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Sept 14, 2012 University of Memphis President Dr. Shirley Raines laughs while Mary Matalin and husband James Carville (on screen) match wits during the “Political Perspectives” Centennial luncheon at the University of Memphis. The pair are known for their political advocacy from opposing sides of the aisle, with Matalin a prominent conservative voice and Carville a popular liberal consultant. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

Before America’s most famous political odd couple took the stage, people in the audience were promised a rumble, and they got what they paid for.

But there were moments in the “Political Perspectives” Centennial luncheon Friday at the University of Memphis, featuring political consultants Mary Matalin and James Carville, when a more complete picture of the long-running, right wing-left wing, made-for-TV act emerged.

There was Carville, revealing himself as powerless as any father of two teenage girls who are easily embarrassed by their father. One of the favorite questions he encounters is whether the kids are being raised liberal or conservative, which leads him to the conclusion that “The only people who ask you that don’t have children.”

Carville, who has also proven to be an effective lecturer in the classroom at Tulane, fondly recalled for the audience his meeting last spring with Memphis restaurateur John Vergos, whose son Charlie was studying political science under the Ragin’ Cajun.

And Matalin showed more than the cool and dismissive counterpoint to her husband’s gravelly voiced, arm-waving, Mister-Know-It-All pronouncements. She wished a “happy anniversary” to both the university and her husband.

Carville noted his connections to Memphis, not only for the food at The Rendezvous, but also because “My nephew’s 2-year-old baby just completed a round of treatment at St. Jude and, knock-on-wood, but he’s doing very well.”

Of course, Carville had jokes, some of them worse than others: “Mary and I have something in common. We both went to state schools, like the University of Memphis. On graduation day we both had a 4-point-O. That was her grade-point average and my blood alcohol content.” And, after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s speech at the Republican National Convention, Carville said, “One guy said he gave a bad speech on purpose. He was hoping somebody in the audience would throw food at him.”

As soon as Carville pointed out President Obama’s lead over Republican challenger Mitt Romney, Matalin pointed out that the president had an advantage: He didn’t just survive a primary season serving as the “pincushion” for members of his own party.

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James Carville, Mary Matalin appear at University of Memphis