21 November 2007

The Chaser’s War on Outbursts

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What’s all the fuss about with the Chaser boys? It was interesting to see in your article the comments made by Seven Network boss David Leckie (“Seven boss curses The Chaser”, November 16, Canberra Times, p3.) about The Chaser’s visit to the Today Tonight studio. Everyone knows their brand of humour which is to shock, challenge and question our values.

Do people overreact when confronted by the Chaser boys? Or don’t they get it? They’re funny. Where would we be without this style of humour? We would never have heard of Norman Gunston with his embarrassing quirky questions or Dame Edna Everidge with her witty commentary on social values or even Kath and Kim who make us laugh at the silly things we do. All of these comedians are critical to contributing to Australian humour. With the Chaser, the bottom line is that if they’re ignored they’ll most likely go away. But let’s hope they don’t or face the same fate as The Glass House. Keep on chasing boys.

[ED – Has anyone seen the Chaser lads in Canberra during the election? if so where and doing what?]

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@Stung – I’d presume that’s because they need to ensure that funding continues for the chaser for another electoral term – the Libs are quite sensitive towards the discretion of the ABC and the content it provides.

@Jube – Tony and the Chaser have met so often that they have a working relationship – hence why he probably looked more comfortable with them than the less targeted candidates…

I’m just now wondering more than ever why Charles Firth is doing the ACA thing. That and the fact that he hasn’t appeared on TCWOE show for ages now. Also, http://www.chaser.com.au is soooo stale and neglected. http://www.manictimes.com.au was never really ever that great either.

The Late Show back in the 90’s was hilarious for 90% of it’s episodes. Then things changed. Everybody moved on and did other things. I’d have to say that most of the post-Late Show stints were crap. Letting a private company / commercial tv station take the ‘hand that feeds you’ roll is and always will be the death of any decent material.

Having said that. Fast Forward and the Comedy Company etc, were great shows. Maybe it’s just cheaper to slang us American shit.

Anyway…*sigh*

jube_V8Fairlane_235kw11:50 am 23 Nov 07

They (or at least Julian) were in town very earky in the campaign. I sat back nd watched at the Airport on the final sitting day before the election was called and they harangued the pollies as they got out of their Comcars. The best was Costello’s reaction to the presentation of a Kevin07 t-shirt. Poor Bronnie set the most rigid smile on her face I had ever seen and marched on, using her hairspray as a bullbar. Tony Abbott actually arrived on time for his flight, but I have to say he takes the jokes better than 99% of his colleagues.

They’ve become a glorified “Jackass: the movie”

funny how they didn’t really say anything against howard last night but SMASHED rudd

Typsy McStaggers12:07 pm 22 Nov 07

Scrap what I said before, Chasers have apparently withdrawn their RSVP to the ALP after-party. I wonder what they’ve got up their sleeve…

The chaser did appear at least election in the Tally Room (back when they were less stale), and got to be behind the cordons as they were ABC media reps, and busily handed out placards for staff to carry about, and posed for photos.
No idea if they’re going back again.

Really, I found last nights episode one of the best.. Up there with CNNNN.. I guess I prefer the the commentary over nonsense like rug salesmen, spruikers and people talking about inappropriate things on buses..

Last night I watched their special, getting more laughs from the background antics and the ticker.

I switched to Newstopia on SBS after and got a hell of a lot more laughs out of that.

Is the only tenuous link to Canberra in this article – Have they been here? Find something a bit more local.

I like their thought balloons, they are perfect and watching the reactions are just as good.

I’ll be watching the ABC, as always!

I will be tuning in to triple J. Roy and HG are doing the coverage on Saturday night

The funniest was the APEC break in with the made up limo and out rider security guards. You could see the guards as they were running beside the vehicle nearly pissing them selves laughing.

They are brilliant, and getting better all the time.

I used to be a fan, but went off them when they gatecrashed the italian film festival with Sophia Loren.

I just thought the italian community had worked really hard to make their event a good one and these arrogant dwebbes decided to use their hard work for their own show.

The APEC thing wasa funny, but had the potential to be very tragic – how would a policeman feel if they made a decision to open fire and then realised the error? It would have ruined many lives around it. The UK case highlights the potential for things to go wrong.

Absent Diane5:16 pm 21 Nov 07

they make me laugh hard. The episode when they pinched the qld cowboys gear from the airport and then claimed they were jonathon thurston. priceless

Dental surgery without anaesthetic is better than Rove!

Yeah, when they’re in form they’re golden but I cringe when they are just out giving shop workers a hard time. I can see that it might be hard to fill 30 mins each week – particularly in a slow-news week.

have to say they are getting a little lame, although some of their stuff does still raise the odd chuckle. I just think some of their targets don’t really deserve what they cop… and the way they sit and stare directly at the camera in between skits… well, I could choke them for that

Typsy McStaggers2:51 pm 21 Nov 07

TAD, the chaser’s tally room is being filmed tonight, and a week tonight, not at the same time as the election

Typsy McStaggers2:48 pm 21 Nov 07

I think certain skits appeal to certain people. I’ve been literally in tears at little pranks they’ve pulled while others think they’ve been lame. At the end of the day I like what they do, most of the time.

I’ve been told by a fairly reliable source that they will be here for the election, and a couple had rsvp’d to attend the ALP after-party following the official announcement.

No Canberra shenanigans, they are just going to film Canberra in Ultimo instead.

http://www.chaser.com.au/content/view/3465/72/

in the risk of sounding like a potential labor Pm, me too finds them stale and rather rekkuns they’d be best off disbanding, mebbe reuniting for one-offs when necessary.

that said, more of clive and the crazy warehouse guy would be great – mebbe a slot on the half seven show on non-john clarke days?

I think I saw (or heard) Clive the slightly too loud commuter on the bus the other morning…

I agree Thumper. It’s getting a bit stale indeed. A complete re-format of the show, or a whole NEW format/new show is needed. Too many lame-arse pranks going on. Though freedom of speech is a bit limited these days through most mediums…

Having said all that. I haven’t seen them in Canberra. And I hope they keep doing their thing ON THE ABC !!!!!!!!

DarkLadyWolfMother12:50 pm 21 Nov 07

I find them very hit and miss in terms of humour. However, when they hit, they hit with a harsh brilliance. The one that keeps springing to mind is their fake motorcade during OP…sorry… APEC.

I’d be very sorry to see them disappear.

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