The Wedge (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Ian McFadyen |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Sketch comedy television show |
The Wedge was an Australian sketch show devised by Ian McFadyen and produced by Cornerbox for Network Ten. The series starred Dailan Evans (known from ABC's Eagle & Evans), Adam Zwar (recognized for Wilfred), Rebel Wilson (at the time known for Pizza), and Jason Gann (who won the Tropfest best actor award twice for Wilfred). Other regular cast members included Kate Jenkinson, Anthony Ahern, Katrina Mathers, Julie Eckersley, and Ross Daniels. The first season featured Marney McQueen, Aidan Fennessy, and Cori Hooper, while Damian Callinan and Cal Wilson joined in season two.
Broadcast across two seasons in 2006 and 2007, the show produced 48 episodes, four of which were never aired. A spin-off mockumentary titled Mark Loves Sharon, focusing on the character Mark Wary, debuted on Network Ten in June 2008.
History and premise
Network Ten began promoting the series in December 2005 by introducing Wedgedale, a caricatured Australian suburban community. The pilot episode was broadcast on 30 May 2006. The sketch comedy style was reminiscent of programs such as Fast Forward and The Comedy Company, but it stood out by situating nearly every sketch within the same fictional town. This allowed smooth scene transitions that often referenced earlier sketches. These connections frequently employed timelapse sequences or direct links between segments, a stylistic choice occasionally acknowledged within the show itself.
The concluding episode of season one aired on 21 November 2006. The theme tune, "Sounds Funny," was performed by Hunter Kaine, who was recommended by a member of the production team.
Encouraged by positive audience response, Network Ten greenlit a second season, with filming commencing in September 2006 in South Melbourne. The official website was updated to announce live recordings before an audience. Season two premiered on 12 August 2007, featuring two episodes rated 'M' broadcast at 9:40 PM; however, the schedule became irregular afterward. Various timeslot changes occurred due to events like the Rugby World Cup, yet viewership remained steady at approximately 500,000 per episode. Despite this consistent rating performance, the series was not extended for a third season.
Marketing collaborations included a 2007 Network Ten commercial promoting Mother Energy drink that showcased Sandra Sultry (portrayed by Katrina Mathers). Additionally, the official website was revamped with fresh series details on 10 August 2007.
Season 1
Cast
| Cast | Role | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| Dailan Evans | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Rebel Wilson | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Jason Gann | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Julie Eckersley | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Anthony Ahern | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Katrina Mathers | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Kate Jenkinson | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Adam Zwar | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Marney McQueen | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Aidan Fennessy | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Cori Hopper | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Julia Zemiro | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian |
| Brandon John | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Frieda McKenna | Multiple Characters | Actor |
| Ross Daniels | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian |
| Hunter Kaine | Theme Song/Music Video | Singer/Songwriter |
Crew
| Crew | Position |
|---|---|
| Steve Dundon | Executive Producer |
| Michael Horrocks | Series Producer |
| Steve Vizard | Creative Consultant |
| Ross Daniels | Supervising Producer |
| Nick Bufalo | Director |
| Graeme Rowland | Director |
| Ian McFadyen | Co-Executive Producer/Writer/Creator |
| Andy McIntyre | Co-Executive Producer |
| Brendan Luno | Writer |
| Tal Brott | Writer |
| Paul Calleja | Writer |
| Catherine Deveney | Writer |
| Des Dowling | Writer |
| Craig Eagle | Writer |
| Russell Gilbert | Writer |
| Andrew Maj | Writer |
Season 2
Cast
| Cast | Role | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Dailan Evans | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Rebel Wilson | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Jason Gann | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Julie Eckersley | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Anthony Ahern | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Katrina Mathers | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Kate Jenkinson | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Adam Zwar | Multiple Characters | Actor/Writer |
| Damian Callinan | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Cal Wilson | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer |
| Ross Daniels | Multiple Characters | Actor/Comedian/Writer/Supervising Producer |
| Hunter Kaine | Opening Song/Music Segment | Singer/Songwriter |
Crew
| Crew | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Horrocks | Series Producer |
| Daniel Scharf | Series Producer and Producer |
| Andrew Power | Assistant Director |
| Steve Vizard | Creative Consultant |
| Kevin Carlin | Director |
| Ian McFadyen | Co-Executive Producer, Writer, Creator |
| Nicole Minchin | Line Producer |
| Andy McIntyre | Executive Producer |
| Tal Brott, Michael Chamberlain, Paul Calleja, Des Dowling, Craig Eagle, Russell Gilbert, Jo Gill, Greta Harrison, David Lawrence, Andrew Maj, Garry Macaffrie, Ray Matson, Gerard McCulloch, Lulu McClatchy, Anita Punton, Matthew Vaughan, Matt Cameron | Writing Team |
| Vin Hedger | Writers Coordinator |
DVD releases
| DVD title | Release date | Number of episodes | Total running time | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We're Moving | 9 October 2006 | 6 | 134 minutes | M |
| Lucky | 7 | 156 minutes | ||
| Thanks for Coming | 20 November 2006 | 7¹ | ||
| That's Valid | 16 December 2006 | 7 |
- ¹The twentieth episode from season one was included again on both the That's Valid and Thanks for Coming DVDs.
Critical reception
The Wedge garnered a varied response from critics and viewers during its debut season. While the premiere attracted a strong audience of approximately 1.5 million viewers and subsequent episodes maintained averages above one million, ratings diminished towards the season’s conclusion with some installments drawing fewer than 700,000 viewers. Critics frequently pointed to the excessive use of canned laughter and a dependence on outdated, low-cost humor that leaned heavily on simplistic stereotypes. According to writer Catherine Deveny, producers often revised scripts to broaden appeal, which diluted the original comedic vision despite the skilled cast.
Nevertheless, the show received commendations for its distinctive characters and ensemble performance. A prominent magazine described its cast as "outrageous, quirky, and vibrant locals," while Sean Fewster from the Adelaide Advertiser regarded it as "an almost perfect fusion" of family-friendly and satirical humor. Other observers predicted it would become a major Australian comedy series in the new century. The second season was met with more positive critiques and sustained steady ratings despite a less favorable time slot; The Age recognized its enhanced quality.
In contrast, British presenter Jonathan Ross criticized the series on his film 2009 show, remarking that it unsuccessfully attempted to emulate superior British sketch comedy and was "not worth watching."
Side projects
- Karingal Park Secondary College secured victory in the "Art Cooney Comes to Your School" contest hosted on The Wedge website, which resulted in a visit from Adam Zwar portraying Art Cooney. Another competition rewarded winners with an exclusive tour of the The Wedge set.
- The characters Mark Wary (played by Jason Gann) and his manager (portrayed by Dailan Evans) made an appearance on the 50 Years of Comic Relief program broadcast on Seven Network, sharing the stage with entertainers Russell Gilbert, Kate Jenkinson, and Rebel Wilson.
- Australia's improvisational series Thank God You're Here featured Cal Wilson, Dailan Evans, and Kate Jenkinson during its second season, while Rebel Wilson participated in the third season.
External links
- The Wedge at Australian Television