Welcome to the office of COQ! Men's magazine COQ (it's French for rooster) covers all the cutting edge issues important to today's man, fast cars, high-achieving sports people and lots of good looking, scantily clad women, yes all the important stuff.

The eight-part series Stupid Stupid Man, here on its first free-to-air screening, follows the exploits of four blokes who comprise the COQ editorial team and the women who have to work with them. Office life revolves around Carl Van Dyke (Wayne Hope), a middle-aged editor who would rather work at the Bulletin. Van Dyke is fighting to maintain journalistic integrity in the fleshy nether world of lingerie shoots. Meanwhile his team, the charming features writer Nick (Matthew Newton), self-doubting advice columnist Dave (Bob Franklin) and the shy but committed copy boy Ross (Chris Leaney) are struggling for the right to express their blokeyness in an increasingly sensitive society.

While trying to put out a magazine every month, they also contend with their switched on, demanding boss Anne (Leah Vandenberg) and Van Dyke's feisty PA Tina (Sophie Katinis). These guys almost believe the claim that their readers "only buy it for the articles". During the series, this conflict between high ideals and grubby reality will twist these characters increasingly out of shape.

In the first episode Prophylaxis, it's Ross's first day as the new copy boy at COQ magazine. Nick enlists his help to write a thought-provoking article on condoms. Feeling nervous about his impending vasectomy, Van Dyke is also having trouble keeping it discreet from his colleagues.

Advice columnist Dave goes on a date with the work experience girl, who's young enough to be his daughter, and very well could be. Guest stars: Georgie Parker.

Wednesday, 20 February 2008 09:00PM
Repeated on ABC2 on Thursday, February 21 at 9:30pm