It's been too long since the ABC or TV in general for that matter delivered with some inspired comedy, and I can't believe no-one saw until now how perfect the current Australian political scene at federal level was for satirical treatment.
I was laughing before the show had really even started as Amanda Bishop sang the theme song in that instantly recognisable bougainvillean drawl. Her impression of PM Julia Gillard takes it appropriately over-the-top, and few people will remember that in real life, Amanda is sexy as hell. The innovative humourist Phil Lloyd, as the long suffering Tim Mathieson, is better here then he was as the less accessible Miles Forman in playing Kel to Julia's Kath. We get an excellent 'The Three Stooges' shtick from The Three Indies, I thought it was the 12th Man doing their voices until they showed up for dinner at the Lodge, that's how good the impersonations are from these accomplished comedians.
There's a chance that some will complain about the part of Bill Shorten being awarded to up-and-coming talent Wildenfox Pavorotti instead of the more seasoned Moose, who played Eddie on Fraser. But just like me, they'll only end up being impressed by Pav's spot-on comedic timing and his confident screen presence which Shane Warne could be well-advised to emulate.
My only criticism from a screenwriter's point of view is that they didn't follow up on the Wagyu beef joke with Tony Windsor mulling that Wagyu was near Mandurah in WA, Rob Oakeshott quickly chipping in that Wagyu was Aboriginal for 'grazing place', and Bob Katter then claiming there were no Aborigines in his electorate.
But with that bonus buffoonery from Paul Keating over the phone, and the promise of more to come from sidekick Wayne Swan, mentor-antagonist Tony Jones, trickster Kevin Rudd and supervillain Tony Abbot, I'm looking forward to the remaining three episodes, and I'll bet the couple in the Lodge are too.
