OUTinPerth editor Graeme Watson chats to Gretel Killeen about her new TV show.
Gretel Killeen is teaming up with Matt Okine for a new ABC comedy series ‘How Not To Behave’ which explores modern etiquette in humorous and sometimes surprising ways.
I asked Gretel what it was that first attracted to her to this project.
“It was the casting.” Gretel proclaimed, “Putting me with Matt Okine, who is a different generation, and I just thought that was a really left of field idea. I thought it was indicative of where the show could go. The people behind this show were really open to ideas, and were embracing and encouraging. I think when you can find that you should loiter in those ponds.”
The on air chemistry between Matt Okine and Killeen is something we haven’t seen on Australian television and they have a rich seam of material to mine exploring the rules of how we behave.
“Sometime we really yearn to be told what they [the rules] are,” Gretel said. “So many of us are floundering, worrying about ‘how will I be perceived, will I be judged?’”
In the first episode of the show Killeen and Okine tackle tricky questions including what areas of the gym change rooms is nudity acceptable, how to approach a urinal and how to tell a colleague thy have bad breath. Future topics in the 15 episode series include tackling the questions of whether or not it’s OK to pick up at a funeral and what the tooth fairy’s going rate is.
I asked Gretel to give us her take on modern etiquette in a few different scenarios that I’d recently pondered.
Is it acceptable to approach celebrities you recognise in the street? I recently got very excited when US rapper Shamir sat down next to me in a cafe, but then I remember how annoying it was once when a random guy interrupted a chat I was with an celebrity interviewee, so I kept quiet.
“What you should do, in my experience, is only acknowledge them when your leaving or they’re leaving’ Gretel offered, ‘and just simply say ‘I love your work’, whatever you do don’t say ‘I know who you are’, because where do you go with that? Just give endorsement and positivity.”
Another often discussed moral dilemma is the Facebook RSVP. If you RSVP on Facebook are you compelled to turn up?
“Absolutely you should turn up” Gretel laughed, “There’s no doubt on that one. There’s a simple rule for this one, just ask yourself how would you feel if someone did it to you? If you say your going to go – turn up.”
Is spelling important in the modern world?
“Yes, spelling is important. I mean why wouldn’t you just use auto-correct anyway? I think typo’s are permissible – and I say that because I do them all the time.” Gretel said, “there’s no excuse for not caring about spelling.”
Are dress codes still relevant, can you fudge it a little? I asked Gretel.
“No.” is her adamant answer. “Shoes is the main thing, if you’ve got a smart pair of shoes that can cover anything. Pair of shoes and a jacket will do it”.
Finally I ask Gretel if you see your friends on Grindr, is it okay to mention you saw them online when your next chatting or is it a no-go zone?
“I think it’s much more fun if you do talk about it, but I don’t actually know the rules on Grindr, but I think the more we talk about these things the better, the more fun we’ll all have.” Gretel suggests.
‘How Not to Behave’ begins Wednesday July 18th at 8pm on ABCTV
