Daily Comic Journal: September 17, 2017: “All In All, It Was A G’Day Mate.”
I’m guessing that most of my readers are over 30 or even 40 years old. I could be wrong, but I don’t think many 20 year olds are interested in reading a comic featuring the life of a guy over 50 years old. But in the oft chance that I’m wrong…
In 1986, there was a movie featuring Australian comic/celebrity, Paul Hogan, called “Crocodile Dundee”. The damn thing was a HUGE hit. I saw it in the theater and thought it was just okay, but the rest of America was crazy over it. In any case, that’s where today’s punchline comes from.
I think Crocodile D. was such a hit because it was a basic rom-com plot (guy meets girl – chemistry! but girl is engaged to someone else – etc., etc. – happy ending a couple hours later) for women but had knives and guns for the guys. Oh.. and some good lines.
Yes, the 1980s seemed to be the Golden Age of Australian Media, between Paul Hogan (who I first saw before Dundee on his very funny imported sketch comedy show) and all the rock bands who seemed to sneak in behind the ‘2nd British Invasion’ of that decade. And then, the TV version of ‘A Town Like Alice’, one of the most genuinely romantic stories (IMO) of the time. I don’t know why it went away… maybe the awful ‘Kangaroo Jack’ movie killed it.
Oh yeah, I remember that wave of British & Australian shows that hit America in the late 70’s early 80’s. Besides “The Paul Hogan Show” (which also featured his then wife, the attractive Noelene Edwards) there was also “Dave Allen at Large”, “Cribbins”, “The Morecambe and Wise Show” and of course, “The Benny Hill Show”.
Wow, “A Town Like Alice”, I’d forgotten all about that mini series! If I’m not mistaken, I saw it through Masterpiece Theater and was the first thing I’d seen Bryan Brown in. (well before “The Thorn Birds” & “FX”).
If I blame anyone for the death of the 1980’s Australian invasion, I blame Yahoo Serious. :b