Kath & Kim
Encyclopedia
Kath & Kim is a Logie Award
-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy
series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner
and Gina Riley
who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship. The series main characters consist of Kath Day-Knight
, a cheerful 50-year-old woman, her self-indulgent daughter Kim Craig
, Kath's boyfriend and second husband, the metrosexual
Kel Knight
, as well as Kim's estranged husband Brett Craig
and her lonely, overweight "second best friend" is Sharon Strzelecki
. The series is set in the fictional suburb Fountain Lakes in Melbourne
. It is primarily filmed in Patterson Lakes
, with certain exceptions.
The series was conceived by Turner and Riley in the early 1990s as a weekly segment of the Australian comedy series Fast Forward
. The skit was then developed into a full-series. The first series of Kath & Kim premièred on ABC TV
on 16 May 2002, with three further series following, while a television movie, entitled Da Kath and Kim Code, was broadcast nationally on 25 November 2005. Kath & Kim has garnered much critical acclaim since its debut, winning two Logie Award
s, for "Outstanding Comedy Programme" and the "Best Television Drama Series" award at the Australian Film Institute Awards
. In Australia, it has become a pop culture phenomenon, and is a success with audiences nationwide. Internationally, the series has spawned a cult fanbase, and in 2006 it was announced an American version of the series would be produced, to air on NBC
. Riley and Turner served as executive producers on the US version. The American version was also picked up by Seven, which debuted the program on 12 October 2008, just three days after its debut in the United States.
The fourth series of Kath & Kim began airing on the Seven Network
on 19 August 2007, due to contract expiring with ABC
. The first series four episode attracted an Australian audience of 2.521 million nationally, making the highest rating ever for a first episode in the history of Australian television, until the series premiere of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
in 2009 with 2.58m viewers.
Kath & Kim follows the day-to-day Australian suburban life of Kath Day (Jane Turner
), her only child Kim Craig née Day (Gina Riley), Kim's husband Brett Craig (Peter Rowsthorn), Kath's love interest and eventual husband "purveyor of fine meats"
Kel Knight (Glenn Robbins
), and long-time family friend Sharon Strzelecki (Magda Szubanski
).
The main setting is Kath's townhouse in Fountain Lakes. It is taped in a house in the waterfront street of Lagoon Place, Patterson Lakes, Victoria
.
The storyline of first series follows the Kath's engagement and plans for her wedding to Kel. Kim frequently occupies the house due to her rocky relationship with Brett (most of which appears to be due to her own childish and spoilt behaviour). Sharon's always around with a helping hand and her own relationship problems. Her history with Brett is also explored.
The second series follows Kim's pregnancy and her rekindled relationship with Brett. Kath and Kel's relationship goes through some teething troubles. Kim and Brett have a baby in the final episode of the second series whom they name Epponnee-Raelene Kathleen Darlene Charlene Craig, shortened to Epponnee-Rae. Several episodes of the third series focus on Epponnee-Rae. The series finale features an adult Epponnee-Rae, played by Kylie Minogue
. Sharon has a boyfriend Mark and when he is talking to Brett he says "Uhten haffen, norgan vargent".
Storylines follow the characters' day-to-day lives, and document their personal struggles and the banality of their achievements and aspirations. Kath & Kim satirises the mother-daughter relationship and the habits and values of modern suburban Australians, and emphasises the kitsch and superficial elements of contemporary society, particularly the traditional working class which has progressed to a level of affluence (or "effluence" as quoted by Kath) which previous generations had been unable to achieve.
They visit places such as the Westfield Fountain Gate
(some parts filmed at Westfield Southland), the local IKEA
, Target
, and various local restaurants.
It also occasionally mocks Australian and international popular culture, such as popular television shows Big Brother
and Australian Idol
. It sometimes makes statements about Australian politics. The crass and embarrassing behaviour of the characters, and their gaudy, out-dated fashion sense are popular features of the show.
The highly developed alternative vocabulary including the mixed metaphors, hypercorrection
, malapropisms and mis-pronunciations of the regular characters are much-repeated by the show's fans. These include: "Look at me"—used by Kath to command attention during arguments, and "It's noice, different and unusual" - used by Kath, Kim and Sharon to express approval or agreement.
", performed by Gina Riley. A re-recording of it debuted in the telemovie opening sequence and has continued into Series 4.
Twenty-four episodes lasting approximately twenty-five minutes each across three series aired on ABC TV
from 2002–2004. The series debued on 15 May 2002 on the ABC Network with "Sex" and became one of the highest rated shows for ABC. A replacement of a full series occurred in 2005 with the telemovie Da Kath & Kim Code. The fourth series of Kath & Kim premiered on 19 August 2007 at 7:30pm on the Seven Network
with a total of eight episodes. As of late 2009, they've announced that writing has begun on Series 5. In May 2010, when ask if there would be more Kath and Kim, Turner replied: "We sort of felt like it was the end two years ago. We thought, ‘We’ve done enough and the well is dry and we can’t think of any more ideas’ … We think we might just leave it for now."
's highest rated shows. When the show premiered on the Seven Network
, it became the highest rating episode in Australian television history, until the record was broken by Nine Network
's Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
on 9 February 2009. The fourth series of Kath & Kim debuted with a record breaking 2.511 million viewers peaking at 2.731 million. In its second and third episodes viewers fell to 1.994 & 1.817 million respectively, however viewers then rebounded for its fourth and fifth episodes with ratings of 2.047 & 2.157 million respectively. Strong ratings continued with viewers of 2.049 and 2.066 million for the sixth and seventh episodes. The eighth episode and series finale rated 2.338 million giving the fourth series an average viewership of 2.122 million, making it the highest rating series in Australia for 2007 and the highest rating of all four series of the show.
Channel Seven
have since started showing repeats of the show from series one onwards which had previously only aired on the ABC network. The repeats have proved quite successful, rating 1.465 and 1.530 so far, winning in a very competitive timeslot and being amongst the highest rating shows of the week.
. In this remake, actress Molly Shannon
has taken the role of Kath Day, and Selma Blair
the role of Kim.
NBC chose Jason Ensler to direct Molly Shannon's Kath & Kim. Michelle Nader developed the series for American television, which premiered in the United States as part of the Fall schedule of 2008. The series started to shoot in California in July 2008. NBC debuted the US adaptation on 9 October 2008, while Seven started screening it to Australian viewers on 12 October 2008. After airing only two episodes, Seven dropped the sitcom from their lineup due to poor ratings, only to bring it back several weeks later as a late-night schedule stuffer. On the other hand, NBC, after averaging roughly around 5 to 7 million viewers per week, was rewarded with a full season order in October 2008.
On Tuesday, 19 May 2009, NBC announced that there would not be a second season of "Kath & Kim".
Awards and Logies. In addition, Kath and Kim and Da Kath and Kim Code have won four major awards for the show itself.
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
and Gina Riley
Gina Riley
Gina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid. In the latter she was also a producer and writer...
who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship. The series main characters consist of Kath Day-Knight
Kath Day-Knight
Kathleen "Kath" Darleen Day-Knight is a fictional character featured in the Australian television series, Kath & Kim and is portrayed by Jane Turner....
, a cheerful 50-year-old woman, her self-indulgent daughter Kim Craig
Kim Craig
Kimberly Diane "Kim" Craig nee Day is a fictional character in the Australian sitcom Kath & Kim, portrayed by Gina Riley.Kim's character, along with her mother, Kath Day-Knight is considered an Australian Comedic Icon....
, Kath's boyfriend and second husband, the metrosexual
Metrosexual
Metrosexual is a neologism derived from metropolitan and heterosexual coined in 1994 describing a man who spends a lot of time and money on shopping for his appearance...
Kel Knight
Kel Knight
Kel Knight is a fictional character in the Australian television show Kath & Kim, portrayed by comic actor Glenn Robbins.John Michael Higgins portrayed his American equivalent in the American Series.-Background:...
, as well as Kim's estranged husband Brett Craig
Brett Craig
Brett Craig is a fictional character on the Australian comedy television series, Kath & Kim. He is portrayed by Peter Rowsthorn.-Background:Brett was married to Kim Craig from the start of the series...
and her lonely, overweight "second best friend" is Sharon Strzelecki
Sharon Strzelecki
Sharon Karen Strzelecki is a fictional character on the Australian comedy series, Kath & Kim, and is portrayed by Magda Szubanski.Sharon is sports-obsessed , and often unlucky in love. The character breifly appeared in 1990 Skits on Australian Comedy Shows...
. The series is set in the fictional suburb Fountain Lakes in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. It is primarily filmed in Patterson Lakes
Patterson Lakes, Victoria
Patterson Lakes is a suburb in outer south-east Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is located 32 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. In the 2006 Census Patterson Lakes had a population of 7,235 people.Patterson Lakes consists...
, with certain exceptions.
The series was conceived by Turner and Riley in the early 1990s as a weekly segment of the Australian comedy series Fast Forward
Fast Forward
Fast Forward was Australia’s highest rating, longest running and most critically awarded commercial television sketch comedy , broadcast for 90 one hour episodes from 12 April 1989 to 26 November 1992....
. The skit was then developed into a full-series. The first series of Kath & Kim premièred on 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....
on 16 May 2002, with three further series following, while a television movie, entitled Da Kath and Kim Code, was broadcast nationally on 25 November 2005. Kath & Kim has garnered much critical acclaim since its debut, winning two Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
s, for "Outstanding Comedy Programme" and the "Best Television Drama Series" award at the Australian Film Institute Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
. In Australia, it has become a pop culture phenomenon, and is a success with audiences nationwide. Internationally, the series has spawned a cult fanbase, and in 2006 it was announced an American version of the series would be produced, to air on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. Riley and Turner served as executive producers on the US version. The American version was also picked up by Seven, which debuted the program on 12 October 2008, just three days after its debut in the United States.
The fourth series of Kath & Kim began airing on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
on 19 August 2007, due to contract expiring with ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. The first series four episode attracted an Australian audience of 2.521 million nationally, making the highest rating ever for a first episode in the history of Australian television, until the series premiere of Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
in 2009 with 2.58m viewers.
Premise
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
), her only child Kim Craig née Day (Gina Riley), Kim's husband Brett Craig (Peter Rowsthorn), Kath's love interest and eventual husband "purveyor of fine meats"
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
Kel Knight (Glenn Robbins
Glenn Robbins
Glenn Maxwell Robbins is an Australian comedian, writer and actor.Robbins attended Strathmore Secondary College and graduated in 1975...
), and long-time family friend Sharon Strzelecki (Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski
Magda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
).
The main setting is Kath's townhouse in Fountain Lakes. It is taped in a house in the waterfront street of Lagoon Place, Patterson Lakes, Victoria
Patterson Lakes, Victoria
Patterson Lakes is a suburb in outer south-east Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is located 32 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. In the 2006 Census Patterson Lakes had a population of 7,235 people.Patterson Lakes consists...
.
The storyline of first series follows the Kath's engagement and plans for her wedding to Kel. Kim frequently occupies the house due to her rocky relationship with Brett (most of which appears to be due to her own childish and spoilt behaviour). Sharon's always around with a helping hand and her own relationship problems. Her history with Brett is also explored.
The second series follows Kim's pregnancy and her rekindled relationship with Brett. Kath and Kel's relationship goes through some teething troubles. Kim and Brett have a baby in the final episode of the second series whom they name Epponnee-Raelene Kathleen Darlene Charlene Craig, shortened to Epponnee-Rae. Several episodes of the third series focus on Epponnee-Rae. The series finale features an adult Epponnee-Rae, played by Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
. Sharon has a boyfriend Mark and when he is talking to Brett he says "Uhten haffen, norgan vargent".
Storylines follow the characters' day-to-day lives, and document their personal struggles and the banality of their achievements and aspirations. Kath & Kim satirises the mother-daughter relationship and the habits and values of modern suburban Australians, and emphasises the kitsch and superficial elements of contemporary society, particularly the traditional working class which has progressed to a level of affluence (or "effluence" as quoted by Kath) which previous generations had been unable to achieve.
They visit places such as the Westfield Fountain Gate
Westfield Fountain Gate
Westfield Fountain Gate is a super regional shopping centre located in Narre Warren in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia...
(some parts filmed at Westfield Southland), the local IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
, Target
Target (Australia)
Target Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian department store chain owned by Wesfarmers . It operates 172 Target stores and 119 Target Country stores making 291 combined stores with its head office located in North Geelong, Victoria. It sells clothing, cosmetics, toys, homewares, electrical and...
, and various local restaurants.
It also occasionally mocks Australian and international popular culture, such as popular television shows Big Brother
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
and Australian Idol
Australian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
. It sometimes makes statements about Australian politics. The crass and embarrassing behaviour of the characters, and their gaudy, out-dated fashion sense are popular features of the show.
The highly developed alternative vocabulary including the mixed metaphors, hypercorrection
Hypercorrection
In linguistics or usage, hypercorrection is a non-standard usage that results from the over-application of a perceived rule of grammar or a usage prescription...
, malapropisms and mis-pronunciations of the regular characters are much-repeated by the show's fans. These include: "Look at me"—used by Kath to command attention during arguments, and "It's noice, different and unusual" - used by Kath, Kim and Sharon to express approval or agreement.
History
The characters of Kath, Kim and Sharon first appeared in these sketch comedy programs:- Fast Forward (Seven, 1991–1992)
- Big Girl's BlouseBig Girl's BlouseBig Girl's Blouse is an Australian skit program that aired in the mid-1990s on the Seven Network. The show was created by Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski who all went on to star in Kath & Kim. There were four one-hour episodes, plus the pilot, which are usually shown as eight half-hour...
(Seven, 1994–1995) - Something StupidSomething StupidSomething Stupid was a short-lived Australian sketch comedy series which aired in 1998 on the Seven Network. The program was produced, written and performed by much the same team that was behind the Fast Forward series...
(Seven, 1998)
Actors
Several guest stars are well-known Australian comedy performers, some of whom previously worked with Turner or Riley. Buble and Lucas were fans of the show and asked to appear in it. Humphries declared himself a fan of the series before taking part.Episodes
The title sequence shows the main five regular characters over a white background. In Series 3 it was amended to include Cujo and Epponee-Rae. The five regular cast members are then credited over aerial shots of suburban houses. Szubanski credited as "Special Guest Star", despite appearing in every episode. The theme song is "The JokerThe Joker (musical song)
The Joker is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.-Recordings:* Anthony Newley performed the song on the original cast recording....
", performed by Gina Riley. A re-recording of it debuted in the telemovie opening sequence and has continued into Series 4.
Twenty-four episodes lasting approximately twenty-five minutes each across three series aired on 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....
from 2002–2004. The series debued on 15 May 2002 on the ABC Network with "Sex" and became one of the highest rated shows for ABC. A replacement of a full series occurred in 2005 with the telemovie Da Kath & Kim Code. The fourth series of Kath & Kim premiered on 19 August 2007 at 7:30pm on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
with a total of eight episodes. As of late 2009, they've announced that writing has begun on Series 5. In May 2010, when ask if there would be more Kath and Kim, Turner replied: "We sort of felt like it was the end two years ago. We thought, ‘We’ve done enough and the well is dry and we can’t think of any more ideas’ … We think we might just leave it for now."
| Series | Ep # | Series premiere | Series finale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | 8 | 16 May 2002 | 4 July 2002 |
| Series 2 | 8 | 18 September 2003 | 6 November 2003 |
| Series 3 | 8 | 7 October 2004 | 25 November 2004 |
| Series 4 | 8 | 19 August 2007 | 14 October 2007 |
Film
On 9 March 2011, Turner and Riley announced plans for a movie, in which, Kath, Kim, Kel, Brett, Sharon and Epponee head overseas on a holiday. Contracts have been written to finance the movie entitled The Kath and Kim Film which is due to hit cinemas in 2012. The movie will be directed by Ted Emery and produced by Rick McKenna.Ratings
Kath & Kim premiered on 15 May 2002 and became one of ABCAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's highest rated shows. When the show premiered on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
, it became the highest rating episode in Australian television history, until the record was broken by Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
on 9 February 2009. The fourth series of Kath & Kim debuted with a record breaking 2.511 million viewers peaking at 2.731 million. In its second and third episodes viewers fell to 1.994 & 1.817 million respectively, however viewers then rebounded for its fourth and fifth episodes with ratings of 2.047 & 2.157 million respectively. Strong ratings continued with viewers of 2.049 and 2.066 million for the sixth and seventh episodes. The eighth episode and series finale rated 2.338 million giving the fourth series an average viewership of 2.122 million, making it the highest rating series in Australia for 2007 and the highest rating of all four series of the show.
Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
have since started showing repeats of the show from series one onwards which had previously only aired on the ABC network. The repeats have proved quite successful, rating 1.465 and 1.530 so far, winning in a very competitive timeslot and being amongst the highest rating shows of the week.
Merchandise
The enduring public interest and popularity of Kath and Kim has led to a merchandising industry. The title family and supporting characters appear on everything from t-shirts to posters. The Kath & Kim series have been released on VHS (although titles are now discontinued in the VHS format) and DVD, in box-sets and separate series editions in both Region 4 (Australia, New Zealand, Latin America) as well as Region 2 (Europe). The series has also had a CD release, featuring songs from the series and recordings from Kath and Kim. In addition, there have been clothing (such as aprons, t-shirts and oven mitts). Merchandise is available to purchase online, from the Kath & Kim official website.CD Releases
| Cover | Album Info |
|---|---|
Kath & Kim's Party Tape
In 2004, Kath & Kim's Party Tape was released in Australia under the Universal Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... record label. It features 21 tracks including the full length version of the show's title theme, "The Joker The Joker (musical song) The Joker is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.-Recordings:* Anthony Newley performed the song on the original cast recording.... " (as sung by Gina Riley) as well as Diana Ross Diana Ross Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway... and Lionel Richie Lionel Richie Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records... 's "Endless Love Endless Love (song) "Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and fellow soul singer Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by soul singer Luther Vandross with R&B singer Mariah Carey and also by... " and Donna Summer Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach... 's "MacArthur Park MacArthur Park (song) "MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's... ". |
Track listing
- 01 Gina RileyGina RileyGina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid. In the latter she was also a producer and writer...
- The JokerThe Joker (musical song)The Joker is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.-Recordings:* Anthony Newley performed the song on the original cast recording.... - 02 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #1 - 03 The TubesThe TubesThe Tubes are a San Francisco-based rock band, whose 1975 debut album included the hit single, "White Punks on Dope". During its first fifteen years or so, the band's live performances combined quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism, and politics...
- Don't Touch Me There - 04 Bobby HebbBobby HebbBobby Hebb was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his writing and recording of "Sunny".-Biography:...
- Sunny - 05 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #2 - 06 Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
and Lionel RichieLionel RichieLionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
- Endless Love - 07 Status Quo - Roll Over Lay Down
- 08 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #3 - 09 The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
- Rhythm Of Life - 10 Van McCoyVan McCoyVan Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
- The Hustle - 11 Yvonne EllimanYvonne EllimanYvonne Marianne Elliman is an American singer who performed for four years in the first cast of Jesus Christ Superstar...
- If I Can't Have You - 12 Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
- MacArthur Park - 13 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #4 - 14 The Commodores - Three Times A Lady
- 15 Sergio MendesSergio MendesSérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
& Brasil '66 - Daytripper - 16 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #5 - 17 Yvonne FairYvonne FairYvonne Fair was an African American singer, best known for her 1976 recording of "It Should Have Been Me".-Biography:...
- It Should Have Been Me - 18 Stephanie MillsStephanie MillsStephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
- Never Knew Love Like This Before - 19 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
- Wine Time #6 - 20 Captain and Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
- 21 Kath & KimKath & KimKath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
(Jane TurnerJane TurnerJane Turner is an Australian actress, comedian and Logie Award winning comedy writer.Turner has appeared in many popular Australian TV programs, namely Prisoner in a straight dramatic role, with comedy roles in sketch comedy programs The D-Generation, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse...
& Gina RileyGina RileyGina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid. In the latter she was also a producer and writer...
) - Lady Bump
Single seasons
| Season | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
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| Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... | |Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 | 8 | 2 | United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... : 20 June 2005 |
Australia 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... : 8 October 2002 |
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| This release of the complete first season has a total running time of 202 minutes and contains all 8 episodes. Special features include features entitled "Being Stewpid", "Wine Time Philosophy" and "Scenes that are different, un-ewes-yewl" as well as re-living Brett And Kim's Connubials! | |||||||
| Season | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... | |Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 2 | 8 | 2 | United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... : 27 November 2006 |
Australia 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... : 24 November 2003 |
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| This release of the complete second season has a total running time of 215 minutes and contains all 8 episodes. Special features include features entitled "A bit of huffy puffy with Kath and Kel", "More Yumor", "More Wine Time philosophy" and "Scenes that are different, un-ewes-yewl". | |||||||
| Season | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 3 | 8 | 2 | Australia 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... : 30 November 2004 |
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| This release of the complete third season has a total running time of 248 minutes and contains all 8 episodes. Special features includes a feature entitled "'In The Raw' with Kath & Kim" as well as goof reels, deleted scenes, a performance of "Lady Bump" at the Logies, interviews with Kath & Kim, bonus "Wine Time" material as well as Prue and Trued telling it how it is. | |||||||
| Season | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 4 | 8 | 2 | Australia 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... : 17 October 2007 |
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Box sets
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... | |Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 & 2 | 16 | 4 | United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... : 27 November 2006 |
Australia 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... : 8 April 2004 |
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| This box set of the first and second seasons has a total running time of 431 minutes. It contains the same special features as the single season releases. | |||||||
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 - 3 | 24 | 6 | Australia 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... : 7 April 2005 |
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| This box set of the first, second and third seasons has a total running time of 686 minutes. It contains the same special features as the single season releases. | |||||||
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 - 4 | 32 | 8 | Australia 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... : 6 November 2008 |
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| Special box set featuring all four seasons. Called The Hornbag Collection. | |||||||
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 & 2 | 16 | 4 | Australia 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... : 2 July 2009 |
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| Called Kath & Kim: Series 1 & 2. Total running time 417 minutes. Contains the same special features as single season releases. Released through Roadshow Entertainment. Cover artwork states that it is PAL Region 4 but the discs have All Regions printed. | |||||||
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 3 & 4 | 16 | 4 | Australia 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... : 2 July 2009 |
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| Called Kath & Kim: Series 3 & 4. Total Running Time 513 minutes. Contains the same special features as single season releases. Released through Roadshow Entertainment. Cover artwork states that it is PAL Region 4 but the discs have All Regions printed. | |||||||
| Seasons | |Discs | |DVD release date | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 1 - 4 | 32 | 8 | Australia 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... : 1 April 2010 |
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| Called Kath & Kim Kollection Series 1 - 4. | |||||||
Da Kath & Kim Code
| Discs | |DVD release date | |
|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 2 | Australia 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... : 1 December 2005 |
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Da Kath & Kim Code Repackage
| Discs | |DVD release date | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
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| 2 | Australia 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... : 1 April 2010 |
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| This release of Da Kath & Kim Code features two discs with a total running time of 164 minutes. It contains the telemovie as well as special features including an exended ending for the telemovie, behind the scenes, goofs, a feature entitled "Barry Humphries at 'The Buckingham'", deleted scenes as well as a feature entitled "Kath & Kim & Bert". The release also includes "Live in London" content which includes Kath & Kim live at the Toast Festival, wine tasting, talking to the BBC as well as having "A Current Affair". | |||||||
American version
Due to the moderate level of success that Kath & Kim has achieved internationally, it has been remade for US audiences by NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In this remake, actress Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon
Molly Helen Shannon is an American comic actress best known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–2001 and for starring in the films Superstar and Year of the Dog. More recently, she starred in NBC's Kath & Kim from 2008–2009 and on the TBS animated series Neighbors from...
has taken the role of Kath Day, and Selma Blair
Selma Blair
Selma Blair is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. She has performed in feature films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, Purple Violets and Hellboy II: The Golden Army...
the role of Kim.
NBC chose Jason Ensler to direct Molly Shannon's Kath & Kim. Michelle Nader developed the series for American television, which premiered in the United States as part of the Fall schedule of 2008. The series started to shoot in California in July 2008. NBC debuted the US adaptation on 9 October 2008, while Seven started screening it to Australian viewers on 12 October 2008. After airing only two episodes, Seven dropped the sitcom from their lineup due to poor ratings, only to bring it back several weeks later as a late-night schedule stuffer. On the other hand, NBC, after averaging roughly around 5 to 7 million viewers per week, was rewarded with a full season order in October 2008.
On Tuesday, 19 May 2009, NBC announced that there would not be a second season of "Kath & Kim".
Awards
The show itself, and the cast, have been nominated several television awards in the past, including AFIAustralian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
Awards and Logies. In addition, Kath and Kim and Da Kath and Kim Code have won four major awards for the show itself.
Won
- 2002: Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama (Magda Szubanski) at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2002: Best Screenplay in a Television Drama at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2002: Best Television Drama Series at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2003: Most Outstanding Comedy Program at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
- 2004: Most Outstanding Comedy Program at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
(tied with CNNNN) - 2008 Most Popular Light Entertainment or Comedy Program
Nominated
- 2002: Best Screenplay in a Television Drama at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2003, 2004, 2005: Most Popular Light Entertainment / Comedy Program at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
- 2003, 2004: Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy (Glenn Robbins) at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2003, 2004: Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy (Jane Turner) at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2003, 2004: Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy (Gina Riley) at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2003, 2004: Best Comedy Series – Sitcom or Sketch
- 2004, 2005, 2006: Most Popular Actor (Glenn Robbins) at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
('04 & '05 for Kath and Kim; '06 for Da Kath and Kim Code) - 2004: Best Actress in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy (Magda Szubanski) at the AFI AwardsAustralian Film Institute AwardsThe Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- 2004: Best Screenplay in Television
- 2005: Most Popular Actress (Gina Riley) at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
- 2005: Most Popular Actress (Magda Szubanski) at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
- 2005: Most Outstanding Comedy Program at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
- 2006: Most Outstanding Miniseries / Telemovie at the LogiesLogie AwardThe TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
(for Da Kath and Kim Code)