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Booked for comedy

As writers, performers and producers, Robyn Butler & Wayne Hope are now one of the few comedy teams who have ownership of their work.

For Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, having a third season of their comedy The Librarians is about inheriting their own work.

Both admit they have written plenty of first episodes of former creations, but to be hitting episode 20 in the unforgiving world of scripted comedy is fulfilment of the many years honing their craft.

It also affords them room to let loose with their kooky characters.

“With the third series the idea was that we could play a bit more,” says Hope.

“The hard work is done. We’ve found an audience, they’re very loyal, very passionate, very connected with this disparate group of characters. So that allows you to not to have to set it up anymore.

“You don’t have to do that horrific first episode of a first series where in ten minutes people decide, ‘Like it / Don’t Like it.’ It’s all done and they’re with you. So that allows you to do episodes that can be more playful because you’re not necessarily trying to hook a dramatic line straight away or paint broad brushstrokes with character. You can be nuanced if you want,” he says.

“You know what Dawn’s like, you know what she’s like in the wheelchair, so what happens if she’s in this situation? People go there straight away so that’s great for us.”

Butler plays the irrepressible Head Librarian Frances O’Brien, while husband Wayne Hope plays on-screen husband, the long-suffering Terry. Returning to the series once again are Heidi Arena, Stephen Ballantyne, Wayne Hope, Nicole Nabout, Keith Brockett, Roz Hammond, Victoria Eagger, Fiona Harris, joined by Lachy Hulme and Angus Sampson.

As writers, performers and producers, the Butler / Hope duo are now one of the few TV comedy teams who have ownership of their work. This puts them into an elite class of comedy acts, dominated by teams such as Turner / Riley, Working Dog and The Chaser boys.

Robyn Butler says there are some subtle differences between their comic style and those of their peers.

“Sometimes I think comedy is where you are right at that moment,” she says.

“Ten years we might have been making different sorts of comedy. But we’re in our early 40s so we’re thinking about life and emotional themes. When I say we’re writing jokes, we’re still writing jokes about emotional life. So that’s going to make a point of difference from say The Chaser boys who are probably ten years younger, most of them, and they’re all boys. We’re a husband and wife. And they’re not doing narrative comedy.”

Hope agrees: “We were drawn to comedy that had a narrative over the series, so that’s one small point of difference. Other shows are a bit more self-contained.

“But we’re great fans of those groups of people and have watched and been inspired by writer-performers who end up owning what they do,” he says.

“All of those people ended up saying ‘Let’s do it ourselves,’ and that’s a great thing to see happening in the industry. It allows you to take that leap and it provides a unique flavour for each because they have got more control.”

Butler says all the creative teams excel with their eye for detail.

“The attention to detail is paramount in all of them and not necessarily in other shows. But it is in Working Dog, Chaser, Gina and Jane’s work and ours. The attention to detail might not be to everyone’s taste but that’s what you live and die by because that’s what you care about. It’s universal in all those groups,” she says.

“It’s your product.”

The Librarians returns 8:30pm Wednesday on ABC1.

11 Responses

  1. One thing i have noticed about the Librarians is that it polarises the audience. Few people wont have any view on it. I cannot stomach Chris Lilley and his shows, but I love Robyn Butler and this series. I can see why people hate it though – if you had to live with or work with someone like Frances – you might despair – but she is a deliciously monstrous creation. The supporting players get their moments too.

  2. @casey, chris & damian
    This stinkbag of a show is Not a ripoff of ‘The Office’.
    ‘The Office’ has some funny moments in it.
    I’ve watched a few eps desperately wanting to like this show (mainly for Roz Hammond) but find it as funny as a day at the actual library.

  3. Perhaps Casey would like to explain how ‘The Librarian’s is ‘a rip-off of The Office’. Because the title is written in Helvetica? Beyond that and there not being a ‘laugh track’, there are no similarities whatsoever. Except maybe comic brilliance.

  4. I love this show. Cannot wait. I have a soft spot for poor Terry. He has to put up with his wife and he’s the one who looks after their daughters. Speaking of, will we ever get to see their daughters?

  5. this show is fantastic.

    the humour is not over the top. it’s very subtle. you need to listen carefully or you’ll miss some of the fantastic lines of comic genius.

    i like the character of frances o’brien. she’s fantastic. robyn plays her so fantasticaly. she has the dry wit and humour about her which is why she’s so great.

    this show has had me hooked since episode 1 and they’ll need to shake, pull and even yank me off that hook if they want me to not like it.

  6. This show had promise – and I really tried to like it – but couldn’t. Very Small Business was a better show with similar comedy from Wayne Hope. Not amazing, but decent Australian talent.

    The Hollowmen was a shining example of current Australian comedy.

  7. Roz Hammond’s excellent comedic skills are the best thing about this incredibly unfunny,lame and poorly written show that’s a rip off of The Office.

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