Before Croc Dundee: "The Paul Hogan Show" Quiz

Answer: Strop

Strop was played by John Cornell, who was, at the time, Paul Hogan's business manager. The character of Strop was much loved by the viewers. He was the one who usually had bad fortune or missed out on the girl by making a mistake, but occasionally, he would fall on his feet.

Cornell co-wrote and produced Hogan's 1986 film, "Crocodile Dundee", the highest grossing Australian film ever. Additionally, he produced and directed the 1988 follow-up, "Crocodile Dundee II".

Answer: Hoges

In the finest Aussie tradition of taking a word and shortening it (i.e. Australian becomes Aussie), Hogan became "Hoges". It is generally considered to be sign of affection to abbreviate in this manner, particularly in regard to proper names (e.g. the author lives in Brisbane - "Brizzy").

The Paul Hogan Show ran between 1973 and 1982. There were around 50 episodes created, usually of one hour duration. To quote a review from www.michaeldvd.com.au (because I think it sums the show up perfectly): "The humour was mostly low-brow, self-deprecating and very, very Australian. Despite this (or maybe because of it) the show was also very funny and very popular".

Answer: Gidday viewers

"Gidday", of course, is a slight shortening of "Good Day". The show was a mixture of sketch comedy and Hogan talking to his audience. To accentuate the ocker (poorly mannered, unsophisticated Australian) persona, Hogan would routinely wear workboots with blue football socks, stubbies (shorts) and a shirt with the sleeves cut off of it.

The use of gidday added to the overall ocker effect.

Answer: Luigi the Incredible

Luigi the Incredible would appear in sketches, lampooning the stage acts of proper magicians. Luigi, of course, was hopeless, and it was clear that the character realised this. But as with many of Hogan's characters, half the joke was that they were trying to fumble their way through their situation.

In one sketch, as I recall, the authorities (probably the Tax Department - a frequent butt of jokes on the show) were trying to track down Luigi. They located him, but he denied he was one and the same. Instead he claimed to be Luigi's brother, Guiseppe. After a slight pause, he added "The Inedible".

Answer: Delvene Delaney

Delvene Delaney is married to John Cornell, Hogan's business manager. The couple have two grown children. In the years following the demise of the show, they purchased the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay, located in Northern New South Wales.

Karen Pini did appear on the show, but was a brunette. Lynda Stoner could be classified as a blonde bombshell, but did not appear on the show. Jeannie Little - it's hard to know how to describe her! Those who know her will know what I mean.

Answer: "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" is a rare example of a piece of non-pop music which despite of, or perhaps because of it's success, is usually referred to by an incorrect title. Most people refer to this piece as "The Sting". It was the theme tune used in the 1973 movie of the same name, starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw.

Hogan's use of the tune also played upon this misconception. The piece was set to Hogan's portrayal of a serial drunk, and was simply entitled "Stung" (a euphemism for being drunk).

Answer: Leo Wanker

Leo Wanker would regularly perform incredible stunts of stupidity, for no reason other than to prove to his viewers that he was up to the task. One memorable stunt saw him get dragged behind a truck as he was sitting on his backside. As was always the case, the stunt would go wrong, in this case, the truck driver braked too quickly and Leo careered into the rear of the truck. Of course, by this stage, his pants were smoldering from the friction.

This provided the basis for the regular ending to every Leo Wanker stunt, whereby safety men in overalls would run in from all sides and spray Leo with fire extinguishers, usually the CO2 or foam type, for added effect. In keeping with his persona, Leo would always bravely wave to the crowd, despite whatever injuries he had amassed along the way!

Answer: Winfield

In fact, the link between Hogan and Winfield was so strong that the theme music for the show, at least in the latter episodes, was based on the same music that was used in Winfield commercials. The catchphrase for the commercials was Hogan saying "Anyhow, have a Winfield".

Answer: Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band)

Glenn Shorrock was the lead singer of The Little River Band. Unusual among 70's Australian bands, they enjoyed much success in the U.S. market, attaining 13 top forty hits, including six consecutive top ten hits between 1978 and 1981.

As an actor? Perhaps he should have stuck with singing. The acting was a little wooden, to say the least.

Answer: Nigel Lovelace

Nigel Lovelace was a highly paradoxical character. Clad in a leather jacket and sometimes a German helmet to match, he would occasionally show up in comedy sketches with a big smile and toothy grin, and admonish older people for their misdemeanours (as he saw them).

Part of the joke was that he would introduce himself as "Nigel Lovelace, 13 years of age", when he was clearly a grown man. Nigel would frequently (and politely) point out other people's faults or mistakes, e.g., "Excuse me sir, you dropped a cigarette butt on the ground". When inevitably challenged by the elder, Nigel would smile and without warning punch them in the stomach (or something similar).

If the recipient uttered any blasphemy or swore during this process, Nigel would usually inflict some other type of punishment, and add "It's not polite to swear". He would then ride his skateboard into the distance!

George Fungus was a take-off of George Negus, and Australian journalist noted for his work on "60 Minutes". Super Dag always had zinc cream on his nose and carried a foam esky (cooler) wherever he went. Sergeant Donger was the a-typical pot-bellied Policeman, whose opening line was "Here to rough you up". He would subdue criminals by belly-barging them.

The Incredible Weed, John McEnhoges, Perce the Wino, Arthur Dunger and Mullet were some of many other Hogan characterisations that appeared during the show's lifetime.