This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2014/feb/06/spicks-and-specks-the-moodys-tv-review

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Spicks and Specks and The Moodys – TV review Spicks and Specks and The Moodys – TV review
(7 months later)
It’s hardly a surprise to see Spicks and Specks return to our screens. Since its first It’s hardly a surprise to see Spicks and Specks return to our screens. Since its first iteration’s final episode in November of 2011, the ABC has struggled to find anything as successful to plug into its Wednesday night ABC1 comedy lineup. Given that the show first ended because the hosts were simply ready for new things, there’s an air of earnest hope surrounding this newly-minted version that the public will laugh and sing along like nothing ever changed.
iteration’s final episode in November of 2011, the ABC has struggled to find Taking on the chair that turned Adam Hills into a household name, comedian Josh Earl immediately lends the show a somewhat more manic energy than Hills’ everyman charm. His bouncy, rapid-fire delivery makes the show feel like a liquor-fuelled dinner party, right down to a few overheated jokes.
anything as successful to plug into its Wednesday night ABC1 comedy lineup. Taking over team captain duties from Alan Brough and Myf Warhurst are Killing Heidi frontwoman-turned-solo artist Ella Hooper, and comedian and radio personality Adam Richard. Both were regulars on the old format, and adequately fill the shoes of their predecessors. That said, it’s difficult to think that either Warhurst or Richard would ever fail to recognise Nina Simone.
Given that the show first ended because the hosts were simply ready for new Joining as guests are mezzo-soprano opera singer Jacqui Dark, who is as close as there might be to a ray of sunshine; Tame Impala frontman Jay Watson, whose stoner deadpan slices nicely through the glee; Irish comedian Des Bishop, who doesn’t get much to do; and panel show perennial Meshel Laurie, as hilarious as ever.
things, there’s an air of earnest hope surrounding this newly-minted version But while some faces have changed, little else has. The set’s gotten a makeover with a red curtain backdrop, perhaps abandoned on the stage after the end of Randling, replacing the jewels and chandeliers of old. The host and team tables have been gussied up with some added colour. It’s kind of modernised without being more modern at all, like the same old doll re-released with a new hat.
that the public will laugh and sing along like nothing ever changed. The format is essentially unchanged, too; the only new game so far is Do You See What I See?, which is just song titles spelled out in pictures. Old greats like Substitute and Look What They’ve Done … (To My Song Ma!) return, and the episode still ends with The Final Countdown.
Taking on the chair that turned Adam Hills into a household Will audiences stick with Spicks and Specks 2.0? Well, there isn’t much of a reason not to, which might be a problem. Everything’s so samey that people might be more inclined to shrug at it than to pop it on every Wednesday night, though there’s hardly much competition for something this effortlessly fun on other networks. But if it’s not really broken, why fix it?
name, comedian Josh Earl immediately lends the show a somewhat more Also well-loved and returning to ABC1 on Wednesday night was The Moodys, the follow-up to the successful 2012 series A Moody Christmas. Where the first centred on consecutive Christmas Days, this time around we’re in for a year of Moody gatherings. Of course, the first of the year is Australia Day coming amidst a time of upheaval for the family.
manic energy than Hills’ everyman charm. His bouncy, rapid-fire delivery makes the As is custom with Australian sitcoms these days, The Moodys emphasises the situational over the comedy. More gently amusing than laugh-out-loud funny, it nonetheless continues to nail the family's supreme dysfunction. Dan (Ian Meadows) is now settled into a relationship with Cora (Jane Harber), while Dan’s brother Sean (Patrick Brammall) languishes in the family home now sold by parents Maree (Tina Bursill) and Kevin (Danny Adcock).
show feel like a liquor-fuelled dinner party, The day, though, truly begins with Uncle Terry’s (Darren Gilshenan) claim on prime beachfront barbecue real estate. With Cora’s conservative parents in tow, a shirtless Hayden (Guy Edmonds) showing up to drive a wedge between Dan and Cora, and Roger (Phil Lloyd) showing up to Bridget (Rachel Gordon)'s chagrin, the day seems doomed.
right down to a few overheated jokes. But remarkably it remains fairly sane. An Indigenous family shows up with a claim to Uncle Terry’s spot, and after an amusing if flippant battle over parkland rights, they agree to share the space. Sean, meanwhile, lamely wears an Australian flag as a cape while Dan continues to fumble awkwardly for the approval of Cora’s father.
Taking over team captain duties from Alan Brough and Myf Lloyd and his co-writer Trent O’Donnell keep things fairly low-key, spending time teasing out relationships and establishing backstory for newcomers until drama strikes. But it’s a solid first entry in what is sure to be an enjoyable catalogue of The Moodys’ terrible gatherings. With Easter, birthdays, and a wedding in the family’s future, this is surely just the tip of a crazy iceberg.
Warhurst are Killing Heidi frontwoman-turned-solo artist Ella Hooper, and
comedian and radio personality Adam Richard. Both were regulars on the old
format, and adequately fill the shoes of their predecessors. That said,
it’s difficult to think that either Warhurst or Richard would ever fail to recognise
Nina Simone.
Joining as guests are mezzo-soprano opera singer Jacqui
Dark, who is as close as there might be to a ray of sunshine; Tame Impala
frontman Jay Watson, whose stoner deadpan slices nicely through the glee; Irish
comedian Des Bishop, who doesn’t get much to do; and panel show perennial
Meshel Laurie, as hilarious as ever.
But while some faces have changed, little else has. The
set’s gotten a makeover with a red curtain backdrop, perhaps abandoned on the
stage after the end of Randling,
replacing the jewels and chandeliers of old. The host and team tables
have been gussied up with some added colour. It’s kind of modernised without
being more modern at all, like the same old doll re-released with a new hat.
The format is essentially unchanged, too; the only new game
so far is Do You See What I See?, which is just song titles spelled out in pictures.
Old greats like Substitute and Look What They’ve Done … (To My Song Ma!) return,
and the episode still ends with The Final Countdown.
Will audiences stick with Spicks and Specks 2.0?
Well, there isn’t much of a reason not to, which might be a problem.
Everything’s so samey that people might be more inclined to shrug at it than to
pop it on every Wednesday night, though there’s hardly much competition for
something this effortlessly fun on other networks. But if it’s not really
broken, why fix it?
Also well-loved and returning to ABC1 on Wednesday night was
The Moodys, the follow-up to the
successful 2012 series A Moody Christmas.
Where the first centred on consecutive Christmas Days, this time around we’re
in for a year of Moody gatherings. Of course, the first of the year is
Australia Day coming amidst a time of upheaval for the family.
As is custom with Australian sitcoms these days, The Moodys emphasises the situational
over the comedy. More gently amusing than laugh-out-loud funny, it nonetheless continues
to nail the family's supreme dysfunction. Dan (Ian Meadows) is
now settled into a relationship with Cora (Jane Harber), while Dan’s brother
Sean (Patrick Brammall) languishes in the family home now sold by parents Maree
(Tina Bursill) and Kevin (Danny Adcock).
The day, though, truly begins with Uncle Terry’s (Darren
Gilshenan) claim on prime beachfront barbecue real estate. With Cora’s
conservative parents in tow, a shirtless Hayden (Guy Edmonds) showing up to
drive a wedge between Dan and Cora, and Roger (Phil Lloyd) showing up to
Bridget (Rachel Gordon)'s chagrin, the day seems doomed.
But remarkably it remains fairly sane. An Indigenous family
shows up with a claim to Uncle Terry’s spot, and after an amusing if flippant
battle over parkland rights, they agree to share the space. Sean, meanwhile,
lamely wears an Australian flag as a cape while Dan continues to fumble
awkwardly for the approval of Cora’s father.
Lloyd and his co-writer Trent O’Donnell keep things fairly
low-key, spending time teasing out relationships and establishing backstory for
newcomers until drama strikes. But it’s a solid first entry in what is sure to
be an enjoyable catalogue of The Moodys’
terrible gatherings. With Easter, birthdays, and a wedding in the family’s
future, this is surely just the tip of a crazy iceberg.