Reckon Chris Inspired Them?

While the Australian TV industry ventures closer and closer to utter irrelevance (through no fault of the artists, simply the TV execs that have no clue about what is "entertaining"), it's great to see that there is still a glimmer of hope.

It may not be the messiah of Australian comedy - but at the very least - Real Stories is the shepard leading the way to redemption.



Walking on the path paved by Chris Lilley and We Can Be Heroes (who, ironically was a no-name cast member on Radio Karate's short lived Hamish & Andy show in 2004) Real Stories takes a series of short mockumentaries and groups them together using the (rather clever) "Current Affairs" formula.


There are plenty of fun moments to be had throughout the eight episodes on offer from the likeable lads (all of which started on Channel 31 less than three years prior). From a one armed Newspaper-Boy recruiter, to a celebrity sex tape director to the extremely humourous look at the trials and tribulations of one man's attempt to make Hey Dad: The Movie.

While the skits do tend to drag on a little bit at times, and the characterisations don't seem to extend past Hamish Blake, Andy Lee and Ryan Shelton's own personalities (although, it must be said, this is where a lot of the humour seems to stem from), all can be forgiven for the pure fact that host, Jenifer Adams, is absoloutley hilarious.

In fact, at times, Adams is one of the few people that warrants "Laugh out Loud" moments. Here perfectly dry delivered lines in between segments are utterley superb - which seemed to go largely unnoticed when the show aired in late 2006 on Channel 10.

The show has not been picked up for a second series, which doesn't come as a great surprise. It is on of the better comedies on the box, but aside from a pretty consistent performance from Shelton and the odd funny moment from Blake, the the majority of the eight episodes seems like a watered down attempt to impersonate the likes of Lilley and The Office.

There are a bevvy of celebrity cameos which help boost the interest levels in some of the weaker stories including Tony Martin (The Late Show), Alan Brough (Spicks & Specks), Rove McManus (Rove Live) and Jesse Martin (remember that kid who sailed the world solo?). And there are some absolute corker stories which (had they been all put in one episode) made for a really really good pilot episode.

Personal favourites include Andy Lee as a church reviewer, who rates pastors on their "show" performances (which finally allows Rove McManus to show his true comic ability outside of a talk show host - he really is quite a good sketch performer), as well as the shows biggest highlight - a story which follows Shelton as a man who looks after people with odd medical conditions. This is Shelton in his finest form - and one has to wonder why the guy didn't get the chance to hit the mainstream like his Radio friendly co-stars. He is a revelation.

Real Stories on the whole is a rather patchy affair, but there are more than enough laughs on offer, proving that Australian comedy isn't dead - it's just been hiding on Community TV.

Donna.S2 wrote:I've seen a few episodes of Real Stories. It's quite hilarious, although the article hit the nail on the head - sometimes it drags on a bit. I admit when I watched this show I had no idea who Chris lilley was as I had never seen SHH or WCBH so it never occured to me that Hamish and Andy could have been "inspired" by him. Not sure what to think of that one. It's possible, although the whole "Current Affair" program thing is completely different to Chris Lilley's work - the only similarities are the fact that they are both mockumentaries.

Donna.S2 wrote:
I agree that Ryan Shelton's work is pretty consistent and it's a wonder how he hasn't had his big break yet.