Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997. Full Frontal is also known for launching the television careers of Eric Bana and Shaun Micallef.
In 1998 a spin-off of the show moved to Network Ten under the name Totally Full Frontal, losing most of the original cast in the process (including standouts Bana and Micallef) and finished in 1999.
Since 2008, re-runs have begun screening on The Comedy Channel as part of the channel's "Aussie Gold" block of locally made, classic comedy programming.
The series began screening shortly after the similar sketch comedy program Fast Forward (from which Full Frontal derived) ended. Full Frontal retained the same general format of Fast Forward. It was formatted in a way such as to create the effect of someone continuously channel surfing; after the punchline of each sketch, it would abruptly switch to the next as if the viewer had switched channels. However, the new show had an all-new regular cast. Initially, some members of the Fast Forward cast made guest appearances in occasional Full Frontal sketches, easing the transition into the new series. Several members of the new cast had appeared in the earlier The Comedy Company, including Kym Gyngell and Glenn Butcher.
Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 23 May 2005Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 2 (2 Disc Set) - 20 June 2005Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 25 October 2006Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 5 December 2006Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 1 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010Full Frontal - Series 2 (5 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010Full Frontal - Series 3 (6 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010Full Frontal - Series 4 (6 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011Full Frontal - Series 5 (4 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011Totally Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 29 June 2011Totally Full Frontal - Best of Series 2 – 30 November 2011Totally Full Frontal - Series 2 (3 Disc Set) - 7 March 2012Matt Parkinson (1993)Matthew Quartermaine (1993)Greg Fleet (1993, Episodes 1–9)Michael Veitch (1993, Episodes 10–18)Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1993–94)Rima Te Wiata (1993–94)Eric Bana (1993–96)Glenn Butcher (1993–97)Kym Gyngell (1993–97)Ross Williams (1993–97)Denise Scott (1994)Sue Yardley (1994)John Walker (1994–97)Francis Greenslade (1995, Episodes 49–66)Julia Morris (1995–96)Kitty Flanagan (1995–96, Episodes 41–81)Daina Reid (1995–97)Shaun Micallef (1995–97, Episodes 41–105)Jackie Loeb (1996)Darren Gilshenan (1997)Gabby Millgate (1997)Ursula Brooks (1997, Episodes 93–99)Eric BanaGlenn ButcherKym GyngellRoss WilliamsMatt ParkinsonMatthew QuartermaineJennifer Ward-LealandRima Te WiataGreg Fleet (Ep. 1–9)Michael Veitch (Ep. 10–18)Eric BanaGlenn ButcherKym GyngellRoss WilliamsJohn WalkerJennifer Ward-LealandRima Te WiataDenise ScottSue YardleyEric BanaGlenn ButcherKym GyngellRoss WilliamsJohn WalkerJulia MorrisDaina ReidKitty FlanaganShaun MicallefFrancis Greenslade (Ep. 49–66)Eric BanaGlenn ButcherKim GyngellRoss WilliamsJohn WalkerJulia MorrisDaina ReidShaun MicallefKitty Flanagan (Ep. 67–81)Jackie LoebGlenn ButcherKim GyngellRoss WilliamsJohn WalkerDaina ReidShaun Micallef (Episodes 93–105)Darren GilshenanGabby MilgateUrsula Brooks (Episodes 93–99)Ross Williams (1998–99)John Walker (1998–99)Darren Gilshenan (1998–99)Gabby Millgate (1998–99)Julia Zemiro (1998–99)Paul McCarthy (1998–99)Vic Plume (1998–99, Episodes 7-28)Ross WilliamsJohn WalkerDarren GilshenanGabby MillgateJulia ZemiroPaul McCarthyRoss WilliamsJohn WalkerDarren GilshenanGabby MillgateJulia ZemiroPaul McCarthyVic PlumeAlan Pentland (1993)Gina Riley (1993)Glenn Robbins (1993)Jane Turner (1993)Jimeoin (1993)Magda Szubanski (1993)Sue Yardley (1993)Greg Fleet (1993, Episode 10)Jane Borghesi (1993)Cherise Donovan (1993, 1994–95, 1997)Geoff Brooks (1993, 1994)Marg Downey (1993, 1994)Michael Veitch (1993 (Episodes 1–6), 1994)Steve Blackburn (1993, 1994)Denise Scott (1993, 1995)Peter Moon (1993, 1996)Steve Vizard (1993, 1996)Shaun Micallef (1994)Wayne Hope (1994)Daina Reid (1994, 1998 (Episode 1))Francis Greenslade (1995, Episodes 41–48)Dave O'Neil (1995, 1996)Esme Melville (1995–96)Paula Gardner (1996)Kitty Flanagan (1996, Episode 82)Rosalind Hammond (1996)Caroline Reid (1997)Brett Tucker (1997, Episode 100)Eric Bana (1997, Episode 101)Ursula Brooks (1997, Episodes 101 & 105)Kate Gorman (1997)Daniel Daperis (1997)Kate Keltie (1997)Ryan Moloney (1998, Episode 1)Vic Plume (1998, Episodes 1-6)Tania Lacy (1998)Gerard McCulloch (1998)Matylda Buczko (1998, Episode 9)Bud Tingwell (1999)Peter (or as he pronounces it "Poida" often correcting people by saying hey it's Poida not Poida); An Australian
bogan, played by Eric Bana. Poida was originally a TV host on Community Television's Channel 31. Peter enjoys to drink VB and carries an
esky around wherever he goes. He has a blond
mullet and dresses in a velvet suit. Most of the time he is seen smoking in sketches. Poida works for Channel 31 but is usually the stand-in host for many TV shows on other networks (such as Channel 9, 10 and the ABC) when the real host doesn't turn up. He has stood in for
Ray Martin on
A Current Affair and
Kerry O'Brien on
The 7.30 Report. He takes an esky into the studio and smokes while interviewing guests. Instead of sitting on the set furniture, he prefers to make himself comfortable on a bean bag.
Impact on Eric Bana's CareerPoida was probably Eric Bana's best character and was thought to really have helped Bana's acting career. The director of the Australian film
Chopper says he cast Bana because of his performance in
Full Frontal. Bana is now a household name and acts in movies both in and out of Australia.
PopularityPoida is arguably one of the most popular characters of
Full Frontal and is also arguably the most popular of the characters played by Bana. Bana also plays a fictional version of Ray Martin and Eddie, an Eastern European migrant.
Mister CamouflageA man dressed heavily in military camouflage who has a hard time being noticed in day-to-day life (played by Darren Gilshenan on the first season of Totally Full Frontal).
EddieEastern European migrant, whose famous line was "
It's a complete shemozzle" (also played by Eric Bana). In an interview in
TV Week Bana said the character was born when he was around 10 or 12 whilst playing on his CB Radio.
"Eddie is the sort of guy who could walk through the Mardi Gras and not realise it was gay. He would just see it as coincidental that there were so many men there."
RonA stage janitor who wears overalls and is always trying to either apply for a job or scam money introducing himself as uh, Ron. When he is caught out, he will often leave saying "Fair enough". (Played by Ross Williams)
Neville and BeulahElderly nudists who love doing things "totally nude" (played by Glenn Butcher and Daina Reid).
Milo KerriganPunch-drunk (but much loved) ex-
boxer played by Shaun Micallef. He is considered to be the most popular character of the series. Heavily reliant on slapstick, sketches involving Kerrigan routinely destroying large portions of the set.
Nobby DoldrumsAn obsessed fan of
7.30 Report presenter
Kerry O'Brien who is willing to be interviewed about anything, just to be on the program (played by Shaun Micallef).
David McGahanIncompetent TV personality and failed actor who hosted nature documentaries, (played by Shaun Micallef).
Roger Explosion'Alter ego' of David McGahan from his failed acting career (played by Shaun Micallef).
LeonArt critic, renowned for his liberal use of the word "crap" (played by Kym Gyngell).
Ian GoodingsSleazy TV news presenter on the fictitious
Australian National Nightly Network News (played by John Walker).
Narelle ParkinsomBitchy and unenthusiastic co-presenter on fictitious
Australian National Nightly Network News (played by Kitty Flanagan).
Phil ToinbyMuch maligned weatherman on
Australian Nightly Network News, renowned for his outrageous and colourful ties and using unusual pointers sent in by viewers, as noticed by the two newsreaders (played by Francis Greenslade).
ChakaHippie and
poet, her poems usually circulate about her hometown of
Nimbin (played by Kitty Flanagan). On a parody of A Current Affairs on Full Frontal, Eric Bana's Ray Martin asks Chaka what type of name is "Chaka" and what it means. Chaka is Arabic for "Joanne".
EnzoOrganized crime boss believed to be parody of figures in the Melbourne organized crime underworld (played by Ross Williams). He has a strict hatred of cameras and responds to questions with the word 'NO' frequently.
Allen BamffAppeared in three episodes as an unconfident Car Salesmen promoting his self-titled car yard "Allen Bamff Holden" (played by Francis Greenslade).
The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities including:
Paul KeatingFormer Australian Prime Minister (played by Glenn Butcher)
John HowardFormer Australian Prime Minister (played by John Walker). Earlier parodies of John Howard were also played by Glenn Butcher.
Pauline HansonControversial right-wing politician (played by Daina Reid).
Mike WilleseeJournalist and presenter of Australia's
A Current Affair known for long pauses at the most inopportune times mid-sentence (played by Eric Bana).
Ray MartinJournalist and presenter of Australia's
A Current Affair (played by Eric Bana).
FabioMale model and "most beautiful man in the cosmos, including the black holes". Fabio was Shaun Micallef's favourite character on the show. Fabio himself once appeared on the show being interviewed by Poida.
Kerry O'BrienJournalist and presenter of
The 7.30 Report (
see: Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (Played by Kim Gyngell).
Glenn RidgeSale of the Century host from 1991–2001. Portrayed by Eric Bana.
Full Frontal has won several Logie Awards in its time. It has been nominated for several as well. It has won:
Most Popular Comedy Program (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)Most Popular Personality to Eric BanaNominated for:
Most Popular Comedy Program (1999)
