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No more Rudd on Rove, please

The PM makes his third and dullest appearance on TEN's variety show but leaves variety at the door.

ruddyMemo to Kevin Rudd’s minders, and Rove‘s producers too:

If he’s going to appear on the show again can we please ban the political agenda? There are plenty of other television programmes for this kind of content: The 7:3o Report, Lateline, Meet the Press even Sunday Night, A Current Affair and Today Tonight are all supposed to have current affairs in them.

Rove is pitched as variety / light entertainment. There was very little of it in this exchange. Rudd enthralled us with the wonders of ‘ute-gate’ fake emails, climate change, education, global recession, jobs, schools and assorted dry talking points. Sure he was answering Rove‘s question, but it was a laboured, pardon the pun, reply.

An appearance on Rove is a chance to communicate with a wide, young audience. It would have been a great chance to showcase the PM’s personal side. Instead his third appearance was his dullest so far.

At one point our intrepid host had to ask of one of Rudd’s anecdotes: “is this going to be a long story?”

Sure sounded like it.

Dave Hughes tried to jump in and save another moment.

We even missed out on any hope of Rudd appearing on set with Bruno, though there were reportedly joint pics posed backstage. Which is more than John Howard would have ever agreed to.

65 Responses

  1. How come Bruno didn’t get to stay for the rest of the show? Did Kevin Rudd throw a tantrum and demand that Bruno not stay for the rest of the show?

  2. I don’t watch Rove anymore, but i have to say that just looking at Rudd makes me sick. The guy is a hypocrite. He criticises China for censoring their internet connection and blocking political content, then when in power, not only does he have the nerve to threaten to censor everyone’s internet connection in some ridiculous ‘standard’ which only anti-democratic countries would do and already plan to block political content, but he also has the nerve to hide this issue and use his puppet Stephen Conroy to do his dirty work. Any video games unsuitable for children – banned. Any web pages unsuitable for children – banned. Any mistakes occur – blame the Russian Mob. I really wish more people are aware of this issue and pin it on Rudd.

  3. I don’t care who’s on Rove as long as they’re entertaining. Last night, the Prime Minister was not entertaining but I’ll admit he has been in the past. For mine, that’s a failing of the show’s producers and Rove as host, to let a political animal run a segment as a platform for their agenda. You can’t blame the politician, it’s like complaining while a lion is tearing your leg off…that’s their nature and that’s what they do if you let them.

  4. As Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd has to be extremely careful what he says as it will be taken out of context and made front page headlines the next day. At least he bothers to go on Rove, which is more than John Howard ever did. John Howard didn’t even want to acknowledge the younger audience that watch Rove and that’s one of the reasons why he lost the election.
    I am very relieved that Kevin Rudd at least did not try to be funny, as that would be more cringe worthy to watch. He is who he is, and I admire him for going on the show knowing that he is leaving himself wide open for criticisms of being dull and boring…he was especially brave following Bruno and the on-going parody of himself Kevin Rudd PM. I think, given who he is and his personality, he did the best he could and took it all in good spirits. Has anyone ever said to the Prime Minister “is this going to be a long and boring answer” like Rove did last night (or words similar).

  5. Bruno would have been a lot funnier if I didn’t read the exact same jokes in the Qld Sunday Mail yesterday morning.
    The fashion and pets joke, Middle Earth, Iranian President and sushi/carbs jokes, the jokes about Cohen and his wife (complete with again faked out removed line).

    Really dissapointing.

  6. I hate it when Rove is fed questions – it was so obvious that Rove had been given a list of questions to ask both Bruno and Rudd.

    I also find it pathetic and embarrassing that our national leader needs to go on a variety show to push his agenda; he is such a media whore. Rove is not a journalist; he’s barely a comedian, and it’s a waste of airtime. The only thing I learnt from that ‘interview’ is how much Rudd enjoys a camera.

    Oh, it was Katie Homes that was muted in Bruno’s joke. Interesting that’s the only joke that got censored, but I guess Tom & Katie are in town now, and Ten don’t want to get sued.

  7. Yawn @ P.M.

    While they’re at it, get rid of the stupid and expired “Kevin Rudd – P.M. Series 2” segments. They were never funny, and they never will be.

    Rove’s episode was actually quite decent last night, because there was no Ryan Shelton and his philosophisationing, and Bruno was hilarious.

    Yeah, I would have liked to have seen Kevin and Bruno on set together. That was a let down!

  8. David – the PM is just doing his job.

    You hit the nail on the head when you said he was replying to Rove’s question. Ask a different type of question, and you’ll get a different type of answer.

  9. yeh I saw the pm interview- in one sense, he was asked by rove about the ute gate scandal, it was pretty big news so you can’t exactly not mention it. But I guess it could have been more entertaining.

  10. Just remind me – he is the Prime Minister, not an entertainer, isnt he? I think we should leave the “sideshow” antics and entertainment to Mr Turnbull – he is a clown, after all!

  11. yes yes…but one question…who’s name was silenced on the last question on the Bruno interview…when referring to Sasha Cohens poor wife not getting as much sex as …. then the TV went silent for the name…check the tapes…iam sure it was deleted…and now iam intrigued….lol

  12. Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister of Australia. He isn’t selling a pop album.

    I don’t need to know who Rudd would turn gay for – Instead I’d like to hear his opinion on some serious topics.

  13. You know, I would have to agree… Rove is about the personality of the person on the show – it’s not a political agenda show….

    I’m a Rudd fan and have my photo with him – but last night kinda left me going blah… But I also think it was hard for him being second after Bruno…

  14. Bruno was very funny, but want I really want to know is: whose name did he mention that was bleeped out??? It was in reference to his story about the PM’s sex life.

  15. It was unfunny and drawn out. He is a massive nerd. That’s what I expected. Everyones talking about him this morning and not about corruption/utes… he acheived his goal.

  16. Was it too much to ask for a Letterman v McCain interview?

    Australian TV is ripe for a youth/action oriented political program, such a shame we don’t have anyone dissect politics for the masses on TV here.

  17. I couldn’t agree with you less. I think it is refreshing to see the prime minister appear on a variety / light entertainment show. A lot of younger voters wouldn’t even know what the 7:30 Report, Lateline or Meet the Press is, and ACA/TT isn’t the place for journalism.

    Naturally, the interview was nothing compared to Bruno’s (which had me PMSLing from start to finish), it was good to see him and that he answered the questions asked.

    Guess everyone has (and is entitled to) their own opinion on it. If Rudd continues his once-a-year appearance on Rove, I would be happy.

  18. Truly cringe-worthy television. Reminiscent of having one of your parents tag along when you go to the pub with your mates. Mind you, KRudd has always been Mr Serious, even back in the Sunrise days it was Joe Hockey who was the comic foil of the pair.

  19. Agreed. A laboured and painful experience for all involved. Kevin trying to be “down with the kids” was also painful, as he tried to remember his pre-written “jokes”.
    The anti-Turnbull jokes before the PM even showed up just played as sucking up.
    Like you said Mike, no more please!
    Embarrassing.

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