* Video clip of Norman Gunston at ' The Dismissal '

In the 1970s, satirical talk-show host Norman Gunston ( played by Garry McDonald ), with his malapropisms, sweep-over hair and poorly shaven face, rose to great popularity by pioneering the satirical " ambush " interview technique ( later employed by Britain's Sacha Baron Cohen as Ali G ) and giving unique interpretations of pop songs.

The ABC has made a significant contribution to television drama with popular series like Brides of Christ, and to comedy with the 1970s hits Aunty Jack and The Norman Gunston Show and more recently Roy & HG, Kath & Kim and The Chaser's War On Everything.

Notable Former Residents: Bishop Thomas McCabe, the first bishop of Wollongong whose grave is in St Francis Xavier Cathedral grounds, Wollongong, Margaret Fulton, Australia's first and most famous real-food cookbook author and Garry McDonald of " Norman Gunston " and " Mother and Son " fame.

Comedy series have included The Aunty Jack Show, The Paul Hogan Show, The Norman Gunston Show, and more recently The D-Generation, Frontline, The Glass House, Summer Heights High and popular series Thank God You're Here, which has since been adapted to a number of countries around the world, and already several of them have brought in creators and stars of shows like Kath & Kim to help produce, direct, star, or serve as consultants on their versions.

Geoff worked as a television cameraman at ABC Television from 1975 until 1984, including work on " The Marcia Hines Show ", " Farnham and Byrne ", " Mastermind ", " Parkinson ", " The Norman Gunston Show ", Play School, and " News " and " Current affairs " before taking up music ministry full time.

She also appeared in a recurring sketch in comedy series The Norman Gunston Show called The Checkout Chicks.

Norman Gunston was a satirical TV character performed by Australian actor and comedian Garry McDonald.

Norman Gunston was primarily well known in his native Australia, and to a lesser extent, the United States during the mid to late 1970s.

The Gunston character made enough of an impression for him to be revived in a subsequent comedy mini-series made by the Aunty Jack team, Wollongong the Brave ( 1974 ), in which he starred in a satirical mock documentary Norman Gunston: The Golden Weeks.

In his later and most famous incarnation, Gunston had evolved to become the unlikely host of his own national TV variety show, The Norman Gunston Show, which premiered with a live broadcast on ABC television on 18 May 1975.

After a faltering start, the Norman Gunston show rapidly gained a huge national audience and the series became the pre-eminent Australian TV comedy program of its day, with McDonald winning a Gold Logie scoring several pop hits.

The Gunston show was a subversive parody of the established variety " Tonight Show " format, centering on a weekly roster of celebrity guests who were ' interviewed ' by Norman.

This comic device led to his memorable exchange with visiting American actress Sally Struthers – noting Norman's apparent shaving cuts, she kindly suggested that perhaps Gunston should use an electric razor ; the nonplussed Norman replied " Uh, I do ", at which point Struthers collapsed in a fit of laughter.

The " Gunston Method " relied on the fact that, especially in the early days of the series, the Norman persona was still relatively unknown in in his home country, and completely unknown outside Australia.

Canadian comedian and actor Martin Short also employed a similar technique with his best-known character, the fawning, morbidly obese celebrity interviewer Jiminy Glick ; another notable resemblance between Glick and Norman is the Glick show's " fairytale " segment " Lalawood Fables ", which is very similar to the " Norman's Dreamtime " segments of the Gunston show, in which the host reads a satirical mock-fable ( intercut with pre-produced vision ) to a group of assembled children.

In 1976, the ABC aired a third season of The Norman Gunston Show.

In particular, the Seven Network showed interest in producing another Norman Gunston series.

Between July – September 1977, Norman Gunston was included in the 8-episode ABC TV series, The Garry McDonald Show.

In 1978, the Australian Seven Network aired another Norman Gunston series, which continued over an 18-month period till 1979.

In 1976, Gunston released an album titled The Popular Ballad Animal, which covered both contemporary and classic era compositions, several of which Norman had performed on his show, including his theme song, " I Who Have Nothing ".

* 1975 The Norman Gunston Show – season 1 ( ABC TV – nine 30 minute colour episodes ).

* 1975 The Norman Gunston Show – season 2 ( ABC TV – eight 30 minute colour episodes ).

The set contained an audio commentary with director Michael Lehmann, producer Denise Di Novi and writer Daniel Waters, a 30-minute documentary titled Swatch Dogs and Diet Cokeheads, featuring interviews with Ryder, Slater, Doherty, Falk, Lehmann, Waters, Di Novi, Director of Photography Francis Kenny and Editor Norman Hollyn.

Norman discussed his first marriage in several interviews: Buzz Magazine ( 1981 ); Australian Christian magazine On Being in 1985 ; and in a June 1989 article.

Fallen Angel includes interviews by many who were close to Norman more than thirty years ago including his first wife, Pamela Newman, Randy Stonehill, Terry Scott Taylor, and Philip Mangano, the business manager of Solid Rock.

Norman has granted interviews to magazines covering Contemporary Christian music and accepted industry awards.

In interviews, Norman Lear stated that the idea for the piano song introduction was a cost-cutting measure.

* 2003: Un autre monde ( l ' Herne, 2003 ), preface by Stanley Hoffmann, translator, Toward a new world: speeches, essays, and interviews on the war in Iraq, the UN, and the changing face of Europe ( Melville House Publishing, c2004 ), a selection of speeches by Villepin as Foreign Minister, with commentary by Hoffman, Susan Sontag, Carlos Fuentes, Norman Mailer, Régis Debray, Mario Vargas Llosa, others.

* List of Norman Borlaug articles and interviews

" When Venom outs Spider-Man's true identity, Ned interviews people that Peter Parker and Spider-Man both know, like Aunt May, the Connors, Norman Osborn, Quentin Beck, Flash Thompson, and Eddie Brock.

Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee, Malick Bowens and Thomas Hauser gave interviews for the film, describing their impressions of Zaire, the fight itself, and particularly their impressions of Ali.

* Norman Gunston interviews Prince Leonard and Lord Davies from the Hutt River Province, Western Australia ; Rick Morosi ( Junie Morosi's brother ); Colleen Hewett before her departure overseas ; Mrs Phillis Johnson ; and Edward Woodward.

* Norman Gunston interviews Stratford Johns ; Chelsea Brown ; Mrs Andrea ( local talk back radio personality ); and Fred Nile.

* Norman Gunston interviews Ray Barrett ; Edith Dahl, and Jack Thompson.

* Norman Gunston interviews Jack Mundey ; Paul Graham, Warren Beatty.

* Norman Gunston interviews the Carlton Football team in their dressing room ; Mike Willesee ; Marcia Hines ; and Dr. Bertram Wainer.

* Norman Gunston interviews Al Grassby ; Bobbie Sykes ; Little Pattie ; and Cheech & Chong.

* Norman Gunston interviews Michele Dotrice ; Edward Woodward ; Beatrice Faust, and Peter Wherrett.

* Norman Gunston interviews Garry Glitter.

* Norman Gunston interviews Joe Frazier ; Muhammad Ali, Lady Fairfax ; and Winifred Atwell.

* Norman Gunston interviews Ray Charles ; Junie Morosi ; Peter Allen ; and Telly Savalas.

* Norman Gunston interviews Australian rock group Ayers Rock ; Denise Drysdale ; and President Nixon's security guard.

* Norman Gunston interviews Hugh Hefner, Don Dunston, and Barry Crocker.

* Norman Gunston interviews Renée Geyer ; Paul & Linda McCartney ; Denny Laine ; and radio talk-back priest Fr.

* Norman Gunston interviews John Gorton ; The Seekers ; and Miss Australia 1975 ; Sally Struthers.

* Norman Gunston interviews Debbie Byrne ; Senator Albert Field ; Michael Cole ; and Vidal Sassoon.