Report: Mark Humphries to add satire to Seven News
In one of the year's more unexpected announcements, Seven News plans to tickle its funny bone.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Former 7:30 satirist Mark Humphries is reportedly joining Seven News for a weekly spot on the 6pm Sydney bulletin.
In one of the year’s more unexpected announcements, The Australian reports Humphries was spotted at Seven’s Eveleigh studios with new News boss Anthony De Ceglie.
Whilst current affair shows such as 7:30 and A Current Affair have featured weekly comedy, it’s not common ground for news bulletins. Unless you count late night bulletins with Clive Robertson or Graham Kennedy (did Seven float that idea at all?).
But do viewers want satire in news bulletins? And if so how much editorial freedom will the often-loose Humphries have to mock advertisers and network interests should they make the news (as they have of late)?
Tread cautiously. This is a bold experiment and Humphries is understood to be surprised and excited by the invitation.
It begs the questions… what’s next?
I’m as shocked as you are. pic.twitter.com/1W8DEN9NAW
— Mark Humphries (@markhumphries) June 16, 2024
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- Tagged with 7:30, Seven News
14 Responses
Channel 7 is the Satire!! What a complete joke they Seriously are.!
Paul Barry has some great material here for Media Watch before he leaves.
Seven news is already satire
news.com.au/entertainment/tv/viewers-label-seven-dreadful-after-wrong-name-is-displayed-to-mark-stars-death/news-story/317d85b3fcb22f35457ae87ad884a49f
Take it away, Elliot Rhodes.
“He’s done it again!” – Frontline.
Has someone at 7 been watching “Network”? Given their recent history in Sydney of payments as “rent” (Who is picking up the owner’s $13,000 claim for property damage?), News management and staff departures. I guess it is really hard to fill 15 minutes of sport, 20 minutes of commercials & promos, 4 minutes of weather, and, um, 21 minutes of “news” each night. Not much different to the old half-hours in times past. 6 minutes of commercials, no promos, 4 minutes of sport, 2 minutes of weather and 18 minutes of news. Circa 1979 news rundown. An extra 30 minutes to present an extra 3 minutes of “news”. Now, with 3 minutes of ‘satire’ we’re back to 18 minutes of “news”. Just like in the old half-hour days.
And here I was thinking 7 news was satire.
I’m also old enough to remember Clive Robertson embedding a form of comedy into late news many years ago. It was great viewing.
It was called “The World Tonight” and was presented in a cynical tone. Similarly “Tonight Live” with Steve Vizard was a ‘tonight’ show with News by Jennifer Keyte. Neither pretended to be a ‘news’ program. The news studio sets these days are big enough to stage a Broadway performance with dancing girls. Oh no, don’t give them ideas.
Newsworld on 7 then Robbo’s World Tonight on 9.
Graham Kennedy also did 11am on 7.
Just checking what the date is! I had thought it was one of your better 1st April Exclusives
Maybe they’re hoping to make it into The Cheap Seats.
If I’ve learnt nothing else from the comment’s sections of the Betoota Advocate’s socials, it’s that the masses aren’t very good at distinguishing satire from real news…..
I can’t say that I blame them given that “reality” nowadays is often so much more absurd than what even the most brilliant of satirists could come up with.