Enough Rope
Encyclopedia
Enough Rope with Andrew Denton (often shortened to Enough Rope) is a television interview show originally broadcast on ABC Television
in Australia. The title of the show came from the phrase "give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves".
The program was the brainchild of Australian comedian, social critic, producer and media personality Andrew Denton
, who hosted the show. The hour-long chat show aired from 2003 to 2008.
In addition to celebrities, Denton's interviewees have included people who have had extraordinary life stories have or hold interesting professions, such as veterinarians, taxi drivers and diving instructors. An occasional feature of the show was "Show & Tell", in which Denton interviewed members of the studio audience, who revealed unusual stories about themselves.
The show initially competed against the Nine Network's Micallef Tonight
in the Monday 9:30 pm timeslot, and critics have claimed that Enough Ropes high ratings forced Nine to axe their program. Throughout 2004 and 2005 Enough Rope continued to dominate, averaging well over a million viewers weekly. At the beginning of both 2007 and 2008, the series began with several More Than Enough Rope specials, a series that revisited interviews with past guests along with behind the scenes footage. In 2008, the series had a series of interviews with people who are of 'older age', and these interviews were re-titled 'Elders with Andrew Denton' instead of the usual 'Enough Rope' banner. Elders also aired in 2009.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald
in October 2008, Denton announced that the 2008 season would be the last. He claims to have ended the show because "It's a good time to finish."
, Steven Spielberg
, Al Gore
, Jerry Seinfeld
, Bob Geldof
, Antonio Banderas
, Helen Mirren
, Bono
, Dave Grohl
, Dr Jane Goodall
, Elton John
, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Angelina Jolie
, Clint Eastwood
, Mel Brooks
, and Michael Parkinson
. Denton sometimes flew to international destinations to conduct his interviews.
On a local level, comedian Dave Hughes
opened up about what led him to give up alcohol, and lifestyle television pioneer Don Burke
shed some light on the axing of his iconic show, Burke's Backyard
. A highly publicised interview with disgraced footballer Wayne Carey
conducted in the weeks after a series of controversies drew in a television audience of 1.5 million viewers.
For the final program, aired on 8 December 2008, the guests were Ben Stiller
and Wendy Whiteley
.
Enough Rope was at the centre of political controversy in 2005 as the result of a controversial interview with former ALP
opposition leader Mark Latham
which almost did not make it to air (Latham was also interviewed for Lateline
). In 2004, Denton interviewed the controversial anti-immigration figure from Australian politics, Pauline Hanson
, who refuted claims that she was a racist.
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
in Australia. The title of the show came from the phrase "give someone enough rope and they'll hang themselves".
The program was the brainchild of Australian comedian, social critic, producer and media personality Andrew Denton
Andrew Denton
Andrew Christopher Denton 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. He is known for his comedy and interviewing technique...
, who hosted the show. The hour-long chat show aired from 2003 to 2008.
Overview
The show was based around in-depth interviews Denton held with a celebrity or person of note, usually before a studio audience. Many high-profile guests would comment on Denton's meticulous research in interview preparation.In addition to celebrities, Denton's interviewees have included people who have had extraordinary life stories have or hold interesting professions, such as veterinarians, taxi drivers and diving instructors. An occasional feature of the show was "Show & Tell", in which Denton interviewed members of the studio audience, who revealed unusual stories about themselves.
The show initially competed against the Nine Network's Micallef Tonight
Micallef Tonight
Micallef Tonight is a short-lived Aria Award–winning Australian variety show that aired on the Nine Network in 2003. It was hosted by comedian Shaun Micallef and also featured the talents of Francis Greenslade, Jason Geary, Livinia Nixon and Pete Smith....
in the Monday 9:30 pm timeslot, and critics have claimed that Enough Ropes high ratings forced Nine to axe their program. Throughout 2004 and 2005 Enough Rope continued to dominate, averaging well over a million viewers weekly. At the beginning of both 2007 and 2008, the series began with several More Than Enough Rope specials, a series that revisited interviews with past guests along with behind the scenes footage. In 2008, the series had a series of interviews with people who are of 'older age', and these interviews were re-titled 'Elders with Andrew Denton' instead of the usual 'Enough Rope' banner. Elders also aired in 2009.
In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
in October 2008, Denton announced that the 2008 season would be the last. He claims to have ended the show because "It's a good time to finish."
Notable guests
Some of the high profile international guests that appeared on the show include former U.S. President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
, Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
, Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
, Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
, Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
, Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, Dr Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
, Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
, and Michael Parkinson
Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE is an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his interview programme, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007.- Early life :...
. Denton sometimes flew to international destinations to conduct his interviews.
On a local level, comedian Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes
David William "Hughesy" Hughes is an Australian stand-up comedian, radio and television presenter. He is currently co-host on the Network Ten's The Project and Before the Game as well as the breakfast radio show Hughesy and Kate.-Television:Hughes co-hosted the ABC comedy talk show The Glass House...
opened up about what led him to give up alcohol, and lifestyle television pioneer Don Burke
Don Burke
Donald William "Don" Burke OAM is an Australian television personality and author. He is best known as the long time host of Burke's Backyard, a lifestyle program which ran for 17 years from 1987 to late 2004 on the Nine Network. It has returned several times over recent years with a number of...
shed some light on the axing of his iconic show, Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard
Burke's Backyard is an Australian gardening and lifestyle program, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network from 1987 to 2004.- History :...
. A highly publicised interview with disgraced footballer Wayne Carey
Wayne Carey
Wayne Carey is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Adelaide Football Clubs in the Australian Football League ....
conducted in the weeks after a series of controversies drew in a television audience of 1.5 million viewers.
For the final program, aired on 8 December 2008, the guests were Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
and Wendy Whiteley
Wendy Whiteley
Wendy Whiteley OAM is an Australian artist and cultural icon.She is sometimes described as the "grande dame of the Sydney art scene"...
.
Enough Rope was at the centre of political controversy in 2005 as the result of a controversial interview with former ALP
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
opposition leader Mark Latham
Mark Latham
Mark William Latham , an author and former Australian politician, was leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005....
which almost did not make it to air (Latham was also interviewed for Lateline
Lateline
Lateline is an Australian television news and current affairs program produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, airing weeknights at on ABC1. The program has developed a reputation for head-to-head debates on current issues and political interviews. Lateline is followed by its sister...
). In 2004, Denton interviewed the controversial anti-immigration figure from Australian politics, Pauline Hanson
Pauline Hanson
Pauline Lee Hanson is an Australian politician and former leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation, a political party with a populist and anti-multiculturalism platform...
, who refuted claims that she was a racist.
See also
- Publication of Latham's Diaries and public appearances
- List of Australian television series