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Pizza topped with humour

The star of SBS’s comedy program Pizza, Paul Fenech, describes the latest series of the popular program as Lord of the Rings with ethnics.

Or like a session of the UN.

“(UN Secretary-General) Kofi Annan is probably the only one apart from myself who’s qualified to organise the cast because there’s so many ethnics it’s ridiculous,” said Fenech of the fourth series, which goes to air on SBS later this month.

“It’s like Lord of the Rings but with ethnics.

“We’ve got everything covered. We’ve got Samoans, Maoris, Maltese, Italians, Lebanese, Turkish, Brazilian.”

And amongst all of this, there’s also room for a few Australians.

“We’re not talking normal Aussie,” said Fenech, who also wrote, produced and directed the series.

“We’re talking pure meat pie (eating), drinking, bong-smoking Aussies.”

The latest instalment of Pizza will be topped with even more humour.

It revolves around Bobo (Johnny Boxer), the chef and fat owner of Fat Pizza pizzeria, who hires a business consultant, played by former television salesman Tim Shaw.

Shaw’s character is called in to improve the business profits.

But the consultant makes Bobo buy a new shop and hire new workers.

“He’s hired new staff, there’s more celebrity cameos, more burnouts, more chics, more fights,” said Fenech who portrays experienced delivery guy Pauly in the show.

There will also be four new characters in this season of Pizza - Kev the Kiwi (Kevin Taumata), Chong Fat (Anh Do), Junior, who is also a Guy Sebastian lookalike and DJ BJ (Alex Romano).

Making guest appearances will be performer Maria Venuti, models Annalise Braakensiek and Bessie Bardot, singer Angry Anderson and comedian Vince Sorrenti.

Fenech, who was also behind the 2003 movie based on the series titled Fat Pizza, said the fourth series would be the “fully sickest moment in Australian television”.

“To speak in correct English, the most sick moment in Australian television,” he said.

“It’s too big for television.

“It should be on both DVD and Foxtel.”

Pizza will begin screening on SBS on May 30 at 8.30pm (AEST)

- AAP

May 12, 2005
The Age