Andrew Denton
{{short description|Australian television producer, comedian and host}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2014}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Andrew Denton
|image = Andrew Denton (cropped).jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Denton in 2004
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|4|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Sydney, Australia
|death_date =
|death_place =
|occupation = {{hlist|Television presenter|producer|writer|radio personality|comedian}}
|nationality = Australian
|spouse = Jennifer Byrne
|domesticpartner =
|signature =
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Andrew Christopher Denton (born 4 May 1960)[https://7news.com.au/news/social/todays-birthday-45-c-1013977 "Today's Birthday 4/5"], Seven News, 4 May 2020 is an Australian television producer, comedian, Gold Logie–nominated television presenter and former radio host, and was the host of the ABC's weekly television interview program Enough Rope and the ABC game show Randling. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique.{{cite news|last=Mose|first=Alexa|title=No more Mr Funny Guy|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/No-more-Mr-Funny-Guy/2005/02/23/1109046969871.html|access-date=4 February 2011|newspaper=The Age|date=26 February 2005|location=Melbourne}} He is also responsible for introducing the troupe of The Chaser to Australian audiences.
Early life
Denton is the son of Kit Denton, writer and the author of the novel The Breaker, about Australian soldier Breaker Morant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/dark-side-of-the-loon-20140902-10bbq3.html|title=Dark side of the loon|last=Leser|first=David|date=16 September 2014|work=Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817161447/https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/dark-side-of-the-loon-20140902-10bbq3.html|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=17 August 2018}} He went to Roseville Primary School in Sydney, before attending Blue Mountains Grammar School in Wentworth Falls. In 1977 he attended Guildford Grammar School in Perth. He then studied at Mitchell College of Advanced Education (MCAE) (now Charles Sturt University) in Bathurst, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 1982.{{cite web |url=http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/commun/graduates.html |title=Graduate Success |publisher=School of Communication, Charles Sturt University |date=31 August 2007 |access-date=19 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831174231/http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/commun/graduates.html |archive-date=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead }} He was involved in the campus radio station, 2MCE.
Career
=Radio=
Denton worked on Australian radio stations early in his media career, beginning as a writer for radio presenter Doug Mulray on Triple M Sydney. He had an early involvement in the Sydney Theatresports movement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/contraptions/credits/denton.htm|title=Andrew Denton|website=ABC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911111834/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/contraptions/credits/denton.htm|archive-date=11 September 2009|access-date=17 August 2018}}
Denton worked as a morning radio host for the Triple M in Sydney. His time on Triple M included the House From Hell reality TV program, in which various contestants were placed in a house together and involved in various stunts, tricks and tortures. Denton has said in radio interviews that he regrets being involved in the program due to the unacceptable level of human manipulation.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/andrew-denton-triple-m-game-was-my-greatest-shame/story-e6frg996-1227094293338?nk=68538f868b242d8836cbcad8fd4be727|title=Andrew Denton: Triple M game was my greatest shame|last=Bodey|first=Michael|date=18 October 2014|work=The Australian|access-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150128012514/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/andrew-denton-triple-m-game-was-my-greatest-shame/story-e6frg996-1227094293338?nk=68538f868b242d8836cbcad8fd4be727|archive-date=28 January 2015}}
=Television=
Denton made his first television appearance as an extra on the ABC television series The Investigators, and progressed to being a member of the team that was runner-up on the Australian improvised comedy show Theatresports in 1987.{{cite magazine|author=Dino Scatena|title=Do Not Adjust Your Set|magazine=Rolling Stone Australia|date=March 1994|pages=40–45|location=Sydney}}
Between 1988 and 1995 he hosted the TV shows Blah Blah Blah (1988), The Money or the Gun (1989–1990), Live and Sweaty (1991–1995), all on ABC-TV, as well as a comedy talk show, Denton (1994–1995), which aired on Seven Network. These shows were talk-based. Live and Sweaty focused on sports and was panel-based.
Each week on The Money or the Gun, Denton had a musical guest play a cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" in a different musical style, usually the genre of the guest's own musical style.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-12/tatz-stairway-to-heaven-rock-riff-or-rip-off/7319764|title=Stairway to Heaven: Rock riff or rip-off?|last=Tatz|first=Simon|date=12 April 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=15 May 2019}}
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, musicians from Led Zeppelin, later appeared on Denton to perform a Rolf Harris song. (Harris performed a notable version of "Stairway to Heaven", with wobble board solo.){{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-day-i-ambushed-rolf-harris-and-the-conflicted-personality-he-showed-me/news-story/59edf1bbb3ea3d7916325b24e28c8f69|title=The day I ambushed Rolf Harris|last=Brown|first=Warren|date=4 July 2014|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=15 May 2019}} Denton saw the beginning of the Musical Challenge segment, and challenged musical guests to perform a song from a barrel full of well-known songs. This segment evolved during his time on Triple M, resulting in three albums, with tracks including Tina Arena singing Cold Chisel's "Cheap Wine", The Wiggles singing AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top", Neil Finn performing Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", James Reyne performing Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights", Barenaked Ladies performing Prince's "When Doves Cry", and Paul Kelly performing Prince's "Little Red Corvette". Three volumes were released on CD titled Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge. In the early 1990s, Denton was the first guest programmer on Rage.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-17/rage-was-never-meant-to-last-30-years/8437704|title='We thought maybe six weeks': Rage was never meant to last 30 years|date=17 April 2017|work=ABC News|access-date=17 August 2018}}
Denton appeared as a contestant on the Nine Network's Sale of the Century.{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/about/about_andrew.htm | title = About Andrew | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date = 28 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141212193038/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/about/about_andrew.htm | archive-date = 12 December 2014 | url-status = dead }}
While presenting his talk show Denton, he launched a public subscription scheme to hire a bounty hunter to capture fugitive businessman Christopher Skase, who was attempting to avoid extradition to Australia at the time.{{cite news| work=The Guardian| title=Andrew Denton: his final farewell?| author=Greg Hassall | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/australia-culture-blog/2013/jun/26/andrew-denton-television-retire|access-date=20 October 2015|date=26 June 2013}} He had a cameo appearance in the Australian film Let's Get Skase.
In 2003, Denton began hosting Enough Rope with Andrew Denton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-man-is-all-talk-20030320-gdveo9.html|title=The man is all talk|date=20 March 2003|work=The Age|access-date=15 May 2019}} He was executive producer and script editor for ABC's The Election Chaser and CNNNN. In an audience development survey in 2004, respondents named Denton as one of the "most liked and recognisable" personalities on Australian television. Enough Rope ended in late 2008. Also in 2003, Denton provided the narration for the ABC TV animated documentary series Human Contraptions.
Asked about the best skill an interviewer can bring to the job, Denton said: "Research, clearly. Listening, obviously. And leaving myself open to the possibility it won't go the way I expect."{{cite web |last=Dow |first=Steve |title=Interviewers: Andrew Denton |url=http://www.stevedow.com.au/default.aspx?id=219 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216212223/http://www.stevedow.com.au/Default.aspx?id=219 |archive-date=16 February 2011 |date=2 October 2005 |url-status=live }}
In 2009, Denton hosted the second season of Elders, a series of interviews with ageing notable Australians. After this series finished, Denton took a few years off being in front of the camera and spent more time behind the scenes. In 2012, he returned to hosting duties, to ABC's game show, Randling.
In 2014, Denton appeared on the SBS TV program Who Do You Think You Are?, tracing his Jewish family line to Poland. Traced also to Meir Katzenellenbogen{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/whodoyouthinkyouare/episodes/detail/episode/4836/season/6 |title=Andrew Denton – Who Do You Think You Are|publisher=SBS TV|location=Australia|date=15 August 2012 |access-date=15 July 2014}} He visited the Treblinka extermination camp and contemplated what his fate might have been had his grandfather not moved to England.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/the-last-witness-20140630-3b2qm.html |title=The Last witness |work=Sydney Morning Herald| author=Andrew Denton| access-date=8 July 2014 | date=5 July 2014}}
In 2018, Denton hosted Interview, produced by Legacy Media for the Seven Network.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/04/airdate-interview.html|title=Airdate: Interview | work=TV Tonight | author=David Knox| access-date=28 April 2018 | date=10 April 2018}}
=Film=
Denton's first feature-length documentary, God on My Side, documents his visit to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. It was first shown at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2006 with plans to show it as a TV special on ABC's Enough Rope. It was screened in Australian cinemas from 2 November 2006. Denton insists he is not anti-Christian.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=1868 |title=Andrew Denton's very Christian anti-Christian film |date=29 October 2006 |publisher=Eureka Street |access-date=15 July 2014}}
In 2011, Denton served as executive producer on the crowd-funded horror film The Tunnel. The film was directed by Carlo Ledesma, co-written, co-produced and co-edited by Julian Harvey and Enzo Tedeschi, and produced with Denton's production company Zapruder's Other Films.
=Stage=
Denton appeared as Malcolm Turnbull in the Belvoir Street Theatre production of A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy,{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122389689|title=Features. Still full of fire and in demand|date=10 November 1991|work=Canberra Times|access-date=17 August 2018|pages=18|via=Trove}} written by John Clarke and Ross Stevenson, and participated in the early years of the ABC's World Series Debating.{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126980971|title=Relief from TV doldrums|date=8 April 1993|work=The Canberra Times|access-date=17 August 2018|pages=10|via=Trove}}
=Production=
Zapruder's Other Films is a production company founded in 1989 by Denton, Anita Jacoby, and Peter Thompson.{{Cite web|url=http://www.zof.com.au/|title=Programs|website=Zapruders other films|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817090910/http://www.zof.com.au/|archive-date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2018}} The company was named for Abraham Zapruder, the man who filmed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Works produced by the company include:
- CNNNN (2002–2003)
- David Tench Tonight (2006)
- Enough Rope (2003–2008)
- The Gruen Transfer (2008–present)
- Elders (2008–2009)
- 30 Seconds (2009)
- Hungry Beast (2009–2011)
- Gruen Nation (2010)
- The Tunnel (2011)
- AFP (2011)
- The Joy of Sets (2011)
- Randling (2012)
In early 2012, Zapruder merged with Cordell Jigsaw to form CJZ and, in June 2013, Denton sold his share of the company at the same time he announced that he was quitting television.{{cite news|title=Andrew Denton sells out of Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder and quits television|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/broadcast/andrew-denton-sells-out-of-cordell-jigsaw-zapruder-and-quits-television/story-fna045gd-1226669746859 |work=The Australian| date=26 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627030049/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/broadcast/andrew-denton-sells-out-of-cordell-jigsaw-zapruder-and-quits-television/story-fna045gd-1226669746859 |archive-date=27 June 2013 }}
=Literature=
Denton accompanied Tony Horwitz on portions of his research for the book Spying on the South, and is a character in the narrative.{{cite book|author=Tony Horwitz |title=Spying on the South|year=2019|publisher=Penguin|pages=154–215|isbn=9781101980293}}
In popular culture
In 2022 Tasmanian band 208L Containers released an album, A Night at the Mirage, which they described as "a concept album about Andrew Denton and Christopher Skase".https://gimmiezine.com/2022/07/22/208l-containers/; Lucie Cutting, 'The Tasmanian music album inspired by Andrew Denton and his pursuit of Christopher Skase' ABC Radio Hobart https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/hobart-sundays/andrew-denton-reflects-on-a-night-at-the-mirage/103037354
Personal life
Denton lives in Sydney. He and his wife, TV presenter Jennifer Byrne, have a son. Byrne and Denton separated for six months in 1997. He is a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.insidesport.com.au/is/index?pg=adrenalin&spg=drinks/drinks_andrew_denton.htm|title=A few drinks with Andrew Denton|website=Inside Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716154753/http://www.insidesport.com.au/is/index?pg=adrenalin&spg=drinks%2Fdrinks_andrew_denton.htm|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=17 August 2018}} Denton is also an atheist.Andrew Denton Interviews Three Priests'[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1422395.htm Enough Rope] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517160607/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1422395.htm |date=17 May 2008 }}', 25 July 2005. In 2017, Denton was diagnosed with advanced heart disease, and he underwent a successful triple bypass surgery.{{Cite web|last=Marshall|first=Konrad|date=2019-06-21|title=After a near-death experience, Andrew Denton has a new intensity|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/after-a-near-death-experience-andrew-denton-has-a-new-intensity-20190618-p51yr7.html|access-date=2020-10-23|work=Sydney Morning Herald}}
Discography
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Details ! Certification |
|---|
| scope="row"| The Andrew Denton Breakfast Show Musical Challenge
|
| |
| scope="row"| The Andrew Denton Breakfast Show Musical Challenge 2: Even More Challenged!
|
| |
| scope="row"| Triple M Musical Challenge 3 – Third Time Lucky!
|
| |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUS {{sfn|Ryan|2011|page=79}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "I Don't Care As Long As We Beat New Zealand" (with the cast of Live and Sweaty) | 1992 | 38 |
Awards and nominations
=ARIA Music Awards=
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
{{awards table}}
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1993
| "I Don't Care As Long As We Beat New Zealand"
| {{nom}}
|-
{{end}}
=Logie Awards=
Denton has been involved with the Logie Awards since the 1990s. He was the host of the awards ceremony in 1999 and 2000.
Denton was nominated for several Logie awards:
- The Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television in 2008 and 2009, for his role in Enough Rope{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23496621-2902%2C00.html|title=ABC's Denton, Lilley and Hills nominated for Gold Logie|date=7 April 2008|work=Herald Sun|access-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410073657/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23496621-2902%2C00.html|archive-date=10 April 2008}}
- The "Most Popular Light Entertainment Personality" award in 1994 and 1995, for his roles in Live and Sweaty and Denton
- The "Most Popular Comedy Personality" award in 1996, for his role in Denton
- The "Most Popular Presenter" award in 2005, 2008 and 2009, for his role in Enough Rope
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0219814|Andrew Denton}}
{{Portal bar|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Denton, Andrew}}
Category:Australian male comedians
Category:Australian comedy musicians
Category:Australian people of Polish-Jewish descent
Category:Australian television talk show hosts
Category:Charles Sturt University alumni
Category:Comedians from Sydney
Category:People educated at Guildford Grammar School
Category:People from the Blue Mountains (New South Wales)
Category:Television personalities from Sydney