Karl Stefanovic was left “worried” when an iconic guest appeared to fall asleep during an interview on Wednesday’s Today show.
The TV presenter, 49, and his co-presenter Sarah Abo became worried while interviewing Australian legend Jack Karlson on the Nine Network show.
Karlson was arrested while enjoying a “succulent Chinese meal” on October 11, 1991, and appeared on Today to discuss the incident more than 32 years later.
He joined the show via video link from Brisbane alongside one of the arresting police officers, Stoll Watt, who quickly became friends from the viral moment.
But the interview got off to a rocky start as the two friends struggled to hear the show’s hosts before things got even worse when Karlson appeared to fall asleep.
Karl Stefanovic was left “worried” when an iconic guest appeared to fall asleep during an awkward segment on Wednesday’s Today show.
About two minutes into the conversation, Karlson closed his eyes as Watt spoke and did not open them again for more than a minute as the conversation continued.
When Stoll finished speaking, Stefanovic said, “I got a little worried, Jack might have fallen asleep like the weekend at Bernies.” Are you still with us, Jackie boy?
Karlson, who is now in his eighties, opened his eyes and rejoined the conversation, while Stefanovic and Abo tried not to laugh.
Things took another turn when Stefanovic asked ‘Mr Democracy Manifesto’ how he had ‘got out’ after his arrest, but Karlson didn’t understand what he meant.
Stefanovic then clarified that she was asking him how he avoided going to jail, to which Karlson responded, “Oh, they realized I wasn’t the person they were looking for.”
The TV presenter, 49, and his co-presenter Sarah Abo were left worried while interviewing Australian legend Jack Karlson on the Nine Network show.
About two minutes into the conversation, Stefanovic closed his eyes while Watt spoke and did not open them again for more than a minute, causing concern for the hosts.
Karlson and Watt appeared on a series of chat shows promoting a new documentary based on Jack’s life, called The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal.
The duo appeared on ABC News Breakfast earlier Wednesday to reveal what really happened on the now infamous day more than 32 years ago.
Host Michael Rowland asked part-time actor Karlson if the whole arrest was “a bit of performance art.”
‘I guess so. It’s a little hard to remember the reasons and going back so far,’ she replied.
Recalling the events of that fateful day, Watt added: “Jack is now a good friend of mine, but I have a different version of events than what actually happened.”
Karlson was arrested (pictured) while enjoying a “succulent Chinese meal” on October 11, 1991, and appeared on Today to discuss the incident more than 32 years later.
‘There are many different versions of events. Lots of mysteries and misperceptions about the whole thing.
“But the main thing is that Jack should have received an Academy Award and is a good friend.”
Rowland, 55, asked about one of Karlson’s most iconic lines when he yelled, “Get your hands off my penis!” as the police put him in the back of a police car.
‘Was it true that an officer grabbed you by your private parts or was it made up on the spot?’ Rowland said.
Karlson responded: “Probably made up.” I do not remember.
Watt later explained: ‘Jack has since said that he exaggerated that. But I have to say that Jack would have made a good detective in another line of work.
The duo, who quickly became friends since that historic day, revealed what really happened as a “manifesto of democracy,” ABC News Breakfast reported.
The legendary “succulent Chinese food” arrest occurred on October 11, 1991 and was filmed by a Channel 7 news crew led by Reason.
Reason received a tip that Karlson was being arrested because he used a stolen credit card to pay his bill; It was later discovered that this was a case of mistaken identity.
However, the arrest was filmed by the Network Seven news television crew and has been viewed millions of times since it was uploaded to YouTube in 2009.
The faded footage shows Karlson delivering a series of improvised Shakespeare lines as he is reluctantly pulled away from his lunch.
‘Gentlemen, this is manifest democracy!’ Karlson yells at the camera. ‘Take your hand off my penis!
Karlson and Stoll Watt, one of the police officers who arrested him the day he went viral, appeared on a series of chat shows promoting a new documentary based on Jack’s life.
‘What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal? Oh, what a nice key, sir. Ah yes, I see you know judo well.’
The one-minute clip has since become the subject of countless memes and even has its own Wikipedia page.
After much speculation, it was revealed that the man detained by police was petty criminal, part-time actor and full-time showman, Karlson.
Decades later, the story of Karlson’s arrest is told in the book Carnage: A Succulent Chinese Meal, Mr Rent-a-Kill and the Australian Manson Murders by Mark Dapin.
Karlson will also appear in an upcoming documentary titled The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal.
Decades later, the story of Karlson’s arrest is told in the book Carnage: A Succulent Chinese Meal, Mr Rent-a-Kill and the Australian Manson Murders by Mark Dapin.
The viral sensation will also appear in an upcoming documentary, titled The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal.
Karlson is a talented painter and actor who starred in a music video for punk rock band The Chats and appeared as an extra in the classic Australian television dramas Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police.
karlson He is also known to have had associations with some of Australia’s most notorious criminals from the 1970s to the 1990s, such as Mark ‘Chopper’ Read and gangster Neddy Smith.
He has been locked up in prisons in Brisbane (Boggo Road), Sydney (Parramatta, Long Bay) and Melbourne (Pentridge), and has escaped from custody on three occasions.