The Overlooked Netflix Comedy Series Needs A Second Season
The past year has seen a growing interest in Netflix’s sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, with the titular leading man bringing in a slew of new viewers after TikTok helped gain the show extra exposure. If you’re in need of some new sketch comedy and don’t know where to look, you can stay on Netflix and check out Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun.
But, be warned – the series was canceled following its first season, so once you binge the episodes (which you absolutely will), there’s sadly nothing to come after.
Packing the heat for their project, the guys behind Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun were able to wrangle in a slew of impressive guest talent.
Premiering on Netflix in 2020, the Australian sketch comedy group known as Aunty Donna brought viewers around the world a new yet familiar comedic series. Starring Mark Samual Bonanno, Broden Kelly, and Zachary Ruane, Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun found a home in the hearts of fans with a soft spot for Monty Python and Tim and Eric. Sadly, the absurdist bonanza would only last six episodes, not being renewed for more seasons at Netflix.
Packing the heat for their project, the guys behind Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun were able to wrangle in a slew of impressive guest talent. Included in the fun were the likes of Jack Quaid (The Boys), Kristen Schaal (What We Do in the Shadows), Antony Starr (The Boys), “Weird Al” Yankovic, Karan Soni (the Deadpool franchise), Ed Helms (The Office), Ronny Chieng (The Daily Show), Sarah Burns (Enlightened), and more.
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun is how the series wasn’t picked up for a sophomore season.
This could simply come down to bad promotion on the streamer’s side as audiences had nothing but positive things to say about the sketch comedy series, dropping it 100 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. An amazing feat of achievement, a perfect score couldn’t save the production from being axed after a measly six episodes.
The good news for those who reside in the comedy troupe’s home of Australia is this year saw the arrival of a brand-new series titled Aunty Donna’s Coffee Cafe. Bringing the laughs back to audiences on the part of ABC iView, Mark Samual Bonanno, Zachary Ruane, and Broden Kelly all returned for more comedic gold in another six-episode series.
Although it performed well with the trio’s dedicated fan base and the critics who served it positive reviews, no further information has been released surrounding the show’s second season following its drop back in March.
The Talent Behind Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun
Aside from their work as a trio, each of the members of Aunty Donna has created successful solo careers for themselves. After appearing on the short-lived fantasy-comedy television series The Wizards of Aus, Mark Samual Bonanno moved his talents to co-create the Australian series Why Are You Like This alongside Naomi Higgins and Humyara Mahbub.
While his work with his pals in Aunty Donna has been the most prominent of his career, Bonanno’s fellow member, Broden Kelly, can also be spotted in a handful of other projects. Included in his list of credits are appearances on Fisk, Irreverent, How to Stay Married, and Orange is the New Brown. Last but certainly not least, Zachary Ruane has also held roles in Hug the Sun and The Strange Chores.
Beyond their Netflix and ABC iView shows, the guys behind Aunty Donna have brought the comedic hijinks in a handful of other one-off productions, including Aunty Donna: Glennridge Secondary College, Aunty Donna: The Rove Tapes, Aunty Donna: Camp Bush Camp!, Aunty Donna: The Album, Aunty Donna’s Ripper Aussie Summer, Aunty Donna: Trendy, Aunty Donna: 1999, Aunty Donna: Cowdoy in the City 2, and their bizarre holiday special, Aunty Donna: Always Room for Christmas Pud.
In Australia, the Aunty Donna team is one of the country’s most notable groups of performers, with the troupe celebrating sold-out tours around the world in the past. Whether it’s the absurdism or just poorly planned promotional output, it’s a shame that the crew didn’t receive a warmer welcome when their series arrived on Netflix.
The good news is that Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun found a home with the streamer, so you can binge it in its entirety now.
