The Micallef Program

I knew very little about Shaun Micallef prior to watching his show on cable last week: yet now I feel like lobbying the UK TV channels to demand they buy and show everything he's ever done. Combining elements of Monty Python, Alan Partridge, Chris Morris and the Fast Show, this show is excellent and very amusing, with a truly talented bunch of performers in evidence.

I regret to say I have seen only two shows so far, so I'm hankering desperately for more instalments. One sketch in particular, simply involving Shaun as a rather tipsy host braving his cellar to fetch a bottle of wine, had me convulsing with merriment.

It's evident that Shaun and his co-writers are well steeped in many comedy influences, yet they still create a show that feels wonderfully fresh and hilariously original. Top marks!

Shaun Micallef is one of Australia's premier comedians. Now after years on shows like Full Frontal the ABC has given him his own show. The best part of this show is that it allows Micallef to write and perform his more abstract sketches that he wouldn't have been able to do on any other show. A must see

I caught an Episode of 'The Micallef Programme' by accident one day and ever since then I've been hooked. I entirely agree that there are elements of Alan Partridge, The Fast Show and Monty Python in there which just makes it all the more appealing for me.

It's original, so well written and performed and moves at a quick enough pace. The mixture of one-liners and longer sketches is an excellent one.

I too think that a mainstream UK channel should pick the series up and show it - Shaun Micallef deserves to be a huge star in the UK!!

I've managed to tape a few episodes of the second series but I would love to catch all the ones I've missed.

My favourite sketch so far is the wine cellar one. I screamed with laughter at that one.

So, to all the programme buyers at Channel 4, the BBC, ITV, SKY One - Please, please, please give this man the mainstream exposure he deserves!

By the way - I also think he's a bit of a heart-throb.

Thank God for the Paramount Comedy Channel for bringing The Micallef Program to these comedy starved shores. In anticipation of the new series of the only homegrown comedy shows worth talking about (Spaced, Black Books), I thought I would give Micallef a try and see if those kind souls at Paramount were telling the whole truth about how good it was.

At first, I wasn't sure; but, after 20 seconds or so, I was laughing. By the time Spiffington Manse came on, I was on the floor, holding my sides in convulsions: this is one show that should definitely carry a public health warning!!!

Maybe it's because I'm so jaded with so-called comic talent here in Britain and Ireland, or maybe (and more likely), the standards of British TV comedy recently has (with very few exceptions) fallen alarmingly low, but Shaun Micallef is like a blast of fresh air on the scene. I would love to see his live show; I'm eager to see his work on the Aussie show, SeaChange; and I wish Paramount would show all three, original series uncut instead of a series of best of shows. Micallef combines all the best elements of Steve Coogan, Monty Python, The Fast Show, but puts his own spin on proceedings which makes even the most basic comic premises (the quiz show, the sarcastic interviewer, the cop documentary) refreshing.

Aided and abetted by a brilliant cast (Francis Greenslade, Roz Hammond, and Wayne Hope should all hold master classes in how to be funny over here), the viewer is spoiled for choice when trying to pick a favourite moment or performance. The telekinetic peasant woman; the Nazi encouraged to kayak off a building and die on "I Bloody Dare You"; the death of the Australian funeral industry; the blasphemous Fat-o-gram sketch; the AmWay selling gameshow host, and so on are all classics which deserve mention in the same breath as other classic comedy moments like The Dead Parrot Sketch, Fork Handles, and the little bit of car trouble Basil has in Fawlty Towers.

I've already ordered my Micallef video from the ABC online shop, and eagerly await any repeats and new material that Paramount (or any other channel) may have in store for us. If you have seen Shaun's show, you'll understand why I'm raving so much about it; if you haven't, then I can only feel sorry for you.

10 / 10

I first saw the adverts for this on paramount comedy channel, so i decided to watch it thinking it would be good. I was wrong , it was'nt good it was brilliant! and probably the funniest live action programme ever made.The best thing is that it takes well known sketches and then takes the p***. My favourite ones are the interviews with guests ,"il est myron" , the documentary sketches like "holding the door open" "smoking study" and the "musician" one ,the game shows like "i bloody dare you" , "spin the globe" and "impractical jokes" and finally the silly sketches like "wine cellar" , "beret" and the "farting sketches". All in all this is the BEST australian show ever. Rating 100%