Live and Sweaty – Nostalgia Central

1 9 9 1 – 1 9 9 4 (Australia)
121 x 60 minute episodes

Scrawny, wimpy, wide-eyed, bespectacled presenter Andrew Denton – nurtured by the ABC through two series of Blah Blah Blah, The Party Machine and The Money or the Gun – seemed an unlikely choice to host a weekly sports-themed television show. But that’s what made it so funny.

With his devilish grin and natural talent for a devastating ad lib retort, Denton effortlessly disarmed everyone, simultaneously exuding enough nerd-like charm to not seem insufferably arrogant.

The live late-night Friday show featured a pacey mix of interviews from Denton and Elle McFeast (aka Melbourne comedian Libbi Gorr, pictured below), vox pops with people in the street, reports with an “investigative edge” from Triple J presenter Debbie “Skull of Rust” Spillane, news breaks from ABC sportscaster Karen Tighe, and a studio panel discussion segment called ‘Controversy Corner’ which equally amused sports fans and non-sports fans seeking an irreverent spoof on sports shows.

Other regular panel members included actor Lex “The Swine” Marinos (always introduced with a Zorba the Greek style musical theme), former NRL player Rex “The Moose” Mossop, and Peter “Crackers” Keenan.

In the lead up to the 1992 Olympics, Denton and the rest of the regular cast of the show recorded the song I Don’t Care As Long As We Beat New Zealand, parodying the sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand.

The song was released as a single and reached #38 on the Australian charts.

Elle McFeast took over as host of Live and Sweaty when Denton left the show in 1993.

Hosts
Andrew Denton
Elle McFeast (Libbi Gorr)

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