Logie audience boos Footy Show
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Gary Lyon was forced to brush aside hecklers during his Logie acceptance speech last night. Clearly a number of celebrities were unhappy with his acknowledgment of Sam Newman when The Footy Show won Most Popular Sports programme.
Newman was absent from the night due to a foot injury while working in his gym, but he still managed to make his mark.
“There’s one man that’s not here tonight. Occasionally television from time to time can be a little bit beige we reckon. The man that’s not her tonight is the most colourful man in television,” said Lyon.
“Sam Newman is an absolute star. The thing about Sam Newman ladies and gentleman is that he puts himself out there…(he) generates enormous publicity for this show and we continue to draw great numbers, we benefit from it. He takes it on the chin for us for all of us.”
But it triggered one of the few controversies of the event, normally known for its unscripted drama.
“I honestly was disappointed a bit with the reaction in the room,” James Brayshaw later told reporters.
“Sam Newman, love him, gets more people to turn on their television and watch than almost anyone since the great Graham Kennedy.
“He walks a fine line and he’s a controversial act, but I don’t think he deserves disrespect.”
Disrespect, ironically, is what ignited the whole sordid affair, when Newman mocked sports journo Caroline Wilson with a semi-naked mannequin. Now his co-hosts are asking for the same in return?
And what’s with the Kennedy comparison? The only thing the two have in common is flying without a net on Nine live TV. But Newman doesn’t draw any kind of audience outside AFL states. Brayshaw needs to go back and look at national ratings figures. Maybe he had a big night….
Lyon also defended his on-air colleague.
“We know where his heart and soul is, and any time he treads over (the line) it’s more for the show than anything else.”
Source: Herald Sun
11 Responses
You should have seen Wilson and Lyons on Confidential last night, they obviously had a moment together behind the scenes. Wilson agreeing with everyone of Gary’s points, Lyons sticking up for Wilson to Hutchy on every issue, it was a total lovefest lol
It must be a Melbourne thing?
Comprehension here clearly isn’t a strong point of many of the respondents. Brayshaw never compared him with Kennedy, he said “than almost anyone since the great Graham Kennedy“. That isn’t a comparison with Kennedy, he’s comparing Newman with all the other lower-than-Kennedy personalities.
why is this still an issue? From what I understand, Caroline Wilson – a woman who i gather is strong enough to defend herself – has received a public apology and she has accepted that apology. Shouldn’t that be the end of it? She’s probably embarassed that others have made this into such a big drama.
I do agree though that the Newman/Kennedy comparison is completely false. Sam Newman wishes he had half the talent and influence that Graham Kennedy had.
Notable that The Footy Show won for being ‘popular’, not ‘outstanding’ and that Lyon praises Newman for generating publicity, not for having any other talent.
Rarely has the old saying “you’ll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the general public” been so appropriate.
I agree with Gary Lyon. Sam Newman is an absolute star! The AFL team winning the logie and the speech was a highlight for me. lol at the sheep booing him. Agree completely with fangera re the awful Caroline Wilson. He gives The Chief much more crap! And I can see the Kennedy comparison. Go Sammy!
No doubt Sam is not even in the same category, as great or influential as Kennedy, thats a gimmie.
And I’m sure there’s a few footy coaches, players and their families who would love not to have half-truths printed about them designed to harm their careers and income just to increase circulation.
No one agrees with his method.
People seem to forget why this started.
Garry Lyon is an intelligent man, what the hell is he doing defending Sam Waste-of-space Newman, seriously, the comparison between Newman and Graham Kennedy is just ridiculous, not to mention insulting to Graham Kennedy, id suggest Garry spend some time in the GTV archives to see just how wrong he is..Im a Queenslander but lived in Melboure for three years and was dumbfounded by the popularity of this pureile, sometimes distasteful show.
Sam Newman may have had a lucky “break” by not appearing last night, as the crowd (or about 50% of it) could well have given him heaps.
Where did I say the show wasn’t popular? My reference was actually to ratings and Kennedy comparisons. Newman doesn’t even air until 11.45 or thereabouts in NSW and Qld.
Kennedy’s impact was groundbreaking. There are few who regularly sit above the 2m mark these days, maybe Kath and Kim at their best, Dancing with the Stars at its height. Sam is astute at stunts, but he doesn’t match Kennedy’s draw because he is limited to AFL.
I’m sure Wilson is happy to be disputed without resorting to half naked mannequins.
A little ironic saying the show isn’t very popular around the country when it just won a Logie.
Good to see the Aussie “elite” are big on the PC angle without getting their facts straight.
Disrespect? Maybe Caroline should stop writing semi-fictional pieces and then hide behind the sexism flag when she gets a bit of crap for it.