The Paul Hogan Show

The Paul Hogan Show is a popular Australian comedy show which aired on Australian television from 1973 until 1984. It made a star of Paul Hogan, who later appeared in "Crocodile" Dundee. Hogan's friend John Cornell also appeared in the show, playing Hogan's dim flatmate Strop. The show also aired on the New York Tri-State area television WWOR channel 9, in the early 1980s. Episodes of the series generally opened with Hogan, playing a version of himself he called 'Hoges', presenting a stand-up comedy routine dressed in his bridge rigger's costume of boots, shorts, and shirt with sleeves cut off. The show then presented a series of comedy sketches, usually with Hogan in the lead role and playing various recurring characters, these include: ⁕Leo Wanker: an inept daredevil stuntman; ⁕George Fungus: a take-off of real-life television journalist George Negus of the Australian 60 Minutes; ⁕Super Dag: an ocker superhero complete with terry-towelling hat and zinc-creamed nose. His powers include his ability to use his esky in innovative ways; ⁕Perce the Wino: an old drunken derro who starred in a series of silent, Benny Hill-style, sketches; ⁕Donger: variants of this beer-gutted character include Sgt Donger, the tough cop with a bionic beer-gut, and Arthur Dunger, a caricature of the suburban tinny-chugging Australian male.

Directed by Paul Hogan, The Paul Hogan Show leans on a strong ensemble — John Cornell, Paul Hogan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1973.