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Swift and Shift Couriers

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Swift and Shift Couriers
GenreComedy
Off-color humor
Adventure
Written byPaul Fenech
Directed byPaul Fenech
StarringPaul Fenech
Ian Turpie
Melissa Tkautz
Amanda Keller
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes19
Production
Executive producerPaul Fenech
ProducersTanya Fraser
Serena Hunt
Production locationSydney
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Original release
NetworkSBS One, SBS Viceland
Release27 October 2008 (2008-10-27) –
17 October 2011 (2011-10-17)
Related

Swift and Shift Couriers is an Australian comedy television series that first screened on SBS TV in October 2008.[1] The series is produced, directed and written by Paul Fenech, who was also responsible for the comedy series Pizza. It is set around the staff of the fictional 'Swift and Shift' Courier Company, in the central business district of Sydney.[2] Episodes have been partly filmed in Egypt, India, Thailand and the United States.[3]

The second season of Swift and Shift Couriers began screening on 15 August 2011, on SBS One.[4]

The first and second season of Swift and Shift Couriers came out on DVD, The complete series box set came out after by Madman Entertainment.

Cast

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Management

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Drivers

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  • Paul Fenech as Paul "Mario" Gauci
  • Sam Greco as Louie "Luigi" Marietti
  • Mark Duncan as Mark Tanner
  • Mike Duncan as Mike Tanner
  • Ashur Shimon as Abdul Azar
  • Andrew Ausage as Sole Umaga
  • Joe June as Jackie Leungfung
  • Bill Drury as Bill Beazley
  • Jennifer Corfield as Jen Beazley
  • Tahir Bilgiç as Habib

Dispatch

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  • David Cooper as David Jackman
  • Jioji Ravulo as Leonard Umaga
  • Alex Romano as Alex Carlos
  • Jim Webb as Jim Spooner
  • Murray Harman as Murray Smith

Call Centre

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  • Kirsty Lee Allan as Leanne Murdoch
  • Renzo Bellato as Renzo Ballini
  • Maret Archer as Doreen Ballini
  • Elle Dawe as Elle Whick
  • Jan Bakker as Jan
  • Oliver Miletic as Oliver Vlacic (Almost always mistakenly called Darren by Keith)
  • Clarissa Morrison as Clarissa

Loading Dock

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  • Kevin Taumata as Kiwi Kev
  • Aaron McTaggart as JJ
  • Nicholas Moala as Sam
  • Angry Anderson as Aaron "Agro" Smith
  • Stuart Rawe as George Darwin

Guest cast

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  • Mario Fenech as himself
  • Orlando Scolese as Fernando the florist, regular client
  • Dilshan Rain as Vikram Jayasili, Indian dispatch worker
  • Raphael Materese as Momo Gauci, Paul's uncle
  • Waseem Khan as Indian Taxi Driver and Parking Officer
  • Kamahl as Phone store employee
  • Ara Natarian as Omar Azar, Abdul's cousin
  • Russell Gilbert as David Cobbgrove, Sam Cobbgrove, and Scooter Guy
  • Bessie Bardot as Paula Dainty and Reporter
  • Tottie Goldsmith as Andrea Walsh and Fashion Woman
  • John Mangos as News Guy
  • Rob Shehadie as Fadi El Faik and Sharbel the Mechanic
  • Garry Who as Gary Hibbett, the Safety Inspector
  • Krissy Stanley as drunk lady
  • Maria Venuti as Maria Shembry

Filming location

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Swift and Shift's Hashfield Depot was located and filmed at 37-53 Constitution Road, Meadowbank, New South Wales 2114. Hashfield is a fictional suburb, and also the implied location of another Paul Fenech series, Pizza. Some episodes were also in other parts of Australia and in Thailand, India, the United States and the Middle East. The building that Swift and Shift's depot was filmed in has since been demolished.

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1927 October 2008 (2008-10-27)15 December 2008 (2008-12-15)
21015 August 2011 (2011-08-15)17 October 2011 (2011-10-17)

Season 1 (2008)

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No.
overall [6]		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateProd.
code
11"Welcome to Swift and Shift"Paul FenechPaul Fenech27 October 2008 (2008-10-27)1ACX01
It's Leanne Murdoch's first day at the Swift and Shift Courier Company. Keith is given six months to improve his hapless staff and his couriers lose the National Rugby League grand final trophy.
22"The Polar Bear Suit"Paul FenechPaul Fenech3 November 2008 (2008-11-03)1ACX02
Mario and Luigi borrow a polar bear suit needed for a stage show and Keith clashes with the regional manager after the twins road rage Amanda.
33"Management Training"Paul FenechPaul Fenech10 November 2008 (2008-11-10)1ACX03
Amanda and Keith have to choose management trainees from the helpless and inept staff of Swift and Shift.
44"Sexy Package"Paul FenechPaul Fenech17 November 2008 (2008-11-17)1ACX04
The new efficiency managers crash the entire communications system and Mario delivers a realistic looking sex doll to the bush.
55"The Rocket Ride"Paul FenechPaul Fenech24 November 2008 (2008-11-24)1ACX05
Mario hijacks a children's rocket ride and scooter.
66"The Dead Body (Pt. 1)"Paul FenechPaul Fenech1 December 2008 (2008-12-01)1ACX06
Mario and Melissa have to go overseas to get a soldiers body for a publicity stunt for the company and are stopped in Thailand. (This episode is not included on the Season 1 DVD).
77"The Dead Body, (Pt. 2)"Paul FenechPaul FenechUnaired1ACX07
Mario and Melissa arrive in Egypt and get in a dodgy cab being driven by Rob Shehadie (Rocky) and Tahir Bilgic (Habib) from Pizza, who attempt to steal the soldier's ashes. (This episode did not air on SBS due to a similarity to Jake Kovco, and is not included on the Season 1 DVD).
88"The Safety Inspector"Paul FenechPaul Fenech8 December 2008 (2008-12-08)1ACX08
The depot is under scrutiny after David the Dwarf calls a safety inspector to Keith's depot. Abdul wants to kill the dispatchers after being bitten by a dog.
99"A Swifty Shifty Xmas"Paul FenechPaul Fenech15 December 2008 (2008-12-15)1ACX09
Amanda wants to fire Keith at the Xmas party and Mario starts a war with a road safety worker.

Season 2 (2011)

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No.
overall [7]		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
101"Indians"Paul FenechPaul Fenech15 August 2011 (2011-08-15)
The company as it exists is threatened by a new business plan to outsource staff to India for cheaper labour. Meanwhile, Mario must chase a bicycle-riding package thief all through the city to retain his job.
112"Big Box"Paul FenechPaul Fenech22 August 2011 (2011-08-22)
To teach Jim and the Indian drivers a lesson the Hashfield boys decide to box Jim up while he is asleep and book the Indians to deliver him to head office.
123"Valentine's Day"Paul FenechPaul Fenech29 August 2011 (2011-08-29)
A busy day at the depot – Anthony lets a cat loose, Amanda and Murray accidentally end up on a date together and Melissa finally agrees to a cup of coffee with Mario.
134"Police"Paul FenechPaul Fenech5 September 2011 (2011-09-05)
The Couriers attend a retraining course and Mario and Habib prank Murray, by dressing up as police.
145"Medical"Paul FenechPaul Fenech12 September 2011 (2011-09-12)
Swift & Shift have taken on a medical delivery contract with the government, which sees Mario and Abdul teaming up on some highly contagious deliveries.
156"Birthday"Paul FenechPaul Fenech19 September 2011 (2011-09-19)
It's Keith's Birthday and the boys have organised a stripper for him while head office have a harassment counsellor coming in to interview some of the staff.
167"Unlicensed"Paul FenechPaul Fenech26 September 2011 (2011-09-26)
Amanda threatens to fire any of Keith's couriers with less than two points on their licence, when the list comes through - Amanda's name is on it.
178"Snow"Paul FenechPaul Fenech3 October 2011 (2011-10-03)
It's the social club ski trip at Swift & Shift and Mario uses it as an opportunity to get Melissa back.
189"Wedding (Pt. 1)"Paul FenechPaul Fenech10 October 2011 (2011-10-10)
Mario and a pregnant Melissa travel to Las Vegas to tie the knot, Oliver quits so he can have time off to get married, and stuff ups at the depot abound.
1910"Wedding (Pt. 2)"Paul FenechPaul Fenech17 October 2011 (2011-10-17)
While the staff are being forced to attend Oliver's wedding, Keith is sneaking into the Swift & Shift board meeting in a last-ditch attempt to save the depot and shame Amanda.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Knox, David (18 September 2008). "Summer on SBS". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  2. ^ "Swift and Shift Couriers". Screen Australia. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  3. ^ Mercado, Andrew (12 October 2008). "Get set for a new slice of Pizza". The Sunday Telegraph.
  4. ^ http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2256973226526&oid=38670494277&comments [user-generated source]
  5. ^ Marcus, Caroline (10 February 2008). "Melissa to recapture some street cred". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  6. ^ "Swift and Shift, Season 1 Episodes", SBS. Retrieved on 3 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Swift and Shift, Season 2 Episodes", SBS. Retrieved on 3 September 2014.
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