BackBerner
Encyclopedia
BackBerner was an Australia
n political satire sketch comedy television series, broadcast on and produced by ABC TV
with Crackerjack Productions. The program was hosted by stand up comic Peter Berner
and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen
. The series aired from 19 August 1999 to 14 November 2002.
The show parodied the current affairs format with Berner, but most frequently Siversen engaged in interviews with various representatives and authorities on the subjects of that week's news stories to discuss the issue, with various comedians playing the role of the interviewees. The most common of these characters were Dr Dennis Johnson who covered medical issues and Dexter Pinion, the far-right conservative correspondent for government reconciliation who frequently railed against the supposedly left-leaning "AB-friggin'-C
". Numerous other character actors often made return appearances under different names, such as Nicholas Hammond
who often appeared as Jack Bloom, a representative for the US Government.
The music played during the opening and closing credits is an excerpt from TISM's
song "Thunderbirds are Coming Out".
Other regulars on the program were Tanya Bulmer and Kym Gyngell
who engaged in pre-recorded external and on-the-street interviews.
The show was axed in 2002, and poked a last jab by explaining that Dexter Pinion had in fact finally taken control of the "AB-friggin'-C" and shut Berner down.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n political satire sketch comedy television series, broadcast on and produced by ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
with Crackerjack Productions. The program was hosted by stand up comic Peter Berner
Peter Berner
Peter Berner is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter, probably best known as host of television's The Einstein Factor.-Comedy:He has been involved in the Australian comedy scene since the 1990s...
and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen
Louise Siversen
Louise Siversen is an actress.Siversen began acting as a child after her parents sent her to dance and drama classes to help her overcome her shyness. Siversen began to enjoy acting and went on to perform with St Martins Youth Theatre, appearing in many productions...
. The series aired from 19 August 1999 to 14 November 2002.
The show parodied the current affairs format with Berner, but most frequently Siversen engaged in interviews with various representatives and authorities on the subjects of that week's news stories to discuss the issue, with various comedians playing the role of the interviewees. The most common of these characters were Dr Dennis Johnson who covered medical issues and Dexter Pinion, the far-right conservative correspondent for government reconciliation who frequently railed against the supposedly left-leaning "AB-friggin'-C
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
". Numerous other character actors often made return appearances under different names, such as Nicholas Hammond
Nicholas Hammond
Nicholas Hammond is an American actor best known for his roles as Friedrich von Trapp in the film The Sound of Music, and as Peter Parker/Spider-Man on the CBS television series The Amazing Spider-Man...
who often appeared as Jack Bloom, a representative for the US Government.
The music played during the opening and closing credits is an excerpt from TISM's
TISM
TISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
song "Thunderbirds are Coming Out".
Other regulars on the program were Tanya Bulmer and Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell
Kym Gyngell is an Australian AFI award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor...
who engaged in pre-recorded external and on-the-street interviews.
The show was axed in 2002, and poked a last jab by explaining that Dexter Pinion had in fact finally taken control of the "AB-friggin'-C" and shut Berner down.