The idea of over-dubbing an old movie or TV show with humorous jokes was not a new one. Woody Allen first used it in 'What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966),' and, indeed, even the D-Generation team themselves had weaved re-dubbed scenes from "Homicide (1964-1977)" {starring none other than Judge Muttonchops himself, Alwyn Kurts, albeit without the ridiculously fake sideburns} into their earlier sketch shows. When Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Tony Martin, Mick Molloy, Rob Sitch and Jason Stephens opened the classic ABC Saturday night comedy series "The Late Show" in 1992, they decided to expand upon the idea using clips from the drama "Rush (1974-1976)," which they broadcast as a weekly serial. The compiled episodes have since been released on video and DVD, along with Season Two's 'Bargearse,' an equally-hilarious over-dubbed version of the cop drama "Bluey (1976)." I can't imagine how much time the comedians spent poring over episodes of the original series, but they have done a remarkable job in splicing together already-present visuals with spoken gags that miraculously complement each other.
Whereas "Rush" took place on the 19th century Australian goldfields, "The Olden Days" opens on the mudfields, where tough miners brave strenuous conditions in order to make a living through, as far as I could tell, shovelling mud. Gov. Frontbottom (voiced by Tony Martin) a little bit poncey, slightly foppish and quite keen to spend a lot of time alone with some rough, sweaty and well-built miners ostensibly commands the mudfields, but his flamboyant personality only breeds contempt and amusement among the lowly miners. The real hero of the story is Sgt. Olden (voiced by Mick Molloy), a gruff and unshaven man-of-the-people, whose greatest claim to fame is that he out-performed Frontbottom in last year's "Playschool" auditions. Frequently self-referential and always ridiculous, "The Olden Days" cleverly and hilariously weaves sex jokes and bodily function gags into a coherent series of stories involving scenes from a 1970s drama series. Highlights include Olden's 007 opening credits, miners forced to give themselves a wedgie for refusing to adhere to Funny Hat Day, and a human Automatic Teller Machine.
Whereas "Rush" took place on the 19th century Australian goldfields, "The Olden Days" opens on the mudfields, where tough miners brave strenuous conditions in order to make a living through, as far as I could tell, shovelling mud. Gov. Frontbottom (voiced by Tony Martin) a little bit poncey, slightly foppish and quite keen to spend a lot of time alone with some rough, sweaty and well-built miners ostensibly commands the mudfields, but his flamboyant personality only breeds contempt and amusement among the lowly miners. The real hero of the story is Sgt. Olden (voiced by Mick Molloy), a gruff and unshaven man-of-the-people, whose greatest claim to fame is that he out-performed Frontbottom in last year's "Playschool" auditions. Frequently self-referential and always ridiculous, "The Olden Days" cleverly and hilariously weaves sex jokes and bodily function gags into a coherent series of stories involving scenes from a 1970s drama series. Highlights include Olden's 007 opening credits, miners forced to give themselves a wedgie for refusing to adhere to Funny Hat Day, and a human Automatic Teller Machine.