In this edition of a look inside each category at the TV Boxies, we’re diving into the laughs and hijinks of Most Popular Comedy Program.
The TV Boxies arrive this month, and it’s time vote in 21 of the 22 categories!
After we looked at Most Popular Australian Drama over the weekend, the five finalists for Most Popular Comedy Program are on the agenda today.
MOST POPULAR COMEDY PROGRAM FINALISTS
FISK (ABC)
With comedy legend Kitty Flanagan at the helm, Fisk was a brand new 2021 legal comedy program making headway for the ABC with its six-part series airing in the first half of the year.
The series follows lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk, who leaves Sydney after her career and marriage fall apart. She returns to Melbourne and takes a job at Gruber & Gruber, a small suburban firm specialising in wills and probate.
Alongside Flanagan star Marty Sheargold, Julia Zemiro and Aaron Chen; and cameo appearances are made by the likes of Marg Downey, Denise Scott, Glenn Robbins, Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang.
While another season has yet to be announced, this old-fashioned sitcom proved popular with viewers and will be one to beat at the TV Boxies.
SHAUN MICALLEF’S MAD AS HELL (ABC)
Debuting with Season 13 in 2021, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell has been an ABC comedy staple since 2012. Hosted by funnyman himself Shaun Micallef, the show is Australia’s only topical news satire program complete with reportage and analysis of the previous week’s events.
With such high popularity in the nine years it has aired, the series has clocked up a number of accolades, including a Logie award for Most Outstanding Comedy Program in 2016.
While seasons range from 10-13 episodes in total, the weekly schedule blocks out the calendar for loyal viewers who tune in for hilarious gags and recurring segments with Micallef’s ‘think-tank’ of reporters and pundits.
Already well over the 100-episode milestone, Shaun Micallef back in 2019 said, “it’s pretty good, and I can’t think that in my remaining life in television, we’ll find something that is better”.
THE HUNDRED WITH ANDY LEE (Nine)
Another new contender making its debut in 2021, is The Hundred with Andy Lee, hosted by, you guessed it, radio legend Andy Lee.
Each week, Lee sits down and poses questions to three guest panelists, who compete against each other to determine who knows Australia best. A group of 100 Australians are selected and polled on the questions to gather the statistical view of Australia’s thoughts.
With Mike Goldstein joining as a regular panelist, guests have included Becky Lucas, Sophie Monk, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, and Andy’s old stomping ground partner, Hamish Blake.
Confirmed by Nine to return in 2022, this is the only nomination the network has received in this category.
ROSEHAVEN (ABC)
After five hilarious seasons, Rosehaven came to an end in 2021 with 40 total episodes for the series. Starring Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola, the series draws inspiration from McGregor’s own parents, working in real estate in Tasmania.
Not only do McGregor and Pacquola play the lead roles, but they had also written every single episode of the series together, with direction by Jonathan Brough or Shaun Wilson.
Named as ‘the best thing to watch while hungover’, Brigid Delaney of The Guardian said, “it’s a gentle comedy that focuses on the oddballs in the town, and the relatable, warm and refreshing dynamics of Emma (Pacquola) and Daniel (McGregor)’s friendship”.
Putting Tasmania well an truly on the map, Rosehaven has received a number of award nominations, with Pacquola picking up an AACTA and McGregor a Logie.
HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION? (10)
With over 200 episodes to date, Have You Been Paying Attention? is one of 10’s most successful shows, and one of Australia’s most loved comedy programs.
Hosted by Tom Gleisner and joined by five comedy guests – with regulars Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang – the series is a panel quiz show mixing in the week’s current affairs with laugh-out-loud comedy.
Despite slum beginnings, the show picked up and continues to draw in high numbers with each weekly airing. It has spawned two international versions in New Zealand and Cyprus.
Have You Been Paying Attention? might just be the one to beat in this category after it received five straight Logie award wins in a variety of categories from 2017 to 2019.
That’s your five finalists for the Most Popular Comedy Program category at the TV Boxies, be sure to cast your vote along with a vote for all of the other categories below. And be sure to watch the live Awards presentation on November 28.
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