Full Frontal (TV series)

For the U.S. TV series, see Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
Full Frontal
Also known as Fast Forward Presents Full Frontal (1993 only)
Genre Comedy
Created by Steve Vizard
Written by Sarah Adams
Sean Dooley
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 5 (Seven Network)
2 (Network Ten)
No. of episodes 112 (Seven Network)
28 (Network Ten)
Production
Executive producer(s) Steve Vizard, Andrew Knight
Location(s) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Release
Original network Seven Network 1993–1997
Network Ten 1998–1999
Original release 13 May 1993 – 15 September 1997
Chronology
Preceded by Fast Forward
Followed by Totally Full Frontal

Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997. Full Frontal is also known for launching the television careers of Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef.

In 1998 a spin-off of the show moved to Network Ten under the name Totally Full Frontal, losing most of the original cast in the process (including standouts Bana and Micallef) and finished in 1999.

Since 2008, re-runs have begun screening on The Comedy Channel as part of the channel's "Aussie Gold" block of locally made, classic comedy programming.

History

The series began screening shortly after the similar sketch comedy program Fast Forward (from which Full Frontal derived) ended. Full Frontal retained the same general format of Fast Forward. It was formatted in a way such as to create the effect of someone continuously channel surfing; after the punchline of each sketch, it would abruptly switch to the next as if the viewer had switched channels. However, the new show had an all-new regular cast. Initially, some members of the Fast Forward cast made guest appearances in occasional Full Frontal sketches, easing the transition into the new series. Several members of the new cast had appeared in the earlier The Comedy Company, including Kym Gyngell and Glenn Butcher.

DVD releases

Cast — Seven Network

1993 (Ep. 01–18)

1994 (Ep. 19–40)

1995 (Ep. 41–66)

1996 (Ep. 67–92)

1997 (Ep. 93–112)

Cast — Network Ten

1998 (Ep. 1–6)

1998-99 (Ep. 7-28)

Guest appearances

Notable characters

Peter (or as he pronounces it "Poida" often correcting people by saying hey it's Poida not Poida); 
An Australian bogan, played by Eric Bana. Poida was originally a TV host on Community Television's Channel 31. Peter enjoys to drink VB and carries an esky around wherever he goes. He has a blond mullet and dresses in a velvet suit. Most of the time he is seen smoking in sketches. Poida works for Channel 31 but is usually the stand-in host for many TV shows on other networks (such as Channel 9, 10 and the ABC) when the real host doesn't turn up. He has stood in for Ray Martin on A Current Affair and Kerry O'Brien on The 7.30 Report. He takes an esky into the studio and smokes while interviewing guests. Instead of sitting on the set furniture, he prefers to make himself comfortable on a bean bag.
Impact on Eric Bana's Career
Poida was probably Eric Bana's best character and was thought to really have helped Bana's acting career. The director of the Australian film Chopper says he cast Bana because of his performance in Full Frontal. Bana is now a household name and acts in movies both in and out of Australia.
Popularity
Poida is arguably one of the most popular characters of Full Frontal and is also arguably the most popular of the characters played by Bana. Bana also plays a fictional version of Ray Martin and Eddie, an Eastern European migrant.
Mister Camouflage
A man dressed heavily in military camouflage who has a hard time being noticed in day-to-day life (played by Darren Gilshenan on the first season of Totally Full Frontal).
Eddie
Eastern European migrant, whose famous line was "It's a complete shemozzle" (also played by Eric Bana). In an interview in TV Week Bana said the character was born when he was around 10 or 12 whilst playing on his CB Radio.[1]
"Eddie is the sort of guy who could walk through the Mardi Gras and not realise it was gay. He would just see it as coincidental that there were so many men there."
[1]
Ron
A stage janitor who wears overalls and is always trying to either apply for a job or scam money introducing himself as uh, Ron. When he is caught out, he will often leave saying "Fair enough". (Played by Ross Williams)
Neville and Beulah
Elderly nudists who love doing things "totally nude" (played by Glenn Butcher and Daina Reid).
Milo Kerrigan
Punch-drunk (but much loved) ex-boxer played by Shaun Micallef. He is considered to be the most popular character of the series. Heavily reliant on slapstick, sketches involving Kerrigan routinely destroying large portions of the set.
Nobby Doldrums
An obsessed fan of 7.30 Report presenter Kerry O'Brien who is willing to be interviewed about anything, just to be on the program (played by Shaun Micallef).
David McGahan
Incompetent TV personality and failed actor who hosted nature documentaries, (played by Shaun Micallef).
Roger Explosion
'Alter ego' of David McGahan from his failed acting career (played by Shaun Micallef).
Leon
Art critic, renowned for his liberal use of the word "crap" (played by Kym Gyngell).
Ian Goodings
Sleazy TV news presenter on the fictitious Australian National Nightly Network News (played by John Walker).
Narelle Parkinsom
Bitchy and unenthusiastic co-presenter on fictitious Australian National Nightly Network News (played by Kitty Flanagan).
Phil Toinby
Much maligned weatherman on Australian Nightly Network News, renowned for his outrageous and colourful ties and using unusual pointers sent in by viewers, as noticed by the two newsreaders (played by Francis Greenslade).
Chaka
Hippie and poet, her poems usually circulate about her hometown of Nimbin (played by Kitty Flanagan). On a parody of A Current Affairs on Full Frontal, Eric Bana's Ray Martin asks Chaka what type of name is "Chaka" and what it means. Chaka is Arabic for "Joanne".
Enzo
Organized crime boss believed to be parody of figures in the Melbourne organized crime underworld (played by Ross Williams). He has a strict hatred of cameras and responds to questions with the word 'NO' frequently.
Allen Bamff
Appeared in three episodes as an unconfident Car Salesmen promoting his self-titled car yard "Allen Bamff Holden" (played by Francis Greenslade).

The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities including:

Paul Keating
Former Australian Prime Minister (played by Glenn Butcher)
John Howard
Former Australian Prime Minister (played by John Walker). Earlier parodies of John Howard were also played by Glenn Butcher.
Pauline Hanson
Controversial right-wing politician (played by Daina Reid).
Mike Willesee
Journalist and presenter of Australia's A Current Affair known for long pauses at the most inopportune times mid-sentence (played by Eric Bana).
Ray Martin
Journalist and presenter of Australia's A Current Affair (played by Eric Bana).
Fabio
Male model and "most beautiful man in the cosmos, including the black holes". Fabio was Shaun Micallef's favourite character on the show. Fabio himself once appeared on the show being interviewed by Poida.
Kerry O'Brien
Journalist and presenter of The 7.30 Report (see: Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (Played by Kim Gyngell).
Glenn Ridge
Sale of the Century host from 1991–2001. Portrayed by Eric Bana.

Awards

Full Frontal has won several Logie Awards in its time. It has been nominated for several as well. It has won:

Nominated for:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 TV Week magazine, 12 November 1994. "Eric's Ethnic Accent" by Darren Devlyn, page 20.

External links

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