Silvia’s Table,
ABC, Thursdays, 8pm
ON PAPER this show has everything – a beautiful host, catchy music, eclectic famous Australian faces, beautiful Australian and Italian scenery, slow-motion eating and sumptious Italian food.
But somehow it doesn’t always hit the mark. And like any show it’s all down to the combination of guests and how they interact with their host.
When she is relaxed and enjoying the moment and feeling comfortable with her guests, presenter, creative producer, co-writer and co-creator Silvia Colloca is in her element.
The second episode with Matt Moran, Ken Done and Magda Szubanski was a pleasure to watch as a relaxed Colloca (wife of Australian actor and ABC darling Richard Roxburgh) joked and had fun with her guests – particularly good friend Matt Moran.
By contrast last week’s episode with Cathy Freeman and journalists Emma Alberici and George Negus had Colloca looking a little nervous and out of her depth asking the trio questions.
In fact it kind of left the viewer wondering if it was just a show for the chardonnay set and not the rest of us peasants.
Each week has a different “topic or theme” – change, bravery, happiness which also seems a bit try-hard at times.
It will be interesting to see if the ABC picks this up for a second series. It is a fun and relaxed show when it’s working and while it isn’t the most original concept out there it does have the potential to be a nice Thursday evening show – if Colloca relaxes and becomes more confident in her role.
– Tania Phillips
