'' Housos '' is a
Logie Award
The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
-winning Australian
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
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
series created by
Paul Fenech
Paul Fenech (born 21 November 1972) is an Australian filmmaker, film and television actor, director, producer and writer. He is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in the television series ''Pizza'', ''Swift and Shift Cou ...
for
SBS, that screened on
SBS One
SBS is a national public television network in Australia. Launched on 24 October 1980, it is the responsibility of SBS's television division, and is available nationally. In 2018, SBS had a 7.7% audience share.
As of 2022, SBS is the lowest ...
. The series is a
satirical
Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming or e ...
parody of low income Australian residents of fictional suburb Sunnyvale, New South Wales, who are living in
Housing Commission public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is usually owned by a government authority, either central or local. Although the common goal of public housing is to provide affordable housing, the details, terminology, def ...
. On 1 November 2012, a film based on the series was released in Australian cinemas, titled ''
Housos vs. Authority''. On 9 September 2012 it was announced that ''Housos'' would return for a second series, which premiered 22 July 2013. On 27 November 2014 another film based on and continuing the storyline of the series entitled ''
Fat Pizza vs. Housos
''Fat Pizza vs. Housos'' is an Australian film based on the combination of the stories and characters of the SBS series ''Pizza'' and the comedy series ''Housos'', both created by Paul Fenech. The film began screening in Australian cinemas on 2 ...
'' was released. In May 2020, a third season was announced to be airing on ''
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010. The channel contains sport and regular programs aimed primarily to a male audience, with programming drawn from a c ...
'' titled ''"Housos vs Virus: The Lockdown"'' and centred around how the characters dealt with the ''
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
'' pandemic, which premiered on 26 October 2020. In February 2021, the series was renewed for a fourth season, titled ''"Housos: The Thong Warrior"'', which premiered on 7mate on 25 May 2022.
Cast
The majority of the cast of ''Housos'' are from Fenech's two previous series,
Pizza
Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...
and
Swift and Shift Couriers
''Swift and Shift Couriers'' is an Australian comedy television series that first screened on SBS TV in October 2008. The series is produced, directed and written by Paul Fenech, who was also responsible for the comedy series '' Pizza''. It is s ...
. Some of the cast went on to star in the successful series
Bogan Hunters
''Bogan Hunters'' is an Australian comedy reality television series created by Paul Fenech for Seven Network's 7mate. The series provides an in-depth look into Australia's bogan subculture, as the Bogan Hunters traverse the nation looking for A ...
on
7mate
7mate is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel, which was launched by the Seven Network on 25 September 2010. The channel contains sport and regular programs aimed primarily to a male audience, with programming drawn from a c ...
.
*
Elle Dawe
Elle Dawe (born 16 February 1981) is an Australian film and television actress, comedian and model.
Acting
Elle Dawe studied acting while attending Newtown High School of the Performing Arts in her younger years.
Her first major role on Aust ...
as Sharon "Shazza" Jones, Dazza's de facto & mother of Holden.
*
Paul Fenech
Paul Fenech (born 21 November 1972) is an Australian filmmaker, film and television actor, director, producer and writer. He is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in the television series ''Pizza'', ''Swift and Shift Cou ...
as Frank "Franky" Falzoni, Dazza's Best Friend
**Fenech also appears as Franky's cousin, Pauly Falzoni from
Pizza
Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...
during series 2.
*
Jason "Jabba" Davis as Darren "Dazza" Smith, Shazza's de facto & Franky's Best Friend (series 1 and 2, flashbacks in series 3 and 4)
*
Kevin Taumata
Kevin James Taumata is a Māori New Zealander Australian film and television actor.
Television career
Taumata moved with his family to the Inner West of Sydney at the age of 8. He began his acting career at the age of 14 obtaining work as an e ...
as Kevin Takamata, Franky & Dazza's Friend & Vanessa's de facto
*Kyrah Brock-Fenton as Holden Jones, Shazza's grown-up daughter (series 3 & 4)
*
Vanessa Davis as Vanessa "Nessa" Talawahoo, Kevin's painful de facto.
*
Ian Turpie
Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...
as Wazza Jones, Shazza's Dad / Narrator of the Show (series 1)
*Kiri-Leigh Schmitt as Kylie Horfoot, Franky's de facto (series 1)
*Sabeena Manalis as Sabeena, Franky's cousin (Series 1)
*Crystal Sullivan as Crystal, Kylie's Sister & Franky's on and off (de facto Frank's friend with benefits) (series 1)
*
Amanda Keller
Amanda Rose Keller (born 25 February 1962) is an Australian television and radio presenter, comedian, writer, actress, journalist and media personality, best known as the hostess of the popular Australian lifestyle program ''The Living Room''. ...
as Christina Rees, Sunnyvale Mayor (series 1)
*
Barry Crocker
Barry Hugh Crocker (born 4 November 1935
Official Barry Crocker website) is an Australian character actor, televisio ...
as the premier (series 1)
*
Melissa Tkautz
Melissa Natalie Tkautz (born 24 January 1974) is an Australian actress, singer, model, and presenter. She played the role of Nikki Spencer on the popular Australian TV soap opera '' E Street'', from September 1990 to May 1993. During the early ...
as Cheree, Franky's Ex de facto (series 1)
**Liz Harper replaces Melissa Tkautz as Cheree in series 2 and 3.
*Andrew Ausage as Junior, Cheree's Samoan de facto
*
Angry Anderson
Gary Stephen "Angry" Anderson (born 5 August 1947) is an Australian rock singer, songwriter, television personality and actor. He has been the lead vocalist with the hard rock band Rose Tattoo since 1976. As a solo artist, he is best known f ...
as Angry the Bikie, Leader of the Hunterz Bikie Gang
*Davey Cooper as Johnno, Angry's Dwarf-Sized Brother
*Maret Archer as Berryl, Dazza's Mum (series 1, 2 and 4, flashbacks in series 3)
*Stuart Rawe as Reg, Berryl's mentally disabled de facto as well as being Dazza's de facto stepfather (series 1, 2 and 4, flashbacks in series 3)
*
Chris Franklin
Christopher Franklin (born 16 September 1964) is an Australian stand-up comedian and former sailor for the Royal Australian Navy. He is most famous for performing the song "Bloke" (a bogan-style parody of Meredith Brooks' song "Bitch"), which ...
as Darryl "Dazza" James, Dazza's Smith's cousin and Shazza's former de facto. (series 1, flashback series 3)
*
Sam Greco
Salvatore "Sam" Greco (born 3 May 1967) is an Australian retired full contact karateka, heavyweight K-1 kickboxer, mixed martial artist. He was the 1994 Karate World Cup champion and holds notable kickboxing victories over Branko Cikatic, Ern ...
as Dino Falzoni, Franky's gambling addicted brother who lives in Melbourne
*
George Kapiniaris
George Kapiniaris is an Australian stage, television and film actor and comedian. He is of Greek descent and is best known for his role in popular sitcom ''Acropolis Now'' and composed the series' theme song.
Professional background
Theatre ...
as George, Franky's married in Greek cousin and Sabeena's father (series 1), later seen in series 2 as Donald Bradman's ghost as Dazza's Hallucinating
*Giani Leon as Jaydog, Holden's boyfriend who is later revealed to be Franky and Cheree's son (series 3)
*
Alex Romano
Alex Romano (born 27 July 1979 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine-Australian actor. He has starred in all of Paul Fenech's TV series; as DJ BJ (Big Jams) in ''Pizza (TV series), Pizza'', "Alex" in ''Swift and Shift Couriers'', and "Jimmy ...
as Jimmy the Junkie, the leader of the junkie crew (series 2)
*
Tahir Bilgic as Habib, Sunnyvale Assassins Member (series 1 & 2)
*
Rob Shehadie
Rob Shehadie (born 21 March 1977) is an Australian actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who has featured in television series such as "Pizza", "Swift and Shift Couriers" and "Housos". He has performed numerous stage show comedies across Australi ...
as Rocky, Sunnyvale Assassins Member (series 1 & 2)
*Ashur Simon as Abdul, Sunnyvale Assassins Member
*Ara Natarian as Ara, Sunnyvale Assassins Member (series 1 & 2)
*Mohammed Hammoud as Mo, Sunnyvale Assassins Member (series 1 & 2)
*Joe Mifsud as Samira Shabaz, Habib's mum who wears a burqa
*
Anthony Salame
Anthony Salame is an Australian comedian and former radio host, who has also had appearances in multiple Australian television series.
Early life
Anthony is the son of Lebanese migrants. He grew up in Sydney, Australia.
Career Radio
Anthony ...
as the service station worker and Thwayne the McDonald's manager who dates Kylie on and off in series 1.
*Nicole Sharrock as Hayley, Franky's de facto / Barmaid who is also in ''
Housos vs. Authority'' and ''
Fat Pizza vs. Housos
''Fat Pizza vs. Housos'' is an Australian film based on the combination of the stories and characters of the SBS series ''Pizza'' and the comedy series ''Housos'', both created by Paul Fenech. The film began screening in Australian cinemas on 2 ...
'' (series 2 & 4)
*Amarli Inez as Candy, Franky's On-Off Girlfriend (series 2)
*
Derek Boyer
Derek Boyer (born 14 June 1969) is a Fijian-Australian world champion powerlifter, former professional strongman competitor and actor.
Strongman and powerlifting
Boyer has competed seven times in the World' ...
as Bubbles, Junior's Cousin who harasses Dazza while in prison
*
John Mangos
John (born 9 July 1956) is an Australian news presenter.
Mangos has previously been a news presenter on Sky News Australia. He has also made cameo appearances on the Australian comedy programs ''Pizza (TV series), Pizza'', ''Swift and Shift C ...
as himself (appearing as a news presenter)
*
Murray Harman
Murray Harman is a television and film actor from Australia, best known for his role as Murray the Cop in the black comedy series Pizza and Murray Smith (an office worker and cop) Swift and Shift Couriers.
Collection of works Filmography
Tel ...
as Officer Richard Head a Sunnyvale-based police officer
*
Garry Who
Garry Who (born Garry Weston, 1 May 1954) is an Australian actor and comedian, best known for his role as Doug Stevens in the Australian sitcom '' All Together Now''.
Career
Beginning his working life as a signwriter, Who began his career in th ...
as Officer Garry Kock a Sunnyvale-based police officer
*James Thomas as himself (appearing as a current affairs reporter in series 2)
*Renzo Renalto as Renzo, Centerlink case worker
*Waseem Khan as Waseem, An Indian Centerlink case worker
*Gregory King as Tank the bikie, Vice president of the Hunterz Bikie Gang (series 1 & 2)
*
Jordan Shanks
Jordan Shanks-Markovina (born 18 August 1989), known online as Friendlyjordies, is an Australian political commentator, journalist, stand-up comedian and YouTuber. His content often discusses contemporary Australian political issues, involving ...
as a current affairs reporter in series 4
Episodes
Series 1 (2011)
Series 2 (2013)
Series 3 (2020)
Series 4 (2022)
Notes
* "Junkies" first aired on SBS Viceland and later on SBS One.
* Viewers from broadcast airing on SBS Viceland.
Controversy
''Housos'' came under fire from a number of western
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
residents, who had called on
SBS not to put the series on air. A petition which was initiated by residents on a housing commission property received thousands of signatures, and the efforts gained support from local politicians.
Mount Druitt
Mount Druitt is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown, and is part of the Greater Western Sydney reg ...
MP Richard Amery presented the petition in
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
in late April 2011. ''Housos'' was also at the centre of a controversy in February 2011 when
Nine Network
The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
's ''
A Current Affair
''A Current Affair'' may refer to:
* ''A Current Affair'' (Australian TV program), 1971–present Australian current affairs program that airs on Nine Network
* ''A Current Affair'' (American TV program), a 1986–1998 American television news ...
'', initially claimed that the series was "reality TV". Nine Network later said that the mistake originated from an 18-year-old woman working at
ninemsn
Nine.com.au (formerly Ninemsn) is an Australian news and current events website, owned by ASX-listed company, Nine Entertainment Co. It was originally established as a 50:50 joint venture between Microsoft and PBL Media (now Nine Entertainment ...
. SBS was also forced to defend the show by stating that the series was not receiving funding from the government, and it was instead being funded by the network's own revenue raising activities.
Awards and nominations
Australian Writers' Guild
The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) is the professional association for Australian performance writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video and new media. The AWG was established in 1962. The AWG is a member of the Australian Council of ...
*2011: Comedy – Situation or Narrative ("Pregnant", nominated)
Logie Awards
The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...
*2014: Most Outstanding Light Entertainment Program (won)
ARIA Music Awards
The
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...
are a set of annual ceremonies presented by
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is a trade association representing the Australian recording industry which was established in the 1970s by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing th ...
(ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the
music of Australia
The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of ...
. They commenced in 1987.
!
, -
,
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
, , ''Housos Live'' , ,
ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release
The ARIA Music Award for Best Comedy Release, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie artists across all music genres", since 1987. It is handed out by the Australian Recording Indu ...
, , , ,
, -
See also
* ''
Fat Pizza vs. Housos
''Fat Pizza vs. Housos'' is an Australian film based on the combination of the stories and characters of the SBS series ''Pizza'' and the comedy series ''Housos'', both created by Paul Fenech. The film began screening in Australian cinemas on 2 ...
''
*
List of Australian television series
Future shows
Seven
* ''The 1% Club'' (Seven Network game show 2023–)
* ''Apartment Rules'' (Seven Network reality 2023–)
* '' Animals Aboard with Dr Harry'' (Seven Network reality 2023–)
* ''Armchair Experts'' (Seven Network sports ...
* ''
Pizza
Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...
''
* ''
Housos vs. Authority''
* ''
Swift and Shift Couriers
''Swift and Shift Couriers'' is an Australian comedy television series that first screened on SBS TV in October 2008. The series is produced, directed and written by Paul Fenech, who was also responsible for the comedy series '' Pizza''. It is s ...
''
* ''
Bogan Hunters
''Bogan Hunters'' is an Australian comedy reality television series created by Paul Fenech for Seven Network's 7mate. The series provides an in-depth look into Australia's bogan subculture, as the Bogan Hunters traverse the nation looking for A ...
''
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Housos
2011 Australian television series debuts
Australian comedy television series
English-language television shows
Special Broadcasting Service original programming
7mate original programming
Television controversies in Australia
Television shows set in New South Wales