MEET THE MAVERICKS
MEET THE MAVERICKS, ABC TV in April (see individual dates below). Photography - above Leah Purcell and Miranda Tapsell.
If you have enjoyed Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery – and how could you not? – then chances are you’ll be in the market for this new series. As the ABC’s own description succinctly goes: “Meet The Mavericks pairs guests from different generations and fields who have aspects of their work or areas of interest in common.”
There are five shows in the series and it kicks off tonight, Tuesday, April 12, 10pm with Ben Quilty and Warwick Thornton: Archibald-winning painter and 2011 official war artist in Afghanistan Quilty meets filmmaker and director Thornton (Samson and Delilah) who is now moving into the art world. Their conversation covers masculinity, racism, using art to make a statement, and a bond through their mutual love of cars.
The second is on Tuesday, April 19, 10pm and the pairing is an intriguing
Grayson Perry and Magda Szubanski. He’s the UK’s Turner prize-winning ceramicist, cross-dresser and artist- provocateur (major exhibition still on at the MCA) and he meets comedian, actor and writer Szubanski to discuss art, comedy, therapy, shedding alter egos and the meaning of “daggy” and “cool”.
Episode three is illustrated above and on Tuesday, April 26, 10pm puts together Leah Purcell and Miranda Tapsell. Actor, playwright, director and mentor Purcell and double-Logie award winning actor Tapsell discuss boxing, acting and their respective journeys from small home towns into the hearts and living rooms of the nation. (Purcell’s first big success was, of course, Box The Pony, a show that pitted her against a great big punch bag.)
Fourth in the series on Tuesday, May 3, 10pm has Phillip Adams and Tim Minchin: The former is a pioneering ad-man, a late night radio host and someone who never fails to remind anyone listening that he was the godfather of the Australian film industry. By way of contrast he meets up with hilariously witty comedian, actor, composer and atheist Minchin to discuss life, art, cultural identity and religion.
And finally, Tuesday, May 10, 10pm it’s Jon Ronson and John Safran. Journalist and raconteur Ronson (The Psychopath Test, Men Who Stare at Goats, So You've Been Publicly Shamed) is paired with fellow Gonzo mischief maker Safran (Murder in Mississippi, Race around the World, Race Relations) to compare notes on the dangers of meeting conspiracy theorists and joining the KKK; not sure whether they get to talk about Ray Martin.
