The Games (Australian TV)
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The Games was a TV mockumentary, spoofing the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
The show was broadcast on the ABC and starred the noted duo John Clarke and Bryan Dawe (regular satirists of politicians), with Gina Riley another noted comedian, it followed the exploits of the logistics and liaison team. It is unusual in that all actors use their real names in the show, but obviously play fictional characters.
The show centred on the 'logistics and liason' team for the Games, a special administrative unit with an undefined role in events. Although the organisation's purpose was left vague, Clarke was referred to from time to time as "Olympic Supremo", implying his role and that of the organisation was considerable. However, the office set was frequently empty and quiet, with usually only the three stars, a non-speaking assistant and guests occupying the office space.
Clarke played himself as the organisation's head. Frequently baffled, not through stupidity (usually) but rather through the lack of logic in most government procedures, Clarke was also prone to reactions of anger, disgust and contempt for most people associated with the Games, particularly IOC delegates. He also disliked Americans. Clarke's character (like Clarke himself) understood the wheeling-and-dealing that goes on inside public organisations and did his best not just to stay out of it but to thwart attempts to interfere with the operation of his organisation. Clarke was apparently a former Olympic champion, possibly in Swimming, but ducked the question whenever it was asked.
Dawe played himself as the head of the Games financial unit, in charge of the entire Games budget. He was constantly attempting to find more money by any means necessary, including Tobacco sponsorship and selling off Games assets. He once sold off most of the furniture in the Games office in order to raise funds. Brian lived in fear of a massive public debt following the Games. In one episode, Brian was mentioned as also being responsible for the transport arrangements for the Olympics.
Riley's character was the nominal head of Games Public Relations, however she also apparently liased with a variety of sporting bodies. Riley frequently complained of being overworked. She had a volatile temper, frequently vented at public servants, her co-workers and usually, in his absence, the Minister for the Olympics. Riley, as the organisation's token woman, was usually responsible for showing foreign delegates around the city and constantly complained about being 'groped' by 'sleazebags'. Shortly prior to the eleventh episode of the first series, Riley had evidently set fire to the toupee of an Albanian delegate, explaining her behaviour by saying "it was the only way I could think of to get at least one of his hands off me."
In series 2, office assistant Tim Schwert had a minor role, occasionally receiving a comic line or two.
The series' main nemesis was the weasley, conniving Secretary to the Minister for the Olympics, Nicholas Bell, once again played by an actor of the same name. Bell was frequently trying to underhandedly make questionable deals, cut costs and generally make life hard for the cast, usually in the name of efficiency and economy. Bell represented the Minister at all times, and the Minister himself was never seen. Whether or not the Minister in question was supposed to be Michael Knight (Australian politician), the real-life Minister, remains a mystery.
The humour of the series was very much based in satire, of the Olympic movement (particularly the inherent corruption and cronyism therein), the public service (particularly excessive bureaucracy and lack of common-sense in policy) and politics, especially 'passing the buck' onto public servants. The Australian media and their willingness to do anything to sell a story were also frequent targets.
The series had two runs of 13 episodes, the first in 1998 and the second in 2000. The final episode was broadcast just days before the Opening Ceremony of the real games. In the final episode, the three stars and Bell were forced into standing in for The Seekers at the opening ceremony rehearsal to sing "The Carnival is Over" This was seen as prophetic because the Seekers did indeed perform that song, but at the Closing Ceremony or the Paralympics some weeks later.
A cavalcade of Australian celebrities appeared on the show, including John Farnham, Dave Graney, Frank Woodley, Barrie Cassidy, Maxine McKew and a number of others. In one celebrated cameo, the actor John Howard appeared on a video message intended for overseas release and read an apology to Aboriginal people for crimes committed against them. The actor's namesake, as Prime Minister, had refused to do just that. The message was accompanied by John Clarke saying "that's not the Prime Minister," to which Gina Riley replied, "he never said he was. He said he was John Howard." The confusion between the two men has become a frequent joke in Australia, a joke in which the actor Howard has been more than willing to participate, particularly as he has much more liberal views than the Prime Minister.
External links
- The Games (http://www.abc.net.au/thegames)