Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made an unanticipated, memorable appearance on the ninth-season premiere of the hit Channel 9 comedy game show *The Hundred*, where he delivered a series of sharp, playful roasts of fellow panel guests and opened up about little-known personal anecdotes from his life before entering the nation’s top office.
Hosted by beloved Australian comedian Andy Lee, *The Hundred* structures its episodes around 100 everyday Australians from across the country, who join the show remotely via Zoom to participate in on-air polls and interactive segments. For the opening episode of the new season, Albanese stepped into the program’s signature “hot seat” for a fun segment testing how many of the 100 participants could recognize the country’s sitting Prime Minister. Impressively, 98% of the respondents correctly identified Albanese – a result that prompted the Prime Minister to fire off a quick-witted quip, asking, “Who are the two people who are leaving Australia at this point in time?” The joke landed instantly with the studio audience and viewers watching at home alike.
Beyond the recognition segment, Albanese leaned into the lighthearted tone of the night, sharing a throwback to a lesser-known gig he held years before entering politics: part-time event DJ. Going by the playful stage name “DJ Albo”, Albanese explained he spent many years spinning tracks for charity fundraisers hosted by Reclink, an Australian organization that uses sport and the arts to support community members facing disadvantage. “I haven’t done it for a while because I’m busy with other things,” he told the panel, adding a joking note about crowd reactions to his sets that drew more laughs from the room.
Albanese also showcased one of his most well-known (and previously private) personal mannerisms during the appearance: his so-called “everything is fine face”. He told the audience this is the neutral, polite expression he pulls when greeting fellow politicians he does not agree with politically. To demonstrate the trick, host Andy Lee stepped into the role of a disagreeable political colleague, with Albanese greeting him with a firm handshake and a wide, unflappable grin – a performance that brought roars of laughter from the crowd.
A long-running staple of Australian comedy television, *The Hundred* welcomes back regular panellists Mike Goldstein and Sophie Monk for its ninth season, alongside a rotating lineup of popular Australian comedians including Joel Creasey, Kate Langbroek, Pete Helliar, Denise Scott, Hamish Blake, Glenn Robbins and Dave Hughes. Albanese’s surprise opening-night guest spot kicks off a season packed with A-list celebrity guests, with upcoming appearances scheduled for Olympic swimmer and musician Cody Simpson, Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, Melbourne AFL captain Max Gawn and Australian actor-activist Samuel Johnson, according to entertainment outlet TV Blackbox.