Rubbery Figures
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Satirical puppet television show |
Rubbery Figures was an Australian satirical puppet show using rubber figures that aired from 1984 until 1990. Initially broadcast on the ABC network through 1988, it later returned as a segment within Seven Network's Fast Forward starting in April 1989. The program showcased caricatured puppets representing well-known political and societal personalities.
Production
The production of Rubbery Figures took place at the Melbourne studio of Peter Nicholson, who was also responsible for crafting the puppets. The majority of character voices were supplied by Melbourne-based voice artist Paul Jennings.
Fast Forward's Rubbery Figures
Steve Vizard, the creator behind Channel Seven's Fast Forward, integrated Rubbery Figures to set his show apart from other comedic skits. Due to financial constraints, Nicholson developed brief five-minute segments that could be easily incorporated. During this phase, the satire expanded beyond contemporary politics; for instance, puppets of Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Treasurer Paul Keating were depicted as Captain Kirk and Mr Spock aboard the Enterprise.
Australian politicians
Prominent Australian political figures portrayed included:
- Bob Hawke – shown as egotistical and power-driven
- Paul Keating – represented as Hawke’s practical yet ambitious partner
- John Howard – characterized as an annoying, geeky individual
- Andrew Peacock – vain and elitist, frequently seen filing his nails
- Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen – depicted as forgetful and rambling, often misusing phrases ("you mark my verbs")
- John Elliott – a beer-loving "yobbo" famous for the phrase "pig's arse"
International politicians
The show also lampooned key global political leaders of the era, such as:
- Margaret Thatcher – then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; portrayed as an eccentric profiteer eager to sell assets to Australia
- Ronald Reagan – then-President of the United States; depicted as a lumberjack making decisions guided by his horoscope
- Mikhail Gorbachev – former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union; shown as a laid-back liberal who often took time off
- Muammar al-Gaddafi – former leader of Libya, whose puppet was permanently skewered by a missile labeled "USA"
Comparison with Spitting Image
In 1988, the Sunday Mail highlighted that Peter Nicholson created Rubbery Figures prior to the Australian debut of Spitting Image. Nicholson clarified that the two programs originate from distinct influences: while Rubbery Figures is inspired by political cartoons found in newspapers and portrays characters with some redeeming qualities, Spitting Image intentionally depicts individuals in a harsh and unflattering manner.
Music
In 1991, "The Recession Rap," featuring the rubbery figures, was launched. The song was penned by David Atkin, Peter Benson, and Troy Hazard, produced by Atkin and Benson, and performed by Paul Jennings. It attained a peak position of number 60 on the ARIA Chart in August of that year.
On Exhibition
Although no longer broadcast on television, the figures were showcased in various exhibitions throughout the 1990s. In 1993, they underwent restoration for "The Exhibition We Had To Have" held at the National Gallery of Victoria during the Melbourne Comedy Festival. The following year, "The Rubbery Years," organized in collaboration with the National Museum, was displayed for six months at Old Parliament House in Canberra.
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| "The Recession Rap" | 1991 | 60 |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards have been held annually by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) to honor outstanding achievement and creativity within Australian music.
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| rowspan="2"| 1992
| "The Recession Rap"
| Best Comedy Release
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