Ronny Chieng International Student, ABC, 8.30pm, Wednesday
Part autobiography, part exaggerated comedy, Ronny Chieng brings new faces, new stories and a lot of fun to the ABC on Wednesday night.
Written, produced and starring Malaysian-born internationally raised stand-up comedian Ronny Chieng, the show is based on his own experiences coming to Australia to study law at Melbourne University.
Graduating with both a law and commerce degrees, Chieng naturally embarked on a stand-up career but as with all good writers and performers he has mined his own life for the funny stuff.
And it works.
Pretty much about the stupid stuff that you do when you’re young, the show is set in “international house”, a share house for international students.
From his first day on campus to the final exam of semester, he faces binge-drinking Australians, pompous blazer-wearing private school kids and hyper-competitive anti-social Asian students who want him to act “more Asian”.
Most of his housemates are Asian but their nice ordered lives are turned upside down by the addition of a brash American student, Craig (Patch May). The first episode then turns into a crazy homage to Apocalypse Now (complete with nakedish Brando moment).
One of the highlights of the show is the return of the brilliantly Anthony Morgan to the small screen – perfectly cast as ageing law lecturer Professor Dale.
Full of stereotypes, this nonetheless rings true and ultimately is silly fun.
-Tania Phillips
