Iconic Finnish political satire show, the name translating to "Good men", or more loosely "gentlemen". Aired on MTV 3 from 1990 until 1996, it was written by journalist Aarno Laitinen and politician Lasse Lehtinen. It was a massive hit, at one stage getting 3 in 10 of the country watching (in American terms, that's Super Bowl ratings - for a political satire show).
The show follows the lives of international trade advisor Johannes Paukku, a sausage manufacturer who became exceedingly rich; and Tollo Koskivuo, Paukku's son-in-law and left-wing politician. Every episode they organise an evening in the sauna (it's Finland; where else?) with prominent politicians they tried to coax into supporting their views.
It eventually got a less popular sequel called Herrat nauraa in 1999 and an unlicensed noughties remake was made without Laitinen's involvement.
This series provides examples of the following tropes:
- Action Politician: Tollo. Although whether his 'action' is in the right place is debatable.
- All Issues Are Political Issues: The sauna back-washer Tyyne Hurskainen. She's a Conservative with a capital C, and isn't afraid to say so.
- Animal Wrongs Group: The avowed kettytyttönote and vegetarian in the spin-off, Rosa.
- Animated Credits Opening: Genuinely brilliant title sequence. Transitions seamlessly from animated to real life.
- Catchphrase: Henkilökunta, tärpättiä!. It translates to "Staff, turpentine!" - used by Paukku to signify that he needs more booze. Became a national phenomenon.
- Camp Gay: Håkan. Was one of the first gay characters on Finnish TV, actually, even if the show takes the mick out of it.
- The Coconut Effect: Combined with blackface in one episode. It didn't age well.
- Corrupt Politician: Tollo. In Finland his kind of corruption is through the Hyvä veli-verkosto, the "Old Pals' Network", where favours are given to old friends.
- Deadpan Snarker: Paukku.
- The Ghost: Tollo's wife, Mrs. Koskivuo, never shows up.
- Mayor Pain: You wouldn't vote for Tollo if you saw this show.
- Men Get Old, Women Get Replaced: The sauna washers are always women, while the men remain in the sauna.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: The second waiter's real name is Timo, not Håkan as Paukku calls him.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Paukku seems to discriminate against anyone he doesn't like. When they hired an African-American immigrant as a sauna back washer, he didn't take too well.
- Some of Tollo's lines would really not go down well today, either.
- Politician Guest-Star: Loads. Every episode, they'd get them in the sauna in the hope they'd support their policies.
- Real Life Writes the Plot: Occasionally, due to the topsy-turvy nature of politics, the script was rewritten at short notice to see if politician [x] was going to come to the sauna or not.
- Sleazy Politician: Tollo.
- Straw Misogynist: Paukku. He treats the waiters horribly.
- There Are No Good Executives: Paukku seems fair when compared to Tollo... in fact they're as bad as each other!
