There was a TV show in Australia in the mid-80s that I can't remember
the name of. It was children's/educational, therefore a daytime
timeslot and had some regular segments. In one, the cast got dressed
up as detectives who formed "The B-Team", which was a play on the name
A-Team that was big at the time. The segment started with a regular
sequence which had some dramatic music and an announcer proclaiming
they combed all parts of the world, "London! Paris! New York!"
(possibly not those exact words) with a shot of one detective looking in
each direction towards the horizon (possibly standing at the top of a
hill or sand dune), and then a silly voice announced "Wagga Wagga?!"
and he'd look straight up in the sun and, stunned, fall over
backwards. He was male, possibly 20s, a bit pale and lanky, and
wearing a detective's hat. The show was broadcast on the ABC public
broadcaster. What were the names of the show and the cast?

Dear whophd,

The name of the show was "Bang Goes the Budgie". Broadcast by
Australian ABC television, distributed by Richard Bence Productions.
13 episodes, 1985.

The cast:
Andrew Goodone -as- Rocky Attenborough	
Janet Shaw -as- Aphrodite Kleimerheimer	
Carmelina DiGiuglielmo -as- Angelina O'Rourke	
Jeff Phillips -as- Wayne

The crew:
Jon Stephens - Director	
Tony Porter	- Director	
Jenifer Hooks - Producer	
Richard Bence - Producer	
Jenifer Hooks - Screenplay


Sources:

Robert Whyte, "Re: Attack of the SHITE US Sitcoms!" Online posting
(1999/12/13). <aus.tv> via Google Groups.
http://groups.google.de/groups?hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&selm=385b6182.10479305%40news.primus.com.au

Panda, "Re: Attack of the SHITE US Sitcoms!" Online posting
(1999/12/13). <aus.tv> via Google Groups.
http://groups.google.de/groups?q=g:thl3906009776d&dq=&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&selm=38577654.FAA1C643%40hotmail.com

Hollywood.com: Bang Goes the Budgie
http://www.hollywood.com/movies/detail/movie/237503

Memorable Television: The Memorable TV Guide to Children's TV
http://www.memorabletv.com/kids_tv_b.htm


Search terms used:
"Wagga Wagga" "b team"
http://groups.google.de/groups?q=%22Wagga+Wagga%22+%22b+team%22&hl=de&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&filter=0
Kleimerheimer
://www.google.de/search?q=Kleimerheimer&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&btnG=Google-Suche
"bang goes the budgie"
://www.google.de/search?q=%22bang+goes+the+budgie%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=de&btnG=Google-Suche


Hope this answers your question!
Best regards,
Scriptor

Wow, there you go! Thanks! I've never used Google Answers before.

I thought I'd try this question because I've searched several times
for this. I'm a little frustrated now, though, because I know I did a
Google Groups search before. Perhaps it was the exact term, and the GA
researcher had to spend a bit of time getting it right. It seems
all-too-obvious now, though, doesn't it?

Wayne -- he was the one I was thinking of. They're all in oblivion
now. But it's possible that if I go to the Film & Television Archive,
I could purchase a "viewing" of a copy of their archived version for
around $20. (Licensing is always pretty strict, and the prices are
usually just to cover labour costs).

Totally forgot all about "Aphrodite Kleimerheimer" though! That must
have made for a fun GA query.

CK.

Hi. I stumbled across the query re 'Bang Goes The Budgie', and
couldn't resist replying. I was one of the directors and writers of
this VERY low-budget kids' series. I'm saddened to note that one of
the key creatives on the team, one Iain Murton, is not credited on the
various sites..a great mate and one of the funniest people in the
business. It's not correct to say all the cast have sunk without
trace. Andrew Goodone is, as I speak, on ABC 774 (radio) chatting in
an improv segment with host Derek Guille, and promoting his heavy
involvement in Impro Melbourne, a theatre company specialising in
Theatre Sports. He's been doing standup and improv work for many
years. Carmelina di Giuglielmo (did I spell it right?) has carved
herself a career of sorts as a serious actor, although (like all
actors, especially in Oz) surfaces only rarely. I confess the other
cast members seem to have found 'sensible' employment out of the
industry. Richard Bence (Producer) still works under his own name in
Melbourne (look in the White Pages), and may well have original
sub-masters of the programs - if you're really that desperate. I have
no idea, however, what the legalities are of him distributing a show
that he made but, technically, he doesn't own. Jenny Hooks was
Richard's wife at the time - no longer. She went on to senior
positions in children's TV and TV generally, eventually becoming
Executive Director of Film Victoria. Jon Stephens is a respected
(feature) script editor in Melbourne. Hope this is all of some
interest.
Tony Porter.