talkin' 'bout Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation

While we’ve been away it would seem that Channel 10 has gone and turned itself into a real life television network. Sure, Channel 9 falling apart always helps with that, but would you look at Channel 10 making real life actual hits that get real life actual ratings.

Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation is currently the biggest show on 10 and its ratings don’t look to be flagging anytime soon. So in the name of research (it’s always in the name of research...) we checked out the first episode.

First off I have to tell you what it’s about: it’s a panel show in a quiz format all about pop culture from different generations. The three “teams” consisting of two people, one captain and somebody new each episode make up three different “generations”. Baby Boomers. Generation X. Generation Y. There’s a host. They ask questions. Tell jokes. You know... it’s a panel show.

Reviewing the first episode of a panel show is a tough task. For one, it’s not like you can really base your judgement on how much you like the sets, and for two it’s not like the segments or the questions are of any real importance.

So all you can really base your opinion on is the personalities behind the desk... and again with panel shows familiarity breeds love so me thinking that Myf Warhurst is a bit of a dunce means nothing to a person who’s learnt to love the girl after like a billion Spicks & Specks episodes.

Let me try my best though:

Shaun Micallef.

Okay. This was pretty much a gimme. I’ve been a Micallef fan since The Micallef Pogram – you want to know how much of a Micallef fan I am? I watched ALL of Welcher & Welcher AND ALL of Micallef Tonight. I know. That’s dedication.

I don’t even think Francis Greenslade sat through the last couple of Welcher & Welcher episodes...

So Micallef as host – I’m on board. What about the ‘team captains’:

Amanda Keller is the captain of the Baby Boomers. Okay. So this is pretty much a given as well. Go all the way back to the Triple M Breakfast Show with Andrew Denton & Amanda Keller and there’s me tuned in every morning. Remember her show about pop culture Mondo Thingo? No. Well, I do.

And the big gimme: I used to work with Amanda... by which I mean I did volunteer work at the radio station and my desk was two desks away from hers. We said hi sometimes. I know. Please put your jealousies in writing.

Charlie Pickering is the captain of the Gen Xers. I always thought Charlie was on Skithouse but I think it may just be because he looks exactly like the half dozen other Australian comedians who WERE on Skithouse. Anyway when every answer I called out at the television was followed by a BZZ and Charlie Pickering giving the same answer I knew we had something.

I was like ‘Charlie Pickering is me... only you know, on television.’

And then there’s Josh Thomas as the captain of the Gen Y’s. You may remember Josh Thomas from his appearance as the captain of the Gen Y team on Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation. A young man whose main claim to fame is that he’s a comedian young enough as to not look the same age as Charlie Pickering.

Josh Thomas came across as awkward, I later YouTubed some of his stand up and it turns out that’s basically his whole act. Be awkward. Again I can’t really just come out and say the weird awkward host was my least favourite because who knows a season later I may learn to love the guy... I mean people like Alan Brough now don’t they?

So I give them points for Micallef, Pickering & Keller and take away points for Thomas only because I’d never seen the guy before in my life and quite frankly was embarrassed that the man elected to represent our generation on television appeared as though he’d get nervous trying to button a shirt.

What’s that then? Three out of four? Enough for me to catch the second episode? Definitely. Enough for me to never miss a week? Probably not.

Good, Average, Bad or Ugly?
Average