I was thinking of programmes like the glass house, chasers war on everything (OK, thats finished for now - but I would hate that to be permanently cut) and a few others. It wouldn't affect comedy shows on other channels, but even some of the comments on tripleJ's breakfast show would have to be ... carefully considered to ensure that the 'plurality of voices' gets heard.

I prefer comedy on the ABC, but the fact is that a lot of the Australian comedy on the commercial channels also bags the government/authority/those in power. Since this is aimed at the ABC, it would mean that audiences would have to watch commercial channels to get any half way decent comedy (and there are a few shows my daughter watches that are kind of OK) ... and I couldn't stand that because I hate advertisements.

OOPS - is the glass house and chaser on ABC ... or SBS? I get the two mixed up ... those are the only TV stations worth watching in this country.

and the ABC at least has a policy on a certain percentage of local (Australian) content, so we are somewhat protected there.

I know that when my son comes to visit he turns on some inane 'sit coms' or whatever that I don't understand on the commercial channel. I guess these are the american shows you are talking about.

I don't think that these are particularly interesting or funny for the most part, although there are one or two that seem to have more wit than the others.

I think Australian comedy shows have always been superior to anything that I've seen from the US - even US stand up comics seem to not have that certain je ne sais quios ... but then, they live in a different universe. My understanding is that our humour totally escapes americans as well ... who generally don't have the ability to laugh at themselves.

I recently saw something on insight (SBS) where a comedy segment was shown. An advertising executive had showed this to a US audience, who thought they should probably have thought it was insulting (not to them, but to us) it was classic comedy.

I think this difference highlights why a lot of US comedy can be so ho hum to Australian audiences.

I agree though, Howard will go down as the worst Oz PM in history - despite the 'economic management' record - which in any case is predicated on a lot of major restructuring that in the longer term may not be seen as the smart moves they appeared to be at the time.