In honour of UN World Television Day on 21 November, we are featuring a golden period in Australian TV sketch comedy (1985-1995) with classics such as D-Generation, The Comedy Company, The Money or the Gun, The Big Gig, Let the Blood Run Free, DAAS Kapital, Fast Forward and Full Frontal.

These shows included lovable, laughable (and loathable) on-screen characters such as Mary-Anne Fahey’s Kylie Mole, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski’s chain-smoking office moles Carmel and Lynne, Kym Gyngell’s Col’n Carpenter, Glenn Robbins’ Uncle Arthur and cult sensations The Doug Anthony All Stars.

Many Aussie stars got their start in this genre, including Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Jane Turner, Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Glenn Robbins, Andrew Denton, Wendy Harmer, Brian Nankervis, Jean Kittson, Shaun Micallef, Tim Ferguson, Richard Fidler and Paul McDermott.

ASO has clips from more than 360 television programs available for viewing.

Learn more about the NFSA’s Television collection.