Culture

An Interview With Baby John Burgess About His Wholesome And Perfect Twitter Account

TGIBJB: Thank God It's Baby John Burgess!

by Deirdre Fidge  1 October 2019
Baby John Burgess interview

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

Baby John Burgess. To some people, he’s known for his bowling prowess. In other circles, he’s known for being the longstanding host of Wheel of Fortune. Certain people may recognise his voice first, from his decades on various radio stations around the country.

Related
Please Stop Screaming When You Sneeze

But to me… he’ll always be Burgo.

Baby John Burgess is without a doubt a legend of Australian media. His silky-smooth voice, his witty asides, that friendly smile. Generations know him and love him — and he’s recently become one of Australian Twitter’s cult icons.

Back in 2015, a dusty part of my brain reminded me of the joyous afternoons after school when I’d come home to watch Burgo’s Catch Phrase. I wonder if Burgo’s on Twitter? I wondered.

Unlike Burgo, I have no significant life accomplishments, so have spent most of my adult life on Twitter. And thus, our relationship began.

(Not really, as he only followed me back recently, which I took full advantage of for this article.)

The two most important gifts Burgo has bestowed upon us with his Twitter presence are T for 2DAY and TGIF (‘thought for today’ and ‘thank God it’s Friday’, for the uninitiated).

These sprinklings of joy are precious gems in the ocean of filth that is the internet, and TGIF in particular has become somewhat of an event. A personal favourite was back in May, on Mother’s Day — TGIMD.

In an era of rising political tensions and increasing social divides, the internet can be a scary place: especially somewhere like Twitter. Burgo gives us a light to shine through the garbage, a throwback to simpler times and old-fashioned Dad jokes, along with the occasional uplifting topical comment.

Burgo gracefully accepted my request to a Q&A, and I implore you all to learn from his wholesome attitude to life.

Many people would know you from Wheel of Fortune or Burgo’s Catch Phrase. But recently, your Twitter account has attracted a cult following — how do you feel about this?

It really started out as an extension of the Burgo nonsense I’ve been peddling on the radio & TV for the past 53 years, when someone said I should “get onto social media or be left behind”.

So, I thought this won’t work, who’d be interested?

But to my surprise people seem to enjoy my ramblings so we continued. I treat it as a compliment when people stop me in the street ,the supermarket, or a restaurant and want to shake my hand, take a selfie or give me a bake about something I’ve said — and the same applies when they react to my tweets.

Any plans to expand your jokes to other social media platforms like Tik Tok? (I don’t actually understand it but I try to keep up with youth culture. It’s difficult)

I’m flat out just keeping up with Twitter and Facebook, my tiny brain can’t cope with anything else I fear, so the only thing that goes Tik Tok in my world is the kitchen clock! [writer’s note: hell yes, king!]

Who do you enjoy following on Twitter?

I really just enjoy reading what people post on Twitter and don’t actually get involved in conversation, not that I’m not interested but it’s very time consuming.

What makes you laugh?

Waking up in the morning… it’s always a nice surprise, some mornings a bigger surprise than others!

The internet can be a negative and hateful place. Do you have tips for keeping a sunny outlook when times are hard?

That is certainly correct, and providers need to be held to account to stop hateful and cowardly posts from getting into the public domain. Big job I know, but it has to be done. In the meantime we should support one another and stay positive and report anti-social behaviour immediately.

Importantly: will there will ever be a return of Burgo’s Catch Phrase?

Well, as the saying goes “Never say never!” There has been some rumblings about a return of something I’ve done before, or maybe something new. Hopefully in the not too distant future as my time is running out I reckon.

Have you always lived life with a TGIF attitude or is this a recent development? Your positivity is contagious and many of us look forward to your Friday tweets.

TGIF has always been one of my catch phrases, mainly referring to the fact that the weekend is almost here to relax and have some time with my wife, but it has grown into another very bad joke, the last one you have to put up with from me for the week. The reaction has been astonishing and I’m very humbled.

TGIF, long live the king.

Deirdre Fidge is a Melbourne-based writer. You can follow her inane thoughts on Twitter at @figgled