I know that with my demographic profile, socio-economic background, political leanings, lifestyle preferences and BMI that I should be raving like a lunatic about The Chaser's War on Everything but the truth is I have a lot of trouble watching this show. The Chaser boys are currently enjoying the number one spot on the iTunes podcast chart, so clearly they have plenty of fans. Don't get me wrong, I find Craig Reucassel in a pair of rocket poppers as funny as you do. And you'd have to be clinically depressed if you couldn't laugh at Andrew Hansen spruiking out the front of Channel 9 in a dodgy cockney accent. The truth is I just find it all too blokey.
Of course I don't mean blokey in a Footy Show way - I just mean that there are too many men. You know sometimes you can watch the whole show and not even see one woman for the whole half hour. My husband loves it. But this is a perfect example of how women are just not seen enough on Australian television, that is of course excluding McLeod's Daughters where they have to quote Aaron Jeffrey, logie winner and all round knob, "the best boobs in the business."
The Chaser Team is not alone here either. Just take a look at the line-up for Mick Molloy's new show for Channel Nine, The Nation. Oh yes, Molloy's got some chicks sharing air-time with him - but let's just take a closer look at the list. Nikki Osbourne brings with her a wealth of experience from her time hosting graveyard shift telly on Quizmania and a Ralph shoot to boot, Jackie (H)O will be the 'entertainment reporter' (the thinner and even more vapid version of Angela Bishop) and then for a bit of street cred the cutely-named Tiffany Cherry, Fox Footy reporter. The writing team is also wall-to-wall male. Fifi Box wisely turned down the role and it's easy to see why - I can smell the stink of middle-aged leering from here.
And what about Rove? The new and improved 2007 version has booted off funny broads Corinne Grant and Meshel Laurie and instead given new roles to the over-exposed Dave Hughes, the soon-to-be over-exposed Hamish and Andy and Nova newsreader Carrie Bickmore. Bickmore can play the straight role and then Peter Helliar doesn't have to worry about a chick getting a bigger laugh than him.
It seems we were better off decades ago when a woman like Mary Hardy, who had a head for radio but a wit that didn't quit, could get her own show up. It doesn't seem that long ago that Wendy Harmer, complete with hair-lip scar and a freshly broken heart, hosted the first episode of The Big Gig and tore her former lover a new one on air. The opportunities for funny women are becoming even fewer. Maybe all those Big Brother housemates are right - perhaps the way to fame and fortune lies in the pages of FHM?
Working Dog don't fare much better. The Panel only made Kate Langbroek a regular after her loyal Triple R fans made their support for her obvious in various entertainment journals. Even then Langbroek was often the lone female sitting on the five-seater desk, sometimes supported by another female though never more than one. Their new show Thank God You're Here certainly has showcased some very funny women - but never more than one per show.
And don't even get me started on Daryl Somers on Dancing with the Stars. The gorgeous and talented Sonia Kruger dances rings around the very-threatened Somers each week and still manages to smile.
Not concerned enough? Some extensive research uncovered the following quotes:*
Mick Molloy: "If we have to work with them then they've got to be rootable. I hand-picked these girls so we didn't get any doggy ones."
Rob Sitch: "Everyone knows women are only 25% as funny as men. That's why we only have one woman on each episode of Thank God You're Here."
Julian Morrow: "We love women at The Chaser. We have plenty of them in make-up and wardrobe."
Chas Licciardello: "And in catering - where they belong!"
Peter Helliar: "Women are just better at reading news and stuff. Leave the jokes to the short, fat bald dudes and everything's sweet."
Daryl Somers: "Sonia/Jacquie/Denise/Livinia's job description is to look pretty. If she sticks to that she'll do well."
* Some of these quotes may be complete fabrications.
7 comments:
sooooooooooooooooooo true.
Its because there are not enough funny women in australia!
It's not just me then.
Do you think dressing up like Inez Milholland did and riding a horse down a capital city main street in protest?
I would so be up for that....although possibly less so the beatings etc which followed in 1916.
Also, suspect that dressing in white and riding a horse might indeed be proving their point somehow...
Gigglewick I like the way you're thinking. Part of thinks a modern salute to Inez with a squadron of chicks in white on scooters storming the streets would be grand. But then I imagine the coverage which would brand us 'lesbians' 'ku klux klan' and 'whingers'. Perhaps Rachael Griffiths in the nuddy might stir them up?
I have to ask. Do you realize that you're quotes are from comedians?
Even if any of them were actually said...i doubt that they actually meant them.
Anyway it's all fine for women to be given a fair go when it comes to TV shows...but that doesn't mean that the ratio must be 50/50.
And about Corinne Grant. She said she left for the glass house as she was having trouble keeping ahead of the demands. It didn't have anything to do with the tv network or show.
Thanks Anon, I thought those quotes were authentic, even when I was writing them. You're right, we don't need 50/50 women and men - that would be insane, it's not like life is like that or anything.
have you seen today's age? catherine deveny is harping on about it too, but she is more annoying about it.
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