Compiled by Richard Miles.

Assembled from contributions by subscribers to the aus.tv newsgroup, September 1999.g

A huge thank you to Tony Martin for his assistance!

Additional contributions from: Richard Miles, Richard Cavell, Robert ‘Wollongong Quokka’ Simons, Gary Poussard, Marco Trevisiol, Damien Zanic.

Other sources: The Age ‘Green Guide’; Internet Movie Database.

Last updated 28/12/01.

Additional information, corrections encouraged! Mail them to [email protected] and you’ll be credited.

[PS - to eliminate a lot of confusion, for the purposes of this ography, the D-Gen includes the early revues, their series on ABC TV (1986-87), The Late Show and their radio stuff(1987-94?), and anything by the D-Gen people who went on to Frontline and Working Dog. A completely arbitrary definition, but there it is - RM]

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Rob Sitch, Marg Downey, Magda Szubanski, Michael Veitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, John Harrison and Nick Bufalo meet. (Tommy G was also at high school with Santo... that’d be Xavier, not ‘Ivanhoe Technical College’.) Someone has some details of all / most of the original Melbourne Uni revues that the group did. Suffice to say that the earliest time they were working together roughly as the group above was 1982-3. There’s some visual record of that time on the ‘Degenocide’ video, most notably the ‘Grass Cutter’ sketch from (I think) a 1983 law revue. On one of those Best and Worst of Red Faces specials, they showed a sketch of Rob Sitch and one or two other D-Gen members doing a Thunderbirds parody circa 83.

Legal AIDS: No-One Is Immune (Melbourne University Law Revue) - 1983

Tom Gleisner

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Let’s Talk Backwards (Uni venues around Australia, and the Last Laugh in Melbourne) - 1984

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Nick Bufalo

John Harrison

Marg Downey

Tom Gleisner was one of the writers.

Too Cool For Sandals (Melbourne Uni Revue) - 1985

Michael Veitch

Magda Szubanski

Tom Gleisner

This show also toured Australia.

1986 - 10 episodes [30 minutes]; 1987 - 6 episodes [30 minutes, weekly, 30/4/87 - 4/6/87]

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Marg Downey

Magda Szubanski

Michael Veitch

John Harrison

Tom Gleisner

Nick Bufalo and Geoff Paine were also in some sketches. Strangely enough both went into mainstream acting: Nick to A Country Practice, Geoff to Neighbours. Nick Bufalo popped up again in 1999 as a writer for O’Loghlin On Saturday Night (ABC TV). Tony Martin was also in a few sketches (in the second series); including one where he played the man who invented the shopping trolley, and kept banging into things. His involvement with the show started with the ‘Hijack Bloopers’ sketch, which he wrote in December 1986. [the first episode of 1987 had the interminable supermarket checkout, and the song ‘We Arm The World, We Arm The Children’ - RM]

[when the second series finished, a highlights series ‘The Least Worst Of D-Generation’ ran on the ABC (11/6/87 - 2/7/87) - RM]

Tony again - "Here’s the full chronology: In 1985 the ABC filmed a one hour pilot called ‘The D.Generation’ starring the cast of ‘Let’s Talk Backwards’ Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Marg Downey, John Harrison and Nick Bufalo, along with several appearances by Tom Gleisner who had written for that revue. The pilot sat on the shelf for several months, during which time Nick Bufalo was lured away to A Country Practice where as ‘Dr Ben Green’ he threw that fucking stick across that lake in the opening titles every week for four years. Then in 1986 the ABC commissioned six episodes. Magda and Michael from ‘Too Cool For Sandals’ were called in to replace Nick Bufalo. The ABC were happy enough with the first six to immediately commission another six. Unfortunately they could only afford to make four, so the first series became ten episodes. I wish these stories were funnier, I’m just trying to stick to the facts. Although in the opening titles ‘The D.Generation’ were Rob, Santo, Marg, Magda, John and Michael, Tom also appeared in several sketches and the other writers included John Alsop and Andrew Knight. And just to confuse people, several of Nick Bufalo’s sketches from the pilot(including ‘Thunderbirds’, the sketch which had been the finale of Let’s Talk Backwards) were sprinkled throughout the ten weeks. By the time work started on the second series Rob had gone back to school. Although he appeared in every episode and did some writing, extra hands were needed. Tom was given more to do on screen. Geoff Paine and Jane Turner appeared

in a few sketches. And I joined as a writer, but soon managed to wangle myself choice roles like ‘Waiter 2’ and ‘Price Check Guy’."

Rob Sitch was more or less absent from the group for 2½ years while completing his medicine degree. In the words of Tony, "this happened in mid-1986 after the first series. He continued to work on sketches for the EON FM Breakfast Show (more on that later), as well as writing for the second (1987) series. Rob was at medical school throughout the filming of the second series and the 1988 specials at Channel 7. That’s why there’s much less of him in those shows. He rejoined us properly at the beginning of 1989 to work on the EON FM (by now Triple M) Breakfast Show."

D-Generation breakfast show on EON-FM / MMM-FM (Melbourne radio) - 1987-1992 [Started under that name 3/8/87; at first with Ian Rogerson; in ’88 with Peter O’Callaghan; from October ’88 to 11/5/90 by themselves; from 14/5/90 with Kevin Hillier; ended in April 1992. EON-FM became MMM-FM in November 1988 - RM] In short, the team included:

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Tom Gleisner

Tony Martin

Marg Downey (1987-88)

Magda Szubanski (1987-88)

Michael Veitch (1987-89)

Jane Kennedy (newsreader who joins the team 1988-92)

Mick Molloy (1990-92)

Jason Stephens (1990-92)

But for the full story, generously provided by a certain Tony Martin, "Here’s the EON / Triple M chronology:

May 1986 - June 1987: Rob, Tom and Santo write and record ten sketches a week for the John Peters Breakfast Show. The very first one broadcast (on May 19, 1986) is the debut of ‘Graham and The Colonel’.

June 1987 - Dec 1987: With the second TV series out of the way, Rob, Tom and Santo are asked to join the radio show full time. Rob is unavailable so I get roped in. Yes Ian ‘Danno’ Rogerson is the host. Michael Veitch joins us sometime round October.

June 1988 - Aug 1988: Rogerson replaced by announcer Peter O’Callaghan. The team is Tom, Santo, me and Veitch, with (very) occasional sketches from Marg and Magda. At this time we are also making the Channel 7 specials. Somewhere around here Jane Kennedy arrives.

Sept 1988 - Dec 1988: O’Callaghan is sacked. Tom, Santo, me, Veitch and Jane take over the show ourselves.

Jan 1989 - Dec 1989: Rob rejoins us full-time and the show continues with the six of us and no announcer. Around April, Michael Veitch leaves to join Marg and Magda on Fast Forward. Incidentally John Harrison never worked on the breakfast show ? only on ‘Bulltwang’ (1990).

Jan 1990 - Dec 1990: In order that we can waste the year at Channel Nine making (five!) rejected pilots for The Late Show, announcer Kevin Hillier is brought in to host. Mick Molloy and Jason Stephens, who we’d worked with on the specials, are brought in full-time, to work on both the radio show and the pilots. Is this too boring?

Jan 1991 - Dec 1991: Same line-up as previous year, but no TV to work on. At the Comedy Festival in April we all (Me, Mick, Rob, Jason, Jane, Tom and Santo along with John Harrison

- by now a lawyer) put on an elaborate stage show ‘The D.Generation’s Midnight Shenanigans’ at Le Joke. Somewhere around here Judith Lucy starts doing a weekly spot on the radio show. From Sept to Dec, me and Mick, along with Jason Stephens and John Harrison do ‘Bulltwang’ a weekly three hour spin-off show, Sunday nights on Triple M, which later served as the model for Martin/Molloy. Yes Pete Smith was in it.

Jan 1992 - Apr 1992: Rob and I leave the radio show to start preparing for ‘The Late Show’; Tom, Jane, Santo, Mick, Jason, Judith and Kevin Hillier forge on til April. The stupid bastards."

The D-Generation Goes Commercial (Channel 7, Melbourne mid?/88)

Degenocide (Channel 7, Melbourne 11/10/88)

The D-Generation Salute To Roy Smeck (Channel 7, Melbourne 1/11/88)

The D-Generation Country Homestead (Channel 7, Melbourne 12/10/89)

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Nick Bufalo

Marg Downey

Magda Szubanski

Michael Veitch

Tom Gleisner

Tony Martin

Jane Turner

John Harrison

Mick Molloy

Jason Stephens

Jane Kennedy was in the audience in the ‘Salute To Roy Smeck’ sketch.

The Split! - Early 1989, Michael Veitch leaves to join Marg Downey, Magda Szubanski and Jane Turner on Fast Forward and the various descendants of that show. The reason behind this move was simply that there was much more work available for them on Fast Forward.

20 one-hour episodes each year [18/7/92 - 5?/12/92, 5?/6/93 - 30?/10/93]

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Tom Gleisner

Jane Kennedy

Tony Martin

Mick Molloy

Jason Stephens

Judith Lucy (1993)

John Harrison was in at least four sketches: ‘What’s All That About?’ (as the priest), as John Singleton (showing his Christian Television Association ad), the ‘Christmas Office Party’ live sketch (as the sleazy boss), and (in the second series) ‘The Last Aussie Auteur’ (as the guy who says "Bloody Liberals!" in ‘Don’s Barney’). Nick Bufalo was in ‘Beware Of Wog’ (a.k.a. the Wogumentary) in 1993. Judith was also in one sketch in the first series. [Buggered if I can remember which one it was! - RM] There were five one-hour best-of specials at the end of the first series and another four at the end of the second series. [Also one more in the middle of each series if I remember

correctly - RM]

The first series (at least) was screened in the US under the title ‘Breaking News’.

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Jane Kennedy

Tom Gleisner

Tony Martin and Mick Molloy (as Martin / Molloy) were in ‘The Code’.

The Souffle Rises / Desert Angel / City Of Fear / She’s Got The Look / The Siege / Playing The Ego Card / We Ain’t Got Dames / The Art Of Gentle Persuasion / The Invisible Man / Add Sex & Stir / Smaller Fish To Fry / Judge & Jury / This Night Of Nights

One Big Family / Working Class Man / Heroes & Villains / Office Mole / Basic Instincts / Let The Children Play / Keeping Up Appearances / Divide The Community, Multiply The Ratings / All Work & No Fame / Changing The Face Of Current Affairs / A Man Of His Convictions / The Great Pretender / Give ’Em Enough Rope

Dick On The Line / My Generation / The Shadow We Cast / One Rule For One / A Hole In The Heart / A Hole In The Heart (Part Two) / The Simple Life / I Get The Big Names / The Art Of The Interview / "I" Disease / Addicted To Fame / The Code / Epitaph A doco, ‘Behind The Frontline’, was also screened on ABC TV.

These were short segments broadcast in the station’s breakfast shift. Among them were the serials ‘Funky Squad’ and ‘Johnny Swank’, and occasional appearances by Graham & The Colonel.

Santo Cilauro

Tom Gleisner

Jane Kennedy

Rob Sitch

Tim Ferguson (in Rob Sitch’s absence)

Santo Cilauro

Tom Gleisner

Jane Kennedy

Tim Ferguson

Tom Gleisner and Rob Sitch did a weekly ‘news segment’ on Midday With Kerri-Anne (Channel 9) in about 1996. (Good idea, wrong party!)

A two-part series about the ALP’s federal election campaign in 1996, more or less from the journalists’ point of view. Santo Cilauro narrated and filmed it.

A film about a Melbourne family’s fight to save their home from an airport runway extension. Written by Gleisner, Kennedy, Sitch and Cilauro. Tony Martin has a bit part in it (as ‘Adam Hammill’, Bud Tingwell’s character’s son), and Jane Kennedy does a voiceover at the end (as a news reporter describing the result of the court case).

This was a cross between a travel documentary and an instruction video about fly-fishing.

Rob Sitch

Tom Gleisner

Rob Sitch

Santo Cilauro

Tom Gleisner

Jane Kennedy (very occasionally)

Kate Langbroek

Glenn Robbins

Tony Martin, Mick Molloy, Judith Lucy and Magda Szubanski are occasional guest panelists [Glenn Robbins ex-Comedy Company. Kate Langbroek is a community theatre veteran and former Neighbours scriptwriter / 3RRR-FM breakfast DJ, but her biggest claim to infamy, along with that Trust Bank ad, is her topless appearance on the Channel 9 adult soapie ‘Chances’, a photo of which is floating around the internet... if you’re desperate to see it, ask at the aus.tv

newsgroup :) - RM]

A film about the behind-the-scenes role an Australian country town played in delivering live pictures of man’s first landing on the moon. Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy wrote it. Rob also directed it. (101 minutes)

This series is hosted by Russell Coight (aka Glenn Robbins), a disaster-prone outback adventurer who braves personal injury, uncooperative guests and crap continuity to be the first to show us all the bush characters, wildlife, and survival hints on widescreen TV. Written mostly by Tom Gleisner with additional bits from Glenn Robbins and Santo Cilauro. Santo also filmed most of it.

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Tony Martin

Mick Molloy

The rest of The Late Show cast were occasional guests (individually)

The Mick Molloy Show - 1999 (Channel 9) (8 episodes, 10/07/99 - 28/08/99. 20 episodes were originally planned, until the show was axed)

Mick Molloy

Tony Martin

Judith Lucy

On the first episode (10/07/99) Tom Gleisner was in the ‘audience’ and Rob Sitch appeared in a taped segment.

Notes:

(1) the clip of the yard-glass beer drinking competition on In Melbourne Tonight was from the first episode

(2) ‘Hugh Grant Is Chopper’ was from the fifth episode (7/8/99)

A film about the comedy act ‘Puppetry Of The Penis’. Mick Molloy and Tony Martin appear in it (the film, not the act).

Other TV / Radio / revues that current / former D-Gen members had a significant role in:

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Richard Stubbs

Glenn Robbins

Gina Riley

Mark Neal

Linda Hartley

John Alsop

Tom Gleisner

Greg Ham

Tom Gleisner and John Alsop were also Head Writers for the show.

Mick Molloy

Jason Stephens

Mick Molloy and Jason Stephens were among the writers for this show, as was John (Roy Slaven)

Doyle.

Glenn Robbins

Mark Mitchell

Mary-Anne Fahey

Ian McFadyen

Tim Smith

Siobhan Tuke

Kim Gyngell

Peter Rowsthorne

&

Michael (Mick) Molloy (1989)

Jason Stephens (1989)

(Mick and Jase were writers and performers. They appeared on the garbo sketch, and also in a sketch featuring The Computer Kid (Jason) and Associate Of The Computer Kid (Mick).)... and others

Mick (then Michael) Molloy was also a writer for the FOX FM Breakfast Show in 1989.

Marg Downey

Magda Szubanski

Michael Veitch

Jane Turner

Steve Vizard

Peter Moon

Ernie Dingo (1989)

Gina Riley

Steve Blackburn

Geoff Brooks

Glenn Robbins

...and the rest

Michael Veitch

Magda Szubanski

Peter Moon

Gina Riley

Jimeoin (McKeown)

William McInnes

Magda Szubanski?

Magda Szubanski

Jane Turner

Gina Riley

Eddie McGuire

Trevor Marmalade

Jane Kennedy (1994-5?)

Sergio Paradise

Glenn Robbins (later on)

Tony Martin filled in for Jane one week.

Magda Szubanski

Tony Martin

Mick Molloy

Judith Lucy

An amusing one hour documentary written, directed by and starring Magda Szubanski.

Judith Lucy

Helen Razor

and various guest hosts after Razor spat the dummy and left

Magda Szubanski

Jane Turner

Gina Riley

Marg Downey

Glenn Robbins

Judith Lucy

Kaz Cooke

Billy Birmingham

Mick Molloy

This was a daily drive-time show, on during the Olympics.

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* ‘Home’ series (ABC TV, 1983) - Jason Stephens was in it.

* ‘The Gillies Republic’ series (ABC TV, 1986) - Tony Martin played the Man In Bad Suit (4th

episode).

* ‘Rubbery Figures’ series (ABC TV, 1986) - Tony Martin provides various voices.

* ‘The Factory’ (ABC TV, 1987) Jason Stephens played ‘Laminex on the Rocks’.

* ‘Boys From the Bush’ series (1991) - Jane Kennedy played a reporter.

* ‘The Big Gig’ (ABC TV) - Judith Lucy appeared on the show in 1991.

* ‘World Series Debating’ (ABC TV, 1993?) - Judith Lucy was a debater on the topic ‘Is

Laughter Better Than Sex?’

* ‘Hey Hey It’s Saturday’ (Channel 9) - Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy and Mick Molloy have appeared

as guests (usually Red Faces panelists); Jason Stephens was a Red Faces contestant in 1987.

* ‘Tonight Live (With Steve Vizard)’ (Channel 7, 1990-94) Jane Turner and Michael Veitch were

guests.

* ‘TVTV’ (ABC TV, 1993) - one segment was the D-Generation behind the scenes / interview.

* ‘Kate Ceberano & Friends’ (ABC TV, 1994?) - Jane Kennedy was on once.

* Judith Lucy has been on some comedy benefit shows, including one in about 1994.

* John Farnham video clip ‘Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time’ (1993-94?) featured the

D-Generation.

* ‘Denton’ (Channel 7, 1994-95) - Mick Molloy was a guest on the first episode; Tony Martin

made an appearance as Andrew Denton’s stunt double; Jane Kennedy and Judith Lucy have

appeared separately as guests.

* ‘Mercury’ (1996) - Tony Martin played an Enigmatic Passer-By in the second episode.

* ‘The Footy Show (AFL)’ (Channel 9, 1997?) The cast of ‘Frontline’ appeared after the end

credits in a segment they had where celebrities (in this case, Mike Moore) would make some

comment about the game or the show.

* ‘Club Buggery’ (ABC TV, 1995-97) - Rob Sitch was on to promote A River Somewhere; I think

Jane Kennedy was also on once.

* ‘Good Morning Australia’ (Channel 10) - guests: Tony Martin & Mick Molloy, Judith Lucy.

* ‘Hessie’s Shed’ (ABC TV, 1998) - guests: Tony Martin & Mick Molloy, Judith Lucy.

* ‘Russell Gilbert Show’ (Channel 9, 1998?) - Mick Molloy was on the first episode.

* ‘The Games’ (ABC TV, 2000) - Tony Martin was in one episode.

* Judith Lucy has been on various comedy debate shows, including one on Good News Week (6?/00)

and the SA Law Week 2000 debate screened on ABC TV (5/00).

* ‘The Micallef Pogram’ (ABC TV, 2001) - Tony Martin (or at least his voice and a cardboard

cutout of him) was in the Blankety Blanks sketch.

* ‘This Is Your Life’ (Channel 9, 2001) - Rob Sitch appeared on the Eddie McGuire episode and

talked about their early days on radio.

D-Generation members have also made the following radio appearances:

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* Andrew Denton’s Breakfast Show (Triple M FM, Sydney, 2001) - Mick Molloy temporarily

standing in for Amanda Keller

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* Backstage (1988) - Mick Molloy (uncredited) played an extra.

* A Date with Destiny (1990) - Tony Martin played Keith.

* Babe (1996?) and Babe 2 (1999?) - both featuring Magda Szubanski.

* Dogwoman: The Legend Of Dogwoman (2000), A Grrrl’s Best Friend (2000), Dead Dog Walking

(2000) - all made-for-TV, and starring Magda Szubanski.

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* Thanks For Being You! (LP / cassette. 1987. ABC / Festival)

D-Generation Theme Song / Live Eye News Service / Flatulence / Advertising 1 / My New Book

/ First Aussies In Space / Carlton Cowboys / Social Comment / Bloody Feminists / ‘Do You

Like Chocolate Mousse, Stephen?’ / Test-Tube Baby / Test-Tube-O-Matic / Advertising 2 /

Early One Monday Morning / Philosopher Kid / Man From The Bank / 666 Lamington Drive /

Black Mass / Doris Hoax / Address To The Nation / The Money Song // Political Comment /

Bi-Centennial Anthem / America’s Cup Progress Report / Late One Saturday Arvo / ABC Opera

Simulcast / Sermon On The Mount / Sexual Harassment 1 / Advertising 3 / Sexual Harassment

2 - Women Eh! / Rona And Jilly / Look Both Ways / Aussie Drawl / Dag City / Teenage Party /

Brady Bunch / Television For Slow Learners / Advertising 4 / Deep Probe With Jane Beechey /

An Apology From The United States / The Holocaust

* D-Generation - TV Mix / D-Generation - Dance Mix (7". 1987. ABC / Festival) the theme tune

* The Satanic Sketches (LP / cassette / CD. 1989. Mushroom) the CD has extra sketches

* Five In A Row / Pissweak Quiz Show Sketch (7" / cassingle. 1989. Mushroom)

* Five More In A Row / Pissweak Courtroom Sketch (7". 1990. Mushroom)

* The Breakfast Tapes (LP / cassette / CD. 1990. Mushroom)

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* D-Generation: Five In A Row Plus Five More In A Row

* The Best Bits Of The Late Show vol. 1

* The Best Bits Of The Late Show vol. 2

* The Best Bits Of The Late Show vol. 3

* The Late Show Presents: Bargearse

* The Late Show Presents: The Olden Days

* The Best Of The Original D-Generation

* Degenocide: The Second Best Of The Original D-Generation

* The Late Show Presents: The Devil At Your Heels

* Funky Squad [A Degree In Death / The Wrong Side Of The Tracks / The Carnival Is Over]

* Frontline [Desert Angel / The Siege / We Ain’t Got Dames]

* Frontline [Playing The Ego Card / Add Sex And Stir / Smaller Fish To Fry / This Night Of

Nights]

* Frontline [One Big Family + 3 other episodes from second series]

* Frontline [Basic Instincts / Divide The Community Multiply The Ratings / Keeping Up

Appearances / Give ’Em Enough Rope + ‘Behind The Frontline’ doco]

* The Castle (video and DVD)

* A River Somewhere (double video)

* A River Somewhere II (double video)

* The Dish (video and DVD)

* The Best Bits Of The Late Show - Champagne Edition (double DVD including the contents of the

three ‘Best Bits’ videos plus an hour of extra footage, 6 hours of audio commentary, and

photos)

* Russell Coight’s All Aussie Adventures - The Complete Series (includes 15 minutes of

previously unseen footage and Russell’s interview on Rove Live)

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* Martin Molloy ‘The Brown Album’ 2CD (1995)

* Martin Molloy ‘Poop Chute’ 2CD (1996)

* Martin Molloy ‘Eat Your Peas’ 2CD (1998)

* Mick Molloy ‘Shonky Golf’ video (1999) a golf instruction video with a difference, starring

Mick Molloy, and featuring Tony Martin as the voice of ‘HAL 9000’

* Tom Gleisner ‘Warwick Todd Goes The Tonk’ 4CD or 4-cassette (2001)

* Tom Gleisner ‘Warwick Todd - Back In The Baggy Green’ double cassette (1998)

* Tom Gleisner ‘The Warwick Todd Diaries’ double cassette (1997)

* Judith Lucy ‘King Of The Road’ CD (1999)

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* Tom Gleisner ‘Warwick Todd Goes The Tonk’ book (2001)

* Tom Gleisner ‘Warwick Todd - Back In The Baggy Green’ book (1998)

* Tom Gleisner ‘The Warwick Todd Diaries’ book (1997)

* ‘Funky Squad’ book (1995)

* ‘Frontline’ book (1995)

* ‘The D-Generation Bumper Book of Aussie Heroes’ (1987. Penguin Books) written largely by

Tom, Rob and Santo (with the remainder by John Alsop, Andrew Knight and Magda Szubanski)

between the first and second ABC series.

* Rob Sitch wrote a column for BRW magazine for several years.

* Mick Molloy wrote a column in The Truth newspaper (1991-1992)