They say there’s a grain of truth in every joke, and while Micallef might be poking fun, it increasingly seems that the ABC believes that to be the case.

Outside the recent addition of Monday’s Experts, a sports entertainment show hosted by Tony Armstrong and Catherine Murphy, and Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee featuring comedians Aaron Chen and Guy Montgomery, the ABC’s comedy line-up is a roster of familiar faces.

Tom Gleeson on Hard Quiz (plus new Hard Quiz Kids), Wil Anderson on Gruen, Charlie Pickering on The Weekly and Adam Hills on Spicks & Specks. The freshest of these shows (Hard Quiz) has been on for eight years. The oldest (Spicks & Specks) will turn 20 next year.

Speaking to this masthead following the announcement of the 2024 line-up, the ABC’s chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, discussed the need to back shows that are innovative, edgy, or provide a space for new talent to develop.

“Public broadcasters have to take risks,” Oliver-Taylor said. “We just need to make sure that we never forget our public broadcaster obligations as well.”

That’s an obligation that must extend to everyone, though, not just the rusted-on audience.

‘I’ve had discussions with the ABC about running a mentor program … I think it could help young comedians.’

Shaun Micallef

The ABC has been bleeding young people for more than a decade now. It’s lost its connection to Millennials; it barely has a connection to Gen Z. By doubling down on giving its longest-serving contributors more opportunities, it seems to be saying it knows this and doesn’t have much of a plan to fix it.

Ironically, one person who may have a plan is Micallef. I spoke to him on the Logies red carpet last year following his departure, and he was quick to address the need for the ABC to nurture fresh talent.

“I’ve had discussions with the ABC about running a mentor program using the years I had under my belt from Mad As Hell. I think it could help young comedians,” he said. “I’ve put my hand up, and I’ve offered to do it for free, so we’ll see.”

All we can see now, though, is that the lack of “bright young talent” is being treated as a punchline rather than a priority. Considering the broadcaster is supposed to be for all of us, that doesn’t feel good enough.

If you’re a young person looking to engage with the ABC, the obvious question remains: why isn’t anyone talkin’ ’bout my generation?

Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.

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