Garry McDonald Show, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 7 7 (Australia)
8 x 30 minute episodes

Garry McDonald had achieved massive national fame (and won a Gold Logie) for his iconic satirical character, the awkward, comb-over-sporting journalist Norman Gunston.

Fearing he was becoming typecast as Gunston, McDonald convinced the ABC to fund a self-titled sketch series to showcase his broader comedic and acting range.

The show heavily featured his interpretation of Roy Rene’s classic Australian vaudeville character, “Mo”, which McDonald had recently played in a stage production at the Nimrod Theatre.

Other characters included internationally famous mime artist and crime fighter ‘Marshal Marceau’ (pictured); the Bi-Ethnic Man who was reconstructed after a fruit-picking accident in the Riverina; a tattoo-covered CB Radio-enthusiast bus driver (pictured below right); and the scowling Mr Member of Parliament Street and his wife and daughter.

He also appeared in clever send-ups of Gerard Kennedy as the crewcut detective from Division 4, naturalist Harry Butler, and motoring journalist Peter Wherret in Wrench.

One sketch – a parody featuring a blind Aboriginal blues singer character called Blind Boy Jacky Jacky (whose backing band was called Abbo) – misfired, with The Age newspaper accusing McDonald of being “racist and absolutely humourless”.

He also upset sections of the viewing public with his send-ups of the Pope and a Buddhist priest.

The series aired between 28 July and 15 September 1977. McDonald was assisted throughout the series by Ric Hutton, Jude Kuring, Ron Blanchard and singer and actress Colleen Hewett.

Garry McDonald
Colleen Hewett
Ric Hutton
Jude Kuring
Ron Blanchard