Project Ha Ha
Encyclopedia
Project Ha Ha is an Irish
experimental comedy television series of pilot
s broadcast in four parts on RTÉ Two
in January 2009. The series showcases comedians such as Dead Cat Bounce
, Diet of Worms
, David McSavage
and an ensemble piece featuring comedians including Bernard O'Shea
, Collum McDonnell and Carol Tobin. The projects are produced by such companies as Blinder Films, Red Jam Productions, D.A.D.D.Y, Accomplice Productions and Green Inc Productions. Project Ha Ha aired each Monday at 22:55 from 5 – 24 January 2009.
-nominated comedy series Dan & Becs
.
building, where stock broker
s must construct a method to dispose of the corpse of a lifeless prostitute
, a bored worker becomes involved in hip hop
music videos, love songs are graphic, and a xenophobic
spy stalks them through the corridors. It is directed by D.A.D.D.Y and produced by Red Jam Productions. It consists of writer/performers Shane O'Brien, Mick Cullinan, Demian Fox and James Walmsley as central character Steve Hardcastle.
. Their 2007 show, Diet of Worms on (Melted) Ice, for instance, was performed entirely in a swimming pool. Diet of Worms has a cult following on the video sharing
website YouTube
.
drink so much alcohol. The pilot is written by and starring David McSavage and is directed by Kieron J. Walsh (who directed the drama series Raw
and the film When Brendan Met Trudy
). The cast includes Declan Rooney, Aidan Bishop, Pat McDonnell
and Gerard McSorley
, the latter two of whom appeared in the successful sitcom Father Ted
. Damien O'Donnell is a creative consultant whilst it is filmed by Catherine O'Shaughnessy. It is produced by Blinder Films, the company's first production for RTÉ.
The Savage Eye was later picked up for a full series of six episodes. Following the success of the first series, it was commissioned for a second, also consisting of six episodes, which began airing on Monday the tenth of January 2011 on RTÉ 2.
's Comedy Lab
.
was "reduced to stupefaction" upon viewing what he described made This is Nightlive
appear a "masterpiece". He suggested that the opening episode was "an irrefutable case for conducting such experiments in private" and questioned why most of the staff in the office corporation, Hardcastle, spoke with either America
n or Australia
n accents. Boland described the overall tone of the episode as "misogynistic and unpleasant", with the carcass of a prostitute being carried around whilst employees at the water cooler "obsessed about women's bottoms".
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
experimental comedy television series of pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
s broadcast in four parts on RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
in January 2009. The series showcases comedians such as Dead Cat Bounce
Dead cat bounce
In economics, a dead cat bounce is a small, brief recovery in the price of a declining stock. Derived from the idea that "even a dead cat will bounce if it falls from a great height", the phrase, which originated on Wall Street, is also popularly used to any case where a subject experiences a brief...
, Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms
The Diet of Worms 1521 was a diet that took place in Worms, Germany, and is most memorable for the Edict of Worms , which addressed Martin Luther and the effects of the Protestant Reformation.It was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding.Other Imperial diets at...
, David McSavage
David McSavage
David McSavage is an Irish comedy writer and performer. He has performed at national and international comedy festivals such as the Kilkenny Comedy Festival, and appeared on Irish television comedy programmes, including The Savage Eye...
and an ensemble piece featuring comedians including Bernard O'Shea
Bernard O'Shea
Bernard O'Shea is an Irish comedian.O'Shea started out in entertainment at an early age playing traditional Irish music, touring Europe with several groups. While at college he studied Theatre and went on to star in several theatrical productions. He also worked in the National Theatre of Ireland,...
, Collum McDonnell and Carol Tobin. The projects are produced by such companies as Blinder Films, Red Jam Productions, D.A.D.D.Y, Accomplice Productions and Green Inc Productions. Project Ha Ha aired each Monday at 22:55 from 5 – 24 January 2009.
Comedy groups
Two comedy groups feature in the series and their work is focused on in the first two episodes.Dead Cat Bounce
Dead Cat Bounce are a comedy group whose blend of sketch comedy and musical performance have won them many fans and much critical acclaim. Their pilot Work focuses on a day in the life of a corporate office. It is produced by Red Jam Productions and directed by the video director duo D.A.D.D.Y.Diet of Worms
Diet of Worms have had success both on the live circuit and online. Their self-written performance Dublin Stories is a continuation of their cult internet series of the same name. It is produced by Accomplice Television, which created the IFTAIrish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
-nominated comedy series Dan & Becs
Dan & Becs
Dan & Becs was an Irish comedy television series aired on RTÉ Two. It portrayed the lives of an affluent South Dublin couple. Dan was played by Dave Coffey and Becs was played by Holly White. In 2008 the show was nominated for an IFTA in the Best Television Entertainment Category. The show ended...
.
Other comedians
Other comedians to feature in the series include David McSavage and Bernard O'Shea.Work
The first episode, titled Work, was broadcast on 5 January 2009. It is written by and features Dead Cat Bounce. It spans a day in the life of an unusual corporate officeOffice
An office is generally a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it ; the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the...
building, where stock broker
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
s must construct a method to dispose of the corpse of a lifeless prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, a bored worker becomes involved in hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
music videos, love songs are graphic, and a xenophobic
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
spy stalks them through the corridors. It is directed by D.A.D.D.Y and produced by Red Jam Productions. It consists of writer/performers Shane O'Brien, Mick Cullinan, Demian Fox and James Walmsley as central character Steve Hardcastle.
Dublin Stories
The second episode, titled Dublin Stories, was broadcast on 12 January 2009. It stars Diet of Worms, who are Philippa Dunne, Amy Stephenson, Rory Connolly, Niall Gaffney and Shane Langan, a five-piece troupe from Dublin which formed in 2006 and has taken three full-length shows to the Edinburgh Fringe FestivalEdinburgh Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Scotland's capital, in the month of August...
. Their 2007 show, Diet of Worms on (Melted) Ice, for instance, was performed entirely in a swimming pool. Diet of Worms has a cult following on the video sharing
Video hosting service
A video hosting service allows individuals to upload video clips to an Internet website. The video host will then store the video on its server, and show the individual different types of code to allow others to view this video...
website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
The Savage Eye
The third episode, titled The Savage Eye, was broadcast on 19 January 2009. It is a satirical comedy show which seeks to answer the perennial question of why the Irish peopleIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
drink so much alcohol. The pilot is written by and starring David McSavage and is directed by Kieron J. Walsh (who directed the drama series Raw
Raw (television series)
Raw, an Irish drama television series for RTÉ. The show focuses on the staff at a Dublin restaurant. The first season featured six episodes shown on RTÉ Two in September 2008 and the second season of six episodes was shown on RTÉ One from 10 January 2010...
and the film When Brendan Met Trudy
When Brendan Met Trudy
When Brendan Met Trudy is a 2001 motion picture directed by Kieron J. Walsh which tells a story of a teacher who falls in love with a mysterious young woman. Set in Dublin, it is Walsh's first feature film, written by Roddy Doyle.-Plot:...
). The cast includes Declan Rooney, Aidan Bishop, Pat McDonnell
Patrick McDonnell (actor)
Patrick McDonnell is an Irish actor and comedian. He has recently starred in the RTÉ hidden camera comedy show Naked Camera and the sketch show Stew. However he is probably best remembered at home and abroad for his role as Eoin McLove in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.Patrick McDonnell is a...
and Gerard McSorley
Gerard McSorley
Gerard McSorley is a theatre, television and an Irish film actor.-Early life:He was born in Omagh, County Tyrone, and after attending a Christian Brothers school in his hometown he attended St. Columb's College in Derry. He then attended Queen's University, Belfast, where he was taught by among...
, the latter two of whom appeared in the successful sitcom Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
. Damien O'Donnell is a creative consultant whilst it is filmed by Catherine O'Shaughnessy. It is produced by Blinder Films, the company's first production for RTÉ.
The Savage Eye was later picked up for a full series of six episodes. Following the success of the first series, it was commissioned for a second, also consisting of six episodes, which began airing on Monday the tenth of January 2011 on RTÉ 2.
Touching People
The fourth episode, titled Touching People, was broadcast on 26 January 2009. It features comedy sketches, written and performed by comedians such as Bernard O'Shea, Colum McDonnell, Carol Tobin and John Colleary. The main theme is the idea of the "do-gooder", with the show being presented and linked together by a spoof TV host played by O'Shea. It mocks the celebrity charity spokesperson-types who are willing to give up their time to help a good cause for free – alongside a fee and the chance to raise their own profile. Touching People is produced by Green Inc Productions who have also produced the comedies Headwreckers and Ape for Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Comedy Lab
Comedy Lab
Comedy Lab is a British television series which showcases pilots of experimental comedy shows. Series have been aired irregularly on Channel 4 and E4 since 1998....
.
Reaction
John Boland of the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
was "reduced to stupefaction" upon viewing what he described made This is Nightlive
This is Nightlive
This is Nightlive was an Irish satire television series broadcast on RTÉ Two. It was created by John Ryan who also starred in the series .-Story and Plot:...
appear a "masterpiece". He suggested that the opening episode was "an irrefutable case for conducting such experiments in private" and questioned why most of the staff in the office corporation, Hardcastle, spoke with either America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n or 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...
n accents. Boland described the overall tone of the episode as "misogynistic and unpleasant", with the carcass of a prostitute being carried around whilst employees at the water cooler "obsessed about women's bottoms".