Full Frontal (Australian TV series)


Full Frontal is an Australian sketch comedy series that ran on the Seven Network from 1993 to 1997. It launched the television careers of Eric Bana, Shaun Micallef, Kitty Flanagan, Julia Morris, Daina Reid and Denise Scott.
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; it finished in 1999.
Since 2008 till approx 2010, re-runs were 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.
The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997.

DVD releases

  • Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 1 - 23 May 2005
  • Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 2 - 20 June 2005
  • Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 1 - 25 October 2006
  • Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 2 - 5 December 2006
  • Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 1 - 20 February 2007
  • Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 2 - 20 February 2007
  • Full Frontal - Series 1 - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 2 - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 3 - 10 February 2010
  • Full Frontal - Series 4 - 1 June 2011
  • Full Frontal - Series 5 - 1 June 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Series 1 - 29 June 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Best of Series 2 – 30 November 2011
  • Totally Full Frontal - Series 2 - 7 March 2012

    Series Cast

Seven Network

Years: 1993, Episodes 1-18; 1994, Episodes 19-40; 1995, Episodes 41-66; 1996, Episodes 67-92; 1997, Episodes 93-112.
Years: 1998, Episodes 1-16; 1999, Episodes 17-32.

Seven Network

Full Frontal

;Peter ;
;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. In series 4 he appeared on Parko's Good Sport, wreaking havoc across a multitude of sports and activities such as table tennis, ballet, billiards and blackjack. Micallef continued to play the character on his later series The Micallef Program.
Parko
One of the hosts of the sports variety show Good Sport, which often has Milo Kerrigan as a guest
Roseanne Chapel
A TV personality, she took over as presenter of Good Sport from Parko. She also hosts a number of shows on high culture that feature Milo Kerrigan as guest
;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 "crap".
;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: Australian Prime Minister 1991-1996
;John Howard: Australian Prime Minister 1996-2007. 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.
;Stan Grant: Journalist and presenter of Real Life.
;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 Micallef's favorite character on the show.
;Stuart Littlemore: Barrister and journalist and presenter of Media Watch..
;Kerry O'Brien: Journalist and presenter of The 7.30 Report .
;John Burgess: Wheel of Fortune host from 1984 to 1996
;Tony Barber: Sale of the Century host from 1980 to 1991 and Wheel of Fortune host in 1996
;Glenn Ridge: Sale of the Century host from 1991 to 2001. Portrayed by Eric Bana.

Totally Full Frontal

;Mister Camouflage
;Sophie
;Noeline Buxworth
A bogan who was always seen at a poker machine and was always and smoking and drinking. She would often tell stories to strangers about her life.
Famously satirized celebrities include:
Pauline Hanson
Played by Julia Zemiro in a 1950s style sitcom called I love Pauline
the cast of Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld, Elaine Benes, Cosmo Kramer, George Costanza
Liz Hayes
Journalist and one of the hosts of the Show 60 Minutes
Jana Wendt
A prominent journalist of the 90s

Awards

Full Frontal has won several Logie Awards in its time. It has been nominated for several as well.
It has won:
  • Most Popular Comedy Program
  • Most Popular Personality to Eric Bana
Nominated for:
  • Most Popular Comedy Program