2005 was a tumultuous year for comedy on Australian television with many shows coming and going. But then that’s nothing new. In 2006 some of the success stories from the past few years will be back, while others have been permanently canned, most notably The Panel and Merrick and Rosso’s Plan B. Fans will be happy to hear that a fourth series of Kath & Kim has been promised by the ABC. Other Aussie comedy on the ABC includes the return of The Glass House as well as the actor Chris Lilley (We Can Be Heroes). Chris has developed another mockumentary; this time based on his character Mr. G the drama teacher from Big Bite. It will be interesting to see what he does with this character on the ABC. Highly anticipated is the return of Spicks and Specks as well as Rockwiz, while the Chaser team will be satirising again with their new show The Chaser’s War On Everything.
The ever popular Rove Live will be back on Ten with a ‘revised format’ which may refer to the lack of Corrine Grant this year. Rumour also has it that this may be the final year of Rove Live with Rove’s contract finishing at the end of 2006. Another rumour is that Hamish and Andy are teaming up with Roving Enterprise to make a mockumentary series due on TV later this year. Also on Channel Ten are several new (or new-ish) shows. The Wedge is a sketch show set in a semi-rural neighbourhood. Though it sounds like a Kath & Kim rip off, this show does have one thing going for it: Ian McFadyen (The Comedy Company). Also new is Thank God You’re Here, an improv comedy show where ‘well known celebrities’ are thrown into unknown situations and asked to improvise their way through. While celebrities doing comedy doesn’t always work out it is again the creators that may save this show, the Working Dog team who produced Frontline, The Panel and All Aussie Adventures. New-ish is The Ronnie John’s Half Hour, back again, this non-PC sketch show can thumb its nose at censorship due to its late time slot. Also in a late time slot is the return of Comedy Inc’s Late Shift on Channel Nine.
All in all, it looks like the ABC has stuck with tried and tested comedy from the past few years. The only new stuff on TV this year looks to be coming from Channel Ten. Let’s hope they give these shows a chance and don’t drop them in three weeks after having changed their time slots each week.