With Johns’ axing, Channel Nine finally gets it right
Roar Pro By Gabriel Knowles, 14 May 2009 Gabriel Knowles is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- ABC Four Corners, Channel 9, Matthew Johns, NRL, Rugby League
116 Have your say
We all know who really runs the NRL. Like any big business, the boss is never at the coal face, so it can’t be David Gallop, whose performance under extreme pressure this week has been admirable.
As is the case for most professional sports around the world, television runs the show, in this case Channel Nine and, to a lesser extent, Fox Sports.
Just last week we saw the farcical situation where Nine’s controlling demands resulted in two representative matches being played on the same night. As it turned out, the game that appeared to have been relegated to second best status for eternity ended up being the one fans were talking about.
Shows what the executives at Nine know.
But that was last week. The same week they got Matty Johns to apologise to all and sundry except the one person that really mattered on air.
Last week wasn’t a good week for the league department at Nine.
This week they got it right, though. The Nine supremos summonsed Johns back from his hideaway in Western Australia and gave him the axe. No mean feat considering Nine have been a very public face for the misogynist culture in some sectors of the game for so long.
When Gallop took a hard line in response to the Four Corners program, it wasn’t immediately clear if Nine would toe the line and follow suit. Fortunately they did.
The mouth has finally caught up with the brain.
It still remains to be seen just how much Nine have caught up, though. If they’re serious about bringing about a cultural change in rugby league, then the dated content and hosts of the Footy Show need to go as well.
Fatty’s reaction to Johns’ on air apology was deplorable, to say the least. It’s little wonder Sterlo called it quits a few seasons back.
They don’t even talk about footy these days. As it stands, the Footy Show is nothing more than a trumped up version of Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
Nine should be investing their time and money into a real show about league, with informed analysis and opinion. They’ve been doing it for a while on Fox Sports and it’s actually quite entertaining.
Nine need to keep their eyes. and ours, on the ball, and not on the man.
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- ABC Four Corners, Channel 9, Matthew Johns, NRL, Rugby League
May 14th 2009 @ 9:50am
sledgeross said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:50am | Report comment
znotty, considering ABC aired the program nationally, why wouldnt Johns have a right of reply, espeicllay since he works for a network.
Im tossing up with the Sharks and Panthers though mate, I think the SHarks are due for one, but Penrith chuck the ball around well!
May 14th 2009 @ 9:59am
Bill said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
If Channel 9 decide to keep airing the Footy Show they should look to getting Ryan Girdler on the pannel.
Fatty’s number now appears up as well. I believe people are reading more into the “pat on the back” & “lets get on with the show” comment than what it was. In my opinion it was a quick show of support to a friend and as host of the show he has a responsibility to make the program schedule run to time.
May 14th 2009 @ 10:03am
sledgeross said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
I think people are making too much about Fattys pat on the back. Im sure its just an instinctual thing to a mate who was feeling uncomfortable at the time. I dont see it as validation for what Johns did.
May 14th 2009 @ 10:40am
Kes A said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Sorry but does no one think this woman needs to take responsibility for her own actions….i feel sorry for her but she needs to understand that the decision to go back to the room and stay there was hers…she will be feeling guilt, confusion and remorse…and understandbly so…but she made the decison. She was not raped or assaulted…so she needs to take the responsibilty. Leave Matt and family alone…shame on the media for jumping on this witchhunt.
May 14th 2009 @ 10:49am
Mark said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:49am | Report comment
The show was one of those things that needed to die off. They had their chance to really make something of the show but just couldnt get rid of the fart jokes. Dont get Voss, he is just as anoying as Vautin.
May 14th 2009 @ 11:00am
Spiro Zavos said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment
I wonder what will happen to the character Reg Reagan who seems to have in a way glorified many of the aspects of coarse rugby league that are now clearly dated and unwanted.
May 14th 2009 @ 11:13am
True Tah said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Agree Mark, the Footy Show has been dying for years. Sacking Matty Johns if anything will hasten the death of a slowly dying dinosaur.
For me it was the toilet bowl humour that got to me, why couldnt they act like grown men for chrissake, maybe they are trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator a bit too much.
You would think they could have some intelligent commentary on the show, but maybe Im giving Fatty too much credit in the brain stakes, maybe there’s not too many kangaroos in his top paddock.
I actually watched the episode when Sonny Bill Williams was interviewed last year, and then Fatty made the comment about Pacific Islanders arriving in Australia in their canoes, so I could tell the IQ level on the show obviously hadn’t increased. I know a few rather large Islander boys who would have loved to have introduced Fatty to their equally large fists!
May 14th 2009 @ 11:13am
Col the Bear said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:13am | Report comment
Yes Gabriel I think it’s “hey hey it’s saturdays “days are over. and have been for some time.. but in saying that I do watch the more informative,Sunday footy show and the roast..But I would also like to see the NSWCup get more promoted, maybe ABC should show a game it weekly..I know fox or Sky which ever, do show these games,but majority of people don’t have pay tv.
lets face it the NRL did have to act on this..it’s 4 corners, not gossipy today tonight or ACA.who are too busy competing against each other. 4 corners is a very credible show thus the quick reaction by Gallop and Co.and he honestly looked beat this time when he faced the media..
Look ,but League is not the only code that has these problems..1 name Sam Neuman..??
May 14th 2009 @ 11:29am
Col the Bear said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
I was reading today what Steve Noyce suggests at the roosters, let the wags come along, similar to the cricket and thats not a bad idea..thats what they have been doing..and The roosters always seem to be a pretty family orientated club these days..
I like the Newcastle remark.”no d***heads allowed”. and they do cross checks..but you hope the education is getting through to the younger players in the Toyota cup.. These are the future NRL players..
May 14th 2009 @ 11:38am
Tifosi said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
This is what Pru Goward the Former federal sex discrimination commissioner had to say in todays SMH.
Ms Goward said women had a responsibility not to put themselves into potentially harmful situations.
“If there is a young woman in Australia who does not now know that having sex with one or two men at once is not risky sexual behaviour she perhaps needs to go back and look at a bit more television,” she said.
“Risky sexual behaviour … does not lead to a white wedding.
“But having said that, nobody I think believes that even though she said yes to two men that she said yes to a whole lot of other men coming through all night.
I think she is 100% right, some of these girls get the idea that by sleeping with football stars they will lead a life of luxury, whilst the guys are only ever interested in sex.
But im sure the girl did not agree to sleeping with a whole team either.