Adventure and revelry abound as Shaun Micallef travels overseas with popular Australian comedians Aaron Chen, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, Lizzy Hoo, Dilruk Jayasinha, Nina Oyama and Arj Barker in the brand-new SBS documentary series .
One of Australia’s most versatile artists, Micallef is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, television presenter and comedian.
In Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey, his trademark intellect and wit combine with the comedians’ discovery of parts of their heritage that have remained a mystery to them until now to create a rich series that is entertaining and insightful in equal measure. The six-part series premieres Tuesday 24 September on SBS and SBS On Demand.
“Two years ago, I retired from television, vowing never to return. I promised myself that I would travel the world helping younger and more diverse performers tell their stories. The offer to present Origin Odyssey has enabled me to do both,” Micallef says.
Aaron Chen and Shaun Micallef. Credit: SBS
Having lived in Australia for most of his life, comedian Aaron Chen has little knowledge of the rich legacy inherited from his Chinese-born father. In the first episode, and Shaun head to China to learn more about Aaron’s father's fascinating back-story. As the pair touch down in Shanghai, Aaron is keen to learn about the sacrifices his father Peter made before he moved to Australia in the late 1980s.
Shaun with Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli in Switzerland.
There are laughs-a-plenty in the next episode as comedian and radio presenter Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Micallef travel to Switzerland, Wippa’s father’s ancestral home. The pair make a series of surprising discoveries about Wippa’s paternal family history – including why his grandfather decided to leave the idyllic and peaceful surrounds of the Swiss Alps for Melbourne when he was just 20 years old. And they aim to answer a profound question – is Michael Wipfli merely Swiss by name – or is he Swiss by nature?
As comedian Lizzy Hoo and Micallef embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Ireland, she sets out to discover more about the history of her mother’s side of the family, who isn’t a Hoo at all. When the pair arrive in Dublin following a 17-hour-flight from Melbourne, their driver Dave explains they can become Plastic Irish by consuming just six pints of Guinness. After ten, also get a passport. From experiencing the family trade as a firkin maker, to discovering the harrowing story behind a monument in honour of her ancestor, Lizzy Hoo is ready to take it all in.
Lizzy Hoo and Shaun Micallef. Credit: SBS
Comedian Dilruk Jayasinha grew up Colombo, Sri Lanka, and ventured to Australia at the age of 19 with plans to complete a degree in accounting and move home. But he fell in love with Melbourne and stayed, and 20 years on now spent almost as much time living in Australia as in his birth country. Embarking on a journey home alongside Micallef, Jayasinha enjoys a reunion with extended family, revisits the Catholic school he attended, explores his father’s Buddhist temple, and seeks to learn more about his mother’s Muslim beliefs – all of which have shaped the person and comedian he is today.
Actor, writer, and comedian Nina Oyama is half-Japanese by birth, but grew up in Australia and visited her father’s homeland since she was a child. In this episode, Oyama and Micallef explore not only the country’s storied history and culture, but pose the question – is she able to look in the mirror and see herself as Japanese?
...an entertaining and heartfelt exploration of culture, family, and the stories that shape us.
Australia’s adopted son of stand-up comedy, Arj Barker, been to his father’s homeland of India for almost three decades. Seeking to understand why his Sikh father chose to leave his family behind for a different life in the United States, Barker and Micallef embark on an adventure-filled journey across the country. Disembarking the train at the sock line on the ankle of the first leg of their journey, Shaun is excited. been 26 years since Arj has been here, but most excited about his shpants. You know, ‘too long to be shorts, too short to be pants. Shpants!
SBS Commissioning Editor Emily Griggs says: “Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey offers a fresh and engaging perspective on our shared curiosity about heritage and identity. Shaun’s skilful storytelling, paired with the fascinating odysseys of Aaron, Wippa, Lizzy, Dilruk, Nina, and Arj makes for an entertaining and heartfelt exploration of culture, family, and the stories that shape us.”
Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey premieres on Tuesday 24 September on SBS and . The six-part series airs on SBS at 7:30pm Tuesday nights, with new episodes available to stream on SBS On Demand weekly from September 24. The series will be subtitled on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean. All episodes will be available with audio description.
