Housos is a show for the bogans, creator says

NEGATIVE stories about the new SBS comedy Housos have been the best free publicity possible.

paul fenech housos

NEGATIVE stories about the new SBS comedy Housos on commercial current affair programs have been the best free publicity possible, says the show's creator and star Paul Fenech.

Fenech, who also created and starred in Fat Pizza and Swift and Shift Couriers for the broadcaster, says stories by A Current Affair and Today Tonight earlier this year have created more interest in his latest comedy.

"It was great publicity so thank you to the stooges," he said.

"But it's a pity that a joke in Australia can now become a political football."

In fact Fenech, who plays Franky in the series based around a fictional housing commission block, says his latest provocative show represents a large, and mostly ignored, section of the Australian community.

"There are so many bogans in Australia a show had to be made about them," he says.

"It wasn't just an idea, the total bogan movement of Australia demanded a show be made about them so I gave it to them.

"For me I like to root for the underdog no matter what.

"I've got more friends who are like characters in Housos than further up the chain. A lot of the actors are my friends and some of them are playing characters that are not far from themselves."

Fenech is concerned that a growing atmosphere of political correctness in Australia will destroy our local humour.

"We're just becoming a crazy, over-regulated, over-controlled society and now that's creeping into comedy and it's sad," he says, offering this suggestion to anyone who thinks they may be offended by his show: "If you don't like the show don't watch it and don't whinge about it.

"Go and watch Sale of the Century or reruns of some other show but don't ruin it for the rest of us."

Jason 'Jabba' Davis agrees that he shares some traits with his character Dazza Smith who he describes as an everyday Aussie bogan and an anti-hero.

"I like to wear flannelette shirts and tracksuits," he says.

"I do swear. I do have some dodgy old tattoos."

He says the show has a great respect for bogan Australia.

"My upbringing was always aspirational middle class," he says.

"I moved to Dural to live on five acres when I was 10 so I have a real affinity with rural and regional areas.

"I think there's something a bit more real about the type of Australian you find in those scenarios and Housos is a representation of those types of Australians."

Davis says because the show has such a tight budget, the cast usually sit in the gutter and eat kebabs at lunchtime.

"To make a show about people that aren't that well off and to then be sitting on the bumper of my old Barina eating a kebab for lunch is kind of real," he says.

"It's not like some Hollywood people have turned up and the catering truck is pumping diesel fumes into people's backyards while we're enjoying a five-course lunch."

Elle Dawe, who plays Dazza's partner Shazza, says the locals often like to have a chat with the cast.

"Some of them are now my Facebook friends," she says.

Dawe is also enjoying playing Shazza, who she describes as a female version of Chopper Reid.

"Everybody's probably met or seen a Shazza at their local supermarket or down the street or on Today Tonight occasionally," she says.

"She's definitely a bit rough around the edges. It's so much fun to play a character like Shazza. I get to say the nastiest things and get away with it."

Housos premieres on Monday, October 24 at 10pm, on SBS One.