Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Comedy in New Zealand

My last post has lead me to ponder New Zealand comedy. New Zealand seems very good at drama, but have we (royal "we") ever actually produced something funny (that was intended to be funny). I know we produce good comedians, and good skits shows, and very good commercials (ladies, fancy a ride?).

Behind the Scenes of the Y was good, but not really a series as such. And Ice TV was frickin brilliant. Skitz used to make me laugh, it helped that it was local. I am straining to come up with a series. Help.

17 comments:

Miramar Mike said...

I don't think TV people are brave enough. Bro' Town was brillinat because someone somewhere put their balls on teline.

Great/memorable comedy challenges but that's not allowed here. Normally.

Some of the Kiwi stand-up comedians are the best on the world

llew said...

No, there isn't one. Well... not a sitcom anyway. For some reason all attempts have been lame.

But practise probably makes perfect.

Martha Craig said...

Yeah, Bro' Town was brilliant, but not a sit-com as such. In fact if you imagine it with real actors - well you've got every terrible comedy NZ has tried to make. Maybe some nations just aren't funny.

Martha Craig said...

Good work Jo, I'd forgotten all about Topless Women. Scarfies was good, but not a sit-com. Don't get me wrong, I know NZers can be funny. I just can't understand why it isn't on the telly more.

Unknown said...

Does anyone remember Funny Business? Now that was pretty good. But a long long time ago.

Martha Craig said...

The name, but nothing else.

That PR thing wasn't terrible that was on a while ago. Still didn't quite click, but had John Leigh on it, and I love him.

Miramar Mike said...

Maybe some nations just aren't funny. - that's a huuuge sweeping statement, which I'm suer if you thought about you could disproove for any country you could think of ... go on, try.

Martha Craig said...

Oh you now what I meant - sit com funny. And I'm still not sure NZ has made a good sit com. Topless Women barely qualifies as they were really short episodes - almost skits. Aussie has produced some funny sit coms - Kath and Kim, the Games were brilliant.

I know NZers are hilarious. I think we produce magnificent comedians. I'm just not convinced we can laugh at ourselves on telly. Although I am obviously only referring to my fantastic sense of humour and not that of people that like Letter to Blanchy et al.

s. said...

Unfortunately - and I'm not sure I'm with the concensus here - I hate all NZ comedians and comediennes, except for Guy Capper and Rader.

But then most things don't make me laugh, especially - it seems - things that are supposed to be funny. Things that aren't supposed to be funny - The Apprentice, The Bachelorette - they make me laugh, and want to kill people. Things that are supposed to be funny - Outregeous Fortune - just make me want to kill people.

I don't know why I'm bothering to share this, since I'm coming after you all first (with my machette)!

noizy said...

Gliding On.

Martha Craig said...

Guy Capper?! I went to school with Guy. I didn't know he was that funny.

I laughed very very hard at Taika Cohen and Jemaine. They are as funny as anyone I have ever seen anywhere. And we went to see Ewen Gilmour, and he was very bloody funny too (I know, doesn't seem like he would be, but the guy is a genius).

Martha Craig said...

Good call James. GLiding On was funny. I was about 12 though, so I thought everything was pretty funny. I used to laugh quite a lot at McPhail and Gadsby, and I really didn't get any of the jokes.

My old desk
Does and arabesque
Each morning when I first arrive...

Anonymous said...

Gliding On was really good, and I still stand by Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. What about all the Billy T James stuff? That was good comedy too. Or was it more about stand-up?

I don't ususally like NZ stand-up comedy. People like Mike King just swear continuously and think that that will amuse us. Raybon Kan and Ewan Gilmore can be funny without having to F%$# every second word.

Martha Craig said...

Yep, and I don't think we should be aspiring to Friends type shows. That is where you end up with Melody Rules etc.

Jessie said...

I'm completely hooked on Outrageous Fortune. Shame it's opposite that Safran vs God show.

Miramar Mike said...

...is native to NZers ... - course it is - look who NZ'ers are: http://miramarmike.blogspot.com/2005/07/i-am-this-close-to-becoming-kiwi.html

(and I challenge anyone to define "native" to the consensus of 80% of people)

Anonymous said...

have you guys seen this? http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YFU6LXIS

It is the episode of HBO's One Night Stand that Wellington's Flight of the Conchords did in the States. It did really well and HBO have signed them to develop a sitcom. It' pretty funny.