- DAAS Kapital
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DAAS Kapital 
DAAS Kapital opening titlesGenre Sitcom Created by Doug Anthony All Stars Directed by Joe Murray Starring Tim Ferguson
Richard Fidler
Paul McDermott
Paul Livingston
Khym Lam
Mark Trevorrow
Michael PetroniCountry of origin 
AustraliaLanguage(s) English No. of seasons 2 No. of episodes 14 Production Executive producer(s) Ted Robinson Broadcast Original channel ABC Picture format PAL (576i) Original run 1 April 1991 – 1 June 1992 Chronology Related shows The Big Gig DAAS Kapital was an Australian television comedy series written and performed by comedy trio the Doug Anthony All Stars. The show starred Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson and Richard Fidler, along with Flacco, Michael Petroni, Bob Downe and Khym Lam.
The first season of seven episodes was broadcast on Australia's ABC network in 1991. Despite poor critical reviews, a second series was produced and went to air on the ABC in 1992. The title is a reference to Karl Marx's economic treatise Das Kapital.
Contents
Format
DAAS Kapital was a sitcom that relied heavily on a variety show format. For example, in each scripted episode, there would be cutaways to television shows—typically Shitsu Tonka News, Troy The Invincible and Wayne Kerr—along with guest appearances by Flacco, Bob, Bob Downe and stop motion animation sequences, along with one or two songs performed by The Doug Anthony Allstars.
The stories themselves usually consisted of very loose ideas—Cinderella/Alice in Wonderland based stories—which would feature all the above segments strung together with very quick jokes and stories told by the Allstars.
Dear Jocasta, Today is Bastille Day. Now, Mother, before you go on about it, I know that you think the French are absolutely awful people after they bought Greenpeace and turned it into a dolphin canning factory. Richard has convinced me that testing cosmetics on animals is wrong. Therefore please send me only those facial creams tested on the naked skin of refugee babies. Paul's constantly staggering about the place and throwing up everywhere. He says its the rough seas. I'm not sure. I'm reading War and Peace but I don't know what its about. I was pleased to hear that cousin Valmay's new ears work. Pity falling pianos don't make any noise.
— Tim Ferguson, "Sloth"[1]
Characters and casting
In addition to Tim, Paul and Richard, numerous other recurring characters appeared throughout the series. These included:
- Flacco (Paul Livingston): a strange alien being with a high-pitched voice. He spends most of his time talking to his pet (animated) cockroach, Ross.
- Psycho Bob (Michael Petroni): an American serial killer and psychotic who has somehow stowed away on board. He usually has a ranting monologue to camera ending with his catchphrase: "I'm Bob, and I'll be back." Tim is the only member of the crew to have seen or encountered him.
- Thulgore (animated): a giant crab who lives in the engine room.
- The Shitsu-Tonka newsreader (Khym Lam): the boys' only contact with the outside world is broadcasts from Shitsu-Tonka's television network, including regular bulletins from a female Asian newsreader.
- Bob Downe (Mark Trevorrow): a cheesy cabaret singer who is a TV personality on Shitsu-Tonka.
- Wayne Kerr (Tim Ferguson): along with his sidekick pals, Spinner (Richard Fidler) and Paddlefoot (Paul McDermott), are characters in the most violent program on Shitsu-Tonka ("with a G-5 violence rating!"). Spinner and Paddlefoot may be references to the sidekicks of Clutch Cargo.
- Troy the Invincible (Paul McDermott): appears on Shitsu-Tonka. Performs acts of violence on himself to demonstrate the invincibility of his working-class principles.
- Uncle Biff Happy (Richard Fidler): a used car salesman whose ads appear on Shitsu-Tonka.
Scenario
By the year 1998, the Shutsu Tonka Unitocracy has taken over the world. "Competition between nations has been made redundant by the universal 'Common Cents' currency and rezoning and decentralisation of much of the world's population. By homogenising the various races of the world, the petty nationalism that has plagued civilisation since the Dawn of Man has been diffused...all [minorities] are allowed to flourish in the macrosociety we have imposed."[2]
The show itself takes place in the year 2006[3] as the All Stars (Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and Richard Fidler) are placed in a submarine with all the world's artwork and treasures and their "assignment is to catalogue history." Some time later they become lost, their whereabouts unknown and their existence is denied by the Shitsu Tonka Corp.
In the final episode of season 1, it becomes apparent that Shitsu Tonka deliberately sabotaged the ship, placing Richard on board as a robot implanted with a bomb. He was to self-destruct and completely destroy history. Instead, the blast propelled the submarine into space, providing an opportunity for more sci-fi based storylines and parodies in the show's second season. In the final episode of this season, the ship returns to the ocean.
Episodes
Season 1 (1991)
All episodes are named after the seven deadly sins.
Title Plot Songs Avarice It's Paul's birthday, but it looks as though everyone's forgotten. Mummy Dearest Sloth It's Bastille Day on the Titanic II, and Tim and Richard finally decide to do something about Paul's alcoholism. I Love The French, Mexican Hitler Gluttony It's Sunday, and everyone is bored... that is, until they decide to play a few 'games' to fill in the time. Sunday Mornings, Big Dirty Mongrel. Pride The ship is infested with cockroaches and Paul sets out on a quest to fix the problem... However the Ferguson family curse starts to catch up with Tim as he slowly morphs into a cockroach himself. Happy Endings, Bob Downe for Jesus Envy After a scout jamboree, each of the boys must go through their own personal journey of self exploration. Richard must overcome his demons to gain courage, Tim must find a brain, and surely Paul has a heart somewhere inside him? Maria, Catholic Girls On LSD. Lust Tim and Paul are to attend the Rhino Ball, but alas Richard will be stuck at home cleaning... that is until his fairy godfish offers him a little help. Living With Girls, Rhino Songs Anger It's the last day on board the Titanic II, however there is a problem... one of the boys is a robot set to self-destruct before they can leave. Cosmic Cowboys of Doom, Three Steps to Heaven Season 2 (1992)
All episodes are named after the seven heavenly virtues.
Title Plot Songs Faith Now drifting through space, the boys must fill out an official census. Meanwhile, Tim has decided to run for Shitzu Tonka World Leader. I'm Sick Humility Earth has declared open season on jazz musicians, so the Marquis de Sade travels to space to avoid being killed. The boys decide to use their collection of jazz records to get back to Earth. That's Jazz, Warsong Felicity After the boys discover a miracle, the new Pope pays them a visit, while Tim and Richard prepare for the corruption of the Brain of St Peter. Bless Me Father, I'm A Psycho Killer Chastity When the Titanic II is confronted by a UFO, they discover that Paul is, in fact, an alien. Another alien asks him to help complete experiments on Tim and Richard, but can Paul go through with it? Carnal Carnival Charity A mysterious 'comet' flies over the Titanic II on Christmas, leading the boys to find a baby in a manger. Away In The Manger, Good Night Sweet Prince Hope A planned picnic on Friday the 13th results in the boys hopelessly lost, confronting gremlins, a witch and a prince. Party In Hell Patience The boys discover they have ten hours until they are to be hit by a meteor shower. With the engine out of commission, they also must cope with a strange visitor. Drugs References
- ^ The Doug Anthony Allstars; Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson, Richard Fidler (1992). DAAS Kapital (scriptbook). Australia: Allen & Unwin. p. 24. ISBN 1-86373-101-6.
- ^ The Doug Anthony Allstars; Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson, Richard Fidler (1992). "Sayings of Fukuyama (Speech given to Little Shitsu's Youth Stormtroop Brigade, Chapel of Economics, Detroit, USA, 2 August 1998)". DAAS Kapital (scriptbook). Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-101-6.
- ^ The Doug Anthony Allstars; Paul McDermott, Tim Ferguson, Richard Fidler (1992). "A Short History of Shitsu Tonka and the End of History". DAAS Kapital (scriptbook). Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-101-6.
External links
Categories:- 1991 Australian television series debuts
- 1990s Australian television series
- 1992 Australian television series endings
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation shows
- Australian television comedy series
- 2006 in fiction
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