SkitHOUSE

Infobox Television
show_name = skitHOUSE


caption = The skitHOUSE logo
format = Sketch comedy
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runtime = 22-26 minutes approx
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starring = Peter Helliar
Corinne Grant
Damian Callinan
Scott Brennan
Michael Chamberlin
Fiona Harris
Roz Hammond
Tom Gleeson
Cal Wilson
Jason Geary
Ben Anderson
Tripod
narrated =
opentheme =
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country = Australia
language = English
network =
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preceded_by =
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website = http://rovelive.com/skithouse
imdb_id = 0350457
tv_com_id = 17090

"skitHOUSE" was an Australian sketch comedy television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten & FOXTEL. It featured many well-known Australian comedians, including comedy-band Tripod. It can be seen on The Comedy Channel on subscription television, as well as Network 10. In the UK, it is shown on the channel Paramount Comedy 2 and Trouble.

The program saw three series produced, before being discontinued 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 McManus. 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, 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 have recently started on Comedy Inc 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.

The Show

The show consisted of numerous comedic skits. 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.

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 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): Stereotyped 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 geeky 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 " 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.

See also

* List of Australian television series
* "Big Bite"
* "Comedy Inc."
* "Full Frontal"
* "The Glass House"
* "The Shambles"
* "Rove Live"
* "Tripod

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/aussiecomedy/skithouse/ "skitHOUSE" Fan site]
* [http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A703155;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 SkitHOUSE at the National Film and Sound Archive]