Sam Simmons has posted a dating video on his YouTube channel. It features Warren G, velcro shoes and like most of his work – a cat.

The critically acclaimed comedian returns this year with his new show ‘About The ...]]>

Sam Simmons has posted a dating video on his YouTube channel. It features Warren G, velcro shoes and like most of his work – a cat.

The critically acclaimed comedian returns this year with his new show ‘About The Weather’. Check out our featured shows page for more details and booking links.

Production has officially begun on ‘The Unbelievable Truth’, Channel 7′s new panel show from The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel, Julian Morrow and Andrew Hansen ...]]>

Production has officially begun on ‘The Unbelievable Truth’, Channel 7′s new panel show from The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel, Julian Morrow and Andrew Hansen .

The show has been adapted from the BBC radio program of the same name – hosted by Peep Show’s David Mitchell. The basic idea of the show is this: each week comedians join a panel and present a talk made up mostly of ridiculous lies plus five unbelievable truths. As the talk is presented by each guest, the panel interrupts the story when they think they have spotted a ‘truth’.

The BBC radio show is hugely popular in the UK (they still listen to panel radio shows) and has now been running for 8 years. The show was originally created by Greame Garden of The Goodies, who has also been working with the team to develop the TV adaption. Craig Reucassel will be taking the hosting position with Julian and Andrew as regulars.

In the wake of Australian favourites Good News Week and Spicks and Specks, the current opportunity for a new quality panel show is eerily perfect – and between The Chaser and The Goodies, this one looks like it’s in good hands.

Confirmed guests so far include Sam Simmons, Kitty Flanagan, Akmal, The Umbilical Brothers, Merrick Watts, Jimeoin, Scott Dooley, Cal Wilson, Sarah Kendall, Toby Truslove, Tom Gleeson and other special guests.

If you want to get a sneek peek, free tickets are now available to tapings of the show.
Get your tickets here.

A new U.S sitcom starring Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Bogan Pride, Pizza) has just been given the go ahead by CBS, Warner Bros. Television and Conan O’Brien’s ‘Conaco’.

Conan will produce ...]]>

A new U.S sitcom starring Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids, Bogan Pride, Pizza) has just been given the go ahead by CBS, Warner Bros. Television and Conan O’Brien’s ‘Conaco’.

Conan will produce the pilot of ‘Super Fun Time’, written by Wilson. The show is a multi-cam sitcom about three misfit girls who each Friday night endeavour to have a ‘Super Fun Time’. The format screams Big Bang Theory, but given Wilson’s understated performances and appreciation of every day weirdness in things like Bogan Pride and Bridesmaids, she could give the show the edge to stand apart. Plus Conan O’Brien is on board, the man who wrote and produced on The Simpsons and the most recent Adult Swim ridiculousness ‘Eagleheart‘.

At this stage their are no reports of any other ‘Pizza’ cast members making any deals with Warner Bros.

One half of New Zealand’s most famous folk music comedy duo ‘Flight Of The Conchords’ has been nominated for an Academy Award!

And he’s ...]]>

One half of New Zealand’s most famous folk music comedy duo ‘Flight Of The Conchords’ has been nominated for an Academy Award!

And he’s in with a good chance too. Bret McKenzie is one of two composers nominated for ‘Best Original Song’. McKenzie is nominated for his composition ‘Man or Muppet’ from ‘The Muppet movie. He’s up against Sergio Mendes’ ‘Real In Rio’ from the film ‘Rio’.

Talking to the Huffington Post, McKenzie said “It’s pretty mind-blowing. Actually, it’s not pretty mind-blowing — it’s very mind-blowing. It feels like one of those “I made it” moments. After you go to the Oscars, what else do you do? That’s where Hollywood stops.”

Other comedy nods at this year’s Oscars include Melissa McCarthy for her much celebrated role in ‘Bridesmaids’. McCarthy is nominated for Best Support Actress against women from the movie ‘The Help’.

Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’ is nominated for four awards, including ‘Best Picture’.

The second season of Adam Hills In Gordon St Tonight returns Wed Feb 8 and is a treat for comedy ...]]>

The second season of Adam Hills In Gordon St Tonight returns Wed Feb 8 and is a treat for comedy nerds. Check out some of the great comedy talent Hillsy has invited to the first ep.

Rob Sitch – of D Generation and Frontline.
Rob has been involved in some of the most loved Australian comedies of all time: The Castle, The Dish, The Panel, Thank God You’re here, The Late Show. Sitch seldom does on camera interviews so this is a rare treat for any Working Dog fan.

Josh Lawson - break out comedy kid of the year, joins Sitch on the couch to discuss Working Dog’s most recent feature film ‘Any Questions For Ben’. Lawson recently picked up a role in a Will Ferrel/Adam McKay film alongside Zach Galifianakis and is currently appearing in the new U.S Showtime production ‘House Of Lies’.

Jonathan Lynn – creator of ‘Yes Minister’ and ‘Yes, Prime Minister’.
Jonathan Lynn paved the way for such modern political satires such as ‘The Thick Of It’ and Sitch’s own ‘Hollowmen’. His career spans more than forty years. If you don’t appreciate his work, your dad probably does. His impact on smart television comedy is undeniable. Lynn is in the country to promote the stage version of ‘Yes Minister’

Other guests on the show include AFI Award‐winning actress Essie Davis (The Slap) and Melbourne band Eagle And The Worm.

Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight is back on air Wed 8 February, 8:30pm on ABC1

RMITV, the community TV production facility, sent out a press release yesterday announcing that their flagship program ‘Studio A’ will not be returning to Channel 31 for 2012. For ...]]>

RMITV, the community TV production facility, sent out a press release yesterday announcing that their flagship program ‘Studio A’ will not be returning to Channel 31 for 2012. For six seasons and three years, the live variety talk show has been the first taste of television for Melbourne’s up and coming comedians and RMIT’s film and TV students. The program fostered a unique brand of comedy from a true writer/performer ensemble.

Previous cast and writers include Dave Thornton (Nova, 7Pm Project, Good News Week), Tom Ballard (triple j Breakfast host) and Jess Harris (‘twenty something’ creator).

Taking Studio A’s place is the new live talk show ‘Live On Bowen’. RMITV’s press release states:

Live On Bowen is planned to hit television screens mid year accompanied by a fresh new look and approach to live variety television. With a late-night talk show format, the show will become another incredible collaboration between students and industry professionals that will go to air throughout Melbourne on C31.

RMITV’s general manager Ruth Sayers is excited about the new show’s progress. “It wasn’t easy to give Studio A a break, as it has been such a successful show and has allowed so many of its cast and crew to move on to bigger and better things, however our new show will be extending on from what Studio A was, allowing us to try new things and work with new people” she said.

Studio A was RMITV’s highest rating show. We’re still not sure, if the show was successful and launched the career of so many of the cast and crew, why RMITV would make such drastic changes to the production. Changing the name and replacing the cast seems an aggressive way of ‘extending what the show was’. Surely the crux of the program was the writing and talent.

We spoke to Studio A host, Tommy Little:

“It was kind of just the only platform where young comedians could get experience in live TV. It’s also one of the only live shows on TV; across the board not just on 31″

We asked Tommy why the show was being replaced given the success RMITV had seen with the show.

“It’s really sad that it’s over but I’m also very happy for the time we had, I got to make funny TV with the best young comics in the country and I’m very grateful”

RMITV stated in their press release that current cast members of Studio A were welcome to audition for a role in ‘Live on Bowen’. We asked Tommy if he would consider auditioning. Tommy laughed.

2012 is already looking like a big year for comedy in Australia. Here are some of the names who have so far been announced ...]]>

2012 is already looking like a big year for comedy in Australia. Here are some of the names who have so far been announced for touring this year:

Frank Woodley returns to stage in his new show ‘Bemusement Park’ and to screen with his first solo TV effort ‘Woodley’.

U.S comedy superstar ‘Wanda Sykes’ makes her Australian debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF).

Festival favourites Wil Anderson and Judith Lucy are already selling out shows for there MICF seasons, hinting already that it’s going to be another massive festival.

After teasing as host of the Just For Laughs Gala at the Opera house last September, John Cleese returns this January with a national tour of ‘An Evening with John Cleese’.

Ross Noble returns to the MICF after a two year hiatus as part of his national tour.

Host of’Never Mind The Buzzcocks’ and creator of ‘Grandma’s House’, Simon Amstell makes his Australian debut at MICF.

Ex pat Sarah Kendall finally returns with her first MICF show since 2003.

Shappy Korshandi, now a major UK talent, is back for MICF as is another English favourite Mark Watson.

Other festival favourites returning for MICF:
Peter Helliar
Jimeoen
Jason Byrne
Greg Fleet
Mike Wilmot
Tom Ballard
Tom Gleeson
Sammy J and Randy
Hannah Gadsby
Jeff Green
Justin Hamilton
Stephen K Amos
Denise Scott
Claire Hooper

Stay tuned to Comedy.com.au for more big name comedy announcements for 2012.

Did we miss any exciting names? Who are you looking forward to? Have you heard any rumours?

Only a few months after ‘The 7PM Project’ evolved into a 6.30pm full hour show, ‘The Project’  is once again ...]]>

Only a few months after ‘The 7PM Project’ evolved into a 6.30pm full hour show, ‘The Project’  is once again shifting time slots.

From the 22 January ‘The Project’ will air at 6pm on Ten with an additional half hour program on Sunday nights. This means the ‘fun youthy news show’ will face up against 7 and 9′s traditional (boring and scary?) news formats.

Ten’s Programming Chief David Mott said the change was about “attracting a younger audience who preferred their news and current affairs in a less-traditional format.”

Ten’s abandonment of the 90 min news experiment opens up Ten’s prime time schedule for the annual arrival of big losers and fat chefs.

In 2010 Sam Simmons’ ‘Fail’ received 5 star reviews at both the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe and earned a Barry Award Nomination. This year ...]]>

In 2010 Sam Simmons’ ‘Fail’ received 5 star reviews at both the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe and earned a Barry Award Nomination. This year Simmons took it a step further with his most recent show ‘Meanwhile’, grabbing a nomination for Best Show at the Edinburgh Fringe, one of the highest comedy honours.

Now Simmons has scored another accolade for both shows by being named as one of the top 5 comedy shows of 2011 by Time Out London. Both ‘Meanwhile’ and his London season of ‘Fail’ came it at number four, beaten only by Tim Key, Stewart Lee and, at number one, Jerry Seinfeld.

Simmons returns in 2012 with his new show ‘About The Weather’

Oops!

Chris Lilley has this morning posted a scathing Facebook post announcing that fans will NOT be able to vote for Angry Boys for either the 2012 Gold ...]]>

Oops!

Chris Lilley has this morning posted a scathing Facebook post announcing that fans will NOT be able to vote for Angry Boys for either the 2012 Gold or Silver Logie for the simple reason that the ABC ‘forgot’ to submit the show for voting consideration.

Here is Lilley’s post:

Some bad news for Australian fans

The ABC have forgotten to submit Angry Boys and Chris Lilley to The Logies for voting consideration for the Most Popular Categories. Due to this oversight you will NOT be able to vote in the Silver and Gold categories for the 2011 Logie Awards.

The Logies have been notified but have refused to add Angry Boys and Chris Lilley to the voting lists as the ABC missed the deadline for submission.

This is extremely disappointing for everyone who worked on Angry Boys and for fans who were hoping to vote. A press statement explaining the ABC’s error will be released shortly.

Contact the ABC or The Logies if you would like to take this issue further.

-Posted Wednesday 4 Dec, 9.01am

Do doubt this will leave both boys and girls around the country very angry. Chris Lilley and Princess Pictures have won four Logies since 2006′s ‘We Can Be Heroes’.