Newstopia
Encyclopedia
Newstopia is an Australia
n half-hour satirical comedy programme hosted by Shaun Micallef
. The first series premiered at on SBS TV
on 10 October 2007 and concluded on 3 December 2007. A second season began on 27 February 2008 and concluded on 30 April 2008. A third season of the show screened from 1 October to December 3 2008. The show was developed by Micallef, Gary McCaffrie
, Michael Ward and Jason Stephens, with McCaffrie and Ward working as writers on the programme. A fourth series in 2009 was planned, but cancelled due to production clashes with Talkin' 'bout Your Generation
.
The show's contributors include Matt Cameron
, Doug MacLeod, Dave O'Neil
, Tony Moclair
and Richard Marsland
.
acting as anchor. The programme begins with a statement by Micallef about history and/or news and their relation to the show. The rest of the programme features segments detailing often factual events, but told from a humorous or satirical angle. Like much of Micallef's earlier work, the humor depicted is mostly surrealism
and some social satire
.
The programme also has several fictional commercial advertisements placed throughout the real commercial breaks, dressed up to appear as authentic SBS commercials; for example, Inspektor Herring is a parody of Inspector Rex. Because these commercials are fictional creations of Newstopia, for the first two seasons, SBS broadcast them with the SBS watermark in the bottom right corner, whereas genuine commercials did not show the watermark. Starting in the third season, the show removed the SBS watermark during the fictional commercial advertisements.
The show also features subliminal parodies of Australian politicians and a vampire-like character, where still images are flashed on screen for a fraction of a second — long enough to be noticed, but not long enough for the viewer to have a concrete idea of what they had just seen.
Nicholas Bell
portrayed an English reporter called Martin Palsy in an exaggerated urgent tone that rose in mock hysteria as the imaginary story escalated.
of the current week's episode. This was only available for 7 days, and only to Australian residents, after which it was taken down and replaced by the latest broadcast. International visitors were blocked by an IP blocker. A guestbook was also available for commenting on the newest episode.
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 half-hour satirical comedy programme hosted by Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef
Shaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
. The first series premiered at on SBS TV
SBS TV
SBS One is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 24 October 1980, it is the responsibility of SBS's television division, and is available nationally...
on 10 October 2007 and concluded on 3 December 2007. A second season began on 27 February 2008 and concluded on 30 April 2008. A third season of the show screened from 1 October to December 3 2008. The show was developed by Micallef, Gary McCaffrie
Gary McCaffrie
Gary McCaffrie is an Australian television comedy writer and producer, best known for his work on Fast Forward and Full Frontal, and his many collaborations with comedian Shaun Micallef...
, Michael Ward and Jason Stephens, with McCaffrie and Ward working as writers on the programme. A fourth series in 2009 was planned, but cancelled due to production clashes with Talkin' 'bout Your Generation
Talkin' 'bout your Generation
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation is an Australian game show produced by Granada Productions which premiered on Network Ten on 5 May 2009. It is hosted by Shaun Micallef....
.
The show's contributors include Matt Cameron
Matt Cameron
Matthew David "Matt" Cameron is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the American rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden...
, Doug MacLeod, Dave O'Neil
Dave O'Neil
Dave O'Neil is a Melbourne-based stand-up comedian, actor, writer and radio personality.-Early career:Dave was a Cub, Scout, Venturer and Rover. His father Kevin is still the Group Leader at the 1st/3rd Mitcham Scout Group....
, Tony Moclair
Tony Moclair
Tony Moclair is an Australian actor, writer and comedian. He has worked on various Australian radio networks, often appearing in character rather than as himself.-3RRR Breakfasters:...
and Richard Marsland
Richard Marsland
Richard Kemble Marsland was an Australian comedy writer, actor, comedian and radio personality.-Radio:...
.
Format
The show is presented in the style of a news bulletin, with Shaun MicallefShaun Micallef
Shaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
acting as anchor. The programme begins with a statement by Micallef about history and/or news and their relation to the show. The rest of the programme features segments detailing often factual events, but told from a humorous or satirical angle. Like much of Micallef's earlier work, the humor depicted is mostly surrealism
Surreal humour
Surreal humour is a form of humour based on violations of causal reasoning with events and behaviours that are logically incongruent. Constructions of surreal humour involve bizarre juxtapositions, non-sequiturs, irrational situations, and/or expressions of nonsense.The humour arises from a...
and some social satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
.
The programme also has several fictional commercial advertisements placed throughout the real commercial breaks, dressed up to appear as authentic SBS commercials; for example, Inspektor Herring is a parody of Inspector Rex. Because these commercials are fictional creations of Newstopia, for the first two seasons, SBS broadcast them with the SBS watermark in the bottom right corner, whereas genuine commercials did not show the watermark. Starting in the third season, the show removed the SBS watermark during the fictional commercial advertisements.
The show also features subliminal parodies of Australian politicians and a vampire-like character, where still images are flashed on screen for a fraction of a second — long enough to be noticed, but not long enough for the viewer to have a concrete idea of what they had just seen.
Nicholas Bell
Nicholas Bell
Nicholas Bell is a British actor who has worked in Australia for more than 20 years. He is a regular actor in Melbourne Theatre Company productions as well as work with all the major broadcasters in Australia, most notably the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.-Film and television:Film credits...
portrayed an English reporter called Martin Palsy in an exaggerated urgent tone that rose in mock hysteria as the imaginary story escalated.
Regular cast
- Shaun MicallefShaun MicallefShaun Patrick Micallef is an Australian actor, comedian and writer. After ten years of working in insurance law as a solicitor in Adelaide, Micallef moved to Melbourne to pursue a full-time comedy career in 1993...
- Ben AndersonBen Anderson (actor)Ben Anderson is an Australian actor from Melbourne, Australia. He is best known on Australian TV for his role on popular soap Neighbours as lawyer Tim Collins...
- Nicholas BellNicholas BellNicholas Bell is a British actor who has worked in Australia for more than 20 years. He is a regular actor in Melbourne Theatre Company productions as well as work with all the major broadcasters in Australia, most notably the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.-Film and television:Film credits...
(plays Aaron Cheviot, a balded, bearded and bland political pundit) - Julie Eckersley
- Miyuki Watanabe (plays Harmonica Thirsty, a geishaGeisha, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
who is Shaun's co-anchor) - Peter Houghton
- Kat StewartKat StewartKat Stewart is a Logie Award-winning Australian actress who has made numerous appearances in television series, movies and on-stage.-Career:...
Special guests
- Ed KavaleeEd KavaleeEdward Robert Kavalee is an Australian actor and radio host. He is currently co-host of a comedy program on the Nine Network, The Joy of Sets, with Tony Martin....
- Roz HammondRoz HammondRosalind Hammond was born in Western Australia, often credited as Ros or Roz, is an Australian comic actress and writer.Her television appearances include 3 series of The Micallef Programme...
- Les MurrayLes Murray (broadcaster)Les James Murray AM is an Australian sports journalist, football broadcaster and analyst...
- Bob Franklin
- Daina Reid
- Lee Lin ChinLee Lin ChinLee Lin Chin is the weekend presenter of World News Australia on the Australian SBS TV, a network addressing a multi-cultural audience. She has been part of SBS for many years.-Biography:...
- Francis GreensladeFrancis GreensladeFrancis Greenslade is an Australian comic actor. He and comedic partner Shaun Micallef appeared on the legal comedy Welcher and Welcher, as well as Full Frontal...
- Barry JonesBarry Jones (Australian politician)Barry Owen Jones AO, FAA, FASSA, FAHA, FTSE, FACE is a writer, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician. He campaigned against the death penalty throughout the 1960s, particularly against the execution of Ronald Ryan, and remains against capital punishment...
- Tony MartinTony Martin (comedian)Tony Francis Martin is a comedian and writer from Te Kuiti, New Zealand who has had a successful TV, radio, stand-up and film career in Australia.- Career :...
- Anton EnusAnton EnusAnton Enus, is a South African-born Australian news presenter for SBS television.Until December 2007, Enus anchored the late edition of SBS World News Australia, which aired on weeknights at 9.30pm...
- Chris TaylorChris Taylor (comedian)Christopher Thornton "Chris" Taylor is an Australian comedian, writer and former radio host from Sydney. As a member of The Chaser, he is best known for co-writing and appearing on satirical ABC Television shows CNNNN and The Chaser's War on Everything...
- Andrew HansenAndrew HansenAndrew John Hansen is an Australian comedian and musician, best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser...
Internet streaming
Following the conclusion of each episode's initial broadcast, the Newstopia website featured a web streamStreaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
of the current week's episode. This was only available for 7 days, and only to Australian residents, after which it was taken down and replaced by the latest broadcast. International visitors were blocked by an IP blocker. A guestbook was also available for commenting on the newest episode.
External links
- Newstopia SBS TV program Website (Not accessible everywhere; see SBS TV official "Program Sites" for link)