#andy matthews

Dale Jennings in The Newsreader’s S03E06, hanging back wearily in the newsroom hallway ❤️🌟🤴🏼

.

.

It was the evening of the 7th November 1989; a special bulletin on the calendar for News At Six. With the foil decorations hanging on the walls of the news studio, it was evident that they were celebrating the race that stops the nation; the Melbourne Cup.

Dale told his audience about the “commanding win by Tawrrific” and also the triumph for trainer Lee Freedman, who had also trained the runner-up Super Impose. “A rare quinella in Australian racing history,” Dale said, his voice cracking, like he was on the verge of tears. Despite his efforts to put on his famous showman smile, Cheryl and Frank glanced at each other, seeing through the facade.

When Frank signalled the end of the bulletin, Dale hurried away from the desk, breathlessly grabbing at his chest and tie in panic, heading for the makeup room. Picking up a thin manila folder, he addressed Cheryl. “Is this it?” “Huh?” Cheryl was confused. “Where is it, the audience feedback? On Tuesdays I get it all. The letters, the reports, the tapes.” Dale continued. Today’s delivery had certainly fallen short of that. “That’s all Jean left!” Cheryl answered. Dale rushed for the newsroom, Cheryl gazing after with a concerned expression.

In the newsroom; equally as adorned with decorations and festivities as the studio, the office were cackling away, for reasons Dale did not yet know. A robotic voice came from the television speakers; an assurance to viewers that there was still only one king of news. Dread washed over Dale. It was that comedy impersonator, and all his coworkers were laughing, at him.

Dale, Jean, Ross and others in The Newsreader’s S03E06 ❤️🌟📺

.

.

Ever since the clapperboard image was shared on Screen Australia’s Instagram account back in September 2024, I had been eager to see the entirety of this scene, which would end up being one of the opening scenes of our series finale.

Now, having seen it multiple times, it is a scene as jubilant as it is saddening. It was a thrill seeing another appearance by Andy Matthews, playing Comedy Sketch Dale, and hearing Nicolette Minster’s voice in the background too, as Comedy Sketch Helen. The News At Six team were having a wicked time cackling away as the comedian took the mickey out of their star newsreader, and this was yet another nod to Australia’s love of sketch comedy programmes in 1989, such as Fast Forward, The Big Gig and The Comedy Company.

As much as parodies such as Dale’s are fondly remembered retrospectively, this scene also shows the other perspective; the impact that constant jibs and jabs can potentially have on those at the centre of the jokes. Although it wouldn’t be entirely true to suggest that being parodied on television was the sole cause of Dale’s deteriorating mental health, it certainly played a role; especially when it was later suggested that he appear alongside his comedic impressionist to improve his public image. People rated Comedy Dale more than Real Dale.

Unlike Helen, who had the self-belief to be able to brush off her parody as just silliness and not a true reflection of who she was, Dale did not have the self-belief to be ‘in’ on the joke. As someone who was already struggling with feeling as though who he was was never enough to be accepted by society, to see a comedian tear into his attempts of putting his best version of himself out there must have stung dreadfully. To see his coworkers laughing and not realising how much he was falling apart, it must have been agonising.

Jean, Murray, Lindsay and Ross, cackling away in the newsroom in The Newsreader’s S03E06 ❤️🌟📺

.

.

On the 7th November 1989, it was Melbourne Cup evening, and the entire News At Six team was jubilantly celebrating the statewide affair. Green and gold streamers were strung on the walls, and wreaths of faux leaves adorned the whiteboard; complete with gleaming trophies in between each television up above.

After the day’s win by the racehorse Tawrrific, the team had decided to tune into everybody’s favourite sketch comedy show, where the comedy impersonator of Dale was tearing into their network’s star’s stilted newsreading approach. In a robotic voice, he reassured viewers that there was still only one king of news. Ross and Lindsay exchanged banter and shared a laugh, as everyone else in the office cackled away. Geez this bloke was on the nose, as he always was.

The impersonator mentioned something about she (presumably, Helen) being the best interviewer, but that Dale had something she did not. She simply could not pronounce important names the way Dale could! “François Mitterrand, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Liza Minnelli…” the comedian listed off some tongue twisting names, to more uproarious laughter from the office.

Jean; holding a wine glass and giggling to herself, glanced over her shoulder and noticed Dale looming behind in the hallway. It was the day that she delivered his audience feedback to him, and upon spotting and studying the star newsreader for a moment, a guilt-ridden expression fell upon her face. He wasn’t laughing at all. He really didn’t seem like he was in on the joke, confirmed by him backing away shakily.

Anna Torv and Sam Reid, having a good old laugh at the comedy impersonations of Helen and Dale prior to filming the scene! 😂

.

.

When Michael Lucas entrusted me with the secret that there would be a Fast Forward tribute in our Season Three, my heart fluttered with excitement! My biggest pop culture wish for the show was about to come true! After being introduced to it at age eleven (2011) by my dad, Fast Forward became my first true retro media love, and I have soaked up every clip I could find of it over the past fourteen years.

Running between 1989 and 1992 for four seasons on Channel Seven, Fast Forward was an extraordinarily influential and successful sketch comedy show in Australia. Born from a handful of the members of The D Generation (including our very own Marg Downey), this show became essential viewing for Australians, as we laughed along to the antics of these incredible comic performing and writing talents week in, week out.

Characters such as Janelle and Chenille, Dumb Street, the SBS Lady and Lynne and Carmel became a part of the Australian psyche, and we had memorable parodies of Jana Wendt, Derryn Hinch, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Tony Barber too, just to name a few! There were even music parodies, often lead by the singing brilliance of Gina Riley. After the conclusion of Fast Forward, productions such as Full Frontal, Big Girls Blouse and Kath And Kim were put together by some of the Fast Forward team members.

In The Newsreader’s S03E04 (One Team, All Brothers), Helen and Dale sat down to watch comedians parody them on a sketch programme, which was heavily inspired by Fast Forward. It’s hard to believe, but this idea only came together two weeks before filming of Season Three began, as Michael told me on my visit day. Fast Forward was known for its sudden intercutting of its sketches using a static sound and screen; simulating channel surfing and making each episode a jolty and exhilarating viewing experience. This was also emulated in The Newsreader too!