First Review: The Nation
- Published by David Knox
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I guess I can give Mick Molloy 5 out of 10 for effort. I think I was expecting a lot worse of The Nation.
But that’s because he has a reputation as a blokey ratbag, a label he seems to wear proudly.
In this news-esque format he seems to have mellowed. Maybe it’s because he was fired by Nine years ago. Maybe he’s simply grown up. On radio he was always so well-balanced by the smart comedy of Tony Martin. The two were a duo with all bases covered. Now he’s on his own he can’t quite be the same “pull my finger” yobbo.
In fairness to Molloy, I’m not sure I am the right demographic for his humour (although I will happily watch The Chaser, The Panel and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart so maybe I fit his “new demographic?”).
This ‘we’re not a tonight / panel show” format models itself on the American satires of Jon Stewart and Bill Maher. No offense to Molloy, but those guys are pretty smart cookies. When Stewart lets fly with a segment, there is usually an editorial point to be made. So far, most of Molloy’s was more about punchlines than commentary. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if, say, Clive Robertson was tackling it. Or Shaun Micallef. Oh wait a minute, I can wait till Newstopia with Shaun Micallef premieres on SBS later this year for that.
Akmal Saleh didn’t seem to add much yet. His gags about BB’s Emma and her deceased father were misplaced. Jackie O (bite my lip, bite my lip) presented an entertainment segment that seemed more fitting of breakfast TV. The sketches with Stephen Curry weren’t bad, although a bit strong on the laugh-track trigger, guys. And I’m not sure the mostly serious tone of Molloy’s interview with Peter Garrett is really what he does best.
But Livinia Nixon enraged in the corridors of Nine was good fun. The more Molloy can de-bunk TV, and the establishment of Nine, the better. A segment with Eddie parodying himself in his new role would be worth considering!
In all the debut wasn’t a bad effort and in time may find its feet and an audience that is happy to sit back, put up their feet and chuckle at the bloke taking the piss.
21 Responses
I really like The Nation. It’s fun!
What an utter waste of a hour. How anyone could even comapre this to the masters of satire is beyond me. I tried to stick with it, assuming this was first episode gitters but it was in vain.
Jackie-O is detestable and Akmal’s comments on the Christian religion were sickening. I used to enjoy him as a comdeian but he has lost my respect. Malloy is infuriatingly woeful – I wouldn’t want to put my name to this show, especially after claiming “years of work” behind it.
If Channel 9 had any sense they’d cancel it now before we lose anymore brain cells trying to discover how this show is amusng.
Then again, it is Channel 9, the only show they have worth watching is Survivor and they stick it at the most illogical of hours.
Nine sticks to the same, tired old formats and “celebrities” (Eddie McGuire and that terrible Bert Newton come to mind).
Someone needs to wade in a save that floundering wreck of a station.
God it’s painful. Mick’s a sidekick at best and should stick to the Panel or the radio
… as should Hamish & Andy! 😀
I don’t think the show’s a total disaster as many have stated. I think there are some segments which should be revised but over all it is better than watching another American crime show. I think Nikki Osborne should be given more air time as she is extremely funny and talented and believe they should reduce the time spent discussing sport and talking with Akmal. Jackie O’s bit is another positive of the show as are the sketches. No offense to Mick Molloy but I think there needs to be less Mick Molloy and more Osborne and Eck.
Utter garbage, Mick. I saw the big piece in the Green Guide and you say you’ve been developing the idea for years. You’re kidding us? What did you develop? Graeme Kennedy’s Coast-to-Coast Mark II, with dud writing and artless delivery. Was that years? Or minutes?
Then again, maybe it’s the most subtle post-Gunston piss-take of a talk show host since Larry Sanders? Or the best piss-take of a crap show since When the Whistle Blows? If so, it’s subtle all right because it looks for all the world like half-baked amateur-hour swill.
Of course, it might also be brilliant programming in a strategic sense. With the Packers finally out of the way, Nine can now re-run the groundbreaking Doug Mulray animal-mating video show and be seen to be lifting the tone.
Sorry Mick but your next telly gigs — if you’re lucky — will be celebrity guest on BB or hosting after midnight phone-in quiz shows. You blew it.
I’ve been a big fan of Mick Molloy’s past work and so it’s with much disappointment that I report that watching the 2nd instalment of The Nation is simply embarrassing.
Many of the skits feel forced and uncomfortable.
As an example, tonight’s sports segment was a shambles. Mick simply kept making low-brow crass jokes, talking over Tiffany and interjecting comments that clearly annoyed and frustrated her. In the end, Tiffany was simply pushing past his jokes in a bid to finish the segment (although I gave her 10/10 for the forced smile at the end)..
Overall, at best, it’s an average show, with little original content or jokes that haven’t already been played out a dozen times before… at worst it’s a poor excuse for a show that ironically has little of its name sake – either news or jokes..
I’d be surprised if this show will go past 5 or 6 episodes, let alone beating Mick’s previous record of 8..
Mick, please stick to radio and movies…
Channel 9.. Its time to get serious and start investing in some quality TV..
There’s no point giving a show “a chance” these days. It’s got to hit the mark from the start, and if it doesn’t its got to go. The Chaser has set a new standard, and The Nation is not even in the same league.
But then again, its on Channel 9 – the idiots channel. And just remember, we do have areas of Australia such as Mt Druitt, Macquarie Fields etc who don’t have much intelligence, so there is some kind of market.
My low point of the show:
Jackie O???? Really…. She’s a twat.
Your comparing a shows FIRST airing to Rove, Jon Stewart, Colbert, Olberman etc etc.
All those shows have been on the air for years and years, have a bigger budget and have had time to breath.
I remember when Rove started out on C9 years ago and his show was dreadfull, now its not to shabby at all! And as for Stewart, it took years of clawing, an Iraq war and a goverment change for the show to come to fruision.
If you dont like that show dont watch it. And all the shows you name here arent orignal either, the same show ideas have been recycled over and over since TV began.
You try make up a show idea and have the whole of Australia, especially the keyboard warriors of the net happy with it.
Its never gonna happen.
How about giving a show a go, to the last guy who posted, go back to watching home and away and thank god your here. Obviously anything new is bad to most here.
I enjoyed it and it was entertaining.
Cancel it … NOW … and put the country out of it’s misery!
Jack!
I think Rove is alot better the the Nation..better chatter between all guests..the set of the Nation looks terrible
The problem with some Aussie shows is that they’re all too often lame interpretations of someone else’s better ideas. And Aussie audiences are quickly becoming well informed and educated about the originals and how well they play.
I’m not for coddling the networks because they’re ‘trying’ with the funds they have available, and their same old talent pool. 21st century entertainment is quickly moving way beyond that.
Now stick that up your clacker grandpa! 🙂
Well, I enjoyed it.
Had some great laughs and was reminisent of the old Mick at past.
The TV junkies who download episodes of John Stewart or Colbert and what not of course wont be satisfied. The “Aussie” audience of those shows enjoy the smell of there farts way to much to just sit back and not have to think to hard. Maybe a better job is needed for that audience as they dont seem to have enough brain cells left at (:30pm to want a hard hitting award winning Aussie show straight off the bat. I always wonder what you guys would do in a TV show.
So quick to complain when theres not enough Aussie contet on TV and so quick to whinge when a new Aussie show isnt cancelled ten minutes after its first screening.
Of course none of you were going to be happy. Your never truly happy with yor loves or entertainment, why excpect to be now?
About time we got behind Aussie made shows. Instead of slamming them becuase you can.
The worst thing about Australian TV is the audinces not the shows.
Australia is quickly becoming a country that cant laugh at itself anymore, also your egos are getting way to big…
7 out of ten from me, was a great start and has some great potential.
Stick that up ya clackers kiddies..
The first ep was a dud. I actually thought the Peter Garrett interview was the best bit save the moronic question: Is this your first election? Overall it’s a half-arsed rip of The Daily Show. Hopefully The Nation can at least get through the first 13 episodes while ironing out the considerable kinks to get a decent run. I really like Molloy (the blokey ratbag image is only part of him, he and Tony Martin have long talked of their “slipping the pill to the dog in with the dog food” approach to satire) and want an Australian show of this format to work well. Come on Mick, lift your game.
For a first effort, it was OK. I think that a few aspects will be re-tooled before next week.
Anything that Mick was not involved with seemed to tank – eg. Osama 50th birthday (he may have been one of the terrorists, I am not sure).
Akmal is awful anyway so it did not surprise me when I heard how bad his segment was. As much as I hate to say it, Jackie O was not so bad, at least she made me laugh a few times.
They need a more steady format, maybe use two “real” guests to interview, and perhaps some stand-up or similar.
The sport segement had an “Any Given Sunday” feel.
Mick was a bit tight and edgy at the start, but that will wear off over time.
Don’t give up on it yet people, as this is probably the best we will get from Channel 9.
It was okay, he’s better than Rove, but that’s not hard…. Akmahl was alright but Peter Garrett slowed things down, and Jackie O… Groan…. I flipped about half way through to watch an excellent documentary on ABC2 about the history of Punk. If there’s good guests on Mick’s show, I’ll watch it. Let’s just hope the poor guy gets more than 8 episodes this time around.
As afew commentators have mentioned was sort of show is it? A satirical news show, a comedy talk show, a boring bit of snoozefest for 1 hour on Nine?
It absolutely had nothing on the late night talk show kings. It was a pathetic attempt and something, where it just didn’t hit the mark. I mean, who’s going to be interested in gossip news from Jackie O and the sports segment with what’s her name? I just can’t get over how mish mashed the whole thing was. It was a dumb hour of television from Nine and it looks like we’ll see more of it with Ralph TV, hello cross promotion.
Poor effort all round, 2.5 stars out of 10 from me!
Molloy,isn’t a patch on Jon Stewart, doesn’t have his timing nor intellect, nor depth of knowledge on a subject..
The Nation, particularly Jackie O was a bit tacky and grossly uninformed as she joked about not being able to commit suicide by taking a packet of Panadol. Sure you just go to sleep, wake up amd think you failed and do nothing – then you slowly, over a few days die from liver failure.
Didn’t turn me on. Switched off soon after Akmal appeared. I’ve been watching Stewart, Maher and now Olbermann for a while and after stuff like theirs, blokey ‘she’ll be right’ shtick just doesn’t cut it. Nowadays, Chasers and Rove usually makes me yawn too.
Where’s our new, fresh, enterprising talent? And I mean really new, not just new in this spot or on this network or someone or something regurgitated from the past.
Yeah….i didnt know anything about the show when i watched it. I only got about 15-20 minutes into it before i changed it. The only part that gave me a little smile was Howard and Costello falling asleep and the paint stripper thing with Rudd.
I didn’t like it at all, it also seemed to be too Melbourne centric, though im sure people from Victoria didn’t mind that.
Overall, thumbs down and i doubt ill watch again…..maybe if nothing else is on.
Akmal was woeful, as was the Osama joke, and I couldn’t stand Mick’s first segment where he couldn’t seem to keep his hands still. The laugh track was worn out and I got a bit tired of Mick making a joke and then doing a sort of “Did you get it? I’ll explain it a little to see if I can get another laugh out of it” *groan*
I enjoyed the interview with Lisa McCune, and the Livinia Nixon segments were well done (thanks mostly to Livinia’s ability to hold a straight face etc). Jackie O has potential, while she was a bit giggly I still prefer her to Dick Wilkins. Mind you… I guess anybody is better than him.