BackBerner
{{Short description|Australian television series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox television
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| starring = Peter Berner
Louise Siversen
Kym Gyngell
Tanya Bulmer
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| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme = "Thunderbirds Are Coming Out (5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Mix)" by TISM
| endtheme = "Thunderbirds Are Coming Out (5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Mix)"
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| country = Australia
| language = English
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| runtime = 25 minutes
| network = ABC TV
| first_aired = {{Start date|1999|08|19|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2002|11|14|df=y}}
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}}
BackBerner was an Australian political satire sketch comedy television series, broadcast on and produced by ABC TV with Crackerjack Productions (now Fremantle Australia). The program was hosted by stand-up comic Peter Berner and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen. The series aired from 19 August 1999 to 14 November 2002.
Synopsis
The show parodied the current affairs format with Berner, but most frequently Siversen engaged in interviews with various representatives and authorities on the subjects of that week's news stories to discuss the issue, with various comedians playing the role of the interviewees. The most common of these characters were Dr Dennis Johnson who covered medical issues and Dexter Pinion, the far-right conservative correspondent for government reconciliation who frequently railed against the supposedly left-leaning "AB-friggin'-C". Numerous other character actors often made return appearances under different names, such as Nicholas Hammond who often appeared as Jack Bloom, a representative for the US Government.{{Cn|date=November 2023}}
The show was axed in 2002, and poked a last jab by explaining that Dexter Pinion had in fact finally taken control of the "AB-friggin'-C" and shut Berner down.{{Cite web |date=2008-06-08 |title=Backberner, ABC TV comedy |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s729483.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608083331/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s729483.htm |archive-date=8 June 2008 |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
Cast
The program was hosted by stand-up comic Peter Berner and noted Australian character actor Louise Siversen. Other regulars on the program included Tanya Bulmer and Kym Gyngell, who engaged in pre-recorded external and on-the-street interviews.{{Cite web |date=2009-01-05 |title=Backberner, ABC TV Comedy |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/credits.htm |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=30 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130031747/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/credits.htm |url-status=live }} Imelda Corcoran played Maria for 17 episodes of the show, most of them in series 3 in 2001.{{cite web | title=BackBerner (TV Series 1999–2002) | website=IMDb | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213330/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_14_act | access-date=12 August 2024}}{{cite web | last=Moore | first=Camille | title=10 Things You Didn’t Know about Imelda Corcoran | website=TVovermind | date=8 April 2021 | url=https://tvovermind.com/imelda-corcoran/ | access-date=12 August 2024}}
- Peter Berner as Host{{Cite web |title=BackBerner (1999) |url=https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/backberner-1999 |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=The A.V. Club|archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119181515/https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/backberner-1999 |url-status=live }}
- Louise Siversen as Host
- Ian Bliss as various characters (11 episodes)
- Kym Gyngell as Self (10 episodes)
- Nicholas Hammond as various characters (6 episodes)
- Imelda Corcoran as Maria (17 episodes)
- Lynette Curran as Miriam Standwick (2 episodes){{Cite web |title=Backberner: 22 August 2002 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s659029.htm |access-date=19 November 2023 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=9 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609003852/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s659029.htm |url-status=live }}
- Denise Roberts as Beryl Todd & various characters (2 episodes){{Cn|date=November 2023}}
- Belinda McClory aa Susan Lamb (1 episode){{Cite web |title=Backberners: 3 October 2002 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s693513.htm |access-date=19 November 2023 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=8 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608083326/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s693513.htm |url-status=live }}
- Rhiana Griffith as Kristi Taylor (1 episode){{Cn|date=November 2023}}
- Jennifer Kent as various characters (1 episode)
- Chris Haywood as Michael Thompson (1 episode){{Cite web |title=Backberner: 14 November 2002 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s729483.htm |access-date=19 November 2023 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=8 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608083331/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/s729483.htm |url-status=live }}
- Danny Adcock as Tom McLachlan
- Drew Forsythe as Martin (1 episode)
- Alan David Lee as Gary Morris / Mark Hitchens – Labor MP / Gavin Letchkey – Liberal MP
- Russell Dykstra as Mr Dennis McCauley{{Cn|date=November 2023}}
- Nicholas Opolski{{Cn|date=November 2023}}
- Christian Manon
- Rebecca Riggs{{Cn|date=November 2023}}]
- Tanya Bulmer
- Ally Fowler as Julie (2 episodes)
- Bob Baines as Representative for Liberal Party / Representative for Liberal Party (2 episodes)
- Leon Ford as Blair Fife (1 episode)
- Peter Whitford as Henry Tinkwhistle (1 episode)
Production
BackBerner was produced by ABC TV with Crackerjack Productions (now Fremantle Australia).{{Cite web |date=2010-01-16 |title=Backberner, ABC TV Comedy |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-date=1 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001000000/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/ |url-status=dead }}
The music played during the opening and closing credits is an excerpt from TISM's song "Thunderbirds are Coming Out".{{cn|date=August 2024}}
Broadcast
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001000000/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/backberner/ |date=1 October 2010 |title=Official website }}
- {{IMDb title|id=0213330}}
Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
Category:Australian television sketch shows
Category:Australian satirical television shows
Category:1999 Australian television series debuts
Category:2002 Australian television series endings