Appetite For Destruction

Shaun Micallef’s Eve of Destruction is an extremely basic talk show. Kind of like Enough Rope, if Enough Rope hadn’t tried to make its guests cry each week. That said, this is only week one of Micallef’s return to the ABC: there’s still plenty of time to turn on the waterworks.

On a massive night for Australian comedy – four new shows and don’t worry, eventually we’ll get to all of them – Eve of Destruction is the one that seems least likely to get big laughs. Or any laughs at all: we did mention it’s a proper chat show? Not one of those scripted comedy interviews from Mad as Hell? Real guests, real questions, real chairs, and not a desk in sight.

And this first episode proved to be something of a slow burn. First guest Stephen Curry was a little wary. The show’s big gimmick – if your house was about to be destroyed, what item(s) would you save? – seemed light on potential laughs. Micallef and Curry clearly had a connection, but where things were going was up in the air.

If it had continued that way, it probably would have been fine. It might star Shaun Micallef, but it’s still a no budget chat-show on the ABC. And it makes sense that Micallef would want to recalibrate expectations after going all-in on comedy for a decade with Mad as Hell. Time to get used to a kinder, gentler Shaun. He’s got a travel documentary series coming up on SBS, that’s probably not going to be laugh-a-minute stuff.

But then things started to get funny. Micallef and Curry started pulling out the face pulling; answers spiraled in on themselves. By the end of the first interview, the dial had been turned to “pretty funny comedy chat”. Then in something of a twist, the kid from Boy Swallows Universe turned out to have a few decent gags too.

That interview was probably more of a reason to relax as far as future episodes go. Curry and Micallef are already an established double act (or were a decade or more ago when they toured a stage show). Felix Cameron was a legit celebrity (of sorts) interview, and a young one at that. Micallef kept things on track, kept his guest from going over the top, and managed to both get some interesting answers and some good laughs out of the whole thing.

While we’d happily tune in each week to see Micallef chat to various comedy luminaries, fat chance of that. This’ll mostly be a collection of (local) name brand actors and celebrities. What we’re left hoping for? They’ll be ones Micallef has worked with over the years and can generate some decent banter with.

Despite our initial reservations, if the following seven episodes are as good as the first this’ll be time well spent. Even if we’ll be wishing Micallef was spending his time on scripted comedy instead.

Hang on, we just found the description of the episode set to air September 11. Set your VCRs!