Comments on: The Little Aussie Bleeder

The Little Aussie Bleeder

not_on_display — Sun, 04 May 2008 15:21:48 -0800

Garry McDonald, aka Norman Gunston, aka the "little aussie bleeder," may be well known out Australia way. For most Americans, however, Norman G remains far, far down under the radar. But he's the forefather of the UK's Ali G; he's Canadian Nard wu ar thee Human Servi ette's nerdier dad; he's America's Laz lo To th (US) with a combover and a microphone; he's Jiminy Glick's Jack Sprat. Perhaps you saw Norman long ago in a segment on USA Network's Night Flight variety show. [bonus: many many youtubes of Night Flight segments, courtesy of this awesome website.] But I bet you didn't know he released a KIckaSS single (among others), jammed with Frank Zappa, and was at the right place and time to upstage a piece of Australian History. Not bad for someone whom Keith Moon dumped his drink on and called a "great pooftah."

Norman Gunston got his start on The Aunty Jack Show, whose theme song promised that if you didn't watch the show, the giant Aunty Jack, a transvestite boxing biker, would rip your bloody arms off. You Aussies out there who already know Garry McDonald can amuse yourselves with a quiz. _YOUTUBERY ZONE_ Norman Gunston Celebrity Interviews - Sally Struthers - Mick Jagger - Boy George - Muhammad Ali - Ray Charles - Tim Allen - Paul & Linda McCartney - Olivia Newton-John - Robin and Maurice Gibb - KISS ("Which one is the construction worker?") - A very confused Dionne Warwick (with Quincy Jones) at the Oscars - Cheech & Chong And Norman gets Lost in London. [Nardwuar thee Human Serviette previously on MetaFilter]

By: hal9k

hal9k — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:23:05 -0800

Funny guy. Is there a version in english?

By: humannaire

humannaire — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:32:38 -0800

What is this post about yet?

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:35:38 -0800

Great stuff. Norman Gunston really was like Ali G, 30 years earlier - doing comedy interviews with celebrities who didn't realise that he was taking the piss the whole time.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:43:43 -0800

^humannaire: What is this post about yet? No, This post is about Norman Gunston and other mockujournalists. What's the man's name on second base.

By: Wolof

Wolof — Sun, 04 May 2008 17:59:27 -0800

A Salute to Abba

By: ardgedee

ardgedee — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:18:24 -0800

> What's the man's name on second base. No no no, he's asking what the post's about. By my estimate, it's about to be six long, but it could grow further. And while we're at it, can somebody provide a short version of the Gough clip? Somebody important was kicked out of something while being interviewed for a comedy show?

By: Wolof

Wolof — Sun, 04 May 2008 19:04:11 -0800

Somebody important was kicked out of something while being interviewed for a comedy show? See the photo at the top of the page? It was taken directly after that clip was shot.

By: scruss

scruss — Sun, 04 May 2008 19:04:40 -0800

whoa, 200 proof nostalgia. The Aunty Jack show aired (briefly?) in the UK when I was a little 'un. I remember describing it to some friends at the time, and they (as usual) thought I was on another planet. So it was real!

By: Henry C. Mabuse

Henry C. Mabuse — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:27:33 -0800

Gary McDonald is an astonishingly gifted actor with a range that most in the craft would donate a major organ to inherit. He is a treasure.

By: crossoverman

crossoverman — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:33:00 -0800

I loved Gary McDonald as Norman Gunston - although the 90s revival of the character caused McDonald to have a nervous breakdown. And he was excellent as the put-upon son in "Mother & Son". Having recently seen him on stage in "Guys & Dolls", he's a great actor but a terrible singer.

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:15:45 -0800

If you ever get to see a tele-play called Jimmy Dancer starting McDonald, you should. It's great

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:32:12 -0800

Gary McDonald is an astonishingly gifted actor with a range that most in the craft would donate a major organ to inherit. He is a treasure. True. I've seen in in at least a couple of serious plays; either Sydney Theatre Company or Belvoir St Theatre, I forget which, and comedy is certainly not the only string to his bow.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Sun, 04 May 2008 23:31:24 -0800

Oh my gosh, I miss Frank Zappa terribly.

By: goo

goo — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:04:51 -0800

Here's the transcript of his turn on Australian Story, in which he discusses his anxiety disorder at some length, among other things. His and Effie's interpretation of Amigos Para Siempre was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen at the time, but I'm having no luck finding a vid now. For straight work, he was brilliant (and poignant and moving and funny and pathetic and...) in Eggshells, another Geoffrey Atherden-penned show.

By: adamt

adamt — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:59:56 -0800

goo> Here's the transcript of his turn on Australian Story That transcript contains one my favorite Garry Macdonald moments, his speech from when he accepted his Hall of Fame/Life Time Achievement (not sure what it's actually called) Logie award. Thank you very much. I must say I was, very surprised when they told me I'd won this award because only a couple of months ago I was on 'Where Are They Now'. Which didn't seem to be a great reflection on my career, especially as I was actually on air in two shows on two different networks at the time! But, you know, you get used to that. One year you're on 'This Is Your Life', the next 'Where Are They Now', until you slip into obscurity in a 20-part drama on the ABC. It cracked me up when I he said that. I'd seen him on "Where are they Now" and it was so perverse I wondered if Seven wasn't trying to undermine his appearance on channel Nine that same week. At the time it seemed too surreal. As he said, the thing on the ABC was long running, but I'm pretty sure the other thing he was in that week was a one off guest star thing. Man he's good. He and Ruth Cracknell in "Mother and Son" were sublime. I would compare them to the on screen chemistry of Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Which is perhaps unfortunate for Garry 'cause it seemed like "Mother and Son" and "Norman Gunston" haunted his mainstream career. Although no doubt his own personal demons played their part. Extremely selfishly I wonder if had he 'made it big' in the way his talent warrants, smaller productions, especially on the stage, would have been deprived his presence.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:48:25 -0800

I may be misremembering this, but I do seem to recall hearing that Norman Gunston was the only fictitious character ever to win a Logie, and that this pleased Garry McDonald no end.

By: awfurby

awfurby — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:11:55 -0800

I just love that clip where he's jamming (sorrying - jellying "You call it jelly over here") with Frank Zappa and breaks into the ABC News theme while Zappa looks at him like he's a complete dill. Genius.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:48:35 -0800

This post is full of win.

By: The Monkey

The Monkey — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:32:15 -0800

Such a beautiful genius.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:17:04 -0800

To have a drink dumped on you by Keith Moon is a great honor!

By: gorgor_balabala

gorgor_balabala — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:43:01 -0800

Fantastic humor. Seems like Paul McCartney liked him.