Kath & Kim: A Comparative Essay
Kath & Kim is a satirical Australian comedy that debuted on the 16th of May, 2002. The show follows the story of a middle-aged Kath and her dramatic daughter Kim as they attempt to navigate life in suburban Australia. The original Kath & Kim had four seasons released over five years and attracted a cult following from Australian audiences; with the first season bringing in an average of 1,254,000 views per episode. This success was relatively consistent and led American companies – NBC Universal Television, Reveille Productions and Universal Media Studios – to purchase and adapt the show from Riley Turner Productions. The first episode of the American adaptation was played on the 9th of October, 2008. This version …show more content…
In a film production, writing refers to the scripted text of a film. It is inclusive of; dialogue, references, humour and acting instructions, and works to evoke different tones for various productions. Each of the Kath & Kim versions make references that are relevant to their specific audiences. Within the Australian version, the references are based primarily upon locations and events. For example; during the scene where Kath and Kel come home from dinner, Kel states “I propose that I take you to paradise”, by which Kim replies with “You mean, Surfers?” (8:23). This quote refers directly to the popular Tourist location, Surfers Paradise, and can be understood by most Australian audiences. The references within the American version work differently to achieve similar outcomes. In the remake, the references appear to be more celebrity-based. An example of this can be found when Kim comes home and states “I’m a trophy wife, like Melania Trump and Mrs Larry King Live” (2:14). This reference – among multiple other personality-based examples – emphasises the role and impact that celebrities have on American pop culture. Although this choice of humour is effective in conveying its message, the relevance of a singular person to millions of viewers may not be valid to everyone. The use of indirect humour also plays a large role within each of these versions. The humour in the Australian Kath &
Kath & Kim is a satirical Australian comedy that debuted on the 16th of May, 2002. The show follows the story of a middle-aged Kath and her dramatic daughter Kim as they attempt to navigate life in suburban Australia. The original Kath & Kim had four seasons released over five years and attracted a cult following from Australian audiences; with the first season bringing in an average of 1,254,000 views per episode. This success was relatively consistent and led American companies – NBC Universal Television, Reveille Productions and Universal Media Studios – to purchase and adapt the show from Riley Turner Productions. The first episode of the American adaptation was played on the 9th of October, 2008. This version …show more content…
In a film production, writing refers to the scripted text of a film. It is inclusive of; dialogue, references, humour and acting instructions, and works to evoke different tones for various productions. Each of the Kath & Kim versions make references that are relevant to their specific audiences. Within the Australian version, the references are based primarily upon locations and events. For example; during the scene where Kath and Kel come home from dinner, Kel states “I propose that I take you to paradise”, by which Kim replies with “You mean, Surfers?” (8:23). This quote refers directly to the popular Tourist location, Surfers Paradise, and can be understood by most Australian audiences. The references within the American version work differently to achieve similar outcomes. In the remake, the references appear to be more celebrity-based. An example of this can be found when Kim comes home and states “I’m a trophy wife, like Melania Trump and Mrs Larry King Live” (2:14). This reference – among multiple other personality-based examples – emphasises the role and impact that celebrities have on American pop culture. Although this choice of humour is effective in conveying its message, the relevance of a singular person to millions of viewers may not be valid to everyone. The use of indirect humour also plays a large role within each of these versions. The humour in the Australian Kath &