| Darradong Local Council | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Written by | Paul Fenech |
| Directed by | Paul Fenech |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Adam Mcphilbin |
| Editor | David Rudd |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Antichocko Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Release | 26 October – 23 November 2023 |
| Related | |
Darradong Local Council is an Australian television sitcom that first screened on 7mate from 26 October to 23 November 2023.[1] Written, produced and directed by Paul Fenech, the series follows a group of corrupt council workers in the fictional Darradong Shire.[1]
Cast
- Paul Fenech as Sam "Fox" Foxitini
- George Kapiniaris as Mayor Theo Theopolous
- Jon-Bernard Kairouz as Deputy Mayor Feraz Younan
- Vince Sorrenti as Vincent "Vinnie" Calabria
- Katrina Spadone as Chevonne
- Garry Who as Garry McDuffy
- Kevin Taumata as Kiwi Bob
- Renzo Bellato as Renzo Gigliotti
- Joe June as Xiao Zhang
- Maria Tran as Madame Kara
- Krissy Stanley as Bronwyn Abbot
- Patrick Spicer as Bob Brown
- Angry Anderson as Patto McCallum
- Melissa Tkautz as Tanya Buttrose
- Ashur Shimon as Khalid Khamis
- Lee Priest as Parking Officer
- Waseem Khan as Pavan Gupta
- Nvalaye Sesay as Ade
- Umit Bali as Krishna
- Paul Wilson as State Premier Mason Fraser
- Benny Bogan as Benny Kelly
- Christine Abadir as Fatima
- James Liotta as Doris "Jamo" Debono
Production
The series was produced in 2022 by Antichoko Productions for the Seven Network.[2][3]
Development
In May 2023, Paul Fenech described the series as being "all about the corruption, lazy council workers, the stuff you see in the news all the time. A lot of it is straight out of the headlines. Councils are an easy source of material because you can’t believe some of the stuff they've actually done."[4] Fenech cited former Deputy Mayor of Auburn City Council, Salim Mehajer, as a prominent example of the corruption found within local councils.[4] Mehajer had been found guilty of electoral fraud in April 2018.[5]
Like his other series, Fenech hired a diverse cast for the series, explaining that "the only importance I place on our casting is that it looks and sounds like Australia. We don’t just hire people of different colours who sound exactly the same. Our cast actually brings some cultural nuance."[4]
Fenech also acknowledged the emergence of political correctness in Australian society, stating that: "The Australian sense of humour used to be more broad and rude, a little cheeky. It was about the concept of a larrikin – but there aren't as many viewers with that older sensibility anymore. There's no appreciation for that generation. They're being forced to forget everything they grew up with and just accept things."[4] Fenech went on to explain: "I know comedians who are getting a lot of work because they say and do woke comedy. It's a lot easier if you fall under that umbrella these days. If you go too far against the grain you can have your career ruined and from a creative point of view that's pretty scary."[4] Fenech concluded: "I still wouldn't be surprised if I suddenly got cancelled."[4]
Episodes
The series debuted on 26 October 2023, at 9:30 pm on 7mate.[6] Following the airing of the eighth episode on 23 November 2023, a special episode titled "Darradong from the Beginning", was screened on the same night. The episode consisted of interviews, series highlights, and contained the original pilot episode for the series, which was produced in 2016.[7][8]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Welcome to the Jungle" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 26 October 2023 | |
| The media and state government shine a light on the corrupt council of Darradong Shire. Mayor Theo asks Fox to steal lawn furniture for his ex-wife, leading to a massive punch up with council rivals.[7] | |||||
| 2 | "Drug Testing" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 2 November 2023 | |
| Fox and his crew are accused of being on drugs due to a series of fake news media stories. The Premier demands action from Mayor Theo who decides to drug test the entire staff of Darradong Council.[7] | |||||
| 3 | "Special Investigations" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 2 November 2023 | |
| Due to so much bad press and allegations of corruption, the state Premier sends a special investigator to Darradong Town Hall to sniff around. Theo asks Fox and Kiwi Bob to steal a bidet for his ex.[7] | |||||
| 4 | "The Sex Tape" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 9 November 2023 | |
| Mayor Theo and his new girlfriend Tanya are caught on camera having sex in a disabled toilet. Staff member Jamo Debono returns from long service leave to announce they identify as non-binary.[7] | |||||
| 5 | "The Lucky Pussy" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 9 November 2023 | |
| Chinese businessmen pay Theo, Vinnie and Feraz bribe money hidden inside an Asian waving cat statue. The "lucky pussy" is misplaced by Fox and Xiao during a wild drunken night of karaoke.[7] | |||||
| 6 | "The Special Performance" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 16 November 2023 | |
| Fox and Xiao travel to Coober Pedy in South Australia searching for the "lucky pussy" full of cash. Greens politician Bob Brown convinces Theo to put on a children's performance about climate change.[7] | |||||
| 7 | "Staff Fun Day" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 16 November 2023 | |
| With the Premiers' investigation continuing and media attacks on Darradong Council, Theo attempts to keep morale up by using council rates to pay for a mini golf day for the entire council staff.[7] | |||||
| 8 | "The Corruption Commission" | Paul Fenech | Paul Fenech | 23 November 2023 | |
| The Premier holds a corruption investigation. Fox, Kiwi Bob, Benny and all the councillors are called to give evidence. Theo and Feraz hatch a scheme to avoid attending.[7] | |||||
Ratings
Ratings were poor for the second and third episodes of the series, screened on 7mate: the episodes received an average of 45,000 Australian viewers.[9] However, David Knox acknowledged that, as the episodes were screened in a late-night timeslot, "they can't be expected to draw big crowds".[9] He also wrote that "by 9:30pm there weren't exactly big crowds anywhere".[9]
Reception
Reception for the series was mixed. Australian television historian Andrew Mercado admired the show's diverse casting and the show's setting within a corrupt council, stating that "the story potential is enormous". He went on to write that "Fenech's formula has served him well for [his previous series]", but stated that the series needed to "up the ante because this series is better than Benny Hill-like sight gags where leaf blowers are blown up girls' mini skirts". Mercado noted that "the show is made for a bogan audience", but stated that the show is "walking a fine line that's getting too repetitive". He also criticised Fenech's character Fox, "his dumbest portrayal yet", who possesses "a nastiness [...] that isn't translating into laughs". Mercado concluded by writing that: "The wild punch-ups and sex scandals can stay, but let's see some sharper satire and some more work on those political parties. Darradong's Greens councillor is stereotypical and lazy, but there is nothing yet in the first two episodes that differentiates between who is Labor and Liberal."[10]
References
- 1 2 "Australian Television: Darradong Local Council". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ↑ Knox, David (24 October 2023). "Darradong Local Council: trailer | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "Darradong Local Council (2022) – The Screen Guide – Screen Australia". Screen Australia. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Piepers, David (5 May 2023). "Paul Fenech talks comedy, cancel culture and corrupt councils – Real Sydney News". Real Sydney. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "Salim Mehajer jailed for electoral fraud". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ↑ Knox, David (24 October 2023). "Darradong Local Council: trailer | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Watch Darradong Local Council Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia". 7plus. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "Australian Television: Darradong Local Council: episode guide". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 Knox, David (3 November 2023). "Quiet Thursday, tough for local drama. | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ Mercado, Andrew (27 October 2023). "Mercado on TV: 7mate celebrates triumphant return of Paul Fenech in Darradong Local Council". Mediaweek. Retrieved 4 January 2024.