''Balls of Steel Australia'' is an Australian

reality Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, re ...

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

television series (based upon the UK series of the same name) which is hosted by

The Chaser The Chaser are an Australian satirical comedy group, best known for their television programmes and satirical news masthead. The group take their name from their satirical newspaper, a publication known to challenge conventions of taste. Th ...

Craig Reucassel Craig Bruce Reucassel is an Australian television and radio comedian. He is best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser. He hosted the Australian version of ''Balls of Steel'', which premiered in April 2011. Since 2013, Reucassel ...

. The show revolves around comedians who appear and present individual

skits Sketch comedy comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. The form developed and became popular in vaudeville, and i ...

where they would perform stunts and hold their nerve during

hidden camera A hidden camera or spy camera is a camera used to photograph or record subjects, often people, without their knowledge. The camera may be considered "hidden" because it is not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another obj ...

set-ups in the presence of the Australian public. The format was acquired, commissioned and developed by

The Comedy Channel The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy) is a defunct Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television. The channel ceased broadcasting on 1 September 2020. History A joint venture between Artist Serv ...

Group Programming Director

Darren Chau Darren & Brose are Darren Chau and Brose Avard, two Australia-based comedy writers and performers who first met while studying media at La Trobe University. Chau had been working with the comedy ensemble Chop-Socky, while Avard had been producin ...

who selected

Endemol Southern Star Endemol Southern Star (also known as Southern Star Endemol until February 2004) was an Australian television production company made up of a joint venture between Australian production company Southern Star Group and its Dutch production compa ...

to produce it. Balls of Steel Australia premiered on the Australian subscription television channel

on 19 April 2011. Ten episodes were produced for the inaugural season. Due to the success of series one, which became The Comedy Channel's highest ever rating series, a second series was commissioned, and premiered on 31 January 2012. The show won an Astra Award.

Overview

During the course of each episode, four acts are presented by their corresponding comedian. Each comedian has a brief banter with host Reucassel before and after each skit. At the end of each episode the studio audience is asked to decide which act had the biggest 'Balls of Steel' by voting with their mobile phones. Series one initially started with ten different comedians and their corresponding acts. Neg Dupree reprises his role with the Urban Sports segment from the original UK version. The series also has Australian local versions of "The Annoying Devil" and "Bunny Boiler". It also featured many exclusive acts only seen on this version of the show though some take in similar ideas and formats from many previous acts from the UK version. In addition, a studio based segment called "Show Us Your Balls" was created, where people in the audience are asked to participate and will be competing among the other comedians of the show. This segment is presented by host Reucassel. Series two sees some changes to the line up of comedians and their acts. Katia Taylor will not return to reprise her role as "Nude Girl" but instead will be replaced by the "Nude Twins". Other comedians who didn't return were Janis McGavin and Rachael Coopes. John Burgess replaces James Kerley as "The Game Show Host from Hell". New comedians and acts for this series includes Olivia Lee from the original UK series, "The Misfits Stunt Crew" and

Imaan Hadchiti Imaan Hadchiti is an Australian comedian and actor of Lebanese descent. Born in Mylor, South Australia, Hadchiti and his sister Rima Hadchiti are the only two known cases of "Rima Syndrome", a genetic condition causing small stature yet retaining ...

as "Short Tempered". Returning acts include the "Bunny Boiler", "Very Foreign Correspondent", "Neg's Urban Sports Down Under", and "Just Come Out".http://www.facebook.com/BallsOfSteelAustralia

Performers and acts

Series overview

Season one (2011)

Season two (2012)

Reception

It is the highest rating show in the history of The Comedy Channel, doubling the ratings of the previous record holder The Merrick and Rosso Show. Due to the popularity of the first series, a second series premiered in January 2012. Garnier also became its sponsor for its second series with John Burgess acting as the spokesperson and promoter in the commercial for Garnier Men Mineral Deodorants. It won the award for Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program at the 2012

Astra Awards The ASTRA Awards were the annual awards for the Australian subscription television industry. According to the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA), the awards "recognise the wealth of talent that drives the Australi ...

References

External links

* {{Southern Star Entertainment 2011 Australian television series debuts 2012 Australian television series endings 2010s Australian comedy television series 2010s LGBT-related comedy television series 2010s Australian reality television series Australian LGBT-related television shows English-language television shows Hidden camera television series Television series by Endemol Australia The Comedy Channel original programming Australian television series based on British television series