Pete Helliar’s relationship advice for couples doing Australia’s lockdown together

Australian Funnyman Pete Helliar has come up with some great ideas for couples to help them keep laughing, retain their sanity and, above all, stay together during the lockdown.

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Turns out Pete Helliar does know the way to stay married in this day and age.

Last year, when we chatted ahead of the inaugural series of How To Stay Married, he was a little reticent to pin down an answer.

This year, in the midst of tough Victorian corona restrictions – he could.

Seems having fun, working collaboratively and a little world “travel” are the keys.

With limited options for entertainment, he and wife Bridget have got a little creative, holding “pub crawls” each weekend.

“We set up different rooms in our house to be pubs, gave them names and went around to each of them,” Helliar tells Hibernation.

“We even made a beer garden in our back yard. It got pretty messy, yeah.”

The #isopubchallenge gets bigger and better every week with the couple even “securing”
front-row seats to an Elton John concert last weekend, sneaking backstage to get a quick snap with the legendary singer.

Not sure how all the drinking impacts on their morning ritual – doing the quiz in the paper.

“There’s been some disastrous mornings, but we had a good one where we got 26/30,” Helliar says.

They’ve also been travelling the world, well, at least through their evening meals.

“Look my wife does 98 per cent of the cooking – so she will cook a meal based on somewhere in the world and we will travel to that part of the world,” Helliar says.

“We’ll write a quiz that everybody has to do.”

And while their three sons – Liam, 17, Aidan 15, Oscar, 11 – initially thought it was going to be “so lame”, they’ve got into the spirit and enjoyed their virtual travels to Japan, Austria, Spain and France.

Season 2 of the popular series Helliar created, wrote, directed and starred in returns tonight on Ten, and he says he was overwhelmed by the positive feedback from the inaugural series.

“I’ve been doing stand-up long enough to have confidence that that’s going to be fine,” he says.

“When you push comedy out whether it’s on television or a film, it’s so subjective. People get really offended if they don’t find something funny. If they don’t find drama gripping, they will just change the channel and probably not talk about it, but they take it personally if comedy hasn’t made them laugh.

“But people were saying the loveliest things.”

While recognising just how serious coronavirus has been, Helliar’s definitely mining isomaterial for a future episodes with the Butler family and friends.

“There’s very few things you can’t laugh about it,” Helliar says.

“You can make a joke that is unreasonable or cruel and I don’t like those jokes, but there’s no situation that you can’t laugh about.

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“Ricky Gervais talks a lot about when people get offended, they’re confusing the punchline for the actual meaning behind the joke. I think Australians are mostly pretty good at having a laugh in tough times.”

While many fellow artists are out of work, Helliar’s schedule is as chockablock as ever.

“I keep reminding myself how extraordinarily lucky I am and that helps me navigate it all.”

Writing his latest in the series of Frankie Fish books, working on The Project four nights a week and family time, leaves little space to be bored in these isotimes.

He’s reading more – from Sally Rooney’s “brilliant” Normal People to a book about Checkpoint Charlie – and setting himself challenges, such as breaking down chapters to adapt for screen.

“Just for myself, mind you, I’ve never adapted anything before, might not show anyone,” he says.

The funnyman’s also downloaded the Duolingo app and is trying to learn French, although he says that he’s doing very badly.

“By the time I get to go to The Project, I think there’s not a part of me that’s been bored to be honest.”

“I’m very lucky, I get four days a week where I get to go to work,” Helliar confesses.

“I’ve been able to keep my job and get to go and speak to other people.”

While he’s enjoying the low expectations and lessened pressure of these isotimes, he’s missing making plans – whether for travel with his family, dinner with friends, or even catching a show.

He says he can’t wait to give his parents a big hug and jump on a tram to the MCG and watch his beloved Collingwood.

And he believes it will be boom time for television soon.

“I’m really excited to see the art that is born out of this, as much as the art industry has been trashed, I’m excited to see what is born out of from comedy, music, film and theatre and, hopefully, everybody is ready to consume some art and entertainment when all of this is over,” Helliar says.

TOP SHOWS FOR COUPLES

We’re all on the lookout for great content, but sometimes it’s difficult to keep all parties happy. Here’s our top choices to keep you and your significant other entertained, no matter who has control of the remote.

AFTER LIFE – NETFLIX

Equal parts hilarious and emotional, this Ricky Gervais comedy returned for a second season last week and felt like the ideal coronavirus antidote. Gervais plays Tony, a small-town journalist trying to get over the death of his wife Lisa, with a little help from his motley crew of mates.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE – NETFLIX

Trash TV goes to another level in this addictive reality show. Gorgeous singles are sent to a holiday resort, Love Island-style, but there’s a twist – no sexual activity is allowed.

MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA – TEN

There’s something extra delicious about Ten’s revamped show this year. Even if your significant other doesn’t like cooking, they’ll enjoy admiring the delectable dishes – and the eloquent way new judge Melissa Leong describes them.

ENTOURAGE – FOXTEL ON DEMAND

Has there ever been a more binge-able TV show? There’s something for everyone, as rising actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), his agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and childhood friends E, Drama and Turtle attempt to conquer Hollywood.

OZARK- NETFLIX

Jason Bateman and Laura Linney have never been better than this series, where they play a couple who move their family to the Ozarks to launder money for a menacing drug cartel.

This thriller is a slow burn at times, but definitely worth persisting with.

ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST – STAN

Zoey has a truly extraordinary gift – the ability to hear people’s inner thoughts through song, which they magically perform just for her. Throw in a good
old-fashioned love triangle and you’ll be humming along to this Glee-inspired US hit.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE – STREAMING, NETFLIX

This cult comedy set in the NYPD might have TV’s most loveable and diverse cast of characters.

It’s incredibly well written and very, very funny.

Originally published as Pete Helliar’s relationship advice for couples doing Australia’s lockdown together