Lesson in getting a laugh

When a nation's comedy is so lacklustre that sports stars have taken over the starring roles and there is not a decent sitcom in sight, it's time to call in the Australians.

Yesterday, NZ on Air did just that, flying in the director of high-rating Australian comedy Kath and Kim in the hopes of finding an antidote.

Ted Emery spoke to writers, producers and television management at an NZ on Air comedy symposium yesterday, to share his secrets on good comedy.

A NZ on Air-commissioned report found that, despite recent glimmers of hope such as Bro'Town, New Zealanders do not think much of local comedy offerings.

Emery said the basic premise of Kath and Kim and Australian sitcom Mother and Son was boring. The secret was in the consistency of characters.

Good characters had established traits and stuck with them.

"We observe these traits and, as in real life, we decide if we are going to like them or not.

"Emotions are triggered the same for real life or fiction. You've got to get your characters liked before you can go anywhere.

"If you go to a dinner party where there is someone you don't like, how much do you laugh at their jokes? How often do you invite them round to your place?"

Emery said comedies should be acted by comedians "with comedic instincts" rather than actors, and "if in the presence of creative genius, acknowledge it and then take the credit".

"Good comedy writers are gods. Deify them and treat them accordingly."

He warned those in management positions to "spend your money on casting and on the script".

"Humour does not come from technological innovation."

And he urged management not to let the "machine" interfere with the comedy.

The report by TNS, presented at the symposium, included panels of viewers saying local comedy has been in a slump since the halcyon days of Billy T. James, McPhail and Gadsby and Gliding On.

What viewers want is a sitcom, with developed characters in everyday situations, says the report.

New Zealand comedy went through a "crass era" between 2000 and 2002, relying on crude stand-up comedy, "try-hard" sketches and improvisation.

The best comedy on television until last year was shows such as A Game of Two Halves, which relied on impromptu banter between Mathew Ridge and Marc Ellis.

"This leads to the view that New Zealand's best comedians are our sports stars. It also reinforces that our comedy is more reliant on the personalities than on creating character and developing comedic content," says the report.

NZ on Air chief executive Jo Tyndall said the study showed New Zealand comedy had improved marginally, but there was work ahead for a genre which was "the last bastion of cultural cringe".

"The feeling is that we can't quite do it ... we tend to look enviously across the Tasman at things like The Castle and Rove Live."

The gloomy outlook was dramatically leavened recently by Bro'Town, which the report says is a reassuring reminder that New Zealand can deliver good comedy.

The study found American and British comedies are still the most popular, partly because they have well-developed, original and enduring characters.

Ms Tyndall said New Zealand needed its own sitcom with character development akin to Friends, Frazier or Kath and Kim.

Viewers' preferences

What NZ wants

* A sitcom based on everyday settings and identifiable character types.
* Irreverence, "taking the mickey".
* Politically incorrect humour.
* Satire, especially social/cultural satire such as Bro'Town because it is familiar to viewers.
* Mockery.
* Clever, intellectually challenging comedy.

What NZ doesn't want

* Crass, crude jokes that rely on shock value for cheap laughs (such as Mike King).
* "Base humour" such as swearing and sexual innuendo.
* Forced humour, characters facing contrived situations.
* Insulting or hurtful comedy.
* Political satire, although true devotees and older viewers are still keen.
(From a study for Attitudes to Television and Radio Comedy and Drama Programming, by TNS.)