The little known Aussie TV show everyone should watch
If you haven’t already seen an episode of the ABC’s You Can’t Ask That, you’ll definitely want to in a few moments. It’s a shining beacon in the Australian TV landscape of reno shows, cooking shows, relationship shows and endless other reality programs, and we’re going to explain why you – and everyone else in the country – need to watch it.
If you’ve ever had to bite your tongue to stop yourself asking something potentially offensive or comprehensive, this is the show for you. Each episode gathers Australians from marginalised or misunderstood groups and lets the public submit the questions they’ve always wanted to ask – and nothing is off limits.
The show’s first season starred guests including short-statured people, wheelchair users, Muslims, sex workers and terminally ill people. Imagine the most controversial question you could ask these people – chances are, that very question was posed to them on You Can’t Ask That.
Understandably, it wasn’t a walk in the park for the creators to find willing participants at first. “Last year it was really hard to get people to do the show,” producer Kirk Docker told Junkee. “I think once – this year in particular – everyone saw the care in which it was put together, people realised we’re not out to trick anyone.
“We’re not out to make people say something they don’t want to say. We genuinely want to hear what people think. We want people to look at these issues and go ‘right, this is complex’.”
In an age of constant debates about what is and what isn’t politically correct, You Can’t Say That deals with tough issues like refugees, ice addiction and homelessness in a refreshing way while still allowing viewers to form their own opinions.
“For us, we’re not just showing one side or the other or saying anything is right or wrong,” Docker explains. “There are just eight people [per episode] talking from their own perspective. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they don’t agree. These things are not just about having one answer for things. There’s no one way we should think about homeless people, or how we should think about children with same-sex parents.”
Give the show a try and we guarantee you’ll be as hooked as we are. Head over to ABC iview to watch every episode. If you’re not sure where to start, our picks for the most powerful episodes are “Terminally Ill” and “Transgender” from season one and “Facial Difference” and “Down Syndrome” from season two.
Have you watched You Can’t Ask That before? What did you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.