Paul Hogan's entrance onto the red carpet at the 2019 G'Day USA Gala was unconventional from the beginning.
He entered the red carpet from the end where everyone else exited the red carpet and walked the whole way along the carpet in the wrong direction with a glass of white wine in hand.
I love it - red carpets in Los Angeles, Aussie style.
But the surprises didn't stop there.
He stopped for a chat and among other things, I asked him about Aussies and how we contribute to the US.
His response was vague in its wording, and a bit ominous.
And I could be wrong, but I interpreted it as Paul Hogan having a go at President Donald Trump.
For the purposes of transparency, here is an exact transcription of my interview with Hogan:
Daish: Over time, how do you think Australians' contribution to the United States is changing, do you think it's changing?
Hogan: It desperately needs to intervene.
Daish: In what way?
Hogan: Ahh... change the government. That's what I'm here for... I'm leading a coup!
So you can draw what you like from it, but he seemed to be making a point.
But then he moved on to other more frivolous things, saying he loves coming to G'Day USA because it's often the one night each year he catches up with certain friends in the industry.
And in many ways, for those lucky enough to get an invite, that's what the night is all about.
There's a massive cohort of Aussies living in America and pursuing careers with great success - not just in film and TV either. In hospitality, sport, music and more.
I think Miranda Tapsell, actress from Love Child, said it well.
"I've never really heard of an overnight success," she said.
"I think a lot of Australians have worked really hard to have the career that they've had in the US."
And that was a view shared by a lot of stars on the red carpet.
"The Australians are the smartest people in the world ... I don't know what their secret is," John Travolta said.
And evidently, it's a two-way relationship.
Collingwood's Eddie McGuire made an appearance at the gala, revealing he's doing a bit of "sneaky reconnaissance" for the Magpies, perhaps trying to hunt down the next Mason Cox.
Now we're talking! G'Day USA!
