The Games

This show is brilliant! Not only the satire, but the (Clarke) style of writing, and the performances of the fine cast. What really makes it worthwhile viewing is the way it portrays the NSW State government's and the Australian Federal Government's misappropriation of funds from health, education etc. in order to pay for these games, of which, the budget has completely blown out.

One of my best friends in Canberra has close friends who were on the Sydney Olympic organising committee and he told me that they would cringe at the accuracy of what was depicted in this show which was aired in the lead-up to the 2000 Olympics - they were SURE there must have been leaks to Clarke and co because so many of the issues that are covered in the episodes are painfully close to issues they were experiencing at the same time. This show is brilliant!!!!!!! Clarke, with his wonderfully articulate grasp & delivery of intelligent dialogue done in an Aussie (even though he's a Kiwi) almost ocker tone gives this show its intellectually different edge. Nothing compares to Clarke delivering lines like "I have nothing against likability Byran. Actually I like likability but it might have been more helpful, Byan, if we had of got hold of an an objectionable, arrogant, obstreperous individual who actually KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT HORSES!!!!!!!!" How many ockers would know the meaning of obstreperous?? Intelligent dialogue delivered in a down-to-earth manner like this is what pushes this show into a comic realm that is a cut (way) above the rest!!!! Actually, I'm watching a taped episode as I type this. It was even better watching it for the first time during the run-up to the 2000 Olympic Games being held in "our fair city".

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 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.