Acropolis Now

It's pretty unusual to find an American like myself who goes out of his way to find new and unique programs from around the world, and for me I have struck gold! Acropolis Now is everything right about an ethnic comedy that America has mostly forgotten until "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".

For those who haven't seen it, it's about Jim, a young "Greek-Australian" (or Wog, as ethnics in Aussie are known as) who is given his father's restauraunt to run while he returns to Greece. Of course, he has grand ideas, but little common sense. He worries more about getting the pretty girls than anything.

There are many other characters including Mimo (a fast-talking Greek), Effie (Jim's high-haired cousin), Effie's "friend of the season" (a wog wannabe who usually fancies Jim, but Jim can't stand), Rick (the sensible yet slightly wogish businessman who helps his friend Jim keep things under control at the restaurant), and Liz, the primary "non-wog" of the bunch.

The comedy is broad and funny, and can easily be appreciated by anyone. What holds this show together is the characters. They may be crazy, but even so they come off as believable, a major strength. Good News is that the DVD's available are Region 0! If your DVD player can convert PAL to NTSC, you can get this show to watch! I recommend it!

Best show ever. Effie and that other bloke are soooooooo funny

Recently rewatched after seeing Wog Boy 3

Nick, George and Mary are just magnificent in characters that have stood the test of time and will always capture a time in Australian history that many of us remember well!

Unfortunately the supporting cast are, in general, pretty weak and tiresome but thankfully they don't stick around that long. Added to which Season 5 is pitiful - that reduces the overall score for me but it's still incredible to rewatch / watch for the first time.

Effie is - and will always be - a fantastic character depicting a persona in the 80s/ 90s that many of us "Wog chicks" related to. We knew so many who acted like she did and watching those girls pretend to do "an Effie" is something I will forever find hysterical!

Jim's father leaves Australia to go to Greece, so he leaves his café to the immature and irresponsible Jim. Memo is the waiter and Ricky handles the money. Liz is a waitress and Skip is a cook. The story lines are original, but my favourites have to be the episode where they have the Shakespeare play at the café, the episode where Memo becomes a Greek Orthodox Priest and the episode where Jim hosts a Mrs. Acropolis. They got the name Acropolis Now from Apocalypse Now, but not many people seemed to have gotten the joke. I have seen this show so many times, and each time I do I can't stop laughing. This series is over 15 years old, but the jokes never seem to age. This is comedy at its best. Russel Crowe has actually appeared in one of the episodes, a long with many other well known actors/actresses. If you're after a comedy, this one will not disappoint you.

Comedy doesn't get much better than Acropolis Now - the lives of the people who work in a greek cafe in Melbourne, Australia is a funny story in more than one way. The characters all have hilarious voices and habits, and the plot is extremely funny - but the cleverest bit is the way the show both makes fun of, and shows it is proud of, the Greek community while using Greek cast.

The main cast of the show (Nick Giannopoulos, Mary Coustas, Georgie Parker et al) were at the time little known but the four years of Acropolis Now was what boosted their fame in Australia today. This show is a great reminder of the days when Australia had a huge comedic industry - where there now are hardly any comedies. This show is definitely recommended to anyone who has enjoyed an Australian sketch comedy show in the past, or even who hasn't

This is classic comedy (at it's best!). Acropolis Now is one of those few shows that doesn't age, and that will still be funny for many years to come, or even perhaps for eternity...