By TANIA PHILLIPS
The Full Brazilian,
SBS, 7.30pm each day of the World Cup
APPARENTLY there’s a football competition on? Who knew? Well, if you’re a regular viewer of SBS there might have been a few clues – the main one being a new show popping up each night at 7.30pm.
It is interesting that since Roy and HG’s Sydney Olympics Show burst onto our screens, every time there is a major sporting event, someone gets the idea to run a sports/variety show.
This time it’s comedian Jimeoin – making his return to our TV screens for the first time in four years. The Irish-born comedian is hosting The Full Brazilian (someone was always going to go there, right?)
This is a show with a little football, a little live entertainment and a bit of silliness – all in all it doesn’t take itself seriously. Which is just as well. What it ends up being is a bit of a dog’s breakfast – sure there are plenty of funny moments, but on the nights I’ve caught it I’ve been struck by how relaxed Jimeoin isn’t in front of a camera – particularly at the start of the show.
Maybe he needed a warm-up show beforehand? Who knows?
But at least it’s a bit of fun, right? And it gives us a chance to learn more about the world game – let’s face it, variety shows are so few and far between we have to take what we are given.
A sports reporter mate of mine suggested that football documentaries every night would have been a better choice but what the heck – why shouldn’t SBS serve up a bit of variety? Highlight for mine is Nazeem Hussain roaming the streets of Rio bringing the city to life in his own way – he is a scream. And let’s face it, with Australia out of the finals we need a little to laugh about, right?
