Is this awkward or funny?
We can’t quite decide. Last night on Channel 10′s The Project, funny man Will Ferrell interviewed Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The Anchorman actor kicked off the conversation by asking the Prime Minister if he could call her ‘Jules,’ and from there the topic of conversation was hair, power prices and Will’s advice for succeeding in an election.
The interview starts at about the 8 min 40 sec mark.
Comments
35 Comments so far
Does anyone know if Will Ferrell intends interviewing Wayne Swan?
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Why do you ask? Do you think Julia Gillard is going to step down for him?
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i loved it. she is confident in herself to have a laugh.
the lib supporters are all over this page so i am expecting to be torn apart, but i thought she did well.
you have to check out hughsies little clips of tony abbott behaving badly/weirdly/awkwardly.. they are completely hilarious!!
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Have you checked out the hilarious clips and stories of Julia Gillard behaving badly/weirdly/awkwardly … now they’re not only hilarious but a tad disturbing.
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I know what you mean Missy.
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no……she is the ultimate professional but i guess no one is perfect!
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I don’t find Will Ferrel funny at all. The Project were wetting themselves over him and half the time he wasn’t even saying anything.
It makes us look like amateurs when a foreign comedian (or foreign anything) can address our Prime Minister in that way. And Ms Gillard shouldn’t have allowed it either. Not trying to be a stick in the mud but it just looked unprofessional.
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Comedy is incredibly subjective. Catherine Deveny thought it was hysterical to tweet that eleven year old Bindi Irwin should get laid and she’s followed it up by wishing Paul Ramage ‘arse cancer.’ Give me Will Ferrel at his worst over the fawned over Deveny any day.
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“I think we should send him to the next olympics”. Great call!
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I thought it was funny not awkward. She handles herself really well. I’ve never known the PM to stumble on any question – no matter how difficult and this was no exception – glad to see she has a sense of humour and that she’s relaxed. Show’s she’s human.
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The PM never stumbles on any question…..except the ones that require an answer.
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Spot on. It’s a wonder she stayed in her seat and didn’t take off likes she does in Question Time.
Shes about to be asked some questions that she’s not going to be able to avoid answering any longer if Larry Pickering’s blog and Kangaroo Court of Australia website are correct.
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Steph, lots of journalists are all over the story you’re talking about. The lid is off and it’s about to blow.
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Mimi and Steph, Mamamia might never be the same again!!!!
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I’ve never known Julia Gillard to stumble on any question?????? Where’ve you been Chocolate aeroplane? Julia Gillard never answers a single question ever put to her. She deflects, avoids, answers the wrong question and then, wait for it, drum roll, blames Tony Abbott. Maybe she should just play straight woman on comedy routines?
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Actually no – she doesn’t stumble on questions. Just because you don’t like her answers doesn’t mean she hasn’t answered the questions. My husband and I were watching her on ABC last night responding to questions in yesterday’s forum on energy prices and other than referring the odd more technical question to the energy minister she did not once have difficulty answering any of the questions. We don’t necessarily agree with her policies either but we have both observed on many occasion how composed and un-rattled she always is when she has all kinds of (often rude or ridiculous) questions and comments thrown at her. Personally, I think she comes across as intelligent and professional in these situations and I think it was nice to see her in a more relaxed and humorous situation on The Project where she was still able to respond without making an idiot of herself. I can’t imagine Tony Abbott ever handling himself in this way.
I’m not expecting any of the PM-haters to agree with me on this of course and I’m not bothered if they don’t.
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Oh I see she was asked questions in a forum on the ABC. Now that’s tough!! Have a listen to her in the chamber or at a press conference or in a radio interview that’s not on an FM station. She just gives memorised paragraphs that relate to nothing.
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Yep, seen/heard her in those situations too and don’t agree with you sorry. To me, the majority of the time she sounds intelligent and knowledgeable of the topic being discussed.
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Agree with you. She doesn’t miss a beat. In fact, just from watching Q & A I would say Labor ministers across the board know their facts and figures inside out – just recently have been very impressed by Craig Emerson, Penny Wong and Greg Combet. They actually answer questions, and appeal to logic and reason, unlike the Liberals on the show, don’t know their stuff, just try to rile the audience up – angry voters suits them best….
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Thanks Raja for seeing sense among all this boring vitriol.
I was equally impressed by the likes of Greg Combet and Penny Wong. There just seems to be more intelligence and grace about them and what that say actually makes sense, as opposed to the nasty, mud-slinging nonsense that their opponents throw about.
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Loving Labor must be just the best feeling. It helps you listen to Labor rubbish (and it is rubbish because if you go and check you’ll find that what you’ve been told are gigantic fibs) and think you’ve been told the truth. After the next election you’ll find out just how much you’ve been lied to and hoodwinked by Labor and you”l feel a tad cross (if you have any sense).
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I actually enjoyed her or the first time!
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I love seeing her down to earth and with a sense of humour.
I sometimes wonder if politicians find these comedy interviews are harder than Laurie Oakes.
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Laurie Oakes loves Labor! Did I say loves?
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Will Ferrell, I adore you. You are a god of comedy.
But no, you should not call her ‘Jules’. Yes, it was in good humour. Yes, Julia Gillard approved it. But no. She is the Prime Minister. Barack Obama is ‘Mr President’, not Barry. Nothing wrong with showing the same level of respect.
But Will, I love you anyway. Can’t wait to see ‘The Campaign’.
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Loved it!
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Will Ferrell is hugely funny and I know that The Project is a light take on news and has the comedy element, and it proves “Jules” to be a good sport… but it makes me feel uncomfortable. Our political situation is frankly a bit of a joke.That’s how both Australians and foreigners appear to view the likes of Gillard and Abbott. We take the piss out of them. We need someone to respect and take seriously at the head of Australia. Abbott is a complete buffoon and you wouldn’t want him leading your school P&C let alone your country; Gillard just lacks that statesmanlike quality. She’s awkward and always looks a bit uncomfortable – like the country cousin at a big city shindig. But really we’re not helping matters if we put them on a national news program and take the mickey… Can we not find someone who garners respect? Is this the best Australia has? Really?
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You’re in PR ?
You can’t be.
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Perhaps you should listen to one of Tony Abbott’s speeches instead if parroting MSM nonsense, Sophie. Ms Gillard’s speeches are a laughing stock, or they would be if it wasn’t so serious.
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You’re kidding Sophie. Tony Abbott the Rhodes Scholar, who writes his own speeches leaves Julia Gillard looking like she’s lost in Lalor. For goodness sake Sophie stop reading Laurie Oakes and Michelle Grattan and start listening to Tony Abbott. You might learn something.
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Love her.
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I heard a radio interview, where Ferrell (in the guise of the character that he is playing in his new movie) suggested that the PM could do with a makeover.
I was surprised that this wasn’t followed up with much finger waving, gnashing of teeth and cries of sexism. Why, why, why, I ask ?
Was this interview funny or awkward ? I found it a bit ho-hum. Have never understood what makes Ferrell a comic actor.
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Funny. My husband and I chuckled throughout. It’s always refreshing to see someone not take themselves to seriously.
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I thought Julia looked very fresh and youthful…??
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Now that’s funny! Or interesting?
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