The Chaser's War on Everything
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The Chaser's War on Everything is a satirical television comedy series broadcast on ABC-TV in Australia. The series is produced by satire group The Chaser. Returning is Chris Taylor, Julian Morrow (now acting as executive producer), Craig Reucassel, Andrew Hansen and Chas Licciardello. Charles Firth's role is downplayed due to his move to the United States although he still contributes occasional roving reports.
Whilst there are some segments that hark back to CNNNN, The Chaser's earlier TV show, CNNNN's mock news-channel format is not used. The show's studio segments are performed panel-style in front of a live audience on a set reminiscent of where the Chaser group used to meet. These segments are interspersed with pre-produced location items and fake ads. The series looks at all issues and attacks a wide range of current topics in politics and the media.
The series carries on The Chaser's trademark technique of staging situationist interventions in real-life events, in which members of the group 'gatecrash' political, commercial and social events and film the results. Memorable provocations in the current series have included the "Surprise Spruiker" and the often shocking public reactions to supposed plans to build a mosque in the middle of Mosman (an upper-class Sydney suburb) and a large memorial to the 2005 Cronulla riots, where an obelisk was supposedly to be built near the beach, featuring a large video screen would constantly replay news footage of the violence.
Original names for the series which were rejected by the ABC include 'Thank Allah It's Friday!' and 'The Chaser's Age Of Terror Variety Hour'.
A DVD of the first thirteen episodes is to be released on the 17 August, 2006.
Chas Licciardello is currently facing charges of "offensive conduct" after turning up at a Canterbury Bulldogs football game to film a skit for War on Everything in which he sold mock "supporter kits" with fake knives, knuckle dusters and balaclavas to Bulldogs fans, in response to the infamous violent behaviour of some Bulldogs supporters. Licciardello stated, "Most of the people took it pretty light-heartedly, but a couple of the supporters got a bit angry and then the police stepped in." The NSW police declared the stunt "an act of mindless stupidity" and stated that Licciardello will have to face Sutherland Local Court at a later date.
Recurring Segments on the show!
Some recurring segments on the show include:
- "What Have We Learned from Current Affairs This Week?" -- which pokes fun at shows Today Tonight and A Current Affair, tallying each's counts for stories in categories such as "Menace To Society", "Old People Screwed Over", "Oddballs & Cranks", "Greedy Councils", and "Youth Gone Wild". Each segment features a 'lesson' on the two shows reporting techniques, subjects covered so far include how to spot dodgy guys (they are shown in slow motion), a guide to different types of experts (including those who "flip pages" and "click mouses"), and the all-important art of network cross-promotion.
- "Surprise Spruiker" -- where a shop "spruiker" (Andrew Hansen) attempts to help various institutions sell things, such as Giorgio Armani suits or WorkChoices, by turning up outside with a microphone and speaker and spruiking out of his own generosity.
- "Pursuit Trivia" -- in which Julian Morrow tests the general knowledge of a politician or celebrity by asking a Trivial Pursuit style question at an interview or press conference. As yet only two people, Kevin Rudd and Shannon Noll, have successfully answered a question.
- "Scenes from the Life of the Crazy Warehouse Guy" -- in which a stereotypical announcer (Andrew Hansen) from carpet warehouse fire sales uses his unique speaking style in everyday situations such as buying McDonald's or asking for help in a public library.
- "Firth in the USA" -- Charles Firth, now living in America, files a report on an aspect of American news, life, or culture. The segment usually features an attempt by Firth to infiltrate an event or organisation (such as Yale University's 'Skull and Bones' secret society), or to break a record (such as being thrown out of more corporate headquarters in one day than Michael Moore in his entire career).
- "Mr Ten Questions" -- Andrew Hansen shows up at a press conference and proceeds to ask 10 questions (which vary in degrees of relevance) without letting the interviewee speak until he has read out the list.
- "The Ad Roadtest" -- where the team recreate situations shown in advertising to see if they would work in real life, such as the confidentiality of Oral-B dentists or if Lynx "click" deodorant really does attract more girls the more you spray on.
- "Famous Face Off" -- two masters in a particular field compete to be the best in an endeavour such as in tongue-twisting newsreading or in "blocking" reforms in the Senate.
- "A Message From Osama Bin Laden" -- Where an existing video of the infamous terrorist Osama Bin Laden is dubbed with incorrect and humourous subtitles, often including a Jihad on various people. Videos of Saddam Hussein ("Another Saddam Outburst"), Abu Bakar Bashir ("Everybody Loves Abu") and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ("Meanwhile In Iran") have also been dubbed in a similar manner.
Sunrise
On the ninth episode of the show, Chris Taylor announced that he planned to divorce his wife, but he didn't want ask her "the usual boring way," but do "something special, something she'll remember". The segment shows several of Taylor's attempts to "pop the question," including hanging a sign over a freeway, and "proposing" on a big screen at the Tropfest film festival. For the finale, Taylor introduces the interview of him on the morning television program, Sunrise. In the interview, Taylor asks the host if he can send a quick message to his partner, he then proceeds to tell her to "Get the fuck out of my life." This finale from the segment has recently been leaked onto the internet, and has been widely distributed by email. Many viewers believed the segment was actually real but Taylor admitted on national radio station Triple J that it was set up, was actually filmed after Sunrise went to air and shown on The Chaser's War on Everything exclusively ([video]). The hosts of Sunrise also admitted it was a set up.
External links
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