The Dame Edna Treatment - Episode 5 Review

Hello, Possums! Hello darlings!

How the time is flying - we're already to episode 5 in what thankful non-entities all over the country are calling Dame Edna's triumphant, ground-breaking, and life-altering return to our previously dull TV screens - The Dame Edna Treatment !

What a great time we've been having with Australia's gigastar/housewife! Clearly, the press couldn't agree more. The Telegraph's TV magazine writes "Edna has been in formidable form throughout this comeback run; time (even this much time) hasn't mellowed her a bit." And aren't we a grateful bunch of Possums for that!


At this point in the series, Dame Edna's juices are really flowing, and her adoring audiences are lapping it up (if you'll excuse the expression...)!

In treatment at Spa Edna this week were superstar Susan Sarandon, Ian McShane, Rod Stewart's little mite Kimberly, and singing diva Dame Shirley Bassey. Fabulous!

The show got off to an hilarious start when we discovered Valmai, looking suitably hideous in a 'nightclub' outfit, trying to sneak out of the spa for a night on the town with Kimberly. Edna aborted this plan immediately, with a scene that really defies explanation...suffice it to say that Valmai was given a ground level security sweep with a mirror, and either the mirror was cracked, or she was attempting to go out 'commando'....oh dear! It was truly hysterical!

First on the couch was little Ian McShane who's show Edna kept thinking was called 'Driftwood' (aka 'Deadwood'), has been a huge hit stateside. Edna's gentle probing of little Ian was thorough, to say the least. She adores Ian, and told him "You're attractive, but in a funny way...not to me!". She went on to say that he reminded her of her late husband Norm: "When I look at you and close my eyes, I can see Norm....and yet if I open them...you're nothing like him at all!" Classic Edna!


This gorgeous session of caring and sharing also revealed that Ian had dipped his toes into the world of popular music some years ago. With typical sensitivity to a subject Ian might have found embarrassing, she produced a record album he recorded in the 80s, asking "Do you remember when albums were this size?" She told us it was one of the few that actually sold, and that they found that copy at a 'Help the Aged' shop....but she meant it nicely, I'm sure!

Next up was Hollywood superstar Susan Sarandon. This was a fun interview! With 4 films coming out in the future, Dame Edna theorised as to the secret behind Susan's success: "...while other actresses are busy having reconstruction and surgery...you've let nature take it's course and you have vacuumed up all the mature parts!" She meant it in a caring way, of course! Heaping further praise (in her own gentle style) she added, "I like your face more now than I did in your earlier films....because I've got used to it!"

Dame Edna also had a fabulous surprise up her (Kenny Everage original) sleeve for little Susan, in the form of Richard O'Brien - creator of the Rocky Horror Show! For old time's sake, Richard got Susan and the whole studio up to do a little 'Time Warp'ing. Apparently Valmai loves doing the 'Time Warp' in her room...which is why Dame Edna has had to have her house underpinned!

The icing on the cake of this delicious show was, of course, the performance by Shirley Bassey! In addition to singing her Bond-styled new single, she also wowed us with a duet of "Big Spender" with Edna!


Dame Edna introduced this show-stopping finale in typically humble fashion telling us: "It's the moment you've all been waiting for. It's the biggest Dame in show business, and she's back...and thank goodness I am! And accompanying me tonight is that other Dame - adorable Shirley Bassey." Quite right, too!

This was a gorgeous night on the tele, Possums! International glamour, in-depth probing, and the sage widsom of an international guru and gigastar. Can't wait for next week, my darlings! See you then!!!