Comedy Inc. was an Australian sketch comedy television series, which ran on the Nine Network from 19 February 2003 to 26 December 2007. The series was produced by Crackerjack Productions. It first premiered in February 2003 in the new wave of Australian sketch comedy shows being launched across the free-to-air channels along with Big Bite and skitHOUSE. Since the end of the series episodes have been repeated on the Foxtel cable channel, The Comedy Channel and during 2009, reruns were shown on Nine HD before the channel's closure. Cast Paul McCarthy — Seasons 1-5 (2003–2007) Jim Russell — Seasons 1-5 (2003–2007) Emily Taheny — Seasons 1-5 (2003–2007) Mandy McElhinney — Seasons 1-4 (2003–2006) Genevieve Morris — Seasons 1-4 (2003–2006) Katrina Retallick — Seasons 1-4 (2003–2006) Gabriel Andrews — Seasons 1-3 (2003–2005) Ben Oxenbould — Seasons 1-3 (2003–2005) Scott Brennan — Seasons 4-5 (2005–2007) Simon Mallory — Seasons 4-5 (2005–2007) Rebecca De Unamuno — Season 5 (2007) Fiona Harris — Season 5 (2007) Janis McGavin — Season 5 (2007) Timeline Overview When the series debuted, it rapidly gained the highest ratings of the three sketch comedies at that period of Australian television. It subsequently gained numerous nominations for major Australian and international film and television awards. The show has also proved to be more commercially successful in Australia than its rivals and was the first to release a VHS/DVD of content from the series. The show had many different formats. For example, a more risqué variation of the series was broadcast in 2005, entitled Comedy Inc: The Late Shift. The episodes were aired at a later time, because of the content. The Late Shift aired from 2005 until the end of the series in 2007. Skits and formula Comedy Inc. features original skits, impersonations and irreverent parodies of other television programmes and films. For example, popular Australian series such as Big Brother Australia, Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Brainiest Kid, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Renovation Rescue, Hi-5, Bob the Builder (as Bodgy Builder) and Thomas and Friends (as Ernest the Engine and Others) are frequently subject to many spoofs, as are Australian news and current affair programmes, such as Today Tonight and 60 Minutes. In addition, the series features original skits, such as "Selina: She Grows on You", a segment which features an eccentric gardener for a wealthy woman, and her zany and original ways of keeping her garden