Comedy Company Album |
| "A Cuppla Days"(byCon the Fruiterer) | 48 |
DVDs
[edit]A DVDbox sethas been released including four DVDs with select clips from the series, the four DVDs are;
- The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 1
- The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 2
- The Best of Con the Fruiterer
- The Best of Col'n Carpenter
Awards
[edit]Logie Awards
[edit]The series won two consecutiveLogie Awards(1989–1990) for Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Program, while cast memberMary-Anne Faheywon a Logie Award for Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Personality for her appearance onThe Comedy Companyin 1989.
ARIA Music Awards
[edit]The Comedy Companywon oneARIA Music Awardfrom two nominations.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Comedy Company Album | Best Comedy Release | Won |
| 1990 | Comedy Company Classics | Nominated |
Spin-offs
[edit]Col'n Carpenter
[edit]Col'n Carpenteris a 1990 Australian sitcom spinoff, starringKym Gyngell,reprising his character fromThe Comedy Company.It ran for two series, co-starring Stig Wemyss and Vicki Blanche, and during the second season Blanche was replaced singerKaarin Fairfaxand also added to the cast was formerPrisonerstarMonica Maughanin a comedy role as Carpenter's mum.[5]
Guest stars includedBen Mendelsohn,Annie JonesandTracy Mann[citation needed]
Con's Bewdiful Holiday Videos
[edit]Network 10 screenedCon's Bewdiful Holiday Videos,in 1997 a spin-off starring Mark Mitchell as Con the Fruiterer and his wife Marika. The show was a combination of a sitcom and funny home videos in the same vein asAustralia's Funniest Home Videos.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Con the Fruiterer is back for a new health campaign".Herald Sun. 21 January 2010.Archivedfrom the original on 14 June 2011.Retrieved20 May2023.
- ^"Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms".Australian National Dictionary Centre.Archivedfrom the original on 11 October 2013.Retrieved1 May2012.
- ^"Bob Hawke's foray into television comedy".ABC Radio National. 17 May 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 21 May 2023.Retrieved21 May2023.
- ^abRyan, Gavin (2011).Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010(pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^Albert Moran,Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series,AFTRS 1993 p 122