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asked the Media Arts
Company to produce a one-hour-a-week comedy program. the series premiered in February 1988 and within a few months became the most successful comedy program of the decade. It often rated as the highest rated weekly television program, which was particularly of note since it
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and featured a mostly new cast, though some of the original cast also returned. This version (and by extension, the show) was cancelled within a year.
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The show and characters had a significant effect on
Australian pop culture, and had a cult following particularly with Australian youth.
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The Comedy
Company was well-known for featuring national and international stars appearing as guests throughout the series including:
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greengrocer, for many years on and off television, including in an advertising campaign urging
Australians to eat more fruit in 2010.
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345:, terminally unemployed Col'n Carpenter, bumbling elderly pensioner Uncle Arthur and most especially greengrocer Con the Fruiterer.
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822:. It ran for two series, co-starring Stig Wemyss and Vicki Blanche, and during the second season Blanche was replaced singer
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The show largely consisted of sketch comedy in short segments, much in the tradition of earlier sketch comedy shows such as
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was an
Australian sketch comedy television series that first aired from 16 February 1988 until 11 November 1990 on
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won a Logie Award for Most
Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Personality for her appearance on
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by periodically slipping in and out of the character. He appeared in full costume as Arthur for
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The series launched quite a large amount of merchandise for a comedy show, including the books
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and featured cast members from the latter two shows. The majority of the filming took place in
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has been released including four DVDs with select clips from the series, the four DVDs are;
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714:(1989–1990) for Most Popular Light Entertainment/Comedy Program, while cast member
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remained the consistently highest rating weekly television program for two years.
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The series launched several popular characters including schoolgirl
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986:(pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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507:, as well as T-shirts, dolls and music albums (see below).
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The Comedy
Company at the National Film and Sound Archive
928:"Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms"
902:"Con the Fruiterer is back for a new health campaign"
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812:is a 1990 Australian sitcom spinoff, starring
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351:would continue to play Con the Fruiterer, a
301:broadcast on Sunday evenings up against the
408:as Con the Fruiterer, Marika, Glenn Gelding
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954:"Bob Hawke's foray into television comedy"
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426:as Uncle Arthur/Gary Dare, Darren Maclaren
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31:
1050:1990 Australian television series endings
930:. Australian National Dictionary Centre.
414:as Kylie Mole, Jophesine, Sharon Maclaren
1065:Television shows set in Victoria (state)
1045:1988 Australian television series debuts
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685:The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 2
680:The Best of the Comedy Company Volume 1
826:and also added to the cast was former
480:. Con the Fruiterer even met the then-
318:The third and final series was titled
998:Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series
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836:in a comedy role as Carpenter's mum.
7:
934:from the original on 11 October 2013
882:List of Australian television series
378:often did public appearances as his
29:1988 Australian TV series or program
956:. ABC Radio National. 17 May 2019.
1055:Australian television sketch shows
984:Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010
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908:from the original on 14 June 2011
329:was edited into a special called
960:from the original on 21 May 2023
869:Australia's Funniest Home Videos
331:The Comedy Company: So Excellent
305:'s popular current affairs show
1060:Network 10 original programming
904:. Herald Sun. 21 January 2010.
816:, reprising his character from
710:The series won two consecutive
497:The Comedy Company Holiday Book
382:character Uncle Arthur, and on
325:In 2002, an hour of clips from
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1:
863:Con's Bewdiful Holiday Videos
855:Con's Bewdiful Holiday Videos
690:The Best of Con the Fruiterer
441:Tim Smith, various characters
487:in one episode on the show.
695:The Best of Col'n Carpenter
396:Christmas Special in 2005.
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765:The Comedy Company Album
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785:Comedy Company Classics
575:Released: November 1989
570:Comedy Company Classics
552:Released: November 1988
259:The Mavis Bramston Show
48:The Comedy Company logo
737:from two nominations.
501:My Diary by Kylie Mole
420:as David Rabbitborough
320:The New Comedy Company
839:Guest stars included
603:Peak chart positions
529:Peak chart positions
362:" was popularised by
982:Ryan, Gavin (2011).
860:Network 10 screened
388:he often referenced
265:The Naked Vicar Show
178:Production locations
18:Col'n Carpenter
770:Best Comedy Release
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578:Label: CBS (466119)
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400:Cast and characters
1040:ARIA Award winners
1015:The Comedy Company
1000:, AFTRS 1993 p 122
819:The Comedy Company
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731:The Comedy Company
720:The Comedy Company
438:as Russ the Postie
432:as Col'n Carpenter
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189:Production company
36:The Comedy Company
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962:. Retrieved
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936:. Retrieved
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712:Logie Awards
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624:So Excellent
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251:Ian McFadyen
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128:Siobhan Tuke
110:Ian McFadyen
92:Ian McFadyen
77:Rob Caldwell
68:Ian McFadyen
35:
26:
845:Annie Jones
814:Kym Gyngell
511:Discography
474:Annie Jones
430:Kym Gyngell
298:Network Ten
247:Network Ten
208:Network Ten
184:, Australia
132:Chris Keogh
118:Kym Gyngell
86:Directed by
1034:Categories
888:References
849:Tracy Mann
789:Nominated
630:Kylie Mole
358:The word "
343:Kylie Mole
337:Characters
308:60 Minutes
231:1990-11-11
221:1988-02-16
193:Media Arts
173:Production
165:of seasons
74:Written by
64:Created by
796:Spin-offs
722:in 1989.
485:Bob Hawke
394:The Panel
385:The Panel
372:in 1993.
276:Melbourne
182:Melbourne
149:Australia
125:Tim Smith
958:Archived
932:Archived
906:Archived
876:See also
829:Prisoner
733:won one
98:Starring
754:Result
673:box set
590:Singles
285:History
229: (
225: –
219: (
214:Release
204:Network
157:English
89:Jo Lane
964:21 May
912:20 May
751:Award
701:Awards
671:A DVD
606:Album
600:Title
516:Albums
503:, and
938:1 May
832:star
745:Year
619:1988
597:Year
565:1989
542:1988
523:Year
360:bogan
54:Genre
1020:IMDb
966:2023
940:2012
914:2023
847:and
780:1990
774:Won
760:1989
667:DVDs
652:(by
628:(by
476:and
462:INXS
268:and
1018:at
660:48
612:AUS
583:98
535:AUS
163:No.
1036::
974:^
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168:3
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
