Shaun Micallef
Host of Talkin' 'bout Your Generation
Spawned in the city of serial killers and churches in 1962, Shaun Patrick Micallef’s beginnings as a motor insurance lawyer provided the perfect grounding for comedy.
Expertly equipped to handle a room full of competitive, snarling egomaniacs engaged in petty one-upmanship and point scoring, he is now the irreverent and slightly crazy host of TVs Talkin’ Bout Your Generation.
Auspicious comedy beginnings on Theatre Sports (1987), The Big Gig (1989) and Jimeoin (1994) led to Micallef joining the cast of sketch show Full Frontal (1994-96), where he created popular characters Milo Kerrigan, Nobby Doldrums and a send-up of Italian male model Fabio.
But Shaun’s own shows awaited – ABC TV’s award-winning The Micallef Program (1998-2001), sitcom Welcher & Welcher (2003) and the variety show Micallef Tonight (2003). Two Logies and an ARIA later, and in 2007-08 Micallef turned his hand to current affairs in the ‘squint-and-you’ll-think-it’s-real’ world news regurg with oblique editorial, funny voices and music hall characterizations – Newstopia – for SBS.
Having trodden the boards on stage, lit up the screen in film (Bad Eggs, The Honorable Wally Norman, The Extra) and TV (SeaChange, Through My Eyes) and lent his dulcet if somewhat warped tones to radio station Vega in Melbourne, the published author and all round funny guy has cemented himself as one of the most loved faces (and bodies, too) in Australian entertainment.
Now, like an action blockbuster sequel, he’s back – better budgeted than ever – on the best network in the world (of the week) ever: Network Ten. Helming inter-generational fight to the death Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, Micallef promises to be fair, impartial and easily bribed. Believe it. A second series – and a team of jaded and financially desperate production staff – depend on it.