Small Tales & True sees the light of day
A rarely seen comedy from Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope is dusted off and given another lease of life.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
It’s been a while since’ve heard from Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope (The Librarians, Very Small Business) but both have been quietly plugging away on not one, but two new TV projects for 2012.
Meanwhile they have also released episodes of the rarely seen 1998 comedy Small Tales & True on iTunes, the show on which they met playing husband and wife.
The series, made by Artist Services for the Comedy Channel, was co-created and written by Butler, Matt Cameron, Roz Hammond and Bob Franklin who all met the previous year on the Eric Bana sketch show, Eric.
The mockumentary was anchored by George Negus and starred Butler, Roz Hammond, Franklin, Hope, Stephen Curry, Sophie Lee, Colin Lane and Genevieve Morris. A roll call of comedy names….
According to Butler and Hope, “If our calculations are correct, about twenty-seven people saw it. Several of them were reviewers who were sent a VHS -yes that’s right a VHS- of the show.”
The Sydney Morning Herald said, “Think The Castle meets Spinal Tap. Think Australian humour at its softly cynical best. It’s this cynicism, often wrenchingly dark, that gives these shows their moments of brilliance.”
Artist Services later took the series to the ABC, but it didn’t bite. After Artist Services was sold to Granada Media Australia, the master tapes sat in a box until Butler and Hope’s company Gristmill, has now acquired the rights.
The whole series is now available on iTunes for the “bargain basement price” of $9.99.
New technology is proving a win for talent to reach audiences with The Librarians also on Hulu in the US.
- Tagged with Eric, Small Tales & True, The Librarians, Very Small Business
5 Responses
Love these guys. Produced great shows over the years. I reckon if they pitche that today abc would pick it up in an instant!
Maybe ABC should grab it for ABC2.
Are there plans for a new season of The Librarians do you know David?
I get the feeling they are working on new shows.
i hope they make a librarians season 4! such a funny show