Rove McManus: 'Gogglebox Makes No Sense'
Former chatshow host and current Taskmaster Australia contestant Rove McManus has shared his controversial pop culture opinions, including a strong dislike for the popular show Gogglebox. 'I don't like Gogglebox,' McManus said. 'I think the idea of a television show where you watch people interrupt a television show makes no sense. If I want people to interrupt me while I am watching TV, I will sit on my own couch with my family.' He added that despite its awards, he finds the concept baffling.
Why He Ditched 'John'
McManus, born John, explained his aversion to his birth name. 'My mum sometimes calls me Johnny, which I don't mind. John, I don't like. I find John very boring. John Live would have been a very dull TV show.' He adopted 'Rove' as a stage name from a childhood nickname given by his sister, and it stuck.
Memorable Fan Interaction: Signing a Baby
One of his most bizarre fan encounters involved being asked to sign a baby. 'Someone came to me at a cafe and handed me their baby, while I was paying for my coffee, and asked me to sign their baby,' he recalled. 'I panicked and signed it on the top of its beautifully bald little head. A blank canvas. At that point, we are now graffitiing a human child.' He wonders where that baby is now, now nearly an adult.
Taskmaster Australia Prep
McManus prepared for the show by calling former contestants like Wil Anderson and Peter Helliar. 'I went in with the idea that I had to commit to it 100% and enjoy it,' he said. 'If you get too caught up in trying to win, that's where you can sometimes come unstuck.'
If Animals Could Talk
He believes elephants would be the nicest. 'Elephants are a matriarchy, so that means there's a no dickhead policy. I want to have a good chat with an elephant. I think they'd have a lot of wisdom.'
On His Catchphrase
The phrase 'Say hi to your mum for me' originated from a genuine phone call. 'I was on a phone call with a friend and I said, sincerely: 'Say hi to your mum for me' because he was off to visit his parents.' A friend overhearing only his side found it weird, and McManus began using it to end standup sets.
Nemesis: A Dog Named Hercules
McManus revealed his nemesis was a neighbor's dog named Hercules. 'He barked at me every time I walked past. He had big dog energy. I would say to him: 'Hercules, you know me! I'm here every day!'' He suspects Hercules was a big Gogglebox fan.
Secret Talent: Drawing
McManus, who holds a fine arts degree, said drawing has always come naturally. 'I did a fine arts degree, I majored in painting and minored in sculpture. But I didn't like painting, I liked drawing cartoons.' He has released five children's books and does all the illustrations.
Childhood Scar: Watership Down
He was traumatized by the animated film Watership Down. 'My parents took me and my two older sisters to see what we all thought was just an animated film about rabbits. All of those rabbits are mercilessly torn to shreds by a pack of dogs at the end. It is so confronting and so distressing.'
Kevin Rudd Loved the Spoof
McManus's long-running spoof of Kevin Rudd was well-received. 'He loved it. He was a fan to the point that we put together every episode on a DVD box set and gave it him. I got him to sign a copy for me too.'
Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter
He recalled a mortifying moment with WWE star Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. 'I asked for a photo, rummaged through my bag to get out my digital camera, and realised the battery was flat. Paul Heyman turned around and said: 'Maybe next time get your battery charged.' I felt so tiny.'
