Blankety Blanks

[Plunge Penguin]

This one may have been done before, so my apologies if so, but was watching a DVD of the original series at a mate's place, and it struck me how brilliant it was in the '70s. Perfect mix of panel - Noeline Brown, "Ugly" Dave Gray, Noel Ferrier, Stuart Wagstaff and so many others like JPY, Mark Holden, Carol Raye, Barry Creighton, Peta Toppano etc etc, and although there was a reasonable degree of scripting to it, Graham Kennedy wasjust brilliant as the host. Knew just how far he could go (although by many reports, there were some major edits along the way, particularly in the final 2 episodes) and was perfect to hold it together.

I remember Daryl Somers' bloody SHOCKING effort in the mid 80's and thought - if a network was brave enough to revive it, who the hell could host it, to do it justice? Not many in Australian TV could come close to matching Kennedy, but would need a quick thinker, able to adapt to anything, could feed or receive the lines etc etc...also a panel that could do it properly and not be SOLELY fishing for laughs throughout.

While the movie probably jogged the thought, will start off with Stephen Curry from complete left field; Shaun Micallef or (although no-one would,quite rightly, look at him now) Matthew Newton many moons down the track.

Over to the panel - A or B? Insert "Blank" here

[Wedgie]

Noone could replace or match Graeme Kennedy. Pure comedic genius.
He'll be forever the King of Australian TV and noone else will come close.

Loved Blankety Blanks, have the DVD box set, used to watch it as a young tacker (about 7 or and found the show funny. Watched it later as an adult and found it even funnier as there was so many jokes/innuendos I wouldn't have had a clue about as a kid.

One to leave in the vault and never try and replicate (as was found out in the 80s as you mentioned).

[GWW]

I reckon Daryl Somers' Blankety Blanks was mid 90's not mid 80's.

[locky801]

One of the best "Game Shows" ever, when Kennedy did it, I remember being in fits of laughter every night, there was some great classic lines. wasn't so long ago they did some reruns of it on Foxtel,

[zipzap]

An absolute 100% classic show.


I know it's not Aussie but how funny would Blankety Blanks with Ricky Gervais be?

Nah, they'll probably go with Kyle Sandilands...

[bayman]

they have an english version with a drag queen hosting it, also very amusing not as good as kennedy's though but it is good

[johntheclaret]

they have an english version with a drag queen hosting it, also very amusing not as good as kennedy's though but it is good

Terry Wogan did it over here for many years, as well as Les Dawson. Both Wogan, and Dawson were vey funny, but it really was a show for the 70's.

[Booney]

An absolute 100% classic show.


I know it's not Aussie but how funny would Blankety Blanks with Ricky Gervais be?

Nah, they'll probably go with Kyle Sandilands...

And he would use such scathing comedic genius like 'shut up clowns' or 'Ill come over there and slap ya'....friggin knob.

[Footy Chick]

Didnt even know you could get it on DVD! Sensational show....Especially liked any question that started with " Cyril Said...."

Didnt you blokes find it a bit odd spending $30 odd on a dvd with game show reruns on it???

Would never be as funny now with all with political correctness taking over the world anyway...(HA HA HA...bloody hell)

[Pseudo]

While I agree that nothing could aspire to better the original host and panellists, working out who you'd put on a "remake" is a worthy exercise.

My memories of the '80s remake is that John Blackman was by far and away the best panellist, so I'd have him on the panel.

Andrew Denton has the wit to make a good panellist, although I think in real life something like Blankety Blanks would be way beneath him.

The panel needs at least one bloke to be deadpan and take it all too seriously. John Clarke might fit the bill, but he doesn't exude an air of seriousness. Bruce Ruxton would be perfect. Deadset serious but unintentionally comical at the same time.

We'll need at least one attractive blonde bimbo with a nice set of knockers. Ideally this young lady should also have nothing between the ears. It's gotta be Lara Bingle.

Molly Meldrum. Just because.

We need one more female quasi-celebrity to add more gender balance. We already have a bimbo, now we need a faux-intellectual; one who aspires to qualities of intelligence and being taken seriously without actually posessing either. In a couple of weeks Nicole Cornes will be looking for new work. Or possibly Amanda Blair, given that she no longer has her "column".

Guest panellists to include Andrew Jarman, Rodney Rude, Pauline Hanson.

I cannot think of a suitable host. Frankly if they dug up the King and propped his rotting corpse in a chair he'd still bring more life to the show than any other candidate for the job.

[rogernumber10]

I remember watching it at the time as a kid on the second B/w tv down the end of the house, and always had to be careful not to get sprung by mum, as she couldn't stand the King and reckoned it was smut.

Other thing I remember was that for a year or two you could buy 'Blankety Blanks lemonade' and Graham did the ad where he guaranteed 'a burp in every glass' and instead of saying burp, he just let one rip in the tv ad.

Classic stuff.

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

What about 'Filthy, Rich & Catflap' with their piss-take...
'Ooer, Sounds a bit Rude!' hosted by Ivor Whopper (Gareth Hale)

Ivor: "I never impress the girls because I have a tiny..."
Richie Rich: "PENIS!!!"
Ivor: "...& of course the answer is car!"

[spell_check]

While I agree that nothing could aspire to better the original host and panellists, working out who you'd put on a "remake" is a worthy exercise.

My memories of the '80s remake is that John Blackman was by far and away the best panellist, so I'd have him on the panel.

Andrew Denton has the wit to make a good panellist, although I think in real life something like Blankety Blanks would be way beneath him.

The panel needs at least one bloke to be deadpan and take it all too seriously. John Clarke might fit the bill, but he doesn't exude an air of seriousness. Bruce Ruxton would be perfect. Deadset serious but unintentionally comical at the same time.

We'll need at least one attractive blonde bimbo with a nice set of knockers. Ideally this young lady should also have nothing between the ears. It's gotta be Lara Bingle.

Molly Meldrum. Just because.

We need one more female quasi-celebrity to add more gender balance. We already have a bimbo, now we need a faux-intellectual; one who aspires to qualities of intelligence and being taken seriously without actually posessing either. In a couple of weeks Nicole Cornes will be looking for new work. Or possibly Amanda Blair, given that she no longer has her "column".

Guest panellists to include Andrew Jarman, Rodney Rude, Pauline Hanson.

I cannot think of a suitable host. Frankly if they dug up the King and propped his rotting corpse in a chair he'd still bring more life to the show than any other candidate for the job.

Who will be Peter the Phantom Puller?

[Mr66]

Who will be Peter the Phantom Puller?

Alan Jones?
John-Michael Howson?

[woodwt]

there was even cans of blankety blanks lemonade

[The Whisper]

Who will be Peter the Phantom Puller?

Alan Jones?
John-Michael Howson?

I can think of a candidate on this site that meets all criteria except the Phantom part

[bazza1]

If channel 10 picked it up Ryan Fitzgerald would be a shoe in. Hes on everything!

[Mr66]

Who will be Peter the Phantom Puller?

Alan Jones?
John-Michael Howson?

I can think of a candidate on this site that meets all criteria except the Phantom part

LOL.
That's not nice.
Funny as hell, but not nice.

[Magpiespower]

While I agree that nothing could aspire to better the original host and panellists, working out who you'd put on a "remake" is a worthy exercise.

Hope nobody from Channel Ten Roving Enterprises reads these boards.

Because a Blankety Blanks remake could easily be a vehicle for Rove and his Melbourne comedy mafia.

Hosted by Rove with a panel featuring Peter Helliar, Corinne Grant, Ryan Shelton, Dave Hughes, Hamish and Andy...

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

The thing is, Rove McManus is about as funny as a fart in an elevator!