Áramótaskaupið ("The New Year's Lampoon") is an annualIcelandic television comedy special, broadcast onNew Year's Eve by the state public service broadcasterRÚV. Initially aired on radio in 1948, and later moving to television in 1966, it featuressketches satirizing the news events of the past year.[1]
It is often the highest-rated television broadcast of the year in Iceland.[1] In 2002, it was reported that the special had been seen by 95.5% of the country;Páll Magnússon,CEO ofRÚV stated that this was most likely a record in theWestern world.[2] Due to its highviewership, advertising time duringÁramótaskaupið is the most expensive on Icelandic television.[citation needed] The show ends just before midnight, and those Icelanders who shoot off fireworks usually do so afterÁramótaskaupið ends.[citation needed]
Some of its sketches have become well known in Icelandic culture, such as its portrayal ofMinister of FinanceÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson as theBatman parody "Skattmann" ("Taxman").[1] In 2009, the show featured a sketch about theprotests following the2008 Icelandic financial crisis, in whichJón Gnarr played a strait-laced middle-aged protester shouting "Helvítis fokking fokk!!". The phrase swiftly became widely used in Iceland in relation to the crisis.[3]
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