Full Frontal (Australian TV series)


Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997. Full Frontal is also known for launching the television careers of Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef.
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, and 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 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. 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.

DVD releases

Seven Network

;Peter ; : 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 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.
;Mister Camouflage: A man dressed heavily in military camouflage who has a hard time being noticed in day-to-day life.
;Eddie: Eastern European migrant, whose famous line was "It's a complete shemozzle". 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.
"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."

;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".
;Neville and Beulah: Elderly nudists who love doing things "totally nude".
;Milo Kerrigan: Punch-drunk 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.
;David McGahan: Incompetent TV personality and failed actor who hosted nature documentaries,.
;Roger Explosion: 'Alter ego' of David McGahan from his failed acting career.
;Leon: Art critic, renowned for his liberal use of the word "".
;Ian Goodings: Sleazy TV news presenter on the fictitious Australian National Nightly Network News.
;Narelle Parkinsom: Bitchy and unenthusiastic co-presenter on fictitious Australian National Nightly Network News.
;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.
;Chaka: Hippie and poet, her poems usually circulate about her hometown of Nimbin. 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. 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".
The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities, including:
;Paul Keating: Former Australian Prime Minister
;John Howard: Former Australian Prime Minister. Earlier parodies of John Howard were also played by Glenn Butcher.
;Pauline Hanson: Controversial right-wing politician.
;Mike Willesee: Journalist and presenter of Australia's A Current Affair known for long pauses at the most inopportune times mid-sentence.
;Ray Martin: Journalist and presenter of Australia's A Current Affair.
;Fabio: Male model and "most beautiful man in the cosmos, including the black holes". Fabio was Shaun Micallef's favourite character on the show.
;Kerry O'Brien: Journalist and presenter of The 7.30 Report .
;Glenn Ridge: Sale of the Century host from 1991–2001. 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:
Nominated for: