User Reviews

I've been a fan of the Aunty Donna boys since late 2014. I don't follow them nearly as avidly as I once did, but watching this show (produced by the ABC) felt like I was finally seeing something they'd always wanted to make, in a place they'd always wanted to put it. It transported me back to their roots and why I originally fell in love with their work, the style I feel they'll always been best at, honed and refined through their years of dedication and hard work producing for stage and screen. I strongly feel episodes 2-5 of this show is some of the best work they've produced, with the Noughts and Crosses and Hit n Run Arcade sketches perhaps being the best examples of their work ever put to screen. There was one moment in Episode 2 that had me laughing harder than I have in quite a long time.

Their absurdism has always been a tough sell for some folks, and this show definitely isn't for everyone. The rough edges of the final episode still betray their lack of finesse when it comes to longer narratives, and their occasionally too-heavy reliance on improv, and some of the jokes are definitely overplayed (cake), but the three main performers have a far better performing ability now than they've ever had. Zach in particular was stealing scenes left and right, while each performer were still given moments to shine. Mark in episode 2 was exquisite, and the way side characters are given smaller stories too really Helps everybody feel involved and included. Just like most of AD's work, there's no ego in the show, an absolute sense of open vulnerability in their ridiculousness that makes them so easy to invest it. The amount of sketches within the constraints of the show is astounding. There's so much solid gold comedy in here and it's all so damn perfectly delivered so much of the time and so easy to have fun with.

All in all, there's no question these six guys know what they're doing and who they're trying to reach. Their mastery of this particular style is unmatched right now, a brand fully their own, and that Australian television has finally given them the space they deserve (and have deserved for years) to show what they can do is a treat to see for a fan like me, even if I'm not blind to the shortcomings of their work or the somewhat divisive appeal. An enourmous congratulations to them for creating some dense, hilarious television that's full of the same naughty, endearing energy that they've always had. I admire how they've never strayed from that same core approach and style - it really won my heart back in the day and provides much needed solace today as well.

Must watch TV, brilliant from start to finish.

There is so much to love about this show so I'll try to summarise its strengths as best I can:

• Laughs per minute: The show is so often funny at such a consistent pace that you find yourself holding in your laughter to ensure that you don't miss a step, and then at the end of the scene letting it all out at once.

• Physical and visual comedy: Under-utilised nowadays, Aunty Donna are masters of incorporating both physical and visual cues to heighten the viewer experience. I can only imagine that there were still plenty of things I missed on this front, which only makes me keen to watch the series again.

• Narrative structure: Compared to the Netflix series, I really enjoyed the fact that (while still absurd and boundary-pushing at all times), this felt like a genuine sitcom. The B-plots in each of the episodes were really effective in breaking up the high intensity of everything else going on, with the Episode 2 subplot a standout.

• Characters and Performers: Needless to say the array of characters featured were so ridiculous yet relatable throughout. Having Gaby Seow's character as more of a straight man and allowing the three boys to do their thing was a great choice. As usual, the extended cast of Donna-adjacent performers were brilliant, with a special shout out to Michelle Brazier and Patrick Durnan Silva. In addition to the usual suspects, the guest stars were a very welcome addition and added another dimension to a few of the episodes. Sally-Anne Upton in particular was outstanding.

• Music: The theme song and the catchiness of all of the musical numbers show the depth of talent within the Donna crew and deserve a mention.

• Production: The refinement in the production of the show while capturing the essence and absurdity of everything happening on screen is a difficult balance to find I imagine, though it was done to perfection.

• Self-awareness: The inclusion of Zac breaking character on a few occasions, poking fun at themselves by implying a bit or a joke only to abandon it as not funny, and the many deep cuts included for the fans shows that they aren't taking themselves too seriously and allowing themselves and their audience to have fun and be in on the whole process.

The only criticism of mine is perhaps that the first half of the first episode was a bit heavy with exposition as well as introduction to the boys and the concept, though I can understand that for viewers not familiar with their work, this sort of thing is pretty important.

It's great to see the ABC supporting genuine Australian talent and very clearly giving them the creative license to do what they do best.

This is comfortably one of the best television shows produced in Australia in a long time. This show and Kitty Flanagan's "Fisk" are helping to revive Australian comedy on TV in a manner it has so desperately needed for the last 10 years. Aunty Donna deserve all of the success and notoriety that the world can offer them, and hopefully enough people watch this for that to happen.

You love to see it.

Aunty Donna previously took the absurdity of their stage and web shows and cranked it up to 11 in BOHOF for Netflix. While I thoroughly enjoyed that show, its pure chaos could have potentially isolated new viewers and those not fully invested in Aussie specific absurdist comedy ricocheting from sketch to sketch.

Coffee Cafe fixes a lot of those problems for me. It brings the absurdity, the outlandish surprised laugh, and the spooky episode hijinks together in a more polished and pointed product.

Each episode plays out a sitcom structure to some extent, and allows cutaways and gags to take over the whole show for anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two, but always gets back on topic. And for me, this thread of narrative holding the silliness together just worked harder than anything else the boys have put out.

Episode 2 is likely a favourite for most, and is the strongest for me, staying on topic and cutting away for very high quality goofs.

If you can forgive the odd joke that stays a few seconds too long, the 99 other gags coming at you in 25 minute blocks all land way harder than anything else the Boys have done so far.

Also Cowboy and Frogman tho.

This groundbreaking documentary provides an intimate look at the challenges that baristas, roasters, and coffee shop owners had to overcome to keep their doors open during one of the most trying times in modern history. From adapting to new safety protocols to navigating supply chain disruptions, the mini series delves into the daily struggles that threatened to upend the very fabric of the specialty coffee industry. With stunning visuals, compelling storytelling, and raw emotional honesty, this documentary provides a vivid and intimate look at the inner workings of specialty coffee shops in the face of unprecedented challenges. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in the coffee industry and the people who make it thrive.

Some of the best youth oriented Australian comedy going around. If you don't rate this 10/10 you are a filthy real estate agent and I hope your navy suit gets infested with wasps.

Full of incredible characterisation as always and it doesn't linger on an idea for too long, pushing for a joke after joke format. I cant wait to see what non-Australians think of this show when it has its broader release, because the specificity of some of these jokes are incredible.

As always the Donna extended universe is brilliant. Michelle Brasier, Mish Wittrup, Frankie McNair, Lena Moon, Patrick Durnan Silva.....

I moved to Australia in late 2022. I've been struggling with learning the humor and slag here and honestly this show and the Aunty Donna boys have helped me learn it. I have to say I love Broden, Zack, and Mark. And I definitely love the show.

Now the show is funny and definitely binge worthy. I've watched this season atleast 7 times by the time I'm writing this review. It also has some really catchy song that get stuck in your head. As well as some random characters that just make you laugh.

The guys really worked hard on the show and it shows but at the end of the day it's for you to watch. The Aunty Donna boys have definitely helped adjusting to living here easier and they are really amazing. I can't wait for hopefully a season 2.

I'm a fan of Aunty Donna, and I love their work, but this is by far the best thing they've done so far in terms of both the original material and the production quality.

Loved that callbacks were included here and there but that the series had its own unique story and original vibe, coming out with a good balance of feeling Aunty Donna without being too samey or feeling repetitive.

I also really loved just how Australian this was, especially compared with the Netflix series; so many cameos from great Australian talent, as well as little in jokes and cultural references.

Obviously, the humour isn't for everyone, but for me this was pretty on point.

Only downside was it was too short! Keep it coming, boys!

There is a difference between silly and funny but Aunty Donna are absolute masters of being both. As a fan of Aunty Donna since big ol house of fun, i was so happy to hear that they had been picked up for another series. The seires by far surpassed my expectations, with every episode shining it's comedic light in its own way. The concept of this show, following three friends who have started an overpriced melbourne cafe with little experience, was far more narrative based than the previous series on Netflix and I definitely prefered that approach as it was easier to follow the characters in their universe. From the offset, Donna's wacky jokes were well crafted, from scripted scenes to improvised lines, they all set the tone for the show well. Kelly, Ruane and Bonanno all performed exceedingly well in their own parts as well as the parts of hilarious and absurd characters throughout the series, complimented well by actress Gaby Seow who brought another level of relatability and hilarity to the audience and a multitude of other stars and comedy legends. Coffee cafe brings all the loveable aspects of Aunty Donna to the forefront, including their beloved characters, inside jokes and dragged out skits that leave you in creases. This is a show you don't want to miss!

If you like Auntie Donna, you'll like this. They're in it quite a bit.

The humour is purposely obvious which is the point, you either like that or you don't. Its very winky to the audience which makes for quite a communal viewing experience. You're waiting for the joke to happen and that's the fun.

I think Auntie Donna are quite famous for throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. There's more cooked spaghetti here than not, most of it works and you'll laugh out loud quite a lot i think.

The gags fly by pretty quick so the occasional misses aren't a big deal. These guys are excellent actors and very charming which is another factor why this show so watchable.

Its free its on iview what you got to lose? Give it a go!

Aunty Donna know exactly what they want to do and how to do it. Their manta of "whatever's funniest" comes out loud and clear in everything single sketch they do within this show. So excited to finally see them step into the sitcom world, with continuous characters and storylines that blend so well into their hilarious sketches. I particularly enjoyed their Tic-Tac-Toe sketch, which not only have some great comedic acting and writing, but some hilarious production choices in the sound and picture editing that sold the humor even more. I already know that this show will be a constant rewatch for me and I eagerly await the possibility of a Season 2!! Keep up the good work, boys!

I've been watching these guys for years, so of course I loved it. But this style of comedy isn't for everyone. I'm from the states, so it was difficult for me to find a way to watch it, but fortunately I was able to finagle a way to view the show. It was a headache, but I'm glad I did. Never would've guessed Broden is 34. With that hairline? Wild. Anyway, some of the skits drag on, and get repetitive, especially if you have seen their other work. But that's comedy, though. Not being from Australia, I had to google some stuff, like who is David Koch, and how to access iView from outside of Australia, but eventually I caught up. And the broads are hot. That's always a plus.

Possibly the worst TV comedy (if not TV show of any genre) I have ever seen, I hope it was just a dud episode (We're closed didn't pay the rent) I'll watch one more but don't hold out any hope. Not a single laugh, the physical comedy was just as bad as the verbal comedy. I found myself continually asking when does the comedy start and it didn't. The show was pathetic, the comedians very unfunny. The closest thing to a laugh was in the arcade and an extra was asked what he'd done that day and we had a cut away to an extras meeting where extras were told not to respond to cast members upon pain of being blackballed.

As a fan of the trio's content, I can happily say that this miniseries is a great step up from their previous show "Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun".

Unlike their Netflix series, in which each episode technically had a plot but it felt more like extremely thin threads to connect one sketch to the other (still funny and enjoyable though), Coffee Cafe succeeds in forming coherent stories and managing to develop both A and B plots while still keeping the creators' absurd/surreal sense of humor, making each episode a lot more enjoyable.

The 2023 show also shows off better lighting and photography for most of its scenes, although it suffers for an overabundance of digital zooms.

The main problem (if you can even call it such) that I have with the show is the underutilization of Gaby Seow's character "Stephanie" who in the first episode is introduced as apparently important but ends up sporadically appearing only in a few scenes, at best, each episode. I feel the character has a lot of unused potential.

Overall the show is extremely funny and a great way to spend your time, too bad it's only available in Australia, which limits the show's reach and forces their overseas fans to watch it by using a VPN or by illegally pirating it. I hope it gets a wider release soon.

This is one of those shows that'll probably get canceled after only a single season (which is unfortunately what happened to their previous show: big ol house of fun) even though it has the quality to win an emmy. I am going to make a very genuine attempt to write this without spoiling it in any regard. Essentially, it is within the regards of I think you should leave in that it's a skit show with varying characters you never see again after a single time (or possibly twice) except for the titular ones of course. It differs in that there actually is an overarching storyline (a necessary difference). Although I prefer I think you should leave (it's probably the best skit show in my opinion), this one is truly phenomenal!

The comedic beats walk the fine line between mundane reality and absurd fantasy.

I want to go into details but honestly it's best just to watch it! At 6 x 30min episodes it is shorter than a single viewing of 2005's hit movie King Kong but packed with at least double the laughs.

Some keen eyed viewers might also recognize some Hollywood-grade cameos like Richard Roxburgh and famed Australian character actor Ben Mendelsohn!**.

**EDIT: Upon further review it seems that it wasn't in fact Ben Mendelsohn but as the show explains there's a reason why his voice is uncanny...

I give Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe 12/10 stars but I have to deduct 2 stars due to IView not letting me watch episode 5. My dependency on streaming services has meant that I now lack the savvy to resort to piracy again.

This show is a silly good time of a show. It doesn't make much sense, in the best way. It's just about laughs and boy are there laughs! The show follows the Aunty Donna boys running a café with their usual charm, in a fantastical elseworld where running a café like that won't get them immediately shut down and arrested. It's delightful. Whether it's wasps, a rogue, hyper-intelligent hamster, or health code violating cake pranks, I found myself very much wanting to attend this magical place. It's got a bit of everything. Court room drama! Horror! Musical numbers! Michelle Brasier! Michelle Brasier as a witch! Michelle Brasier as a cat! This is a show for the ages and unless you're a square, you should watch it too.

I haven't actually seen this yet, because of antipodean reasons. But I bet it's brilliant.

Release it in the UK please. I mean, why bother with all the advertising, social media posts, and hype if you're not going to actually release it where I live?! It's just mean.

The worst part is that they'll probably start flooding social media platforms with clips and spoilers. Why are you punishing us? I can't be bothered to set up one of those VPN thingies that allow you to stream content from other countries.

So come on Aunty Donna (if that is your real name) spare a thought for your extremely lazy fans who live in the northern parts.

So, Aunty Donna's humor doesn't always "click" or get to me. In fact, a lot of the times when it comes to hit or miss on their YouTube, it's a miss, and I kind of roll off of it. This show, however, is firing on all cylinders, and is absolutely hilarious nearly 100% of the time. These guys have really hit their stride with this show and there is just so much going on, from gags, to celebrities, injokes and callbacks (though you may not know them), to just downright absurdity that you can't help but laugh out loud. The characters of Mark, Zach, and Broden (who in real life are almost always playing themselves) work so well off of one another you find yourself almost imagining being in each of their shoes for a day, and the script and editing is just so flawless in this brief series I was in stitches. No drugs required to enjoy - not even steroids!

I guess a lot of people managed to enjoy this - good for you!

I am sure if I was taking some mind-altering substance or younger than a teenager then this would be hilariously funny. I watched a few episode and the humor just misses mark for me. It reminded me of the feeling you get when someone makes screeching noises from chalk on a blackboard. In the history of ABC Australia I have never seen a worse comedy team. Although better than their previous series by maybe a half star.

Previous comedy and/or satire shows like The Big Gig, The D-generation, The Chaser, The weekly, Kath and Kim, Fast Forward were so much better than whatever Aunty Donna has vommited up, so far. I hope they improve.

If you're new to Aunty Donna/Absurdist comedy, the first episode sets up what to expect with sketches, improv scenes, music numbers and 4th wall breaks while being funny and relevant to modern cafe culture. From there on it just gets stronger comedically with some moments where I had to pause iView because I was laughing too loud. People who have seen them before will get a kick out of returning gags/references too. Plenty of Australian talent cameos to look out for ( I loved seeing Michelle Brasier as a constant character). Some smaller jokes might go over the heads of the international audience but I'm sure the series would still be great as a whole.

I am missing ABC comedy , so i tried ..i tried to watch this .. but it just not funny , Childish humor like sammys is ok for a 5 minute stint after the news , but not half an hour of being bombarded with childish toilet humor , Some of this may have passed in the 1980s before it was done 3000 times plus one .

This is why Shaun Micallef retired too early ,leaving the comedy scene to the younglings that just are not ready .... Making yourself laugh doesn't count if everyone in the audience is groaning

OH for the chasers style humor comedy ... Theres no edge to this , its literally designeed to offend no one and make 8 year olds laugh

I have some advice .. Get TOM to write some humor for you , you might be offended but it will be funny and you will have an audience ... go back anb look at the chasers , they were funny ... SHaun Micallef and tonightly styled political humour ..... EVEN the weekly is borderline , with so much obviously cut to avoid offending some idiot with pink hair it barely scrapes in ..but even that is miles above this trash .....