Fast Forward (TV series)

Fast Forward
Genre Sketch comedy
Created by Steve Vizard
Written by Andrew Knight
Steve Vizard
Directed by Ted Emery
Starring Geoff Brooks
Jane Turner
Magda Szubanski
Marg Downey
Michael Veitch
Peter Moon
Steve Blackburn
Ernie Dingo (1989)
Steve Vizard (1989-91)
Bryan Dawe (1990)
Alan Pentland (1990-92, recurring previously)
Gina Riley (1990-92)
Brendan Luno (1991, recurring previously)
Gerry Connolly (1991, recurring previously)
Glenn Robbins (1991-92)
Narrated by John Deeks
Theme music composer Paul Grabowsky
Composer(s) Steve Blackburn
Yuri Worontschak
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 90
Production
Producer(s) Andrew Knight
Steve Vizard
Ted Emery
Mark Ruse
Location(s) Melbourne
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) Crawford Productions
Release
Original network Seven Network
Original release 12 April 1989 – 26 November 1992
Chronology
Followed by Full Frontal, Totally Full Frontal
Related shows The D-Generation, Bligh, Big Girl's Blouse, Jimeoin, The Eleventh Hour, Eric, The Micallef Program

Fast Forward was Australia’s highest rating and most critically awarded commercial television sketch comedy show, broadcast for 90 one-hour episodes from 12 April 1989 to 26 November 1992.[1]

The show was produced by Steve Vizard, who was also the Executive Producer, writer and performer, and starred Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski (the three of whom went on to star in Kath & Kim), Marg Downey, Michael Veitch, Peter Moon, Alan Pentland, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brookes, Ernie Dingo, the Rubbery Figures satirical puppets, and numerous guests and supporting stars, such as Gerry Connolly and Brian Dawe.[2]

Fast Forward was succeeded by the related series Full Frontal, and subsequently Totally Full Frontal, which were broadcast from 1993 to 1999 and which starred many of the original Fast Forward cast as well as many iconic performers including Eric Bana, Stephen Curry, Glenn Robbins, Shaun Micallef, Kitty Flanagan and Julia Morris.[3]

Fast Forward was directed by Ted Emery. In its second and subsequent series, Andrew Knight joined Steve Vizard and Ted Emery as Executive Producers of the show. They went on to establish the leading Australian Production house, Artist Services, which produced 1400 hours of prime time television including SeaChange, Big Girl's Blouse, Tonight Live with Steve Vizard, The Eric Bana Show, The Shaun Micallef Pogram (sic).

All four seasons plus five 'best of' compilations of Fast Forward have been released on DVD. All four seasons were re-released in 2010.

In 2013, the Network Ten-owned channel, One began airing half-hour long specials titled Fast Forward Funniest Send-Ups which first aired in 1994, making it the first time the show has been shown since 1998. [4]

Background

Many of the stars came from a 1985 Seven Network sketch comedy pilot called The Eleventh Hour, which also spawned The Comedy Company, via The D-Generation. Fast Forward was commissioned by Seven in late 1988.[5] It was produced by Vizard’s production company, United Film Completion, and broadcast on Seven Network, then part of Christopher Skase’s Qintex Group. There were a number of working titles for the show, including Snapped Cable Television, as well as Fast Forward.

Style

Fast Forward was noted for its fast paced satirical comedy which particularly lampooned the media, in particular film and TV, with its precise parodies of well known television shows (such as Kung Fu, Lost In Space, The Munsters, A Current Affair), personalities (such as Clive James, Jana Wendt, Derryn Hinch, Geoffrey Robertson) and commercials (such as Amex, Nescafe) .

Its subjects were also Australian politics, which it attacked through various political impersonations ( including John Howard, Paul Keating), and also using the political puppets, Rubbery Figures, previously seen in small segments on the ABC, based on Peter Nicholson's political cartoons.

Another key distinguishing feature was the use of simulated channel surfing to switch from sketch to sketch, often in the middle of a sketch, sometimes after the punchline. Particularly a sketch would abruptly switch to a momentary segment of static, followed by another sketch, simulating the effect of the viewer repeatedly switching channels. The channel surfing device became a distinctive hallmark of the show that helped move quickly from sketch to sketch.[6]

The television and multimedia subject matter of the sketches, pace, style and devices were real points of difference from predecessor sketch comedy shows of the time, particularly earlier shows such as The Mavis Bramston Show, The Naked Vicar Show, Australia You're Standing In It, The D-Generation, The Comedy Company : Fast Forward was more media-focused and parody-focused; a real difference, and the binding force for the whole show, was the now-famous channel changing device. The white noise and on-screen static that represented the channel change became the modern television equivalent of a curtain being drawn at an old-fashioned vaudeville show.

Fast Forward was also well known for its excellent musical parodies, particularly of current music video clips, many of which featured Gina Riley. Some of the better known music parodies included ABBA, Cher and Dannii Minogue.

Sketches and content

Each episode of Fast Forward featured regular characters, a news-based segment, a major parody of a well known television show or film, lampoons of television commercials, political satire, particularly in a segment using the Rubbery Figures political puppets.

Some of the most memorable regular characters included[7]

• Marg Downey; SBS Presenter

• Magda Szubanski; Pixie Anne Wheatley; Chenille the Beautician (with Marg Downey); the Ugly Couple (with Peter Moon)

• Steve Vizard and Peter Moon; Advertising executives, Brent Smythe and Barry; Indian Rug Fakari salesmen;

• Michael Veitch (with Steve Vizard); gay flight attendants; Kelvin Cunnington

• Gerry Connolly; the Queen; Joh Bjelke-Petersen

• Jane Turner (with Peter Moon); Russian news presenters;

• Steve Vizard; Darren Hunch

• Ernie Dingo; Robert Gottliebsen

• Steve Blackburn and Geoff Brookes; the Dodgy Brothers

Some of the most memorable sketches included Dumb Street, a parody of Home and Away and Neighbours; and a lampoon of Skippy. In one memorable sketch that went to air, Moon and Vizard were both visibly trying to contain their laughter through a series of insults in one of their parodies of Kung Fu.[8]

The political puppets Rubbery Figures were made more "commercial" than on the ABC by inserting them into popular situations outside the political Canberra environment. This led to the Star Trek parody where Paul Keating was Mr. Spock and Bob Hawke was captain Kirk. Rubbery Figures was a huge hit and a crucial element in the early success of Fast Forward.

In 1991, there were five Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends skits featuring ERTL Thomas Models. These segments involved people complaining about Sodor not having female steam engines, The Fat Controller polluting the countryside by pouring purple slime, drunken punks, the engines going on strike and the engines getting replaced. In these skits, Thomas would do some human things, such as eating breakfast, writing and going away for the weekend. Percy was referred to as Bertie in one sketch, Gordon in another and Henry in a third. The sketches had four original characters, Bartholomew, who was a Thomas model painted yellow, Alfred, who was a Percy Model painted red, Damian the Diesel (who is never seen) and Edgar, who is mentioned. Toby was also mentioned in one sketch.

The full length TV or movie parodies which were "stripped" through each the one hour episodes were:

1989 Series [9]

1990 Series [10]

1991 Series [11]

1992 Series [12]

Cast

Regular cast members comprised:[13]

Guest stars included:[14]

Awards and ratings

Fast Forward consistently won the ratings for all of its 90 episodes, generally rating in the mid to high 30s.

In 1990, Fast Forward won two Logie awards; it also received two Australian Television awards (Penguins) for Excellence in Make-up and Achievement in Production. Also in 1990, the company was bestowed with two AWGIES, the Australian Writers Guild Awards; one for Fast Forward for best Comedy/Revue/Sketch and the other for Vizard, Co-writer Best Sketch Comedy – Fast Forward. The Variety Club awarded Vizard Comedy Artist Of The Year and Rolling Stone Magazine awarded him Television Performer of The Year. At the Aria Awards Fast Forward picked up Best Comedy Record.

At the 1991 Logie Awards Steve Vizard won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television. Vizard also won Most Popular Male Light Entertainer. Magda Szubanski won Most Popular Female Light Entertainer and Fast Forward was awarded Most Popular Light Entertainment Program. Also in 1991, the Fast Forward writing team won an AWGIE for Best Sketch Comedy for Fast Forward.

At the 1992 Logies, Magda Szubanski once again picked up the award for Most Popular Female Performer – Light Entertainment and Fast Forward received the Logie for Most Popular Light Entertainment Program. The Australian Writers Guild presented an AWGIE to Fast Forward for Best Sketch Comedy. Fast Forward also picked up a People’s Choice Award for Most Popular Program on Australian Television.

The following year, 1993, Fast Forward won a Logie for Most Popular Comedy Program. The production team and cast decided in late 1992, despite offers to renew from Channel 7, to end the program 'on a high', feeling that they did not want it to go downhill and tarnish its legacy as one of Australia's best ever sketch comedy shows.

DVD releases

Specials

Adaptation

The show was adapted for German television under the name "Switch" by order of TV station ProSieben. It was aired for the first time in 1997.

References

  1. ↑ Bedwell, Steve (2007-01-01). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. ISBN 9780522854749.
  2. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  3. ↑ Bedwell, Steve (2007-01-01). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. ISBN 9780522854749.
  4. ↑ "Fast Forward Funniest Send-Ups". Retrieved 2013-02-17.
  5. ↑ Bedwell, Steve (2007-01-01). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. ISBN 9780522854749.
  6. ↑ Bedwell, Steve (2007-01-01). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. ISBN 9780522854749.
  7. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  8. ↑ Fast Forward - Kung Fu Parody
  9. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  10. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  11. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  12. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  13. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  14. ↑ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
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