The serious origins of Mardi Gras fun

What is now a cavalcade of colourful and outrageous outfits began as a protest against discrimination, police harassment and the laws still on the books that made homosexuality a crime.

On the night of June 24, 1978, hundreds gathered in Oxford Street for the protest - having gained approval from the relevant authorities.

On June 24 that was revoked and so the police went in and broke it up, arrested 53 people.

Some of the coverage of the protest made it to TV but, what the Sydney Morning Herald did was much worse.

Shockingly, the Herald chose to publish the full names of those arrested on the front page - effectively outing them to their family, friends and employers.

It was an awful decision in an era where being gay was still a crime. To its credit, the paper apologised in 2016.

Fortunately these days, the Mardi Gras focus is more on party than police.

This year's festival sees a return to Oxford Street after COVID restrictions saw it staged in the Sydney Cricket Ground with limited tickets sold.

Is there really an audience out there crying out to see middle-aged men dress up as Elton John and sing one of his tunes?

Someone in TV land thinks there is and they created this weird show.

It features four teams - each made up of three people. Each team is there to perform a cover of a famous singer.

But it doesn't stop there. They also have to get dressed up like the famous singer.

Do they win because they look the most like the singer or because of their singing? I don't know.

I do know that, for a show about people singing, we don't really get much of that.

Each of the three contestants on a team all get the standard "reality TV introduction" - like we actually care at all about their lives.

Then, when the celeb they're copying is revealed, we get to see no fewer that six images of them.

You know, just in case you have no idea what Elton John looked like.

All of that takes long than it does for each member of the team to sing their bit of the song.

If you feel like watching this (and I'd advise against it) maybe tape it so you can then fast-forward your way through all that crap.

If you're going to give someone a TV show, it helps that they can actually do it.

That's the problem with Francis Bourgeois - who is one of those people who become internet-famous. What does he do on the internet? Well, after sitting through this rubbish, I don't care.

The kid is so awkward and uncommunicative that guest trainspotter Aisling Bea has to effectively take control of the show.

It's not really an interview show. Nor is it one that covers trainspotting in any detail. So, it's hard to understand why this show needs to exist at all.

It's cringe-worthy television. Don't waste your time.

Reviews by Glen Humphries