Karl ‘a little worried’ as interview goes pear-shaped

Well, this is awkward. An interviewee on Today this morning appeared to fall asleep for more than a minute, live on-air.

Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo suffered through an awkward segment this morning with an interviewee who appeared to fall asleep for a full minute of his time on air.

The pair were interviewing Jack Karlson, the man behind the infamous “Democracy Manifest” news segment from 1991, which later became a much-loved online meme.

Karlson, who appears in the vintage news clip being arrested outside a Brisbane restaurant after enjoying what he calls a “succulent Chinese meal”, was joined by one of his arresting officers at the time to discuss the incident.

The interview got off to a bumpy start as the two older gentlemen struggled to hear the hosts, but the wheels well and truly fell off around two minutes into the segment, when Karlson closed his eyes – and then didn’t open them again for almost 75 seconds, as the conversation carried on without him.

Karl looks concerned …

Karlson looks unconscious.

“I just got a little worried there, Jack might’ve nodded off like Weekend at Bernies. You still with us, Jackie boy?” Stefanovic asked, which prompted a bleary-eyed Karlson to join the conversation once more.

The pair were appearing on Today tease the upcoming documentary The Man Who Ate A Succulent Chinese Meal, based on Karlson’s life.

Directed by Heath Davis and co-produced by Tim Randall and Mark Dapin (author of Carnage: A Succulent Chinese meal), the film is currently set for release in March 2025.

The video of Karlson’s arrest became an meme when it was finally uploaded to the internet in 2009.

As he’s being led away by the police, Karlson is seen on camera uttering many irate catchphrases about his impending arrest.

“This is democracy manifest!”, “Get your hand off my penis!” and “What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?” are among the quotes from the clip that live on in infamy.