New Australian Long Form Titles
Tonightly with Tom Ballard
Host: Tom Ballard Reporters: Greta Lee Jackson, Bridie Connell, Greg Larsen
At last! A comedy show that smacks and unpacks the latest trends, news, inputs, life hacks and gossip and serves them up for you as a nightly dose of hot, must see entertainment. Armed with nothing but jokes and access to memes, Tonightly with Tom Ballard will investigate and explain the latest headlines, trends and the things you missed.
“Tonightly will have the journalistic credibility of Sunrise coupled with the comedic chops of Landline,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get started and win a Logie, even if it means going to the Gold Coast to collect it.”
Ballard will be joined by a team of three news, tech, culture and sports addicts who are fully across everything ever: Greta Lee-Jackson (SkitBox), Greg Larsen (Fancy Boy) and Bridie Connell (Whose Line Is It Anyway? Australia). These three are the show’s field reporters, putting their bodies on the line for the sake of truth, facts and punchlines. A wider family of contributing comedic voices from around the nation will join Tom on a regular basis.
Filmed at ABC Ultimo, the series launches with a thorough look back at the year: examining the big themes and events that made 2017 one of the most 2017 of years on record, then returns early in 2018 to quickly break its resolutions to eat less cheese. Tonightly with Tom Ballard is an ABC Production. Premieres on ABC COMEDY
Back in Very Small Business
From the makers of Upper Middle Bogan comes the long-awaited reboot of their hit Very Small Business. Don Angel (Wayne Hope), a trumped-up small businessman, strives to be happy by avoiding both tax and intimacy, only to be plagued by the consequences of both his morally questionable business practices and his stunted emotional life.
With Don at the helm, the World-Wide Business Group is unsurprisingly a hotbed of dysfunction, staffed by an ethnically diverse, gender fluid, psychologically fragile menagerie all hired on government subsidies. Besieged by racial and cultural difference, Don’s intolerance is gradually outweighed by the unexpected affection he feels for his business park family as he confusedly discovers that other humans might be what he needs to be happy.
Back in Very Small Business is a Gristmill Pty Ltd production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Film Victoria. Premieres on ABC
Corey White’s Road Map to Paradise
The clock is ticking. Andy Warhol offered us all fifteen minutes of fame and comedian Corey White isn’t going to squander his allocation. He has fifteen minutes of your attention and he plans to use it solve one of the world’s burning issues. That’s two global quandaries solved per episode – fixing the world faster than Scott Cam can whack up a pergola! In season one he will give the 15-minute treatment to; Capitalism, Democracy, Nationalism, The War on Terror, Patriarchy, Closing the Gap, Foster Care, Big data, Racism, and Annihilation.
Corey White’s Road Map to Paradise is a Guesswork TV production for ABC Indigenous. Premieres on ABC
Sando
From the makers of The Moodys and No Activity comes the delightful Sando. Victoria ‘Sando’ Sandringham is Australia’s queen of the discount furniture and electrical deal. Sando’s built her business empire on being a down-to- earth larrikin and is something of a national treasure – to all but her family. She became estranged from them a decade ago when her one-night stand with her daughter’s fiancé was shockingly revealed at her daughter’s wedding. Now, a decade later and after a health scare and with her career at a precipice, Sando is determined to reconnect with her family. She needs them and they’ll discover that in spite of their initial apprehension…and hatred…they might just need her too. Cast to be announced soon.
Sando is a Jungle FTV Pty Ltd production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Create NSW. Premieres on ABC
Squinters
From the creators of No Activity, Wilfred and Lowdown comes a quintessentially Australian take on daily life, Squinters. For many people living in Western Sydney, the beginning and end of their days has them caught in peak hour, squinting into the morning sun as they head East, and into the late afternoon glare as they head home at the end of the day. Squinters is a narrative comedy series about five recurring car-loads of everyday people who make this journey and their stories that play out on their commutes. Squinters comes to screens early 2018.
Squinters is a Jungle FTV Pty Ltd production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Create NSW. Premieres on ABC
New Australian Short Form Titles
Aussie Rangers
Out in the middle of nowhere is Black Stump National Park. Wally, Regina and Francis are the Indigenous contemporary parks and wildlife Rangers that run the station. The Park is under threat of being shut down. Wally, obsessed with the elusive and endangered Quokkacoot (that no-one has seen), and his fellow rangers must find a way to reinvent themselves and combat the Parks and Wildlife Department before they too become extinct. Aussie Rangers are mismanaging wildlife, one natural disaster at a time.
Aussie Rangers a Factor 30 Film production for ABC Indigenous in association with Screen West. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
#CelesteChallengeAccepted
#CelesteChallengeAccepted is a celebration of the unique comedic personality of Celeste Barber. It’s what has made her popular with over 2.5million Instagram followers. Except now… it’s moving! A piss-take of modern celebrity, a satire of modern values, and a parody of the over-stylized unrealistic imagery created by the Hollywood machine.
#CelesteChallengeAccepted is a Red Christmas production for the ABC. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
Kiki and Kitty
Kiki is a young black woman trying to make it as an overworked paralegal for a corporate law firm in the big smoke. Kiki has always been the “Good Aboriginal Girl”, but after an embarrassing scene at an office party, Kiki wakes up to find a big, black, bold woman in a black sequin dress, red lippie and martini in her hand, straddling her in bed. Kitty is impulsive, outspoken, sexy as hell… she’s Kiki’s vagina come to life as a real person! Kiki is the only one who can see Kitty. But Kitty knows just what Kiki needs to get control of her life, and makes it her mission to fix it.
Kiki and Kitty is a Porchlight Films production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
Other People’s Problems
From the producers of The Dressmaker, Florence (Sisters star Maria Angelico) is a reluctant copywriter and would-be eco-warrior, who embarks on a venture to ghost-write other people’s letters in exchange for second-hand clothing. Her bestie and housemate Ann is a life-saving paramedic, and Florence is determined to prove she’s equally adept at helping people. Even if it’s with solving problems like… who gets to keep the friends when a couple breaks up? And how should you behave when you meet someone you’ve been creeping online? But is Florence really helping people or is her ever-consuming obsession with other people’s problems really just Florence trying to avoid her own?
Other People’s Problems is a Seymour Films production in association with ABC, Screen Australia and Film Victoria and Film Art Media. Part of ABC and Screen Australia’s Long Story Short initiative. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
The Chinaboy Show
John Luc (AKA Mychonny) has had over 300 million views on his YouTube channel, easily making him one of Australia’s most loved online stars. His notable successes include the web series Mychonny Moves In (over 2 million hits) and Mychonny’s Asian Gangsters video (over 5 million hits). Now he brings a brand new series The Chinaboy Show to the ABC, and it’s the first ABC sketch comedy written from the perspective of a Chinese Vietnamese Australian.
The Chinaboy Show is an RKPix Pty Ltd production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia and Screen West. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
Virgin Bush
He’s a stand-up comedian, an internet sensation and a self-proclaimed ‘city slicker’. So, Neel Kolhatkar is heading to the bush to meet the locals and put his nose to the grindstone. Can he hack it though? Sheep shearing, pigeon racing, bow hunting, rally driving and bull riding aren’t exactly for the faint hearted. Well, maybe pigeon racing… But Neel gets to experience an Australia that most Aussies never see and at the same time, he’s feeding his stand-up schtick too. Saddle up for Virgin Bush.
Virgin Bush is an ABC Production. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
New Series of Audience Favourites
Black Comedy, series 3
Black Comedy, a sketch comedy show by Blackfellas, is a fast paced, irreverent, thought provoking - at times silly but always funny look at Australia & Australian culture through the comedic prism of our first people. After a great first two seasons, the team is back with series 3.
Black Comedy is a Scarlett Pictures production for the ABC. Premieres on ABC
Gruen, series 10
Yes! Gruen will be back in 2018 for its 10th series. Gruen, the show that unpicks the dark arts of advertising, branding, and spin. Join host Wil Anderson, stalwarts Todd Sampson and Russel Howcroft and other advertising industry experts to unpick the ways we’re all bought and sold.
Gruen is a CJZ and ABC co-production. Premieres on ABC
Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018
The ABC teams up once again with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to bring loads of laughs as we screen the festivals signature events - The Gala, Opening Night Allstars Supershow and The Great Debate, as well as a brand- new series of Comedy Up Late
The Gala
It’s the biggest night in the comedy calendar, where the finest and funniest from Australia and overseas come together for this special event.
Opening Night Allstars Supershow
Comedy legends and luminaries from around the world take to the stage alongside the freshest and funniest homegrown talent, showcasing the brilliant performers from the Festival.
The Great Debate
Bear witness to the battle of the biggest comedy brains as two teams fight it out to reign supreme. The topic will be contentious, the competition heated and the comedy world-class.
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, series 8
In a move guaranteed to prompt a flurry of poorly worded questions at the next Senate Estimates Committee, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell returns in 2018 for its own record-breaking eighth season. Like a frenzied ape running amok in a museum of priceless Tiffany lamps, the Mad As team cleverly deconstructs Australian politics in the hope that it can be rebuilt into something more useful, like a giant Lithium battery, a climate policy that makes sense or perhaps an ashtray. Stars Shaun Micallef, Roz Hammond, Emily Taheny, Stephen Hall and Tosh Greenslade - with special guest star Francis Greenslade as ‘Dr Smith’.
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell is an ITV Studios Australia and Giant Baby production for the ABC. Premieres on ABC
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering, series 4
The Weekly is a comedy show, news show, tonight show and chat show all in one. Comedian Charlie Pickering is ably assisted by hilarious co-hosts Kitty Flanagan, Tom Gleeson and Adam Briggs as they dissect the week’s news, solve the world’s problems and waste the nation’s time all in the name of award-winning entertainment.
The Weekly with Charlie Pickering is a Thinkative Television production for the ABC. Premieres on ABC
Comedy Next Gen, series 2
Comedy Next Gen showcases the next generation of stand-up comedians as they perform their latest live shows. Upcoming comedy acts will include: Aaron Chen, Becky Lucas, Cameron James, Daniel Townes, David Quirk, Demi Lardner, Geraldine Hickey, Nick Cody, Sam Taunton, Suren Jayemanne, Tessa Walters, Tom Walker and Yianni Agisilaou.
Premieres on ABC COMEDY
Fresh Blood S2
Re-sharpen your knives for a new season of the hugely successful comedy series Fresh Blood. The comedy initiative was created in 2013 by ABC and Screen Australia to kick start the careers of young writers, directors, and performers. In 2018 there are twenty fresh teams with 60 great new episodes showcasing the breadth of amazing local talent.
Fresh Blood is a joint initiative between ABC and Screen Australia. Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
When TV Was Awesome, series 2
We’ve headed back to the goldmine that is the ABC archive to unearth some hidden comedy gems – they’ve been dusted off and creatively re-voiced, giving them the comedy makeover they deserve.
When TV Was Awesome is an ABC Production Premieres on ABC COMEDY on iview
New Australian Podcasts
Positions Vacant
Comedians Ray Badran and Susie Youssef have started a company to develop creative apps (CRapps) and are looking for new employees. Join them in the empty offices as they interview high profile Australians (Ronny Chieng, Hamish Blake, Gen Fricker and others) to find the best candidate for the job. Awkward and misinformed, Ray and Susie ask brazen and naive questions that push the envelope with guests who have been briefed to turn everything into a positive, just like in a job interview. Think ‘Between 2 Ferns’ meets ‘The Office’.
Positions Vacant is an ABC Audio Studios production. Premieres on ABC listen
Santo, Sam and Ed’s Total Football Season 2
From Working Dog (Utopia, Have You Been Paying Attention?) and featuring Santo Cilauro, Sam Pang and Ed Kavalee comes the season return of their #1 iTunes podcast hit. This season there are 28 new episodes dissecting the week’s European football news and results… continuing all the way through to the 2018 World Cup.
Santo, Sam and Ed’s Total Football is a Working Dog production for ABC. Premieres on ABC listen
The Urnbelieveable Ashes Podcast
A weekly Ashes-based comedy show, to run through the 2017-18 Australia v England series, co-hosted by comedians Andy Zaltzman, from England, and Australian Felicity Ward. Each episode will feature discussion of the action so far, Andy and Felicity’s spoof commentary of the highlights and lowlights of the matches, random cricket-related tangents, genuine punditry, and occasional barrages of Andy’s trademark statistics in the style of Andy’s globally successful podcast, The Bugle.
The Urnbelieveable Ashes Podcast is an ABC Audio Studios production. Premieres on ABC listen
Troll Play
The world is full of hate, with online comments sections, Reddit boards, Twitter and Facebook comments descending rapidly into an exponentially deepening cesspit of meanness. Alice Fraser, Cal Wilson, and Sami Shah will use their improv/comedy skills to take apart some of the worst examples of the week including personal attacks, online rants and conspiracy theories along the lines of logic, grammar, etiquette, and kindness. They’ll provide useful troll strategies, as well as communication techniques for victims, as well as an online ethics approach to try to educate listeners to make a kinder world.
Troll Play is an ABC Audio Studios production. Premieres on ABC listen