Acropolis Now

Classic 80's Australian comedy about the workers of a small Greek restaurant in Melbourne called the "Acropolis Now". This show will crack you up if you understand the lingo used. The story begins when Jim's father leaves to go to Greece after living in Australia for 23 years. When his father leaves, he turns his dad's restaurant into a modern day meeting place for wogs. If you loved The Wog Boy (1999), you'll love "Acropolis Now".

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!

I love this show because it is so funny.

I think it is funny how the characters can talk in funny ways.

Sometimes it is also serious, but mostly it is funny.

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.

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!