This Australian satirical programme is soon to be broadcast on BBC Four on 23rd June. I know it has attracted contoversy in the past, most notably breaching into an APEC meeting - with one man dressed as Osama Bin Laden. The Chaser faced charges, but these were dropped.
I was wondering if any Australian members of the forum have seen this show and what they think of it.
The Chaser was mentioned in a recently locked Summer Heights High duplicate thread. I'll copy the relevant posts from there and paste them here. It could well be too topical and Australia-centric to attract much of a following in the UK. That said, some of its humour is universal. For starters, here's their rather lame Python tribute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSzCqYFwFbM
EDIT: The Chaser's War on Everything was on June 6 given a two week suspension for a sketch that mocked children dying of cancer. Call me old-fashioned, but I found the sketch hilarious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS36ZuCW-7c
Australian BCG member Tracy Jordan posted: "I have seen the sketch and it really isnt funny. Huge public outcry about it here in Aus shock jocks and tabloid TV getting in a state of moral outrage."
A retard named Kenneth responded: That's what makes dark humour so funny - the fact that pseudo-current affairs shows and chat shows love to show (exploit) dying children, but woe betide anyone who dares to joke about death. The Chaser team apologised today. I think they should have only apologised for the unoriginality of their Josef Fritzl sketch (which was also in this week's episode).
The Chaser's Josef Fritzl sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhqmDotpwqo
The original by Hardly News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OfQ0NE4yNo
And another thing: Australia's national broadcaster, the ABC, today demoted its head of TV comedy because she had failed to censor The Chaser's sick children sketch.
If that is what their sketches are like, I don't think I'll bother watch it. Didn't laugh once.
There's no pleasing some people. I thought they were pretty unfunny on first viewing when I came to Australia two years ago, but eventually I grew to like their style.
Well, you're probably right. That was just a few sketches. Best to see a full episode before I really judge it.