So now you’ve seen what’s coming up on the next episode of Mamamia on Sky News. Tune in on Friday at 9:15pm to find out more…
But tonight everyone is talking about “Julia and Tim” under the flag.
Stephen Brook from The Australian reports
A scene in tonight’s night’s episode shows Julia Gillard, played by Amanda Bishop, naked on her office floor wrapped in a giant Australian flag after a bout of prime-ministerial lovemaking with first bloke Tim Mathieson, played by Phil Lloyd. It is likely to further inflame the critics, some of whom have labelled the show sexist and demeaning.
The Quail Television production’s ratings have fallen from an impressive debut of 1.07 million viewers but the comedy is still winning its timeslot. In initial publicity, Bishop said: “We agreed the first couple’s bedroom was off limits.”
ABC1 controller Brendan Dahill said yesterday: “It’s a very gentle, tender scene . . . (and) perfectly logical in terms of what happens in the episode.
“If it’s OK for others to drape themselves in our flag, I really don’t see why it can’t be draped over our Prime Minister as a symbol of love.”
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You can catch the first episode of At Home with Julia here on iView and the second episode here if you missed it or here’s a taste right now:
I should disclose my interest straight up: I was at school with Amanda Bishop (who does Julia almost better than Julia) and think she is an extraordinary talent (she is also Penelope K by the way….parents will understand that reference to the kids’ show).
In fact, I spent rather a surreal election n night with Amanda– we have a close mutual friend and ended up at the same election night dinner party. She had come from a corporate gig which she does as Julia so she was in full costume (including a padded bottom, wig and fake nose).
It’s not just a costume though, as an actor, Amanda is a skilled mimic. She also nails Julia’s body language, voice and mannerisms beautifully.
So I was excited to watch the show last night and laughed out loud several times.
Top Comments
It's taken me a while but I think I have finally worked out why this show isn't sitting easily with me.
It's not that I'm offended by the lambasting of the office of PM, it's not that I'm offended by irreverent treatment of the flag.
It's not even that that I'm offended by the "at home" angle.
It's more that I'm disappointed by the underlying assumptions that are made based about an unmarried couple. Why is there an assumed undercurrent of tension about the fact that they aren't married? Why is Tim portrayed as a weak, the butt of all jokes, incapable of fixing a door knob?
Is this really what we think of guys who are with strong, independent women?
It's this aspect of the show that irritates me.
The performances and some of the writing is actually quite good, but yeah, this stereotypical and lazy depiction of the de facto relationship I'm not loving.
People keep asking why this type of show was never made about John & Janette Howard, pointing to this as evidence of sexism and a lack of respect for our female PM.
But I actually think it points more to an underlying conservatism which in a way is more worrying.
It wasn't that John Howard was a man that precluded him from this type of personal satire, it was that he was married.
So the de facto relationship, and the man who is in one with a powerful woman, that is what is being ridiculed here.
Is there anything wrong with that? Perhaps not, it's just such a sort of generalised and unimaginative view.
Having said that I keep thinking about the flag scene and wondering what American's would make of it! They are so reverent about their flag and the office of President.
I kind of love the fact that Aussie humour will go there.
I watcehd last night for the first time. I really wanted to laugh but there were only a couple of moments when I did. Jonathan BIggins was brilliant as Keating and I thought the Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd characters were good but the Julie Bishop impersonation was just bizarre. And I feel really sorry for Tim Mathieson, the whole marriage storyline was a bit cringey and weird. I'm with some of the commenters below - I think the government is providing enough fodder for the show without the lame engagement storyline. Not sure there was enough in it for me to watch again.