Line #69 Series/GoodNewsWeek


1	[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gnw-mikey-paul-claire.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:320:[[DirtyOldMan Mikey]], [[DeadpanSnarker Paul]] and [[CloudCuckooLander Claire]]]]
3
4	->''"Do you ever get the feeling that we're doing, like, a curiosity show on acid?"''
5	-->-- '''Mikey'''
6
7	''Good News Week'' is an [[AustralianSeries Australian]] PanelShow focused on analysing and mocking current events and those weird little stories. It's hosted by Paul [=McDermott=], and had Mikey Robins and [[ButtMonkey Julie McCrossin]] as regular team captains. It ran from 1996 to 2000 every Friday, in addition to a spin-off, ''Good News Weekend'' on Saturdays, including sketches from the [[DeadpanSnarker Sandman]], [[CloudCuckooLander Flacco]] and [[ClusterFBomb Keith the Moravian Swear Bear]].
8
9	In 2008, it was revived, with Claire Hooper replacing Julie [=McCrossin=], and ran in this form until early 2011. After a conspicuously long absence, it returned in September in the form of ''Good News World'', a show fairly accurately self-described as a cross between ''Series/TheDailyShow'' and ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.
10	----
11	!!This series provides examples of:
12	* AGoodNameForARockBand - "Dinosaur Vagina". As Tom Gleeson pointed out, however, if they were popular, people would call them "D-Vag", which sounds like a sizing.
13	** Don't forget "The Munch Factor".
14	* ActuallyAGoodIdea: Paul [=McDermott=], in reference to the Australian Government discussing the possibility of sending the army in to deal with a dock strike:
15	--> "No, no, no. You send the '''navy''' to deal with a dock strike. You send the army in for a coal miners' strike, and you send the air force in for a pilots' strike. Otherwise the navy, army and air force get into a big demarcation dispute and go out on strike, and the government has to send in the wharfies to defend us against invasion. Which isn't a bad idea -- when those wharfies cover the coastline, '''''nothing''''' gets ashore!
16	* AsideGlance - Paul often throws these after he's said something odd.
17	* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther - Paul & Mikey. All the proof you need takes place during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAwHykd8fsM this clip]], as well as a completely gratuitous Maggie Tabberer impression.
18	* BerserkButton - Several, but most prominently is one for Paul when members of the audience answer questions without prompting or otherwise interrupt the show by talking.
19	* BiggerIsBetterInBed - Subverted.
20	---> '''Tom Gleeson:''' I gotta say, it's weird hearing an American complain that something is too big.
21	---> '''Michael Kosta:'''' I've always had that problem, Tom.
22	* BlackComedy - Runs on it. Especially in the case of Mikey, and ''especially'' when Akmal Saleh is on.
23	* BunnyEarsLawyer - Claire and Mikey come off as this. Despite their various idiosyncrasies, they both know a fair bit about current affairs.
24	** Mikey proved his competence in the game ''Political Mastermind'', which actually had serious questions about Australian political history. He celebrated getting the first question (on the Melbourne Agreement) correct by dancing while using his fingers to make it look like his nipples were sticking out.
25	* {{Buttmonkey}} - Paul usually gets the [[IncrediblyLamePun short]] end of the stick.
26	** Some of the regular guests tend to cop it a fair bit, especially [[LadyDrunk Fiona O'Loughlin]], Josh Thomas (for being a member of Generation Y), and [[CannotTellAJoke Akmal Saleh]].
27	---> '''Paul, to Akmal:''' Are you ''still'' here?
28	** At one point Josh, representing Generation Y, was put in the bin. Mikey gave him a hug.
29	* TheCastShowoff - Paul [=McDermott=] can sing. This frequently comes up.
30	** And even though Paul's singing ''[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic kicks ass]]'', every panelist seems to hate it.
31	---> '''Mikey''': I love every show where you don't sing.
32	** Every episode has a member of each team singing a popular song as a clue for a game. Sometimes you have John Farnham, sometimes you have Colin Lane (though he does give it a good go).
33	* CatchPhrase: Paul has several, though the most common is usually 'They do have it, ladies and gentlemen!'
34	** Another he uses quite often is some variation of "you're close" when referring to contestants incorrect answers, even if they're ludicrously bad.
35	* ChannelHop - Originally ran on the [[Creator/AustralianBroadcastingCorporation ABC]] from 1996 to 1998, then moved to Creator/NetworkTen in 1999.
36	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}} - Claire has a bizarre sense of logic. She once drew a connection between the fact that a person farts 15 times a day and the fact that the average person laughs 14 times a day.
37	* TheCoverChangesTheMeaning - During the 2008 season finale, Paul performed a cover of "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry, changing the tone and making it completely AWESOME! It can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXsrthHNwpU here.]]
38	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39OUZxDOu5U&feature=related He does it]] [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic a lot.]]
39	** Not to mention his infamous cover of Music/BritneySpears' "Oops I Did It Again" ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e7uLil65us here]]).
40	* CouchGag - Photographs from the recent news with humourous headlines are shown during the opening sequence.
41	** The 7 Days in 7 Seconds explanation from Paul with each of the pictures obscuring his face in some strange way, forcing him to move around as he talks. The panelists sometimes comment on this as well.
42	--> '''Mikey''': It looks like you're wearing a news burqa.
43	* DeadpanSnarker - Paul. There is always one guest who'll turn out to be one of these, with the most unexpected being Dr Chris Brown of ''Bondi Vet'' fame.
44	** Don't forget ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
45	*** Ex-ex Prime Minister?
46	* DeathAsComedy - The premise of the Buzzers Of Death segment.
47	* DirtyOldMan - Despite not being that old, Mikey Robins is definitely this.
48	---> '''Mikey:''' Did we have to cut to me after ''that'' story?
49	** Subverted when he threw Music/LadyGaga into the bin for not wearing pants and for having the most famous cameltoe in music.
50	---> '''Claire:''' You are the last person I would expect to complain about a lady not wearing pants!
51	** Subverted again when Mikey was the only one to totally miss what the phrase 'bench fat' means, thinking it meant when a fat chef lets his belly rest on the bench. [[spoiler: It means when a chef gets an erection from standing too close to the bench.]]
52	* TheDitz - Claire frequently subverts this with a clever remark, between bouts of actual ditziness.
53	* DoWrongRight - In an episode that aired the week after ex-Prime Minister John Howard had a shoe thrown at him on live television, Mikey talked about the event, saying that after the event had occurred, he had never been so ashamed of being an Australian... because it was the worst bloody shot he'd ever seen!
54	* [[invoked]]DudeNotFunny: Paul had [[FacePalm this]] reaction to ''himself'' when he almost did an impression of Creator/StephenHawking.
55	* EnforcedPlug - Much cross-promotion for Channel 10 shows, including guest appearances by [[Series/{{Supernatural}} Jensen Ackles]] and Susan Flannery in the first two episodes. The former was lampshaded by [[Series/TheChasersWarOnEverything Craig Reucassel]] who [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments walked off the stage declaring that he didn't want to be part of this Channel 10 cross-promotion.]]
56	* [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even Paul Has Standards]]: In one game of Hot Spot:
57	--> '''Mikey''': walks onto the spot Paul, say it again?
58	--> '''Paul''': If a groupie said she'd do anything for you, what would you ask her to do?
59	--> '''Mikey''': [[GirlOnGirlIsHot My wife.]]
60	--> '''Paul''': Get off the yellow dot!
61	* FavorsForTheSexy - Female guests can sometimes score extra points or peeks at Paul's answer card by flirting with him. Some guests learnt to exploit this, ''especially'' Amanda Palmer.
62	* {{Foreshadowing}} - The 2010 finale involved Mikey paying out Paul's musical performance of Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" because all it had was a guy playing the piano when the film clip had a marching band. Cue a marching band appearing on stage for the second performance.
63	* FromSpecialToSeries - Sort of. Ten originally planned a one-off reunion special in 2008, only to have it turn into a full series as a result of the Writer's Union of America strike.
64	* FunWithAcronyms
65	---> '''Mikey''': Her Majesty's Space Agency - Hamspa. I like it.
66	* HurricaneOfPuns - Paul [=McDermott's=] main shtick.
67	---> '''Paul:''' A brothel next to [=McDonald's=], [[CatchPhrase I'm loving it]]. Finally, you'll be able to have a Happy Meal with a [[HappyEndingMassage happy ending]]. And think of the impression you'll make when you walk in with your [[GagPenis Quarter Pounder]] in your hands. ''(standing ovation from Colin Lane)''
68	* HypocriticalHumour - Mikey [[RunningGag always]] mocks someone for looking ridiculous while wearing one of his hats.
69	** Paul chastised Jeff Green for making a dirty joke early in one episode. Five minutes later he said that a gentlemen should never wipe his dick on the curtain. Mikey called him on it.
70	** Paul's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWyPpUbXXTE infamous rant]] against Sol Trujillo was one of these. Honest.
71	--> '''Paul:''' Former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo has lashed out at Australia, calling us 'racist' and 'backward.' {{Beat}} At least, I think that's what he said. I couldn't tell with that ''outrageous'' accent.
72	* IncrediblyLamePun
73	--->'''Mikey:''' Osama Bin Liners: You can never find them!
74	* InTheStyleOf - Songs as ''Strange But True'' clues will sometimes be this. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNS3LP_X324 Andrew O'Neill did a cover of "Highway to Hell" as a steampunk song.]]
75	* LadyDrunk - Fiona O'Loughlin. Subverted as she is now (if you believe her) OffTheWagon. Gets brought up [[RunningGag every time]] she appears on the show. Especially by Tom Gleeson.
76	** Well, it's either her being an alcoholic or her being Catholic. One or the other, doesn't matter which.
77	* LameComeback
78	-->'''Mikey:''' Oh, stick your head up a... fuck off.
79	** And immediately {{lampshaded}}:
80	-->'''Ross Noble:''' Stick your head up a fuck off? It's like Oscar Wilde was in the room.
81	* TheMagazineRule: An occasional round was 'Magazine Mastermind', where two celebrities would be given a obscure magazine to study and then be quizzed on its contents. A particular favourite was ''Bacon Busters'', a magazine for people who go bow hunting for feral pigs.
82	* NoOSHACompliance: How the ''fuck'' does this show get away with all the shit they pull?
83	* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer - Often, Paul needs to point out that they aren't joking about a particular aspect of a story.
84	* OffTheRails - The poster child. Paul ''never'' manages to keep control of the game. Tangents, [[RunningGag Running Gags]], and severe BlackComedy ''always'' end up derailing games.
85	---> '''Mikey:''' You've lost control of the show!
86	** This is often acknowledged by Paul, to the point that when a question is answered straight away, he gets annoyed.
87	** A quick example: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkFomlly2Q Paul once tried to make a joke]] based upon the chant, "Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi oi oi!" and the audience ''point-blank refused'' to let him just get ''on'' with the joke, joining in the chant whenever he tried to make it. He was quite frustrated.
88	** Another was the episode when Creator/RossNoble got hold of the cigarette hat during Strange But True, frequently making smoke come out from under the desk, his nose, his pants; the whole episode dragged on about half-an-hour past broadcast time because of his antics.
89	---> '''Paul:''' ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'''s not on tonight, kiddies!
90	*** Ross Noble, again, and his foam cannon during the 2010 premiere. He was having so much fun spraying foam all over the set and most of the other panellists that he made the show run over time, something he repeatedly asked Paul ''not'' to do as his own show was scheduled for 10:00 on-the-dot.
91	*** Good luck keeping the show on track if you put Ross Noble and Akmal Saleh [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdX6U6sZ9gU together]].
92	** During an episode where they were in Melbourne during the Comedy Festival, Fiona O'Loughlin had been chasing Josh Thomas (they were on opposing teams) for some stupid comment he had made, so they were running around the stage, accompanied by chasing music. You think that was it right? [[spoiler: Tom Gleeson does the exact same thing later, except chasing Josh through the pathway into the audience, across the rails and up on the balcony.]] Subsequently, [[spoiler: Paul gave them both 100 points for that fantastically hilarious display]]. Makes me wonder if Paul had given up at that point. (The whole saga is viewable [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK3j_ZCh6-0 here]].)
93	---> '''Paul:''' I tell you what, it's certainly fucked the show.
94	* OnlySaneMan - Mikey often comes off as this, surprisingly.
95	* PanelShow
96	* PrecisionFStrike - In one episode during the Hot Spot round, Paul asked the question 'What's the best thing about being soft and weak?'
97	--> '''Josh Thomas''': walks up to the dot
98	--> '''Jimeoin''' calling out: [[RunningGag It's not sticking into your back!]]
99	--> '''Josh''': walks off, audience laughs, walks back I'd just like to say that-
100	--> '''Audience''': laughs
101	--> '''Josh''': I'd just like to say that, when you asked 'What's the best thing about being soft and weak?', I saw a lot of people's eyes turn towards me. audience laughs Fuck you!
102	* [[PromotedFanboy Promoted Fangirl]] - Claire was a huge fan of the show during its first run. Now she's a team captain!
103	** Creator/HamishAndAndy indicated that they were fans of the show when they were guests.
104	* ThePointsMeanNothing - While the show does keep track of the points, they can be handed out like candy or taken away like... candy. On one occasion, Paul won.
105	** Paul won an episode back in '97. I'm certain that the audience came close to winning a couple of times as well.
106	** Some of the games don't even have points given or taken away, like a game in which the cast simply talk about whatever news story is annoying them that week, in which they metaphorically put the story in the bin.
107	* RapidFireComedy - Get one or two performers going, and the whole lot will jump on it.
108	* RealSongThemeTune - Hedgehoppers Anonymous' "It's Good News Week".
109	** DoItYourselfThemeTune - Sung by Paul [=McDermott=].
110	* RunningGag: "That used to be your drag name!"
111	** Mikey in the ridiculous costumes, up to and including a keg of beer that spouted foam, a hot water bottle that gave off steam, and an aeroplane that had propellers that spun.
112	** Several jokes tend to get thrown at regular guests: Paul's height, Creator/JoshThomas and his wimpiness, Tom Gleeson's baldness and red hair, Akmal Saleh's inability to focus or stop talking, Fiona O'Loughlin's Catholicism and former alcoholism, etc.
113	* SatireParodyPastiche - Definite satire. The name of the ''Dirty Sexy Fast Money'' game was changed to ''Kevin Rudd's Fast Money'' in 'honour' of the good PM's [[ArtisticLicenseEconomics stimulus package]].
114	* SeinfeldianConversation - Common. One episode had the cast discussing technique in shaking hands.
115	* SerialEscalation: Mark Watson called Ricky Ponting [[CountryMatters a cunt]], which was about the only time a word got censored on ''Good News Week''. That's right, they ''censored a word on Good News Week''.
116	** Mikey and Wil Andersen, both men with incredibly filthy mouths, pointed out how bad the language was... before conceding that Mark was right.
117	*** Made all the funnier when an audience member asked Paul what it meant, and he very bluntly replied that it was a vagina.
118	* ShootTheTelevision: Sammy J did it in a sketch on ''World''. After installing a digital TV and discovering the programs are just as crap as regular television, he shoots the set (in a callback to an earlier joke about [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] [[TropeCodifier Presley]]) to demonstrate the only power the average viewer has over television.
119	* SophisticatedAsHell
120	---> '''Mikey:''' A visual expert. Or as we call it: A bloke who knows stuff about looking at shit.
121	** There was another example with Corinne Grant, who was acting the part of Julia Gillard, while Peter Berner was playing Tony Abbott.
122	--> '''Corinne:''' With all due respect, Mr Abbott, you're a dickhead.
123	* SoundProofBooth - Cheerfully parodied. Despite the insisting of Paul [=McDermott=] and the elaborate fanfare, the sound-proof booths used in the show are anything but.
124	--> '''Josh Thomas''': I don't know why you think yelling 'it's a soundproof booth' will help me if I can't hear you.
125	* SpiritualSuccessor - After its first cancellation, a show called ''Series/TheGlassHouse'' with a suspiciously familiar format showed up on the ABC...
126	** It's also a successor to ''The Sideshow With Paul [=McDermott=].''
127	* StripPoker - Sammy J finds himself on the losing end of a game he started in an attempt to find out who was inside a Wilderness Society possum suit on a ''Good News World'' sketch. (ItMakesSenseInContext. Kinda.)
128	* TakeThat - Usually followed by Paul saying "Oh, you can't say that!" Inevitably, he's the one to make the comment.
129	* ATankardOfMooseUrine - See TastesLikeFeet below.
130	* TastesLikeFeet - In one episode, Paul commented that [[TruthInTelevision Fosters tastes like "watered down horse piss"]], and then found himself wondering how he knew that.
131	* ToyotaTripwire - Magda Szubanski stirred up a hornet's nest by suggesting that drivers should deliberately do this to cyclists.
132	* TrashTheSet - The 2010 season premiere featured a brand new light feature on the main stage, which apparently cost a fair amount of money and the producers didn't want it to get messy. It was subsequently trashed by Creator/RossNoble and the aforementioned foam cannon.
133	* VitriolicBestBuds - Paul and Mikey continually make jabs at each other, all the while bordering on WithFriendsLikeThese.
134	---> '''Mikey, seconds before the HoYay moment mentioned on the YMMV page''': Touch me again and I'll kill you.
135	* WriterOnBoard - Paul will usually throw in a political statement regarding a story. He once lampshaded it when everyone else was dissecting a story politically:
136	---> '''Paul:''' You people must be so much fun at parties. Imagine playing Monopoly - "This wouldn't happen in a socialist country!"
137	* UnCancelled - Axed by Channel 10 in 2000 (and finished off with a [[GrandFinale grand]] [[SeriesFauxnale finale]]), but brought back in 2008 after the aforementioned writers' strike forced many of the network's imported programs out of production. Then it was Recancelled in 2012, likely due to being associated with the poorly rated spin-off Good News World, where it was sent off with another GrandFinale.
138	* YouBastard - Paul will chastise the audience for laughing at the wronger jokes made. Incidentally, [[HypocriticalHumour he has written and sang a song called]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-JfIduytVs 'I Fuck Dogs']]. Just so you know.

Context Series / GoodNewsWeek