You Can't Ask That
You Can't Ask That is an ABC original series[2] first released on ABC iview on 3 August 2016.[2] Each episode asks controversial questions sourced from the public[3] to a minority Australian population including people of short stature, Muslims, sex workers, transgender people and more. The show aims to offer insight into the lives of marginalised communities and break down stereotypes while answering the questions people are afraid to ask, reportedly inspired by Ask Me Anything (AMA) threads on Reddit.[4]
You Can't Ask That | |
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Directed by |
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Opening theme | Soul Searching by Amourouge[1] |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 46 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Lou Porter (2016-18) [1]
Frances O'Riordan (2018-present) |
Producer(s) |
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Production location(s) | Australia |
Cinematography | Aaron Smith[1] |
Editor(s) | Nick McDougall[1] |
Running time | 15-28 minutes |
Production company(s) | ABC |
Release | |
Original network | ABC iview |
Original release | 3 August 2016 – present |
External links | |
You Can't Ask That: ABC iview |
Several representative organisations were credited in the series including Short Statured People of Australia, Scarlet Alliance, Alzheimer's Australia and Exit International, as well as The Karuna Hospice Service and Palliative Care NSW.[1]
On 28 September 2016, ABC announced the series had been renewed for a second season which will include more diverse Australians, including centenarians, people with Down Syndrome and children with same-sex parents.[5] The first episode of Season 2, "Blind People", featuring Ron McCallum and Matthew Formston among others, aired on iview on 6 April 2017.[6]
On 25 October 2017, ABC announced the series had been renewed for a third season which will include Australians such as alcoholics, swingers, Intersex people and people who have killed someone.[7] The first episode of Season 3, "Survivors of Sexual Assault", aired on ABC and iview on 11 July 2018.
Season 4 premiered on ABC and iView on 3 April 2019 with the episode "Domestic and Family Violence".
The fifth season premiered on ABC and iView on 18 March 2020.[8]
Season overview
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |
---|---|---|---|
Season premiere | Season finale | ||
1 | 10 | 3 August 2016 | 5 October 2016 |
2 | 12 | 6 April 2017 | 21 July 2017 |
3 | 8 | 11 July 2018 | 29 August 2018 |
4 | 8 | 3 April 2019 | 22 May 2019 |
5 | 8 | 18 March 2020 |
Episodes
Season 1 (2016)
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Short Statured" | 3 August 2016 |
2 | 2 | "Wheelchair Users" | 10 August 2016 |
3 | 3 | "Transgender" | 17 August 2016 |
4 | 4 | "Muslims" | 24 August 2016 |
5 | 5 | "Polyamorous" | 31 August 2016 |
6 | 6 | "Ex-prisoners" | 7 September 2016 |
7 | 7 | "Fat" | 14 September 2016 |
8 | 8 | "Indigenous" | 21 September 2016 |
9 | 9 | "Sex Workers" | 27 September 2016 |
10 | 10 | "Terminally Ill" | 5 October 2016 |
Season 2 (2017)[9]
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | "Blind People" | 6 April 2017 |
12 | 2 | "Down Syndrome" | 12 April 2017 |
13 | 3 | "Suicide Attempt Survivors" | 19 April 2017 |
14 | 4 | "Recent War Veterans" | 26 April 2017 |
15 | 5 | "Facial Difference" | 3 May 2017 |
16 | 6 | "Refugees" | 10 May 2017 |
17 | 7 | "Ice Users" | 17 May 2017 |
18 | 8 | "Children of Same-Sex Parents" | 24 May 2017 |
19 | 9 | "Centenarians" | 31 May 2017 |
20 | 10 | "S&M" | 7 July 2017 |
21 | 11 | "Gambling Addicts" | 14 July 2017 |
22 | 12 | "Homeless" | 21 July 2017 |
Season 3 (2018)
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
23 | 1 | "Survivors of Sexual Assault" | 11 July 2018 |
24 | 2 | "Ex-Reality TV Stars" | 18 July 2018 |
25 | 3 | "Former Cult Members" | 25 July 2018 |
26 | 4 | "Eating Disorders" | 1 August 2018 |
27 | 5 | "Swingers" | 8 August 2018 |
28 | 6 | "Schizophrenia" | 15 August 2018 |
29 | 7 | "Drag" | 22 August 2018 |
30 | 8 | "Priests" | 29 August 2018 |
Season 4 (2019)
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
31 | 1 | "Domestic and Family Violence" | 3 April 2019 |
32 | 2 | "African Australians" | 10 April 2019 |
33 | 3 | "Intersex" | 17 April 2019 |
34 | 4 | "Carnies and Show People" | 24 April 2019 |
35 | 5 | "Ex-Politicians" | 1 May 2019 |
36 | 6 | "Alcoholics" | 8 May 2019 |
37 | 7 | "Deaf" | 15 May 2019 |
38 | 8 | "Disaster Survivors" | 22 May 2019 |
Season 5 (2020)
No. in series | No. in season | Title | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|
39 | 1 | "Firefighters" | 18 March 2020 |
40 | 2 | "Nudists" | 25 March 2020 |
41 | 3 | "Killed Someone" | 1 April 2020 |
42 | 4 | "Autism spectrum" | 8 April 2020 |
43 | 5 | "HIV-positive people" | 15 April 2020 |
44 | 6 | "Olympic & Paralympic Gold Medallists" | 22 April 2020 |
45 | 7 | "Public Housing" | 29 April 2020 |
46 | 8 | "Kids" | 6 May 2020 |
Awards and recognition
You Can't Ask That won the Rose d'Or for Best Reality or Factual Entertainment in 2017.[10] It also won 3 UN Media Awards for Promotion of Disability Rights and Issues, Promotion of Social Cohesion and Promotion of Empowerment of Older People.[11] In 2018 it was nominated for a Logie for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program.[12]
International versions
In July 2017, Kan 11 in Israel began broadcasting a local version of the series under the name "סליחה על השאלה" (Slicha Al HaShe'ela, Excuse me for asking), with 15 episodes broadcast in the first season and 8 episodes in the second season.[13] An Arabic language version called "بلا مؤاخذة" began airing in 21 September 2019 on the Kan 11's sister channel Makan 33.[14]
In June 2014, CBC in Canada released a local version of the series titled "You Can't Ask That" with eight episodes. The Canadian version of You Can't Ask That also airs on Accessible Media Inc.'s AMI-tv. The episodes are themed as follows: Wheelchair Users, Tourette Syndrome, Visual Impairment, Autism, Limb Differences, Little People, Down Syndrome, and Facial Differences. The series was produced by Izabel Chevrier and directed by Mariane McGraw.
References
- "You Can't Ask That - Credits" (PDF). ABC TV. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- Kentera, Yasmin (8 July 2016). "Why are you so fat? You Can't Ask That premieres on ABC" (Press release). Australia: ABC. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- Choueifaty, Elie (28 July 2016). "ABC series You Can't Ask That strikes a chord with its surprising humour". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- Fenton, Andrew (2 August 2016). "Is dwarf tossing OK? Your offensive questions get answered on the ABC's new show You Can't Ask That". Australia: News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- "Renewed: You Can't Ask That". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- Graeme Blundell (1 April 2017). "ABC's You Can't Ask That returns with more awkward questions". The Australian. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- "Renewed: You Can't Ask That S3". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- Knox, David (23 February 2020). "Returning: You Can't Ask That S5". TV Tonight. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- "You Can't Ask That : ABC TV". Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- (EBU), European Broadcasting Union. "EBU - World's best entertainment shows honoured at 56th Rose d'Or Awards". www.ebu.ch. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- "2017 UN Day Media Award Winners - UNAA Victoria". UNAA Victoria. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- "Logie Awards 2018: nominees". TV Tonight. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
- סליחה על השאלה Kan 11 (in Hebrew)
- بلا مؤاخذة Makan 33 (in Arabic)