Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: It's a Wonderful Thing

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  • Christopher Dempsey,

    My overweight self enjoyed watching those online episodes... I had to do a quick double take because I clearly remember watching that woman in the 2003 episode speak about obesity, and I remember thinking then crikey, we have a problem, and it's now 2011 and we still have the same problem - or at least I now do...

    But I agreed with the last speaker - it requires a societal response rather than an individual response. The problem is that food is such an individual thing that it's always hard to avoid the idea that govt is interfering in what you are eating, even if a smart govt knows that the CBR outcome clearly indicates controlling food intake saves megabucks later on.

    Easy, cheap, freely available oil has clearly had some influence over the cornucopia we face at the table these days. It'll be interesting to see how the disappearance of this factor in food production will have an effect on the amount of calories available.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    Haven't seen it yet, Damian, but really, really want to. I heard you talking about it on bFM and thought what a brilliant idea, saying "yes, yes, yes!" in the car (I only listen to it in the car). Haven't looked to see if 7 is on demand. Hope so.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Just watched the first segment. I love this programme.

    Damian, since I’ve been so rude about television on PAS over the years, particularly when it’s come up in Cracker, be careful. If I like it this much, you may well be doing something horribly wrong.

    Please keep doing it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Ay, we watching it this afternoon and loved it. And the "homosexual tendencies" line caused me to actually spit-take. This is brilliant television.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Yes - Selwyn Toogood saying his cousin had homosexual tendencies, quite as a matter of fact, no shock or anything - made me think quite hard about what was going on in 1971.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Homosexuality was removed from the DSM in 1972 after strong lobbying, so that comment from the time is not that startling.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    Haven’t looked to see if 7 is on demand. Hope so.

    It's not hard to find out. In fact, maybe more than one person has already linked to it in this discussion.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Damian Christie,

    FYI, there is also, but kinda hidden (I’ll have a word) the full version of that archive piece (including many more verses of the piggy song)

    Looking at more of the weight watchers class, it seems more like a class in developing an eating disorder. One of the women calmly talks about “cheating”, then “eat nothing” to catch up and ensure a loss. You know what’s more fun than going to a suburban hall every week and singing a song about how much of a fat pig you are? Eating cake, that’s what.

    Also, I dig the formerly-fat angry sharpie chick at the beginning.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Tamsin6, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    The reminder that potato chips used to be called "chippies". I still hear older people use that term from time to time.

    Oh my God - I am now officially an 'older person'.

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Stephen - :) thanks. That I think is one of the wonderful things about the TVNZ 7, that we get to make television for no other reason than because we think it will be good. No focus groups, ratings, sponsorship commitments and so forth. Which is not to say stuff on the other channels isn't good, there's just a lot more emphasis on mass-produced-proven-ratings-winning shows.

    Unfortunately, this week it has been announced (although still no official press release that I can see) the Government won't be funding TVNZ 7 any more. Shitballs. So I guess that's probably the end of that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Ben - I've just spoken to our web guys, hoping we can get it up on youtube - a few hurdles to jump, but should be possible. If RB can do it for Media 7, no reason we can't for Hindsight.

    The "Hindsight extra" item shouldn't be geo-locked tho - that's the extended 1971 obesity clip with the full song, Selwyn Toogood, the whole shebang.

    If all else fails I'll flick you a secret special link to the first ep ;)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    And no - not Geoff Robinson, the first reporter is a guy called Roger Hall. Presumably not the Roger Hall.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I think it was - he looked very familiar.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Tamsin6,

    I still call them chippies - but then I call biscuits biccies and not cookies cos that's how I roll

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    Cookie is Amerikan

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Damian Christie,

    Unfortunately, this week it has been announced (although still no official press release that I can see) the Government won’t be funding TVNZ 7 any more. Shitballs. So I guess that’s probably the end of that.

    I gather they were on the verge of issuing a press release, then didn't.

    But, y'know, it ain't over till it's over.

    And congratulations, mate.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    How can we fight this?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Sacha,

    doesn't stop kiwis calling biccies by that name but

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

  • Nat Websta, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    We did Jazzercise at Mayfair Primary School, but we did it to Pseudo Echo's Funky Town

    Ha! We did jazzercise to Axel F, the theme from Beverly Hills Cop, en masse, on the netball courts, at Papatoetoe North Primary School. So awesome ;-)

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 23 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    The transition from biccie to cookie reflects our main foreign cultural influence shifting over time

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Sacha,

    I twisted my knee - be nice to me

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

  • Danielle,

    I say biccie and I'm as American-culturally-influenced as a NZer can get.

    I think I might therefore be 'an older person'.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Russell and Damian, will you be out of your jobs (or some of your jobs), then? Is the Government going to use the excuse of the earthquake to get rid of everything they don't like? (and if that is too political for Craig, tough bickies)

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Ana Simkiss, in reply to Damian Christie,

    wah what? If the govt won't fund, what will happen to TVNZ 7? we are permanently tuned to it 7 will be very sorry to see it go.

    Damian, great show. must be heaps fun going through all the old clips.

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    @Ana. It will cease, is the simplest way I can think to put it. No way of commercialising it (and even if there was, that would ruin it's biggest selling point) as only the biggest channels still make money, and with the rest of TVNZ expected to act like a commercial enterprise and return a dividend, it can't be internally subsidised. So it will cease.

    And yes, it's great fun going through the clips. As I said, a real honest privilege.

    @Hilary. Yup, I will be out of two jobs in TV. But as someone whose first job in telly lasted two weeks until the show was cancelled, anything that lasts more than a fortnight is always pretty impressive to me. Backbenches will have run for four years at the end of this year, longer than any job I've ever held. Over the same time, many, many talented full time staff at ONE News and the various current affairs jobs have been axed in two or three waves of restructuring. I feel very lucky.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

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