Full Frontal (Australian TV series)

Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which ran on the Seven Network from 1993 to 1997. It launched the television careers of Eric Bana, Shaun Micallef, Kitty Flanagan, Julia Morris and Denise Scott.

For the U.S. TV series, see Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

Full Frontal
Also known asFast Forward Presents Full Frontal (1993 only)
GenreComedy
Created bySteve Vizard
Written bySarah Adams
Sean Dooley
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes144
Production
Executive producers
Production locationsMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Production companyArtist Services
Release
Original network
Original release13 May 1993 (1993-05-13) –
26 August 1999 (1999-08-26)
Chronology
Preceded byFast Forward
Followed byTotally Full Frontal

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; it 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.[1] 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.

The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997.

DVD releases
  • Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 23 May 2005
  • Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 2 (2 Disc Set) - 20 June 2005
  • Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 25 October 2006
  • Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 5 December 2006
  • Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 1 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007
  • Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007
  • Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 2 (5 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 3 (6 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 4 (6 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011
  • Full Frontal - Series 5 (4 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 29 June 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Best of Series 2 – 30 November 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Series 2 (3 Disc Set) - 7 March 2012

Series Cast

Seven Network

Years: 1993, Episodes 1-18; 1994, Episodes 19-40; 1995, Episodes 41-66; 1996, Episodes 67-92; 1997, Episodes 93-112.

Network Ten

Years: 1998, Episodes 1-16; 1999, Episodes 17-32.

  • Ross Williams (1998–1999)
  • John Walker (1998–1999)
  • Darren Gilshenan (1998–1999)
  • Gabby Millgate (1998–1999)
  • Julia Zemiro (1998–1999)
  • Paul McCarthy (1998–1999)
  • Vic Plume (1998-99, Episodes 7-32)

Guest appearances

Seven Network
  • Alan Pentland (1993)
  • Gina Riley (1993)
  • Glenn Robbins (1993)
  • Jane Turner (1993)
  • Jimeoin (1993)
  • Magda Szubanski (1993)
  • Sue Yardley (1993)
  • Greg Fleet (1993 (Episode 10), 1994 (Episode 40))
  • Jane Borghesi (1993, Episodes 10-18)
  • Cherise Donovan (1993, 1994–1995, 1997)
  • Geoff Brooks (1993, 1994)
  • Marg Downey (1993, 1994)
  • Michael Veitch (1993 (Episodes 1–6), 1994 (Episodes 36-40))
  • Steve Blackburn (1993, 1994)
  • Denise Scott (1993, 1995)
  • Gabriel Gaté (1993 (Episode 13), 1995 (Episode 62))
  • Peter Moon (1993, 1996)
  • Steve Vizard (1993, 1996)
  • Shaun Micallef (1994)
  • Wayne Hope (1994)
  • Jake Kirov (1994)
  • Naomi Wright (1994)
  • Ben Georgiou (1994)
  • Michael Edward Stevens (1994)
  • Daina Reid (1994, Episodes 39-40)
  • Dieter Brummer (1994, Episode 40)
  • Matthew Quartermaine (1994, Episode 40)
  • Margaret Urlich (1994, Episodes 62 & 64)
  • Geire Kami (1994-1995)
  • Sandy Roberts (1994, 1996)
  • Jeffrey Richards (1994)
  • TISM (1995)
  • Margaret Pomeranz (1995)
  • Richard Hutson (1995)
  • Wynne Pullman (1995)
  • John Paul Young (1995)
  • Pia Emery (1995)
  • Julie "Fury" Saunders (1995)
  • John "Vulcan" Seru (1995)
  • Lisa Curry (1995)
  • Tim Watson (1995)
  • Kate Fischer (1995)
  • Dave O'Neil (1995, 1996)
  • Esme Melville (1995, 1996)
  • Stan Yarramuna (1996, Episodes 67-68 & 71)
  • Paula Gardner (1996)
  • Kitty Flanagan (1996, Episode 82)
  • Rosalind Hammond (1996)
  • Paul Parker (1996)
  • Ian Mall (1996)
  • Rani Cameron (1996)
  • Stephanie Lawrence (1996)
  • Lisa McCune (1996)
  • Tegan Stewart (1996)
  • Lucinda Bruce (1996)
  • Barry Crocker (1996)
  • Caroline Reid (1997)
  • Brett Tucker (1997, Episode 100)
  • The Tap Dogs (1997, Episode 100)
  • Eric Bana (1997, Episode 101)
  • Ursula Brooks (1997, Episodes 101 & 105)
  • Kate Gorman (1997)
  • Daniel Daperis (1997)
  • Kate Keltie (1997)
  • Gerard McCulloch (1997, Episodes 103-112)

Network Ten
  • Ryan Moloney (1998, Episode 1)
  • Michael Carman (1998, Episode 1)
  • Daina Reid (1998, Episode 1)
  • Vic Plume (1998, Episodes 1-6)
  • Gerard McCulloch (1998)
  • Tania Lacy (1998, Episodes 2 & 4)
  • Jarrod Choong (1998, Episode 7)
  • Bill Charles (1998, Episode 7)
  • Matylda Buczko (1998, Episode 9)
  • Melanie Lockman (1998, Episode 10)
  • Tim Chambers (1998, Episode 10)
  • Fernanda Ramos (1998, Episodes 11 & 14)
  • Robin Bissett (1998, Episode 12)
  • Julie McKay (1998, Episode 13)
  • Ron Kamoen (1998, Episode 14)
  • Vanessa Sim (1998, Episode 14)
  • Ryan White (1998, Episode 14)
  • Michael Ward (1998, Episodes 13-15)
  • Alicia Missen (1998, Episode 16)
  • Bud Tingwell (1999)
  • Carrie Baker (1999, Episode 26)
  • Geoff Paine (1999, Episode 32)
  • Kynan Barker (1999, Episode 32)
  • Matt Tilley (1999, Episode 32)

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 fails to appear. 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 most well known 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 has gone on to a successful acting career, starring in movies both in and out of Australia.
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.[2]

"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."[2]

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 Salesman promoting his self-titled car yard "Allen Bamff Holden" (played by Francis Greenslade).

The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities, including:

Paul Keating
Australian Prime Minister 1991-1996 (played by Glenn Butcher)
John Howard
Australian Prime Minister 1996-2007 (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).
Stan Grant
Journalist and presenter of Real Life (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" (played by Shaun Micallef). Fabio was Micallef's favorite character on the show.
Stuart Littlemore
Barrister and journalist and presenter of Media Watch. (Played by Kim Gyngell).
Kerry O'Brien
Journalist and presenter of The 7.30 Report (see: Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (Played by Kim Gyngell).
John Burgess
Wheel of Fortune host from 1984 to 1996 (played by Ross Williams)
Tony Barber
Sale of the Century host from 1980 to 1991 and Wheel of Fortune host in 1996 (played by John Walker)
Glenn Ridge
Sale of the Century host from 1991 to 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:

  • Most Popular Comedy Program (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
  • Most Popular Personality to Eric Bana

Nominated for:

  • Most Popular Comedy Program (1999)

Special
  • The Best of Totally Full Frontal (1999, 60 minutes)

See also

References
  1. Wallace, Mark (10 May 1993). "Fast Forward goes Full Frontal". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via Trove.
  2. TV Week magazine, 12 November 1994. "Eric's Ethnic Accent" by Darren Devlyn, page 20.
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