Today is the day we really see how hypocritical elements of our media are.
The electronic age now means that shortly after someone in/on a live media setting says something they shouldn’t have, punters all over the globe can see or hear about it within minutes — be it the Chk-chk-boom girl, Clare Werbeloff, or former Hawthorn and West Coast coach Ken Judge and his unfortunate “…you’re bigger than Hitler’s gas bill” jibe to a co-commentator.
In the case of the latter, when it happens in a low-rating environment and is said by a low-profile media identity on the other side of the country, it denies those of us on the Eastern Seaboard who can’t think for ourselves the opportunity of being told what to believe by the media.
Thus to the best of my knowledge we haven’t had Patrick Smith, Caroline Wilson, Mike Sheahan, Jill Singer, Greg Baum, John Brumby, Neil Mitchell, Catherine Deveny, Kellie the former Hi-5 member who recently did a raunchy photo shoot for RALPH magazine, Jon Faine, Tim Lane, Sam Lane, Flinders Lane, Kevin Rudd, Robyn Riley, Tony Jones, Wendy Tuohy, Michael Leunig, Andrew Bolt, Rebecca Wilson, Michelle Grattan, the new teenage editor of The Monthy, Derryn Hinch, Caroline Overington, Media Watch nor even 9am with David and Kim give their thumping opinions about what Judge said and what our stance should be at the next dinner party if we were decent citizens.
(SEN presenters are excused as they haven’t been told what to think by the AFL yet.)
Of course it ultimately doesn’t matter that much because Judge — a decent man — unreservedly took back what he said on WA radio:
“I apologise — it was ridiculous and I should have put the brain into forward pattern before I opened my mouth,”
“I apologise if I have offended anyone, and it was not a very savory comment and one I am not really proud of.”
But here’s an exercise, had the unsavoury comment above been made by Sam Newman on the Footy Show, how many of the above named opinion makers would have had their two bobs’ worth on the issue?
And how many of them — plus others who would have chimed in from certain “groups” — would have started their mock-shock-horror response with, “I wasn’t watching it/didn’t see it/wouldn’t watch it but…”
But Ken Judge’s gaffe still is, of course, widely accessible and the fallout has been heard by many, many more through net and blog replays.
Which brings us to the sensational Chaser who returned to the screen last night in their usual style, reminding everyone that daylight is second when it comes to the best talents on Australian TV at present.
One of their sketches involved them manhandling a mannequin of Governor General Quentin Bryce. She was groped, dragged up a ladder, and after a few unsuccessful attempts, thrown over a fence.
Stand by. The hypocrisy Geiger counter is starting to make a funny noise.
“Racetrack” Ralphy Horowitz is a former producer at The Footy Show, (where most of his 9 years was as Sam Newman’s producer) the Sunday Footy Show, SEN & 3AW.
There is a difference. The Bryce mannequin was certainly manhandled in a very disrespectful manner but she was not groped in a salacious manner as a projection of what the groper would like to do to that particular female in real life.
The Chaser skit was about disrespecting power, authority and propriety not about a male desire for the power that comes from sexual molestation. It is the objectifying of woman as sex toys by people such as Newman and Johns that really gets up people’s noses.
So, Ralphy, you still don’t get it. And if you don’t get it then the Footy Show probably never will.
I agree with you David, The Footy show stunt was aimed at an indiviual whereas the chaser stunt was aimed at the Melbourne Club not at our Govenor General. Quite different.
Satire isn’t always that complicated Ralph, which is what the Chaser was doing – then again being familiar with Footy Show humour it’s no suprise something went over your head. Perhaps when Julian Morrow arranges to have Sam Newman’s bowel cancer put back, maybe then (maybe) your desperate attempt to be outraged at hypocrisy towards overreaction might have some credibility. Might.
Just how desperate are you to get a gig at the Footy Show again? This kind of crawling might do the trick elsewhere, but is this really their demographic anyway?
Ralphy:
What exactly is your point? All that copy, so many propositions/accusations/suggestions?, but no recognisable outcomes.
As a former newspaper, TV & radio hack, I feel qualified to repeat that old newsroom adage that you’re lucky you work in the sports department, man, because if you didn’t, that’s where you would be sent after such a confused attempt at journalistic comment.
As for both the Melbourne & Sydney Footy Shows, I predict that their respective audiences may now consist only of forensic palaeontologists.
Hi All;
* The last three paragraphs of 14 in the story mentioned the Chaser and their mannequin stunt – the body of work simply compared if Sam Newman had said what Ken Judge did.
* I never said there wasn’t a difference between the two sketches, in fact I made no comparison at all.
* I didn’t make any mention for or against the Footy Show mannequin stunt. For the record -my 9 years were between 1996-2004. That stunt happened in 2008.
* Fred, it wasn’t bowel cancer it was prostate cancer. The mannequin stunt happened in Sam’s 2nd show back post surgery.
* Fred, not outraged at anything least of all how very important opinion makers go about their business. It will be interesting if any of them jump as quick as you three on this topic.
* Fred, no intention of going back to The Footy Show. The team there and I would agree that I’ve had my go. I still watch it. Still talk to Sam too – funniest bloke on the planet. If everyone was as loyal as him life would be easier for all.
Ralphy Horowitz