The guests certainly did their bit to make it work. Shaun Micallef was,as always,funny,urbane,self-deprecating and quick-witted. He knew when to ad-lib and when to leave space for others to talk. He even had a book to promote,which he did without ever looking like he was doing it. He was,in other words,precisely the sort of talent any chat show desperately needs,even if he (presumably inadvertently)added fuel to the fire of complaints about the lack of opportunities for less seasoned talent on the broadcaster by noting he had called time onMad As Hell after 10 years because he “wanted to give the microphone over to someone younger”.
Dr Richard Harris – Harry to his mates – was more of a surprise package. The anaesthetist and diver who played a pivotal role in the rescue of the 13 young Thai soccer players from a cave four years ago was able to articulate the fears and self-doubt his actions had stirred in him,both anticipating the rescue bid and after its success,with terrific clarity.
Kirsten Banks,astrophysicist and “galactic archaeologist”,spoke briefly about the ways Indigenous culture and science can overlap,but it was a theme worth so much more than the cursory and superficial treatment it received.
And therein lies the show’s biggest problem:at 30 minutes,it’s just too damned short.
House band the Fanatics introduced the host and each of the guests,and then closed out the show – that’s five short musical stings. That and three guests is a lot to fit into half an hour. For better or worse,it left no room for the gimmicks,gags or lengthy anecdotes that are the hallmark of the modern chat show.
As things rattled along,the edits were occasionally choppy,segues from one topic to another abrupt,questions dangled,answers were truncated. It’s as if the program had taken to heart the old adage about always leaving the audience wanting more,but not in a particularly helpful way.