ABC’s suite of factual programs propel often-marginalised people and subjects into the mainstream.
Debate about what ABC TV should or shouldn’t be doing is constant. It has passionate supporters, fierce detractors and a decent-sized contingent of fitful grumblers in between. But whatever wisdom they have to offer about the ABC’s role and duties, the national broadcaster has clearly decided that what it should be doing is a generous proportion of light-entertainment and “factual” programs.
The subjects are Sam Neill, Hamish Blake, Prime Minster Anthony Albanese, Delta Goodrem, Adam Goodes and Amanda Keller. And the rules of engagement are announced at the start of each session: “No subject is out of bounds, no question is off the table and anything might happen.” A welcome statement adds, “This is a safe space, everyone can relax and be themselves. There will be no judgment. Please do what you need to join in, for example, fidget, move, take a break.
Bethany describes the goal of the interviews as being “to get behind the spin to find the real person”, and the potent underlying truth of the exercise is that a left-field approach to this task might be an advantage: the questions can be disarming, but not in a predatory, “gotcha” way. The interviewees frequently marvel, “Wow, that’s a great question”, to the extent that it starts to sound a bit cliched.
Given the anything-goes rule, it’s particularly surprising to see the prime minister in the third episode as this isn’t the kind of environment where we generally see politicians. Maybe it’s a sign of Albo’s confidence, or maybe it’s an indication of the kinds of assurances that preceded his agreement to participate. Maybe he wanted to give it a go, as French President Emmanuel Macron appeared in the original series.
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