Full Frontal (Australian TV series)

Full Frontal is an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on May 13, 1993 and finished on September 15, 1997.

History

The series began screening shortly after the similar sketch comedy program Fast Forward ended. Full Frontal retained the same general format of Fast Forward - it was formatted like someone continuously channel surfing and after the punchline each sketch would abruptly switch to the next as if someone had switched channels - however the new show basically had an all-new regular cast. Initially some of the Fast Forward comedians 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 much earlier The Comedy Company, including Kym Gyngell and Glenn Butcher.

Full Frontal is well known for launching the television careers of Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef. The series is currently being repeated on The Comedy Channel on the Foxtel, Optus Vision and Austar pay-tv platform, weekends at 5.30am AEST.

Volumes One and Two of Series 1 are now available on DVD. Volume One of Series 2 was released Oct. 25, Volume Two was released Dec. 5. Volumes One and Two of Series 3 were released Feb. 16, 2007.

Cast

• Matt Parkinson (1993)
• Matthew Quartermaine (1993)
• Greg Fleet (1993, Episodes 1-9)
• Michael Veitch (1993, Episodes 10-18)
• Jennifer-Ward Lealand (1993-94)
• Rima Te Wiata (1993-94)
• Eric Bana (1993-96)
• Glenn Butcher (1993-97)
• Kym Gyngell (1993-97)
• Ross Williams (1993-97)
• Denise Scott (1994)
• Sue Yardley (1994, recurring previously)
• John Walker (1994-97)
• Francis Greenslade (1995, Episodes 9-26)
• Julia Morris (1995-96)
• Daina Reid (1995-97, recurring previously)
• Kitty Flanagan (1995-97)
• Shaun Micallef (1995-97, recurring previously)
• Rosalind Hammond (1996)
• Darren Gilshenan (1997)
• Gabby Millgate (1997)
• Ursula Brooks (1997)

• Cast: Year One (1993, Ep. 1-18)
• Eric Bana
• Glenn Butcher
• Kym Gyngell
• Ross Williams
• Matt Parkinson
• Matthew Quartermaine
• Jennifer-Ward Lealand
• Rima Te Wiata
• Greg Fleet (Episodes 1-9)
• Michael Veitch (Episodes 10-18)

• Cast: Year Two (1994, Ep. 19-40)
• Eric Bana
• Glenn Butcher
• Kym Gyngell
• Ross Williams
• John Walker
• Jennifer-Ward Lealand
• Rima Te Wiata
• Denise Scott
• Sue Yardley

• Cast: Year Three (1995, Ep. 41-66)
• Eric Bana
• Glenn Butcher
• Kym Gyngell
• Ross Williams
• John Walker
• Julia Morris
• Daina Reid
• Kitty Flanagan
• Shaun Micallef
• Francis Greenslade (Episodes 9-26)

Guest Appearances
Alan Pentland (1993)
Gina Riley (1993)
Glenn Robbins (1993)
Jane Turner (1993)
Jimeoin (1993)
Magda Szubanski (1993)
Sue Yardley (1993)
Cherise Donovan (1993, 1994-95)
Geoff Brooks (1993, 1994)
Marg Downey (1993, 1994)
Michael Veitch (1993 (Episodes 1-6), 1994)
Steve Blackburn (1993, 1994)
Denise Scott (1993, 1995)
Peter Moon (1993, 1997)
Steve Vizard (1993, 1997)
Shaun Micallef (1994)
Dana Reid (1994)
Francis Greenslade (1995, Episodes 1-8)
Esme Melville (1995)

Famous characters

• Peter - [read: 'Poida'] Australian bogan (redneck), played by Eric Bana. Poida was originally a TV host on Community Television's Channel 31. (Also known as Briz 31)

'About Poida'

Poida is a bogan. He enjoys to drink VB and carries an esky around wherever he goes. He has a blond mullet and dresses in overalls. 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 of Poida'

Poida is probably one of the most loved characters on Full Frontal and is definitely the most loved of the characters played by Bana. Bana also plays a fictional version of Ray Martin and Eddie, an Eastern European migrant.

• Eddie - Eastern European migrant, whose famous line was "It's a complete shermozzle" (also played by Eric Bana).

• 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.

• 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-anchor on fictitious Australian National Nightly Network News (played by Kitty Flanagan).

• Phil Toinby - Much maligned weatherman on Australian Nightly Network News (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 uses the word "NO" frequently.

The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities including:

• 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)

• 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)

Totally Full Frontal

In 1998 the show moved to Network Ten and changed its name to Totally Full Frontal. Losing most of the original cast in the process (including standouts Bana and Micallef), the general consensus was that the new show did not live up to its predecessor. Many believe it relied too heavily on toilet humour, as seen in sketches like "Nudie Bob", and overuse of popular running jokes used on the original Full Frontal series and the show only lasted for two seasons.

Cast

• Ross Williams
• John Walker
• Darren Gilshenan
• Gabby Millgate
• Julia Zemiro
• Paul McCarthy
• Vic Plume
• Tania Lacy (1998)
• Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (1999)
• Gerard McCulloch (1999)

• Cast: Year Six (1998)
• Ross Williams
• John Walker
• Darren Gilshenan
• Gabby Millgate
• Julia Zemiro
• Paul McCarthy
• Vic Plume
• Tania Lacy

• Cast: Year Seven (1999)
• Ross Williams
• John Walker
• Darren Gilshenan
• Gabby Millgate
• Julia Zemiro
• Paul McCarthy
• Vic Plume
• Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
• Gerard McCulloch

See also

• List of Australian television series

External links

• Full Frontal at IMDb
• Totally Full Frontal at IMDb
• Totally Full Frontal at the National Film and Sound Archive