Playing the television field : Kath and Kim and the changing face of TV comedy

The Australian television comedy Kath and Kim was an immensely successful production for Australia’s national broadcaster, ABC TV, so it was perhaps not surprising that early in 2007 the production was picked up by commercial broadcaster Channel Seven for a reported $3 million. For public broadcasting purists this may have come as both a shock and a disappointment. With the comparatively lacklustre fourth series then airing from 19 August 2007, Kath and Kim has now run for four series and a Christmas special. It has been sold into overseas markets and produced flow-on merchandizing through the sale of DVDs and other related products. Created by comedians Jane Turner and Gina Riley, the characters of Kath and Kim have also achieved a certain celebrity status in their own right through performances (in character) at awards nights, on talk shows and at other media events.