Comedy Inc. (The Late Shift)
Starring	Current cast Paul McCarthy Jim Russell Emily Taheny Scott Brennan Simon Mallory Rebecca De Unamuno Fiona Harris Janis McGavin
Country of origin	Australia
Production
Running time	60 minutes per episode (inc. commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel Nine
Picture format	Widescreen (16:9)
Original run	2003 –

Comedy Inc. is also the name of a Canadian Television series. See Comedy Inc. (Canadian TV series)

Comedy Inc. is an Australian sketch comedy television program produced by Crackerjack Productions. It originally aired in early 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows following the demise of Full Frontal, along with Big Bite and skitHOUSE. It is shown on the Nine Network and regional affiliates such as WIN and NBN. Re-runs of the earlier series are broadcast daily on the cable channel, Comedy Channel. Image File history File links Comedy_Inc. ... Paul McCarthy is an Australian actor probably best known for starring in CrackerJack and in the sketch series Comedy Inc. ... Jim Russell is a fat actor on Australian TV series, Comedy Inc. ... Scott Brennan is an Australian actor and comedian. ... Simon Mallory is an Australian actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2004 and 2005. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Channel Nine is an Australian television channel broadcast by the Nine Network, available in major markets across Australia. ... Comedy Inc. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... Crackerjack Productions is an Australian independent television production company headed by brothers Mark and Carl Fennessy. ... Full Frontal was a highly praised Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. ... Big Bites opening title. ... skitHOUSE is an Australian sketch comedy television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten. ... The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney. ... WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, Australia. ... NBN Television is an Australian commercial television broadcasting company, broadcasting from its main studios in Newcastle, transmitting to the northern half of New South Wales and the south eastern part of Queensland. ... Comedy Centrals old logo Comedy Central is a cable television channel in the United States. ...

From what is widely considered to have been a rocky start in 2003, the show has evolved into an unlikely critical favourite with numerous nominations for a number of major Australian and international awards. The show has also proved to be more commercially successful in Australia than its rivals, and was the first to release a DVD of content. Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ...

Comedy Inc. has had many different formats. For example, a more risqué variation of the series was broadcast in 2005, entitled Comedy Inc: The Late Shift. The episodes were aired at a later time, because of the content. The Late Shift aired from mid 2005 until late 2006.

Format

Comedy Inc: The Late Shift (2005-2007)

Beginning with its 2005 season, the show aired in a later timeslot, in the process changing its name to Comedy Inc.: The Late Shift. This version was a success with both audiences and television critics, due to its slightly more risque content, as well as original new characters like "Blokeman" and "Matt and Bray". The new show marked the beginning of a collaboration between new head writer Rick Kalowski and producer/director David McDonald, widely credited with the revivification of the show. (After working together on 45 episodes of the show from 2004, the pair left the show at the end of the fourth series in late 2006). Rick Kalowski is a Sydney-based Australian film and television writer. ... David John McDonald (November 22, 1902 - August 8, 1979) was an American labor leader and president of the United Steelworkers of America from 1952 to 1965. ...

The fourth series of Comedy Inc. debuted on Tuesday May 30, 2006 again on the Nine Network. The new series marked the departure of Ben Oxenbould and Gabriel Andrews from the show, and their replacement with the popular Australian comedian Scott Brennan and actor Simon Mallory. In a new 10.30pm timeslot on Sundays, it again dominated its timeslot, proving especially popular with younger viewers. The fourth series, characterised by darker and even more risque material than the first series of 'Comedy Inc. - The Late Shift'(Fuck, for example, is no longer censored), ran 25 1-hour episodes in total, following an extension of the series by the Nine Network, making it the longest running series of the show to date. is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ben Oxenbould is an Australian actor. ... Scott Brennan is an Australian actor and comedian. ... Simon Mallory is an Australian actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2004 and 2005. ...

On Thursday 19 October 2006, the show was nominated at the 2006 "Australian Film Institute Awards" in five categories, including Best Television Comedy Series, Best Direction in Television, and two nominations for Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, one each for Paul McCarthy and Genevieve Morris. is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Film Institute Awards (often abbreviated to AFI Awards) is an annual awards ceremony administered by the Australian Film Institute, held in late November or early December. ... Genevieve Morris is an Australian actor who has appeared most notably in the sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. ...

The fifth series of the show is currently in production, and currently airing on Wednesday nights. The new series is directed by Damian Davis, previously director of The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. New head writers are Kevin Brumpton and Angus Fitzsimons. The Cast of The Ronnie Johns Half Hour. ...

The 2007 return on 5 September 2007 saw most of the female cast leaving with Mandy McElhinney, Katrina Retallick and Genevieve Morris all leaving and being replaced by SkitHOUSE actress Fiona Harris, Big Bite and previously recurring actress Rebecca De Unamuno and newcomer Janis McGavin. is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Mandy McElhinney is an Australian actor appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. ... Genevieve Morris is an Australian actor who has appeared most notably in the sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. ...

An international version of the show, comprising a series of 20 half-hour episodes, has aired on cable television in several countries. A second series of the international version of the show is due to be aired later in 2007. The international version focusses on sketches, character pieces and parodies of overseas programs, and excludes parodies of Australian programs with which a foreign audience would be unfamiliar.

Comedy Inc: Specials (2005)

In 2005 two one-hour specials called "Comedy Inc: Takes out TV" were aired, the first during the series and then the week following the final episode of "The Late Shift". They featured mostly television parody sketches with a few general sketches.

Critical and Commercial Response

Although critical reaction to the series on its debut in 2003 was mixed, reviews of the show have improved with each series. The 2005 and 2006 series of the show, in particular, have received positive reviews from most major Australian newspapers, the consensus being that the later timeslot has made for a darker, more interesting and funnier show. Consistent with that critical response, it is the 'later timeslot' series of the show that have been nominated for various awards.

Most recently, Jim Schembri, notoriously tough television critic for the Melbourne newspaper The Age has described the show as "the hands-down funniest and smartest local laughfest on TV in 2006.^[1]

Commercially, Comedy Inc has also proved to be successful. In 2003, the series, like its critical reception, fanfare was heavily mixed. However, as content was changed – and more crude skits where aired, the series success climbed considerably. The success of the later series is often said to have had an impact on the cancellation of its competitors, such as skitHOUSE.^{[citation needed]} skitHOUSE is an Australian sketch comedy television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten. ...

Award Nominations and wins

As noted above, Comedy Inc. has received many and various nominations and awards. In 2005, the "Australian Film Institute" Awards nominated Comedy Inc - The Late Shift for Best Television Comedy Series, as well as a 2006 Logie Award for Most Outstanding Comedy Series, and 2006 Rose D'Or (Golden Rose of Montreaux) Award for Best International Comedy Series. David McDonald received nominations for Best Direction in Television, and for Best Series (in his capacity as producer) at both the 2005 and 2006 "Australian Film Institute" Awards for his work on the show. The Australian Film Institute (AFI), established in 1958, is an organisation that promotes Australian film and television through the annual AFI Awards, a membership program and AFI film events throughout the year. ... David John McDonald (November 22, 1902 - August 8, 1979) was an American labor leader and president of the United Steelworkers of America from 1952 to 1965. ... The Australian Film Institute (AFI), established in 1958, is an organisation that promotes Australian film and television through the annual AFI Awards, a membership program and AFI film events throughout the year. ...

Cast

Current Cast

• Paul McCarthy (2003 - )
• Jim Russell (2003 - )
• Emily Taheny (2003 - )
• Scott Brennan (2006 - )
• Simon Mallory (2006 - )
• Rebecca De Unamuno (2007 - )
• Fiona Harris (2007 - )
• Janis McGavin (2007 - )

Paul McCarthy is an Australian actor probably best known for starring in CrackerJack and in the sketch series Comedy Inc. ... Jim Russell is a fat actor on Australian TV series, Comedy Inc. ... Scott Brennan is an Australian actor and comedian. ... Simon Mallory is an Australian actor who played Chris Cousens in the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 2004 and 2005. ...

Past Cast

• Ben Oxenbould (2003 - 2005)
• Gabriel Andrews (2003 - 2005)
• Mandy McElhinney (2003 - 2006)
• Katrina Retallick (2003 - 2006)
• Genevieve Morris (2003 - 2006)

Ben Oxenbould is an Australian actor. ... Mandy McElhinney is an Australian actor appearing in the television sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. ... Genevieve Morris is an Australian actor who has appeared most notably in the sketch comedy series Comedy Inc. ...

Skits and formula

Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. This article has been tagged since June 2007.

Comedy Inc. features original skits, impersonations and irreverent parodies of other television programmes and films. For example, popular Australian series such as Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Renovation Rescue are frequently subject to many spoofs, as are Australian news and current affair programmes, such as Today Tonight and 60 Minutes. In addition, the series features original skits, such as "Selena: She Grows on You", a segment which features an eccentric gardener for a wealthy woman, and her zany and original ways of keeping her garden up to scratch. Image File history File links N_write_green_black. ... Big Brother Australia is a reality television series produced by Endemol Southern Star, and shown on Australian television network Network Ten. ... Countries with their own version Dancing with the Stars is the name for a number of international television series based on the format of the British series Strictly Come Dancing. ... Logo from the UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers very large cash prizes for correctly answering successive multiple-choice questions. ... Renovation Rescue is an Australian TV show capitalising on Australias love affair with home renovation. ... Today Tonight is an Australian tabloid television current affairs program, broadcast on the Seven Network every weeknight at 6:30pm in direct competition with A Current Affair on the Nine Network and indirectly with The 7:30 Report on ABC Television. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ...

See also

• List of Australian television series
• List of Nine Network programs

This is a list of Australian television series and television programs. ... The following are programs that have been, currently, or are soon to be broadcast by the Nine Network and its regional affiliates. ...

References

External links

• Official site
• Comedy Inc. at the Internet Movie Database