Hamster joke causing ABC grief
The ABC has launched an investigation into The Hamster Decides following a photoshopped image of Chris Kenny.
- Published by David Knox
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The ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs division has launched an investigation into the final episode of The Hamster Decides following complaints about a photoshopped image of SKY News presenter and News Corp journalist Chris Kenny.
The image appeared after Kenny suggested the incoming government should review funding to the ABC.
Andrew Hansen weighed in satirically noting, “I agree. They’ve just got to cut ABC funding. I mean this, this is a network that broadcasts images of Chris Kenny strangling a dog while having sex with it.”
But there is now media speculation about whether the segment was adequately reviewed by ABC editorial policy and should have been referred to a more senior level of management.
It was after the fallout of the Chaser team’s “Make a Realistic Wish” sketch in 2009 that ABC management deemed questionable material should be upwardly-reviewed before broadcast.
Last week Media Watch’s Paul Barry asked, “So why did the ABC let it go to air?
“And why did they not refer it up the management chain?”
Jennifer Collins, Head of Entertainment told Media Watch, “While strong in nature, the segment was consistent with the humour from the Chaser Team and in line with the target audience of The Hamster Decides. The graphic was clearly fake and absurd.”
An ABC spokesperson told The Australian, “Chaser programs have long been known for their combination of stunts, satire and at times absurdist humour.
“The cartoon was shown within the context of an MA-rated, adult satirical comedy.”
On SKY News, an outraged Kenny recently said: “My sister and her children, they saw it, and my kids now when they want to Google my name, they’ll see it in the future.”
But last week his son Liam Kenny sided with The Chaser in a blog post.
“Chris Kenny is my dad. On one of the Sky News political analysis programs he hosts, he has replied to the Chaser joke, lamenting that if his children were ever to Google his name in the future, this is the kind of filth we would stumble across,” he wrote.
“Heaven forbid.”
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9 Responses
How many Mums,Dads,Brothers,Sisters,Sons and Daughters has Chris Kenny upset over his lies and propaganda that is told on his show targeting Labor Politicians? Does Chris Kenny care if he is hurting the politicians family through his actions? Hell No! Will Chris Kenny now stop spreading right wing propaganda after the chasers episode? ( I think we all know the answer to that one) So why should we care about Chris Kenny and how he feels?
Good to hear. This wasn’t humour or satire, it was an attack on somebody because a/ they are conservative, and b/ they suggested that ABC funding be cut. It has only strengthened the resolve of many to have the ABC privatised and shifted off free-to-air and onto Foxtel. Let’s hope this incident causes the total shutdown of the ABC’s comedy unit and no more programs by The Chaser. Times have changed. While a left wing government was prepared to fund and tolerate this garbage, the adults are running the country now and we demand quality and high standards.
@jesicka, I agree. The sketch was partly to point out the puerile behaviour of News Ltd doing just that kind of thing.
@csh – actually several people have pointed out that irony, as MW so pointedly said on Monday night, Ms. Hanson-Young has won the right to sue for a similar photo-shopping offense. So I would hope that whatever “punishments” are inflicted on the Chaser Team are put to News Ltd as well. But of course, this will not happen as News does not have as high standards as the ABC does.
News Ltd. (as far as I know) have not complained – it is only Kenny himself. But yes, the whole episode is hypocritical.
From both sides, I might add 🙁
Yes, it was not a good skit, but please… Pfft, precious petals.
FFS. Why, in the commentary around this skit, is no one pointing out the devastating irony of News Ltd complaining about offensive photo shopping?!? They photoshopped Rudd as a Nazi!
I think they missed the point of the sketch.
Oh, people need to lighten up. They are always coming down on the Chasers over something. Everyone should know what their humour is by now.
Good grief, somebody needs to harden up.
AFAIK, the first time I heard a complaint about it was Paul Barry on Mediawatch the following Monday.
Yes, it probably wasn’t the best sketch to do, but the picture was so obviously photoshopped that a reasonable person watching Hamster would know it is not real.
I hope the investigation doesn’t show anything wrong. Would hate to see tv that pushes the boundries being banned.