Shaun Micallef's Unemployer

Shaun Micallef made the decision to become a full time comedian when he was 30 years old in 1992. During his career as a comedian he displayed his capabilities justifiably as the greatest Australian comedian ever. These factors attributing to his success included his writing in books and television, hosting lose variety television shows, notably The Micallef Program and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation (TAYG), and hosting satirical comedy shows, specifically Newstopia and Mad as Hell. However, it can be argued that Micallef has been unsuccessful in his created sitcoms, particularly Welcher & Welcher and The Ex-PM.

In 1992, after years as a solicitor, Micallef took a gamble on something he saw as a hobby, comedy writing and acting. After leaving
his duties as a lawyer at age 30, he followed comedy which he thought was “not to be taken seriously”, leaving Adelaide for Melbourne. He obtained his start as a writer on Full Frontal through a friend Gary Mccaffrie. Micallef is also aware of his capabilities as a writer stating “if the shop was closed up tomorrow, and no one wanted me to perform on television, I could probably earn a living as a television writer”. His ability in writing is not just limited to television, but extends to novels. Micallef has written a number of successful books, including Preincarnate, Smithereens, Ahead of the Game, and The President’s Desk. Reviews from readers on the website goodreads rate his books at a high average of 3.73 stars out of five. His books have received many positive comments such as “I didn't really think books could be funny, but this is definitely hilarious”, and “Shaun Micallef is the funniest Australian comedian out there”. His ability as a writer in television and books is just two of the many facets that is the greatest Australian comedian, Shaun Micallef.
Micallef hosted television series which added to his acclaim as Australia's greatest comedian.
Series such as The Micallef Program and Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation (TAYG) were integral to his success. After Full Frontal disestablished in 1997, Micallef ran The Micallef Program between 1998-2001, hosted by Micallef and written by both himself and Gary Mccaffrie. The variety show had Micallef play a far more pedant version of himself as host, conducting scripted interviews, and interacting with the studio audience by holding strange game shows and competitions. The show ran for three seasons, achieving a logie for ‘Most Outstanding Comedy’, standing today as an Australian TV highlight. Additionally, Micallef’s arguably most popular show, aiding his title, was the show TAYG. The show was a variety show with three teams, one for each generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. The show lasted four season, receiving a logie for ‘Best Light Entertainment’. Modestly Micallef claims the success was as “It wasn't just about me, it had Charlie Pickering, Amanda Keller, and Josh Thomas as well”. Micallef also saw that “it wasn't a comedy show in that ‘here’s what I think is funny’... I was in the service of this show...it was something I hopefully brought something to... Hopefully contributing to it's success”. Both award winning comedy variety shows are attributed to Shaun Micallef being the greatest Australian Comedian
ever.

Micallef’s satirical comedy shows Newstopia and Mad as Hell are both contributing factors to his label as Australia's greatest comedian. The successful program on SBS was presented in the style of a news bulletin, by Micallef as news reader, featuring news pieces with on ground reports and in studio scripted interviews played by actors. The series ran for three series between 10 October 2007, to 3 December 2008, cancelled only due to production of TAYG in 2009. The success of the series is seen through such viewers claiming “Newstopia was my favorite show of all time”. Currently Micallef hosts the television series Mad as Hell. The series was awarded a logie for ‘Most Outstanding Comedy’, strongly due to Micallef contribution as host. In the series first 10 episodes the program rated a very impressive 664,000 viewers on the ABC. Both satirical based news programs, one of which was logie winning, were contributors to Shaun Micallef being the greatest Australian comedian ever.

However, Micallef throughout his career has had opportunities to write and act in his own sitcom series.
He first got his chance in 2003 with the program Welcher & Welcher, which focused on the staff on an inept legal firm. The show did not include a laughing track which made it difficult to reach a wider audience, running for only eight episodes. Micallef himself honestly branded that “two of the episodes stink”, and he believed “I don’t think the ABC liked this show”. He stated years after doing Welcher & Welcher that he “could go back and do a sitcom better than I did". Eleven years on and Micallef created the sitcom series The-Ex PM. It can be argued that it was an unsuccessful show, lasting just one season, criticized by analysts, “The Ex-PM shows what happens when a single writer struggles with a solo voice”. Micallef admits "I have done a few things that are lesser than stellar successes”. He goes as far to concede he does not have the skills to create a sitcom, “I can't do everything, I appreciate that I have limited skills”. Unlike such successful comedy sitcoms like Kath and Kim, which received three logies and was viewed by over 2 million viewers each episode. Also, the classic Mother and Son, which ran for ten seasons, receiving four logies. Micallef had many successes during his time as a comedian, but as aforestated he was unsuccessful in sitcoms, almost tarnishing his
name.

Shaun Micallef is Australia's greatest comedian ever, highlighted by the aforementioned factors making him the greatest. When he left litigation for the opportunity of having a career in comedy, he became a full time writer on Full Frontal and published a number of books. Additionally, becoming the greatest Australian comedian, Micallef hosted a number of comedy based television series which added to his title, as well as his time hosting satirical comedy shows Newstopia and Mad as Hell. Yes, Micallef applied himself poorly when creating sitcoms Welcher & Welcher and The Ex-PM, but both failures are unpronounced in relation to his past successes. The majority of Micallef’s résumé is full of success, making the title of Australia's greatest comedian synonymous with Shaun Micallef.