Kath & Kim

Kath & Kim appeared on UK TVscreensa few years ago now, and I was drawn in from the start. It's a great comedy in every way - Rounded characters, cracking scripts and some classic comedy surprises. The show surrounds Kath and her daughter Kim who, after a bust-up with her fiancé, moves back in with her mother who herself is on the brink on moving in her new man, Kel - wonder butcher and creator of some legendary sausage combos. Most of the time though all does not go well for the pair, who's personalities constantly grate on each other. No of which is helped by "friend" Sharon, a net-ball playing foil who is always burdened with some injury. At first I thought it would be the type of sit-com that would play hopelessly on the Aussie stereotypes, but it really doesn't. All the characters have a great depth to them (if thats not too grotesque a phrase to use!) At the time is was a beautifully fresh comedy for the BBC who had be hit by a slump of pretty poor-to-no-existent home grown comedy. For this I have to rate Kath & Kim high ... A first class comedy and well deserving of it's three series (lets hope we get all of them over here in the UK soon!)

Aussie tv comedy can be a bit hit-or-miss, and I tend to find the shows either totally brilliant or totally cringe-worthy with little in the middle. "Kath and Kim" definitely falls into the former category.

The comedy revolves purely around the beautifully written and acted characters (rather than funny situations). The acting is so good that although the characters have their flaws this viewer finds affection for each character, and this makes the show far more enjoyable. It also makes it realistic - I know people that are very similar to the characters in this show.

Glenn Robbins is one of the funniest comdians that Australia has produced and it is a joy to see him again in role in a comedy tv series.

Fell in love with this hilarious show when it aired on Showcase in Canada. Does anyone know if it is available on DVD in North America? Or perhaps when it might become available. Great characters - reminds me of early French and Saunders. The comedy is also quite in tune with Canadian humour - making fun mostly of ourselves before taking a jab at others. The character of Sharon is perhaps one of the saddest, and at the same time, funniest characters ever written. Her constant search for love, or simply companionship is perfectly balanced with her "sporting prowess" and love of Irish dancing. "Look at me please, look at me, LOOK AT ME!" has become a popular chant around our office. Great show!

Although set in early 2000's, this show is nostalgic flashback that I can watch over and over again.... and have. Each character is loveable, but flawed in their own way, with every relationship unique and somewhat realist. Everyone in Australia knows a Kath, Kim, Kel and Sharon, as well as a Trude and Prue. 16 years later, it's only gotten better with age and I still pick up jokes that I never noticed before, and after all these years, it is still my go to comfort show.

Well, more than one actually.

This series is without a doubt, one of the best sitcoms around. The incredibly talented Gina Riley and Jane Turner produce, write and star in this series which has been spun-out from their previous sketch shows (like the equally entertaining "Big Girls Blouse"). The show is a "Fly on the slice of life" take of their suburban lives, living the suburban dream - or perhaps, nightmare.

Ever since "Kath & Kim" debuted I have watched it religiously and now own all three seasons on DVD, all of which are watched over and over again. My family find it amusing how some of the things I say have come straight out of Kim's mouth and into mine ("Don't look at moie like that, I pacifically said my diet starts as of tomorrow", "It's the bain-marie of my life".

The five principal cast: Jane Turner (Kath); Gina Riley (Kim); Magda Szubansji (Sharon, Kim's second best friend); Glenn Robbins (Kel, Kath's complacent husband) and Peter Rowsthorn (Brett, Kim's long-suffering husband) are all perfect in their respective roles, and look like they are having so much fun. There are plenty of stories for everyone, while no character changes drastically as to alter the status-quo of the premise.

Riley and Turner maintain great continuity in their stories without alienating new viewers so that they wouldn't know what is going on. And the outfits that Kath and Kim wear are just too much. Not to mention Kath's frizzy-perm, which is her "clowning glory", and Kim's hornbag-style.

Check "Kath & Kim" out, you won't be disappointed. Rated 10/10.