‘We just don’t ask questions about it’: Tom Gleisner reveals the ‘unstated arrangement’ Have You Been Paying Attention has with its audience while finding the lighter side of dark times
They’re used to scouring headlines for the biggest stories of the week as part of Channel 10’s quiz show, Have You Been Paying Attention?
And on Sunday, host Tom Gleisner admitted while coronavirus is dominating headlines in Australia, there’s an ‘unstated arrangement’ with the show’s audience where it’s not up for discussion.
Speaking to The Advertiser, Tom, 57, said: ‘We know this is a huge news story – we know that you know it’s a huge news story, but there’s no fun or comedy in it.
‘We just don’t ask questions about it’: Channel 10 host Tom Gleisner (pictured) has revealed the ‘unstated arrangement’ the show has with its Have You Been Paying Attention? audience
‘We just don’t ask questions about it. Anything we said or did would be insensitive, so let’s just move on and play the Pauline Hanson clip,’ he laughed off.
Tom said while the show wouldn’t show the grim side of COVID-19, there were lighter moments to share with the nation.
The comedian said that with many celebrities having discovered TikTok, there’s plenty more opportunity for content to carry on with.
‘Donald Trump only has to wander into a rose garden and you know there is going to be material,’ he cheekily added to the publication.
Not funny: Speaking to The Advertiser , Tom, 57, said: ‘We know this is a huge news story – we know that you know it’s a huge news story, but there’s no fun or comedy in it
The Channel 10 quizmaster host went on to reveal, like many businesses, he and the show’s co-hosts Ed Kavalee and Sam Pang have had to adapt amid the pandemic.
‘We sort of did it like one of those bad Zoom meetings we have all sat through… And we were actually very pleasantly surprised – it looked and sounded like the same show that we love,’ he said.
Following the success of the video call showrunners decided production was able to continue – with all panelists joining in remotely.
Change of times! The Channel 10 host quizmaster went on to reveal, like many businesses, he and the show’s co-hosts Ed Kavalee (right) and Sam Pang (left) have had to adapt to the pandemic. Pictured together at the 2016 TV Week Logie Awards
The Logie-winning quiz show has steadily built up a fan base on air, despite being a low-budget production which debuted in 2013 to minimal fanfare.
The weekly game show has won five Logies in three years in the comedy and entertainment categories.
Have You Been Paying Attention? returns to Monday 8.30pm on TEN.
Return: Following the success of a video conference test call, showrunners have decided production was able to continue – with all panelists joining in remotely for future shows