From stand-up to sitcoms, there’s something in this collection of films and TV series for every sense of humour, whether you like your jokes wholesome, edgy or just straight-up absurd – and they include an assortment of Aussie communities, from Greek-Australian movie The Taverna to Aboriginal game show Faboriginal.
Who The Bloody Hell Are We?
This innovative docu-comedy series digs up untold histories from three immigrant groups. Comedian John Safran dives into Jewish Australia, uncovering the unexpected tale of a Jewish bushranger and First Fleet arrival, while stand-up comic Cal Wilson explores New Zealanders’ contributions to the great southern land, from Maori trade at the time of the First Fleet through to the single Kiwi mum who created one of Australia’s most loved kids’ characters. Lastly, chef Adam Liaw uncovers secret stories of notable Chinese-Australians, like the Chinese immigrants who founded our banana industry. The three-part series is a feat of warm-hearted storytelling, mixing poignant tales with snappy and wry commentary from its three hosts – who ever said education couldn’t be fun?
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
Who The Bloody Hell Are We? - episode 1
RAW Comedy Festival 2023
RAW Comedy is Australia’s biggest open-mic competition for stand-up comedians, known for launching the careers of hilarious folks including Ronny Chieng, Hannah Gadsby and Josh Thomas over its 27-year history. If you couldn’t make it to the finale at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, catch up with this year’s event at SBS On Demand. This year’s finalists get personal, with Rapha Manajem tackling the awkward question of “where are you from?” as someone with a very mixed family background, while Ginny Hollands delivers a darkly funny set about her own struggles as a blind person – and how she hilariously bends that disability to get what she wants. With short and sweet ten-minute sets, it’s the kind of special you can watch in bite-size chunks on your lunch break – but these young upstarts are so funny you may want to binge the whole thing at once to discover your new favourite stand-up comic.
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
RAW Comedy Festival 2023
Patriot Brains
If you think you know the intricacies of Australian or New Zealand culture, this riotous quiz show will put your knowledge to the test. Two rotating teams of comedians from each country compete in each episode, but be warned: the trivia can be seriously niche, with topics ranging from teenagers who have taken Melbourne trams for joyrides through to meat pies made with camel and crocodile. It’s a relaxing watch with plenty of giggle-worthy improvised banter from the contestants, while Sue Perkins puts on a fabulously faux-strict act as the quizmaster (and in season 1, comedian Bill Bailey brings his wacky dry humour to the host role).
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
Patriot Brains - season 1 episode 1
The Family Law
Acclaimed writer Benjamin Law’s memoir The Family Law is a heartfelt account of his upbringing in a large Chinese-Australian family, and the TV adaptation keeps all the warmth of the book while dialling up the laughs. Over three seasons, it follows Benjamin’s teen years as he grapples with dramas of all stripes, from an invitation to his first boozy party through to reconciling with his own sexuality. Actor Trystan Go is an endearing awkward teen Benjamin while Fiona Choi as his crass, sex-talking mum Jenny is a hoot as she navigates her own dilemmas, from divorce to reinventing herself for an internet dating site. Altogether, it’s feel-good fun with a cheeky streak and plenty of thoughtful observations on growing up in multicultural Australia.
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
The Family Law - season 1 episode 1
He Died With A Felafel In His Hand
It’s impressive that a film that starts out with the death of the main character’s housemate can be so wickedly funny. Based on John Birmingham’s book of the same name, He Died With A Felafel In His Hand traces 20-something Danny’s surreal experiences living in sharehouses around Australia. Danny is an aspiring writer, but his attempts to work are routinely thwarted by the bizarre characters he lives with, like a fake military veteran who plays golf with cane toads in place of the balls or a moon-worshipping pagan. As Danny is forced to move from city to city to escape debt collectors, he lands in a dingy hovel in Melbourne, and a glitzy Sydney apartment inhabited by nightmarish type-A personalities. It’s the kind of movie that lassos you in and takes you for a wild ride, and it’s so far out of the box it’s firmly in cult film territory.
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
He Died With A Felafel In His Hand
Faboriginal
For a smart celebration of Indigenous culture, check out this arty game show. Each episode features two teams comprising such top talents as singer Christine Anu and actress Shari Sebbens, answering fast-paced questions about all manner of Aboriginal art, covering ground from big names such as Albert Namatjira to up-and-coming creatives. It’s a joyous celebration of Indigenous culture – the fabulous Steven Oliver (“the man with the juiciest cheeks in the country”) is a campy host who makes for breezy viewing, while Coby Edgar ups the ante as tough-edged scorekeeper “The Taboriginal”.
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
Faboriginal - season 1 episode 1
The Taverna
This dark comedy from director Alkinos Tsilimidos follows a night of chaos in a Greek restaurant in suburban Melbourne. Bellydancer Jamila is stuck in a custody battle with her ex Arman – and when he shows up to dine at her work with his new lover, she refuses to perform. An inexperienced waitress takes her place, accidentally sparking off a brawl and leading to a farcical situation where Arman’s lover is kidnapped as part of a hare-brained scheme to fix Jamila’s problems. A little dark and very zany, it’s a slice of Greek-Australian life loaded with twists and turns, and exaggerated in all the right ways.
STREAM FREE AT SBS ON DEMAND
The Taverna
