Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe

You love to see it.

Aunty Donna previously took the absurdity of their stage and web shows and cranked it up to 11 in BOHOF for Netflix. While I thoroughly enjoyed that show, its pure chaos could have potentially isolated new viewers and those not fully invested in Aussie specific absurdist comedy ricocheting from sketch to sketch.

Coffee Cafe fixes a lot of those problems for me. It brings the absurdity, the outlandish surprised laugh, and the spooky episode hijinks together in a more polished and pointed product.

Each episode plays out a sitcom structure to some extent, and allows cutaways and gags to take over the whole show for anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two, but always gets back on topic. And for me, this thread of narrative holding the silliness together just worked harder than anything else the boys have put out.

Episode 2 is likely a favourite for most, and is the strongest for me, staying on topic and cutting away for very high quality goofs.

If you can forgive the odd joke that stays a few seconds too long, the 99 other gags coming at you in 25 minute blocks all land way harder than anything else the Boys have done so far.

Also Cowboy and Frogman tho.

Aunty Donna know exactly what they want to do and how to do it. Their manta of "whatever's funniest" comes out loud and clear in everything single sketch they do within this show. So excited to finally see them step into the sitcom world, with continuous characters and storylines that blend so well into their hilarious sketches. I particularly enjoyed their Tic-Tac-Toe sketch, which not only have some great comedic acting and writing, but some hilarious production choices in the sound and picture editing that sold the humor even more. I already know that this show will be a constant rewatch for me and I eagerly await the possibility of a Season 2!! Keep up the good work, boys!

This groundbreaking documentary provides an intimate look at the challenges that baristas, roasters, and coffee shop owners had to overcome to keep their doors open during one of the most trying times in modern history. From adapting to new safety protocols to navigating supply chain disruptions, the mini series delves into the daily struggles that threatened to upend the very fabric of the specialty coffee industry. With stunning visuals, compelling storytelling, and raw emotional honesty, this documentary provides a vivid and intimate look at the inner workings of specialty coffee shops in the face of unprecedented challenges. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the coffee industry and the people who make it thrive.

I've been a fan of the Aunty Donna boys since late 2014. I don't follow them nearly as avidly as I once did, but watching this show (produced by the ABC) felt like I was finally seeing something they'd always wanted to make, in a place they'd always wanted to put it. It transported me back to their roots and why I originally fell in love with their work, the style I feel they'll always been best at, honed and refined through their years of dedication and hard work producing for stage and screen. I strongly feel episodes 2-5 of this show is some of the best work they've produced, with the Noughts and Crosses and Hit n Run Arcade sketches perhaps being the best examples of their work ever put to screen. There was one moment in Episode 2 that had me laughing harder than I have in quite a long time.

Their absurdism has always been a tough sell for some folks, and this show definitely isn't for everyone. The rough edges of the final episode still betray their lack of finesse when it comes to longer narratives, and their occasionally too-heavy reliance on improv, and some of the jokes are definitely overplayed (cake), but the three main performers have a far better performing ability now than they've ever had. Zach in particular was stealing scenes left and right, while each performer were still given moments to shine. Mark in episode 2 was exquisite, and the way side characters are given smaller stories too really Helps everybody feel involved and included. Just like most of AD's work, there's no ego in the show, an absolute sense of open vulnerability in their ridiculousness that makes them so easy to invest it. The amount of sketches within the constraints of the show is astounding. There's so much solid gold comedy in here and it's all so damn perfectly delivered so much of the time and so easy to have fun with.

All in all, there's no question these six guys know what they're doing and who they're trying to reach. Their mastery of this particular style is unmatched right now, a brand fully their own, and that Australian television has finally given them the space they deserve (and have deserved for years) to show what they can do is a treat to see for a fan like me, even if I'm not blind to the shortcomings of their work or the somewhat divisive appeal. An enourmous congratulations to them for creating some dense, hilarious television that's full of the same naughty, endearing energy that they've always had. I admire how they've never strayed from that same core approach and style - it really won my heart back in the day and provides much needed solace today as well.

I'm a fan of Aunty Donna, and I love their work, but this is by far the best thing they've done so far in terms of both the original material and the production quality.

Loved that callbacks were included here and there but that the series had its own unique story and original vibe, coming out with a good balance of feeling Aunty Donna without being too samey or feeling repetitive.

I also really loved just how Australian this was, especially compared with the Netflix series; so many cameos from great Australian talent, as well as little in jokes and cultural references.

Obviously, the humour isn't for everyone, but for me this was pretty on point.

Only downside was it was too short! Keep it coming, boys!