The Games

Well, hey, at least the Australians *get* worthwhile television programming.

For the life of me, I can't think of one American comedy series in the past 15 years that's been any good at all (any mention of the alleged comedy series know as "Seinfeld" gets the mentioner a metaphorical boot to the head.)

A region-free DVD player purchase is definitely in the near future. This is so I can watch "The Games" and "Mother and Son." "One Foot in the Grave" is also on the shopping list. Victor Meldrew is THE MAN.

>: /

Cheers,

James Fraser

The Games would rank with Frontline as probably the best Aussie satire of the past 10 years.

The show revolves around the Games Orginisational Team. John Clarke is the logistics officer and oversees the operation, which he does with able cynicism towards anything that comes towards him in a cloak of privilege and/or arrogance ( ie. the IOC ), while at the same time showing an idealistic view towards what the actual events themselves entail. Gina Riley is the Private Liason Officer and has a a more rounded view of how the Olympics will function as an orginisation where as Bryan Dawe is the Financial Officer, a long time friend of John, ( an in-joke to their time spent together in the 7:30 Report ) and concerned about the Olympics' ability to make a deficit. If it was their own abilities they may have a chance but they also have to deal with an inept Minister, represented by his secretary, Nicholas Bell, who comes up with all sorts of ideas and dumps them at the doorstep of Clarke, Riley and Dawe; mainly if they go pear shaped; he won't take the blame.

The Games is a wonderful show, with some great guest stars, including a wonderful spot by the illustrious Sam Neill as a oily transport CEO and some weird and wondrous scenarios- like 100 metre tracks that...don't measure up. If you have the chance see it. If you then have another chance, buy it.

"The Games" is a satirical comedy about the Sydney Olympic Organizing committee. The show stars the great John Clarke who is famous in Australia for his comical political role-playing.

If there ever was a show which is so ridiculous you start to wonder how close to the truth it could be - this one would be it.

This Australian "mockumentary" played on America's PBS network a couple of years ago. It took me a while to tune into its highly idiosyncractic satire but once I caught on I was hooked. Bureaucracy, media, sports, almost everything is served up on the platter here. I would pay for a DVD collection of this but, alas, it seems to only available in Australia. Pity.

The Games is one of the best Australian television series. It managed consistent biting humour, excellent performances and superb writing - and was made all the more amusing when real life mirrored many of the events portrayed in the show. Guest appearances from many of Australia's best known personalities (including John Farnham) contributed to the show's professional look.

If there could be one comment to come out of this show, it would be "Where do all these people go?" There is clearly significant talent around Australia, as evidenced by the likes of The Games and Frontline, yet once these shows are gone we are left with nothing. Nonetheless, The Games is a delightful show, and certainly deserved the strong audience it received.