ELECTION nights are always fun, and federal elections are the most fun of all.
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American talk show host Jay Leno is credited with the wonderful line that "politics is just show business for ugly people" and election nights are their Academy Awards.
There is something fascinating about tuning in to the election coverage to watch some of the best drama on television.
And when results don't quite go the way we expected, as was the case last night, we are treated to a front-row seat as raw pain and joy both come to the surface.
It all starts out happily enough as the panel members from across the political spectrum trade friendly greetings and gentle jokes but by 10pm or so, like at any good party, the facades start to fall and we get to see the humans behind them.
And there is something magnificent about the thought that families right across Australia are tuning into the same drama at the same time. It's simply reality TV at its best.
For all that, though, we do not need to do it all again for a while now.
A federal election hot on the heels of a state election has left Australia suffering electoral fatigue and we now all need a rest - particularly from those Clive Palmer ads.
Congratulations to Andrew Gee and all the other MPs who tasted success last night, and thank you to all those candidates who ran against them.
Without people who are willing to put their hats in the ring we do not have a democracy, and without a democracy we do not have election night TV.
And that's not an Australia I'd want to be part of.