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SBS tells ACA ‘Houso’s’ is a joke, mate.

Updated: A Current Affair brands Paul Fenech's new series an "outrageous" reality show -but SBS says it's a parody with paid actors.

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A story about an upcoming SBS series set to air in tonight’s A Current Affair has been defended by the public broadcaster.

ACA tonight has a promo for  Houso’s which it brands as “Housing Commission uncensored… the outrageous TV show targetting Australia’s poorest residents -and it’s funded by the government.”

It includes footage from Houso’s which appears to show brawling Housing Commission residents and police arrests.

The ACA website also calls it a Reality TV show.

But Houso’s is a comedy series from Paul Fenech (Pizza, Swift & Shift Couriers).

A statement from SBS says Paul Fenech is known for his provocative and irreverent style”

“Houso’s is not a reality series and everyone participating in the series is an actor,” it noted.

“Audiences have always understood Paul’s work to be highly exaggerated parody.

“The program, as with Pizza, is not receiving direct funding through any State or Federal Government funding agency and is being funded by SBS through revenue raised by commercial activities.”

Fenech’s knockabout comedy style regularly takes aim at most social stereotypes, usually with equal firepower. However he has landed in trouble before, most notably during the first season of Swift & Shift Couriers when SBS dropped an episode after the family of Jake Kovco expressed concerns over a parody storyline.

The second season has been withheld by SBS after concerns the storyline with an Indian courier company would not sit well following headlines involving Indian students in Melbourne. Significantly, the series was shot before they arose.

But ACA‘s questioning of the morality of the series is another concern of the media making judgements before the audience has had a chance to respond.

SBS Programmer Jane Roscoe recently told TV Tonight, the show would be unashamedly Fenech in its humour.

“It’s on a housing estate and has all the dodgy business that goes on. I can’t say too much but it’s Paul Fenech so it will be mad, crazy, and probably offend many people,” she said.

ACA Producer Grant Williams tells TV Tonight that the use of the word “Reality” on its website was a NineMSN error and is not reflected in the story.

An airdate for Houso’s is yet to be announced.

Housos: sneak peek (warning extreme Language, Adult Themes).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ygygES6GWE[/youtube]

69 Responses

  1. Can not wait for the show to air, there is nothing more australian then making fun of ourselves for being who we are, even though its over the top the funniest part is there really is people like that.

    I noticed the actors from Fat Pizza are in this show so its bound to be a hit.

    To all those hard up, no life, stuck up, brain dead people who are offended by this show you seriously need to lighten up and unclench your a*se cheeks and let the enormous stick slide out and enjoy tv at its best.

    I would rather sit down and watch an aussie comedy series, then partake in what people call entertainment like those stupid cooking shows.

  2. Hahahaha,to all the people supporting ACA on this!!! You are whats wrong with this country. You really take ‘Women’s Day/ Moral Police TV seriously’??
    Maybe you should watch a couple doco’s that are on SBS every night, then you might have the smarts to realise it’s just a show! With all the horrible things going on in the Real world,you’d think these people would pick a real issue rather than waste their time complaining about a parody show! Especially one that has Angry Anderson in it! Haha…
    Oh no,theres a crack in my footpath that I nearly tripped on,quick,call ACA!!

  3. Looks like the promo was a bit misleading. Just watched the replay of the show and they clearly state it is a comedy. ACA basically turnedit into a promo for another broadcaster, something they’ve done before.

    Unfotunately I won’t be watcing, not in the least bit interested. At least there’s something that Ben Elton can beat.

  4. @ DanielW says “I’m in Public housing and this is how they think we public housing tenants live. Get real SBS”

    I must have missed the part where SBS said that this is how people in public housing live. Comedy is usually an over exaggeration of real life, it is not meant to be a true commentary of life or else it wouldn’t be funny, would it!

    Why are people so uptight and sensitive these days? This show is not a documentary it’s a comedy. If you think it will offend you then don’t watch it.

    Are people so silly they are unable to realise that just because people are portrayed in a certain way on TV it doesn’t mirror real life?

    Maybe I should be angry at the show The Sopranos because it portrays a group of Italians who are in the Mafia, and by some peoples stupid logic then because I’m Italian then I should be offended because not all Italians are in the Mafia!?!

    People need to start using their brains a bit more and not blindly believe everything they see on TV. They also should not expect TV, especially comedies to educate them in real life.

  5. Typical Nine.
    Can’t recognise anybody that’s not on their own station.
    Surely someone should have recognised all the actors.
    But that might ruin a good story.

  6. I’m in Public housing and this is how they think we public housing tenants live! Get real SBS! I’m outraged by your shameful dusplay of public housing!
    I saw it on TT and they had tenants, suggesting it was poor and that the Western suburbs of Capital cities isn’t full of people like this! Bogans and Yobbos are true houso’s! not everyone suggested here in this promo!
    From what I saw Those police didn’t even try to stop the bad behavour shown. As for that pub scene, if she swore another F#@K word, I’d make her skull a bottle of soap! That’s what you call TV! The true Idot Box has shown it’s full colours!
    SBS is sounding like Some Bizzare Shit or Some Bloody Sheila watching garbege that isn’t multicultural!
    Shameful display SBS. Just what happened to you being ‘mutlicultural’ and suggesting “a whole world of people”! These are part of the whole world of people and so they should be shown in good taste!

  10. The only thing i feel they should of done was changehe show name to Australiaous. because when i walk out my door i see this every day. Never mind public housing this is the Majority of Australia now, anyhow always good to laugh at yourself.

  12. I am going to write to the Australian Broadcasting commission i urge you to do so to. What next, making fun of the disabled in wheelchairs? True to Australians again they only feel better once they knock someone down or kick them in the guts makes
    Me so proud

    1. No such entity known as “Australian Broadcasting Commission” exists any more. If you mean ACMA first you have to take your complaint to SBS for resolution.

      If you expect to be taken seriously it would be wise to actually watch something before you complain about it first.

  15. I grew up on welfare in Housing Commission in westsern Sydney and think it’s close to the mark. No different to the UK show Shameless. I’m not offended at all and think it is quite funny, but then again I chose to get a job as soon as I finished high school, chose not to have a baby at a young age and chose to live within my means to get out of the welfare roundabout!

  16. I don’t think this is funny and I would hope SBS has a rethink about showing this rubbish. It is counter productive and insulting to those who live in Housing Commission areas. It’s not too late SBS to do the right thing and bin it where it belongs!

  20. This is the most stupidest shit i have ever seen, this is pathetic for someone to sit there and make fun of people that haven’t got all the money in the world. I used to live in housing commission and this is just offensive its not funny at all. Not all people are like this it is just stereotyping all people in housing. Its not funny at all everyone that thinks it will be have no brains whatsoever. ACA is right for putting this up for a fight this show is plain nasty and ridiculous.

  21. Never heard about it until seeing the ACA ads

    Looks awesome!!!

    How are ACA trying to palm it off as a reality TV show when there is a musical number in it ….????

    For once I really want to watch this “story” but I won’t be home

  22. Sounds like ACA knew there would be scenes involving them; like ‘the block’ gathering every night to watch them.

    Disappointed, I’m sure there are many people who live in Housing Commission areas that don’t act like this. For the ones who do, nothing is forcing them into it. You can be poor & still retain your dignity.

  24. Im looking forward to watching this since I was very disappointed since the second season of swift and shift has not been aired yet. Hopefully it does soon or just bring it out on dvd. Very keen to see it.

    If they don’t like it then don’t watch it aca can grow some

  25. what ACA fails to realise is that housos actually provided employment to people
    who come from the areas that they parodied. all the participants i would think were more than willing to have a chance to further their careers in a new Australian show!
    Unfortunately all the networks seem to want to rely on reality TV to boost ratings at the expense of the quality talent pool that exists in this country.
    the bottom line is cost!
    You Don’t have to pay reality show participants until they win!
    even a lowly extra earns 20 – 25 dollars per hour on a minimum 4 hour call!!!

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