BERNICE TWISP | Television | Contact
As the public broadcaster continues to sink deeper and deeper down the bathtub whirlpool of budget cut after budget cut, a number of the station’s key media personalities have learned their positions aren’t as concrete as they first thought.
Popular non-scripted-light-infotainment programme, The Checkout, was canned by the ABC this week after what the production head described as being ‘part of the tightening budget’ culture now sweeping through 700 Harris street like a grass fire.
Which has prompted Wil Anderson, host of The Gruen Transfer, to check jobseeker website Seek.com.au to see if there are any other TV show host jobs going at the moment.
“It was neck-a-neck between us and The Checkout and as much as it pains me to say, I’m glad it wasn’t us,” said Anderson.
The barrel-chested Aquarius took time out of his busy morning of walming his feet next to a space heater to speak candidly to The Advocate about the future of his seemingly untenable show.
“Like The Checkout did, we like to hold a mirror up to the filthy advertising and consumer industries. Because of that, I think we could be in danger,”
“We might need to pad it out by burning an effigy of Bill Shorten at the end of each show. Maybe we might put that photo of Kim Beazley meeting Obama after his double ACL injury so everyone can have a good laugh? I don’t know what our overlords want.”
The Advocate reached out to the ABC for comment but was told one would be provided in 68-73 working days when this whole thing has blown over.
More to come.
