Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

padraic · 10-12-06 11:49:09

I recently saw a film clip of the character Fred Dagg (affectionately exaggerated characterisation of a NZ farmer) and found it very amusing in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way. I know that his creator (I think called John Clarke) is now living in Oz and I gather is still active in the entertainment field. This all has nothing to do with IFM, I know, but since there are some kiwis here I wanted to ask you whether Fred Dagg and similar kinds of humour are still popular in NZ, or are they considered hopelessly out of date? For folks from the US, UK, NZ, and Oz, what are the funniest two or three television programs where you live?

richard · 10-12-06 13:24:21

padraic wrote:

I recently saw a film clip of the character Fred Dagg (affectionately exaggerated characterisation of a NZ farmer) and found it very amusing in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way. I know that his creator (I think called John Clarke) is now living in Oz and I gather is still active in the entertainment field. This all has nothing to do with IFM, I know, but since there are some kiwis here I wanted to ask you whether Fred Dagg and similar kinds of humour are still popular in NZ, or are they considered hopelessly out of date? For folks from the US, UK, NZ, and Oz, what are the funniest two or three television programs where you live?

He did a really good series in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics, called 'The Games", in his trademark dry manner. I think, from memory, his role is the chief organiser, satirizing everything from the marketing to the construction. I highly recommend it. He also does a weekly wrap on one of the local current affairs programs.

There have been no funny Australian TV programs for a long time. The networks pitch low for safe advertising dollars. Don't even start me on Australian movies!

Siobhan · 10-12-06 16:22:49

richard wrote:

Don't even start me on Australian movies!

Well, Richard, I've always hoped that that's your next project! I mean, seems like a natural move at some point in the process. . . .

There've been a few wonderful australian movies, but so long ago -- flirting, the one with the gay russell crowe character and his dad . . . hmm. oh! well of course strictly ballroom and priscilla. what else?

whoops - sorry, guess that's a hijack! if anyone cares to tell me about australian movies they've loved, maybe go to the movies thread -- i'd love it.

padraic · 11-12-06 06:40:25

richard wrote:

He did a really good series in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics, called 'The Games", in his trademark dry manner. I think, from memory, his role is the chief organiser, satirizing everything from the marketing to the construction. I highly recommend it. He also does a weekly wrap on one of the local current affairs programs.
There have been no funny Australian TV programs for a long time. The networks pitch low for safe advertising dollars. Don't even start me on Australian movies!

Thanks for the tip about 'The Games', Richard --- I'll check it out. I don't know what happened to Australian cinema because there used to be some good films. One I remember from the early '80's was called 'My Brilliant Career'. The TV networks in the States pitch as low as they can, as well. When I was in England in the late '70's my English friends complained about the quality of the Australian programs they got, altlhough I don't think they thought any more highly of the American ones. When I was living in Europe the only American shows I remember on French TV were 'Charlie's Angels' and 'The Man from Atlantis' --- not exactly the top of the heap.

bolero · 11-12-06 07:12:39

The nearest thing NZ have produced to Fred Dagg aka John Clarke in a similar, if not quite the same genre, was Billy T James; who sadly died some time ago.
Meanwhile Fred Dagg is now captive in Australia who take everything we have which is worthwhile and call it their own from Pharlap to Rachel Hunter. But they can have Russell Crowe for their own.

Bolero

padraic · 11-12-06 08:07:24

bolero wrote:

The nearest thing NZ have produced to Fred Dagg aka John Clarke in a similar, if not quite the same genre, was Billy T James; who sadly died some time ago.
Meanwhile Fred Dagg is now captive in Australia who take everything we have which is worthwhile and call it their own from Pharlap to Rachel Hunter. But they can have Russell Crowe for their own.
Bolero

Crowe is usually referred to in the States as an Australian altlhough he was born in Wellington and (so I've heard) speaks more with a NZ accent than an Australian one. But he has apparently been back and forth between NZ and Australia since childhood. I wonder where his allegiances lie, or maybe they lie mainly with 'Russell Crowe'?

bolero · 11-12-06 08:36:41

padraic wrote:

Crowe is usually referred to in the States as an Australian altlhough he was born in Wellington and (so I've heard) speaks more with a NZ accent than an Australian one. But he has apparently been back and forth between NZ and Australia since childhood. I wonder where his allegiances lie, or maybe they lie mainly with 'Russell Crowe'?

I think his accent is a hybrid, but he sounds more like an Aussie to me than a Kiwi. As for his allegiances, well you are probably right padraic.

Bolero

#1 10-12-06 11:49:09

Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#2 10-12-06 13:24:21

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#3 10-12-06 16:22:49

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#4 11-12-06 06:40:25

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#5 11-12-06 07:12:39

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#6 11-12-06 08:07:24

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

#7 11-12-06 08:36:41

Re: Fred Dagg and humour --- irrelevant question for the kiwis on IFM

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