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Brought to you by Working Dog Productions (Frontline, The Panel and Thank God You’re Here), The Hollowmen is a modern day “Yes Minister” for Australians. From The Hollowmen’s website: The Hollowmen

The Hollowmen is a comedy-drama set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a special think tank set up by the Prime Minister to help with the most important job of all – getting re-elected.

Their brief is “long term vision”; to stop worrying about tomorrow’s headlines, and focus on next week’s.

The episodes are fast paced and when they finish I’m left looking at my watch wondering where the last half hour went, always the sign of an excellent show that leaves me wanting more. I have been known to watch the episodes twice a week and again on the internet.

Juggling the balancing act between the Public Service and the Prime Minister,

Fan’s of Yes Minister remember Sir Humphrey’s manipulation of the Minister (and then Prime Minister) to achieve the best outcomes for the Public Service despite the efforts of the Minister to gain re-election.

We don’t vote for them, we don’t even know their names and we’re not quite sure what they do. But they wield enormous influence. They are the power behind the power. They are The Hollowmen

For political fans The Hollowmen doesn’t disappoint. Recent episodes have tackled such issues as a budget without a centerpiece, a “blippy dip” in the Prime Minister’s appearance and a recruiting drive for the defence force in light of negative publicity.

While researching for this post I came across the T.S. Elliot poem “The Hollow Men”

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang but a whimper. T.S. Elliot – The Hollow Men

The Hollowmen screens on ABC1 at 9:00pm Wednesday, and ABC2 at 8:30pm Thursday.