★★★★★ 0/5

Time for Young Talent Time again?

With the wave of variety, Johnny Young is in discussions with Network TEN for a revival of Young Talent Time.

35
Leave a comment

yttEverything old is (apparently) new again, with word today that Johnny Young is in discussions with Network TEN for a revival of Young Talent Time.

The family show was a contemporary of the revived Hey Hey it’s Saturday, running on air from 1971 until 1988. Variety is the current buzz word at the moment after Hey Hey’s success and the popularity of A Tribute to Don Lane.

The series, produced and presented by Young, was pivotal to the career starts of Debra Byrne, Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Phillip Gould and Jamie Redfern. Some years ago a documentary produced by John Bowles rated through the roof.

“We’re looking at different ways to do it. Nostalgia will only get you so far. We need a show that will stand on its own feet in 2009-10,” Young told the Herald Sun.

Hoping to produce and be a judge, Perth-based Young says, “YTT gives kids an opportunity to perform with a great band, with the best sets and costumes.”

But such a show would be enormously expensive for TEN, especially if it had a resident ensemble and band. Those production numbers with dedicated costumes could barely be replicated in today’s economic environment, certainly not without some SMS viewer voting to offset costs. The steep price of song rights is another consideration.

The show’s optimism and bonding with the growing ensemble kids was one of its best assets. We surely felt like we were watching them grow up before our eyes. Clearly the wave of love for variety means the time is right to at least conduct conversations, along with a little leveraging in the press.

Somebody get me Simon Townsend and Woodrow on the phone….

Source: Herald Sun

35 Responses

  1. It could do alright considering the lack of decent offerings elsewhere.

    While they are at it Why Not a 21st Century Take on the Comedy Company or the Benny Hill Show for Ten if they want old nostalgia too that might work.

    Here are some other ideas Drop Bold and the Beautiful for a 21st Century Wonderworld.The Soap Fans might get outraged but at least It keeps Mums happy knowing there is something educational and not for little kids out there after school.

  2. Ahh YTT, a revival would be great. I would have thought it was too much from an era that has passed, but I thought the same about Hey, Hey. They could have current neighbours stars and former idols as they’re singing guests. Bring It On.

  3. Idol and Young Talent Time are completely different. You have contestants on Young Talent Time that sing and dance and then throughout the night the young talent time team sings and performs in a group. Watch Hairspray its very similar to the show they had on that movie.

  4. I’m too young to have ever seen the original, but it sounds to me like a talent show for singing kids. Idol already has to resort to using the same mildly ‘talented’ kids over and over for each season (allowing the rejects to audition the next year) and it’s ratings are less than stellar. A new YTT also looks like it’ll be pretty expensive for what is essentially a bid for nostalgia in an effort to replicate the Hey Hey effect.

  6. we may as well bring normie rowe,ronnie burns and issy dye back, does anybody remember there hey day, and as for soapys why not remake no 96 and the box and what the hell seeing as i am down memory lane that other great show called matlock police bring em all back [ ha ha ha ha }

  7. Why can’t we stay in the 21st Century and start a new variety style show. Tim Campbell can sing, dance, act and host and he is sitting on the shelves at Channel 9. What a waste. John Foreman could be the musical director, have lots of guests, a bit of comedy.

  8. @George I doubt Young Talent Time would be ready for the beginning of next year. Probably late 2010. I say bring it back. Would be great for a replacement of Aus Idol if it doesn’t work out next year.

  11. Sunday nights with Young Talent Time, Biggest Loser and So You Think You Can Dance.. Sounds fun to me. 😀 TEN News could be at 5:30PM, Young Talent Time at 6:30, Biggest Loser at 7:30 and Dance at 8:30-10:00.

  12. No one cares about talentless adults on Australian Idol anymore, why would we care about talentless kids who’s parents think they have talent?? Fail in my opinion.

  16. SMS voting would be crucial to fund the show, but I also think it would ruin it. I just wouldn’t bother. Wasn’t there a pilot of a YTT style show shot a few years back hosted by Chloe Latanzi and Jamie Robbie Reyne?

  24. You know what if this is a little bit So You Think You Can Dance and a little bit Glee – this could work!

    But please keep Johny Young behind the scenes and get a hot new young female host!

  25. We already have a YTT revival.

    It’s the opening “group number” at the start of each week’s Australian Idol.

    And if Australian TV persists with this misguided nostalgia trip, I’m moving overseas.

Leave a Reply