Hardy Bucks
Encyclopedia
Hardy Bucks is an Irish mockumentary TV show written by Martin Maloney, Chris Tordoff and Mike Cockayne. The Hardy Bucks started out with a series of largely improvised online webisodes directed and edited by Tordoff who had studied Media Production. A six-part webisode series went on to win the 2009 Storyland competition held by Irish national broadcaster RTÉ
. Hardy Bucks is set in a small town in West Ireland, following the mis-adventures of five hapless characters down on their luck, trying to reach the 'Big Shmoke' (Galway
). Their comedy won the praise of The Irish Times
, who described the Hardy Bucks as "One of the best comedy acts to come out of Ireland since Fr Ted."
, a Canadian mockumentary
, with Tordoff and co citing the show as an influence.
, Dublin and Three Sisters, Edinburgh.
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
. Hardy Bucks is set in a small town in West Ireland, following the mis-adventures of five hapless characters down on their luck, trying to reach the 'Big Shmoke' (Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
). Their comedy won the praise of The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, who described the Hardy Bucks as "One of the best comedy acts to come out of Ireland since Fr Ted."
Overview
Hardy Bucks was entered into the RTE Storyland competition and from a total of 122 applications to participate in the competition, nine projects were commissioned to make one episode each. These episodes were released in March 2009. With all nine projects on the website, the public could vote for their favourite and at the end of every month the shows with the smallest response would be ‘voted off’, leaving the remaining teams to make the next episode with the same €8000 budget per episode. The show has been likened to the Trailer Park BoysTrailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
, a Canadian mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
, with Tordoff and co citing the show as an influence.
Television show
The three-episode TV series, written by the writing trio Tordoff, Maloney and Cockayne, was commissioned and broadcast by RTE from 12 October 2010 until 26 October 2010. Following the success of their debut TV series, the Hardy Bucks were commissioned by RTE to produce a half-hour Christmas special which aired on 26 December 2010. The Hardy Bucks' second series, a six-episode run, is currently in development. Speaking after attending a homecoming party, Martin Maloney said "You can have all the YouTube hits in the world but when you see people coming out in the flesh like this it is huge affirmation for what you’re doing".Live shows
The Hardy Bucks regularly perform live shows across Ireland and the UK, at venues including The AcademyThe Academy (music venue)
The Academy is a music venue located in Dublin, Ireland. It consists of four floors, each for differing music tastes.The Academy was the venue where The Killers performed an intimate show in August 2008, one night before a performance in Marlay Park. Others to have played the venue in 2008 include...
, Dublin and Three Sisters, Edinburgh.