we like you

If you're an Australian, part of gen Y and have ever watched free to air TV, you'll probably either a) know of or b) be in love with the baby faced 25 year old comedian and voice of our people, (well, on Talkin' Bout Your Generation, anyway) Josh Thomas.

Having a successful stand-up career, appearances on Good News Week, making a podcast whenever he feels like it and fearlessly team captaining Gen Y to defeat almost every week on Your Gen wasn't enough for him though. His newest venture, scripted comedy slash drama slash biopic Please Like Me started on ABC2 last week, and although only 3 out of six episodes have aired so far, it's fresh, funny, and just a little bit awkward. A perfect mix. A lot of the show is fictional, but there are many elements that are taken from Josh's actual life and experiences, like his well known love for cardigans.

The show opened with Josh's girlfriend, Claire (Caitlin Stasey, who you might remember from Tomorrow When The War Began) breaking up with him over a $19 sundae, reasoning that, "Josh, you're probably gay." This does turn out to be true, and the storyline sees a developing relationship with Geoffrey (Wade Briggs), a very pretty boy who works with Josh's best friend Tom (played by Josh's actual best friend Tom). There are glimpses into the lives of Josh's parents, his friends' relationships (although they all seem to be at Josh's house like, all the time) and features a few cameo appearances of John, Josh's actual dog and $haniqua, Tom's actual rabbit.

Beyond the humour in the show, however, there is the underlying theme of discovering one's identity, in Josh's case coming to terms with the fact that he is gay. I can't imagine how he would feel, but he's not fussed discussing it with his family, until his Aunt Peg finds out by accident and Geoffrey outs him to his father. Surprise! Although he feared "putting something in his bum", his biggest challenge yet has been sitting through a church sermon on how homosexuality is a sin. In an act of true inspiration, though, his religious Aunt Peg stood up and defended him in front of everyone, her speech coming word for word from when Josh's grandma Mona did the same thing in real life.

Nothing like this show has every really been done on Australian TV before, and it's a big step forward for Josh himself and also young LGBT people of Australia especially (even if it has been speculated the show was shunted to ABC2 because it was "too gay" for the regular ABC) and their portrayal in media.

Now, if you're a Josh fan, I don't know why I'm about to tell you this because you're probably already watching, but you might recognise a few of the jokes from previous stand-up shows and TV appearances, but really, they're still good every time.

Please Like Me is still a youngling, but it's been great so far and I think it will only get better, and who doesn't want to watch a show about people more awkward than you that features a rabbit called $haniqua?