The Comedy Game Explained

The Comedy Game is an Australian television comedy anthology series that aired in 1971 and 1973 on ABC. The new comedies screened in the series were seen as possible pilots for a full television series.[1]

The episodes led to the series Our Man in Canberra in 1971, A Nice Day at the Office in 1972, The Aunty Jack Show in 1972, Flash Nick From Jindivick in 1974 and in 1975.

Season 1

A Nice Day at the Office

Aired 2 November 1971 (Sydney), 25 November (Melbourne). By Marcus Cooney and John Brendan. Plot: Harvey and Crisp work in the filing section of a government office.

Use No Hooks

Aired 9 November 1971 (Sydney), 2 December (Melbourne). The story of newlyweds George and Peggy Trump and their friends Gordon Bates and Leonard Cartaris. Produced by Maurice Murphy.

Our Man in Canberra

Aired 16 November 1971 (Sudneuy), 16 December (Melbourne). By John O'Grady.

Gaudeamus Igitur

Aired 23 December 1971 (Melbourne). By Jenny Wager. A university department has had no professors or students for thirty years.

Scattergood

Aired 9 December 1971 (Melbourne).

Aunty Jack’s Travelling Show

Aired 7 December 1971 (Sydney), 30 December 1971 (Melbourne). Writers include Geoffrey Atherdon Graham Bond, Sherman Merlick, Peter Weir. Music and lyrics by Bond and Rory O'Donoghue.

Arthur

Aired 14 December 1971 (Sydney), by Michael Aitkins. Arthur Potter is an out of work young man.

Season 2

Fat Max

Aired 19 May 1973 (Sydney). By John O'Grady. About a 40 year old bachelor.

Catch What I Mean?

Aired 26 May 1973. By John Dingwall. Set in a drivers pool at a city newspaper's office.

Birth, Death and Marriage

Aired 9 June 1973 (Sydney), 7 November (Melbourne). Three separate stories. By Maurice Wiltshire, Ray Biehler, Arthur Sherman.

The Engagement Party

Aired 30 June 1973.

Flash Nick from Jindavick

Aired 16 June and 23 June 1973 (Sydney), 14 and 21 Nov (Melbourne). By Grahame Bond.

The Only One Left

Aired 2 June 1973 (Sydney).

Basically Black

Basically Black was the first television program written and created by Indigenous Australians, and starred:[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Comedy Game, the (ABC 1971-1973, John Bell, Jacki Weaver) . 15 February 2017 .
  2. Web site: Images from history. Gary. Gary Foley. Gary Foley . . 6 August 2022.
  3. News: Lively Russian dancers in TCN9 special . . 40 . 50 . 16 May 1973 . 6 August 2022 . 10 . National Library of Australia.