The death of the Footy Show came yesterday with Channel Nine axing the show and announcing host Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin to be used sparingly in 2018 as a commentator.
For me, this was a long time coming, as the show hasn’t been funny, memorable or worth watching for over a decade. Beau Ryan was funny for about five seconds, the Big Marn likeable, but easily replaced and Erin Molan, while professional and good at her job, lacking in any personality.
Like The Simpsons, the Footy Show has been around long after it stopped being funny and relevant, tarnishing the previous years of brilliant skits and memorable moments.
To see just how far the once-great show has fallen, jump onto YouTube and I’m sure you will be able to find plenty of laughs from the show’s first ten years, easily their best work.
Who could forget the infamous chilli eating, with Sterlo’s nose dripping like a tap, and Chief bravely trying to read out the team line-up?
How bad, but funny, were the anti-ads, and it’s clear that Reg Regan was the best when it came to Street Talk.
Daredevil Dudes/Beat the Boys, Snow Trips, the Footy Show was a staple of Thursday nights.
Watching Fatty stumble over the most basic of sentences live on air used to be hilarious, but the show has been watered down so much that he barely has time to make a joke these days.
Perfect Partners was the one segment I enjoyed from the recent years, and they even removed that.
The loss the loss of Matt Johns, Peter Sterling and Paul Harragon in quick succession signalled the downfall of the show, with their replacements a big step down in quality.
Beau Ryan was a very average footballer, and he just isn’t funny, not nearly as funny as he seems to think he is.
Darryl Brohman is on to do those feel-good stories that anyone could do, and while Erin Molan is a breath of fresh air on a male-dominated show she is awkward and I find it hard to relate to her as a viewer, it doesn’t bode well if she is to host a new show in 2018.
Yvonne Sampson is a much better on-air talent and it’s a shame she was lost to Fox Sports, she did a great job on the Sunday Footy Show last year.
The problem with the Footy Show is they hung onto Fatty, a guy who retired way back in 1991, far too long.
How many viewers in their 20’s would remember Fatty’s playing days, or Brohman’s for that matter?
Both are out of touch with today’s society and Channel Nine should have eased Matt Johns into hosting duties many years ago, and the show may have been saved.
Johns, alongside the likes of Ryan Girdler, Jason Stevens would have been a decent line-up for me, with a new line-up every few years or so to keep the show fresh.
If you still have a DVD player, I personally haven’t owned one in a long time, grab a copy of The Footy Show Best of 1994-2002 it’s a real treat, and a shadow of the the current show.
Farewell Footy Show, you will not be missed.
Chook
Guest
I enjoyed it to in 1995. I don't think I have seen an episode since 97
mushi
Guest
well that's just an epic burn there Sava...
mushi
Guest
It's a pity Channel ten probably don't have the budget for your alternative idea, I think it would rate highly
Rabbits
Guest
You tell'em Oingo. Can Channel 10 also deep six The Project while they're at it and replace it with Mark Latham.
Rob9
Guest
I spose in the same way that your sexist views are hard to wear for the rest of us... 2017!!! etc etc
Steve
Guest
I am a Sydney sider now living in Melbourne and the most staunch Dragons supporter on earth but i have never watched 1 episode of the footy show cause of the unfunny untalented in both media and as a footballer in Vauntin don't let the door hit him in the backside as he walks through it good riddence.
Sava
Guest
The Barry. Well said,she comes over that way,but all those shows have a director and producer and its up to them to manage how the show comes over.but being a Dinasour I find women in Rugby League or Union hard to wear Sava
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Forced . Are you sure ?
Tom G
Guest
As they say in the classics with this result ”the winner is rugby league”
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think Erin Molan is pretty good when she’s sticking to reporting, interviewing and the footy. She’s good on the Sunday Footy Show. Unfortunately on the Footy Show she’s forced into this ditzy blonde bimbo role. Not her fault at all - it’s actually cringeworthy how some of the panel speak to her and treat her. Like a lot of women who have been put in that position historically, what can she do? She puts up with it or gets punted. I didn’t like that side of the show at all. The demise of the footy show is not her fault. If anything her treatment is a symptom not a cause. I like the way Fox has integrated female journalists into their coverage. When there’s jokes going, they are part of the joke and not the butt of it. Unfortunately my service from Foxtel has been so bad that I’ve disconnected for the first time since 1995.
Sava
Guest
Rookie is right. Sava
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Appreciate the feedback, however if you read the article I say that I did enjoy the show at one stage. I did in fact lose my old job at a small paper, but it didn't get much coverage. This is a sports opinion site so I'm not sure what you were expecting apart from a sports opinion. I never mocked Erin, in fact I think she is very professional, as the article reads, but I personally find it hard to resonate with her, as others do.
Rob9
Guest
Well said Adam.
johnno2
Guest
If you didn't watch it - you won't miss it !!!!!!!!!!!
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Fight Fight Fight
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
I disagree with pretty much everything you just said. The women on fox sports are doing a great job. League life is a great show and if you alienate women from the code, there goes half the supporter base out the door which means there goes money out the door. You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to tell you that your opinion is both out of touch and idiotic. Adam
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Everyone just likes to follow the social media narrative that the fall of the footy show is Erin Molan's fault. Sure she has her dopey moments, but she a very talented TV presenter. The reason for the Footy Show's demise is pretty simple, too many colourful gag segments and not enough talk about footy. In a 2-hour show, we'd be lucky to get a half-hour of actual discussion on football. Nobody cares about sports bets pass off. Nobody cares about the stupid game show segments. They only promote the 3 games that channel 9 airs. So basically, if you're a Knights or Warriors fan, your teams would hardly get a mention all year. But, the fat armchair keyboard warriors will simply blame Erin, because they're jealous of her success and they have nothing better to do with their time.
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
No. IMHO it does more damage than good in promoting rugby league's ocker culture. 'Is that right mate, yeah I'm talking to you mate."
Magic Lyrebird
Guest
I will actually miss the footy show. I have watched it occasionally, never a whole show, for the last few years, and while it's been hit and miss, the hits have been very funny. The little footy players on Small Talk can be hilarious (Daryl Brohmann less so), and some of Beau Ryan's off-the-cuff stuff is great. Like the time when, walking through the streets of western sydney, he bumped into a mean-looking guy wearing military camouflage and said 'Oh sorry bro - didn't see you - cammo.' His interviews with other footballers are also often really funny. As far as I can work out, it's the last variety show on telly - the kind you can watch with the kids, where everyone has a laugh and finds something to enjoy. Fatty is a master at treading the fine line between cheeky and offensive. Good luck to him and all the rest!
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The good news is I only have fox , so the decisions made at the lowly channel 10 have no bearing on me , As far as Q&A is concerned, I'd prefer to have my eyes burned out with cigarettes , my kock stapled to my leg and be pegged out on a bullants nest , than be subjected to 30 minutes of Tony ( I hate Australia) Jones and his crew of hand picked lefty stooges.