It’s Thursday night anywhere between 1994 and around the 2013 mark. You’ve got your Pizza Hut box next to you and it’s about to hit 9:30.
That means one thing: Footy Show time. It’s time for Mailbag, Street Talk or whatever else is getting thrown at you tonight. Without thinking, you switch over to Channel 9.
It’s a familiar feeling to football fans across the country. But that feeling hasn’t happened in a long, long time, right? So, what the hell happened to the Footy Show?
Well, a few theories have been thrown around. Channel 7’s The Front Bar is the obvious, ‘politically correctness’ also gets a mention, but if we look only a year and a half back the Footy Show wasn’t doing too bad.
Sure it wasn’t booting them from 50 but it was still winning it’s timeslot and doing well enough to be haled a success.
Soon enough in 2017 however, Hutchy got boned and ‘Eddie Everywhere’ McGuire was back, fresh from a 12-year break hoping to breathe new life in to the show.
This hasn’t happened. The show has bombed, big time. Why’s this? There’s a simple answer, it is boring.
In 2018 the show has moved away from it’s traditional variety show format and quietly has changed into a watered down talk show. Viewers are jumping ship in droves to Maher, Molloy and Pang over at Channel Seven.
Whether, the format change is a cost cutting measure or just an attempt at a ratings surge is anyone’s guess. However, if you ask me the Footy Show needs to be fun, funny and not a slightly more light hearted version of Footy Classified.
This is how the Footy Show came to become one of the most popular sports shows on Australian television. Despite changing times, by sticking to what they do best it could return to the top – but changes need to be made.
Who knows maybe the next 25 years are the best to come?
IAP
Guest
Was it really that sexist? I haven't watched it for a decade (I've been living in non-footy states), but I don't remember any sexism. They didn't even really talk about women, it was just blokey footy banter. Or is this opinion, which I've heard a few times, based on the Caroline Wilson stuff?
IAP
Guest
You blokes must be just out of nappies. It was a juggernaut in the 90's and early 2000's.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
There were “past glories”?!
Jungle Jim
Guest
Hopefully it will never return to whatever small and irrelevant heights it achieved before. Hopefully it dies an inglorious death and takes smarmy Eddy and snake-eyed Sammy with it!!? What a waste of space, the old boys club.
asd
Guest
Sam cant say what he used to say political correctness gone man And the feminists he did a good job of dressing caro Whats the show all about Colliwobles now
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
This show has to be put to bed very soon,its down right boring.they can not say nothing funny anymore.Because it my offend all of do gooders in public/canberra.I have been watching the front bar which is very funny.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Sam Newman, Eddie McGuire, Billy Brownless, Fev..... I think that explains why the footy show is dull and boring. Last time I watched was a year or so ago, I can only assume it still manages to be sexist - the show just doesn't hold up in the modern era. It is not as if The Front Bar is hosted by a hip bunch of 30 somethings, but cleverly infuses humour and footy annecdotes with constant beer consumption/promotion and explains how to give your money directly to a betting company by playing Mick's Multi... it is almost one long beer and gambling ad.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Newman has always been crass and walked a fine line with his humour, but at least he used to be sharp as well. Now, the wit is long gone and all that's left is a grumpy old man who seems perpetually frustrated that he can't just say any old sexist thing and get away with it in 2018. 'Caricature' is a good way to describe him. Here's an idea: if you wan't to breathe new life into a show, don't persist with hosts who were way past their use-by date five years ago.
User
Roar Rookie
Last time I watched a footy show was the 05 gf special, bring back live and kicking I reckon.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
This show is still running?...
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No, put a fork in it, it's done. Sam Newman had some novelty back in the day with Trev Marmalade, the show had chemistry. Now Sam's a plastic surgery stretched grumpy out of touch caricature of his former self. Close it down Eddie there's no lifelines left.