SkitHOUSE
Categories: Australian television series | Australian television comedy | Sketch comedy shows
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skitHOUSE is an Australian sketch comedy television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten. It features many leading Australian comedians, including comedy-band Tripod. It can also be seen on the Comedy Channel on subscription television. In the UK, it is shown on the channel Paramount Comedy 2.
The program saw three series produced, before being axed due to a combination of dwindling ratings, and the withdrawal of the cable network Foxtel as co-financier of the program's production.
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Cast
Skithouse is produced by Roving Enterprises, a production company formed by Rove McManus. Two key performers on Skithouse are Rove's Rove live co-hosts Peter Helliar and Corinne Grant. The show also features Cal Wilson, Scott Brennan, Fiona Harris, Damian Callan, Roz Hammond, Michael Chamberlain, Tom Gleeson, Jason Geary and Ben Anderson. Members of the comedic band Tripod also feature, not just as the band but in the actual skits themselves. Tripod are Scod, Yon and Gatesy
The Show
As its name suggests, the show consists of numerous comedic skits. The half hour shows themselves often seem to have themes (or at least they repeat the use of sets, costumes and props). Its comedic styling is reminiscent of many classic Australian sketch comedies (self defacing humour, low-cost props and effects), though it steers clear of most ethnic stereotyping .
Notable characters and sketches
Many characters recur throughout the series, often appearing several times in a single episode, creating a semi-coherent storyline. Some more notable recurring characters and/or scenarios are:
- The Australian Fast Bowler
- A cricket fast bowler who uses his bowling skills to help people or defend against evil, superhero style - indeed, he has his own sidekick and arch nemesis. For instance, a choking man would be helped with a ball thrown at his back. Played by Tom Gleeson.
- Redheads
- Stereotyped white red-haired people dressed in white with an avid fear of sunlight. Oddly, they seem incapable of natural speech, communicating in meeps. They are played by Gleeson (a natural redhead himself), Wilson, Hammond and others.
- Batman
- a depressed alcoholic "loser" version of Batman is portrayed by Callinan. His batmobile is a bomb, he has no work, and seems romantically attracted to Robin (Chamberlain) – who in most skits has "dumped" him for the more dynamic Captain Terrific (Helliar), Batman's rival on the crime-fighting scene.
- The "I love beer" guy
- Peter Helliar plays a man who, depite professing to everyone how much he loves beer, quite obviously can't stomach the drink. Onlookers try to convince him that it is "okay" not to drink beer. This is a mockery of a very common scenario among young male Australians.
- The ticket lady
- Fiona Harris plays a parking inspector who is oblivious to how much she is hated by the general public; she often speaks highly of the public while being pelted with rocks, eggs, and sharp pointy objects.
- Glen Bush
- An annoying schoolkid played by Scott Brennan.
One of the few parodies on the show, is Corrine presenting a quite obviously un-marketable product in a format similar to Brand Power.
The credits of each show are accompanied by a song by Tripod. While sometimes new material is used, it is sometimes a song previously featured in their "Song In Hour" challenge with Triple J.