Graham Kennedy Graham Kennedy

Graham Kennedy was the king of Australian television for 40 years as a talk-show host, game-show presenter, satirist, commentator and iconoclastic jester.

15 February 1934 - 25 May 2005 - Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO reigned over television but was also a noted radio host and film actor.

Graham ruled supreme as host of IMT (In Melbourne Tonight) and Australia's most popular TV personality for thirteen consecutive years. Along with Bert Newton, he worked with Joff Ellen, Rosie Sturgess, Patti Newton, Philip Brady and others.

Graham always pushed the boundaries of acceptability with his bawdy, irreverent, iconoclastic, often smutty style, deliberately camp and laden with innuendo and double-entendre.

In 1975, he imitated a crow call "faaaaaark"(f**k) and was banned from performing LIVE on television meaning that he would have to pre-record the show on videotape.

Four of Graham Kennedy's television shows were named in 50 Years 50 Shows - In Melbourne Tonight topped the poll, Power Without Glory was #15, Blankety Blanks was #20, and Coast to Coast ranked #42.

In the Australia Day honours of 26 January 2006, Kennedy was posthumously appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), for "service to the entertainment industry".

Television career - TV Shows

-:- In Melbourne Tonight (IMT)
-:- The Graham Kennedy Show
-:- Power Without Glory
-:- Blankety Blanks
-:- The Blainey View
-:- Graham Kennedy's News Show
-:- Coast to Coast
-:- Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Videos

In his last television appearance, Graham was interviewed by Ray Martin in 1994 in celebration of his 60th birthday later stating that he felt ambushed by Martin's probing into personal matters.

Film career

-:- They're a Weird Mob (1966) (cameo as himself)
-:- The Box (1975) (supporting role as himself)
-:- Don's Party (1976)
-:- The Odd Angry Shot (1979)
-:- The Club (1980)
-:- Silent Reach (1982) (telemovie)
-:- The Return of Captain Invincible (1982) (cameo)
-:- The Killing Fields (1983)
-:- Stanley (1983)
-:- Travelling North (1987)

Post Mortem

Graham Kennedy's death shocked us all. We knew he was getting on in years and his health was fading, but the great's seem to hang on and when they finally depart this mortal earth, we are all shocked.

We were even more shocked when the human headline that is Derryn Hinch announced the cause was AIDS. He never named a source, or apologised for saying it and that left a bad taste in the mouth of many Melburnian's.

Add that to his comments on David Hookes and drinking again (after a liver transplant), shows him to be the most selfish, self-entitled ratbag to ever leave New Zealand and come to Australia. How appropriate are his initials... DH! When asked why we don't have a profile on Derryn Hinch, now you know why.

Gra Gra was no saint but he deserved better

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❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Graham Kennedy 

➼ King: the Life and Comedy of Graham Kennedy : The Age review

➼ www.inmelbournetonight.com.au

❊ Also See... ❊

➼ In Melbourne Tonight (IMT)

➼ Stephen Curry






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