TEN apology for GNW ‘Autism humour’
A joke by British comedian Russell Kane during Good News Week elicits complaints, a newspaper article and a network apology.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
The TEN Network says a comment on last night’s Good News Week, which has come under fire today was addressed on the show by host Paul McDermott.
British comedian Russell Kane was describing his team’s performance against Paul McDermott in a previous comedy debate when he said, “We went at it like an Autistic kid at a drum and destroyed you.”
After a reaction from the audience, McDermott told Kane, “You can see they don’t like Autistic humour here.”
Only a handful of angry viewers vented their displeasure on the show’s website.
The Herald Sun quotes them as saying, “I have children with Autism and I know a lot of parents and friends who are disgusted with what was said and how Paul jumped in on it too.”
Another wrote “If it was pre-recorded…it should have been edited out.”
Autism Victoria is understood to have taken issue with the remarks, following additional complaints received today.
A spokesperson from TEN told TV Tonight, “We are sorry for any offence the Autistic comment may have caused but felt Good News Week host Paul McDermott’s immediate comment of ‘you can see they don’t like Autistic humour here’ made it clear it was a step too far.
“TEN is a strong supporter of Autism awareness. We are currently supporting the Alpha Autism campaign and we intend to increase our Community Service Announcement commitment for the AEIOU Foundation.
“We are also looking at opportunities to increase awareness of issues surrounding Autism through our regular programming line-up and will include a link on the Good News Week website for viewers who would like to get involved with an Autism support organisation.”
Last year GNW got into much bigger hot water when Magda Szubanski criticised cyclists, while Ben Elton copped some bad press in the UK for comments regarding the Royal Family.
Last year panellist Mikey Robins told TV Tonight, “Certain things are always going to offend people, but what’s been weird this year is the level of hysteria about it. The Chaser boys, Magda, Red Faces, Ben Elton –it’s bizarre.
“A comedy show is doing something wrong if at least one person’s not offended. Then it just boils down to semantics.”
The GNW episode in question was recorded at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Source: Herald Sun
Share
- Tagged with Good News Week, The Chaser's War on Everything
32 Responses
It wasn’t the single comment, it was the repeated comments that made it insulting. Once comment on someones affliction be-it cancer, Autism, religion etc can be discarded if offensive repeated comments becomes an affront and an attack. What makes it worse is that it is children who are most effected and their parents watching the show who are already in a state from the usual long day. The children can not defend themselves. Offence is pretty easy to gauge, put yourself in someone elses shoes if I insult your child repeatedly on national TV you aren’t going to be happy about it. It wasn’t one short quip or even all that funny it was malicious out and out.
I am the parent of two Autistic children, and I was offended by the repeated jokes at overused stereotypes, all to garner some publicity it would seem. Well I can safely say after 30 years of laughing along with Paul from the Big Gig and DAAS, I am dissapointed that he let this go to air and I will no longer make any effort to watch this show.
I agree if a joke insults me personally and it is funny I will laugh, if it isn’t funny I won’t but this was attacking my defenseless children, big difference.
As a person with Autism? Try being a person with Autism. I still wasn’t offended. I took it as it was – a joke. Get the f*** over yourselves. What the hell happened to the sense of humour in this country? Everyone has become so sensitive any whiny. If you can’t take it for what it is – topical humour – then I feel very very sorry for you. What a very sad life you must lead.
@Doctor Ry
Actually the liberal party seems to be the main target every week, Rudd certainly doesn’t cop much I’m not sure whether it’s more to do with Ten being so far left they can’t stand or the big slice of pie Con(man)roy just cut them!
there is nothing funny about making jokes about autistic kids or any kids. to the people that say lighten up. i bet if you had an autistic kid and it was very severe, you wouldn’t be laughing in the slightest
Time this rubbish was cancelled.
and all the lady gaga jokes and thing they made rude
Those people would are saying they should edited this out don’t seem to realise that when you edit one thing to appease one special interest group, you always have to edit something else to appease another special interest group.
@ Dick, I’m pretty sure that Robins wouldn’t give a rats a*se about you telling cancer jokes. He’s a comedian, and to be in that line of work you generally have to have a sense of humour. You also have to be able to laugh at yourself, something that he does via the occasional fat joke. He also didn’t seem too offended when an American comedian who was on the show a few months back spent half his time telling jokes about his experience with testicular cancer! So yeah, you kind of fail.
Reminds me of those full frontal sketches were the Network logo would pop up and the voiceover would apologise for something, then ramble on about all the other things that are wrong with their network!
I’d like to tell Mikey Robins a bunch of cancer jokes.
Cause, you know, I think cancer’s friggin hilarious. He might not see it that way though. But it’s humour though, right? If I don’t offend you Mikey, I must be doing something wrong, right?
It all boils down to sematics, I guess…..
As a parent of two autistic children, I did roll my eyes at the comment, and at the backlash that I knew was coming. I have much bigger things to worry about than a poorly thought through comment by a not very funny comedian (going by last night’s show), and I thought Paul handled it well.
Cutting out Mikey Robbins would be a better option.
M’eh! I’ve known autistics and wasn’t in the least offended.
“Autism humour” is only accepted when they use the codeword: “Rain Man”
Didn’t see it… but again – politically correctness is still driving me insane.
While I can understand families who have autistic children probably would not find this funny, I would think the general populace would. Where do we draw the line with afflictions – no more fat jokes?
I’m with Jack – they should have edited it out, along with another half hour. GNW has lost a lot of humour since it extended to 90 minutes.
What surprises me is how the Catholics weren’t offended…they are the prime target for GNW every week…
Maybe they should have edited it out. And a lot more of the show, so it’s back down to 60 minute episodes. I’d probably watch it again then.
We should ditch all shows with humour – in fact all shows that have a chance of slightly offending ANYONE
Hmmm… that means there would be NOTHING on TV
We live in a piss-weak country now. How can people get so ridiculously offended at such trivial things?
Get. Life. Now
Lol, here we go again. I’m so sick of having to listen to all the special interest groups whining about how THEIR particular cause is more important than anything else in the world, including freedom of speech. This sort of attitude is so self centered that it sickens me, but I’m sure the people who have the most to be pissed off over are those whose lives have been effected by autism, but who also happen to have a sense of humour!
I think Ten should apologise for GNW in general. It was once a great show to watch and featured some very funny people (it’s the ABC days I’m referring to).
It’s so hard to know what’s acceptable in humour these days. Context seems to matter, even though that’s difficult to pin down as well.
Plus as time goes on, more and more boundaries are being tested by new comedians, and buttons will be pushed that haven’t been before.
If I’m offended by a joke, I tend to keep quiet and just not laugh, rather than rant about it.
You know when you’re doing a good job in comedy when someone ends up offended!
If they didn’t bend the rules then life would be pretty bland IMO.
that was hilarious
I don’t watch GNW but clearly this comment was only intended as a joke with no malicious intent. So bang another nail in the coffin of humour. Soon people won’t be able to talk about anything because someone will be offended.
I love GNW and if you watch it you know somone is going to get hurt by a quick sharp quip and sometimes it may be You that cops it. As a gay man I just shake my head and laugh when GNW points the bone at my life style (it’s ok, don’t stress, I am part indigenous too). GNW is fabulous and I am sure they haven’t missed anyone yet with their wonderful p**s take irreverance.
It’s called humour.
I agree with one of the statements there. Obviously the fact that TEN decided to keep that part in there and not edit it must mean they thought it was fine. They should have edited it out.