Oz sitcoms sadly lacking on TV: Harmer
Comedian Wendy Harmer is relieved the ABC raided the vaults of other networks and not just their own for the comedy series Stop Laughing...This Is Serious.
The three-part special reflects on some 50 years of Australian comedy and includes more than 60 interviews with the comics who have made Australians and the world LOL.
The ABC has taken clips from classic comedy shows like Kath And Kim, The Comedy Company and Acropolis Now as well as legendary skits from Graham Kennedy, The Chaser and Norman Gunston.
Harmer says humour is very much part of our culture and while comedians will never receive national honours, they certainly have shaped our outlook and the world's perception of Australians.
"Let's face it comedians are never going to get knighthoods, awards or recognitions from big institutions, but you look at this series and you see there is a real contribution to the culture," Harmer has told AAP.
"This is a trip down memory lane for a lot of comedian ... and there's an enormous cross pollination there of clips which is great because it would have been a bit pathetic if they just trawled through the ABC archives."
Hollywood actor Eric Bana narrates the special which starts on Wednesday, March 25.
Harmer says it shines a light on the golden era of Australian TV comedy when almost every network had at least one, if not more, marque comedy shows airing each year during the 80s.
"In the mid-80s every network fired up with a show, the ABC had the Big Gig and there was The Comedy Company, Fast Forward ... in those days they could not be on air without a comedy show."
Harmer says it's an indictment on the industry that Australia, while it produces great dramas and films, has fallen down in the sitcom genre.
She says with such great comics and talented writers, it's one genre Australia should be excelling in.
"If you want to get sitcoms up you have to give them the same due as drama and film because they are no less onerous," she said.
They need as much financial backing and talent array around a table but it just doesn't happen."
* Stop Laughing...This Is Serious starts on Wednesday, March 25 at 9pm on ABC1
