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Micallef in his own skin

Shaun Micallef talks to TV Tonight about Logies, his new panel show on TEN, hopes for a new comedy and even, yes even, a possible return for NEWStopia.

micallefShaun Micallef doesn’t mind that his new show, Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation, may have to iron out a few wrinkles along the way.

“I like wrinkles,” he told TV Tonight. “It’s something that gives character. I like being 47 years old and having a face that looks like it’s laughed a bit. I’m very comfortable with that. I think the natural drape or fold of a particular show for a particular night with a particular audience and a particular guest is extraordinarily valuable. Having it tightened and exact is slick and easy but a little less interesting to watch.

“I always compare a photograph of the Mona Lisa with the actual Mona Lisa and think you’ll probably have more fun looking at the actual Mona Lisa.”

Micallef has carved out a unique role in Australian television as writer, performer, comedian, presenter and sometime actor. More importantly, he’s a name that commands respect for his discerning choices.

He’s also a name that is already being whispered about as a returning Logies host, following criticism of Gretel Killeen. Micallef, who hosted the 2001 Logies, says Killeen should be commended for agreeing to the role and taking risks.

“For many years on Channel Nine they’ve tried to avoid having an actual host. They’ve had three people do it, or many people do it, sharing the blame or responsibility, however you want to look at it, over a number of people. I’m not sure what the solution is, if indeed it needs solving.

“I gotta take off my hat to anyone who just accepts it and takes risks. I’d be hypocritical if I didn’t dip my lid to anyone who didn’t take a risk. Nothing ventured…

“I like taking risks myself. I commend people for jumping off the cliff and seeing what happens. I just think that makes television interesting when it can be a little bit formulaic.”

With Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation (a title even he says he’s coming to terms with), the show represents a more regular role on commercial television.

“I like to think I’ve never officially left it. Even when I was doing radio I was doing Thank God You’re Here and contributing to the drama slate on Channel TEN with Blackjack. But in terms of fronting a show it’s been a while.”

His last regular on-air role was on SBS’ NEWStopia, a project that Micallef, TEN and SBS were all agreeable to continuing this year. But when schedules conflicted it had to be shelved, bumping SBS plans for a newer 8:30pm slot, including with a live audience.

NEWStopia is not on this year because of a clash, and I’m hopeful that we can have it back next year,” he hinted.

“One of the things I wanted to talk to them about was a series on Inspektor Herring. I think it would be an exciting thing to do and they could run it after Inspector Rex. I reckon that would work really well.

“I loved that show, and I loved working with the cast and the writers and it’s sort of where I live in terms of me doing exactly what my sense of humour is. Generation is a different part of me, the performer part that sometimes doesn’t need a script.”

Micallef also wants to do more work with NEWStopia performer, and Silver Logie winner Kat Stewart. Both are toying with a new comedy series.

“Kat and I are talking about a grown up sketch show with the two of us in it,” he said. “We keep talking about Mike Nichols and Elaine May. We like the idea of a male and female sketch duo.

“It would be sketches that are character based. It wouldn’t be sketches with a comic premise with punchlines and that sort of stuff. It would be a comic journey. Kat’s such a funny character actress. It’s more like Fry and Laurie, just with a girl playing Laurie.”

Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation airs 7:30pm Tuesdays on TEN.

21 Responses

  1. cheat cheat cheat on 14/7/09 the competition was remove the blocks from the bottom and place them on the top.One of the teams pushed the whole lot down and started again and won the game . That was not the rules of the game
    Why were they not disqualifed .I think it should be mentioned on the next show

  2. Firstly, if anyone has actually read the book Generation X, which began the whole discussion on generations after the baby boomers, they will know that Gen X is all those born in the sixties. President Clinton is a good example of a baby boomer, so George Negus would be closer to a boomer than Amanda Keller. Second, the only clip I’ve seen from this show was a very poor, primary-school-level reference to Stevie Wonder being blind and dancing funny. I was really shocked by that. Although I know Micallef has to make a living.

  3. I love the Herring and the complete randomness of Newstopia, glad to hear it might come back in the future. Keep up the awesome work Shaun!
    OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi

  4. I love the Herring and the complete randomness of Newstopia, glad to hear it might come back in the future. Keep up the awesome work Shaun!

  5. Happy to hear that NewsTopia is not dead in the water, but I am concerned about plans for a live studio audience… Come on Shaun, I don’t need to be prompted when to laugh!

  6. Didnt see the first episode. Did anyone notice Shaun was the only one to make people laph outloud at the Lo-jeez? When he walked up to the podium everyone was attentive and you didnt have that murmering white noise of an uninterested audience like in other anouncemements. I think Newstopia was brillient. Kat Stewart is quite a tallent in comedy. I hope he was not kidding about Herring. I guess this Ten thing will be a little cash cow before he gets to do what he really wants to do but apperently it is quite funny.

  7. Slightly off topic but Shaun also had some nice things to say about passionate TV fans who comment on sites such as this…

    “Anybody who makes a thoughtful comment about television or a film they’ve seen… there’s a lot more wisdom in a lot of that stuff than you’ll find in some executives who just look at ratings and demographics.”

  8. I found this show to be some what annoying. too much punchlines. everyone was trying to get a gag in..

    1. arj barker was a waiste of contestant. he contributed nothing.
    2. ruby rose and that other guy representing the y generation were horrible such an embarrasment.

    if it wasnt actually shaun hosting i wouldnt of waisted my time watching it. it was just bad.

  9. Didn’t mind it, but whats with giving each round or game a pathetic name?? Just call them round 1, 2 or 3 and move on.

    Plus, the jingle for the show is appalling. Re-make it please ten.

  10. I really like unscripted (kinda) MIcallef. But I especially like his new fondness for mispronouncing words (both on the Logies the other night and on this show 🙂

    The show needs better guests – thoughSteve, I disagree about Ruby Rose. She’d be great fun if she was paired with someone who could do more than just their standard comic shtick. Ditto for the very talented Charlie Pickering with an obviously I-don’t-wanna-be-here-and-I’m-gonna-prove-it Arj Barker.

    And aside from the really, really awful tatts, Ruby’s the prettiest thing I’ve seen on the TV for weeks. Makes it worthwhile right there 😀

  11. I was disappointed. I’ll keep watching, because I like the concept, but it was a bit of a mess. There’re too many games, and they aren’t cohesive enough. Games within games…it’s overkill. Keep it simple. And there was too much emphasis on getting the answer right rather than being funny. I don’t watch Buzzcocks or QI to see who gets the most points.

    The questions were far too easy. And Gen Y were terrible. My generation is not that ignorant, I swear.

  12. TBYG was OK. But the TV Tonight review was right about Shaun Micallef being too far away from the guests, it felt to static. Maybe take away Shaun’s desk altogether and have him ask the questions standing up in the middle of that circle or something.
    I second the useless Y Gen members of the panel.
    George Negus looked liked he didn’t want to be there.
    And get rid of the useless pointing device that George Negus used. It’s just a stupid gimmick.

  13. This was a great show, obviously some aspects from Spicks and Specks but I really enjoyed it. Great format, funny, quick and lots of fun. Micallef works well in the hosting role – I’m hoping they will rotate the contestants to keep it interesting week to week.

  14. This show was ok to a point.

    Ruby rose and that guy are the most horrible examples of the y generation. they are just horrible.

    If shaun wasn’t in it I wouldn’t have given it the time of day.

  15. I really enjoyed this last night. Will continue watching. Great to hear of it getting 1.6m viewers – hope it holds. That’ll teach Nine to mess with Shaun Micallef.

  16. I thought TBYG was pretty good but Micallef is the key to the show. He was hilarious last night and without him the show would have been crap. Another great interview David. I hope that sketch show he mentioned gets off the ground.

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