The Gorskys
Encyclopedia
The Gorskys are an Australian comedy team. They have performed on stage, radio, television and the internet. They are also the creators of GORSKYS.COMedy, one of the world's longest-running comedy websites (started in 1995).
(Clayton) whilst performing in the Monash Players annual comedy review "Slimy Crappy People".
The original members were Liam Cody, Chris Tomkins, Jo Stanley
and Samantha Stone.
Stone left in 1994 and was replaced by Barbara Joseph. Joseph left a year later.
Jo Stanley
stopped performing with the Gorskys in 1999 when she began on Melbourne radio network, Fox FM
.
Liam Cody died after a long battle with cancer on 28 August 2007.
Chris Tomkins continues publishing the GORSKYS.COMedy website.
including a short series entitled "Taxi" in which the regular taxi driver characters would pick up and have a discussion with a bizarre passenger each episode.
In an effort to "make the internet funny", The Gorskys began their own website in 1995 on which they re-published numerous articles written previously for street press and other publications, and made available video and audio grabs from the sketches they had produced for radio and television. It also includes a "celebrity photos" section, in which Liam, Jo and Chris are pictured "photoshopped" into photos with celebrities.
In 2007 GORSKYS.COMedy had over 500 articles and received on average 500,000 visitors per month. http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?q=&url=http://www.gorskys.com.au
Cheat Sheet (1999-2001)
One of the internet's earliest vodcasts, Cheat Sheet had the catchphrase "Everything you need to know to look like you know everything". Weekly news and current affairs analysis with a humorous twist produced in association with Real Media.
The Gorskys Dot Comedy Show (2001)
Liam and Chris created the world's first online comedy festival show in 2001, appearing nightly for the duration of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
in a 5-10 minute downloadable vodcast in which they discussed the days news and answered questions from their viewers all over the world.
The Adventures of Terrence and Spider - Professional Bouncers (2002)
In order to up the ante after their self-declared "World's first online comedy festival show", Liam and Chris set out to create the world's first animated comedy festival show. This came in the form of a short 2-3 minute cartoon series released roughly every five days during the 2002 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
. This was largely due to the enormous amount of work required to animate the series.
The theme tune was written and performed by Melbourne band Man Bites God
, of which Tomkins is a member.
Liam and Chris also appeared on ABC-TV
's "E-biz" program. http://www.abc.net.au/ebiz/programs/prog1.htm
In 2003 The Gorskys "Adventures of Terrence and Spider:Professional Bouncers" was picked up for broadcast as interstitials on Foxtel
's The Comedy Channel
(Australia) throughout 2003-04.
comedy songs into their live shows.
In 1999 the Gorskys released a tongue-in-cheek track entitled "New Millennium" which foretold the end of the world on 1 January 2000 (due to the millennium bug). The groups' website crashed on 12 September 2001 (the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York) when panicked googlers discovered the lyrics page for "New Millennium" which included references to "planes falling out of the sky" and "stock market crash". http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=2481
"New Millennium" was released with 4 other tracks on the album "Licence to Fish". http://www.gorskys.com.au/new-millennium/
Lineup
Originally known as the Toasted Marshmallows (from 1992-1997), the Gorskys have been performing since the founding members met at Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
(Clayton) whilst performing in the Monash Players annual comedy review "Slimy Crappy People".
The original members were Liam Cody, Chris Tomkins, Jo Stanley
Jo Stanley
Joanne "Jo" Stanley is an Australian television and radio personality.Stanley has appeared as the host of Network Ten's Bread TV program, a show that focuses on small business and is currently the host of The Matt and Jo Show on Austereo's FOX FM, a show she joined in 2003.- Biography :She...
and Samantha Stone.
Stone left in 1994 and was replaced by Barbara Joseph. Joseph left a year later.
Jo Stanley
Jo Stanley
Joanne "Jo" Stanley is an Australian television and radio personality.Stanley has appeared as the host of Network Ten's Bread TV program, a show that focuses on small business and is currently the host of The Matt and Jo Show on Austereo's FOX FM, a show she joined in 2003.- Biography :She...
stopped performing with the Gorskys in 1999 when she began on Melbourne radio network, Fox FM
Fox FM
Fox FM may refer to:*Fox FM , a radio station in Melbourne, Australia*Heart Thames Valley, a radio station in the United Kingdom formerly known as Fox FM*Port FM, a radio station in New Zealand...
.
Liam Cody died after a long battle with cancer on 28 August 2007.
Chris Tomkins continues publishing the GORSKYS.COMedy website.
Radio
The Gorskys wrote and performed sketches for independent radio, Melbourne's PBS-FM from 1993-95. They went on to write and perform sketches for ABC radioABC Radio
Cumulus Media Networks is an American radio network owned and operated by Cumulus Media. it controlled many of the assets of the former ABC Radio Networks, which Citadel Broadcasting purchased in June 2007...
including a short series entitled "Taxi" in which the regular taxi driver characters would pick up and have a discussion with a bizarre passenger each episode.
Online
GORSKYS.COMedy (1995-)In an effort to "make the internet funny", The Gorskys began their own website in 1995 on which they re-published numerous articles written previously for street press and other publications, and made available video and audio grabs from the sketches they had produced for radio and television. It also includes a "celebrity photos" section, in which Liam, Jo and Chris are pictured "photoshopped" into photos with celebrities.
In 2007 GORSKYS.COMedy had over 500 articles and received on average 500,000 visitors per month. http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?q=&url=http://www.gorskys.com.au
Cheat Sheet (1999-2001)
One of the internet's earliest vodcasts, Cheat Sheet had the catchphrase "Everything you need to know to look like you know everything". Weekly news and current affairs analysis with a humorous twist produced in association with Real Media.
The Gorskys Dot Comedy Show (2001)
Liam and Chris created the world's first online comedy festival show in 2001, appearing nightly for the duration of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
in a 5-10 minute downloadable vodcast in which they discussed the days news and answered questions from their viewers all over the world.
The Adventures of Terrence and Spider - Professional Bouncers (2002)
In order to up the ante after their self-declared "World's first online comedy festival show", Liam and Chris set out to create the world's first animated comedy festival show. This came in the form of a short 2-3 minute cartoon series released roughly every five days during the 2002 Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third-largest international comedy festival in the world and the largest cultural event in Australia. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in Melbourne over four weeks in April typically opening on or around April Fool's Day...
. This was largely due to the enormous amount of work required to animate the series.
The theme tune was written and performed by Melbourne band Man Bites God
Man Bites God
Man Bites God is a three-piece band from Melbourne, Australia; founded in 2000 by James Hazelden and Chris Tomkins after the demise of Hazelden's previous band, The Drowning Hitlers...
, of which Tomkins is a member.
Television
The Gorskys first opportunity to create television sketches came when Jo Stanley (with Jodie J Hill) began hosting "Boob Tube", a comedy variety show on Melbourne's public station Channel 31.Liam and Chris also appeared on ABC-TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's "E-biz" program. http://www.abc.net.au/ebiz/programs/prog1.htm
In 2003 The Gorskys "Adventures of Terrence and Spider:Professional Bouncers" was picked up for broadcast as interstitials 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....
's The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.-History:...
(Australia) throughout 2003-04.
Music
The Gorskys always incorporated original and parodyParody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
comedy songs into their live shows.
In 1999 the Gorskys released a tongue-in-cheek track entitled "New Millennium" which foretold the end of the world on 1 January 2000 (due to the millennium bug). The groups' website crashed on 12 September 2001 (the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York) when panicked googlers discovered the lyrics page for "New Millennium" which included references to "planes falling out of the sky" and "stock market crash". http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=2481
"New Millennium" was released with 4 other tracks on the album "Licence to Fish". http://www.gorskys.com.au/new-millennium/