Still an all star Comedy, music, radio, television, stage, musicals . . . is there anything to do with entertainment that Paul McDermott can't do?
By Olivia Katter
Townsville Bulletin
FRI 14 MAR 2003
PAUL McDermott may have solved the mystery of why George Michael no longer wears hotpants.
The evidence involves the former host of Good News Week, a pair of chunky knee-high boots and a funky dance move.
As the story goes, McDermott accidentally injured the British singer -- quite possibly taking a chunk out of his leg -- while he was busting a move on the dance floor in his combat boots.
McDermott speculated how what could have been an unsightly scar prevented George Michael from bopping around in his short shorts.
The comedian/TV host/singer shared this story and others before returning to his GUD rehearsals.
GUD -- starring McDermott, Mick Moriarty and Cameron Bruce -- is an hour of fresh, bold and confronting comedy, and it is coming to Townsville.
The hard core cabaret proved to be one of the more popular events at Melbourne's International Comedy Festival during April last year.
McDermott joked about how the team had undertaken a heavy physical regime to prime themselves for the show.
``We go running together and do sprints over tyres,'' he said.
``You should see us.''
The show addresses topics such as advice for children, modern fashion, 21st century parenting and Australian folk heroes.
``It's irrational, it's incredible . . . it's a rollicking, good, fun time had by all,'' McDermott said.
``And there will be dancing girls -- no, not really.
``But anyone who wants to come up on stage and join a chorus line they are more than welcome.''
Thrown in between these skits are a few new, original songs performed by the entertainers with Moriarty on guitar, Bruce playing the keyboard and McDermott on the vocals.
McDermott's voice was the core of the songs performed by his former comedy-musical trio The Doug Anthony Allstars, the top comedy group in the 80s which fused highly questionable lyrics with angelic harmonies.
When he later performed then released a cover of the Hunters and Collectors hit Throw Your Arms Around Me, there was no doubt his vocal talents equalled his comedic flair.
More recently he starred in the musical production Witches of Eastwick, a gig he promised himself he would never do.
``I promised myself I would never be in a musical,'' he said.
``But it's always good to do something you promise yourself not to do.
``It was just something different for me, so I thought I'd have a crack at it.''
McDermott said he also promised himself he would never drag himself out of bed at some ungodly hour to do breakfast radio.
But he did.
For 12 months McDermott teamed up with former Good News Week co-star Mikey Robins for the Triple J breakfast show.
``When I was touring and promoting I always got invited on to it,'' he said.
McDermott recalled how many of the morning presenters always had a sickly look about them, as if they hadn't seen the sun for several years.
Although, when McDermott joined the radio team he did his best to push the boundaries and allow for as much sleep-in time as possible.
``I know people who get up at 3 in the morning,'' he said.
``I couldn't do that, I find it impossible to go to bed before 12 so it doesn't allow for much sleep.
``I found myself getting up at 5 to work at 6, then 5.30, then 20 to 6, then quarter to.''
McDermott co-hosted the show alongside Robins and Steven ``the Sandman'' Abbott until 1998.
After a year McDermott left his radio role behind to pursue his interests in television.
But for a while McDermott still visited the show every Friday morning to take part in the Brekkie show's long running, extremely bad, but funny, serial Captain Pants, in which he played Cabin Boy Twinkle.
In more recent times McDermott has written and illustrated books and comics.
GUD will be at the Townsville Civic Theatre on Wednesday March 19 at 8pm.
Tickets cost $32 for adults, $28 for concessions, $24 for tertiary students and $26 for groups of 10 or more.
Tickets can be purchased through the TicketShop at K mart Plaza, Cowboys Leagues Club, the Civic Theatre or on 4727 9797.
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