The cast of Young Talent Time
BY MIA FREEDMAN
Dear Young Talent Time (YTT),
I bloody love you. I loved you when I was a kid and now I love you as a mother. There are 3 main reasons for my love and I will detail them now:
1. You give my kids and I something to watch together
I’m not a huge fan of kids shows. This is not totally surprising given I am not a kid. But I’ve watched my share of Wiggles and Disney movies and Bob The Builder and Charlie & Lola and ABC kids and I’m here to tell you, I struggle to stay interested. But Young Talent Time is something my daughter and I can watch together and discuss afterwards. We can sing along to the songs, discuss the contestants and their relative talents, debate who we think should win, listen to the judges give the most nurturing, gentle, constructive, positive feedback and endlessly change our minds about which team member is our favourite.
2. You are totally age-appropriate
I love pop music, yes I do. But this is something I can rarely share with my kids because all the lyrics are about ‘sex, I love the smell of it’ accompanied by images of people having, you know, sex pretty much. On Young Talent Time, the team members and contestants dress in a fun, creative and yet totally non-skanky way. The song choices and dance moves are awesome and family-friendly. And my daughter and I can have a fabulous time snuggling together on the couch or getting up and dancing in front of the TV. It is so rare to be able to enjoy pop culture with your kids, your show is a cool glass of water on a hot day.
3. You reward hard work and show fame as connected to something
This is rare when it comes to pop culture in this century. The past decade has seen the frightening birth of the Famous-For-Being-Famous brand of celebrity as well as the celebrity brand. The Kardashians, the Hiltons….all those girls on reality shows like The Hills whose names I can’t keep straight…well, none of them seem to have actual jobs beyond fueling their fame. And is it a coincidence that Paris and Kim first became famous when sex tapes of them were leaked? Ugh. On Young Talent Time, between the contestants and the kids in the Young Talent Team, they all have skills and talents. They sing, they dance, they act, they play instruments and write music. The work hard. They practice. They rehearse. And THAT is what gets them on TV. Not a sex tape. Not appearing at a nightclub opening. Not launching their own fragrance. This is such an important message to pass onto kids and one that’s pretty damn hard for parents when there is a new reality-celeb becoming famous faster than you can say “no-day-job”.
4. You are the real deal
When I went to a taping last week, every cast member, judge, host and crew-member walked the talk of this show. From Millsy to Johnny Young and all those extraordinarily talented kids who were charming and natural and friendly and positive…..it was a delight.
Here’s a bit of a look behind the scenes:
Having fun at the Young Talent Time record!
YTT, I really really hope that Channel 10 signs you up for another season. It’s such a relief and a pleasure to watch you.
Comments
75 Comments so far
I love you so so so so so so much Ayden from ytt. And I mean crush.
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Mia I agree with you, this is great show. When will Australia start to realize we have our own talent and this show not only has talented kids it is a show which bring back true Australian wholesome values. Our kids need down to earth role model not look up to some of the current crop of international stars which seem to be involved in scandal to gain notoriety and success.
Ten should show some fortitude and have some moral social responsibility and keep the show, give our kids the opportunity to look up to good kids with great Aussie values.
We should start some viral petition to keep the show, Mia could you please advise how?
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The time silt change does NOT spell the death of the show. It is a tactical move from the network knowing that, though ratings were steady and GOOD, they would not be enough to compete with DWTS and The Voice, do the pulled it a few weeks before as a preemptive strike.
And the ratings WERE good. They were averaging about 850k a week, which is great considering it’s target demographic is young children/ families and the older generation, so you’re loosing the whole 20s+ market. Co spidering a DWTS get a million on a good week YTT were faring well.
Also, the Sunday edition of The Project is failing miserably with a 3-400k lead in. So they had a big climb each week to get to 850k.
In the end, I am a single female do it’s not a show geared for me, but I think it’s brilliant, wholesome NORMAL. Home grown television for kids and I damn well hope Ch10 give it the run it deserves.
They should axe The Project in Sunday FAR before they consider YTT.
Long live YTT!!!
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I totally agree Mia. My 11yo son and I loved to snuggle on the couch on the Sunday night to watch YTT discussing our favourite songs and singers. The move to Friday has proven difficult and now we record it to then snuggle together and watch later. I hate that Sunday night wasn’t given more of a chance. Now that daylight savings is over and the cold weather is settling in, I’m sure there would have been more families snuggling together on the couch watch YTT.
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I really thought I’d love YTT as I love musicals and Glee etc, but I watched the two episodes and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch anymore. I think it’s because I found the kids unlikeable. Obviously I can’t really relate to them being 25 and all but there was something there that I think alot of people don’t like about the contestants, or more accurately, how they are portrayed. Maybe that has something to do with poor ratings
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Although I really enjoy watching YTT with my boys, five and two, I think the type of advertisements that are shown during the breaks are not age appropriate for the YTT audience. News breaks, ads for adult shows and the like, it’s not good.I shall be forwarding this complaint to channel Ten and hopefully they can sort it out.
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So agree with you! Sitting with my 5 and 7 year old asking why there is a tiger in in an ad with a girl close to naked! Will try to email ch 10 also!
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but why oh why ditch “the song” in favour of a new public voted song each week. I used to LOVE that song. I sang it to my babies when they had bad dreams. The first episode I went “here it is” to my dughter when it came on and then poof… next week gone
Bring back “all my lovin”
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I agree Mia, I love it too.
I also love how much my Ben 10/Star Wars/Transformer obsessed son loves watching the music and particularly loves watching the boys dancing. He even decided that he wanted to start learning the piano this year. I didn’t even suggest it.
There are very few shows on TV that are totally age appropriate for tweens.
I loved it in the 70s and 80s and I love it now.
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Love it, Love it, Love it. My son (5) and I watch it together and he has started Hip Hop classes so that he can be a contestant (we’ll see). I’m disappointed about the time change and more so, if it is the beginning of the end, but we will still watch it on catch up internet each week. It is great family time and my husband has even admitted to secretly enjoying it as it is so wholesome.
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I admit it – I love it too! And I still wish that I could say ‘Goodnight Australia’ at the end of the show. It’s just so gorgeous!
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I hear you Mia. Totally agree. A great show to enjoy with your daughter (as I do with my 7yr old). Brings back such great memories too!
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Sorry to be a bit of a sceptic.. But is this a plug to try to boost ratings for a failing show.. Feels a bit that way.
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Nope. We always label our sponsored posts
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I think that the kids are extraordinarily talented and my 4 year old daughter loves to watch the show. However I think that some of the stylists needs to rethink what they are dressing the kids in and those two girls dancing behind the beaded curtain as back up dances – not very age appropriate.
There is still room for improvement.
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I really hope Ch 10 give it a second season. If it rates dismally again, then consider canning it, but I think it deserves at least a 2-season run. I’m fascinated watching the kids grow up – Nicholas is already taller than he was a few months back, and I’d really like to see Aydan as he grows up. Plus it’s just great to watch these kids develop and build their confidence as performers.
And is it just me, or do Tia and Adrien remind anyone else of Vinnie and Dannii? They paired them up again last night.
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When the camera suddenly zooms in on the parents of the kid performing, tears streaming down their faces…..I shudder.
The impromptu squealing and screaming when the singer reaches the chorus…I shudder.
The impromptu standing ovation at the end of each performance is just too unbelieveable.
So much of the in-studio excitement seems so contrived and artificially generated. That could be what’s letting YTT Mark 2012 down. When you try to fool people that what they’re watching on TV is bigger than Ben-Hur and it isn’t…they turn off. Hence, I say enjoy this while you can. I don’t think that you’ll get to watch too many of the kids grow up on TV as you did with the original cast of the 70′s/80′s.
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Long live YTT I love it. My kids love it. It is refreshing to see young kids be young kids and be so entertaining. Sadly I don’t think it is rating very well so we may not see another season which is a real shame.
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I have to admit to being a big fan of YTT….the original YTT, that is.
When I watched the first episode of the new incarnaton I honestly had high hopes for it. There were so many “I remember that” moments. And was there anyone out there who didn’t get a little teary at the end when they all joined forces to belt out “All My Loving” at the end of the show ? The new kids seemed likable and best of all, they weren’t kids pretending to be adults.
Over the ensuing weeks, I began to notice small things that irked me. Each contestant and every song performed by “The Team” was preceded by a detailed package including footage of the song to be performed being learned, mentoring sessions etc. The only thing that you never learned was what was consumed for breakfast.
Fortunately, someone in the production team decided to kill the pre-song synopsis off. However…..now it seems that a good part of the program is now devoted to “what you will see on tonight’s show” and “what you will see on next week’s show”. Here’s a suggestion…..just get on with the show !
Let the next song be a surprise !
What disappoints me the most about YTT is the fact that few of the young stars can actually sing. Cool hairstyles, the latest clothing and tricky choreography can only hide the bum notes for so long.
As I say, the first episode showed so much promise. Sadly it didn’t take long for the rot to set in. I hope that there is a second series, but I won’t be devestated if it doesn’t happen.
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I like the way they try to develop the talent of the main team members in the show – that’s really great.
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Hurrah a post from Mia that has ended up in a personal attack on her!
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Huh???
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I remember waking on a Saturday morning, running to the lounge room, whilst my parents had a sleep in, flicking the television on and watching ‘video hits’. I sang into my hair brush, danced around the lounge…..I loved every second. Sadly my children don’t get to experience the same love of video clips – the language, the dancing….not sure if I’m keen on them pole dancing by the age of 10?? YTT is refreshing. We watch it or record it – it’s wholesome and the children are so talented. My girls love it and I love it, almost as much as I loved the original. Keep it coming.
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We also went to a taping of YTT and it was one of the best nights my girls and I have had in a very long time. I agree with Mia – the judges, Millsy and Johnny Young were all charming and welcoming and genuinely supportive of the cast and contestants. YTT is a great platform for young Australian talent and the cast are good role models. We were lucky enough to meet some of the team after the show and I found them all to be gracious, friendly and appreciative of the attention they were getting. My girls LOVE their Friday nights now (although Sunday was definitely better). Long live YTT
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I loved YTT as a kid and I love watching it with my two girls now. I really hope it doesn’t get canned. It’s nice for my kids to be inspired by the kids on telly with their various talents. So which episode did u watch live, Mia? Tonight’s?
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My boys love watching it with me (4 and 7 years old). They do tons of dancing around and it’s so cute. One week they had a 16 yr old opera singer on, I was expecting my boys to be bored, but they watched it in jaw dropping awe. When it finished, my 4yo said to me seriously “Mummy that is the best singing I’ve ever heard in my whole life!” Lol.
I’d like to see a bit less of the really short dresses and midriff baring tops, but still they’re dressed fairly appropriately compared to other shows.
I wasn’t happy with the time/day change either, but now I just tape it and the boys watch it the next day.
I love how the judges are positive and very much the opposite of Idol.
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My 5yo daughter loves this show, she calls is “Young Valentines” as she can’t say it properly and I’ve seen her miming to songs in the car that she has seen and heard them sing on YTT.
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The kids and I are watching it right now. Yay! Dicko just made a joke about doing his ‘dad dancing’. LOL!
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I watched the first episode with my 12 year old daughter. At the end, she asked me, so mum, do one of these kids get voted off each week? She couldn’t imagine that the same kids are on every week, singing songs, dancing and having a great time. No negativity at all (except, I suppose, for the two contestants who lose out, holy shit, there’s a winner!) I agree, refreshing to see kids being kids.
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To those of you complaining of the day/time change, why don’t you record it and watch it later…
My kids are really enjoying the show, we watch it every week. Although I mainly watch it to see Chucky!!!
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Love this show…I watch it with my husband and 8 year old daughter…it is age appropriate, true family fun! Love the post Mia x
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My 8 year old daughter loves it and we watch it together too, trying to pick the best contestant of the night. I must admit though I do tend to analyse it a little too much but I’m an adult, my daughter doesn’t do that, she just enjoys it. The kids are dressed appropriately and it is good family fun.
I hope it sticks around and gets the chance to improve over time.
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I couldn’t agree more Mia.
My 9 year old and I are just waiting for it to come on, we love it!
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I just saw an ad for it.. There is something highly disturbing about kids singing songs clearly meant to be sung by adults. Ick!
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Couldn’t agree more…..young children singing Adele songs?
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yeah sometimes it’s a bit weird, but then again how many current, popular songs are there that kids can sing that aren’t High School Musical or something? If I was 14 there’s no way I’d want to sing some dorky song when I could sing one by Kimbra
I think they hit a good mix, they’re not all singing Adele or Gaga 
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I agree that a number of the songs performed are not age appropriate. For example, this dear little girl last night sang the Etta James classic, “At Last”. The saddest thing for me….the child thought that the song was about becoming a princess !
A few weeks earlier there was this tiny little boy singing “Rolling In The Deep”. When he got to the chorus I remember saying to my wife what would would an eight year old know about the type of relationship that he is singing about.
Doesn’t take much time to understand why “tiny” Tina Arena is fondly and best remembered for singing cutesy ABBA songs when she was introduced to the nation.
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My girls love it ..and so do I…but Friday nights do not suit us …I love how the judges give critisim in the nicest possible way…although I do wish it was Danni not Tina. Times have changed ..everytime my girls hear a song they like they ask “can you put that on the ipod”.
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To record or not to record.
This is the question !
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I don’t like it either but I can appreciate why you like it- you have listed many good reasons. I think I’d be willing to try it again after reading your article but my daughter is only 11 months- maybe if it comes back in 10 years time!!
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Urgh, I was so upset when they moved the show to Fridays. Not because of the time change but because I think it’s spelling death for the show.
My daughter is 2.5 and loves music and dance, but it’s just not a good time of day to watch TV with her. I’m desperately hoping the show stays on air until she’s old enough to stay up for it, so we can enjoy it together too. Until then I’m quietly upset that I’m stuck in the bathroom and her bedroom when it’s on
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The stupid thing,as per usual with net ten, is that YTT was Saturday night for the demo audience, those who are too young to go out or are with mates at sleepovers, the Muns Dads & Grandparents night in. NOT Sunday against tp raters and … as per usual with net ten, they post it against the biggest rating soapy then expect the next half hour to survive against the juggernaught Better Homes & Gardens (FFS) This is as crazy as wasting a top rating kids show h2O on the back burner for 2 years then putting it on after the momentum and fans are gone ..onya ten our own oneTel managed network of freeview tv.
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I so agree with you Mia – I hate that it’s not going to be around next year. I have three girls under 10 and it’s so nice to have a show on at the right time that they can watch with us that is age appropriate. I’m really surprised by some of the comments – “creepy”, “bad casting” – I find it hard to find anything on tv that we can watch as a family. I’d love to know what these commenters think is good family watching (that is a genuine question?). I can understand that maybe older kids don’t think it’s cool enough but for kids it’s great.
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What, it’s not going to be on next year? Shattered! I’m a 31 year old female who is a complete unashamed fan.
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I’m with you, Mia! I love YTT for all of those reasons…and one more. My son loves the show and I am thrilled for him to have an artistic role model – rather than a sports one, which seems to be the main option these days. It is wonderful to watch him sing and dance, two things he has done more of since the show started. I agree that changing the time and day doesn’t bode well for the future of it though, which makes me really sad. I’d love to see it last years and years – like the first round! Oh, and re: Millsy – yes, a lot of people can’t stand him because of his Idol persona (when he was 21…how many 21′s do you know who wouldn’t take on board becoming an instant celeb with girls and parties?!?!) but after seeing him in Wicked I have huge respect for his talent. I think he’s a great choice as host.
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Ewwwwwwwwwww. It is the absolute creepiest show on television. My skin positively crawls whenever I’m slow enough with the remote to even just glimpse an ad.
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I agree! Can’t stand it. So creepy!
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I really wanted to love it & I still have hope it will improve but at the moment it is too cheesy for me to enjoy. I know the aim is happy, light family entertainment but I feel like it’s aimed at 4 year olds. I think a wider range of ages & a bit less of a plastic feel would be one improvement.
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I hate the word skanky (along with slutty, whorish etc.). I’m aways suprised to hear it from anyone other than 13yr old girls.
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Funny you say that, my fingers paused over that word when I was writing it. But it seemed the best adjective!!!!
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It totally applies when young girls are dressed completely inappropriately!
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I agree Mia! I loved it as a kid, and now my kids wait to watch it each week. My 8 year old boy wants to start a boy band with 2 friends so he can be a contestant, my 4 and 2 year old’s dance around and play air guitar. it is really wholesome family entertainment. Nice to see talented kids, and in particular boys embracing the arts. I hope it doesn’t fizzle out with its new time slot!
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Mia – they have moved it to a different time slot. This is the first indicator of the demise of a TV show. It needs to be on Sundays where it started. It obviously is not pulling in the crowds. This is a shame as shows like this, and “Hey Hey it’s Saturday” do get families to watch TV together! Good grief!
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I know…..alas….
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It’s terrible that a show has to rate through the roof to be contracted for another season. Given that this show is pitched to a certain demographic means that it may not rate like MKR etc. Very sad! BTW … I’m 30 & watch it because hardly any other show has live bands – like Anthony Callea – who performed the other night. Where else can artists perform?!
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Yes the new time slot is crap. I’ve been watching it with my 6,5 and 3 year old. Felt exactly the same as Mia. We would use it as bribery getting the kids to tidy up the house on Sunday afternoon then flop and watch YTT. We have not watched one episode since it was moved to Friday night.
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Yep, one blogger I know was joking about us all having a kids tantrum flash mob to “persuade” them into changing the time back to Sunday nights!
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Ohhhh, I don’t know … there’s something not right with it. Call me a ‘hater’ but if I had to put my finger on it I’d say the casting is what’s wrong with it. Millys? The cast covering every single conceivable minority group? I don’t know why I can’t warm to it. I think the children are a bit old. I would have cast Jordana (from psychic live TV on 74! She’s so lovely that I can’t understand why she hasn’t been picked up) and had some younger children. I hope it keeps going though. I think it’s a wonderful concept that they haven’t got quite right.
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So if they were all white it’d be ok?? As a performer with a “minority group” ethinicity i have struggled with this my whole life i was too Italian or too middle eastern thanks for proving me right that casting directors and the australian public see race too clearly. Oh for Broadway and it’s colour blind casting
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I don’t think she meant they shouldn’t include minority groups, I think she was saying it seems a bit contrived and that’s what she didn’t like?!
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Thank you, Kathy. FGS missamoo, how on earth could anyone be ‘too Italian’ in Australia in 2012!!
One of my daughters looks more Asian than her half Asian friends. A little patient wouldn’t co-operate with her the other day and his poor embarrassed mother said she was sooo sorry but he just doesn’t like Asians! There’s not a day goes by when she’s not asked what ethnicity she is. The Spanish/French/Italian/Polynesians all think she is ‘one of them.’
She is of Irish and Scottish stock for at least 8 generations – not nearly as exotic as she looks.
I suggest you get over yourself lest it be the chip on your shoulder that’s holding back your career rather than your very ordinary look in the great melting pot of modern Australa.
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Im not listening to divisive media I’m telling you MY actually experience gleaned from 20 years as a working singer/dancer/ actor in this country I am of Italian& Persian descent myself and have many friends who have left this country because in this day an age all they can get cast as is an ethnic minority of in one friends case terrorists only. I don’t know how some one can be ‘too Italian’ I just know I lost a job to a blonde blue eyed girl because of it. It was down to two of us based on talent and I lost it and many other jobs because of it. I also have not gotten auditions because I don’t loom like what a casting director sees as my actual heritage ie I am not very dark ( many Assyrian and Italians are in fact blonde and pale). I’m offended that you simply brush off something that has haunted my entire career because you believe we are past that. Well ask my friend who had to move to Paris to get a job as an actor not as a Persian man or terrorist.
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I agree. It does seem highly contrived.
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By the by, I think Jordana could possibly have Italian or Persian ancestry if I could be bothered analyzing it – which I can’t. She’s a beautiful girl with dark hair and a warm personality. That’s all most Australians really see or worry about. Stop believing all the nonsense that the divisive media keep banging on about.
Actually, this probably explains what annoys me about the casting. I just think we’ve moved past this. We all know that we are a diverse people and it feels so contrived and offensive to have it pushed down our throats.
Of course it goes without saying that they are all talented and if the casting was purely on merit then all power to them. I hold the same view with appointing women to positions as well. I deplore empty symbolism. Credit only where it’s due – only.
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Mum commented on this as well. I actually think if you’re noticing it is still a bit of a thing. But if shows just have people of all different backgrounds and colours etc then it becomes normal. Why shouldn’t kids from Asian or African backgrounds see kids like them on telly too?
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Thank you Kris and btw i get asked about 50 times a day at work what my race is or where i am from so it is not a chip on my shoulder thankyou very much. Plus my agent who is actually the one that get paid if i work has told me these are the reactions from the casting agents. It also shows that while you think we are past it was what you didn’t like about the show.
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Sorry but don’t like it…and my kids who are 13 and 10 refuse to watch it. It is just far too cheesy for me, anything that is over the top laced with cheesiness makes me cringe. Maybe it’s me, not a real fan of talent shows I guess, Dancing With The Stars makes me want to vomit and hide with embarrassment. I appreciate the kids talents and i am happy for them to be doing what they love so much and do so well but I seem to be the only person on the planet who isn’t into it. Nope, not for me and us.
Sorry Mia!
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Not for me either. Don’t like talent shows. But I found it interesting to read why others like it.
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It’s not for me either. In fact, I cringe when the ads come on the TV. I guess I just find the show and its musical numbers tacky and embarrassing for the kids involved. I know it’s sexist but I can’t understand why a teenage boy would agree to participate in that show, being dressed like that and singing such daggy songs.
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I’m with you .. love love love the show ..it’s a pity it doesn’t have the ratings to stick around next year
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It’s a show my 8yo daughter loves to watch & a show my 11yo son secretly loves to watch!
Lindsay is the definite favourite in our household!!!
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Couldn’t agree more. I don’t understand what the haters truly hate. This is a show for families to enjoy. The no-skank factor rocks my world and the values are, well good old fashioned values!
I only hope the move to Friday night isn’t a signal of its demise. Bring on a second series!
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i hate it mainly because the kids irritate the shit out of me lol
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I finally managed to catch this show, after being a huge fan as a kid (the board game, cassette tapes etc)… was transfixed with stupid smile and prob could have danced too – love everything, all gorgeous lovely-natured kids.
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Yes, yes, yes & yes! I hope there is a season 2 also. My 4 year old & I watch, sing & dance together too.
I remember watching it as a family when I was younger & love that I get to do it now I’m a parent.
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