SkitHOUSE
Encyclopedia
skitHOUSE was an Australia
n sketch comedy
television series that ran on Network Ten
from 9 February, 2003 to 28 July, 2004. The series was produced by Roving Enterprises
. It featured many well-known Australian comedians, including comedy-band Tripod
. Reruns can now be seen on The Comedy Channel
on Foxtel
. In the UK
, it is shown on the channel Paramount Comedy 2
and Trouble. The title name itself is a pun
on the colloquial word: "shithouse".
The series only ran for two seasons, before being cancelled due to a combination of dwindling ratings and the withdrawal of the cable network Foxtel as co-financier of the program's production.
. Two key performers were Rove's Rove Live co-hosts Peter Helliar
and Corinne Grant
. The show also featured Cal Wilson
, Scott Brennan, Fiona Harris, Damian Callinan
, Roz Hammond
, Michael Chamberlin
, Ingrid Bloom, Tom Gleeson, Jason Geary and Ben Anderson
. Members of the comedic band Tripod also featured, not just as the band but in the actual skits as well. Tripod
are Scod (Scott Edgar), Yon (Simon Hall) and Gatesy (Steven Gates)
The director was Full Frontal
alumnus, Daina Reid.
Since the cancellation of the series, a number of the stars have moved on to other areas in the comedy industry. Scott Brennan and Fiona Harris starred in Comedy Inc.
(before the shows end) as well as Damian Callinan and Cal Wilson staying on Network Ten
on The Wedge
with Roz Hammond and Ben Anderson as part of the ensemblé cast on Thank God You're Here
.
skit
s. The half hour shows themselves often seemed to have themes (or at least they repeated the use of sets, costumes, characters and props). Its comedic styling was reminiscent of many classic Australian sketch comedies, like Full Frontal
and Fast Forward, sharing common elements such as self deprecating humour, low-cost props and effects.
The Australian Fast Bowler (Gleeson): A cricket
fast bowler, loosely resembling Dennis Lillee
, who uses his bowling skills to help people or defend against evil, superhero
style - indeed, he has his own sidekick and arch nemesis (Callinan as The English Batsman). For instance, a choking man would be helped with a ball thrown at his back. The Australian Fast Bowler has been shown as a 12-year-old boy, the Schoolyard Fast Bowler; one episode also featured the Australian Lawn Bowler
, seemingly the Australian Fast Bowler many years later (a references to the common perception of lawn bowling as an "old people's sport"). Another episode also featured the Australian Spin Bowler and another featured the Australian One Day Fast Bowler (Who was quite hopeless to say the least.)
Bubble Wrap Man (Yon): Bubble Wrap
Man is a send up of traditional superheroes. His outfit consisted of a standard red superhero outfit, complete with underwear on the outside, and a Bubble Wrap cape. Bubble Wrap Man would appear in stressful situations for other unnamed characters, and say to them, "Pop the Bubbles on My Cape!." This draws on the theory that popping the bubbles on standard Bubble Wrap will relieve stress. Once the situation is resolved Bubble Wrap Man then leaves the scene, leaving his calling card
, a small piece of Bubble Wrap.
The "I'll snap ya" guy (Callinan): A parody of an Australian 'bogan
' who continually narrates sketches in which he speaks of various people he has punched (or 'snapped'). One episode saw "I'll snap ya" guy being assaulted by Russell Crowe
, a reference to the actor's numerous altercations.
Redheads (Gleeson, Wilson, Hammond, Yon): Stereotype
d white
red-haired
people who have an extreme fear of sunlight. They seem incapable of natural speech, communicating in squeaks.
Batman (Callinan): A depressed
, alcoholic
version of Batman
. His Batmobile
is a wreck, he has no work, and seems romantically attracted to Robin
(Chamberlin). He is perpetually at odds with the more dynamic Captain Terrific (Helliar), who is now Robin's partner.
The "I love beer" guy (Helliar): A man who, despite 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, but he refuses to acknowledge his dislike. This is a mockery of the common stereotype of the beer-drinking Australian male.
The ticket lady (Harris): A perpetually cheerful parking inspector who is oblivious to how much she is hated by the general public; she often speaks highly of people while being pelted with rocks, eggs, and other heavy objects. Usually ends a sketch after having something thrown at her, by exclaiming "I love this job!"
Glenn Bush (Brennan): An awkward, annoying schoolboy in his teens, with many pimples and a squeaky voice. Glenn is mostly portrayed at School Camp Video Diaries, or doing a school biology assignment with his "friend" (Chamberlin), who cannot get rid of him.
Tripod as "themselves": The 3 friends engaged in various strange or geek
y activities, including playing Dungeons and Dragons, and teaching Yon how to dance.
"Nothing suss!" (Gleeson, Brennan): Two men attempt to sell odd products (normally partner exercise equipment
) in the medium of an infomercial for their mail order service. The two frequently use the exercise equipment to demonstrate and end up in sexually suggestive positions, while maintaining all the while that there is "Nothing suss" about what they are doing.
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 An Hour" challenge with Triple J
.
The incidental stings were also recorded at Subterrane Recording Studio.
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 An Hour" challenge with Triple J
.
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 sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
television series that ran on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
from 9 February, 2003 to 28 July, 2004. The series was produced by Roving Enterprises
Roving Enterprises
Roving Enterprises is an Australian television production company, run by comedian Rove McManus. The company is responsible for producing many shows and events, mainly for Network Ten...
. It featured many well-known Australian comedians, including comedy-band Tripod
Tripod (band)
Tripod is an Australian musical comedy act, specialising in improv, parody and satire. As its name suggests, the band is a trio; it comprises Scod , Yon and Gatesy...
. Reruns can now be seen on The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.-History:...
on Foxtel
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company, operating cable, direct broadcast satellite television and IPTV services. It was formed in 1995 through a joint venture established between Telstra and News Corporation....
. In the UK
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...
, it is shown on the channel Paramount Comedy 2
Paramount Comedy 2
Comedy Central Extra is a television channel shown in United Kingdom and on some digital/cable services in the Republic of Ireland. The channel was previously a so-called 'timeshuffle' service, offering programmes from Paramount Comedy at different times. It has since started broadcasting some...
and Trouble. The title name itself is a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on the colloquial word: "shithouse".
The series only ran for two seasons, before being cancelled due to a combination of dwindling ratings and the withdrawal of the cable network Foxtel as co-financier of the program's production.
Cast
skitHOUSE was produced by Roving Enterprises, a production company formed by Rove McManusRove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
. Two key performers were Rove's Rove Live co-hosts Peter Helliar
Peter Helliar
Peter Jason Matthew Helliar is an Australian comedian, actor and writer. Most famous for his work on television as Rove McManus' sidekick on The Loft Live from 1997 to 1998 and on Rove from 1999 and 2009...
and Corinne Grant
Corinne Grant
Corinne Grant is an Australian comedian and television presenter.-Career:After briefly studying as a nurse in Wodonga, she embarked upon a career as an actor in Melbourne, obtaining a degree in drama. After graduating, Grant started doing stand-up comedy to overcome her stage-fright. Her first...
. The show also featured Cal Wilson
Cal Wilson
Cal Wilson is a New Zealand stand-up comedian and radio and television personality. She currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is well known in Australia through her appearances on television and radio.-Biography:...
, Scott Brennan, Fiona Harris, Damian Callinan
Damian Callinan
Damian Callinan is a comedian from Melbourne Australia. He was formerly a secondary teacher, and taught Drama and English at Penola Catholic College.-Entertainment career:...
, Roz Hammond
Roz Hammond
Rosalind 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...
, Michael Chamberlin
Michael Chamberlin (comedian)
Michael Chamberlin is a Melbourne-based stand up comedian. Along with fellow comedian Charlie Pickering, Michael was a co-creator of influential Melbourne comedy room Stagetime....
, Ingrid Bloom, Tom Gleeson, Jason Geary and Ben Anderson
Ben 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...
. Members of the comedic band Tripod also featured, not just as the band but in the actual skits as well. Tripod
Tripod (band)
Tripod is an Australian musical comedy act, specialising in improv, parody and satire. As its name suggests, the band is a trio; it comprises Scod , Yon and Gatesy...
are Scod (Scott Edgar), Yon (Simon Hall) and Gatesy (Steven Gates)
The director was Full Frontal
Full Frontal (TV series)
Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 18 September 1997....
alumnus, Daina Reid.
Since the cancellation of the series, a number of the stars have moved on to other areas in the comedy industry. Scott Brennan and Fiona Harris starred in Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc.
Comedy Inc. was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Nine Network from 1 February 2003 to 26 December 2007. The series was produced by Crackerjack Productions. It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the...
(before the shows end) as well as Damian Callinan and Cal Wilson staying on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
on The Wedge
The Wedge
The Wedge can refer to:* The Wedge, an Australian television comedy series on Network Ten.* The Wedge, a Canadian television series airing on MuchMusic.* The Wedge, a surf spot located on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California....
with Roz Hammond and Ben Anderson as part of the ensemblé cast on Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here
Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on Network Ten on 5 April 2006, and aired for the first three seasons with Seven for the fourth season...
.
The Show
The show consisted of numerous comedicComedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
skit
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
s. The half hour shows themselves often seemed to have themes (or at least they repeated the use of sets, costumes, characters and props). Its comedic styling was reminiscent of many classic Australian sketch comedies, like Full Frontal
Full Frontal (TV series)
Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 18 September 1997....
and Fast Forward, sharing common elements such as self deprecating humour, low-cost props and effects.
Notable characters and sketches
Many characters recurred 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 listed below.The Australian Fast Bowler (Gleeson): A cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
fast bowler, loosely resembling Dennis Lillee
Dennis Lillee
Dennis Keith Lillee, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer rated as the "outstanding fast bowler of his generation"...
, who uses his bowling skills to help people or defend against evil, superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
style - indeed, he has his own sidekick and arch nemesis (Callinan as The English Batsman). For instance, a choking man would be helped with a ball thrown at his back. The Australian Fast Bowler has been shown as a 12-year-old boy, the Schoolyard Fast Bowler; one episode also featured the Australian Lawn Bowler
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
, seemingly the Australian Fast Bowler many years later (a references to the common perception of lawn bowling as an "old people's sport"). Another episode also featured the Australian Spin Bowler and another featured the Australian One Day Fast Bowler (Who was quite hopeless to say the least.)
Bubble Wrap Man (Yon): Bubble Wrap
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a pliable transparent plastic material commonly used for packing fragile items. Regularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres provide cushioning for fragile items....
Man is a send up of traditional superheroes. His outfit consisted of a standard red superhero outfit, complete with underwear on the outside, and a Bubble Wrap cape. Bubble Wrap Man would appear in stressful situations for other unnamed characters, and say to them, "Pop the Bubbles on My Cape!." This draws on the theory that popping the bubbles on standard Bubble Wrap will relieve stress. Once the situation is resolved Bubble Wrap Man then leaves the scene, leaving his calling card
Calling card
Calling card may refer to:* Visiting card, a card originally used socially to signify a visit made to a house if the occupant were absent, or as an introduction for oneself; the precursor to the modern business card...
, a small piece of Bubble Wrap.
The "I'll snap ya" guy (Callinan): A parody of an Australian 'bogan
Bogan
The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
' who continually narrates sketches in which he speaks of various people he has punched (or 'snapped'). One episode saw "I'll snap ya" guy being assaulted by Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
, a reference to the actor's numerous altercations.
Redheads (Gleeson, Wilson, Hammond, Yon): Stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
d white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
red-haired
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
people who have an extreme fear of sunlight. They seem incapable of natural speech, communicating in squeaks.
Batman (Callinan): A depressed
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
version of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. His Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
is a wreck, he has no work, and seems romantically attracted to Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
(Chamberlin). He is perpetually at odds with the more dynamic Captain Terrific (Helliar), who is now Robin's partner.
The "I love beer" guy (Helliar): A man who, despite professing to everyone how much he loves beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, quite obviously can't stomach the drink. Onlookers try to convince him that it is "okay" not to drink beer, but he refuses to acknowledge his dislike. This is a mockery of the common stereotype of the beer-drinking Australian male.
The ticket lady (Harris): A perpetually cheerful parking inspector who is oblivious to how much she is hated by the general public; she often speaks highly of people while being pelted with rocks, eggs, and other heavy objects. Usually ends a sketch after having something thrown at her, by exclaiming "I love this job!"
Glenn Bush (Brennan): An awkward, annoying schoolboy in his teens, with many pimples and a squeaky voice. Glenn is mostly portrayed at School Camp Video Diaries, or doing a school biology assignment with his "friend" (Chamberlin), who cannot get rid of him.
Tripod as "themselves": The 3 friends engaged in various strange or geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
y activities, including playing Dungeons and Dragons, and teaching Yon how to dance.
"Nothing suss!" (Gleeson, Brennan): Two men attempt to sell odd products (normally partner exercise equipment
Exercise equipment
An apparatus or device used in any given physical activity for shaping and forming muscle groups for specific areas of the body. A mechanism or machine that is intended to promote health and fitness by using motion with varying degrees of resistance either fixed or adjustable.-Exercise...
) in the medium of an infomercial for their mail order service. The two frequently use the exercise equipment to demonstrate and end up in sexually suggestive positions, while maintaining all the while that there is "Nothing suss" about what they are doing.
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 An Hour" challenge with Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
.
Music and Theme
The main title was composed by John Von Ahlen and recorded at Subterrane Recording Studio, and the end credits read "Theme by John Von Ahlen for Planet J Productions".The incidental stings were also recorded at Subterrane Recording Studio.
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 An Hour" challenge with Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
.