Come in if you're good lookin! (Kath & Kim)

Member Name: kerrypanda

Product:	Kath & Kim
Date:	28/05/09 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's nice, it's different, it's un-ewe-sual, it's nice..

Disadvantages: You know your beeswax, why don't you mind it?

"I've got one word to say to you..."
The Royle Family meets Neighbours meets Absolutely Fabulous meets Alan Partridge.

Kath and Kim is an award winning Australian comedy television series, and has a cult following worldwide. The eponymous Kath and Kim are the main subjects of a suburban Aussie reality show (or a fly on the slice of life as Kath would put it) set in Fountain Lakes, Melbourne, along with their husbands, Kel and Brett, and Kims' second best friend Sharon.

"Look at me. Look at moyy ploise!!"

The show was created, produced and written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who also star in the show (Multi talented Riley even sings the theme tune!)

There have been four series and a TV movie so far, with Turner and Riley currently working on series five.

Cast list - Jane Turner - Kath Day-Knight
Gina Riley - Kimberley Craig
Glenn Robbins - Kel Knight
Peter Rows thorn - Brett Craig
Magda Szubanski - Sharon Strezlecki

Other recurring characters include Prue and Trude, the snobby grey-haired gift shop owners (played by Jane and Gina), Marion the marriage celebrant/counsellor with the "hands on" approach (charges pending), Kim and Bretts' daughter Epponnee-Rae and of course Cujo their 75 kilo rottie.

"I'm not a housewife, I'm a hornbag."

Kath is a curly permed, high maintenance 50-something foxy chick! She takes pride in her appearance. She found her style in the 80's and stuck to it, think fluoro aerobics gear, shoulder pads, and an earring collection that would put Pat Butcher to shame! She has a neat house and likes speed reading and evening classes.

Her man Kel, a yuuge hunk of spunk and purveyor of fine meats, is equally stylish with his grey slip-on shoes and matching jackets, and huge collection of man bags.

Kim is in her late 20's but very spoilt and lazy, with weight issues, and is reliant on her Mum "Why did you have me if you can't look after me?" She leaves henpecked husband and "dud root" Brett regularly and moves back home, "my marriage is over. O-V-A-haitch, over."

Sharon is very unlucky in love, but mostly manages her "urges" with chocolate and sport, "the sooner you realise all men are bastards and take up an interest in sport, the happier you'll be." She is accident-prone and seems to have a fresh injury in each episode.

Series one revolves around Kath and Kels' wedding plans. Kath finds her Bo Peep wedding dress and pumpkin style coach, and we learn that Kel has been left at the altar four times before. My favourite episode is Money. The girls arrange a lingerie party to raise funds, featuring celeb themed undies, and the "T-Bar." Personally designed by Kath, its basically a g-string worn back to front!

In series two Kim and Brett are expecting their first child. Highlights of the series are the appearance of Kels' mate Sandy Freckle who only has one thing on his mind, and Marion the counsellor advising Kath and Kel to live naked to solve their marriage issues, though Kath has special dispensation to wear gum-nut earrings and a bum-bag when shopping.

Series three introduces new characters such as Kims' father and Bretts' mother (played by Magda). Everyones favourite antipodean pop star features in the final episode.

The TV movie "Da Kath and Kim Code" was critically panned, largely because of the Da Vinci Code theme which seemed forced, clumsy and not really worth the effort when you see the "payoff" at the end of the film. If that aspect is ignored though it is well worth watching. Everyone is preparing for Christmas, Sharon becomes engaged over the internet, and Brett finally finds his backbone. Michael Buble makes a cameo appearance.

Series four is the weakest, in my opinion. It relies heavily on guest stars - Shane Warne, Matt Lucas(who plays Sharons' sister!), Eric Bana, and some Australlian TV celebs.

"Get it straight from the horses arse."

Kath and Kim has an amateur, low-budget feel which adds to its charm.
However, often the shadows or reflections of the film crew are visible which is annoying.

Some jokes are cringingly weak, like Kath (to a pregnant Kim) "I'm carrying now" "What?" "I'm carrying the shopping!"

In the shopping centre scenes they don't use extras. Shoppers openly stop and gawp at the filming as its going on!

"I'm going to wipe the floor with what I'm wearing."

In Britain series one and two, and the TV movie are available for purchase. If you have a multi region dvd player the other series are available to import. There is also a website www.kathandkim.com.

There is an American version of Kath and Kim but it is just awful! Kim is played by Selma Blair, so there go the fat jokes, and there is no Sharon. Magda Szubanski owns the character of Sharon and refused to sell her to the Americans (good one, Magda!).

"Lets put on the footy franks and crack open the Tia Maria!"

I love Kath and Kim, even the expressions and pronounciations crack me up.

Something about it reminds me of when I used to come home from school and watch Neighbours and Home and Away and makes me feel nostalgic!

I love the winetime scene at the end of each episode when Kath and Kim sit in the garden and chat over a wine, the obvious awkwardness between Kim and Kel, Sharons' crying fits "why the round face love?", Kims bum cleavage, Kel's power walking, the way Kath hates all of her neighbours, and the pose Kath and Kel get in when they go to kiss with their mouths miles apart!

Summary: I've got one word to say to you...