1 9 9 2 – 1 9 9 3 (Australia)
23 x 25 minute episodes
This Channel Ten (Australia) sitcom from the creator of The Comedy Company (Ian McFadyen) was set in a suburban car smash repair workshop in Melbourne and featured an ensemble cast.
The workshop was owned by cranky Ron Bignell (Cliff Ellen) who attempted to supervise a team of no-hopers.
The staff included wise-cracking, practical joker Barry (Shane Bourne); a would-be Italian stallion mechanic called Tony (Nicholas Bufalo); slobby receptionist Deirdre (Sally-Anne Upton), and Clive (Tim Scally), a crazed spray painter.
The only employee who did not conform to the Aussie bludger stereotype was the proud German mechanic, Oscar (Dalibor Satalic).
Russell Gilbert played a tow truck driver called Kev and Andrew Maj was Lester, an insurance assessor. Stacy (Tammy Macintosh) was Ron’s pretty daughter who worked as a mechanic and was constantly fending off advances from Tony.
Plots swung from Neighbours-style naturalism to sheer pantomime and the series – widely regarded as dreadful – crashed badly after just 13 episodes.
Unfortunately, Channel Ten had foolishly commissioned a second series of the write-off before the first series even went to air.
Barry
Shane Bourne
Tony
Nicholas Bufalo
Stacy Bignell
Tammy Macintosh
Deirdre
Sally-Anne Upton
Ron Bignell
Cliff Ellen
Clive
Tim Scally
Little
Colin Cole
Kev
Russell Gilbert
Lester
Andrew Maj
Oscar
Dalibor Satalic
Gerry
Louise Watson
Episodes
The Clean Up | Battle of the Sexes | Arachnophobia | All Through the Night | Bringing Up Baby | For Want of a Nail | Nature Calling | The Pop Star | The Candidate | The Horse’s Mouth | The Painting | The Boyfriend | The Godfather | Work Experience | Lester’s Big Romance: 1 | Lester’s Big Romance: 2 | One of the Boys | The New Man | The New Manager | Motivation | The Odd Single | The TV Commercial | The Holidays