Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson was left speechless after a contestant’s shocking answer to a question which left the studio audience stunned.
The incident, which aired on the ABC on Wednesday night, started when Gleeson asked a rather innocuous question about the 2010 film The Social Network.
‘The Social Network opens with Mark Zuckerberg getting dumped by his girlfriend who tells him that if girls don’t like him, it’s because he’s an a***hole, not because he’s a what?’ Gleeson asked the four-person panel.
Contestant Mike was the first to buzz in. ‘Jew?’ he hopefully replied.
His answer soon elicited groans from the audience and an ‘incorrect’ from a giggling Gleeson.
Urging contestants to buzz in with the correct answer, the host added: ‘Quick, someone fill the awkward silence.’
Tom Gleeson (pictured) was left speechless this week on Hard Quiz after a contestant’s answer to a question left the studio audience stunned
‘The Social Network opens with Mark Zuckerberg getting dumped by his girlfriend who tells him that if girls don’t like him, it’s because he’s an a***hole, not because he’s a what?’ Gleeson asked the panel. Contestant Mike (pictured) was the first to buzz in. ‘Jew?’ he replied
When no answer was forthcoming, Gleeson said the correct answer was ‘Nerd’.
‘It was just a guess,’ Mike protested, to which Gleeson offered: ‘Yes, it was just a guess.’
The exchange drew some chatter from viewers on social media, with one posting to X: ‘Absolutely wild stuff on Hard Quiz tonight.’
Another chimed in with: ‘Oh my God, the actual answer was so obvious and that was all he could come up with?’
A third predicted that the ABC would be inundated with viewers voicing their anger over the exchange.
‘ABC Ombudsman complaints inbox will be filling up after that one,’ they wrote.
It comes after Gleeson used his moment on stage at the Logies in August to take a savage swipe at Channel Seven.
The Gold Logie winner was presenting alongside MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow when he delivered a X-rated tirade against the network, accusing it of favouring its own talent when it comes to awards.
His answer soon elicited groans from the audience and an ‘Incorrect’ from a giggling Gleeson
Viewers were quick to comment on social media: ‘Absolutely wild stuff on Hard Quiz tonight,’ wrote one fan
‘G’day, congratulations Poh, we are nominated for the Gold Logie award, a prestigious award and cannot be mocked,’ Gleeson said with his signature sarcasm.
‘I cannot think of anything critical to say about it. I will happily make jokes about religion, but the Gold Logie is beyond critique. It can change everything – I was hosting Hard Quiz, I won… and I still am.’
Then, in a cutting jab at Seven, he quipped: ‘You are not going to win because you are not on Channel Seven. That is how it works. Channel Seven are giving out awards to themselves – it’s like they’ve invited us to their house so we can watch them have a w**k.’
While the room erupted in laughter, Gleeson doubled down – telling the live audience and viewers at home that voting was still open and urging them to get behind Poh.
‘Over one million people are watching – if everyone voted for Poh, it could be an upset. And you know I love an upset. You can vote for Channel Seven if you want, but if you don’t know, vote Poh.’
Poh, clearly relieved she didn’t have to say it herself, laughed: ‘Thanks Tom, I was going to say something but it would have been gross!’
According to fellow comedian Dave Hughes, Logies producers were not happy Gleeson went off script with the X-rated joke.
It comes after Gleeson used his moment on stage at the Logies in August to take a savage swipe at Channel Seven
‘There’s an autocue and I refuse to use it. I got a call on Sunday morning from the producers of the Logies saying, “What are you going to say on stage?”‘ he explained on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick.
‘I said, “I don’t know, just relax. No I’m not using the autocue.”‘
‘Neither did Tom Gleeson. He had all these jokes on the autocue that he didn’t use and just started slagging off Channel Seven.
‘It was funny and it was graphic, but it wasn’t on the autocue and they weren’t too happy.’
