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Can of Worms

For a show that promised no fence sitting, Can of Worms played too safe with an edited episode that went for gags over truth.

Dicko’s much-hyped new talk show Can of Worms premiered last night in a long, -very long- debut on TEN.

“Australia, we need to talk,” he promised.

But while there was conversation, and a hint of debate, there was a rush for punchlines. At almost every point, guests Craig Reucassel, George McEncroe and Jason Akermanis, were delivering gags to the questions “Is it offensive to call someone a bogan?” and “Is it ok to spy on your kids online?”

For the most part, the heavily-edited show lurched from one gag to another seemingly at the expense of debate and insight. As a show that had promised revealing truths this was unfortunate.

The core of the show, debating social questions, is a valid premise and television has done this since as far back as the 1960s with Beauty and the Beast. Geoffrey Robertson’s Hypotheticals did it particularly well during the 1980s.

But if Dicko is going to ask his guests “What do you think?”, “Why do you think that? and “Is it negotiable?” then I would like a follow up question: “Why should I care?”

Why do I care what a retired AFL footballer thinks about the concept of his wife having slept with more people than him? And why do I need an hour to learn this?

The three guests did not provide enough contrast in opinions to sustain the length of the show. Instead of giving us debate they spent more time laughing at each others punchlines.

But there was a moment of hope towards the end of the show when Dicko raised the subject of online bullying and suicide (one hopes the photo of a young man who suicided was included with family consent). It led to Akermanis talking about his teenage years and his belief that suicide was a selfish act. The serious moment in the show resonated much more than the gags.

The show’s biggest downfall is in not airing live and utilising the audience, two things Q & A achieves so well. Involving the audience will hold up a much better mirror than three celebs clamouring for the spotlight.

Including dated tweets (some were three days old) was pretty insulting, especially given Dancing with the Stars was widely hounded for this some weeks ago. This team knows better than that.

As a host Dicko will need to prove himself with the audience, but aside from some reliance on scripts I’ll give him a preliminary pass for a first show. But Dicko needs to be challenged to display his smarts rather than just serving as ringmaster. Meshel Laurie fitted easily into the mix in her support role.

The graphics used for the Roy Morgan poll results must have been done by the Hungry Beast guy at Zapruder’s.

I can see a role for the show in response to current news issues (Cronulla Race Riots, Carbon Cate etc) but much would depend on the guests.

Ironically, giving us a pre-recorded episode is the TV equivalent of doing exactly what Dicko said was a no-no: sitting on the fence.

Bite the bullet and air it live please.

Can of Worms airs 8:30pm Mondays on TEN.

87 Responses

  1. Yes, mz, load of crup,
    Let them run amock,
    as if we have nothing better to do but save them from the suer that life simes to be offering. Look at “lady gaga”, what a load of crup.
    All the crup in the world, means we are prizoners to someones seek sense of humor.
    I say to my children, yes, you can do what makes You happy, not what makes someone you falow happy. The rest is obvious.
    Freedom of thought? never stands stil for one to make up their mind.
    So beware, children

  2. I komend you on question about does God exist? The prist was not specific, nor
    truthfule. Because in old scripture states that there were many Gods at the begining,
    and they all fought for supremacy of the world.
    Religion today narowed it down to one God. Thus saying that only he has the sole posetion of this planet. Yet there were many Gods on mount Olimpia, living lavisly and constantly fighting amondst one another. Just like the Gods before them.
    Then there was Egyptian God Amon Ra, then we have Budists who have no God, but had many Vedic Masters, who as well fought for supremacy of this planet.
    Then religion maked Jesus, a son of God. Which makes me think that Jesus father was a big land owner, a God in the sence of antiquety and godly desire to poses as
    much land as posible. Religion never exposed who was the real father of Jesus.
    and why nobody learns of Jesus early years, like from ten years to 28, when he apeared to the public as sertified doctor / herbalist, and philosopher. And the fact that in India people knew of him, and called him, Isa. Confusion lies just below reasoning and clear thinking,I would say.
    Why be afraid to tell the truth. People were kiled by refusing to go by the book of some. So they split into many sects of kristianity.
    So, to tell a child that there is haven, is not leting him grive for his grand mother. he in fact should be happy she is in haven. How wrong is that? A fals emotion. Etheists have a broad spectrum of beleaf. Not rtue that etheists are with out beleaf. Prists of today should bring sciance into religion for easier explanation.

  3. Elka needs to pull her head in. She and other sports people choose to get up at 4am to train for fame and glory of their sporting prowess. People like Charlie Teo and “real hero’s” are so for selfless reasons. to help others not themselves. We way over value sporting people.

  4. I have watched a re run as I uploaded pics of my daughters yr 10 formal, I’m suprised at Layne Beachleys outdated attitude..and applaud the lady who asked what is a slut anyway??..how dare this question pidgeon hole girls this way, confident Women and girls dress for themselves and maybe due to there competative nature other girls, not for boys..sorry boys..Every single glammed up girl tonight ran up to eachother and ooohed and aaahed over shoes,dresses makeup and hair whether they had long or short skirts and dresses these girls looked beautiful and vibrant .If some insecure or over egoed bloke or a bitter older women who has lost her youth and judge these girls as sluts….poohy to them.. Youth is for expressing yourself through hair, makeup and clothes and being different to the adults whom judge them. Get some people whom have teens and understand, Its a totally different world thanks to technology and a widely available access to knowledge, media and what they are expected to be.
    Let our girls be, gorgeous crazy, full of life,experimetal, enviromental and way more informed than we probably were as young women… 🙂

  5. On the subject of Slatines, everibody make their own bed.
    I am married 47 years with out make up, drink, smoke, or bad vocabulary.
    I even learned to spell a little. Hows that?
    Little bad, is good. So I burned yesterdays diner.
    Around me everibody lives with hope, and as I write, the clouds have disperced, and
    sun is shining!, I know I am good for enviroment.

  6. The concept is great. I do agree it should be live. The guests although opinionated do not have to be pane rude. Dicko should have a lever to make these ‘guests’ disapper and a new one in their place. More ‘everyday’ people comments would help. I am hoping if we give it a go for a little longer is may become a snap shot into our society……….clean up the problems Dicko. I hope someone reads all these comments.

  7. About Beer, would Ozy’s put fire out with beer?
    To Australians, beer is not alchohol, its water with flavor.
    Children learn from parents behavior.
    When one lies, their world turns against them. Does not nesesarily efects the partner.
    Good and bad constantly fight . Who wins? The one you feed. Old Indian saying.
    I mean, indiginos Amerikans. Not me, I am not that clever.
    And respect goes long way.
    Thanks for can of worms, I waited long for something Ozy.
    If you run out of questions, call me.

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