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Campaign countdown: Hey Hey, well that was OK

Paul Colgan

by Paul Colgan

21 Jul 09:13pm

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Filed under: Election 2010, Hey Hey Its Saturday, Politics, Television, Tony Abbott

80 comments

If the Liberal Party’s campaign HQ is finally open there’ll be some relieved faces there tonight. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott calculated risk in appearing on Hey Hey It’s Saturday turned out to be relatively smooth sailing. (Not so Mark Latham’s appearance on Sky News for Labor, but more of that shortly.)

Thank Pluck for that ... Tony Abbott at the Hey Hey studios

Abbott broke W.C. Fields’ golden rule - never work with children or animals - and came out unscathed. There were some fleeting uh-oh moments with the acts on the Red Faces talent slot including some dancing dogs in dresses and a group of four girls singing the Troggs classic 60s number Wild Thing.

But as it played out it was all fine entertainment. Abbott was a good sport and looked comfortable as he shared the judging panel with Kylie Minogue and actor Rex Lee, best known for his role as Lloyd, a gay office assistant, in the hit show Entourage. No harm in appearing alongside such huge stars on such a hugely popular television show - when it goes right.

It capped a marginally better day for the Liberal campaign which has been beset by confusion over its industrial relations policy all week.

Punch contributor Tory Shepherd has a report on Abbott’s appearance here, noting Abbott was booed as he walked on.

Also tonight former Labor leader Mark Latham was interviewed on Sky News, where he described Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s position on population growth as a fraud.

Speaking to David Speers, Latham described the Labor position on population growth in Western Sydney as follows:

Ms Gillard’s “sustainable” population call was not backed with any substance and was a “fraud” designed to appeal to western Sydney voters sensitive to the asylum seeker issue, Mr Latham said.

“That’s a proxy for saying, `Maybe we’re not in favour of those refugees’,” he said.

“And this sustainable thing is also sending out the message to the green community that, after the backdown on climate change, that we’re really sort of still green.

“So I think that some smartie in the Labor Party has worked out that this could perhaps help save four seats in western Sydney and it can be used as a proxy in the climate change debate.

“It’s clever politics, but it’s a fraud. It’s a fraud of the worst order.”

He also said that despite the Government claiming it had started an “education revolution” schools were functioning as they were years ago. More (with video) at the Sky News site here.

Latham also spoke at length on how the leaders of both parties are forced to stop themselves from saying what they really think because of the media cycle and the need to manage the competing views in the electorate and their parties. It’s worth a look.

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80 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Rob says:

      10:01pm | 21/07/10

      Why is this show on a Wednesday?  In fact, why is it on at all?

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      10:23am | 22/07/10

      Because some people enjoy it?

    • Paul J says:

      05:05pm | 22/07/10

      This show is no longer going to be on a Wednesday, as you would have known had you watched, which clearly you didn’t.

      When it returns in late October it will return on a Saturday night, and probably in the 6.30pm timeslot.

      The reason why it is on because 2 MILLION people tuned in to watch the reunion shows last year, which may have given Ch9 the idea that maybe some viewers were interested in having it return.

      The last time I checked, this country was also a democracy and we have the right to choose what to watch, and what not to watch. For example,
      I cannot STAND MasterChef, but there are 1.5 MILLION people that tune in to that show on a regular basis, so I don’t think I have the right to tell TV stations what programs to put on or not to put on, as ratings points will determine that, after all. So, why don’t do you us all a favour, Rob and keep your ill-informed opinions to yourself.

      If you don’t want to watch Hey Hey, I am sure there’s an episode of PlaySchool that you could watch on the ABC instead. Clearly that would be about as much entertainment you could put up with.

    • Daniel says:

      10:03pm | 21/07/10

      It was a very controlled experience for Tony. He must have hated it. He didnt screw up though.

      Reply

    • stevie p says:

      10:16pm | 21/07/10

      He looked relaxed and confident. The trouble is for Gillard in not showing up is they tell the audience you turned down the invitation and then poke fun at you in a school crossing uniform and a cartoon drawing with a realistic long pointy nose and large posterior.

      She really is the girl in the bubble isn’t she at the moment talking about over 200 apprentice trade centres that don’t exist - very stage managed.

      Reply

    • talent time says:

      08:10am | 22/07/10

      One doesn’t know if Ms Gillard was approached for Dancing With the Stars early on, and possibly thought it wise not to appear too eager to do second prize.

    • Ken says:

      10:16pm | 21/07/10

      Can’t agree with that assessment.  He looked really awkward and his nervous laugh cut across the other audio.  He also didn’t say anything or have any pre-scripted funny lines so - no, was quite underwhelmed. He hadn’t been prepared properly by his minders and seemed dumped in the deep end.

      Reply

    • Lucy says:

      10:19pm | 21/07/10

      Abbott did fine. Nothing much to gain from the experience - but much to lose if you end up looking like a tool (as Rudd did on Rove).

      Reply

    • Bruce says:

      10:32pm | 21/07/10

      I think politicians should stay away from entertainment and comedy shows, its high stakes stuff.  If they say or do too much the media are just looking for an angle to belt them.

      Reply

    • The Shaking Head says:

      11:22pm | 21/07/10

      @Bruce Abbott has stayed away from comedy shows, he appeared on Hey Hey

    • Dan says:

      03:06am | 22/07/10

      :D Good one TSH.

    • Daffy says:

      09:34am | 22/07/10

      Hey Hey I guess could loosely be described as a comedy, Gillard would have more suited being on the show though.  Discussing nothing of substance, she really is like someone’s mum, but mysteriously enough has no kids herself.  A bit of a puppet, lacking personality…..part of her popularity may simply be that nobody fears her.  She appears not to be tainted by anything that Rudd was responsible for (yet he was still just as popular with the electorate has her).  I like one commentators take on this election, It’s the Seinfeld election, an election about nothing smile.

    • DC says:

      11:05pm | 21/07/10

      Tony Abbott was the only reason I watched the show.

      I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew if he tried turning it into a political spectacle it would backfire on him.

      Tony Abbott looked awkward and out of place - it might have been as result of some people cheering and some people booing.

      His first attempt at a joke about Gillard truly bombed out.  His saving grace was the appearance of the worm which made people laugh.

      He probably thought they were laughing with him - not at him.

      His next attempt at a joke was even worse - the funniest part was when Rex Lee put him in his place.

      All in all it wasn’t a failure for Tony Abbott - but I certainly wouldn’t put it as a success for him either.

      And once again, half the audience booed, and half the audience cheered as Darryl Somers thanked him.

      Reply

    • Ryan says:

      10:07am | 22/07/10

      @DC: Well it just goes to show the complete lack of class the average Labor voter actually has. I mean really, booing someone because of your political preference is sad, pathetic and classless. We obviously need better education in our public schools because these adults were acting like two year olds. Stay in school kids!

    • Bob says:

      04:05pm | 22/07/10

      @ Ryan

      Damn those bogan plebs. If only they were as classy as Liberal voters like us who were raised properly and sent to decent schools.

    • Seano says:

      12:42am | 22/07/10

      When did Latham get relevant?

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      08:44am | 22/07/10

      About the time Labor made him their leader. About the time the Labor party were happy to make him PM of Australia.

    • Rowdy says:

      09:29am | 22/07/10

      ...and MarK, about the same time as Julia Gillard became his biggest supporter, cosying up with him over Medicare Gold…..gotta love Latham tossing hand grenades from the sideline….whereas Malcolm Fraser is just plain senile….

    • bella starkey says:

      11:02am | 22/07/10

      They’ll always have Hewson.

    • Seano says:

      06:10pm | 22/07/10

      Lol.

      The conservatives despised Latham but now his spiteful digs are somehow worthy of deep consideration.

      The bloke is a goose anyone who thinks he’s worth listening too now because he might support their own views is tarred with the same feather.

    • MarK says:

      09:47pm | 22/07/10

      No Seano /sigh.

      You really don’t get it do you.

      I understand that you live in your own world where everthing of the right is evil and nasty and the left is toasty, soft, pure and warm but do take a moment every so often to consider other points of view.

      I am of the right (although not anywhere that you would even appreciate or understand) and I guarantee you that I despise Latham. the fact that Labor actually made him a PM chance was enough for me to write this current bunch off for a long time.

      Latham is poison.

      The thing is he is of the left. And you really cannot disown him out of convenience.

      he actually worked and ran with the majority of this crew. he is not some 70’s or 80’s throwback. He is relevant and in tune with the current members.

      He is not “worthy” of anything, particularly your dismissal simply because his views do not fit your narrative. You really need to man up Seano and start looking critically at everything around you.

    • Sirro says:

      01:29am | 22/07/10

      I thought Tony Abbott did ok. It actually came across as pretty rude when a few in the audience booed. They did show a few hillbillies with teeth like a witchdoctors necklace sitting in the audience so it was propably those Labor supporters who booed. Peter Beatie and Anna Bligh’s lovechildren no doubt.

      Plenty of people also cheered for him aswell.

      I thought he was generally natural and unaffected and appeared a good sport. His coment that the hick singers voice sounded like Julia’s was quite funny but not a cheap shot.

      My only real criticism was that he didnt give the little girls 10 out of 10 but then neither did Kylie.

      Reply

    • Sally says:

      10:04am | 22/07/10

      Spot on Sirro, my sentiments exactley!

    • Joe Rossi of RPData says:

      01:41pm | 22/07/10

      Great comment Sirro!

      I think Abbott was out of his comfort zone, but that was the point. He gave it a go, tried his best and fared ok. So I congratulate him on a job well done.

    • ibast says:

      03:43pm | 22/07/10

      It’s funny isn’t it.  Hillbillies with poor bridgework is exactly the image I get when I think of the conservative yokels that sit at the heart of Abbott’s following.

    • Reg says:

      06:29am | 22/07/10

      He’s a good sport, just so socially immature. Gauche even? You’d never catch our Tony putting a sweaty palm on the Queen’s torso. Opps sorry, the Queen doesn’t have one of those.

      Reply

    • Fog Badger says:

      06:42am | 22/07/10

      DC, Abbott’s a politician, not a comedian….. Jeezz.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      08:38am | 22/07/10

      Abbott wouldn’t even make a politicans bootlace,he has always been John Howard’s ‘attack dog’ in Parliament, and he doesn’t have any good qualities that would enhance his prospects of ever being a good politician, Leader or even Prime Minister..
      Abbott is an opportunist, a self confessed liar and he couldn’t help himself at taking a swipe at Julia Gillard, by attempting to compare the first contestant has having a accent like Julia Gillard.
      “The first act was some sort of inbred yokel performance,a woman who didn’t last long before the gong sounded.”
      “I quite like the Julia Gillard accent”, Mr abbott said,giving her a score of five.
      The swipe at Julia Gillard’s accent, shows Tony Abbott has lacks respect and integrity, and it was Un-Australian like.
      Tony Abbott, has no real policies to put forward to the Australian people, and anything that he does present as a policy of sorts, cannot be believed anyway.
      On the 7.30 Report Tony Abbott said: “dont believe everything I say”
      he also said in the same 7.30 Report interview with Kerry o’Brien that:
      “Sometimes,in the heat of the discussion,you go a little bit further than you would if it was an absolutely calm,considered,prepared,scripted remark,” he told ABC’s 730 Report on Monday.
      “Which is of the reasons why statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth is those carefully prepared,scripted remarks.”

    • Michael Cejnar says:

      09:14am | 22/07/10

      @Christian Real
      Abbot’s comment to O’Brian is clearly a self-evidently true insightful statement of all politicians.

      Are you more comfortable with content-free waffle from Rudd/Gillard or outright bold Labor lies about there being no problems in BER/ Insulation/ Miners paying 12.5% tax etc?

      In fact, Abbott has been criticized by others for being too truthful - shooting from the hip, and indeed he is for his own good.

      How Australia can re-elect its worst and most contemptuous government in history just because they put lipstick on it is Australia’s tragedy.

    • Sally says:

      10:13am | 22/07/10

      @ Christian Real. You’re an embarrasment, when Tony Abbot said not everything he says is the gospel truth, he became the world’s most truthful and genuine politician. “Un-Australian like”, apart from the shocking grammar, I have to question whether you and your ancestors before you have been living under a rock since the beggining of democracy and political campaigning? You’re naivety is un-Australian….like.

    • James1 says:

      01:16pm | 22/07/10

      Keep in mind, Sally, that the world’s most truthful politician is a very low standard.  He is still less truthful even than real estate agents.

    • Eye4anEye says:

      04:51pm | 22/07/10

      @ Christian Real - Ahh nice to see your still plugging away without Pers Christian…..good luck with the propaganda comrade.

      “The swipe at Julia Gillard’s accent, shows Tony Abbott has lacks respect and integrity, and it was Un-Australian like.” LOL unlike knifing someone in the back to take their job.

      Tony Abbotts a bit of a tool but I’ll take him over Jules - at least he’s honest enough to admit politicians lie (which we all know they all do).

    • Christian Real says:

      06:51pm | 22/07/10

      Sally
      Un-Australian you say, I am more Australian than you or you ike will ever be, I am of Aboriginal origin as were my parents, their parents and their ancestors
      It is time liberal riff raff like you crawled back under your rock, you are the one Un-Australian not me.

    • Christian Real says:

      09:12pm | 22/07/10

      Sally,
      Tony Abbott must be a bigger embarrasment, going on this story in News.com.au .
      ” Why tense Liberals are airbrushing Tony from election material”
      written by Steve Lewis and Simon Benson, on July 20, 2010 ! 12.00AM :
      “Liberal MPs are airbrushing Tony Abbott from their campaign material amid concerns the Opposition Leader is a turnoff with some voters.”
      * Says a lot Sally, when his own candidates do not want him on their corflutes and other political material.

    • Robert Smissen Rural SA says:

      11:30pm | 22/07/10

      Christian Real are you just a kid? ? Or have you forgotten, Keating constantly paid out Mr. Downer about his accent, yet nobody said that did they

    • Jane says:

      08:05am | 22/07/10

      At least he didn’t make a complete fool out of himself and he could have. It was nothing to write home to Mum about though. 6/10

      Reply

    • Rosie says:

      08:38am | 22/07/10

      Couldn’t see what the big deal was? Abbott if elected PM for Australia is PM for all the people so whether hanging around a TV fun show, attending funerals of our dead brave soldiers fighting in Afganastan, running around like a fit mallee bull on the school grounds with primary school children, walking in markets talking to the those that supply our daily fruit & vegie etc Last night on Hey Hey should have been a hit for all Australians to see our Kylie’s grand appearance and if anything Abbott should have been privillaged to be asked to make his appearance with Kylie who is up there with the international stars. To the naysayers go and report or talk about something that may help us choose wisely our destiny for at least the next 3 years and not vote Labour because Gillard is a woman. Australians are much much better than that.

      It was refreshing to hear Mark Latham be himself and speak honestly about his feelings and opinions about both Abbott & Gillard and the two major parties. I don’t usually take too much notice of what ex politicans have to say because I feel ex politicans should retire happily away from the political areana. What was interesting and worries me though was what he said about Bob Browne’s Green Party and the deal made with Labour;  “clever politics but a fraud”

      Reply

    • Retired Soldier says:

      08:40am | 22/07/10

      It was a gamble for Tony to front at a show supported by people who generally look and act like the participants of Red Faces. I never watch this program for that reason but last night i wondered how they audience would treat him. Apart from the disgusting shouts from the usual suspects he was made to feel pretty welcome. Good on him for having the guts to front up for this show and lets hope he can front up fr the nation in August.

      Reply

    • jck says:

      09:13am | 22/07/10

      Yep! Agree and I have more respect for a retired soldiers opinion then most.  I like seeing high profile people out of their ‘normal’ roles;- gives me more of an idea of who they really are.  Taking into consideration that Tony Abbott has alot on his mind and probably feeling some degree of weariness;-  I thought he did well!

    • Christian Real says:

      08:46am | 22/07/10

      Sirro
      It seems that because the audience booed at Tony Abbott you automatically stereo-type them all as Labor supporters.
      People don’t have to be always seen Labor supporters just because they dislike or disaprove of Tony Abbott.

      Reply

    • Kick says:

      09:24am | 22/07/10

      No but there is fairly good chance they are wink, I suspect those people won’t be voting liberal at the election.  Probably vote for…... the other guy smile.

    • Kick says:

      09:26am | 22/07/10

      No but there is fairly good chance they are wink, I suspect those people won’t be voting liberal at the election.  Probably vote for…... the other guy smile.

    • ibast says:

      10:31am | 22/07/10

      Actually Kick, I think there will be a lot of liberal Liberal voters that won’t be giving the party their primary vote this election because of Abbott.  The two-partied preferred system will be working for the Liberals this election.  Having noted that, I don’t think those voters would have been in the Hey Hey audience.

    • Kick says:

      11:30am | 22/07/10

      @ibast, yeah Tony Abbott’s popularity is consistent with the base liberal support though or maybe just below it (only a liberal could love him LOL), having said that he is a shade sim to Keating in some ways, says the first thing that comes to his mouth and is socially a bit off putting as a result but is strong, some might say arrogant in his views. Voting for the Greens etc in a seat that one of the major parties will win is irrelevant though, it’s where that preference goes (lib or lab) that mostly matters as you note yourself.  I get the impression he might have enjoyed mein kampf at one stage in his life… who hasn’t though (chuckle) wink?  I rareley vote labor and this time they have convinced me that they don’t know what they are doing, both parties have had a lot of talent leave in the last decade, and it concerns me that the think tank is empty at the top of Australia’s bureaucratic chain.  More and more globalisation is leaving us in a situation where govt is left to “intellectuals” in other countries (I don’t really care who wins just do a reasonable job once the selectors throw you the bat aye, rookie or otherwise)

    • George says:

      11:46am | 22/07/10

      Correct - You vote for a party, not for a person (isn’t that what was mentioned over and over again over the last few weeks?)
      Therefore you can vote for the Liberals, but be very against it’s current (temporary) leader.
      If Turnbull appeared on the show, responses might have been different. Or Costello….or even a double act of Abbott and Costello (the funny ones).

    • Brad Coward says:

      03:45pm | 22/07/10

      Christian Real, I certainly wouldn’t boo Julia Gillard.  In fact, if she offered her hand I would graciously shake it and take pleasure in telling her that she need not count on my vote on election day.

      Since day one of the campaign Labor noise has followed Abbott whilst he’s been on the hustings.  Some have even been Labor Party employees, such as the Russian Red Bikini Boy.  Why don’t I see any of those terrible conservatives booing and carrying on, chasing after Gillard as she campaigns ?  Conservatives have more class, perhaps ?

    • casba says:

      08:55am | 22/07/10

      @Sirro

      They weren’t little “girls”, SIrro.  They were little ” females” -headed in the direction of “tartdom”.  Anyone who thougth them cute and funny needs their head read.  Any parent who would let let their little people get out and sexualize themselves like that , at what is probably the tender age of 7 or 8, needs some serious counselling.

      Reply

    • Sirro says:

      11:54am | 22/07/10

      Surely you are kidding about this?

      They were little girls and I ,and no doubt the majority of the populace regardless of political alignment would reject your point of view.

      HHIS is put forward as a family show in a family time slot. This act was entirely appropriate for the show.

      Even Julia Gillard would no doubt have liked the act.

    • Michael says:

      08:57am | 22/07/10

      I was in the Audience last night for Hey Hey. Tony looked a little uneasy after being booed by some of the audience. He got through the segments ok but he just needs to lighten up a bit I think.

      Reply

    • Michael Cejnar says:

      09:01am | 22/07/10

      This contest seems to be about personal popularity, not statesmanship, else Gillard’s past 3 year train wreck would disqualify her. I think Abbott needs exposure to ordinary people to let them know he is a decent guy and Hey Hey worked OK for me.

      Reply

    • Michael Cejnar says:

      09:03am | 22/07/10

      This contest seems to be about personal popularity, not statesmanship, else Gillard’s past 3 year train wreck would disqualify her. I think Abbott needs exposure to ordinary people to let them know he is a decent guy and Hey Hey worked OK for me.

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      10:32am | 22/07/10

      A ‘decent guy’ (according to you) means nothing in the world of politics….  You know him personally I take it?  ‘Exposure’ won’t achieve anything if his policies are still crap - or I should say still non-existant…

    • WayneT says:

      11:32am | 22/07/10

      Why Matt?  It seems to have worked extremely well for Labor.

    • td says:

      09:34am | 22/07/10

      Was this Abbott’s attempt to reach a youth market? If so they are really out of touch. I guess the oldies probably enjoyed the strapping young Abbott.

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen Rural SA says:

      03:12pm | 23/07/10

      td, surely you jest, unless you are 98, Hey hey audiences are definitely “the youth market”

    • Darren says:

      09:38am | 22/07/10

      it was good that his colleague Christopher Pyne won red faces!

      Reply

    • Anita says:

      09:58am | 22/07/10

      It was uncomfortable - I found it hard to watch. Very awkward.

      Reply

    • Jack says:

      10:05am | 22/07/10

      The election really is ho-hum. No real analysis/commentary on Gillard’s stake in all Labour’s mistakes of first term. No real alternative policies from Coalition. Very reminiscent of recent SA Election really - fought over the highly prioritized issue of where we should play football.

      Getting booed by some (moronic) elements is hardly catastrophic - although elections in Australia are now becoming more like Australian Idol. I recall last election our ‘dearly beloved’ Kev getting swamped by school girls in Adelaide - and he was the fantastic experiment the country is still paying for. Now commentary suggesting people are voting for Gillard because she is a woman…?!? All for breaking glass ceilings… but it is scary that someone could be elected to lead our country because they are of a different sex.

      Reply

    • Ashley says:

      10:28am | 22/07/10

      Isn’t ironic that the national ‘singing budgie’ and the nation’s biggest of ‘budgie smuggler’ admirer appear together on national bogan T.V.!

      Reply

    • Richard says:

      10:31am | 22/07/10

      This web site should be called LNP central… you forgot that he was Booed when he walked on…. I guess this is where all the churnalists have gone from being sacked from Newscorp because they are not interested in journalism and more interested in plagiarism and ‘buying’ stories from APP and other agencies.
      Latham is irrelevant…except for newscorp whom have trouble finding quality stories to plagiarize…. Oh yeah… all the ads are blocked so no one gets paid… 8-)

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      11:02am | 22/07/10

      Err Latham is a very recent Labor leader elected by his party as an alternative PM.

      I think relevant fits. Remember Gillard was the leader of the cheer squad.

      It is humorous to see people like and Seano trry to squirm and spin away from that debacle.

    • James says:

      10:34am | 22/07/10

      I love the way he burst onto the Hey Hey set giggling moronically.
      Heh heh.. heh-heh-heh-heh.. heh-heh-heh!

      Reply

    • sleepy says:

      10:43am | 22/07/10

      I think Gillard knocked it back because she thought she would be confused with another actor.  Is it just me or does she sound like Kath from Kath and Kim?  Every time she opens her mouth I expect ‘Wayne, look at me, look at me.!”

      Reply

    • Lorraine says:

      02:12pm | 22/07/10

      Ha ha sleepy, my husband has said she sounds just like Kath!

    • Evelyne says:

      10:56am | 22/07/10

      Is Channel 9 deliberately wanted “Hey, Hey it’s Saturday” to flop??? Why would you put a show that is called Saturday on a Wednesday time slot!! I used to like this show, but until the last two weeks I didn’t even know that it was on. I was looking for it on Saturday, never even crossed my mind that it is not on Saturday!! Not to mention there is a big competition between channels on Wednesday, lots of good shows, but “Hey, Hey it’s Saturday” wouldn’t had any competition on Saturday as there is nothing interesting to watch on that night. Put the show back to Saturday and you will have a winner!!!

      Reply

    • WayneT says:

      11:43am | 22/07/10

      We need more of this so that we can see how these people really react in different situations.  Everything else is so stage managed during these campaigns..

      Reply

    • Kinkaju says:

      11:50am | 22/07/10

      I don’t watch red faces it used to be a good show years ago but its past its used by date. I have been interested to read the comments of those who did watch it so thank you. As for Mark Latham I think its sour grapes with him. He was an embarrassment to us all( Australians) at the time he was leader. He needs to move on with his life and stop dwelling on the past. I can image if Steve Feilding is not back in Parliament after the election (we can only hope) that he to will come out sprouting venom in a few years. Latham’s views became irrelevant when he was a leader I have no idea why anyone would pay them credence now

      Reply

    • Mark Waters says:

      12:05pm | 22/07/10

      My youngest watched Hey Hey and asked, “Whose that dad.” I replied ” That’s Tony Abbott and he’s in the running to be our next PM.” With an innocent answer she replied, “He seems nice.” Maybe it’s not such a bad thing for a politicion to show a more fun human side.

      Reply

    • Kate says:

      12:59pm | 22/07/10

      Booing was scripted by Show’s producers and was supposed to be the lead-in for a gag from Red Symonds along the lines of ’ at last someone here who gets more Boos than I do” - shame that the producers have not explained that to the public who watched and the media who have reported it all ad nauseum all day.

      Reply

    • Rosie says:

      02:25pm | 22/07/10

      Thank you Kate!

      I just hope the media could take notice!

    • Stewart Henstock says:

      02:43pm | 22/07/10

      You’re not a real Aussie if you don’t like Hey Hey….it’s as Aussie as Skippy and i found Tony Abbott connecting with…hmmm…how should i say it?...ahh yes i’ll quote BP’s CEO…“the small peoples”.
      Too bad Gillard refused the invite to appear..maybe they could of had a debate with Plucka being the moderator or better still invite Costello.
      They could of had Abbott and Costello doing the “Whose on 1st…i don’t know…3rd base”...baseball gig as part of red faces.

      Reply

    • Peter says:

      03:10pm | 22/07/10

      Yes, i loved the BP CEO who called us all “little and small”.. Because BP’s act in the Gulf of Mexico, that kind of stuff is the domain of the “Big” people…

    • Brad Coward says:

      03:32pm | 22/07/10

      Don’t work with children or animals ?  But Julia Gillard has been working with Nicola Roxon and Anthony Albanese for years and I haven’t heard so much as a mumble from the media.

      Reply

    • Rowdy says:

      03:43pm | 22/07/10

      Agreed Brad…...but which is the child and which the animal? Or are Roxon & Albanese both the same?

    • Brad Coward says:

      04:29pm | 22/07/10

      Flip a coin, Rowdy !  Flip a coin !

    • Evan Findlay says:

      04:35pm | 22/07/10

      He looked awkward and uncomfortable from the moment he was booed onto the set until he was booed off the set. The part I found funny was as he was introduced the audience started to clap/boo and the other judges started to clap but Kylie gave Rex a nudge as if to say “Don’t clap for him he’s homophobic” and if you watch Rex’s face it’s like “Oh this is the one” and he stops clapping. It was subtle but it was there. But why he did it is beyond me, it smacks of desperation and after the week Tony had it was fairly disappointing.

      Reply

    • Stewart Henstock says:

      05:50pm | 22/07/10

      You forgot racist and sexist…honestly….lol
      Maybe he new Rex was on and wanted to reach out to the gay community.
      You weirdos creep me out.

    • GBS says:

      10:09pm | 22/07/10

      OMG! You people are pathetic!!! He has Gay friends, so how the hell is he Homophobic??? He might not agree on it, or agree to Gay marriage, but remember either does Gillard on all counts!! The Coalition will win so get over yourselves. I’m gay and would rather a beer with Abbott than Gillard anyday!

    • Saskia says:

      05:32pm | 22/07/10

      What a God-awful program.  First time I have watched it - just to see Abbott.  Why would he go on such a program??  Excruciatingly bad.  It must be a Victorian thing??  Had to mute it and turn away for most of it.

      Take the whole show out the back and knacker it.

      And Tony - no more experimenting with low-brow to impress the mouth breathers.

      Reply

    • Duke says:

      12:49am | 23/07/10

      Why was he sitting near a waxworks figurine of Kylie Minoque?

      Reply
 
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