“It’s Both An Escape & Inspiration!” Susie Youssef On The Charm Of 10’s New Making It Australia
Network 10 is bringing some much needed crafting cheer to Australia’s airwaves with new program Making It.
Taking direction from US Making It, which stars Parks and Rec alumni Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, the Aussie reincarnation of the show features comedians Harley Breen and Susie Youssef (pictured left and right) as hosts. They are joined by judges Deborah Riley, award-winning production designer, and paper engineer Benja Harney.
Thirteen contestants, dubbed ‘Makers’, will compete in challenges covering everything from sawing to sewing, all in the hopes of winning $100,000.
Susie Youssef sat down with B&T to discuss why Making It Australia is the show Australia’s been craving – perhaps without even realising it.
“You’re going to watch a show that is a little bit unlike what’s on TV at the moment, in that it is purely joyful,” Youssef explained.
“Where I think a lot of shows have drama and stress – [and], that is a part of it in some on some level – I would say 95 per cent of this show is colour and joy and comedy.”
Escapism through media has become a well-worn path for most of us through the last eighteen months. With eastern Australia in the grip of long lockdowns, genuine cheer is often hard to come by, as is the motivation to do anything other than sit on the couch, scrolling through TikTok.
As well as the show providing an “escape from what’s going on”, Youssef believes it will also act as inspiration to find the colour in life again.
“I think it engages you in a way that will make you want to do things like pull out an old craft project or start a new one. I think it’s both it’s both an escape, and it’s also an inspiration.”
Lockdown has prompted many of us to reassess our priorities, and also, crucially, our living spaces. With external excitements few and far between, finding joy in your immediate surroundings is essential.
Youssef reflected, “I don’t know if anyone else is like this, but I’ve definitely been looking around my house being like, I just want to have more plants and color and throw cushions, and I just want to have more light and color in my house, because this is where I am.”
“Before lockdown, I was running around like a mad person, just working as much as I possibly could. Now everything’s had to just take a totally different timetable…Most of it is not great, but parts of it have been really great for creativity.”
If lockdown hobbies have proven anything, it is that the world is evenly split into the crafters, and the craft-appreciators. Youssef counts herself in the latter category.
“If I had to pick between the two, I would say a crafter-appreciator, because I love craft,” she explained.
“I’ve always loved watching [it], like I was a bit of a shadow of my dad growing up, watching him in the shed making woodwork and doing all sorts of different bits and pieces around the house. He was always so excited when we had projects at school that we had to bring home and do anything crafty with it.”
“I’m not great at crafts, which lucky for me on this show, I don’t have to do a great deal of it!”
Part of the joy of Making It Australia for Youssef was watching the contestants’ minds work when faced with different challenges, and the way they inspired one another with their different talents and areas of expertise.
“Harley and I often joked about wanting to steal all of the work for our own houses, and there were times when that was going to be a real problem, because we just kept falling in love with what they were doing,” she said.
There is another element of the show that she particularly enjoyed: “I love the history. We do a little bit of investigating into different crafts from around the world. And I loved that side of it, to find out where all these different crafts came from and the way that people celebrate.”
Of course, no competition is complete without judges, who Youssef described as “astounding human beings”.
“Benja is one of the greatest paper engineers in the world. I didn’t know quite that that was a job before I met Benja, and then to see what he does, there’s just incredible pieces of art that he makes with paper. He’s worked on every campaign you can think, with all the biggest brands around the world.”
“Then I met Deborah Riley. It’s hard to explain this package of a human being. She’s so unassuming and humble. She’s worked on the biggest TV sets and film sets in the world, and she’s not only super intelligent and kind but really, really funny. I think you’ll get glimpses of that throughout the show: it just feels like they’re at the top of their game, super intelligent people, but really good human beings.”
Then, the final ingredient to the secret sauce – or, perhaps more accurately, the varnish on the decorative pottery, or final pom pom on the garland? Her co-host, Harley Breen.
“We’ve known each other for, I think, nearly 15 years. He’s one of the most ridiculous human beings on the planet. Just insanely funny, and so energetic and has 4000 children. He’s just he’s a one of a kind human, and I felt really lucky to work with him.”
“Working with Harley was exhausting, in that we laughed, basically for a few months, just non stop. You know, it was a tough schedule!”
Making It Australia premieres Wednesday, 15 September at 8.30pm on Ten.
Latest News
Smart Speakers Stung By Ad Fraud Costing Brands $1M Per Month, Says DoubleVerify
Be wary of a Nigerian sounding bloke that claims he is Kochie and pimping crypto on a smart speaker near you.
Contiki Challenges Influencers To ‘Switch On Social Travel’ In New Campaign Via We Are Social
Contiki wants influencers to give up irritating selfies on holiday by funding them to create irritating selfies. Genius.
“We Are In Our Epic Era”: Natalie Harvey On The Big Changes Coming As Mamamia Celebrates 10 Years Of Podcasting
Natalie Harvey has taken on the Mamamia CEO's chair that B&T hopes sports a mashed pumpkin vomit stain.
TV Ratings (08/05/2024) : Team USA Become First Female Team To Win LEGO Masters Australia
It's not been a great day for Australia - out early in Eurovision, crushed by the Yanks in Lego Masters.
GroupM Hires Former Amazon Ads Global Head Of Services
GroupM poaches Amazon's Mark Lomas to lead its retail media business. Says he has no opinion on Jeff Bezos' new yacht.
It’s All About The Indies! Introducing The Best Of The Best Indie Executive Creative Leaders 🎉
Indie agencies are thriving & it's mostly thanks to these industry leaders. And their delegating to the lackeys.
Introducing BrandComms.AI, Forethought Revolutionises How Brands Do Effective Creative
Marketing & strategy agency Forethought unveils new AI offering. Yet can't explain the plot to any of the Matrix films.
Independent Media Agencies Of Australia (IMAA) Announces Record 44 New Group Deals For 2024
The Independent Media Agencies rolls out even more support for its members. Alas, no signs of any discounted arancini.
After Google Search Spike, Reddit Shares Jump 14% In First Quarterly Results Since IPO
It looks like being a top time to be investing in the tech space. Defence industries & missile makers also doing well.
Gippsland Dairy Celebrates The Deliciousness Of Patience With ‘Slow Good’ Platform Via Special
Yoghurt's a lot like online dating, red wine & running marathons - you think it's good for you, but it probably isn't.
Let Them Eat Cake: Cashed-Up Professionals Are Back In CBDs And Airports And They Want Their Audis
Latest study finds the ABs are returning to offices & reveals how brands can cash in. Just not the work from home brands.
Mariah Carey Lends Her Inimitable Voice to ‘Portrait of a Portrait’, Audible’s Latest ‘Words + Music’ Installment
Think Mariah's only good for annoying the shit out of colleagues at Christmas? Think again with this new Audible work.
AiMCO Announces New Member Webinar To Deep-dive Into The Intricacies Of Influencer Agreements
Work with influencers? This webinar's a must. And, thankfully, sporting immaculately white teeth isn't a prerequisite.
TikTok’s Head Of People AUNZ Laura Chuck Leaves After Nearly 4 Years
As much as B&T wanted to use "chucks it in" in this headline, we didn't want the Chinese government coming after us.
News Corp Australia Gets Ready For D_Coded 2024
News' D_Coded event returns for 2024. And that can't be said about Alan Jones, the Masked Singer or plant-based meat.
Ideally Continues high growth trajectory, appoints senior marketing lead
Maura Halpin brings impressive resume to her new role at Ideally. Although her bronze in Year 12 swimming has vanished.
Feel-Good Gin! The Oasis Committee And Spirit of Little Things Collab On Charity Gin
Want to help disadvantaged youth all while drunkenly phoning an ex at 3am? Have we found the gin for you!
TV Ratings (06/05/2024): Emotional Lego Masters Goodbye Does The Numbers For Nine
And we thought Lego could only make you cry when you accidentally stood on a piece.
Lisa Wilkinson AM To Join Cannes In Cairns As Keynote Speaker
Multi-Award Winning Journalist and TV Host Lisa Wilkinson AM to speak at Cannes in Cains, sponsored by Pinterest.
Mamamia Names Natalie Harvey As New CEO
Mamamia has today announces the appointment of Natalie Harvey as Chief Executive Officer.
‘The Media Has A Way To Go On Diversity’ – Diversity Council Leader Lisa Annese On Industry Diversity And Why Sunita Gloster Is An Important Addition To Their Board
Few are more qualified than a Gruen regular to knock adland and the media into shape on diversity.
Mike Shows Up At A Wake And Still Hasn’t Seen That Show, In Latest Instalment Of ‘I Saw It On Binge’, Via Thinkerbell
Why is it we pay for 19 SVOD accounts namely due to FOMO but then rarely bother to watch the shows anyway?
Flexiroam Partners With Specialist Agencies To Launch “Ready For Anything” Global Campaign
Do you return from overseas with Bali belly, a possible STI & a huge phone bill? FlexiRoam may help with the last one.
Samsung Unveils Power Of AI To ‘Upscale Every Moment’ With Neo QLED 8K
Got mates who brag about their 83-inch, 10K resolution, OLED screen TV? You're just as bored & baffled as all of us.
Media-Wize Wins AUSCERT PR Account
Media-Wize calls itself "a media training and technology and cyber security PR agency". Think nerds with better hair.
Snapchat Taps Gelato Messina In New Brand Campaign
B&T needs little tempting to scoff more Gelato Messina. Apart from having to go up a size.
Travel Insurer Trippi Draws Ire From The Brazilian Embassy Over Cheeky Brazilian Ad
There's a very fine line between "playful" and "utterly offensive". These ads are almost a dictionary definition of it.
Racing NSW Hits Tabcorp With Legal Action Over $6 Million Revenue Loss
Here's some horse racing news that thankfully doesn't require a silly hat or passing out in a nearby rose bush.
AI Tools Such As ChatGPT Leading To ‘Content Overwhelm’ Among Marketers
Study says tech leading to an avalanche of content for marketers. Not to mention having to read the instruction manuals.
Stake Appoints 72andSunny As It’s Creative Partner
72andSunny nabs Stake's creative. And by that we mean the investment platform, not the nemesis of all vampires.
61% Of Aussies Want Corporate Australia To Stay Away From Social & Political Issues Leo Burnett Study Finds
Do you love a study that appears to fly in the face of every study before it? Be mesmerised by these results from Leos.
Brendon Cook, OAM, Inducted into the OMA Hall of Fame
Other than Australia's typically pleasant weather, no one's done more for outdoor than the former oOH! boss.
New Campaign Highlighting Renewable Gas As A Crucial Component Of Energy Transition
It's hard not to make a renewable gas ad sound like a tedious Year 9 science lesson. So well done to the agency here.
Love Media Welcomes Alana Dowling As New Client Director
Seasoned media pro Alana Dowling joins the Love Media team. Clearly replacing someone who didn't love it
B&T 30 Under 30 – Where Are They Now? Until Recently, Prison!
A prestigious 30 Under 30 gong can get you headhunted, promoted or, in this instance, a two-year stint in the slammer.
“We Will Never Tell A Journalist What To Write” – Nine’s Aimie Rigas On How Data Is Shaping News
Data becoming the journalist's tool for more engaged content. Still not beating dodgy MAFS contestants or a Kardashian.