Big Bite

I am surprised to see any negative comments on this excellent show, that was widely hailed on its initial release in 2003 as revitalising the sketch comedy format on Australian TV.

The performing and the writing (a lot of the performers have gone on to other notable TV shows and films, including CNNNN) was mostly top notch, and it stayed funny right through its run.

My personal favourites were the news, with Lee Lin Chin, and Mr G, which was just brilliant, although there were a lot of other funny characters including Johnny Tapp, that were great.

Very strangely, Channel Seven spun the show off into another show that lasted only a few episodes earlier in 2004.

I guess we won't see the return of this show now, but a lot of its writers are now on 'Comedy Inc.', which not surprisingly is a lot funnier and cleverer than its first series.

I'll never forget this show, and I hope Seven releases it on DVD soon.

I only started getting into this show after catching some one hour specials that aired this year. I wasn't expecting much from a commercial network comedy show. But it turns out to be incredibly funny, with a few performers who appear certain to end up staples of comedy television in Australia. Rebecca De Unamano, whose impersonations of Indira Naidu and Lee Lin Chin are uncanny, has already gone on to great things with 'CNNN'. Chris Lilley's 'Tommy Lee', and Mr G are also corkers, along with almost anything by Andrew Dyer (eg Johnny Tapp, Jim Waley) and Andrew O'Keefe (now the host of Deal or No Deal). Top direction from 'Roy Hollsotter Live's' Matthew Saville also features. The show was spun off into a woeful program 'Hamish and Andy' that occasionally featured some of the Big Bite performers, but seems to have been made by a totally different production team, and lasted just a few weeks before being axed. If like me you enjoyed this original show, consider checking out 'CNNN' (featuring some of the same writers) and the very underrated and very funny film 'The Honourable Wally Norman', co-written by the Big Bite's head writer, and directed by the legendary Ted Emery of 'Kath and Kim' and 'Fast Forward' fame. This show has made me a big fan of lots of the people on it, and shows there is real hope for the future of Aussie comedy TV.

I loved the show, it was really funny. Why did Seven choose to abandon it?

The parodies of the television shows (from all networks) and the fake advertisements were really funny and the other segments like Extreme Darren and the other regular parts were also really good. It was good to see a network airing a show which parodied its own programs as well as that of its competitors.

I used to watch the show every week and was rather disappointed when they stopped it. Seven, *please* release a version for DVD! A lot of the comedians went on to other programs like The Chaser which are also very funny though.

I think my title just about summarises it! The best skits from the show are: Shakira - whenever Avril Livigne - sk8r boi Harry Potter and the Chamber of secrets. If anyone knows where to get the top two as actual music files, please write. Even though some of the characters are repeated every show, it doesn't at all drag the show along. Ever scenario is better then the last. The good thing about all Aussie comedies, is that they are all unique. If there were shown overseas, they'd have no idea whats going on with the story line, e.g. If We can be heroes was shown in another country, they'd be sitting there and have no idea what was going on.

This new show delivers consistently funny, smart and fresh comedy. The show just gets funnier and stronger week to week. Any comparisons to Comedy Inc and the like are totally useless - The Big Bite boasts a smaller, much more talented cast and incredibly funny gags of every kind from the obviously gifted comedy writing team. There are look-alike jokes (brilliant Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise not to mention Russell Crowe impersonations !), spoofs of well known Australian TV ads and tonnes of new and hilarious skits. The show works really well in its tightly packed half hour episodes - in the few weeks it's been on, it's already established a handful of genius, warm and new comedy characters - Mr. Gee the rock eistedford teacher is a personal favourite.

Do yourself a favour and check it out now! It's a half hour gem of comedy.