Fast Forward (Australian TV series)

Fast Forward
GenreSketch comedy
Created bySteve Vizard
Written byAndrew Knight
Steve Vizard
Directed byTed Emery
StarringGeoff Brooks
Jane Turner
Magda Szubanski
Marg Downey
Michael Veitch
Peter Moon
Steve Blackburn
Ernie Dingo (1989)
Steve Vizard (1989–91)
Bryan Dawe (1990)
Alan Pentland (1990–92, recurring previously)
Gina Riley (1990–92)
Brendan Luno (1991, recurring previously)
Gerry Connolly (1991, recurring previously)
Glenn Robbins (1991–92)
Narrated byJohn Deeks
Theme music composerPaul Grabowsky
ComposersSteve Blackburn
Yuri Worontschak
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes90
Production
ProducersAndrew Knight
Steve Vizard
Ted Emery
Mark Ruse
Production locationMelbourne
Running time60 minutes
Production companyArtist Services
Original release
NetworkSeven Network
Release12 April 1989 (1989-04-12) –
26 November 1992 (1992-11-26)
Related
Full Frontal, Totally Full Frontal, The D-Generation, Bligh, Big Girl's Blouse, Jimeoin, The Eleventh Hour, Eric, The Micallef Program
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Fast Forward was Australia's highest-rating and most critically awarded commercial television sketch comedy show, broadcast for 90 one-hour episodes from 12 April 1989 to 26 November 1992.[1]

The show was produced by Steve Vizard, who was also the executive producer, writer and performer, and starred Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski (the three of whom went on to star in Kath & Kim), Marg Downey, Michael Veitch, Peter Moon, Alan Pentland, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks, Ernie Dingo, the Rubbery Figures satirical puppets, and numerous guests and supporting stars, such as Gerry Connolly and Bryan Dawe.[2]

Fast Forward was succeeded by the related series Full Frontal, and subsequently Totally Full Frontal, which were broadcast from 1993 to 1999. Full Frontal had a different main cast,[3] but many of the Fast Forward cast guest starred.

Fast Forward was directed by Ted Emery. From its second series onward, Andrew Knight joined Steve Vizard and Ted Emery as executive producers of the show. They went on to establish the leading Australian production house, Artist Services.

All four seasons plus five 'best of' compilations of Fast Forward have been released on DVD. All four seasons were re-released in 2010.

In 2013, the Network Ten-owned channel, One, began airing half-hour-long specials titled Fast Forward Funniest Send-Ups which first aired in 1994, making it the first time the show has been shown since 1998.[4]

  1. ^ Bedwell, Steve (1 January 2007). Vizard Uncut. Melbourne University Publish. ISBN 9780522854749.
  2. ^ The Unofficial Fast Forward Guide
  3. ^ Wallace, Mark (10 May 1993). "Fast Forward goes Full Frontal". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 26 September 2018 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "Fast Forward Funniest Send-Ups". Retrieved 17 February 2013.