Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: About Campbell Live

565 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 17 18 19 20 21 23 Newer→ Last

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Here's some remedial games for MP Key to get to grips with:
    http://boingboing.net/2015/04/22/subversive-games-about-waitres.html

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Puddleglum's detailed post argues that Key knew exactly what he was doing. I likewise saw it right from the start as bullying and harrassment, not some playful strangeness. It's right there in Amanda Bailey's own words.

    As he approached me he thought it would be fitting to raise his hands high and make scary, suspense sound effects, like the music from the movie Jaws that we all know so well, and still gestured as if to reach behind me. As he towered overhead I slunk down, cringing, whilst Bronagh told him to “leave the poor girl alone”. I looked him in the eye and asked “is it self defence, with your security here, if I have to physically stop you from touching me?” and he countered, with a smile, “defence against what?”

    If this account is accurate it’s clear that John Key was well aware of the continuing discomfort he was creating for the waitress. The childish recourse to “scary, suspense sound effects“, for example, only makes sense – is only ‘funny’ (!?) – if he knows the level of discomfort he is inflicting.

    What this account describes is not just ‘hair pulling’ but a process of toying with a person in a way that is known to be unwelcome and not remotely enjoyed by them. One telling phrase is “defence against what?” … delivered with a smile.

    In other words, ‘I know perfectly well what it is a defence against – but defence is pointless because I can always say ‘I’m only joking!”.

    The other telling phrase comes from his wife Bronagh Key: “leave the poor girl alone“. It’s a phrase you only use when you detect deliberate teasing and bullying. Did Bronagh – like the waitress – also not appreciate her husband’s harmless, ‘fun loving’ nature?

    My guess is that, in saying that and in knowing her husband all too well, Bronagh Key was in a perfect position to appreciate just what her husband was doing in these continued interactions with the waitress – harassing her.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Like money and power, hair is valued by the avaristic.
    If you don't think you have enough you can always grab someone else's.

    Hair today, gone tomorrow?.

    “leave the poor girl alone“ she said. "What else are the poor for?" he asked "I find them quite amusing"
    Smug Cnut.
    As he feels he is New Zealand's most "Casual" Prime Minister, perhaps he could go on a Zero Hour contract, after all, at the end of the day, they are the same thing, right?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It's simply people writing to Hosking's boss and sponsor to make clear their feelings about his vile piece on Amanda Bailey.

    Y'mean 'I'm prepared to go to court should anyone get near my kids and even photograph them " Hoskings? This apologist talking head should have his hair pulled out, then have their kids hair pulled then come back and see what he thinks then. The man is in my "complete fuckwit " file and confirms it daily it would seem.

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

  • Sacha,

    Tim Watkin who produces The Nation writes about Key not understanding power relationships.

    So Key is clear: No, he does not accept he misused his power by repeatedly tugging on a woman's hair over a period of months. In fact, his hair-pulling is "a bit of fun" and an attempt to "put people at ease", so is "really the opposite" of an abuse of power.

    Which suggests Key thinks this is a woman exploiting his playfulness. Or, if that goes too far, his error is not in being careless with his power, but not being powerful (and serious and detached) enough.

    That framing reveals a remarkable lack of understanding of his power as Prime Minister and a worrying lack of judgement. It also opens wide an avenue of attack for his opponents and should prompt many more questions from Gallery journalists when he returns to New Zealand.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Metro editor Simon Wilson on dirty politics, the 2014 election and our PM's political style.

    But Key also knows something else: we judge character by looking and by listening to tone of voice, far more than by digesting what is said. Once we have judged, we are not likely to unjudge. He may also know this is especially true of educated people, who are susceptible to the arrogant notion that they have special insights.

    Key understands that we judged him early on as trustworthy, capable, successful, a rich bloke you could talk to, a man comfortable in himself with little need to prove anything to anybody.

    That’s an appealing set of character traits. Why would we be looking for reasons to change our view of him? Deciding John Key was not that man would diminish not just him, but us with him.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Detouring the conversation for a moment... this from Stuff.

    On Monday night the TV3 show recorded an average audience of more than 419,000 viewers - the fifth highest rating episode ever and only the sixth time Campbell Live topped 400,000, the Throng website reported.

    CL is certainly tackling some meaty issues at the moment with their continuing exposé on Gloriavale and the scandal of foreign companies taking millions of litres of NZ water in exchange for a handful of (metaphorical) beads.

    Long may their ratings continue to soar.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Alfie,

    Long may their ratings continue to soar.

    Amen brother :)
    Also loving MTV - good discussion of broadcasting on Native Affairs last night, and Media Take is rockin it right now.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Attachment

    Tremain continues to rag on pony-boy

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Changes at the top...

    Broadcaster MediaWorks has a new majority-owner after vulture fund Oaktree Finance bought out two banks who had become reluctant shareholders.
    According to MediaWorks' filings with the Companies Office, Oaktree vehicle Tokyo Opportunities B.V. has acquired the 21.9 per cent stake in the company held by Westpac New Zealand and the 14.6 per cent percent held by Royal Bank of Scotland.
    The move leaves Oaktree holding a clear majority of 77.8 per cent of shares.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11440500

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Andrea Vance is covering Key's Middle East trip.

    No ruler was impolite enough to mention it. "Only you," Key tersely told reporters.

    But they knew. "It is something [King Salman's] advisers have a pretty good handle on," Saudi expert and business consultant John Lockwood said ahead of the meeting.

    "They will be smiling behind their hands when he, perhaps, raises other issues. In Saudi society that would be seen as quite an offensive activity, indeed it would be seen as an assault."

    Perhaps this was why Key chose not to directly raise women's rights when he spoke to the monarch about human rights concerns. He was hardly speaking from the moral high ground.

    Key and his spin doctors like to make much of his standing on the world stage. He gets a disproportionate amount of face-time with the world's most influential leaders - Barack Obama and Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, and David Cameron. But international coverage of his behaviour towards Amanda Bailey made him a laughing stock.

    Laughing stock. I like that.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Interesting that you need OIA approval to buy a small paddock, but our largest broadcaster (or the twitching remains thereof) can be traded around tax havens with impunity.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • izogi,

    Guyon Espiner had a lengthy interview with the PM this morning on Morning Report, largely on ponytail pulling. The PM didn't sound at all comfortable with the line of questions.

    It's not something that some wouldn't simply write off as a media beat-up, though.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell, in reply to izogi,

    And the feedback before the 8am news was mainly from people protesting that it was last weeks news and not important.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to John Farrell,

    And the feedback before the 8am news was mainly from people protesting that it was last weeks news and not important.

    And even I would understand it makes sense for Natrad to read out those 'negative' emails to avoid being accused of bias.

    The interview stands on it's own.

    Give 'em enough rope....

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    TV3 News hit a new low on Thursday with a lengthy news story about the Batchelor and how the supposed relationship was progressing. Naturally John Key was invited to comment, saying that he'd expected the woman (with long blonde hair) to win.

    News? Nah! Julie Christie blatantly cross-promoting shows at the expense of their newsroom's credibility? Looks like it.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Graham McCready's attempt to get Prime Minister Ponytail into court has failed. An anonymous judge (well done the Harold) cited a "lack of evidence".

    You might have thought that the guilty party admitting the offense to almost all of the world's media would count for something. Maybe the judge doesn't manage to keep abreast of world events?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Alfie,

    John Key was invited to comment, saying that he’d expected the woman (with long blonde hair) to win.

    How embarrassing - he is obviously following it.

    OMG.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    did he really mention her "long blonde hair"? how creepy

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    did he really mention her "long blonde hair"? how creepy

    I don't have a link but it was something like, "The PM said today that he expected (woman's name) to win." It was me who pointed out the ponytail length blonde hair which, in the context of recent events, seemed a bit creepy.

    So yes, Key's probably following the bletchelor. After all, it's entertainment, isn't it? And as we know, that's the only reason everyone watches TV.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Sorry if ponytails are becoming boring, but here's an odd little story that's more interesting for the timing than the content. It was released by TVNZ at 2:14pm Thursday May 21 -- during the budget reading.

    TVNZ has confirmed that the Prime Minister played with a presenter's hair in a "joke" two years ago.

    The broadcaster said the presenter suggested John Key pretend to style her hair.

    Mr Key did so.

    TVNZ said it would not name the presenter.

    So... another case of our PM doing the hair thing, but according to TVNZ there were no creepy motives this time. It was just a "mutual joke between friends."

    Wasn't that the same excuse Key used for harrassing the waitress?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Alfie,

    Mr Key is also keeping mum about any related contact he's had with Ms Glucina. Looks like the ombudsman will be called in on this one.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Friday night's Campbell Live was TV3's highest-rating show of the night with 330,830 viewers. And what do you do with your top-rating show? Why dump it, of course. Christie and Wheldon aren't paid the big bucks for nothing, eh!

    The Herald mentions those ratings today as well as a disturbing rumour.

    Sources say the changes mean Campbell Live's cast will be cut from 22 to 16. Rachel Smalley and Paul Henry are among the names rumoured to be in the running for co-hosting duties.

    Honestly, TV3 may as well just rebrand as CrapTV and get it over with.

    There's no byline on the story so it could well be more Glucina nonsense.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    The final Campbell Live show will air this Friday.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Addendum
    Next Monday replacing Campbell Live TV3 will screen Road Cops. Really! You couldn't make up this level of inane decision making. But hey... it's Julie Christie.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 17 18 19 20 21 23 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.