Anthony Albanese pokes fun at a former ministerial colleague and makes a risque Dolly Parton joke on Spicks And Specks, leaving ABC viewers divided
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown off his music chops on ABC game show Spicks and Specks, where he imitated Peter Garrett and made a risque joke about Dolly Partons famous anatomy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown off his music chops on ABC game show Spicks and Specks, where he imitated Peter Garrett and made a risque joke about Dolly Partons famous anatomy.
However, the move to appear on the light-hearted music trivia show divided viewer reaction on social media with some stating it was a turn-off while others called the Prime Minister a natural.
Mr Albanese, who is an enthusiastic fan of Australian rock and pop music, was introduced by Spicks and Specks host Adam Hills as a DJ who also spends time running the country.
One of the questions concerned Aussie band Midnight Oil, fronted by Peter Garrett who was elected as a Labor MP for the Sydney seat of Kingsford Smith in 2004 and served with Mr Albanese as a minister in the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments.
Mr Albanese revealed it could be distracting having Garrett as a ministerial colleague because sometimes when Peter would talk with you he would talk with his hands and that was a bit weird.
As he recalled the anecdote, Mr Albanese did an imitation of Garrett that mirrored the jerky signature dance style employed by the Oils frontman.
At another point Mr Albanese made a joke about US country icon Dolly Parton and her two huge tour buses to follow up a quip made by Hills about a motorist seeing the famously busty singers motorcade with the warning wide load ahead.
I got to go in them they were pretty spectacular, the Prime Minister said about the vehicles to much raucous laughter.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese featured on ABC music trivia game show Spicks and Specks (pictured right with Myf Warhurst)
Mr Albanese revealed he was transport minister at the time when Parton, who hates flying, brought her tour buses with her even though they were too wide for Australian vehicle standards.
The bureaucrats were like doesnt fit comply with ... (but) cant you just get one of those vans in front with a sign "Big Bus coming", Mr Albanese said.
Parton thanked Mr Albanese by name during a stage appearance and said she would like smear lip gloss all over him.
What goes on tour stays on tour, Mr Albanese quipped when asked if this happened.
Mr Albanese, who was in a team with show regular Myf Warhurst and Aussie singer/songwriter Ben Lee, also seemed a little nonplussed by one of the remarks from the indie music star.
But were having fun and were really high, Lee said, which Mr Albanese at first laughed at before a more worried look shot across his face.
At one stage Mr Albanese did an impression of Peter Garretts conversation style that also mimicked the Midnight Oil singers signature jerky dance style
The Prime Minister poked fun of his former colleague Peter Garretts jerky dance moves
He also declined to repeat Warhursts catchphrase to start proceedings: game on moles.
One of the downsides of my job is you can do things and they are taken completely out of context, he explained.
Its a risky enough proposition me being here at all.
Mr Albanese was asked at the start of the show if he was there to win.
You dont get to be PM without being a little bit competitive, he told Hills.
As it turned, out the Prime Ministers team did triumph 19-18 against show regular Alan Brough who was teamed with guests Astrid Jorgensen and Zoe Coombs.
Mr Albanese tweeted that he had been thrilled to be on one of my favourite shows and had a great time on Spicks and Specks.
Others on X were not so thrilled to see Mr Albanese featured their prime-time ABC Sunday night viewing.
Just sat down to watch Spicks and Specks on a Sunday night, one person fumed.
The sight of guest gushing away is enough to return to #TheBlock
Mr Albanese and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett (pictured right) were ministerial colleagues during the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments
Another tweeted: As if the rehashing of Spicks & Specks wasnt cringeworthy enough already, its now the transparent trojan horse for some Albo good-guy marketing. Puke, another said.
A third wrote: Spicks and Specks has been a bore for 10 yrs. @AlboMP has just destroyed that. Never again, another wrote.
Some viewers were even more brutal.
Just saw the ad for AlboMP on Spicks & Specks Who thought that was a good idea? It reeks of a government that has jumped the shark, one tweet read.
Another unhappy voter wrote: Wow instead of helping the struggling cost of living Aussies you instead use our money on going on spicks and specks on the crappy ABC GONE NEXT ELECTION.
Disgraceful that the PM is on Spicks and Specks during a cost of living crisis! Disgraceful!, said another.
However, there were some appreciative viewers.
Anthony Albanese on Spicks and Specks. What a natural, imagine Dutton on a music/quiz show? one vieweer wrote.
Another added: This #Spicks & Specks is so much fun. Great teams, much laughter, Russell Crowe’s a muso with much power at the Rabbitohs; Dolly Parton has big busses and Ben Lee is just plain hilarious.
Albo knows all the answers (typical!). Don’t worry they’re not sparing him.
