"Kath & Kim" (2002) TV series 2002-????

Creators:

Gina Riley
Jane Turner

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

16 May 2002 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Suburban nightmares living the suburban dream.

Plot:

A mother, her daughter, and their respective "hunks of spunk" negotiate life in suburban Australia.

Plot Keywords:

Performer | Caricature | Camp | Character Name In Title

Awards:

9 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Jane Turner	...	Kathleen 'Kath' Darleen Day Knight / ... (32 episodes, 2002-2007)
Gina Riley	...	Kimberly 'Kim' Day Craig / ... (32 episodes, 2002-2007)
Glenn Robbins	...	Kel Graham Knight (32 episodes, 2002-2007)
Peter Rowsthorn	...	Brett Craig (32 episodes, 2002-2007)
Magda Szubanski	...	Sharon Karen Strzelecki / ... (32 episodes, 2002-2007)

Runtime:

26 min (24 episodes)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:G (some episodes) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Flemington Racecourse, Flemington, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Riley Turner Productions

Trivia:

Character's spawned from a regular sketch from Turner, Riley and Szubanski's short lived comedy sketch show from the 90's, "Big Girl's Blouse" (1994).

Quotes:

[Kim is looking at herself in the mirror. Her stomach is sucked in and she has her chest puffed out]
Kim: Brett thought I was just a boring housewife... Well he was wrong! Look at me! I'm a hornbag!
[stops holding her stomach in as she flounces off with a pot belly]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dancing with the Stars: (#6.1)" (2007)

The Big Girls hit the nail on the head - toute suite !

Kath and Kim is the latest definitive 'hit' from the pool of Melbourne comedic genius that had its origins in Fast Forward and originally The D-Generation.

Watching Kath and Kim I try to work out each time why I love it so much. Unlike other funny reality sitcoms - ie. Seinfeld - there arent continously funny setups and moments - though to be sure there are a number of gems. Still your not belly laughing the whole way through.

But what makes it addictive viewing is simply the stone-dead spot on performances from each of the cast and reality of the situations potraying modern life for your average aussie suburban just-middle class types.

Gina's "Kimmoi" is frighteningly accurate portrayal of the self-absorbed, helpess, hot-tempered but needy 'dawta'. Her relationship with Brett (wonderfully understated by Peter Rowsthorn) - Chewing him up one day and spitting him out the next is priceless in its accuracy!

Jane's 'Kath' is even more perfect as the tizzy born-again empty nester who now a 'woman of the world' with the fashion sense of Packenham Upper.

Magda's 'Sharon' - well is there any character Magda can't play? She is a comedic character genius of that theres no question. *Everyone* must know a Sharon out there - right down to the irony of being a hopelessly overweight sports playing fanatic!

Glenn Robbin's 'Kel Knight' is more parody than stretched reality but plays the character to cringe-worthy perfection.

For me there are two main reasons it works so well:

1. Yes it's situations and people we all know. Filming it at real suburban house and real shopping mall (did they tell anyone they were filming?! I dont think those background people are extras!) just add to the smiles of recognition.

2. This is a potrayal of your modern day lower-middle class suburbanites. Not your stereotype of old moccasin wearing uncultured bogans. These people appreciate the 'modern world' (Kath reading about Shah of Iran and into new-age things, Kim on the internet and trying speed dating) but still have the tragic common ways of your suburban yokels. The juxtaposition which is very much a reality in the modern burbs is beautiful to watch!

There are lots of special moments from season one so I wont go through them, but again a joy to see cameos from Tony Martin and Marg Downey.

I'll finish there... I'm off to Fountain Gate for a Cino and a bit of P & Q !

Bring on Season 2 !!