I came to live in Australia in mid 1988, up till then I thought the comedy I had seen on NZ TV was ok (it was generally clean and tidy) but when I found The Graeme Kennedy News Show, I was blown away! For me, he ‘parted the Red Sea’. His humour and comedy left me in stitches every time. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Thanks Jason. How well I remember as a boy splitting my sides laughing with Graham and Bert. And now I'm doing it again at 60. God bless Graham. He is timeless.
Very fond memories of Graham, I think we watched almost every show.....and I appeared on one wearing a piano accordion. :) Those were the great days of Melbourne television.
I worked at Channel 7 during the period when Graham was not allowed on live TV air time by the Broadcasting Control Board due to Graham's very life-like bird call, the crow to be exact, impressions. Even though Graham was on an opposing Network, everyone who I worked with at 7 all sadly missed the Kennedy TV antics. Graham belonged to the whole of television... or as he would say.... the television hole And it really was the nicest of crow calls.
OMG!! Australia!!, We will never, ever! have someone as great as this guy!!. He truly was Loved by Many, he was f***ing! Brilliant, he was absolutely hilarious! Miss you so much Gra Gra!!, you truly were a massive big part of my growing life mate, you gave me belly aches of laughter, especially when I was down, you made me smile, you made me forget whatever was making me feel down that day Love and miss you so much!, I feel we have some kind of connection, as we share the same birth-day ...lol though years apart ... (Mine 15/02/1959....lol) :) xxx RIP Loveable man!!
The tears of sadness blend with those of laughter.The oration at his funeral mentioned God was waiting for him to have morning tea,only Gra Gra could keep God waiting.Such a genius and a talent only passes through our lives but once.R.I.P. Gra Gra.🙏 🙏
It's a pity that Graham never tried to make it over here in the UK at his peak - one could easily imagine him presenting his own Saturday night show on ITV in the 70s.
Because Graham was the undisputed king of Australian TV and his main role on TV was as host of a comedy/variety show, his acting is often overlooked. Unfairly, I think. His performances in Travelling North, Don's Party and especially The Club were nuanced and true.
Those were great days of television in Australia. Graham was "King" of TV and he was an outstanding character. It was such a shame that he could not reveal his true identity as a gay man, because in the late 50's to 60's when he made his name, the public had not then reached the point where it was ok to be gay. Being gay myself, I know some of the struggles in those years. The way he used to send up commercials which audiences loved and those who sponsored him reaped the benefits of his crazy advertising style. There will never be another Graham Kennedy, he was a very complete entertainer and most of all, he was loved.
19:05 It wasn't "Channel 9" that did the deal with Station 3UZ-Melbourne, it was *Station GTV-Melbourne* that did the deal relating to Graham Kennedy's pay. Channel 9 was nothing more than a chunk of VHF spectrum on Band 3 from 201 to 208 Mhz on the old analogue system.
Whatever went wrong with Australian TV.. Where has the humor gone? Is everyone so terrified of offending someone to tell a joke or ad-lib anything anymore?
Graham Kennedy was not the funniest or the best looking, nor was he the slickest host/presenter. Yet the appellation 'King' came early in his television career and most everyone who saw Graham Kennedy during his decades on TV would agree that the title was justly applied. What made Gra Gra greater than the sum of his parts, I think, was the apparent ease with which he did everything while in front of TV cameras. I'm sure there were times when Graham was like a duck, smooth and serene above the water, ungainly paddling below. He was completely at home in a studio, aware of every millimetre of space, every camera move, the ebb and flow of the audience. If Graham were a rare animal bought by a zoo, his enclosure would be a TV studio.
OMG!! Seriously!! (in my era)... He was fucking Brilliant!!! With-out a doubt!! NO ONE today (or in the future... except for Robyn Williams...but he wasn't an Aussie :) ) Could ever make you laugh as much as Gra Gra! did, pure entertainment he was!!
I came to live in Australia in mid 1988, up till then I thought the comedy I had seen on NZ TV was ok (it was generally clean and tidy) but when I found The Graeme Kennedy News Show, I was blown away! For me, he ‘parted the Red Sea’. His humour and comedy left me in stitches every time. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Thanks Jason. How well I remember as a boy splitting my sides laughing with Graham and Bert. And now I'm doing it again at 60. God bless Graham. He is timeless.
***** Thanks Morry. I think he's the greatest and people should never forget him (and Bert). 2 Legends of Aussie Television. :D
Very fond memories of Graham, I think we watched almost every show.....and I appeared on one wearing a piano accordion. :) Those were the great days of Melbourne television.
Ha Ha!! Classic!! Imagine graham Kennedy in the USA! They would have freaked out but he would've been huge .....
He was brilliant, loved his sense of humour RIP Graham
I worked at Channel 7 during the period when Graham was not allowed on live TV air time by the Broadcasting Control Board due to Graham's very life-like bird call, the crow to be exact, impressions.
Even though Graham was on an opposing Network, everyone who I worked with at 7 all sadly missed the Kennedy TV antics.
Graham belonged to the whole of television... or as he would say.... the television hole
And it really was the nicest of crow calls.
Graham was like my grandfather that I loved to see on TV. I still love him like that to this day even thou he past but I still love him so much.
OMG!! Australia!!, We will never, ever! have someone as great as this guy!!.
He truly was Loved by Many, he was f***ing! Brilliant, he was absolutely hilarious!
Miss you so much Gra Gra!!, you truly were a massive big part of my growing life mate, you gave me belly aches of laughter, especially when I was down, you made me smile, you made me forget whatever was making me feel down that day
Love and miss you so much!, I feel we have some kind of connection, as we share the same birth-day ...lol though years apart ... (Mine 15/02/1959....lol) :) xxx RIP Loveable man!!
The tears of sadness blend with those of laughter.The oration at his funeral mentioned God was waiting for him to have morning tea,only Gra Gra could keep God waiting.Such a genius and a talent only passes through our lives but once.R.I.P. Gra Gra.🙏
🙏
Best hour 35 minutes I've had in years,
Gregarious. Gracefully mad on daring mad. Never misses a beat. Unique. Smart, entertaining. Bert up there too.
Just found this guy to nite he is brilliant funny and seems to get better as he gets older.
I remember a bad time and watching him and raising my spirits. Even now watching old films makes me feel better
It's a pity that Graham never tried to make it over here in the UK at his peak - one could easily imagine him presenting his own Saturday night show on ITV in the 70s.
I used to travel on the school bus with Patti [then McGrath] when she went to high school!
Because Graham was the undisputed king of Australian TV and his main role on TV was as host of a comedy/variety show, his acting is often overlooked. Unfairly, I think. His performances in Travelling North, Don's Party and especially The Club were nuanced and true.
Those were great days of television in Australia. Graham was "King" of TV and he was an outstanding character. It was such a shame that he could not reveal his true identity as a gay man, because in the late 50's to 60's when he made his name, the public had not then reached the point where it was ok to be gay. Being gay myself, I know some of the struggles in those years. The way he used to send up commercials which audiences loved and those who sponsored him reaped the benefits of his crazy advertising style. There will never be another Graham Kennedy, he was a very complete entertainer and most of all, he was loved.
Loved him
Yep him and Newton Aussies finest
TV Legend.
Classic!!! thx for the upload Jason =)
Obviously a very talented man.
19:05 It wasn't "Channel 9" that did the deal with Station 3UZ-Melbourne, it was *Station GTV-Melbourne* that did the deal relating to Graham Kennedy's pay. Channel 9 was nothing more than a chunk of VHF spectrum on Band 3 from 201 to 208 Mhz on the old analogue system.
Now that be hard to answer for those who haven't worked behind the scenes in Televsion
Whatever went wrong with Australian TV.. Where has the humor gone? Is everyone so terrified of offending someone to tell a joke or ad-lib anything anymore?
i remember them cans
Wintergreen Productions/Nine Network Australia (1996)
Graham Kennedy was not the funniest or the best looking, nor was he the slickest host/presenter.
Yet the appellation 'King' came early in his television career and most everyone who saw Graham Kennedy during his decades on TV would agree that the title was justly applied.
What made Gra Gra greater than the sum of his parts, I think, was the apparent ease with which he did everything while in front of TV cameras. I'm sure there were times when Graham was like a duck, smooth and serene above the water, ungainly paddling below.
He was completely at home in a studio, aware of every millimetre of space, every camera move, the ebb and flow of the audience. If Graham were a rare animal bought by a zoo, his enclosure would be a TV studio.
OMG!! Seriously!! (in my era)...
He was fucking Brilliant!!!
With-out a doubt!! NO ONE today (or in the future... except for Robyn Williams...but he wasn't an Aussie :) ) Could ever make you laugh as much as Gra Gra! did, pure entertainment he was!!
Name of the theme please
"In Melbourne Tonight" Theme which Graham hosted for many years.
46:40 Oswald que ostrich
When ugly Dave was interviewed on another show he said they didn't do any rehearsals not sure who to believe ?
23:23 - *_SHUT UP!!!_*