May 23 2026

Champagne Comedy Podcast mini meet-up

There’s been a lot going on in the Working Dog-iverse and our own personal lives since our last update, but here’s one that’s a bit more personal.

On Wednesday April 29, 2026 (just in case you read this years later) Champagne Comedy site owner Kim, admin and podcast host myself (Matt) and co-host + long time contributor Alison (along with her husband, Mike) cashed in on our “Buy Me A Coffee” contributions (Thank you!) and had a podcast mini meet-up in Marrickville. This was because Alison is based in the UK and was visiting family, so Kim and I thought it would be natural to meet up in Marrickville, out front of the Dental Surgeon made infamous by Tony and Mick during their Sydney street interviews.

Just up a couple of shops down at the Post Cafe, we grabbed our coffees (again, thank you!) and lunch,  and discussed all things for the podcast and of course – everything The Late Show, Frontline, Funky Squad, The Castle etc. We basically nerded out on our passion, as well as future content for the podcast and this site, as we love creating this stuff for you.

After lunch, we explored Marrickville Road further, and checked out the second-hand book store Urchin Books, which has hard-to-find and popular books of various kinds. Just like these two:

We even checked out RPM Records a few stores down to see if we could find any vinyl gold of The D-Generation, but to no avail. But we did find a compilation that had Graham Kennedy and some other classic TV legends on it. We were flummoxed at the price, so we let it be.

Afterwards, we all loaded ourselves into Kim’s car and did more exploration, heading to Tempe Salvos to see what bargains we could find, which is what you would do when you have overseas visitors. Those region 4s are easier to take home when importing them costs an arm and a leg. Mike was the first to find some Late Show spumante.

But getting even more meta, we found items that only true fans would make a joke about, and no-one would get it when you’re out in public.

After spending nearly an hour at the store, we walked away with some quality DVD products that needed to be rescued and passed on to a new home after some clean and polish.

We did finish the day walking down the main stretch of Newtown, passing the Enmore Theatre, knowing that many comedians have performed at the legendary venue, and finally going our separate ways outside the cinema – imagining that Any Questions For Ben? was probably screened there at one time in its life.

The coffees wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you – the reader / listener / contributor to this site. Everything is done out of our love and passion for Working Dog, so this has meant alot to us, and hopefully you as well.

If you haven’t listened to our ramblings and recaps yet, there’s never been a better time to jump onto our podcast now!

Mar 10 2026

Undiscovered Masterpieces: “The Brown Album” TV Commercial

Thanks to  @WIFOVHS  for finding this gem in his stack of VHS tapes.

A TV commercial promoting the first album from the Martin/Molloy radio show “The Brown Album” From 1995.

 

Feb 27 2026

Undiscovered Masterpieces: Rob and Tommy G on Midday

How’s this for a time capsule of recapping proportions?!

A big thanks to Flemishdog for supplying this gem that was hidden within his VHS tape collection, is footage of Midday with Ray Martin from 1989. To wrap up the year, Rob Sitch and Tom Gleisner representing The D-Generation give a news report highlighting moments of the year that was.

Personally, here at ChampagneComedy.com – we think that Ray was flashing the ‘Mystified Silence’ audience light for some jokes. But, hey, I guess you had to be there.

Nov 16 2025

Arseless Chaps Album Launch

On Saturday 15th November, 2025, I attended the ‘Arseless Chaps’ album launch at Crowbar, Leichhardt, Sydney.

The Arseless Chaps consists of Tony Martin and TISM’s Damian Cowell, performing and moderately singing songs about life, pop culture events, and anything else that is shit in the world – all delivered with strongfully pressed tongue-in-cheek-ery.

Thanks for the entertainment, Tony and Damian.

Buy their album here: https://arselesschaps.bandcamp.com/album/arseless-chaps

Mar 30 2025

Champagne Comedy Podcast op-shopping in Marrickville

What happens when the ChampagneComedy.com admin and podcast co-hosts meet up in Sydney? Head to the dental surgeon in Marrickville Road – made famous by Tony and Mick (and Tom Panos).

Feb 17 2025

Champagne Comedy Podcast on Location – “It’s The Vibe”

The Champagne Comedy Podcast attends the Working Dog conversation at the AACTA Festival, held at HOTA on the Gold Coast, Saturday 8th February, 2025, as well as the 25th anniversary screening of “The Dish“.

Feb 13 2025

Vale Philip Brady

It would be rude of us not to acknowledge the passing of veteran radio and TV personality Philip Brady who passed away aged 85, only days after announcing his retirement in early February.

With 67 years of experience under his belt from working with Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton during the golden era of Australian television, up until his long running nostalgia show on 3AW ‘Remember When’ with Simon Owens, Brady also contributed to various bits and pieces of The Late Show, usually being the butt of the joke.

While we can’t post videos of all the appearances, we can at least provide you with screenshots of his doings.

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He was also generous enough to chat about his time on The Late Show when he invited me to chat on his ‘Remember When’ radio show and plug the Champagne Comedy Podcast, especially when I asked him if it was his ‘pressed fruit bowl’ in the Muckraking Mystery Tour window.

Vale.

Feb 09 2025

A very important question.

Feb 01 2025

Working Hard In The Green Guide

It’s rare for all of the Working Dog team to be in the one(ish) location and give an interview to talk about themselves. However, The Age‘s Debi Enker won the meat raffle and spoke to Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh, Santo Cilauro and Rob Sitch about their nearly 40 years collaboration. Starting with the origins of The D-Generation, to their TV works, and movie developments, the team just keep their head down and plough through their ideas, working hard like dogs (oh, that’s how they got their name!)

This is all in celebration of being the recipient of the Longford Lyell award at the 2025 AACTAs.

We strongly encourage you to read the Green Guide feature via The Age / Sydney Morning Herald‘s site via a paywall… or read the back-up pdf version (thanks to CC fan Peter Phoebe) … download here.

Jan 30 2025

It’s The Vibe at HOTA

Photo: Working Dog / The Age.

In celebration with the Working Dog team being honoured with the Longford Lyell award at the 2025 AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Santo Cilauro and Michael Hirsh will be front and centre for a panel ‘In Conversation’, hosted by fellow HYBPA?  and TGYH  cast member Ed Kavalee.

They’ve created some of the most entertaining experiences on the big and small screen and yet it’s rare to hear straight from the (Working) Dog’s mouth. This year’s Longford Lyell award recipients: Working Dog, comprising Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Rob Sitch and Michael Hirsh, will be in conversation with Ed Kavalee (Have You Been Paying Attention).

The wide-ranging discussion will cover where it all began, how they have remained friends, and how they have managed to turn a passion for comedy into a thriving creative production entity. Their range of projects speak for themselves: The Castle, The Dish, Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures, Frontline, The Hollowmen, Utopia, Thank God You’re Here, The Cheap Seats and Have You Been Paying Attention?

 

Working Dog… It’s The Vibe – on Saturday 8th February 11am at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

Link: https://www.aactafestival.com/program/working-dog…-it’s-the-vibe

—

Also at the AACTA Festival on Saturday 8th February at 6pm: the 25th anniversary screening of Working Dog’s The Dish.

Join us in celebrating 25 years of The Dish, the heartwarming and hilarious Australian classic brought to life by the legendary Working Dog team—Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Rob Sitch, and Michael Hirsh.

This special anniversary screening also honours the extraordinary achievements of Working Dog, this year’s Longford Lyell Award recipients. Over the decades, they’ve given us some of the most entertaining experiences across film and television, from The Castle and Utopia to Have You Been Paying Attention? Set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, The Dish is based on a true story of how a small-town Aussie team and their iconic Parkes radio telescope helped broadcast one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

Featuring unforgettable performances from Sam Neill, Kevin Harrington, and Patrick Warburton, the film is a testament to Aussie ingenuity, humour, and teamwork. Don’t miss this chance to revisit a remastered cinematic gem and celebrate the creators who continue to shape Australian screen culture.

 

Link: https://www.aactafestival.com/program/25th-anniversary-screening-of-the-dish

Yes, I will be attending. So if you miss out, I’ll report back via the Champagne Comedy Podcast.