A very well put together piece on Rove, courtesy of The Sunday Times.
ROVE McManus stopped caring two years ago. Don’t worry, the diminutive comedian didn’t let go of his professional passion.
But, all of a sudden, the negative barbs attached to his career – a landmark 10 years and counting – no longer penetrated.
See, it’s easy to knock McManus, and many have; for every fan the Perth-born and bred performer has attracted with his TV, radio and stand-up work, there are those who label him “lightweight” and an “alleged funnyman”, and pillory his approach to comedy as “safe”.
McManus used to ride this rough route, acknowledging the critical roadblocks and public potholes lining his path. But in 2007, in the year after the death of his first wife, actor Belinda Emmett, he stopped the car, got out and walked. From then on, he’s only listened to the opinions of those he respects.
“I used to read everything,” he said with a shrug. “I have scrapbooks of my first press clippings _ of the first TV Guide interview that made the cover. I thought I should, as it could reach the point later in life when people are like, `Bull, you ever did that’. I thought it would be nice to have these mementos.”
Now free of those critical demons, he admits there was a time when he allowed them to shape both him and his Network Ten variety program, Rove.
“As a performer, and as a program, we lost our identity for a while because we were too busy trying to please (and do what) everybody wanted, instead of what we think works,” McManus said.
“Some people aren’t going to like you. Why bust your balls trying to change that? If they think you suck, they think you suck.”
