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Oops: “Best of 2021”

In 2021 there were excited sports stars, tongue tied presenters and even reporters copping bird poo.

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Another year, another batch of Live TV stuff-ups, errors and technical mayhem.

Here’s some of 2021’s worst best…

Live to Air bungles:

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown won our first ever gold in the women’s 100m backstroke and her excitement could not be contained. Who can blame her? (Language!)

Kayo Sports apologised after Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds criticised cricketer Marnus Labuschagne for his eccentric mannerisms at the crease, apparently unaware the cameras were recording.

Seven’s Peter Mitchell didn’t realise he was back on air when he grabbed a water bottle. “Just having a drink of water,” he added after the story.

Seven had one job on the night Brisbane was announced as host of the 2032 Olympic Games. A shame they missed the audio.

Even when he mucks up on air, you can’t help but still love ABC’s Tony Armstrong.

Technical glitches & TV News:

ABC apologised after footage of wild scenes supposedly at Kabul Airport incorrectly included vision of people running into the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019. ‘Cos all stampedes look the same.

ABC News viewers were met with what appeared to be part of a technical rehearsal when The World went to air.

ABC News presenter Beverley O’Connor made a slip of the tongue when preparing to cross to a Live press conference with Victorian Premier Dan Andrews.

The verdict for US policeman Derek Chauvin, charged with murder and manslaughter of George Floyd, was a pretty big news deal. While he was found guilty on all 3 counts an ABC News strap briefly noted “not guilty of unintentional murder.”

Nine News Sydney weather presenter Natalia Cooper was getting ahead of herself when she flagged  he last day of winter as August 24, seven days before it was due.

What is it with Nine News and birds in Melbourne? Reid Butler copped this…

“We have been experiencing some technical issues… stick around, anything can happen,” Nine’s Cameron Williams told Sydney viewers. His explanation followed several stories from Nine News Melbourne screening in the Sydney market, with Peter Hitchener unexpectedly popping up in the middle of a Peter Overton-led bulletin.

The Project producers apologised after a gag was made when the mother of a deceased soldier apparently gave PM Scott Morrison “the cold shoulder” at a function. She later pointed out she was visually impaired.

Mistaken identity:

ABC’s Australia Talks  threw in a joke about Nazeem Hussain being “100% not Waleed Aly” but they needn’t have bothered – TV guides did just that anyway. Print editions by News Corp., Nine and TV Week guides incorrectly listed Waleed Aly as co-hosting with Annabel Crabb.

For the record Basketball champion Patty Mills and swimming star Cate Campbell carried the flag in Tokyo.

ABC’s pre-recorded special Australia Talks threw in a joke about Nazeem Hussain being “100% not Waleed Aly” but they needn’t have bothered. TV guides did just that anyway. Print editions by News Corp., Nine and TV Week guides incorrectly listed Waleed Aly as co-hosting with Annabel Crabb.

Sunrise made an unfortunate typo with details of a memorial for legendary fashion designer Carla Zampatti.

ABC News in filing on the death of Prince Philip managed to confuse Kevin Rudd for Tony Abbott.

Seven got a tad confused about which teams were up for the AFL Grand Final, by throwing in an NRL team.

And also….

7mate’s new comedy Australia’s Sexiest Tradie created, written and directed by Rick Donald, was  inadvertently titled in a Seven press release as Australia’s “Sexist” Tradie.

Elsewhere, BritBox customers in Australia and the USA were accidentally billed an eye-watering $757 instead of $6.99 before the streamer apologised and refunded customers.

SBS Instagram account was hacked seemingly by a Vikings fan, who unleashed Nordic havoc for a short time.

You don’t even need to speak Icelandic to see what’s going on with this quiz show contestant…

3 Responses

  1. Another great one during the year was the ABC reporter in Melbourne doing a live cross outside Parliament about the Victorian budget in the 7 pm bulletin and a mobile billboard truck appeared in the background offering free entry into an adult establishment that night.

  2. A great bodge up was Paramount+’s accidental launch billing at $6.95/year via the Apple store. Thanks to excellent new seasons of Dexter and Star Trek Discovery, it’s been the best bargain I’ve had in years!

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