australian television information archive

Stupid, Stupid Man

The ABC is set to give the Australian comedy Stupid, Stupid Man a prime time slot after picking it up from pay TV.

The show, starring Matthew Newton and centred on an editorial team working on the fictional men's magazine COQ, has just finished its second season on Foxtel.

It's only the second time the ABC has picked up a series from pay TV after it screened the comedy Shock Jock, starring Tim Ferguson, in a late-night Friday slot in 2002.

ABC TV's head of programming Marena Manzoufas said Stupid, Stupid Man would occupy a dominant spot as part of the station's Wednesday night comedy line-up from late February.

"I think it is a good show," Ms Manzoufas said.

"It's got good performances, good scripts and it's just loopy enough.

"It's slightly pushing that narrative comedy in its set-up and its characters.

"And it seemed to me that it was a chance for a wider audience to see Stupid, Stupid Man."

The comedy, described by Ms Manzoufas as being in the flavour of The Librarians, is likely to fill the gap which was last year occupied by the successful duo of The Chaser's War on Everything and Summer Heights High.

The Chaser's team won't be in production until the second half of the year, with the group currently concentrating on their stage show, while Summer Heights High wrapped up last year.

The ABC has had much ratings success in the comedy arena in recent years with shows such as The Chaser, the popular comedy game show Spicks and Specks, and Kath and Kim, which moved onto the Seven Network.

"We have a strong commitment to Australian comedy and Australian talent here at the ABC," Ms Manzoufas said.

"It really is about our commitment to comedy and developing talent in that area and showcasing talent in that area."

Nine is the only other station to ever pick up a show from pay TV when it aired The King, but it was involved with the production from the funding stage.

Ms Manzoufas said the ABC wasn't likely to turn to pay TV again any time soon.

"This is unusual because it's in prime time and it's probably not something we would do very often," she said.

"We really might go five years before we do it again. We wouldn't normally do this."

February 6, 2008
AAP