http://www.news.com.au/entertainment...-10388,00.html McDermott's new Big Gig
March 26, 2007 02:23pm
Article from: AAP
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Print Email COMEDIAN Paul McDermott is to return to television in a new variety show that will recall the late 1980s stand-up comedy hit The Big Gig. The Sideshow will premiere on Saturday, April 21 at 7.30pm, and its announcement follows the axing last year of
The Glass House.
The new hour-long show will reunite McDermott with Ted Robinson, producer of
Good News Week and the dumped
Glass House.
McDermott was host of
Good News Week, after making his name as a member of the musical comedy trio The Doug Anthony All Stars, who were a feature act on
The Big Gig.
His last regular TV gig was as the subdued host of the ABC's
Strictly Dancing, but McDermott should feel right at home with
The Sideshow's promised mix of Australian and international comedy, music, cabaret, burlesque and freak show performers.
Regular acts confirmed for the program, produced by GNWTV, include The Umbilical Brothers, Tripod and comedian Claire Hooper.
The Sideshow has edgy Australian variety TV credentials to burn, with GNWTV executive producer Robinson's resume also including Kitson Fahey, Elle McFeast's
Live and Sweaty, Roy and HG's
This Sporting Life and
DAAS Kapital.
"There's a whole new generation of brilliant performers out there, and it's time for them to have a home on television," Robinson said.
ABC TV head of arts, entertainment and comedy Courtney Gibson said the show will rail against the formats loosely defined as variety, such as
Dancing With The Stars, which have become hits on commercial networks.
"Australia needs a prime time performance program that's not hostage to a tiresome, tricksy reality/game format, with no judges and no voting-off, just top shelf acts that will captivate and confound," Gibson said.