While most will look back on the chaos that was 2020 with utter disdain, Charles Firth (of 'The Chaser' fame) and James Schloeffel ('The Shovel') are celebrating the abundance of new comedic material created by the stress of lockdowns and panic induced toilet paper shortages with their new show ‘The Anti-Experts Guide To The Pandemic’.
Perfectly described by both men as “an analysis of the absence of intelligence”, ‘The Anti-Experts Guide To The Pandemic’ is a satirical news analysis show which takes a look at the best – and worse – news topics, COVID conspiracy theories and leadership decisions made in Australia and overseas during 2020 (and trust me, there were plenty).
From anti-vaxxers to Trump, 5G towers and celebrity chef Pete Evans, no topic was safe from their razor-sharp wit and while their analysis provided plenty of hilarious moments they also exposed a level of stupidity and gullibility which left many shaking their heads and weeping for the future of mankind.
The 50-minute show played out much like an episode of 'The Chaser', with the two men seamlessly coasting from topic to topic, exchanging social commentary and occasionally becoming passionately enraged by the subjects being discussed. Charles and James’s decision to keep the show's format casual allowed them to playfully explore each topic, bouncing ideas between each other (and occasionally the audience) and fuelling each other’s imagination.
Accompanying each topic was a barrage of images, social media posts and news articles which were projected on to two large screens either side of the stage. While these visual aids did provide some context, the show largely relied on the audience having a pre-existing knowledge of Australian and international news and current affairs – so if you haven’t read the headlines recently you may find yourself missing the punchline of more than one joke.
While it had its hilarious moments ‘The Anti-Experts Guide To The Pandemic’ will not appeal to everyone (but fans of 'The Chaser' are sure to enjoy).
