Lost for words politicians find unexpected comedic success

IT’S not a spoof — but these two might have just become the most non-intentionally funny duo on TV.

AWKWARD doesn’t begin to describe it. Excruciatingly comedic just might.

We’re loving this clip of political fixer and Federal Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Labor’s Richard Marles on their new Sky News segment, Pyne & Marles.

No — it’s not a spoof. Which makes it even more hilarious.

Props to Drew Sheldrick, who unleashed the beauty of the clip on Twitter.

Sweet Christ https://t.co/EuKv3npR3p

— Drew Sheldrick (@drewsheldrick) February 17, 2016

Pyne & Marles is a space for political foes to debate the big issue of the week — if they could just manage to get the words out.

In this instalment, after the slick lead-in promo and graphics, Marles and Pyne are having trouble just getting through the intro.

The hurdles of two studios, and perhaps some technical issues sees them seemingly frozen, staring into the barrel of the camera’s, appearing unaware they’re on air.

As the silence stretches excruciatingly past five seconds, Marles comes to life, and stumbles into a disjointed introduction, in which he grasps briefly for the name of the show, and it seems, his own first name.

“I’m. I’m Marles. And ... here is Christopher Pyne,” Marles eventually manages to utter.

There’s another long wait — and perhaps a call for ‘new hamsters’ to get communications rolling — before Pyne joins the conversation in equally stilted form.

As for as comedic talent goes it’s more Basil Fawlty and Manuel than Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But odd, couple? Yes — distinctly odd.

It’s not often we see politicians lost for words, and we venture the duo has a little work to do if they are to become a television political pairing along the lines of Kevin Rudd and Joe Hockey, who found their groove on Sunrise several years ago.

Originally published as Lost for words politicians find unexpected comedic success