If you truly love your television, you should cast your eyes Ed Kavalee’s way this Thursday night. Sure, it’s a clip show with gags, unapologetically. Sure it’s a format ripped from the UK. But boy do we have some bad telly. And it’s Ed’s job to remind us.
TV Burp, as Kavalee explains, is not out to critique television. It’s an affectionate look at the week in TV. It’s an absurdist time capsule of the last seven days, slicing scenes out of context, giving them inappropriate set-ups, and letting the shows provide the punch lines.
“We look for gaps, such as something that happens with the storyline where we can get in and show it in a different context,” he explained to TV Tonight. “So it’s not about good or bad but whether we can have some fun with it.
“We’re more a Lover’s Guide to Television, but it’s not all just promos.”
Kavalee sits on a brightly coloured living room set, cheerfully reminding us of some of the obscure moments we might have missed on Neighbours, Airways, Rush, Home and Away, Recruits, Hot Seat, Ready Steady Cook, Gardening Australia and Dancing with the Stars.
If the grabs weren’t already funny in their original form, they will prove more so out of context. The idea stems from Kavalee’s unashamed passion for TV which he took to Seven programme developer Brad Lyons.
“I said, ‘Brad I’ve got an idea.’ And he said ‘Before you say anything, look at this DVD,’ and he put TV Burp on the table in front of me. So it was one of those fortuitous ‘right place, right time’ deals.”
Seven had been sitting on the UK series Harry Hill’s TV Burp for a while, but hadn’t found the right home or the person to front it.
“Harry Hill is a legendary stand up in England. It was his idea and he’s now 8 series down,” said Kavalee.
The other successful format is the US TV skewer, The Soup, which airs in Australia on E!
“I like The Soup and Joel McHale, but it’s a bit more ‘critiquey.’ I don’t want to attack anything because I don’t want to see them taken off. I want True Beauty to run its course and find its audience.”
Although it is looking back at the week in television, TV Burp avoids politics. It sticks like glue to drama, reality, light entertainment and factual television. News and current affairs are off limits, left to the domain of Media Watch, The Chaser and The 7pm Project. Comedy is also off the list.
“We have a lot of shows that deal with current affairs or gags on panel shows and they’re great. But we want to turn the comedy light towards things that we perhaps take for granted. All Saints, Home and Away, Neighbours, Packed to the Rafters, Underbelly when it was on, Airways, World’s Strictest Parents, things like that.”
It effectively means Gordon Ramsay v Tracey Grimshaw, The Chaser‘s “Make a Realistic Wish” sketch or Karl Stefanovic the morning after the Logies are not typical targets.
“The Karl that we’re interested in? We’re interested in the Karl who hosts Random Acts of Kindness,” he explains. “We’ll leave others to look after Karl after he’s allegedly had a few after the Logies.”
Kavalee says Channel Seven has been very embracing of the show featuring programmes from rival networks.
“I said to them during the pilot, ‘Ok, let’s just say I love Farmer Wants a Wife. Are we going to get in trouble if I want to have some fun with that?’ To their credit they said, ‘No we don’t mind that.’ And let’s be honest our first show we’ll be talking about MasterChef. That’s the biggest show.”
The first episode tackles almost all the networks, including getting stuck into Seven shows. Before a studio audience Kavalee introduces comical moments, including putting himself into some scenes. Foxtel makes a brief appearance, SBS seemed absent -perhaps when its big sporting events are over it will provide plenty of mirth. There were several scenes from earlier weeks, no doubt included for the first week.
Kavalee admits he’s now watching relentless chunks of programming along with the show’s researchers. But it’s all coming from a place of devotion.
“We’re not reviewing, we’re not critiquing, we’re a celebration,” he said.
“I don’t want to be harsh for the sake of it. I just love telly.”
TV Burp premieres 9pm Thursday on Seven.
This show always reminds me of the skit “the chaser” did when rumours where floating around that they would go to commercial television.
I’m from the UK. I have seen Harry Hill’s version. I have never found him ‘funny’. Perhaps his personality dominated the show too much, so I would only watch it if nothing else was on.
Seeing this on TV I instinctively went to change channel, but kept watching when Harry had done a Houdini and Ed appeared. Sure, Ed is mimicking Harry, but it’s a style that works for the show so I have no problem with it. Ed is less dominating and so there’s more of a balance between the clips and his commentary.
Aussie TV Burb makes me laugh. Much better than Harry Hill’s UK version.
What I didn’t get was why TV Burp wasn’t on first. Why did Double Take lead into TV Burp and not the other way around? TV Burp was way more family friendly and surely after The Amazing Race TV Burp would be a better fit than the swearing and the pretend boobs of Double Take.
Either way I thought Ed did a good job with the Burp and there were enough laughs for me that I’ll tune in again next week. Double Take on the other hand can go jump off a bridge.
I like Ed Kavalee – but he just seemed to fake and animated throughout the entire tv show.
I think he needs to relax and be a bit more natural.
He bopped his head around which was really annoying…I found myself watching him with intrigue rather than listening to his jokes!
I thought the end was really strange…with the dancers!
I’d watch it again – I like this lighthearted Aussie stuff…rather than the American sitcoms and all the crime shows!
The bit about Susan and the letterbox from Neighbours was hilarious and I agree with koverstreet, the lobster bit was funny aswell. Just thinking about the guy doing the Rock Lobster dance at the end is making me laugh. Interesting to note that Josh Lawson, Paul Calleja and Lawrence Mooney are all writers for the show.
Tv Burp was o.k. and will stick with it.
I think my problem is that I have seen quite a lot of Harry Hills’ version and love it, so I can’t help comparing it to the better version.
If this was my first experience with TV Burp, I think I’d be happy that it was something a bit different and would be really looking forward to the next episode.
As for Double Take… Oh my God that was as bad as I was expecting and there’s no way in hell that I’ll spend any time watching it.
I thought Ed was great and we laughed quite a bit during Tv Burp.
Double Take…….what a waste of 30 mins I’ll never get back! I’m no fuddy duddy at 35, but was all the fould language really necessary?? Almost every skit had s**t or f**k!
Sorry guys but TV Burp was woeful…and I’m a big Kavalee fan with every Get This episode still saved.
At this stage Ed’s just not cut out for this type of TV hosting and think about it – this is even with the benefit of good editing. From the impersonating of Harry Hill to the pathetic asides to camera, to the bizarre over-acting and severe lack of comic timing – just astonishing this got to air at all.
The main crime – the writing. And guess which writers they’ve recruited folks? That’s right – we’ve got some old names here from Full Frontal, Comedy Inc and hold your breathe…..Tonight Live with Steve Vizard!!!
As for Double Take – take a bow ex-Comedy Inc writers…..they’re employed here again too (I’m not joking)!!
Australian TV….I’m going back to overseas shows..
I checked out some of the Harry Hill clips on you tube, he wasn’t even that funny, well Ed that show was hilarious
I thought it was okay. Actually made me laugh in places. He’s been watching Hill too much and is imitating his style but he’ll get better and more natural I imagine. Doubletake was appalling. The canned laughter was so badly done. When three people get knocked over in quick succession audiences do not laugh with equal measure at each joke, laughter builds. It was so distracting. Writing was average and it looked like it was shot by the news team. Subtitles on a song parody? Why? If you’re reading it you’re getting to the joke before it’s delivered.
The editing was not great but they had little to work with. While the actors did their best they are don’t know where the jokes are and can’t play off one another. Looked very dated, Pretty much Comedy Inc. again. Let’s be honest, it’s there for the drama points. Needs stronger writing and pacier direction.
Well must say I really enjoyed TV Burp and Ed is a very funny guy. Some bits were meh but others had me lol. I especially liked the bit where they made fun of that lobster guy from Recruits lol.
Double Take..well some parts were funny but it became less funnier as it went on. Will sit through it I suppose while waiting for TV Burp.
Anyway finally something fun on Seven that isn’t a boring factual.
well done TV Burp, great show.
Double Take? Hmm… i’ll get back to you…
I think I liked this. He seemed to be imitating Harry Hill too much, and, as I don’t like Harry Hill, that counts against him. But the show has potential to grow into something entertaining.
Double Take, on the other hand, with its horrible laugh track, was woeful.
“Ed Kavalee, you’re clearly no Harry Hill.”
This comment is correct, not as funny as the British version (even though it was almost an exact replica) purely because of the host, not saying he is a bad host but definitely not right for the show.
Though they could of got a lot funnier material off some of the shows on Foxtel.
As for Double Take, thought it was pretty decent for an Australian comedy its rare that anything Australian made is genuinely funny, especially the comedians themselves.
Both shows will probably flop in my opinion neither of them were anything special.
One or two laughs, otherewise crap. And what is with his outfit, looks ridiculous…
I don’t know whether it’s just because of the trash I watched before it or not, but I quite enjoyed this. Definitely think this will improve over the coming weeks.
As for Double Take, the only thing I can say is that the Kevin Rudd impersonator had his voice spot on. Other than that, woeful. Sell it to Channel Nine for their 7:30pm Tuesday slot?
Some bits very funny! Some bits fell flat. I think they should have more atmosphere in the studio, perhaps guests or some sort of interaction.
Ed Kavalee, you’re clearly no Harry Hill.
And why do you have to move your head so much?
Can’t be the worst show of the year, I watched Double Take before it. There’s your winner.
Watching now…… Worst show of the year. Fact.
TVBurp is actually very funny! Well done Ed.
I’m looking forward to this and Double Take. Cant people be excited about both? Doesn’t seem like it from some of the comments here and on the piece about DT, where people seem to be up for one and have it in for the other. Hope they’re both good, and I really like Kavalee.
Well the girls happy… how good is this?
There’s never been a better time to have Ed back on the TV.
I’m showing my age but it sounds a hell-of-a-lot like the very old b&w show “Fractured Flickers” which re-cut old silent movies and added goofy voices and SFX. It was created by the guys behind “Rocky & Bullwinkle” and was reasonably funny – except to the offspring of the silent movie actors (i.e. Lon Chaney’s son, Creighton aka Jr., who took legal action against the prog). Nothing new under the sun, eh? By the way, I think Ed’s a great talent with so much more to come – break a leg, kid! (FF was hosted by Hans Conreid, who constantly took the mickey out of the show, himself, the writers and the producers – all scripted by Bill Scott and Jay Ward – the writer and producer!)
I’m looking forward to this show so much, not so much to double take, hey I’ve got an idea for channel 7s new sd channel, a ‘get this’ channel, a 24hrs talk show/comedy channel/music channel, just like a fm radio station on tv
It makes me so happy to see the Get This love that still turns up everywhere!
I wonder if Police 10-7 would have made a few appearances if it was still on…. (How come?!)
Hopefully this does stick pretty closely to the british version. Youtube it and you’ll see just how hilarious it is.
I am not familiar with the english show, but I love The Soup.
If Ed’s show can take the best aspects of both these shows, it would be great.
I don’t want you to jump off the harbour bridge.
I see dead people.
So long as the thugs in the scallop industry stay away, I think it’ll do okay…
The show is going to be great.
I haven’t watched Channel 7 at that time on a Thursday since the Out of the Question/Family Guy days.
I hope they have the sense not to bring back Medical Dramas back to Thursdays once they finish the series off
This show sounds cool
may be seven could repeat tv burp on their second sd channel oh wait………..
They dont have one.
This show is going to be great. I have seen UK’s version and if its like that then bring it on. I love these type of shows although i am not liking the premise of Double Take. It looks exactly the same as Comedy Inc which was on Nine. I cant wait.
if I can find a version of this somewhere, ill give it a shot.
This is dizzy stuff folks!
i went to the filming of the first episode last night.although it has promise it didnt quite hit the mark. kavalee is a good host, but some of the clips they chose were odd-unlike the soup (which i watch all the time, and figured this show would be like) some clips were just used to further a joke instead of actually having their own comedic value. some joke fell really flat and the audience just sat there in silence.
i dont think the soup critiques, but when something is blatantly stupid (eg. dance your ass off, rock of love, the coverage of MJ’s death) joel mchale just says what we are all thinking-i think this show could really benefit from something like that. i guess all it really needs is a couple of regular gags that everyone gets to know and look forward to. also there should be someone or something the constantly stick it to-its just funnier that way-overall a good show…
im an ed kavalee fan from back in his “get this” days but i was a bit doubtful about this concept at first…
but based on this interview i’ll definitely give it a go
looks like it might be half decent!
After reading that interview it doesn’t actually sound like a bad show. Might give it a go. But the previews for Double Take look horrible. Might flick to this during Rush ads.
Sooo, they don’t want to be ‘The Soup’ because it’s too critiquey… I was actually interested in this show until I read this.
Typical Seven, no risk, trying to do something young, but don’t want to alienate the oldies too much.
We don’t need a celebration of TV. I’m sure 20 to 1 can do a show that celebrates funny/awkward TV moments. Critique is the unique point of difference!
Johnson: I hope not!
I think it was actually dumb me that prompted Talk Soup, instead of The Soup which is pretty slack given I’ve interviewed Joel McHale too!
I’ve been watching the Harry Hill version for years and it seems like I have been waiting forever with the hope to see a local version… that’s actually funny.
Hopefully this will be great!
It hasn’t been Talk Soup for years (back when it just focussed on daytime talk shows) it has for several years been known as simply The Soup.
I’m prepared to give this a go but the deck is stacked because I doubt this can match my Sunday night obsession!
Promos are entertaining…maybe I’ll watch in the ad breaks of Rush.
Great interview David. Do you think you may be invited to appear on the program in the future?
Sounds interesting and i’ll give it a go. Now, if only somebody (looking at you TEN) would bring back “The Great TV Game Show”.
It will be hard to fill Harry Hill’s shoes but good luck to him. We need a show like that.