Author, Source Unknown

If you combined the absurdity of Norman Gunston, the surrealism of The Fast Show and added a fair dose of both Peter Sellers sophistication and the macabre, you'd have something that would resemble the award winning Micallef Program (or Pogram as it's been misspelt in the upcoming series). With the third series on the ABC already under way, ex-lawyer and this year's Logie's host Shaun Micallef, has engineered a brilliant career from what he calls "shambolic" structure. With the second series set for video release, fans of the show can relive all the highlights of the first two series which include Roz Hammond leaving a baby on the median strip of a highway. When asked in what direction he sees himself moving after the controversial aforementioned gag, Micallef is at first taken back, before his unmistakable suave vocal cords move into gear.

"I suppose we've done some horrible things to children on the show. Once you leave a baby on a median strip you open a lot of doors. It's probably best to move forward. There's no point in doing gags five years old."

Micallef admits to not watching a lot of comedy, especially while he's writing, however he has been catching up on back episodes of Frasier in between preparations for this year's Logies, having replaced former host Andrew Denton. While dropping in and out of Channel Nine to check out past ceremonies, Micallef is no stranger to TV's so-called 'night of nights', having won last year for Best Comedy Program. Although he doesn't mix in the social circles of many of his media cohorts, given the opportunity who would he most enjoy insulting on national network television?

"A broad vista of people. I don't associate much outside the profession. I don't think Andrew [Denton] does either, however he's been in television a lot longer than I have and knows a few more people. I think it helps to know the person you're insulting".

Playing the dextrous poker faced host to perfection, Micallef has offended and insulted a variety of both real and fictional guests on the program to hilarious effect, including a particular stand out interview with You Am I front man Tim Rogers. Amid the chaos of brilliantly executed sketches and live straight-to-camera monologues are subliminal flash inserts (usually of politicians) which for the uninitiated viewer are quite jolting. One of these features a maniacal looking Peter Costello, grinning into the camera for what seems like an eternity.

"That was taken untampered from The 7.30 Report. Kerry O'Brien was introducing him. He was particularly smug that day. He must have balanced some figures."

Micallef insists that the inserts are added in the editing room to cover for when he fluffs a line, yet they have a far stronger subversive effect than your average post-production time filling technique.

"We know there are a lot of people who tape the show so it gives them an opportunity to rewind back to get the joke.:

Micallef began writing for the stage and cut his teeth on commercial sketch comedy such as Full Frontal before moving to what proved to be a more liberating ABC. When asked what he was able to take away from Full Frontal and what it may have taken from him, he initially mumbles something about his "soul" before giving the question greater consideration.

"Full Frontal taught me about television, which I knew very little about at the time. I had done some things for the Big Gig but my background was mainly stage. At Full Frontal, I started sitting in on editing sessions and soon discovered that television is a completely different beast. My time there was a great educational experience. It was an ensemble cast and I enjoyed working with a lot of the people there. The show was hit and miss. An hour of sketch comedy is too much, no matter what program. Full Frontal had some genuinely funny sketches, yet I prefer working from the outset with something that establishes a tone that you stick to for half an hour."

Apart from his TV series and Logie duties, Micallef also appears in the high rating SeaChange, as Warwick Munroe, Sigrid Thornton's love interest. Asked if he was planning to migrate to the big screen like some of his counterparts, he confessed an attraction.

"I think everyone in TV has a script in a drawer they've been working on forever. I've got a couple of ideas I like, but they're not necessarily comedy. Movies like the Wog Boy, The Castle and The Dish have been quite successful but I'm not sure if my work would appeal to an audience as wide as that. One of the ideas I had involved the Devil and God meeting in this sort of Armageddon game show which I suppose was more a sketch. My ideas tend to be TV ideas."

Thanks to Damian Vine for the original transcription for the original “Micallef” website.