Two Tasmanians have returned fire at Australian comedian Tom Gleeson who poked fun at Launceston in his latest skit.
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The city featured in a four-and-a-half minute skit on Go Away, a take-off of travel show Getaway, which aired on The Weekly on Wednesday night.
In the skit Gleeson quizzed Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten about the city, the pair visited The Old Umbrella Shop, and then Gleeson goes on a ghost tour.
Fresh Comedy producer and host Stewart Bell questioned whether Gleeson could claim having an authentic Launceston experience.
“He didn’t even get abused by a bogan on the blockie route,” he said.
“He didn’t even injure himself trying to play on the pillows in the mall … it’s sloppy journalism.
“We are heaps better than Hobart: We have better beer, less roadworks and it is warmer.
“Seriously though, Tom is a great guy and I’m disappointed he didn’t do a show with us [Fresh Comedy].”
Bell wasn’t alone in his quick-witted defence of Launceston.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin also hit back at Gleeson’s skit.
“If that is an attempt at satire then it is going about as well as his hairline,” Mr Martin said.
Gleeson’s quick trip also included a visit to the monkeys at City Park and the ‘comedian’ drank a Cascade Draught in front of Boag’s Brewery.
Despite the tongue-in-cheek video’s comical outlook on Launceston, Mr Martin said the city has a lot to be proud of.
“We [Launceston] are the fastest growing tourism destination in Tasmania with the highest rate of repeat visitation,” he said.
OMG! TOM GLEESON READS THE EXAMINER
While Alderman van Zetten was initially hesitant to accept Gleeson’s invitation, he decided he may as well take part and have “some influence”.
“You don’t know what sort of questions or comments he’ll ask, and obviously the question I got that threw me was the joke about the mainland,” Alderman van Zetten said.
Vision of Gleeson standing on the suspension bridge at Cataract Gorge was “worth a thousand words”.
“The scenery was fantastic and it was tongue-and-cheek, and his sense of humour,” Alderman van Zetten said.
About 85 per cent of readers who took The Examiner’s online survey found the satirical video funny.
Most readers found Gleeson’s decision to skol a Casade Draught in front of Boag’s the most offensive moment in show.
Launceston was Go Away’s second stop with the show first visiting Tamworth.
