Author: Stuart

Recap: Your Gen, August 10th 2011

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TAYG is back! This week’s guests were Todd McKenney (BB), Dave Hughes (Gen X), Kate Miller-Heidke (Gen Y).

First up was Chicken or Egg, guessing which of two similar things came first. Stuart the Meerkat rudely interrupted before a new game “Establishing Shot”, where the teams had to determine the TV show from the opening shot. The timer for “As Quick As” was a sheep being shorn.

The four buttons were all those who lost the 2011 Gold Logie to Karl Stefanovic: Chrissie (Swan), Adam (Hills), Hamish (Blake) and Sean himself – purposely mispelt.

  • Gen X chose Adam, a new game called Media Barren. Headlines had to be created based on historic photos using magnetic words, as well as identifying the year.
  • Gen Y picked Hamish – “Guess the Guest”. Patti Newton inhaled the voice-lowering balloon gases, but Kate was still able to identify her.
  • BB decided on Chrissie, which was “It Could Be Worth” – deciding on what goods would have been worth at the time of their release, and keeping the purchases under-budget.

Stuart burst through the desk to announce the Your Gen topic: “Kings ‘n’ Queens”. The End Game asked the question Which Generation Is Best At… Raising a Barn. The teams were all dressed as Amish people and had to assemble a barn outside. Gen X just beat Gen Y, winning the Maribyrnong High School Quantity Surveying Award from 1974, donated by Cathryn Van Tatenhove.

Micallef with the SSO

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This weekend, the Sydney Symphony is performing the music of US composer John Williams, and Shaun will be presenting it – although he promises to be ”sitting very quietly on a stool”.

John Williams is perhaps best known for composing the score for the Star Wars films, which earned him one of his five Oscars, as well as Jaws, the Harry Potter movies and Jurassic Park.

In an article with The Age/SMH, Shaun also admits he is an “acquired taste” (which makes it all the more better), always changing roles or scripts to suit himself; and reveals that the favourite of his TV show themes is “The Micallef Programme” (which makes a great ringtone).

Spoilers from TAYG Sci-Fi episode

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Well, my hopes came true – Shaun did indeed dress as The Doctor (as in “Doctor Who”) in the upcoming Sci-Fi episode – specifically, the third doctor! Fan Jenn has kindly sent us in a photo.

We also know that Peter Burne will be one of the guests for the episode.

Add your comment if you know any other juicy details for the (half)-season ahead!

TAYG returning August 10th

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The second part of the current series of Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation begins next week. However, the programming oracles at Ten have decided on a new timeslot – Wednesdays at 8:30pm (up against the ABCs biggest rating night), rather than the previous Tuesday or Sunday 7:30 slot.

It should be a very funny series, with the first guests being Todd McKenney (BB), Dave Hughes (Gen X) and Kate Miller-Heidke (Gen Y).

Work by the TAYG Writers

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Along with Shaun, both Stephen Hall and Michael Ward have formed the core writing team for every episode so far of Talkin’ Bout Your Generation.

Stephen might well be remembered for his portrayal of Burt Newton in The King telemovie and Warren in The Hollomen. Both have appeared in roles in Shaun’s other shows.

Both Stephen and Michael are appearing in “Bond-A-Rama” – a re-enactment and celebration of every James Bond movie on stage. It’s on at Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne for a limited time during August.

Also, Michael has compiled the “Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation: Book of Everything Ever”. It contains over 1500 quiz questions, along with a number of dubious ‘facts’ and some re-creations of our favourite games from the show. It’s available from August.

You can read excerpts from the book on Tony Martin’s “Scriveners Fancy” website.

Love for TAYG

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The Age’s Green Guide has today published a list of “50 things we love about TV” – and TAYG is on the list:

SOMETHING for everyone in this delightful blend of nostalgia, trivia and parlour games. There’s the different-yet-complementary comic stylings of three panellists – Amanda Keller, CharliePickering and Josh Thomas – the rotating stable of guests and the unique, almost avant-garde humour of host Shaun Micallef. Add to that a certain indefinable X factor and you have a show that just works.

Read more.

(Note the comments at the bottom of the article, where opinion on Shaun is deeply divided. :S )

Spoilers from TAYG Series 3, Episode 15

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Be warned – some spoilers may follow! Don’t read if you don’t want to know!

Here are the details of the episode I saw taped last week.

In “Episode 15” of Series 3 (which may not air in order) of TAYG, it was indeed Freaky Friday: all four of the usual cast had swapped shoes – literally! Amanda was dressed as and played the role Shaun, Charlie as Amanda, Josh as Charlie and of course – Shaun as Josh! They all looked fantastic, and had a lot of fun sending each other up. Notably Shaun, who tried to imitate Josh’s accent, but it came out more Irish than anything.

The guests were Cornelia Frances (BB), Jimeoin (Gen X) and a You Tuber whose name now escapes me. (Gen Y). The early games were Name That Tee, What’s a Doodle Do (meaning Amanda got to sing the song) and As Quick As. Plenty of questions were asked during the early games; probably a few will be cut from the finished program.

During the four buttons round, “Charlie” (actually Josh) and Jimeoin had to play Chronoloco, arranging different vehicles. After putting the car in spot 6, Josh then reversed it and pointed it at “Shaun” (actually Amanda) and threatened to drive into her desk if she didn’t mark them all correct. Needless to say, this was reshot and isn’t likely to be seen on TV or as a web clip.

(If you zoom in on the photo, you can see Josh as “Charlie” at the front, “Shaun” and “Amanda” near the BB desk and Shaun as “Josh” by the Gen Y desk)

Trust Me is no longer an obvious choice, hidden as one of the games behind the buttons. Gen Y were unlucky enough to pick it, and “Josh” (actually Shaun) was to be the ‘Human Parfait’. Needless to say, everyone delighted in the punishment dished out, and it’s a must see.

The final round involved washing and drying sheets, and the contestants were taken away and blind folded while the game was set-up. But it took a long time for them to actually complete the challenge – I don’t know how they’ll fit it in for broadcast. The real Shaun admitted that listening to the facts which he usually dishes out was actually boring. I won’t tell you who won.

If you have any tales from episodes you have see recently, please email me.