Here's the story, sonny Jim... and I swear, every word is true...

March 21, 2023 5:26 PM

It was the 90's. The Australian Prime Minister had begun a program to increase the amount of distinctly Australian media. The Australian Children's Television Foundation embarked on an Australian-French co-production that couldn't possibly work - a show about Elvis without his likeness, his surname or a single Elvis song, costing $11.5 million, and made by people with no experience with production on that scale. The result? RUN THE THEME SONG! This is L'il Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers, and you can watch the whole thing here (playlist is missing episode 4). (article 1, article 2)
posted by BiggerJ (12 comments total)

the show seems fine. it's hard for me to understand what they're saying, tho, not because of the accents but because the voice track is so low in the mix. ty for posting.
posted by SomethingSomethingBurtWard at 6:16 PM on March 21, 2023

Yeah nah yeah, 's a fair cop, mate.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:41 PM on March 21, 2023

The theme song's lyrics:

To a Flaming Star on a desert night
In a Cadillac of golden light
On a floor by a truck stop door he left a prize

A rock and roll surprise for Len and Grace
A little baby boy in a guitar case
The new mum and dad could hardly believe their eyes

And, as the Caddy vanished into the night, I was sure we'd been touched by... the King!

So they called me Li'l Elvis
And Mum reckons I'm the son of the King
A-Li'l Elvis-uh
I was born with the gift to sing

So with Janet and Lionel we made a band
Spreadin' Didge-billy music across the land
The Truckstoppers
And Li'l Elvis Jones
posted by BiggerJ at 6:49 PM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

And I've just discovered that while Elvis never came to Australia in real life, his golden Caddy did.
posted by BiggerJ at 6:57 PM on March 21, 2023

Elvis really is everywhere.
posted by Token Meme at 7:04 PM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

So Elvis threw a baby out of a Cadillac in a truckstop parking lot? There is so much going on here.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:03 PM on March 21, 2023 [4 favorites]

Australia is amazing (pejorative).
posted by grobstein at 8:29 PM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

Abehammerb Lincoln: The theme doesn't even mention the greedy billionaire, the supposedly haunted mines, or the mysterious chemical element controllable by human thoughts.
posted by BiggerJ at 8:43 PM on March 21, 2023 [3 favorites]

Australian kitsch culture and Elvis have a special intersection, possibly best demonstrated by the Parkes Elvis Festival.

"Recognised as one of the top three Festivals and Events in Australia, the Festival attracts 25,000 fans with a global reach of 479 million. Held every year in the second week in January, coinciding with Elvis Presley's birthday, the 2024 Festival will be held 10-14 January and will celebrate its 31st year."

Parkes' population is around 15,000, and its about 350km/a four and a half hour drive west of Sydney.

Speaking of the 1960s, Parkes is also notable as the home of The Dish.

Back on Li'l Elvis, here's a story from 2022 about it's 25th anniversary.
posted by jjderooy at 10:02 PM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]

Domestic local content television rules and cocaine have so much to answer for
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 10:36 PM on March 21, 2023

as Australian as possible under the influence?
posted by away for regrooving at 11:06 PM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Australian Prime Minister had begun a program...

I (a US person) have never been able to take the Australian government seriously since I learned about this.
posted by neuron at 12:07 PM on March 22, 2023 [1 favorite]