Cheers to John Laws for 2012’s most bizarre interview
Leigh Sales' interview with John Laws was as bizarre as they come.
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Was he channelling Les Patterson? Hugh Hefner? Charlie from Charlie’s Angels?
As TV interviews go, 7:30‘s John Laws interview last night with Leigh Sales was about as bizarre as they come.
The veteran broadcaster was there to comment on Alan Jones’ attack on Julia Gillard and the fleeting apology that followed.
Leigh Sales did her level best to keep a straight face as an overly-relaxed Laws swirled a glass of something brown in between the questions.
“It was careless, and I think he admits that, it was hasty and I think he admits that and it was cruel – I’m not sure he admits that,” Laws said of his old rival, Jones.
“Look, we all make mistakes. I mean you’re looking at one of the great mistake-makers of the world. We all make mistakes and he made a mistake there. I’m not… I don’t want to appear to be sympathetic or harsh on Alan. What he says is his business, and if he really believed that was a proper thing to say then that was his decision. I think it was very, very unfortunate and I really don’t think that… I don’t think that Alan or John or any of us would like somebody to say that our deceased parents died because they were ashamed of us. I think it’s a pretty bad thing to say.”
Yet the more the interview went on, the more it became less about Laws’ words as his appearance and his manner.
Twitter lit up with all sorts of parody comments:
“Who’s ya daddy”
“Is that (a) glass of Valvoline John Laws is holding @abc730 ? #knowwhatimean”
“So is John Laws the new Corey Worthington? #abc730”
“All that was missing was a white cat and a large cigar. #abc730”
“Chris Lilley has outdone himself #abc730”
“John Laws interview on #abc730 directed by Mike Myers? Absolute classic. Congrats to all involved.”
Asked if he was feeling quite moderate towards a rival broadcaster, Laws told Sales, “Do you want me to get angry? If you want me to get angry, I’ll get angry. I’m a performer, you tell me what you want me to do.”
By the end Sales thanked Laws for making the time for the interview, prompting him to ask, “Did you enjoy it?”
“I did enjoy it, did you?” she answered.
“I loved every minute,” chuckled Laws.
Les Patterson? Hugh Hefner? No it’s pretty clear to me.
It was Frank Thring back from beyond the grave.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RZf8Cw9vmI[/youtube]
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17 Responses
The only thing missing here was Laws stroking a white Chincilla. Evil mastermind that he is!! “Thought you had finished with me?! Ha ha haaaa!!” (Frank Thring could have done it, but that would have been acting).
Part elderly Don Draper style and part Mike Myers playing Winston Churchill but all awesome.
On the interview alone 7:30 should win big at the Logies next year.
Lawsey? More like LOLsey?
Loved Laws, he carefully mocked his own persona. That voice is still gold and the agitated, intense nature of Leigh’s questions (much as if she were interviewing an important politician about something that mattered. !!) played right into his contrived arrogance. Someone offer him a late night chat and commentary programme please, but he must wear the scarf. !!!!!!
It was like John Laws was playing the part of John Clarke and Leigh Sales the part of Bryan Dawe (made me wonder what Thursday will bring from Clarke and Dawe on 7:30).
I enjoyed that interview greatly. Lawsey spoke very well in that self-satified, smug, off-hand way that suggests he’s enjoying being back on TV and loving every minute of Jones’ troubles .
Tony Martin used to imitate him perfectly.
@S. Squirrel – a perfect ending! And after he says it, a trap door opens under Leigh and she finds herself in a pool full of sharks!
@Kenny – I honestly don’t think his age has anything to do with our enjoyment of the comedy styling of J. Laws. If anything, age has given him some gravitas and a little more likeability.
And the ability to wear a scarf as it should be worn – with a backdrop of warships!
Your last line is gold, sir.
Pure Gold. It was recorded earlier in the day. Imagine what it would of been live at 7.30 when he had a few more of those cola’s. Get him back on tv reading the late night news with his cola’s, leopard print sunnys and that robe.
the response to it on ABC Breakfast was even funnier, the dark glasses & scarf really suit Michael Rowland .
I’ll have some of what he was having – totally bizarre, the whole “interview”.
After the interview finished he pressed the intercom button on his desk and said in accented English “Kill them”.
Valvolline. You know what i mean.
Best Marlon Brando interview ever.
Take a bow Leigh Sales, how you didn’t burst out laughing is beyond me.
It was absolutely mesmerising!
Oh how some like to make fun of us oldies. If only most should look and sound so good and be as articulate when they are 77 – and still be on-air.
John Laws is John Laws. No doubt he told ABC TV they had to come over the road to him, his Rolls was put away for the night, 7:30 is too late anyway so I want you here at…4pm. And why shouldn’t he.
If he said exactly the same words, looked 40-50, and was in the studio, there would be no comment, other than to say “well said JL”.
I feel like I need a cigarette after watching that.
I honestly thought they were playing archive footage of Frank Thring before realising it was actually Lawsey!