SkitHOUSE

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The correct title of this article is skitHOUSE. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

skitHOUSE
The skitHOUSE logo
Genre	Sketch comedy
Running time	22-26 minutes approx
Starring	Peter Helliar Corinne Grant Damian Callinan Scott Brennan Michael Chamberlin Fiona Harris Roz Hammond Tom Gleeson Cal Wilson Jason Geary Ben Anderson Tripod
Country of origin	Australia
Language(s)	English
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

skitHOUSE was an Australian sketch comedy television series produced by Roving Enterprises for Network Ten & FOXTEL. It featured many well-known Australian comedians, including comedy-band Tripod. It can be seen on The Comedy Channel on subscription television, as well as Network 10. In the UK, it is shown on the channel Paramount Comedy 2.

The program saw three series produced, before being discontinued due to a combination of dwindling ratings, and the withdrawal of the cable network FOXTEL as co-financier of the program's production.

1 Cast
2 The Show
3 Notable characters and sketches
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Cast

skitHOUSE was produced by Roving Enterprises, a production company formed by Rove McManus. Two key performers were Rove's Rove Live co-hosts Peter Helliar and Corinne Grant. The show also featured Cal Wilson, Scott Brennan, Fiona Harris, Damian Callinan, Roz Hammond, Michael Chamberlin, Tom Gleeson, Jason Geary and Ben Anderson. Members of the comedic band Tripod also featured, not just as the band but in the actual skits as well. Tripod are Scod (Scott Edgar), Yon (Simon Hall) and Gatesy (Steven Gates)

The director was Full Frontal alumni, Daina Reid.

[edit] The Show

The show consisted of numerous comedic skits. The half hour shows themselves often seemed to have themes (or at least they repeated the use of sets, costumes, characters and props). Its comedic styling was reminiscent of many classic Australian sketch comedies, like Full Frontal and Fast Forward, sharing common elements such as self deprecating humour, low-cost props and effects.

[edit] Notable characters and sketches

Many characters recurred throughout the series, often appearing several times in a single episode, creating a semi-coherent storyline. Some more notable recurring characters and/or scenarios are listed below.

The Australian Fast Bowler (Gleeson): A cricket fast bowler, loosely resembling Dennis Lillee, who uses his bowling skills to help people or defend against evil, superhero style - indeed, he has his own sidekick and arch nemesis (Callinan as The English Batsman). For instance, a choking man would be helped with a ball thrown at his back. The Australian Fast Bowler has been shown as a 12-year-old boy, the Schoolyard Fast Bowler; one episode also featured the Australian Lawn Bowler, seemingly the Australian Fast Bowler many years later (a references to the common perception of lawn bowling as an "old people's sport").

The "I'll snap ya" guy (Callinan): A parody of an Australian 'bogan' who continually narrates sketches in which he speaks of various people he has punched (or 'snapped'). One episode saw "I'll snap ya" guy being assaulted by Russel Crowe, a reference to the actor's numerous alercations.

Redheads (Gleeson, Wilson, Hammond, Yon): Stereotyped white red-haired people who have an extreme fear of sunlight. They seem incapable of natural speech, communicating in squeaks.

Batman (Callinan): A depressed, alcoholic version of Batman. His Batmobile is a wreck, he has no work, and seems romantically attracted to Robin (Chamberlain). He is perpetually at odds with the more dynamic Captain Terrific (Helliar), who is now Robin's partner.

The "I love beer" guy (Helliar): A man who, despite professing to everyone how much he loves beer, quite obviously can't stomach the drink. Onlookers try to convince him that it is "okay" not to drink beer, but he refuses to acknowledge his dislike. This is a mockery of the common stereotype of the beer-drinking Australian male.

The ticket lady (Harris): A perpetually cheerful parking inspector who is oblivious to how much she is hated by the general public; she often speaks highly of people while being pelted with rocks, eggs, and other heavy objects. Usually ends a sketch after having something thrown at her, by exclaiming "I love this job!"

Glenn Bush (Brennan): An awkward, annoying schoolboy in his teens, with many pimples and a squeaky voice. Glenn is mostly portrayed at School Camp Video Diaries, or doing a school biology assignment with his "friend" (Chamberlin), who cannot get rid of him.

Tripod as "themselves": The 3 friends engaged in various strange or geeky activities, including playing Dungeons and Dragons, and teaching Yon how to dance.

"Nothing suss!" (Gleeson, Brennan): Two men attempt to sell odd products (normally partner exercise equipment) in the medium of an infomercial for their mail order service. The two frequently use the exercise equipment to demonstrate and end up in sexually suggestive positions, while maintaining all the while that there is "Nothing suss" about what they are doing.

The credits of each show are accompanied by a song by Tripod. While sometimes new material is used, it is sometimes a song previously featured in their "Song In An Hour" challenge with Triple J.