Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: Bare Breasts Key for Important 18-49 Auckland Demographic

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  • Jackie Clark,

    I actually found that piece quite interesting, Damian, largely because I didn't realise it wasn't against any bylaws to be topless on the beach, and I quite like not wearing clothes, so anywhere I can go seminaked is great with me. You know more than me about the goings on of ratings wars etc, I daresay, so you are probably right. This Miss Titty Topless, however, wasn't offended or cynical about the piece in the slightest.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I suspect I'm with a lot of people in thinking that at varrious times, Campbell Live has been tremendously bloody good -- from its bravura handling of the unpromising topic of telecommunications reform, to the beautiful recent story on Chris Knox. I don't merely like John Campbell, I regard him as in influence on the way I try and do TV.

    But I know how the interchange between PR and the 7pm current affairs shows works, and it's depressing to see Campbell Live when it's just three puff-pieces in a row.

    And, of course, Media7 has covered some of Close Up 's less illustrious moments in the past year too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Wow, I actually agree with Craig for once. John Campbell should just do a proper current affairs show. Last year there was a whole run of cabinet minister no-shows. He could have got the opposition spokespeople on and had real discussions of the issues. But no, he had a little moan, skipped the topic and went on to something trivial.

    John Campbell used to be an incisive journalist. Remember him exposing the Timberlands/PR story over a decade ago? Gripping stuff.

    Or he could go the Jon Stewart way and do clever and witty. That would be a way to keep the @seven idea alive too.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    John Campbell used to be an incisive journalist. Remember him exposing the Timberlands/PR story over a decade ago? Gripping stuff.

    Or he could go the Jon Stewart way and do clever and witty. That would be a way to keep the @seven idea alive too.

    Have to agree. He cannot be John Campbell AKA John Pilger and John Campbell AKA Rove McManus at the same time. Actually I like both his persona, but when I seek satirical news buffoonery, there are better options.

    There are no better options for incisive journalism that I'm aware of, apart from Media7 of course (kiss-butt alert), which makes the current ratings driven changes to CL quite disappointing, IMhO.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    A pretty inoffensive Campbell Live clip, in the main. There was a legitimate story there and the topless woman had a cause to promote (sort of half-way to becoming a naturalist). The only disturbing element was from the woman from Family Fist, who loomed like some ugly black cloud. Where did she appear from--from under a rock? Popped out of sewer pipe?? Perhaps also the nongs who wittered 'what about the children??"

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I didn't realise it was legal either. Would have appreciated them interviewing a lawyer, though I realise how poorly that might compete with wobbly frolicking.

    Let's see a week or two of the show before we declare its descent into utter tabloidism. I'd love to see Campbell do a Jon Stewart, but not holding my breath as all those writers would be expensive.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Let's see a week or two of the show before we declare its descent into utter tabloidism. I'd love to see Campbell do a Jon Stewart, but not holding my breath as all those writers would be expensive.

    This started some time back, IMhO. So I might see if it has changed for the better after the break, but I'm not holding my breath. Actually his love of music sure comes out when he interviews bands like Them Crooked Vultures, and for that I applaud him.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    This could spark a tabloid telly race to the bottom

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I just noticed we're both not holding our breath, so better grab an aqualung.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    (sort of half-way to becoming a naturalist).

    I'd suggest half-way to becoming a human being.Hello! We all have tits. Some, bit bigger than others. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    This could spark a tabloid telly race to the bottom

    Why am I reminded of this classic clip from I'm Alan Patridge?

    Actually his love of music sure comes out when he interviews bands like Them Crooked Vultures, and for that I applaud him.

    Indeed, as evidenced by this piece for Public Address!

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    naturalist?

    Many many years ago my Grandmother belonged to the Dunedin Naturalists Field Club ... a group of what was then primarily little old ladies who would go and look at plants .... they used to titter and explain that they were naturalists, and not those other people ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover,

    titter

    Ah ha! I see what you did there...

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    bottom

    but did you spot that one?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover,

    I fear I did not, but now I see it..

    This could spark a tabloid telly race to the bottom

    I quite fancy a tabloid telly race to same.

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Imagine the eager jostling of cub reporters..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Last year there was a whole run of cabinet minister no-shows. He could have got the opposition spokespeople on and had real discussions of the issues. But no, he had a little moan, skipped the topic and went on to something trivial.

    To be fair, Hillary, that didn't start last year. And you know something else -- if I was a ministerial press secretary, I'd taser my minister for even contemplating the potential disaster of a live, in-studio panel. Better to agree to a pre-recorded one-on-one where you've got some control over the process, and if it goes badly you've got time to get the damage control in place.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I'd agree. Patrick Strange didn't have an easy time of it last night, for instance. The format seems to encourage interjection and jousting from the interviewer, though at least John Banks' errors were picked up. Fancy not knowing how long someone had been in the job when you're complaining loudly about historic performance and changes that take ages to see through.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    This could spark a tabloid telly race to the bottom

    How low could they eventually go?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I'm not sure where to post this, but we mentioned incisive journalism, so this'll do.

    Did anyone else get a horrible feeling they'd flicked to the Movie channel and District 9 II: The Haitian Incident while watching the news last night?

    The UN asking illiterate (as the reporter kindly pointed out), starving people to sign forms before receiving aid, and then driving away when things got out of hand. And the police wandering around taking pot shots at 'looters', while the UN forces practised their marching band. Is that someone's idea of a joke? Bloody hell, if we thought Katrina was bad, then this is too horrendous to comprehend. There was talk of creating a new 'Haitian' zone in Africa, or was it Miami also? I'm flabbergasted. The idea that some 'band aid' (both meanings) is going to solve this problem is a little naive. In order to do that there would have to be some form of coordinated effort, and so far the only group that seems coordinated, or making an effort, are the Cuban medical crews, and the other foreign rescue teams, who now are unlikely to find anyone else alive.

    Mike McRoberts has done a pretty good job of reporting this so far, and I admire his integrity, although some have questioned his need to be there. Good on him, I say, we need to know how shocking this all is.

    It does make me wonder whether this is all part of the American strategy to take over and bring democracy to the region, as was alluded to elsewhere when it started. There won't be much left to 'democratize' if they don't hurry up.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    I'd taser my minister for even contemplating the potential disaster of a live, in-studio panel. Better to agree to a pre-recorded one-on-one where you've got some control over the process.

    Ahhh Craig, so innocent... </condescending tone> A live interview can go fantastically wrong, that's for sure, but it's far safer for your average minister than a pre-recorded one. In the latter the interviewer can keep going until they actually get an answer, whereas live it's a lot easier simply to waffle out the allocated five minutes. This is where the interviewers skill and need to interrupt - which then raises all those "I hate the way interrupts all the time, it's so rude." Well, if they didn't, Phil Goff for example, wouldn't come up for air for about twenty minutes...

    Also, the interviewee never has any "control over the process" in a pre-recorded interview, and in that sense far less than a live interview. The interviewer and/or producer are doing all the editing, and they are almost certainly going to choose the bits that make the interviewee look flustered, unintelligent, unprepared etc, if it's that kind of story.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Jackie - Perhaps there was a legitimate story in there somewhere. Probably the sort of story that should have got covered in the Central Leader. But it was completely buried in a pile of boobs. How many times, and for how long, did they use the shot of the woman walking out of the beach, tits-a-swingin'? We get the idea... she's topless, now move on.

    I hasten to add, I have no problem with breasts. If it's not terribly un-PC to say so on a lefty blog like this, I really like them. A little too much perhaps. Not breast fed as a child, me. And seemingly surrounded at the moment with breast-feeding mothers (my sister just had a second child last week, in the front seat of a Holden, but that's another story...), I understand that bared breasts are not always sexual, but unless there's a baby attached, it's game on...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    A live interview can go fantastically wrong, that's for sure, but it's far safer for your average minister than a pre-recorded one.

    Hadn't thought of it that way, but I'm persuaded. I think there are degrees of interrupting and times when it seems most called for (pollies, usually).

    Do you reckon Transpower might have been spinning the producers during the prep for the show - for Campbell to come out against Strange's position so hard, so fast ?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ahhh Craig, so innocent... </condescending tone>

    Thanks, Damien -- you are now my official Backup Mother. The money is shit, but the position keeps you busy and thre's much fun to be had, :) Still think it's preferable not to set yourself up for a tag-team mauling, thought it's an entirely fair point that you can't be edited into looking like a shifty moron if you do the interview live.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • philipmatthews,

    I hasten to add, I have no problem with breasts.

    It was the idea that bare breasts on a beach were somehow more "porn" than actual porn stars that got me.

    I think there are degrees of interrupting and times when it seems most called for (pollies, usually).

    Somewhere online there's a clip of Jeremy Paxman asking some Conservative politician the same question about 12 or 13 times. Turns into absurdist theatre at that point.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2007 • 656 posts Report Reply

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