Category: General

General info, mainly website related

Poof, you’re four!

Stuart 1 Comment

You're Four! CardWell that’s a bit rude, but half true – indeed, this website has turned 4 years old!

For any web-related thing to last and continue to be updated for more than 8 weeks is pretty extraordinary, so thanks to your support over the past 4 years and of course thanks to Shaun, for giving us things to write about!

(Unfortunately, we never got our “Hey dickhead, you’re 3!” card last year.)

Three years of SMO

Stuart 1 Comment

Well whoop-dee-do, this site has managed to be here for 3 years – that’s longer than the whole internet!**

Since then, we’ve reclaimed the original ShaunMicallef.com (our spiritual predecessor), interviewed Shaun twice, enjoyed MAH, TAYG, M&MM (to name but a few) and built our own lion park.***

Thanks for visiting and making this site worth it, as we look forward to the next exciting projects from S. Micallef.

** A lie.

*** Also a lie.

The Penultimate Shaun night

Stuart 8 Comments

We’ve now been treated to 10 solid weeks of back-to-back Shaun each Wednesday, with Mad As Hell followed by Mr and Mrs Murder. But that unfortunately means we’re down to the last 2 weeks of both shows (what a coincidence?!). Knowing Shaun and the writers, we’re in for some really enjoyable moments.

What have you enjoyed so far about either show, and which would you most look forward to returning?

The trouble with satire

Stuart 5 Comments

Not usually one to opine on this website, I did get an email from someone who quite strongly felt that tonight’s Mad As Hell disrespected the ANZACs, and I felt it was worth discussing.

The issue was probably due to the opening sketch and the interview with Francis’s character. (Hopefully I get around to fully re-capping it) In the opening sketch, soldiers were being told they were landing at ANZAC Cove on the 25th of April to honour the memory and skill of footballers (for which the soldiers felt unworthy) – basically a reversal of the real life situation where footballers play a “blockbuster match” to honour the ANZACs. With Francis’s character, I felt the intent was to lampoon the way the events of the day itself can be not in-keeping with the spirit of the day. (By the way, I don’t usually sit and analyse the show so much – this comes from thinking about why I was chuckling when I watched it).

Whether or not the sketches will get any publicity is uncertain, but with its proximity to ANZAC day, it’s a small possibility – emotions will be strong. It’s something satirical material can easily become victim of: the audience misunderstanding the point due to a strong reaction against it. In some ways, it’s a good thing that people have the moral compass to reject it, but obviously it causes conflict with the writers actual intent.

It happened to The Chaser with their Make a Wish sketch, but I felt even then, the satirical point wasn’t strong enough to make it appropriate. In MAH’s case, I actually agree with the points – I’ve never understood the ANZAC day blockbuster, when we don’t play football on Good Friday. Actually, I felt the whole episode tonight was firing on all cylinders, and the team are really doing a good job now at satirising politics, culture and world events.

Sorry to blather, feel free to comment (but keep it constructive) 🙂