Fast Forward (Australian TV series)

Fast Forward
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television entertainment
Founded	April 12, 1989; 37 years ago
Founder	Steve Vizard
Defunct	November 26, 1992
Fate	Ended
Headquarters	Australia
Key people	Steve Vizard (producer, executive producer, writer, performer); Ted Emery (director from season 2); Andrew Knight (executive producer from season 2)
Products	Television sketch comedy series
Number of employees	Cast and crew including Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Magda Szubanski, Marg Downey, Michael Veitch, Peter Moon, Alan Pentland, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks, Ernie Dingo

Fast Forward stands as Australia's top-rated and most praised commercial television sketch comedy series, broadcasting a total of 90 one-hour episodes between 12 April 1989 and 26 November 1992.

The program was produced and executive produced by Steve Vizard, who also contributed as a writer and performer. The cast included Jane Turner, Gina Riley, and Magda Szubanski—all later known for leading roles in Kath & Kim—alongside Marg Downey, Michael Veitch, Peter Moon, Alan Pentland, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks, Ernie Dingo, the satirical puppets from Rubbery Figures, as well as guest appearances by performers such as Gerry Connolly and Bryan Dawe.

From its second season onward, direction was handled by Ted Emery, with executive producers including Andrew Knight joining Vizard and Emery. This team was instrumental in founding the prominent Australian production company, Artist Services.

Following Fast Forward, related series appeared: Full Frontal and Totally Full Frontal (1993–1999), which featured a largely new principal cast but included numerous guest roles from former Fast Forward performers.

All four seasons, together with five "best of" collections, were made available on DVD, with a subsequent reissue in 2010. In 2013, the Network Ten-owned channel One broadcast half-hour specials titled Fast Forward Funniest Send-Ups, originally aired in 1994, marking the show's first return to television since 1998.

Background

Several cast members initially appeared in a 1985 Seven Network sketch-comedy pilot called The Eleventh Hour, which also paved the way for The Comedy Company through The D-Generation. Commissioned by Seven Network in late 1988, Fast Forward was produced by Steve Vizard's United Film Completion company and aired on Seven. During development, working titles included both Snapped Cable Television and Fast Forward.

Style

Known for its rapid-fire satirical humor, Fast Forward targeted media outlets—particularly film and television—through spoofs of well-known programs such as Kung Fu, Lost In Space, and A Current Affair. It also lampooned prominent media personalities like Clive James and Jana Wendt, as well as commercials from brands including American Express and Nescafé.

Political satire formed a significant part of the show’s content, featuring impersonations of figures like John Howard and Paul Keating. The program incorporated the political puppets from Rubbery Figures, previously seen on the ABC, which were inspired by cartoons drawn by Peter Nicholson.

A distinctive technique involved mimicking channel surfing to transition between sketches—often cutting abruptly following punchlines or even mid-scene. This approach, complete with static interference and white noise effects, became a defining characteristic that set Fast Forward apart from earlier sketch programs such as The Mavis Bramston Show, The Naked Vicar Show, and The Comedy Company. The show’s emphasis on multimedia themes combined with its brisk tempo secured its unique standing in the market.

Musical parodies were another hallmark, with contemporary music videos frequently spoofed. Popular targets included artists like ABBA, Cher, and Dannii Minogue.

Sketches and Content

Each installment featured a blend of recurring characters, news-style reports, extensive parodies of popular television programs or movies, spoof commercials, and political satire performed with Rubbery Figures puppets.

Noteworthy regular characters included:

Marg Downey portraying an SBS presenter
Magda Szubanski as Pixie-Ann Wheatley; Chenille the Beautician; and as part of the Ugly Couple duo
Steve Vizard alongside Peter Moon playing advertising executives Brent Smythe and Barry; also salesmen Roger Ramshet and Abdul
Michael Veitch in multiple roles including flight attendants; Kelvin Cunnington; and Redmond Herring
Gerry Connolly impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Jane Turner as the Russian news anchor Sveter
Steve Vizard as Darren Hunch, a parody of Derryn Hinch
Ernie Dingo acting as Robert Gottliebsen
Steve Blackburn and Geoff Brooks portraying shady salesmen Arthur and Wayne Dodgy
Michael Veitch and Glenn Robbins as members of The Whizz Bang Theatre Company

Among the favored sketches were "Dumb Street," which lampooned Home and Away and Neighbours, alongside a memorable Kung Fu parody featuring Moon and Vizard struggling to suppress their laughter.

The Rubbery Figures segment was tailored for wider appeal by integrating political personalities into popular culture settings, such as a Star Trek parody casting Paul Keating as Mr. Spock and Bob Hawke as Captain Kirk. This particular feature was instrumental in propelling the show’s early popularity.

In 1991, five skits utilized Ertl Thomas models to parody Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, addressing issues like gender roles, environmental concerns, labor strikes, and substitutions. These sketches gave the engines human-like traits such as eating breakfast or taking weekend trips. Characters included Crazy Bartholomew (a yellow-painted Thomas model), Alfred (a red-painted Percy model), Damian the Diesel (off-screen), Edgar (mentioned), a female engine painted orange, along with references to Toby, Annie, Clarabel, Gordon, Henry, and Percy under alternative names.

Episodes

Source:

Season 1 (1989)

{{Episode table|background=#6495ED |overall=5|season=5|title=12|director=18|writer=28|airdate=12|country=AUS|episodes=

Template:Episode list

{{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 10 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=10 
 	EpisodeNumber2=10 
 	ShortSummary=
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 11 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Gordon Badham, John Barber, Steve Blackburn 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=11 
 	EpisodeNumber2=11 
 	ShortSummary=The Towering Poseidon Tidal Earthquake '1977 
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 12 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=12 
 	EpisodeNumber2=12 
 	ShortSummary=Candid Camera 
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 13 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=13 
 	EpisodeNumber2=13 
 	ShortSummary=Beijing TV News 
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 14 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=14 
 	EpisodeNumber2=14 
 	ShortSummary=
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

 	Title=Episode 15 
 	DirectedBy=Ted Emery 
 	WrittenBy=Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn 
 	OriginalAirDate= 
 	EpisodeNumber=15 
 	EpisodeNumber2=15 
 	ShortSummary=Tell the Truth 
 	LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

   Title    = Episode 16  
   DirectedBy    = Ted Emery  
   WrittenBy    = Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, John Barber  
   OriginalAirDate    =   
   EpisodeNumber    =16  
   EpisodeNumber2    =16  
   ShortSummary    ="The Cosby Show", Batman, Beijing TV news  
   LineColor    =#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

   Title    = Episode 17  
   DirectedBy    = Ted Emery  
   WrittenBy    = Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn  
   OriginalAirDate    =   
   EpisodeNumber    =17  
   EpisodeNumber2    =17  
   ShortSummary    ="Batman", MTV  
   LineColor    =#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

   Title    = Episode 18  
   DirectedBy    = Ted Emery  
   WrittenBy    = Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn  
   OriginalAirDate    =   
   EpisodeNumber    =18  
   EpisodeNumber2    =18  
   ShortSummary=The Addams Family  
   LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

    Title     = Episode 19   
    DirectedBy     = Ted Emery   
    WrittenBy     = Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks   
    OriginalAirDate     =    
    EpisodeNumber     =19   
    EpisodeNumber2     =19   
    ShortSummary=Casablanca (film)   
    LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

     Title      = Episode 20    
     DirectedBy      = Ted Emery    
     WrittenBy      = Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks    
     OriginalAirDate      =     
     EpisodeNumber      =20    
     EpisodeNumber2      =20    
     ShortSummary=Get Smart    
     LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

      Title       = Episode 21     
      DirectedBy       = Ted Emery     
      WrittenBy       = Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks, Ernie Dingo     
      OriginalAirDate       ={ { Start date       { {1989} }       { {8} }       { {30} }       df=y } }     
      EpisodeNumber       ={ {21} }     
      EpisodeNumber2       ={ {21} }     
      ShortSummary=Hogan's Heroes     
      LineColor=#6495ED

}} {{Episode list

       Title        ={ {22} }      
       DirectedBy        ={ {Ted Emery} }      
       WrittenBy        ={ {Steve Blackburn}, { {Geoff Brooks} }, Ernie Dingo}      
       OriginalAirDate        ={ { Start date        { {1989} }        { {9} }        { {6} }        df=y } }      
       EpisodeNumber        ={ {22} }      
       EpisodeNumber2        ={ {22} }      
       ShortSummary=Lost in Space      
       LineColor=#6495ED

}}

Season 3 (1991)

{{Episode list

  Title         = Episode 16  
  DirectedBy    = Ted Emery,
 Kevin Carlin, Jon Olb  
  WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Gordon Badham, Steve Blackburn  
  OriginalAirDate =   
  EpisodeNumber = 64  
  EpisodeNumber2= 16  
  ShortSummary  = Skippy, Embassy  
  LineColor    = FFBF00

}} {{Episode list

  Title         = Episode 17  
  DirectedBy    = Kevin Carlin, Jon Olb  
  WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks  
  OriginalAirDate =   
  EpisodeNumber = 65  
  EpisodeNumber2= 17  
  ShortSummary  = The Hound of the Baskervilles#Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles  
  LineColor    = FFBF00

}} {{Episode list

  Title         = Episode 18   
  DirectedBy    = Ted Emery   
  WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks   
  OriginalAirDate=    
  EpisodeNumber = 66   
  EpisodeNumber2= 18   
  ShortSummary  = Charlie's Angels   
  LineColor    = FFBF00

}} {{Episode list

  Title         = Episode 19   
  DirectedBy    = Ted Emery   
  WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks   
  OriginalAirDate=    
  EpisodeNumber = 67   
  EpisodeNumber2= 19   
  ShortSummary  = Petticoat Junction   
  LineColor    = FFBF00

}} {{Episode list

  Title         = Episode 20   
  DirectedBy    = Ted Emery   
  WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks   
  OriginalAirDate=    
  EpisodeNumber = 68   
  EpisodeNumber2= 20   
  ShortSummary  = Alien, All Creatures Great and Small    
  LineColor    = FFBF00

}} {{Episode list

   Title        = Episode 21    
   DirectedBy    = Ted Emery    
   WrittenBy     = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks    
   OriginalAirDate=

}}

Season 4 (1992)

{{Episode list

Title = Episode 11
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 85
EpisodeNumber2=11
ShortSummary= Casablanca, Open University, Sylvania Waters
LineColor = 483D8B

}} {{Episode list

Title = Episode 12
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 86
EpisodeNumber2=12
ShortSummary= Chariots of Fire, Psycho, Romeo and Juliet
LineColor = 483D8B

}} {{Episode list

Title = Episode 13
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 87
EpisodeNumber2=13
ShortSummary= King Kong, Blood Frenzy Massacre 2, Four Corners
LineColor = 483D8B

}} {{Episode list

Title = Episode 14
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 88
EpisodeNumber2=14
ShortSummary= E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
LineColor = 483D8B

}} {{Episode list

Title = Episode 15
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 89
EpisodeNumber2=15
ShortSummary= Blake's 7, The Saturday Show
LineColor = 483D8B

}} {{Episode list

Title = Episode 16
DirectedBy = Ted Emery
WrittenBy = Robert Adams, Steve Blackburn, Geoff Brooks
OriginalAirDate=
EpisodeNumber= 90
EpisodeNumber2=16
ShortSummary= Play School, The Sound of Music
LineColor = 483D8B

}}

Specials

Fast Forward Exposed (20 April 1993, 45 minutes)
A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy (5 May 1993, 90 minutes)
38 and a Bit Fabulous Years of Australian Television (13 February 1994, 60 minutes)
The Making of Nothing (20 February 1994, 60 minutes)
Standing on the Road (1994, 60 minutes)
Fast Forward Rewind (4 July 1994, 60 minutes)
Fast Forward's Funniest TV Send-Ups (1994, 12 episodes of 30 minutes each)
Fast Forward's Funniest Moments (27 April–13 July 1998, twelve episodes of one hour each)
Ten-Year Bash (October 2002, 48 minutes)
One More Round (2003, 60 minutes)
Dragging up the Past (2003, 60 minutes)

Reception

Throughout its run of ninety episodes, Fast Forward consistently led television ratings, often securing audience shares in the mid to high thirties. Although Channel 7 proposed continuing the series late in 1992, both the cast and production team opted to end it, preserving its status as one of Australia's foremost sketch comedy programs.

Awards and nominations

In 1990, Fast Forward received two Logie Awards alongside two Australian Television Awards (Penguins) recognizing Excellence in Make-up and Achievement in Production. That same year, the Australian Writers' Guild honored the show with two AWGIE Awards: Best Comedy/Revue/Sketch for Fast Forward and Best Sketch Comedy co-written by Steve Vizard. Vizard himself was distinguished as Comedy Artist of the Year by the Variety Club and named Television Performer of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.

At the 1991 Logie Awards, Steve Vizard earned the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television as well as Most Popular Male Light Entertainer. Magda Szubanski was awarded Most Popular Female Light Entertainer, while Fast Forward won Most Popular Light Entertainment Program. Additionally, the writing team secured an AWGIE for Best Sketch Comedy.

In 1992, Szubanski repeated her win as Most Popular Female Performer – Light Entertainment; meanwhile, Fast Forward again claimed Most Popular Light Entertainment Program and an AWGIE for Best Sketch Comedy. The show also received a People's Choice Award for Most Popular Program on Australian Television.

The series maintained its acclaim in 1993 by winning a Logie for Most Popular Comedy Program.

ARIA Music Awards

Since their inception in 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements within Australia's music industry.

! Ref. |- | 1990 | Fast Forward - Take One | Best Comedy Release | |

Album releases

Albums with peak positions on Australian charts
Title	Album details	Highest chart position
Title	Album details	Australia
Fast Forward Take One	Released: December 1989 Format: LP Label: Liberation/CBS (105225 1)	61

DVD releases

DVD title	Release date	Discs	Versions	Ref.
Fast Forward: In Rewind, Funniest Moments – Volume One	28 April 2004	2	Compilation	^[1]
Fast Forward: In Rewind, Funniest Moments – Volume Two	7 May 2004	2		^[2]
Fast Forward: Funniest TV Send Ups, Vol. 1	21 March 2005	1		^[3]
Fast Forward: Funniest TV Send Ups, Vol. 2	23 May 2005	1		^[4]
Fast Forward: Funniest TV Send Ups, Vol. 3	20 June 2005	1		^[5]
Fast Forward: The Complete Season One	20 March 2006	5	Season sets	^[6]
Fast Forward: The Complete Season Two	23 October 2006	6		^[7]
Fast Forward: The Complete Season Three	4 December 2006	6		^[8]
Fast Forward: The Complete Season Four	18 January 2008	5
Fast Forward: Series 1	22 March 2010	5	Season re-releases	^[9]
Fast Forward: Series 2	22 March 2010	6		^[10]
Fast Forward: Series 3	9 June 2010	6		^[11]
Fast Forward: Series 4	9 June 2010	5		^[12]

Adaptation

In 1997, the program was remade for German audiences under the title Switch, broadcast by the TV channel ProSieben.

References

[1] shpond.com.au

[2] shpond.com.au

[3] shpond.com.au

[4] shpond.com.au

[5] shpond.com.au

[6] shpond.com.au

[7] shpond.com.au

[8] shpond.com.au

[9] Booktopia

[10] Booktopia

[11] Booktopia

[12] Booktopia

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Background

Style

Sketches and Content

Episodes

Season 1 (1989)

Season 3 (1991)

Season 4 (1992)

Specials

Reception

Awards and nominations

Album releases

DVD releases

Adaptation

References

External links