Who should represent Australia?

Baku, Azerbaijan -

As Eurovision.tv has previously reported, the Eurovision Song Contest enjoys huge popularity in Australia. Let's imagine for a minute that the rules were changed and Australia were allowed to participate in Europe's Favourite TV Show. Who would the Australians like to see represent their nation?.

Eurovision.tv put this hypothetical question to the Australian broadcaster SBS's Eurovision commentary team, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang during an interview at their commentary booth in Baku at this year's contest.

They both gave individual answers, with Sam clearly thinking outside of the box and Julia going for a more conventional option. Check out the video below to see who Sam and Julia think would make the ideal Australian representatives.

Who should represent Australia?

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Best ever Australian coverage

SBS reported that the coverage of all three live shows in Australia went bigger than ever. In addition to this, Julia Zemiro embarked upon a journey from Düsseldorf, last year's host city to Baku in a camper van, travelling thousands of miles and interviewing many Eurovision stars along the way, including the very first winner of Europe's Favourite TV Show, Lys Assia pictured with Julia below.

Meet Sam & Julia

Eurovision.tv spoke at length with the inimitable Sam and Julia in Baku about what makes the contest so popular in Australia, you can hear what they have to say in our interview below.

Meet the commentators from Australia

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Posted on 22/December 2012 at 00:08
ZombieRefluxx from Australia

Chad Morgan. No doubt.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/DWfFFMcfEt4 report to the moderator
Posted on 22/November 2012 at 15:02
eurovisionfan99

ac/dc xD report to the moderator
Posted on 13/July 2012 at 16:54
Jack Hsu from Taiwan

Gotye !!!!!!
Somebody that I used to know !!!!!!!!!! report to the moderator
Posted on 3/July 2012 at 16:37
Barcelona calling from Spain

Australia should be allowed to send a representative. Rules have to be changed when necesary. report to the moderator
Posted on 1/July 2012 at 14:25
MrEurovision from Australia

Good idea, Pretellier. Mind you, I don't drink. ESC is the only drug I need. :P report to the moderator
Posted on 1/July 2012 at 13:30
Pretellier from Australia

Harsh , Harsh ! MrEurovision ! There are certain realities in Television commerciality , such as trying to popularise Europop Content , that isn't generally accepted in the Australian Mainstream ! I'm an average Aussie who happens to like europop , but even amongst the descendants of european immigrants , it isn't accepted . I know who Peter Allen is , as well as Tina Arena . I like Julia and Sam's chat-style . We have different views , but my Eurovision and their Music I take seriously . Let's say Cheers and share the Beer ! report to the moderator
Posted on 1/July 2012 at 11:14
MrEurovision from Australia

Pretellier, that's exactly my point. SBS choose this direction based on commerical reasons and ratings. They can't promote ESC on the music, so they promote on campness and the weird eurocentricity for the pure reason to mock and deride it. To mainstream Australia ESC is regarded as really trashy and SBS perpetuate this by shoving the music to the side as any reason to watch.

Wheras fans here mentioned Kylie and Delta, Pang mentions Peter Allen (poor man's Liberace & expat Australian from America who died of aids) and Shane Warne (a yobbo cricketer famous for lewd text messages to girls while married) as possible performers.

At least Julia said Tina Arena. That proves my point further that they can temper the snide jokes and focus more on music. Because if they ever want SBS to grow and taken seriously, they can't keep promoting it as trash. I understand the UK regards the show as trashy too, and just look at their poor results and ratings. report to the moderator
Posted on 30/June 2012 at 09:09
Jupiter from Malaysia

Oh, I'm sure a lot of people DO love Australia... What is it NOT to love?

By the way, any follow-up on the Asian version of contest? I heard it's not going to be a competitive one, alas... report to the moderator
Posted on 29/June 2012 at 10:34
Jupiter from Malaysia

I don't know how the show was broadcast there in Aussie but I watched the BBC's broadcast and it was so much fun! Graham Norton's comments never failed to amuse and entertain me... Apparently, many people thought the same. So, I don't think having a comedian commenting is bad at all. report to the moderator
Posted on 29/June 2012 at 08:45
Pretellier from Australia

I disagree MrEurovision ! I don't think SBS is intentionally derisive of Eurovision ! I think it's due to the increasing commercialisation of public Tv , visa more ads on the public channel as well as innocuous promotion of Twitter during the live telecast , including the aussie slag by the commentators , that is creating a heightened sense of viewing required by Tv enterprise , for promotion of the event . report to the moderator
Posted on 29/June 2012 at 06:43
MrEurovision from Australia

To clarify, I don't mind the odd joke, esp if witty. Sam's response after describing Israel's multi-mix of genres in their song, that maybe they should have focused on one style, is a good example. Terry Wogan also knew some limits. SBS is different by effectively promoting the entire contest as a vehicle for derision and mockery. Does Sweden do this? SBS don't advertise ESC for some certain sample great artists or music, it's to make fun of any outfits, people's names or anything. They promote ESC as pure trash - that that's the only viable enticement for an audience.

I call for a balance. Sometimes I like to know more about the song, not a crasse and often unfunny joke. In fact, sometimes I like to hear the music. These clowns often talk over the start and end.

Jajceboy: Do Swedish commentators trash the entire show? SBS even mocked the interval act for fear viewers would drift away from culturally sensitive Azeri music. report to the moderator
Posted on 29/June 2012 at 02:54
cdaz5 from Australia

I think Bob Downe would be brilliant :) report to the moderator
Posted on 29/June 2012 at 02:53
cdaz5 from Australia

Mr Eurovision..... honestly you need to chill out. You seem to have lost the ability to simply have fun. report to the moderator
Posted on 28/June 2012 at 22:25
Scrappy from Ireland

Olivia newton-John should report to the moderator
Posted on 28/June 2012 at 10:38
Jajceboy from Sweden

MrEurovision, many countries do send comedians as commentators, whicch actually makes it funnier and interesting to watch. I mean, what's so fun about just sending a guy that rambles information you can find on any ESC-site? report to the moderator