Fisk is an Australian television comedy series on ABC Television, first airing on 17 March 2021. The second season aired in 2022, and the third premiered on 20 October 2024. Seasons 1 and 2 are also broadcast on Netflix and by other outlets around the world. The series is co-created and co-written by comedian Kitty Flanagan, and takes its name from its central character Helen Tudor-Fisk, played by Flanagan, who joins a small legal firm after returning to her hometown, Melbourne.
| Fisk | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Composer | Kit Warhurst |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer |
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| Cinematography | Joanne Donahoe-Beckwith |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 26—28 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | ABC TV |
| Release | 17 March 2021 – present |
Premise
editThe series revolves around the life of lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk, who leaves Sydney for Melbourne after her career and marriage fall apart. She then finds work at a small solicitors that specialises in probate law and wills.[1] The firm, Gruber & Gruber, is run by siblings Ray and Roz, assisted by probate clerk/"webmaster" George.[2]
In the third series, Tudor-Fisk is a partner in the rebranded Gruber & Fisk, while Roz is continuing with her career in mediation. Ray has a new romantic interest, Melissa, a fashion psychologist, while George is engaging in "side hustles" with his grandmother.[2]
Cast
editMain
edit- Kitty Flanagan as Helen Tudor-Fisk
- Marty Sheargold as Ray Gruber, a partner at the firm of Gruber & Gruber
- Julia Zemiro as Roz Gruber, a partner at the firm of Gruber & Gruber who is suspended during the first series
- Aaron Chen as George, the probate clerk whom Helen often addresses as "Webmaster"
- John Gaden as Anthony Fisk, Helen's father and retired Supreme Court judge
- Glenn Butcher as Viktor, Anthony's husband and former "tipstaff" (law clerk)
- Debra Lawrance as May, the sister of Helen's mother (Season 1)
- George Henare as Graham, May's husband (Season 1)
- Justine Clarke (Season 3)
- Gabrielle Chan (Season 3)
Guest
edit- Bert La Bonté as William G.H Ford, an author and Helen's ex-husband who ran off with an older woman prior to the series
- Colette Mann as Mrs Popovitch, an elderly woman who is a client of Gruber & Gruber and a kleptomaniac
- Daniela Farinacci as Gina (1 episode)
- Denise Scott as Leslie (2 episodes)
- Georgina Naidu as Alice Pike (2 episodes)
- Libby Tanner as Annabelle (1 episode)
Production
editCo-creator, co-writer, and star of the series, Kitty Flanagan, had trouble getting her idea for the series to air, as the main character was deemed too unlikeable. After having literary success with her 2019 book 488 Rules for Life: The Thankless Art of Being Correct, she realised that it was a rule book for her character, and may have been one of the reasons that ABC Television commissioned the series.[2]
The first series was originally announced in late 2020 as Entitled.[3][4] Filming took place in North Melbourne and other locations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict protocols on room density and proximity. Large groupings had to be avoided.[5] In November 2021, it was announced that a second series had been commissioned by ABC (released 2022).[6] In November 2023, it was announced that a third series had been commissioned by ABC[7] (aired 2024).[8][2]
All three series are co-created by Flanagan and Vincent Sheehan, co-written by Flanagan and her sister Penny Flanagan, and co-directed by Flanagan and Tom Peterson.[9][10][11]
Episodes
edit| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 6 | 17 March 2021 | 21 April 2021 | |
| 2 | 6 | 26 October 2022 | 30 November 2022 | |
| 3 | TBA | 20 October 2024 | TBA 2024 | |
Series 1 (2021)
edit| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Portrait of a Lady" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 17 March 2021 | 532,000[12] | |
|
When Helen Tudor-Fisk's life falls apart, she takes a job in a small suburban firm specializing in wills and probate, assuming that because the clients are dead she won't have to deal with people. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Cremains of the Day" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 24 March 2021 | 515,000[13] | |
|
Helen mediates a case about division of cremains, between a bereaved daughter and the new, much younger partner of her dead father. She also has an awkward family lunch at Dad and Viktor's house. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Taken" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 31 March 2021 | 594,000[14] | |
|
Helen meets with a woman who is demanding power of attorney over her mother and attends her ex-husband William's writer's festival run by literary interlocutor, Lindy Baxter-Smythe. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Dead Man Texting" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 7 April 2021 | 561,000[15] | |
|
The office is abuzz because their favourite temp Peggy is coming in to help out with a deceased estate. Helen doesn't understand what's so fun about Fun Peggy, but everyone else, including George, thinks she's a 'hoot'. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Ladies in Black" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 14 April 2021 | 537,000[16] | |
|
Helen meets formidable opposing counsel Alice Pike, and stumbles upon Roz's passion project: an all-woman harmony group for funerals called The Sadrigals. Alice Pike makes a complaint to the board about Roz. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Honour Thy Father" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 21 April 2021 | 542,000[17] | |
|
Helen starts making a will for a client, Phil. Phil has gone to extreme lengths to account in a notebook precisely who should get each item in his house, including bed sheets and cutlery. At a meeting, Roz informs the team the firm has been nominated for a small business award. Ray wants Helen's father Anthony Fisk, a former Supreme Court judge, to attend the awards night to lend more credibility to the firm. Roz also tells them judging of the nominated firms is done via anonymous visit, akin to a mystery shopper. A client named Petro believes he is the illegitimate son of the late famous newsreader Georgios Papadakis. Helen suggests he take a DNA test to prove his paternity. Helen overhears Roz talking to Ray about her reinstatement as a lawyer, suggesting Helen would no longer be needed at the firm. Helen arrives at Anthony's house just as his and Viktor's personal training session has ended. Personal trainer Blayden Tork invites Helen to try his vibrating platform machine, the Vibratron. Anthony accepts Helen's request for him to come to the award night. Georgios's son Thomas Papadakis comes in for a DNA test. Petro has also arrived, in contravention of a restraining order taken out against him by the Papadakis family, and there is a scuffle between the two men. Phil returns for the completed will, and he is surprised to hear he has been charged a flat fee despite the excessively detailed and intricate will. Helen engages in seemingly unprofessional behaviour, complaining about her pants being too tight and lying down on a beanbag whilst he reviews the completed will. Helen accepts a Vibratron as payment in lieu of cash from Blayden, who also had a will done at the suggestion of Anthony. Roz admonishes Helen for this and her other unprofessional behaviour. At the awards night, Phil is revealed as the mystery judge. Alice Pike's firm wins the award. Anthony collapses, having suffered a heart attack, and an ambulance is called to take him to hospital. The next day, Helen attempts to quit the firm, but is informed by Roz she won the Ethical Businessperson award. Roz accepted it on her behalf after Helen went with Anthony to hospital. Helen keeps her job. Phil apparently liked the way Helen treated him, with her taking great care to execute his detailed instructions and not taking advantage of him as he believes other lawyers would have done. Petro receives his DNA test result; it reveals that he is not related to the late Georgios Papadakis. | |||||||
Series 2 (2022)
edit| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian viewers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "Goddamn Flim-Flam Man" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 26 October 2022 | 543,000[18] | |
|
Helen is defending a "nuisance claim", with Keith Budge, a tenant of client Leslie's recently deceased mother, living in a granny flat on the property, claiming without proper evidence he was in an intimate relationship with her and demanding $30,000 of her estate, despite not being in her will. Despite the frivolousness of the claim, Helen settles with Keith for $10,000. Leslie is then dismayed at the fact that his lease will still continue and he will stay on the property. George has started livestreaming on Twitch, with him playing a simulation video game based on demolition called Rubble Runner. Helen is informed by Anthony that her own flat in the backyard of his house is illegally constructed and will have to be demolished as it is too close to the property boundary, but she avoids having to move out because the house has a heritage exception. Consequently, Helen is struck with an idea. She goes to Leslie’s property and informs her that Keith's flat is illegally constructed in the same manner as her own, but with no heritage exception Keith has no choice but to leave immediately. George drives the bulldozer that demolishes the flat. | |||||||
| 8 | 2 | "Faithful Friends Are Hard To Find" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 2 November 2022 | 484,000[19] | |
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Roz announces a new business venture and Ray entrusts Helen with the firm's most prestigious client. Helen meets with an influencer who wants to make a video will and George receives a gift.. | |||||||
| 9 | 3 | "Pancakes and Prayer" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 9 November 2022 | 430,000[20] | |
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Helen meets with two estranged brothers to broker a compromise over their mother's will, while Ray and George try to get rid of a rogue pigeon. Dad and Viktor worry that Helen doesn't have a social life. | |||||||
| 10 | 4 | "A Very Handsome Woman" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 16 November 2022 | 457,000[21] | |
|
Helen steps up to do Ray's regular probate information talk at the local library and Roz is pursued by a gentleman caller. Helen searches for a priceless family heirloom that has gone missing in an estate clean up. | |||||||
| 11 | 5 | "Judges Are Like Chimpanzees" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 23 November 2022 | 500,000[22] | |
|
George is overworked and Roz is having trouble finding a suitable assistant. Helen needs to ascertain the correct beneficiary of a large charity bequest and has to take the matter to court. | |||||||
| 12 | 6 | "Snitches Get Riches" | Kitty Flanagan, Tom Peterson | Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan, Vincent Sheehan | 30 November 2022 | 497,000[23] | |
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Helen meets with a May/December couple to change their wills; Petro drops by to give Helen some news; a scandal erupts around Gruber & Associates. | |||||||
Broadcast
editThe first series went to air on ABC TV from 17 March 2021.[4] The second series aired in 2022, and the third from 20 October 2024.[2]
The first series has been streaming on Netflix since August 2023,[24] and the second series since December 2023.[25]
Since 10 August 2023, the series is also able to be streamed on ITVX in the United Kingdom.[26]
Reception
editCritical reception
editKylie Northover of the Sydney Morning Herald gave the series debut 3.5 out of 5 stars.[27] Luke Buckmaster in The Guardian gave the show 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the first episode was funnier than the rest.[28]
Awards and nominations
editIn September 2021 Fisk won the Best Series Award in the comedies competition at Europe's largest TV festival, Series Mania, in Lille, France. It beat six other series chosen for the event, including the multi-Emmy-nominated series Hacks, from HBO.[29]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | AACTA Awards | Best Television Comedy Series | Fisk | Won | [30] |
| Best Comedy Performer | Kitty Flanagan | Won | |||
| 2022 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Kitty Flanagan | Won | |
| Most Popular Comedy Program | Fisk | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Most Popular Actress | Kitty Flanagan | Won | [32] | |
| Most Popular Actress | Julia Zemiro | Nominated | |||
| Most Popular Comedy Program | Fisk | Nominated | |||
| Most Outstanding Comedy Program | Fisk | Nominated |
Viewership
editOn Netflix, Fisk was in the top 10 viewed series on Netflix in 10 countries, including South Africa, the UK, and the US.[2]
- Series 1
| No. | Title | Air date | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | "Portrait of a Lady" | 17 March 2021 | 532,000 | 11 | 266,000 | 6 | 798,000 | [12][33] |
| 2 | "Cremains of the Day" | 24 March 2021 | 515,000 | 10 | 295,000 | 6 | 810,000 | [13][34] |
| 3 | "Taken" | 31 March 2021 | 594,000 | 10 | 279,000 | 6 | 873,000 | [14][35] |
| 4 | "Dead Man Texting" | 7 April 2021 | 561,000 | 9 | 312,000 | 6 | 873,000 | [15][36] |
| 5 | "Ladies in Black" | 14 April 2021 | 537,000 | 12 | 277,000 | 6 | 814,000 | [16][37] |
| 6 | "Honour Thy Father" | 21 April 2021 | 542,000 | 11 | 265,000 | 6 | 807,000 | [17][38] |
- Series 2
| No. | Title | Air date | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | "Goddamn Flim-Flam Man" | 26 October 2022 | 543,000 | 8 | 641,000 | 4 | 1,184,000 | [18] |
| 2 | "Faithful Friends Are Hard To Find" | 2 November 2022 | 484,000 | 8 | 628,000 | 3 | 1,112,000 | [19] |
| 3 | "Pancakes and Prayer" | 9 November 2022 | 430,000 | 10 | 564,000 | 3 | 994,000 | [20] |
| 4 | "A Very Handsome Woman" | 16 November 2022 | 457,000 | 11 | 665,000 | 3 | 1,122,000 | [21] |
| 5 | "Judges Are Like Chimpanzees" | 23 November 2022 | 500,000 | 6 | 606,000 | 3 | 1,106,000 | [22] |
| 6 | "Snitches Get Riches" | 30 November 2022 | 497,000 | 7 | 597,000 | 3 | 1,094,000 | [23] |
- Series 3
| No. | Title | Air date | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | |||||
| 1 | "Bees in the Hive" | 20 October 2024 | 1,049,000 | 9 | — | — | 1,049,000 | |
Home media
editThe first series of Fisk was released in Australia on DVD on 30 June 2021 from Roadshow Entertainment.[39]
References
edit- ^ Knox, David (13 February 2021). "Airdate: Fisk". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Flanagan, Kitty (20 October 2024). "Kitty Flanagan struggled to get Fisk made. Now, the ABC TV show is an international hit". ABC News (Interview). Interviewed by Story, Hannah. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (20 April 2020). "New series funded for ABC, SBS, Nine". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ a b Knox, David (26 October 2020). "Filming begins on Kitty Flanagan comedy". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (15 March 2021). "Kitty Flanagan, from the Whip Around to Fisk..." TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
You'll notice a lot of times people only come to the door because we weren't allowed to have another person in the room. We had to change things a lot.
- ^ Knox, David (25 November 2021). "Upfronts 2022: ABC". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ Knox, David (9 November 2023). "2024 Upfronts: ABC". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (19 September 2024). "Returning: Fisk | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Fisk series 1 (2021)". Screen Australia. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Fisk series 2 (2022)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Fisk series 3 (2024)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ a b Knox, David (18 March 2021). "Wednesday 17 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (25 March 2021). "Wednesday 24 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (1 April 2021). "Wednesday 31 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (8 April 2021). "Wednesday 7 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (15 April 2021). "Wednesday 14 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (22 April 2021). "Wednesday 21 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ a b Knox, David (27 October 2022). "Wednesday 26 October 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b Knox, David (3 November 2022). "Wednesday 2 November 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b Knox, David (10 November 2022). "Wednesday 9 November 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b Knox, David (17 November 2022). "Wednesday 16 November 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b Knox, David (24 November 2022). "Wednesday 23 November 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b Knox, David (1 December 2022). "Wednesday 30 November 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ Kelly, Vivienne (1 August 2023). "'Fisk' Added to Netflix". Variety Australia. Brag Media. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "'Fisk' Season 2 scheduled for December 2023 Netflix release in select regions, know where will it be available". The Economic Times. 18 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "ABC Commercial Sells 'Fisk' to ITV". VideoAge International. TV Trade Media. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Northover, Kylie (12 March 2021). "Kitty Flanagan leads a terrific cast in acerbic new comedy". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (17 March 2021). "Fisk review – Kitty Flanagan anchors enjoyable but patchy legal comedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023.
- ^ "FISK takes the top comedy gong at Series Mania". TV Blackbox (Press release). 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Winners & Nominees". aacta.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Knox, David (15 May 2022). "Logie Awards 2022: nominees". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Knox, David (19 June 2023). "Logie Awards 2023: nominees". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Knox, David (26 March 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 17 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (5 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 24 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (9 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 31 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (16 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 7 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (23 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 14 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (1 May 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 21 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ "Fisk DVD". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2023.