Brow Beat

That Newscaster Who Wore the Same Suit for a Year is an Australian National Treasure

Watch out, Australia, or we’ll steal Karl Stefanovic for ourselves.

Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Australian television presenter and national treasure Karl Stefanovic is getting press around the world for wearing the same blue Burberry-knock-off suit for more than a year to see if anyone would notice. Short answer: They did not. The slightly pungent stunt was in support of his female colleagues, who get a regular drubbing from viewers and the press for the crime of wearing the wrong blouse. Or for occasionally going to the shop to buy milk in comfortable clothes.

“No one has noticed; no one gives a shit,” Stefanovic told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I’m judged on my interviews, my appalling sense of humour—on how I do my job, basically. Whereas women are quite often judged on what they’re wearing or how their hair is … that’s [what I wanted to test].”

As an Australian, it’s gratifying to finally see Karl—as he’s locally known—gain the global notoriety he deserves. When he’s not doing good deeds, Karl is like the drunken uncle you always wished you could see interview One Direction. Known for his complete inability to keep a straight face, telling Arnold Schwarzenegger “I love you, man”, and occasionally coming into work still under the influence from the night before, Karl is probably the best breakfast host in the English-speaking world.

For those new to Karlos—as his colleagues sometimes call him—here are some of his greatest hits:

Before his suit caper, Karl was probably best known internationally for trying to tell the Dalai Lama a Dalai Lama joke, and failing miserably. “The Dalai Lama walks into a pizza shop … ” And, ah.

He really cannot resist sexual innuendo of any kind. It does not always go over well.

He’s done the only Grumpy Cat interview you’ll ever need. (In case you were wondering, Grumpy Cat had no opinion on then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.)

And he’ll even help his more hirsute interview subjects get dates.

Once you’re good and familiar with the best of Karl, you can take Buzzfeed’s who-said-it quiz: Karl Stefanovic Or Ron Burgundy?

But don’t think of stealing him, Americans. We’ll keep our Karl. Besides, only in Australia could he get away with telling the Prime Minister he looks a little worse for wear on national television.