A biting political satire created by former Australian ambassador Brendan Berne has been caught in the crossfire of Donald Trump’s legal warfare against media, illustrating how the chilling effect of litigation is reshaping the entertainment landscape. Berne’s television pilot “Rank,” inspired by his two decades with Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, initially attracted interest from networks and production companies before Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the BBC sent executives running for cover.
Berne, who served as Australia’s ambassador to France from 2017 to 2020, describes his project as “The Thick of It updated for the age of Trump, Truss and Thunberg,” referencing the popular British political comedy series. The 56 year old diplomat resigned from his post in 2020 to relocate to Burgundy with his husband and pursue creative endeavors. After five years of what he calls “the Plodyssey” rather than an Odyssey, the rights reverted to him, allowing production to finally move forward with more provocative scripts that resonated with investors willing to take the risk.
During his diplomatic tenure, Berne achieved notable successes, including persuading French President Emmanuel Macron to make a historic first visit to Australia. He gained widespread French recognition in 2017 when a social media video discussing Franco-Australian relations concluded with him proposing to his Swiss-Australian partner of 11 years, Thomas Marti, following Australia’s marriage equality legislation. Millions viewed the video, leading to an appearance on France’s premier television talk show.
Berne’s experience reflects broader industry concerns about corporate timidity in an era where joke invigilators and sensitivity readers complicate transgressive comedy. As political satire faces unprecedented challenges, the successful completion of the “Rank” pilot signals that some creators and investors remain willing to take creative risks despite the hostile legal climate surrounding political humor.
Leave a comment