Why 15 years on, Kath, Kim and their baby cheeses have stood the test of time

It’s time to pay hummus to the Australian cultural phenomenon.

Gather round the baby cheeses, you foxy morons! It’s time to pay homage to the cultural phenomenon that is Kath & Kim. Despite the final season airing 15 years ago, Facebook group Da Kath & Kim Appreciation Society blazes away, with numerous posts celebrating the show every day. At present, the group boasts a ‘uge 117,600 members. Now that’s worthy of a commemorative sausage, doll.

In an era of shows dominating meme culture for a hot minute before disappearing (look at moi, Tiger King), why has our beloved Kath & Kim remained so relevant? Well, you’d be a fool to look past the magic use of malapropisms. It’s a comedic technique where words are incorrectly replaced with similar sounding ones.

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Who can forget Kath urging Kim to seek a “veneer of monogamy” during Kim’s creative home renovations? Or Sharon asking “where pacifically in the specific” the Day-Knights were off to? The swaps were witty and clever, yet easy enough to slide into our own vernacular. Truthfully, I should have said this piece is a “hummus” to Kath & Kim.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott created his own malapropism by accident when his attempt at a zinger directed towards Kevin Rudd failed. “No one, however smart, however well-educated, however experienced,” he said, “is the suppository of all wisdom”. Ah, Tony. Think that was meant to be ‘repository’. Might be time to take a break at the Hyatt Coolum? Don’t forget to BYO Pantene and check out the gift shop. Parrot earrings, anyone?

On the topic of politics, there were moments when Kath & Kim blurred the line between life imitating art and art imitating life. There was Kel’s endless slander of John Howard for the difficulties GST placed on his Butcher Purveyor of Fine Meats.

Kath and Kim became frighteningly relatable when they couldn’t name the current Prime Minister. “For $500, who is the Prime Minister of Australia?” Kath hisses to Kim in a bid to win a radio competition. “I dunno,” Kim replies in monotone. Kath passes on the question. “Oh, him?” Kath remarks. “I would have got that wrong.” After so many changes to the top job, all I can say is same, girlie.

Part of the power of Kath & Kim is how it satirises dated attitudes. Despite her clear (and very uncomfortable) judgement at first, Kath embarks on a research expedition to understand Kim’s sexuality, eventually landing on enthusiastic acceptance. Kath even offers herself to the supportive parents’ float at Mardi Gras. Despite being wrong about Kim’s sexuality, we stan a progressive queen.

However, this isn’t to detract from the obvious blemishes of the show. It would be ignorant (or take an ‘ignoramus’, if you will) to not recognise that some episodes wouldn’t hold up as well in 2022. Like many comedies from the early to mid-noughties, the show capitalised on humour that, rightfully so, wouldn’t be acceptable in current-day scripts. Admittedly, despite watching Kath & Kim numerous times, there are some episodes I deliberately skip because of the mockery of minority voices.

A common thread throughout the show is Kath belittling Kim for her weight. There are two schools of thought on this ongoing scripting. Some people find the joke(s) to be inappropriate, while others think it was satirising our warped fixation with dieting, especially in the context of the crazy fad diets and magazine culture of the 2000s. For anyone familiar with the ludicrous diets of the time, Kath & Kim served as a tonic to their clear irrationality.

Despite its flaws, Kath & Kim was a playful show that mostly made for easy viewing. From the star-studded cameos featuring the likes of Kylie Minogue – as Epponnee-Raelene Kathleen Darlene Charlene Craig, no less – Vince Colosimo, Eddie Perfect and (of course) Shane Warne, the show was packed with ‘umour.

Will McInnes’ appearance as sleazy Sandy Freckle birthed one of the best returns from the typically poorly spoken Kel. “You’re not a freckle,” he sneers, “you’re a mole!”. Bang. Gottem, Kel. If only Tony Abbott had your wit when he needed it.

Similar to Aussie classics like Working Dog’s The Castle, Kath & Kim lightly jostled with simple Aussie jokes. As a Melburnian, I am legally obliged to suggest Glen Waverley whenever the topic of baby names arises. I’m glad I’m not a midwife – I’d be struggling not to blurt ‘Enema’, ‘IV’ or ‘Cardio Infarction’ following a birth, as suggested by the pair during Wine Time.

And we can’t ignore the importance of the second-best friend, Sharon. The value of her ‘advice’ was imperative to the show’s flow. Shopping for a formal dress in 2015, Sharon’s words kept swirling through my head: “I just wanna look groovy”. Trying to look tizzy is a struggle at the best of times. But, as Sharon reminds us, “the sooner you realise all men are bastards and develop an interest in sport, the happier you’ll be”. I hope Sharon is proud of the number of social netball teams that have been named in her honour.

Marg Downey’s portrayal of mildly troubling Marion the Marriage Counsellor was also nothing short of comedic gold. Anyone for Jarrah? With you, Marion, anytime. In less than 10 words, she delivers the best Tinder bio of all time: “Single. Plays the organ. One cat, Buck”. I would happily have her incredibly softly spoken tones illegally officiate my wedding in front of a myriad of my acquaintances. What a way to make your relationship a mere formality. Don’t forget to wear your Sunday best: Dotti or Witchery only.

Yet, Kath and Kel didn’t seem to need Marion’s love guidance. After all, a relationship must be strong if it can survive a two-day honeymoon at Tullamarine and matching Cooji jumpers. Couples who get cosmetic work together stay together, right?

Despite some issues, Kath & Kim really is more than just a pretty face. It’s an uncomfortable mirror at times to our proclivities – like the undying need to spurt ‘Rundle Mall’ the instant anyone tells you they’re from Adelaide. Mostly, the show’s creative humour highlights what makes us Australians so strange. So I was glad to see your recent return to our screens, Fountain Lakes. See you for a cup of chino or Tia Maria very soon.

For more on the beauty of Kath & Kim, head here.