The Chaser's War on Everything
| The Chaser's War on Everything | |
|---|---|
| File:Chaserwar.jpg Opening sequence from The Chaser's War on Everything. | |
| Starring | Andrew Hansen Chas Licciardello Julian Morrow Craig Reucassel Chris Taylor |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| No. of episodes | 26, and 2 'Best Of' specials |
| Production | |
| Running time | 26 minutes per episode |
| Original release | |
| Network |  ABC TV |
| Release | 17 February – 8 September 2006 (Season 1) |
The Chaser's War on Everything is a satirical television comedy series broadcast on ABC-TV in Australia. The series is produced by satire group The Chaser. Returning is Chris Taylor, Julian Morrow (now acting as executive producer), Craig Reucassel, Andrew Hansen and Chas Licciardello. Charles Firth's role is downplayed due to his move to the United States although he still contributes occasional roving reports.
Whilst there are some segments that hark back to CNNNN, The Chaser's earlier TV show, CNNNN's mock news-channel format is not used. Instead the team devised a concept that, as they explained, would allow them to have a longer running series. The show's studio segments are performed panel-style in front of a live audience on a set reminiscent of where the Chaser group used to meet. These segments are interspersed with pre-produced location items and fake ads. The series looks at all issues and attacks a wide range of current topics in politics and the media.
The series carries on The Chaser's trademark technique of staging situationist interventions in real-life events, in which members of the group 'gatecrash' political, commercial and social events and film the results. Memorable provocations in the current series have included the "Surprise Spruiker" and the often shocking public reactions to supposed plans to build a mosque in the middle of Mosman (an upper-class, conservative Sydney suburb) and a large memorial to the 2005 Cronulla riots, where an obelisk was supposedly to be built near the beach, featuring a large video screen would constantly replay news footage of the violence.
Original names for the series which were rejected by the ABC include 'Thank Allah It's Friday!' and 'The Chaser's Age Of Terror Variety Hour'.
A DVD of the first thirteen episodes of Season 1 was released on 17 August, 2006. A second DVD with the remaining episodes of the season is set to be released in November.[1]
It is currently unsure if the show will return for a second season in 2007.
Recurring Segments on the show
Some recurring segments on the show include:
- "What Have We Learned from Current Affairs This Week?" -- which pokes fun at shows Today Tonight and A Current Affair, tallying each's counts for stories in categories such as "Menace To Society", "Old People Screwed Over", "Oddballs & Cranks", "Greedy Councils", and "Youth Gone Wild". Each segment features a 'lesson' on the two shows reporting techniques, subjects covered so far include how to spot dodgy guys (they are shown in slow motion), a guide to different types of experts (including those who "flip pages" and "click mouses"), and the all-important art of network cross-promotion. In the final episode, they presented the "What Have We Learned From Current Affairs This Week Awards" including "biggest overstatement of the year" (a woman saying that school soccer balls landing on her roof was like living in Beirut). They also presented A Current Affair with the "Slightly Less Crap Than Today Tonight Award".
- "Surprise Spruiker" -- where a shop "spruiker" (Andrew Hansen) attempts to help various institutions sell things, such as Giorgio Armani suits, WorkChoices or Dell laptops, by turning up outside with a microphone and speaker and spruiking out of his own generosity. His speaker is generally disconnected by security, and he is escorted away.
- "Pursuit Trivia" -- in which Julian Morrow tests the general knowledge of a politician or celebrity by asking a Trivial Pursuit question from a game card in his hand at an interview or press conference. As yet only two people, Kevin Rudd and Shannon Noll, have successfully answered a question.
- "Scenes from the Life of the Crazy Warehouse Guy" -- in which a stereotypical announcer (Andrew Hansen) from carpet warehouse fire sales uses his unique speaking style in everyday situations such as buying McDonald's, asking for the correct time off bystanders, or asking for help in a public library. In the August 11 2006 episode the Crazy Warehouse Guy appeared in the studio, playing the piano and singing a duet with Emily Taheny from Comedy Inc. The song was modified version of George Gershwin's Let's Call the Whole Thing Off.
- "Are You Being Shagged?" -- A parody of Are You Being Served? and shows of a similar nature, the segment takes the form of an ABC promo. It features 'single entendre' comedy, often chosen to be of a highly cliched nature.
- "Firth in the USA" -- Charles Firth, now living in America, files a report on an aspect of American news, life, or culture. The segment usually features an attempt by Firth to infiltrate an event or organisation (such as Yale University's 'Skull and Bones' secret society), or to break a record (such as being thrown out of more corporate headquarters in one day than Michael Moore in his entire career). In one show, he approached a demonstration by the Christian fundamentalist organisation, the Westboro Baptist Church, and flirted with one of the male demonstrators. He aslo investigated in Kenya as to whether Mrs Macs 'Famous' beef pies really are famous at all.
- "Mr Ten Questions" -- Andrew Hansen shows up at a press conference and proceeds to ask 10 questions (which vary in degrees of relevance) without letting the interviewee speak until he has read out the list. So far Anthony LaPaglia is the only person to successfully answer all the questions - Kerri-Anne Kennerly attempted them all but got several wrong, and others usually brush the questions aside.
- "The Ad Roadtest" -- where the team recreate situations shown in advertisments to see if they would work in real life, such as the confidentiality of Oral-B dentists, if Lynx 'Clix' deodorant really does attract more girls the more you spray on,if Telstra appreciates fruit-soccer in their stores, or if Godfrey's vacuum cleaners really can lift up bowling balls.
- "Famous Face Off" -- Where two masters in a particular field compete to be the best in an endeavour such as in tongue-twisting newsreading or in "blocking" reforms in the Senate.
- "A Message From Osama Bin Laden" -- Where an existing video of the infamous terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dubbed with incorrect and humorous subtitles, often including a Jihad on various people. Videos of Saddam Hussein ("Another Saddam Outburst"), Abu Bakar Bashir ("Everybody Loves Abu") and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ("Meanwhile In Iran") have also been dubbed in a similar manner.
- "The 2:30 Report" -- Which looks at content on television after midnight, such as The Up-Late Game Show and Quizmania, as well as Christian programming.
- "What Have We Learnt From History?" -- A new segment where the team looks at past historical events like the use of the "Trojan Horse" to gain entry to a building and implement them into today's world.
Controversies/Well Known Stunts From The Show
Some of the events on the show have received news coverage or have become internet memes in their own right.
Julian Morrow's novelty cheque
On February 8 2006, before the first episode of the show has screened, Julian Morrow approached Australian Wheat Board executive Charles Stott with a fake novelty cheque, made out to Saddam Hussein, and asked Stott to sign it. Stott's lawyer said his client felt intimidated by the stunt.[2]
Chris Taylor on Sunrise
On the ninth episode of the show, Chris Taylor announced that he planned to divorce his wife, but he didn't want to ask her "the usual boring way," but do "something special, something she'll remember". The segment shows several of Taylor's attempts to "pop the question," including hanging a sign over a freeway, and "proposing" on a big screen at the Tropfest film festival. For the finale, Taylor introduces the interview of him on the morning television program, Sunrise. In the interview, Taylor asks the host if he can send a quick message to his partner, he then proceeds to tell her to "Get the fuck out of my life." This finale from the segment has recently been leaked onto the internet, and has been widely distributed by email. Many viewers believed the segment was actually real but Taylor admitted on national radio station Triple J that it was set up, was actually filmed after Sunrise went to air and shown on The Chaser's War on Everything only at this time. The hosts of Sunrise also admitted it was a set up. Sunrise replayed a censored version of the clip on August 21 2006 when they had the Chaser team on the show promoting their new DVD.
Chas Licciardello's Bulldogs incident
On July 14 2006, Chas Licciardello was charged with offensive conduct after attempting to sell fake Canterbury Bulldogs merchandise outside an NRL game. [3] The merchandise involved knuckledusters and balaclavas in the Bulldog's colours, and was supposed to satirise recent violent clashes between rugby league fans. Several Bulldogs fans took offense and attempted to attack Licciardello, and as a result he was charged for offensive behaviour [4]. On the broadcast following his arrest, Licciardello appeared onstage in handcuffs and within an iron cage. After appearing in court with co-star Julian Morrow, Licciardello pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned [5].
Craig Reucassel's axe stunt
On 2 August 2006, Craig Reucassel responded to a news story about a private school student who had hugged Prime Minister John Howard while holding a screwdriver during one of the PM's morning walks. To test the Prime Minister's security arragements, he approached John Howard during a morning walk and asked for a hug while holding a large plastic battle axe. Reucassel did receive the hug, but a later approach while holding a running chainsaw was not so successful[6].
Julian Morrow's Virgin Blue ticket prank
On 16 August 2006, Julian Morrow purchased two airline tickets on the Virgin Blue airline under the names "Al Kyder" and "Terry Wrist", checked in using the automated check-in, and then did not show up for boarding, so that the names would be read out in a final boarding call over Sydney Airport's public address system[7].
Chas Licciardello's "Jihad Jack" incident
In the final episode of the Chaser's War on Everything, Chas Licciardello controversially visited the home of Joseph "Jihad Jack" Thomas dressed as Osama bin Laden. Fortunately for the team, Thomas took the stunt in extremely good humour. [citation needed]
Video podcasting
On July 27 2006 the ABC announced that entire episodes of The Chaser's War on Everything, along with jtv, would be made available for download via a vodcasting system. Just days after appearing on the Australian iTunes podcasting directory, the show took the number one position.
References
- ^ "Chaser DVD Vol. 2".
{{cite news}}: Text "]]" ignored (help) - ^ "AWB inquiry not laughing over 'The Chaser' stunt". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-02-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "ABC to probe Chaser prank". News Limited. 2006-07-15.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Chaser Canterbury joke gets no laughs". Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Chaser star pleads not guilty". The Age. 2006-07-16.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Chaser axe stunt gets Howard going". Sydney Morning Herald. 2006-08-02.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Al Kyder: Virgin on the ridiculous". The Age. 2006-08-18.
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