wtf, australia?
Okay, so in the big Wednesday night TV showdown for the past two weeks, I have been on the side of Celebrity Masterchef (Ryan O'Keefe, people!) followed by the usual ABC lineup of Spicks & Specks and Hungry Beast, THEN tuning in to catch a little of the Hey Hey It's Saturday reunion.
Hey Hey was a show I enjoyed as a kid, and I generally appreciate any kind of live variety show which allows us to showcase local and visiting musicians and actors etc, but had issues with them bringing it back in 2009 because, on a whole, the show's entire format and talent is very, very dated. And (aside from the nostalgia value of the reunions, because we all know they're angling for a renewal) I wasn't sure the show could remain relevant twenty years later.
After last night, I think we have proof. Because blackface? Not on. And you don't get to hide behind the "cultural differences" excuse because it's not just offensive to Americans! WHAT COUNTRY HAVE I BEEN LIVING IN?
It was nice of Harry Connick Jr to demand an apology (not a huge fan, but the guy handled that really well last night - classy) and for Daryl to give him one on air, but I think they offended more than just one American guest last night, and I''m not sure they even realise that. Stay in the past, Hey Hey. You belong there.
~*~
Also? I have to rec Hungry Beast. Some skits fall flat, and I'm still getting used to the abrupt switch from a comedy piece to something serious (like speaking to the families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan), but they deal with subject matter that, conversely, IS relevant to today, and I appreciate that. And I totally want one of those couches they have on set made out of remote controls - AWESOME.
Hey Hey was a show I enjoyed as a kid, and I generally appreciate any kind of live variety show which allows us to showcase local and visiting musicians and actors etc, but had issues with them bringing it back in 2009 because, on a whole, the show's entire format and talent is very, very dated. And (aside from the nostalgia value of the reunions, because we all know they're angling for a renewal) I wasn't sure the show could remain relevant twenty years later.
After last night, I think we have proof. Because blackface? Not on. And you don't get to hide behind the "cultural differences" excuse because it's not just offensive to Americans! WHAT COUNTRY HAVE I BEEN LIVING IN?
It was nice of Harry Connick Jr to demand an apology (not a huge fan, but the guy handled that really well last night - classy) and for Daryl to give him one on air, but I think they offended more than just one American guest last night, and I''m not sure they even realise that. Stay in the past, Hey Hey. You belong there.
~*~
Also? I have to rec Hungry Beast. Some skits fall flat, and I'm still getting used to the abrupt switch from a comedy piece to something serious (like speaking to the families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan), but they deal with subject matter that, conversely, IS relevant to today, and I appreciate that. And I totally want one of those couches they have on set made out of remote controls - AWESOME.