You Can't Ask That

{{Short description|Australian documentary TV program}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox television

| image = YCAT S1.jpg

| image_upright =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption = Screenshot from the first episode

| alt_name =

| genre =

| creator =

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| developer =

| writer =

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = {{Plainlist|

  • Kirk Docker
  • Aaron Smith

}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/you-cant-ask-that/credits/credits_ycat.pdf|title=You Can't Ask That - Credits|website=ABC TV|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=11 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909000609/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/you-cant-ask-that/credits/credits_ycat.pdf}}

| creative_director =

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| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme = Soul Searching by Amourouge

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| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_seasons = 7

| num_episodes = 61

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Lou Porter (2016-18)

Frances O'Riordan (2018-present)

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Kirk Docker
  • Aaron Smith

}}

| editor = Nick McDougall

| location = Australia

| cinematography = Aaron Smith

| camera =

| runtime = 15-28 minutes

| company = ABC

| budget =

| network = ABC iview

| released =

| first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|08|03}}

| last_aired = present

| related =

}}

You Can't Ask That is an Australian TV series created by ABC Television that first went to air in August 2016. {{as of|June 2022}} its seventh season is on air in Australia.

The series took a rest in 2023, but is expected to return beyond that.{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=You Can't Ask That, Spicks & Specks resting in 2023.|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/11/you-cant-ask-that-spicks-specks-resting-in-2023.html|date=30 November 2022|access-date=30 November 2022|publisher=TV Tonight|website=tvtonight.com.au}}

History

The series was created by Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith and Jon Casimir in 2015, as a spin-off from Hungry Beast.{{cite interview|first=Kirk| last=Docker|series= ABC Backstory | title=You Can't Ask That co-creator Kirk Docker on what happens behind the scenes and the most brutal question he's had to ask | website=ABC News| publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=1 June 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/backstory/2022-06-01/making-you-cant-ask-that-kirk-docker-brutal-questions/101115280 | access-date=1 June 2022}} The first episode of the first season aired on ABC TV on 3 August 2016, as well as on iview.{{cite web | title=You Can't Ask That: Aug 3 | website=TV Tonight | date=2 August 2016 | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2016/08/you-cant-ask-that-aug-3.html/ | access-date=1 June 2022}}{{cite press release|last=Kentera|first=Yasmin|date=8 July 2016|title=Why are you so fat? You Can't Ask That premieres on ABC|url=https://tv.press.abc.net.au/why-are-you-so-fat-you-cant-ask-that-premieres-on-abc|location=Australia|publisher=ABC| access-date= 11 August 2016| url-status=}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}

Its seventh season started airing in May 2022 in Australia.

Description

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.{{cite news|last=Fenton|first=Andrew|date=2 August 2016|title=Is dwarf tossing OK? Your offensive questions get answered on the ABC's new show You Can't Ask That|language=en|publisher=News Corp Australia|location=Australia|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/is-dwarf-tossing-ok-do-sex-workers-get-pleasure-from-clients-offensive-questions-get-answered/news-story/30ee281f7b0138a260aa19fbfa6d9d58|access-date=11 August 2016}}

Each episode asks controversial questions sourced from the public{{cite news|last=Choueifaty|first=Elie|title=ABC series You Can't Ask That strikes a chord with its surprising humour|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|date=28 July 2016|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/abc-series-you-cant-ask-that-strikes-a-chord-with-its-surprising-humour-20160719-gq90v7.html | access-date = 11 August 2016}} to a minority Australian population, with the first series including indigenous people, people of short stature, Muslims, sex workers, transgender people and more. 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.

Season overview

On 28 September 2016, the ABC announced the series had been renewed for a second season.{{cite web|title=Renewed: You Can't Ask That|date=28 September 2016 |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/09/renewed-you-cant-ask-that.html|access-date=29 September 2016|publisher=tvtonight.com.au}} On 25 October 2017, the ABC announced the series had been renewed for a third season.{{cite web|title=Renewed: You Can't Ask That S3|date=25 October 2017 |url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2017/10/renewed-you-cant-ask-that-2.html|access-date=25 October 2017|publisher=TV Tonight}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" width=3% |Season

! rowspan="2" width=5% |Episodes

! colspan="2" |Originally aired

Season premiere

! Season finale

1

| 10

| 3 August 2016

| 5 October 2016

2

| 12

| 6 April 2017{{cite web|author=Graeme Blundell|date=1 April 2017|title=ABC's You Can't Ask That returns with more awkward questions|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/abcs-you-cant-ask-that-returns-with-more-awkward-questions/news-story/e2b41b9952186f12ccc4de1916c79f09|access-date=7 April 2017|website=The Australian}}{{cite web|title=You Can't Ask That : ABC TV|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/you-cant-ask-that/|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV|access-date=7 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{{cite news|last=Knox|first=David|date=23 February 2020|title=Returning: You Can't Ask That S5|language=en|website=TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/02/returning-you-cant-ask-that-4.html|access-date=23 February 2020}}

| 6 May 2020

6

| 8

| 28 April 2021

| 16 June 2021

7

| 8

| 25 May 2022{{cite news|last=Knox|first=David|date=27 April 2022|title=Returning: You Can't Ask That S7|language=en|website=TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/04/returning-you-cant-ask-that-6.html|access-date=28 April 2022}}

| 6 July 2022

Episodes

= Season 1 (2016) =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
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)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
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)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
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)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
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)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
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

=Season 6 (2021)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
No. in series

! No. in season

! Title

! Original airdate

47

| 1

| "Cheaters"

| 28 April 2021

48

| 2

| "Ex-Football players"

| 5 May 2021

49

| 3

| "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder"

| 12 May 2021

50

| 4

| "Amputees"

| 19 May 2021

51

| 5

| "Families of Missing Persons"

| 26 May 2021

52

| 6

| "Lesbians"

| 2 June 2021

53

| 7

| "Chinese Australians"

| 9 June 2021

54

| 8

| "Adult Virgins"

| 16 June 2021

=Season 7 (2022)=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
No. in series

! No. in season

! Title

! Original airdate

55

| 1

| "Bogans"

| 25 May 2022

56

| 2

| "Postnatal Depression"

| 1 June 2022

57

| 3

| "Gay Men"

| 8 June 2022

58

| 4

| "Models"

| 15 June 2022

59

| 5

| "Prescription Drug Addiction"

| 22 June 2022

60

| 6

| "Porn Stars"

| 29 June 2022

61

| 7

| "Dementia"

| 6 July 2022

Awards and recognition

You Can't Ask That won the Rose d'Or for Best Reality or Factual Entertainment in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2017/09/worlds-best-entertainment-shows-honoured-at-56th-rose-dor-awards|title=EBU - World's best entertainment shows honoured at 56th Rose d'Or Awards|last=(EBU)|first=European Broadcasting Union|website=www.ebu.ch|date=19 September 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-20}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://unaavictoria.org.au/media-awards/winners-finalists/current-winners-and-finalists/|title=2017 UN Day Media Award Winners - UNAA Victoria|work=UNAA Victoria|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US}} In 2018 it was nominated for a Logie for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program.{{Cite news|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/05/logie-awards-2018-nominees.html|title=Logie Awards 2018: nominees|date=2018-05-27|work=TV Tonight|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-AU}}

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 total of 98 episodes in 8 seasons (2 of which are in Arabic, and 3 are for kids).[https://www.kan.org.il/program/?catid=1276 סליחה על השאלה] Kan 11 {{in lang|he}}

In February 2019, Dutch broadcaster BNNVARA started broadcasting a local version on public broadcasting channel NPO 3 under the title "Ik durf het bijna niet te vragen" (I hardly dare to ask).

In June 2019, CBC Television in Canada released a local version of the series titled You Can't Ask That with eight episodes.Melissa Hank, [https://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/you-cant-ask-that-lets-people-with-disabilities-speak-out "You Can't Ask That lets people with disabilities speak out"]. Canada.com, October 23, 2020.

An Arabic language version called "بلا مؤاخذة" (bila muakhadha, No Blame) began airing on 21 September 2019 on the Kan 11's sister channel Makan 33.[https://www.makan.org.il/Program/?catId=3079 بلا مؤاخذة] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614061457/https://www.makan.org.il/Program/?catId=3079 |date=14 June 2020 }} Makan 33 {{in lang|ar}}

In April 2020, Kan Educational in Israel began broadcasting a local version of the series for kids under the name " סליחה על השאלה ילדים" (Slicha Al HaShe'ela Yeladim, Excuse me for asking kids).

In October 2020, a U.S. version of the series was picked up by Current Flow Entertainment. Remake rights were acquired for both English and Spanish language versions.{{cite web|title=Hit Australian Format 'You Can't Ask That' In Line For U.S. Remake|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/you-cant-ask-that-abc-us-remake-rights-deal-1234605512/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 29, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020}}{{update inline|date=December 2024}}

References

{{Reflist}}