Series Directed by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Jane Kennedy
Starring Santo Cilauro, Tim Ferguson, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy
Rated PG
Score 6/6

In an effort to combat growing crime, the police developed an elite new team – a team that would speak the language of the streets. Young, hip, in touch with the ‘now’ generation. Together they are Funky Squad!

I was very surprised to stumble across Funky Squad on Google Play (for the record I have vague memories of watching this at some point in the late 90’s). I was very surprised to learn that supposedly each episode was made on a budget of just $1,000 and for those of you who might be familiar with Australian Television Series Funky Squad was one of the first ever series made by Working Dog Productions.

If you’re after a hard-hitting police procedural, Funky Squad isn’t for you. Funky Squad is a light-hearted spoof of 1970’s cop shows, that could not be more cliched if it tried. While watching the 7 episodes of Funky Squad, I found that they where very cringeworthy. But that being said I have to explain that it wasn’t a bad cringe, watching Funky Squad gave me those warm and fuzzy nostalgic feelings that we all love so much. There is so much to love about this show, such as that Santo Cilauro, Tim Ferguson, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy and Barry Friedlander were all playing characters who were played by “actors” whose “names” were displayed in the opening credits of the program. That the conclusion of each episode was so predictable and the reoccurring explanations of why Tom Gleisner’s character Poncho was a mute.