Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Villainy and engagement

163 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 7 Newer→ Last

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Apparently they've been exiled to Clarkson Island:

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alan Perrott,

    as someone without telly and no particular desire to watch the clip in question this has been a most bewildering day

    I think they have been 'voted off' the Islands...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    So this literally happened as the sun came out in Auckland....eerie.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime, in reply to Alan Perrott,

    as someone without telly and no particular desire to watch the clip in question this has been a most bewildering day.

    I didn't watch it, but that doesn't mean I don't care. A lot of kids watch the show and it'd be good if they understood that kind of behaviour is unacceptable. Hopefully this can be a teachable moment.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    I’m cynical enough to wonder if even this firing was pre-scripted?

    If the replacement judges are more famous, then I’d assume so.

    If however, they are one-star judges, rather than the just fired two-star judges, (as Russell correctly noted in his post :D ), maybe it really did catch MediaWorks on the hop?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    OK, so now I really have to watch X Factor tonight, when I haven't had the slightest interest since they had the Manic Street Preachers. Any chance the sacked judges will come storming on screen, take hostages and drop c-bombs? Any chance this won't be the lead story on TV3 (Pam who?) ...

    Peter Finch, Network, way ahead of its time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    Just to go back a few steps:

    <q>engagement isn't directly convertible into revenue<q/>

    Not that I'm an expert, but wasn't Shorty the highest earning property on TVNZ for a fair few years, but without being the most viewed, precisely due to engagement? That was a while ago, early 2000s, well before the social media juggernaut.

    It'd be hard to believe that engagement's any less convertible to revenue now than it was over 10 year ago.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    Kinda with Craig on this. Whether any of it's planned or not, it's all a massive set piece.

    In fact, one could sympathise with the judges. Like the contestants, they're only doing what's expected of them and emulating the form of the tyrannical master Judge Cowell.

    Just don't watch that shit, people.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    Kinda with Craig on this. Whether any of it’s planned or not, it’s all a massive set piece.

    I find it quite hard to believe, in this case. I think something quite unusual just happened.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    I find it quite hard to believe, in this case. I think something quite unusual just happened.

    Most likely the producers planned some kind of tension, only for it to turn against its master and take on a life of its own.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    Kinda with Craig on this. Whether any of it’s planned or not, it’s all a massive set piece.

    I find it quite hard to believe, in this case. I think something quite unusual just happened.

    There are already conspiracy theories that the whole thing is a set-up, but they ignore the massive level of risk in even trying to pull such a stunt. Were the major sponsors who went ballistic this morning kept out of the loop? Was NZ On Air? It's unthinkable, basically.

    Would Benny Tipene have been briefed to say "Fuck feedback like that" on Twitter? Unlikely. His character isn't meant to be a four letter word one.

    I remain of the view that Kills and Moon were briefed to be the "bad" judges – perhaps even to the extent of being given the word "doppleganger" – and just went out of control on live TV.

    It took TV3 hours to get a clip of the incident posted too. The whole thing was accelerated by individuals like Dan News posting video themselves.

    It seems even more unlikely to me that Moon's abusive public meltdown last week was a set-up. That's a story you'd have no way of controlling once you'd started it.

    I will countenance the possibility the terrible twosome hated being on the show and got themselves fired, although it's unclear whether they're bright enough for that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    "Family First called for a boycott of the show." (Herald)

    OK, so now we have to watch it.

    Just waiting for the PM to join in:

    "At the end of the day, we have to stand up to ego-terrorism. Childish insults like this are not acceptable on television. Also, Winston big fat stinky poo."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    quite unusual

    Don't people get sledged on these shows all the time? I'll admit the sacking doesn't happen. Not to judges anyway. Nice development, that.

    Maybe the unusual bit is that the audience suddenly decided they'd had a gutsful and said so. At once.

    It's all a bit Hunger Games/Running Man for me.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to simon g,

    ego-terrorism

    For the win!
    <applause>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    According to Spaceweather:

    The X-flare of March 11th might not be done affecting our planet. According to computer models, a CME propelled into space by the explosion will sideswipe Earth's magnetic field on Sunday, March 15th.

    aha! - so that's what really happened on the X-Factor!
    ...and now Riff Raff and Magenta are headed back to Planet Transylvania

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    Not that I’m an expert, but wasn’t Shorty the highest earning property on TVNZ for a fair few years, but without being the most viewed, precisely due to engagement? That was a while ago, early 2000s, well before the social media juggernaut.

    But engagement in the modern sense is inseparable from social media. It’s how it’s largely measured. I’m not even sure what it meant in 2000.

    Also, Shortland Street has been a ratings juggernaut for a long time. It has its ups and downs, but no other scripted programme has ever come close. In recent years the big episodes have broken 700,000 and even 800,000 viewers.

    Finally: X Factor 2015 does have a ratings problem, and it was suggested that the forefronting of the convicted killer was a ratings stunt. Maybe, but if so, it backfired horribly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Wallington,

    Kills and Moon... was it a full moon that brought out the killer instinct?
    Whatever... the show is a steaming pile of crap and even the most gullible must find it hard to discover anything good, i.e. a star might be born from the process.
    X Factor time is time to reach for a good book... even if you still do move your lips when you read it.

    Waikawa Beach • Since Sep 2013 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Brett,

    Come on guy's,isn't this exactly how this show is supposed to go.Simon Cowell is way more cutting and insulting.As far as I could see,these two could actually see talent when its in front of them.As for the other two,after endless rubbish someone finally shows up with some talent and they say''I'm not going to let you through because you don't want it enough''.Oh dear.

    Henderson • Since Mar 2015 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    I know it must be the killing time...
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LWz0JC7afNQ

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Crikey. The Dan News YouTube video embedded in the post above just passed 800,000 views. It will get close to a million in its first day online.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Are we now seeing the dark side of the moon?

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Brett,

    Come on guy’s

    I'm going to insult your clothes and style choices because your grammar is bad. None of which has anything to do with your point.

    That is my problem with Kills. She could have criticised ability but instead, like me above, she chose an irrelevant personal attack. Oddly as cutting, and yes nasty, as Mr Cowell could be, he mostly stayed focused on talent and whether he believed, based on his experience, the artist could succeed and make Cowell some more money.

    Bad judge is bad.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Are we now seeing the dark side of the moon?

    The back side, anyway.

    Come on guy’s,isn’t this exactly how this show is supposed to go.

    Well it's nice and dramatic now. I'll probably watch tonight, at least the start of it. They could have a reaction shot of the couple getting sacked. Or maybe the other judges will give them some stick. If Ronald McDonald comes in and hits them with a 2Degrees cellphone we'll know it was all an act. Eventually, it will get to the singing and they'll save Joe for last to maximize the ad-take. I'll probably skip to that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Yeah I wrote something to that effect about Cowell but realized I've only like watched 20 episodes tops, which really makes me a n00b. But his online greatest insults were mostly about the acts. Because an insult is much more cutting when it's true. Otherwise it's just about the insulter.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And nobody satirises a popular culture event like The Civilian does. Bam.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 7 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.