Young Talent Time 16th birthday, 1987

Birthdays are a big deal in the Young Talent Time universe and this excerpt comes from episode 87/16, recorded on 16 May 1987, to celebrate the show’s 16th birthday. 

Kool & The Gang’s 1980 song ‘Celebration’, which is sung here, has been covered many times including by Dragon and Kylie Minogue. 

Team members include Lorena Novoa (1984–87, 1988), Mark Stevens (1985–88), Juanita Coco (1987–88), Danielle (Dannii) Minogue (1982–88), Vince Del Tito (1983–88), Natalie Miller (1985–88), Beven Addinsall (1983–88), Courtney Compagnino (1986–88), Greg Poynton (1984–88) and Tim Nelson (1984–87). 

The studio audience are enthusiastic participants in the celebration, waving balloons. The editing is quick and uses slow dissolves and some cute but dated effects to place the heads of team members onto floating balloons.

The costumes are vibrant and the sets give a big concert feel to the number. These ingredients add up to a sense that all the stops have been pulled out, appropriate for a big celebration. 

The voice-over by announcer Gavin Wood (also known for his long-running stint announcing on music program Countdown) points out that Young Talent Time is Australia’s longest running TV variety show. It ran for 18 years from 1971 to 1988. 

Notes by Beth Taylor