Full Frontal is an Australiansketch comedy series that ran on theSeven Network from 1993 to 1997. It launched the television careers ofEric Bana,Shaun Micallef,Kitty Flanagan,Julia Morris,Daina Reid andDenise Scott.

In 1998 a spin-off of the show moved toNetwork Ten under the nameTotally Full Frontal, losing most of the original cast in the process; it finished in 1999.

Since 2008 till approx 2010, re-runs were screening onThe Comedy Channel as part of the channel's "Aussie Gold" block of locally made, classic comedy programming.

The series began screening shortly after the similar sketch comedy programFast Forward (from whichFull Frontal derived) ended.Full Frontal retained the same general format ofFast Forward. It was formatted in a way such as to create the effect of someone continuouslychannel surfing; after thepunchline of each sketch, it would abruptly switch to the next as if the viewer had switched channels. However, the new show had an all-new regular cast.^[1] Initially, some members of theFast Forward cast made guest appearances in occasionalFull Frontal sketches, easing the transition into the new series. Several members of the new cast had appeared in the earlierThe Comedy Company, includingKym Gyngell andGlenn Butcher.

The show first aired on theSeven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 15 September 1997.

• Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 23 May 2005
• Full Frontal - Series 1: Vol. 2 (2 Disc Set) - 20 June 2005
• Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 1 (2 Disc Set) - 25 October 2006
• Full Frontal - Series 2: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 5 December 2006
• Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 1 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007
• Full Frontal - Series 3: Vol. 2 (3 Disc Set) - 20 February 2007
• Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
• Full Frontal - Series 2 (5 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
• Full Frontal - Series 3 (6 Disc Set) - 10 February 2010
• Full Frontal - Series 4 (6 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011
• Full Frontal - Series 5 (4 Disc Set) - 1 June 2011
• Totally Full Frontal - Series 1 (4 Disc Set) - 29 June 2011
• Totally Full Frontal - Best of Series 2 – 30 November 2011
• Totally Full Frontal - Series 2 (3 Disc Set) - 7 March 2012

Years: 1993, Episodes 1-18; 1994, Episodes 19-40; 1995, Episodes 41-66; 1996, Episodes 67-92; 1997, Episodes 93-112.

• Matt Parkinson (1993)
• Matthew Quartermaine (1993)
• Greg Fleet (1993, Episodes 1–9)
• Michael Veitch (1993, Episodes 10–18)
• Jennifer Ward-Lealand (1993–94)
• Rima Te Wiata (1993–94)
• Eric Bana (1993–96)
• Glenn Butcher (1993–97)
• Kym Gyngell (1993–97)
• Ross Williams (1993–97)
• Denise Scott (1994)
• Sue Yardley (1994)
• John Walker (1994–97)
• Francis Greenslade (1995, Episodes 49–66)
• Julia Morris (1995–96)
• Kitty Flanagan (1995–96, Episodes 41–81)
• Daina Reid (1995–97)
• Shaun Micallef (1995–97, Episodes 41–105)
• Jackie Loeb (1996)
• Darren Gilshenan (1997)
• Gabby Millgate (1997)
• Ursula Brooks (1997, Episodes 93–99)

Years: 1998, Episodes 1-16; 1999, Episodes 17-32.

• Ross Williams (1998–99)
• John Walker (1998–99)
• Darren Gilshenan (1998–99)
• Gabby Millgate (1998–99)
• Julia Zemiro (1998–99)
• Paul McCarthy (1998–99)
• Vic Plume (1998–99, Episodes 7-32)

• Alan Pentland (1993)
• Gina Riley (1993)
• Glenn Robbins (1993)
• Jane Turner (1993)
• Jimeoin (1993)
• Magda Szubanski (1993)
• Sue Yardley (1993)
• Greg Fleet (1993 (Episode 10), 1994 (Episode 40))
• Jane Borghesi (1993, Episodes 10-18)
• Cherise Donovan (1993, 1994–1995, 1997)
• Geoff Brooks (1993, 1994)
• Marg Downey (1993, 1994)
• Michael Veitch (1993 (Episodes 1–6), 1994 (Episodes 36-40))
• Steve Blackburn (1993, 1994)
• Denise Scott (1993, 1995)
• Gabriel Gaté (1993 (Episode 13), 1995 (Episode 62))
• Peter Moon (1993, 1996)
• Steve Vizard (1993, 1996)
• Shaun Micallef (1994)
• Wayne Hope (1994)
• Jake Kirov (1994)
• Naomi Wright (1994)
• Ben Georgiou (1994)
• Michael Edward Stevens (1994)
• Daina Reid (1994, Episodes 39-40)
• Dieter Brummer (1994, Episode 40)
• Matthew Quartermaine (1994, Episode 40)
• Margaret Urlich (1994, Episodes 62 & 64)
• Geire Kami (1994-1995)
• Sandy Roberts (1994, 1996)
• Jeffrey Richards (1994)
• TISM (1995)
• Margaret Pomeranz (1995)
• Richard Hutson (1995)
• Wynne Pullman (1995)
• John Paul Young (1995)
• Pia Emery (1995)
• Julie "Fury" Saunders (1995)
• John "Vulcan" Seru (1995)
• Lisa Curry (1995)
• Tim Watson (1995)
• Kate Fischer (1995)
• Dave O'Neil (1995, 1996)
• Esme Melville (1995, 1996)
• Stan Yarramuna (1996, Episodes 67-68 & 71)
• Paula Gardner (1996)
• Kitty Flanagan (1996, Episode 82)
• Rosalind Hammond (1996)
• Paul Parker (1996)
• Ian Mall (1996)
• Rani Cameron (1996)
• Stephanie Lawrence (1996)
• Lisa McCune (1996)
• Tegan Stewart (1996)
• Lucinda Bruce (1996)
• Barry Crocker (1996)
• Caroline Reid (1997)
• Brett Tucker (1997, Episode 100)
• The Tap Dogs (1997, Episode 100)
• Eric Bana (1997, Episode 101)
• Ursula Brooks (1997, Episodes 101 & 105)
• Kate Gorman (1997)
• Daniel Daperis (1997)
• Kate Keltie (1997)
• Gerard McCulloch (1997, Episodes 103-112)

• Ryan Moloney (1998, Episode 1)
• Michael Carman (1998, Episode 1)
• Daina Reid (1998, Episode 1)
• Vic Plume (1998, Episodes 1-6)
• Gerard McCulloch (1998)
• Tania Lacy (1998, Episodes 2 & 4)
• Jarrod Choong (1998, Episode 7)
• Bill Charles (1998, Episode 7)
• Matylda Buczko (1998, Episode 9)
• Melanie Lockman (1998, Episode 10)
• Tim Chambers (1998, Episode 10)
• Fernanda Ramos (1998, Episodes 11 & 14)
• Robin Bissett (1998, Episode 12)
• Julie McKay (1998, Episode 13)
• Ron Kamoen (1998, Episode 14)
• Vanessa Sim (1998, Episode 14)
• Ryan White (1998, Episode 14)
• Michael Ward (1998, Episodes 13-15)
• Alicia Missen (1998, Episode 16)
• Bud Tingwell (1999)
• Carrie Baker (1999, Episode 26)
• Geoff Paine (1999, Episode 32)
• Kynan Barker (1999, Episode 32)
• Matt Tilley (1999, Episode 32)

Peter (or as he pronounces it "Poida" often correcting people by saying "hey it's Poida, not Poida");

An Australianbogan, played byEric Bana. Poida was originally a TV host on Community Television'sChannel 31. Peter enjoys to drinkVB and carries anesky around wherever he goes. He has a blondmullet and dresses in a velvet suit. Most of the time he is seen smoking in sketches. Poida works for Channel 31 but is usually the stand-in host for many TV shows on other networks (such as Channel 9, 10, and the ABC) when the real host fails to appear. He has stood in for Ray Martin onA Current Affair and Kerry O'Brien onThe 7.30 Report, as well as being the host ofStorytime and an episode ofPlayschool. He takes an esky into the studio and smokes while interviewing guests. Instead of sitting on the set furniture, he prefers to make himself comfortable on a bean bag.

Impact on Eric Bana's Career

Poida was probably Eric Bana's most well known character and was thought to really have helped Bana's acting career. The director of the Australian filmChopper says he cast Bana because of his performance inFull Frontal. Bana has gone on to a successful acting career, starring in movies both in and out of Australia.

Eddie

Eastern European migrant, whose famous line was "It's a complete shemozzle" (also played byEric Bana). In an interview inTV Week Bana said the character was born when he was around 10 or 12 whilst playing on hisCB Radio.^[2]

"Eddie is the sort of guy who could walk through theMardi Gras and not realise it was gay. He would just see it as coincidental that there were so many men there."^[2]

Ron

A stage janitor who wears overalls and is always trying to either apply for a job or scam money introducing himself as "uh, Ron". When he is caught out, he will often leave, saying "Fair enough". (Played by Ross Williams)

Neville and Beulah

Elderlynudists who love doing things "totally nude" (played by Glenn Butcher and Daina Reid).

Milo Kerrigan

Punch-drunk (but much loved) ex-boxer played byShaun Micallef. He is considered to be the most popular character of the series. Heavily reliant on slapstick sketches involving Kerrigan routinely destroying large portions of the set. In series 4 he appeared on Parko's Good Sport, wreaking havoc across a multitude of sports and activities such as table tennis, ballet, billiards and blackjack. Micallef continued to play the character on his later seriesThe Micallef Program.

Parko

One of the hosts of the sports variety showGood Sport, which often has Milo Kerrigan as a guest (played byKitty Flanagan)

Roseanne Chapel

A TV personality, she took over as presenter ofGood Sport from Parko. She also hosts a number of shows onhigh culture that feature Milo Kerrigan as guest (Played byDaina Reid)

Nobby Doldrums

An obsessed fan of7.30 Report presenterKerry O'Brien who is willing to be interviewed about anything, just to be on the program (played byShaun Micallef).

David McGahan

Incompetent TV personality and failed actor who hostednature documentaries, (played byShaun Micallef).

Roger Explosion

'Alter ego' of David McGahan from his failed acting career (played byShaun Micallef).

Leon

Art critic, renowned for his liberal use of the word "crap" (played byKym Gyngell).

Ian Goodings

Sleazy TV news presenter on the fictitiousAustralian National Nightly Network News (played byJohn Walker).

Narelle Parkinsom

Bitchy and unenthusiastic co-presenter on fictitiousAustralian National Nightly Network News (played byKitty Flanagan).

Phil Toinby

Much maligned weatherman onAustralian Nightly Network News, renowned for his outrageous and colourful ties and using unusual pointers sent in by viewers, as noticed by the two newsreaders (played byFrancis Greenslade).

Chaka

Hippie andpoet, her poems usually circulate about her hometown ofNimbin (played byKitty Flanagan). On a parody of A Current Affairs on Full Frontal, Eric Bana's Ray Martin asks Chaka what type of name is "Chaka" and what it means. Chaka is Arabic for "Joanne".

Enzo

Organized crime boss believed to be parody of figures in the Melbourne organized crime underworld (played by Ross Williams). He has a strict hatred of cameras and responds to questions with the word 'NO' frequently.

Allen Bamff

Appeared in three episodes as an unconfident Car Salesman promoting his self-titled car yard "Allen Bamff Holden" (played byFrancis Greenslade).

The show also famously satirised many prominent celebrities, including:

Paul Keating

Australian Prime Minister 1991-1996 (played by Glenn Butcher)

John Howard

Australian Prime Minister 1996-2007 (played by John Walker). Earlier parodies of John Howard were also played by Glenn Butcher.

Pauline Hanson

Controversial right-wing politician (played by Daina Reid).

Mike Willesee

Journalist and presenter of Australia'sA Current Affair known for long pauses at the most inopportune times mid-sentence (played byEric Bana).

Stan Grant

Journalist and presenter ofReal Life (played byEric Bana).

Ray Martin

Journalist and presenter of Australia'sA Current Affair (played byEric Bana).

Fabio

Male model and "most beautiful man in the cosmos, including the black holes" (played byShaun Micallef). Fabio was Micallef's favorite character on the show.

Stuart Littlemore

Barrister and journalist and presenter ofMedia Watch. (Played byKim Gyngell).

Kerry O'Brien

Journalist and presenter ofThe 7.30 Report (see:Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (Played byKim Gyngell).

John Burgess

Wheel of Fortune host from 1984 to 1996 (played by Ross Williams)

Tony Barber

Sale of the Century host from 1980 to 1991 andWheel of Fortune host in 1996 (played byJohn Walker)

Glenn Ridge

Sale of the Century host from 1991 to 2001. Portrayed byEric Bana.

Mister Camouflage

A man dressed heavily in military camouflage who has a hard time being noticed in day-to-day life (played by Darren Gilshenan)

Sophie

A French woman who works as a Passenger Check-In Officer forAir France. She used to work as a flight attendant for the airline, but was demoted after she got into a drunken fight with theFrench President. (Played byJulia Zemiro)

Noeline Buxworth

A bogan who was always seen at a poker machine and was always and smoking and drinking. She would often tell stories to strangers about her life. (Played byPaul McCarthy)

Famously satirized celebrities include:

Pauline Hanson

Played byJulia Zemiro in a 1950s style sitcom calledI love Pauline

the cast ofSeinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld (played byPaul McCarthy),Elaine Benes (played byJulia Zemiro),Cosmo Kramer (played by Darren Gilshenan),George Costanza (Played by Ross Williams)

Liz Hayes

Journalist and one of the hosts of the Show60 Minutes (Played byJulia Zemiro)

Jana Wendt

A prominent journalist of the 90s (played byJulia Zemiro)

Full Frontal has won severalLogie Awards in its time. It has been nominated for several as well.It has won:

• Most Popular Comedy Program (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
• Most Popular Personality toEric Bana

Nominated for:

• Most Popular Comedy Program (1999)

• List of Australian television series

• Full Frontal atIMDb
• Totally Full Frontal atIMDb
• Totally Full Frontal at the National Film and Sound Archive