Australia in Pop Culture

[Deleted]

I did a search and didn't find any Aussie threads, so I thought I would dedicate one to the mighty land of Vegemite...aka, my (and I'm sure a few other forumites) home. Oh Newcastle...how I long for thee...the States are nice, but Baltimore just pales in comparison.

Discuss all things Aussie/Kiwi here! ;D

I'm going to dedicate my first post here to McLeod's Daughters. They've started showing it on We (Women's Entertainment...one of those Lifetime clones) on Saturday nights, and all of my American she-mates have been telling me how much they love it. I don't care for the new episodes (the show really jumped the shark after season 3), but I had forgotten how much I loved the early seasons of it. Alex is such a sweetie...and Nick is such a bastard. I don't know why he was always touted as the strong, silent one; to me, he's just a jerk.

[Mutagen]

I guess I'd better get my Rotten Fruit Shield in working order before I bring up Steve Irwin?

I know you guys hate him. I'm sorry.

[Ripley]

Heh, that reminds me when TTMR and I flew to Australia last year, and we mentioned Steve Irwin to the flight attendant. She went "Oh no!" and covered her face in embarrassment. I love that crazy SOB.

We ended up watching Australian TV sometimes, and there was a TV show called something like "Australia's Worst Driver." That was so entertaining to watch. Drivers were nominated by friends or family, and then the bad drivers had to do things like back up a car that had a trailer attached and had to drive down a serious slope. I would love to watch a US version.

[catfrog]

Is it safe for a Kiwi to enter this thread?

I have to say that although McLeods Daughters is VERY popular here, I just don't get the hype. Can you really find that many good looking women running a farm in the middle of the outback? And what's up with Home and Away being so popular? Man, I could fill a whole thread with popular Aussie shows that I just don't get.

Oh, but I do love Steve Irwin. Is he not appreciated as the king of OTT in Oz?

[ang]

Another Kiwi!

....maybe here I can have a snicker about Lee Tamahori and people will know who Im on about.

Teehee!

[catfrog]

Ha!
As if it wasn't bad enough to be caught soliciting a prostitute, to be caught wearing a wig and a dress while doing it?
I would LOVE to know what that was all about. Really, I'm confused about his 'preferences'.

Erm, I mean how sad that a successful kiwi has become a laughing stock.

[Deleted]

Yay Kiwis! G'day to you all!

I'm going to try to respond to everyone at the same time...

I have a real love/hate relationship with Steve Irwin. On the one hand, the man is just so bloody annoying, and practically every other word out of his mouth is "Crikey". And unfortunately, he's probably the most well-known export that Australia has, so whenever people hear my accent, they ALWAYS bring up Steve Irwin. That in and of itself is enough to inspire the hate...but then again, he can be kind of sweet sometimes, and I just can't bring myself to despise him.

I've never seen "Australia's worst driver", but it sounds like something I would love. People think the drivers in America are bad...I'm not saying that they're great by any means, but Australians are really crazy, particularly when you start to head inland to the unpopulated areas.

Home and Away...couldn't agree with you more catfrog. For any non-Aussies who may stumble in here, think "Dawson's Creek", give every character an Australian accent, and dress them in eighties wear. I hates it with the fire of a thousand suns...ugh. Water Rats is another one of those...it was like a live-action version of "Captain Planet" except without the amusement factor of watching a guy with a blue mullet tackle supervillains whose only mission in life was to pollute.

And poor, poor Lee Tamahori...I would post him in the schadenfreude thread, except no one would know who he was! When I first read about him I just burst out laughing, and then I went, "I really, really shouldn't be laughing right now...". I can't figure out if I think he's a sleazy knob, a pathetic old guy who's starting to lose his mind, or the NZ version of Michael Jackson.

[rorgg]

I kind of like Steve Irwin, maybe because of my limited exposure to him. Besides the commercial spot he did for FedEx or whatever that was, I've seen his show (shows? I thought they were different shows, one included his wife) maybe 3 times, so I generally watch 15 minutes or so, laugh about the insane goofball, and then don't have to think about him for the next 6 months.

[batmom]

I lived in Brisbane for a year when I was 14-15 (I'm from Vancouver, BC). I have fond memories of Home and Away, I hated Neighbours, and I loved the Comedy Show (or whatever it was called). I used to that imitations of that school girl character (Kylie?) sketch.

I love Australia. I can't wait to take my family to visit (friends of ours, she being Australian, moved to Sidney a couple of years ago).

[catfrog]

Will I be kicked out if I admit to a vague dislike of Kylie Minogue?

I respect her attitude to her job, she doesn't seem like the sort to throw a diva fit, (unlike her sister). But the singing? She can't sing, and wearing adorable Moulin Rouge inspired stage costumes while shaking your perfectly formed arse is not an acceptable substitute.
I know, blasphemy.

Thanks for the welcome Ximena