As we recently posted, ABC-TV will be screening some original episodes of Countdown, this Sunday, in the original 6pm timeslot. (Well, not quite original – the first few episodes ran for 25 minutes and screened, in B&W, at 6:30 on a Friday, starting November 8 1974.)
Last week we revisited some great ’70s appearances by some of the iconic Australian artists of the Countdown era, and we’ll look at some great ‘80s clips in coming weeks. See Part 1 and Part 2 here.
In the meantime, let’s look at the interviewing genius of Ian “Molly” Meldrum. We’ll revisit some of his most notorious interviews – Prince Charles, Madonna, Iggy Pop – and dig up a few more that are well worth another look.
So, in the unforgettable words of Iggy Pop, let’s say a loud “Hiya Dog Face!” as we throw to Molly.
“Iggy, will you concentrate on the question?”
Molly’s brief chat with Iggy is known globally, but what is remarkable about it from Molly’s side of things is how well he handles it. Molly was clearly used to chaos!
“How’s your Mum?”
The actual interview, as it screened (it was pre-recorded), but the bloopers are more fun. Molly’s trainwreck of a chat with the Prince of Wales actually made the news in the UK decades later when the Prince filmed a spot for the ABC’s Countdown 40th Anniversary celebrations.
“She’s a funky little sister...”
Young Michael can’t suppress his amusement and delight at this strange interviewer from another planet.
“Take your hat off! TAKE YOUR HAT OFF!”
Rod reckons the interview they’d recorded earlier was boring so they have an impromptu chat and the two interviews are intercut into an entertaining and informative whole.
“’Eagle Rock’ is still one of my favourite tracks of all time..”
Elton and Molly obviously developed a close friendship over the years. Elton’s first Countdown interview from 1975 finds him reminiscing about how much he loved Daddy Cool.
"I’m Madonna. And what the f*** is a Molly?”
Madonna was unheard of in Australia when Molly first saw her in New York and decided he had to interview her. He arrived late and when chastised by the record co rep responded with ‘Who the f*** is Madonna anyway?’
The interview, in the end, went well and was sweetly playful.
On a tennis court in short shorts and smoking a ciggie with David Bowie.
What was he thinking? David o, of course, as charming as ever.
“Mark, you do talk don’t you?”
Part of the beauty of Molly’s interview technique is his lack of guile, and his willingness to take answers on face value, which results in lines of questioning that other too-hip interviewers wouldn’t pursue. This one is a lot of fun.
-DL
