ABC pulls Chaser’s dying kids sketch from tonight’s repeat

Comments

Joe
4 Jun 09
1:32 pm



I saw episode one and thought they went past social commentary and have recently descended into schoolboy inanities.

They were once quite clever but are now in grave danger of sliding into self parody and shock tactics, instead of the clever and substantial satire they once excelled at.

Anyone can wield a brickbat, it takes skill to wield a scalpel. Let’s hope they can return to their former clever, biting and edgy satire.

Notfunny@gov.gov
4 Jun 09
2:24 pm



inappropriate and disgusting would be one way of relating to this “sketch”. Backwards, idiotic and socially irresponsible could be another way. To think that our taxes pay for this crap called ABC is an insult

Graeme Bowman
4 Jun 09
2:26 pm



Unbelievable comment: ‘The ABC and The Chaser did not intend to hurt those who have been affected by the terminal illness of a child.’ Do they think we came down in the last shower? They knew damn well that it would hurt – they can’t be that out of touch with normal human sensibilities.

As a Corporate Comedian and Hoax Speaker, I think of so many issues and concepts that I could explore, but know that doing so in front of a blue chip client’s audience of VIP customers would soon have me lining up at CentreLink.

At the same time, I like to get close to the edge myself, but in a way that doesn’t get me pulled off stage. For example, if you listen to the Terrorism audio clip from the ‘Stuck in the Middle’ act on my website, you’ll hear a mocking of the 72 Virgins belief. It’s something people are happy to laugh about, but many other ‘terrorism’ topics would be no go areas, especially in a corporate environment.

It’ll be interesting to see how many corporate gigs the Chasers get in the coming months!

Christian
4 Jun 09
4:40 pm



A satirist once said that every single person has a right to be made fun off. This includes students, arabs, politicians, handicapped and old people, and terminally ill children — really, no one should be excluded. Life is not fair, but try to take it not too seriously…

My full endorsement for the chasers to support this right!

veronica
4 Jun 09
6:20 pm



In 2 weeks,it will be the anniversary of my daughters death from Ewings Sarcoma,a bone cancer which involves excrutiating pain and radical treatment.Debbie fought this thing for five years.She made it to her 15th birthday,just.
Debbie and I saw many gorgeous kids die before our eyes in the course of her treatment.
For those people to exhibit their tasteless attempt at “entertainment” by hurting parents like me and kids like Debbie…..havent we been through enough? We have to live the rest of our lives as best we can without our kids…thanks for making it just that little bit harder.

Steve
4 Jun 09
6:44 pm



Here Here Christian!

Graeme this is why you are a “Corporate Comedian” as you are afraid to push over the line and worry about your next gig or tv show.

Veronica ,With respect, I never heard them mention any names so it was not directed at you personally. Not everything we see, hear or read is directed to us personally.

It’s simple, if you are likely to be offended by this style of comedy don’t watch!

We always have the right to not watch.

Anyway a lot of today’s children do believe that they can have anything they want or achieve anything they set their minds too as their parents have been telling them how talented etc they are since they could walk. Only have to witness some of the tantrums they pull when finally told they are just not good enough by someone honest enough!

merilee
4 Jun 09
9:15 pm



We turned off the first week when they referred to the woman who had falsely claimed to have seen a disturbance (Clare and the so-called ChkChkBoom comment) as a “slut”. Turned on again this week but turned off when they made a derogatory comment about Magda Subzanski? and an elephant. It is no use asking how low can they go, because they already seem hellbent on finding out themselves. Not to say that ABC viewers have to follow suit. The pathetic so-called “apology” on this evening’s news (If anyone was offended………!!!) is but a further indication not only of a group of people bereft of any morals, but an organisation which appears to think it can give the finger to its viewers. The comments of Mark Scott show how low the ABC has sunk under his term of office. The sooner both he and the Chasers are turfed out the better.

Mdawg
4 Jun 09
11:07 pm



I support the Chasers in nearly all the things they make fun of and do but sick, especially dying kids aren’t there to be made fun of, even if they make silly wishes, they are just kids and they dont know any better, those wishes keep their spirits alive…

Nick M
5 Jun 09
3:40 am



Did nobody ever see the similar scene in season 2 of The Extra’s (the ep with De Niro) where they pretty much do the same thing here? Thats aired many times on the ABC but yet the Chaser seems to be the one that took it far???

Sorry Tracy Grimshaw your ACA Tears have no effect on me, your speaking on behalf of CH9 to the Chaser for giving the Origin a run for its Ratings is what you were all about on Thursday night.

Mr T
5 Jun 09
9:02 am



There is one overriding criterion in judging comedy: Is it funny?
If you’re in the comedy business you can say whatever you like, so long as it is funny.
If your only intention is to cause offence, then you are probably not a comedian but perhaps just a bigot.
Once we start censoring comedy we kill it. It is up to the audience to infer offence. There is no topic that can’t be the subject of comedy.

Joe
5 Jun 09
10:46 am



replies:
Christian: I can see how they wanted to make fun of the syrupy charity promos. I hate them too. but they missed their target. I agree anyone can be the target of satire, but not everyone can be that target of ridicule masquerading as comedy.I can see their intentions, but their results fell wide of the mark, and I don’t believe their apologies are sincere.

Poking fun at the weak and suffering is simply cruel, especially when there is no shortage of others deserving to be satirised: politicians, celebs, attention-seekers, etc. Satire is great when exposing the strong and powerful, it’s not there to make fun of terminally ill children, nor for that matter, races who suffered horrible cruelty, as shown in episode 1.

Steve: that “if you don’t like it turn it off” attitude is facile and one-dimensional. You support their free speech to say what they like but not mine to say I was disturbed and offended by what they said? Sounds hypocritical to me. I DO like the chasers. but I thought that piece was a bad one and I have a right to say it. It’s not about censorship (I don’t like it, I never proposed censoring it, I think it was offensive and am allowed to say so, this is a free country, right?) but taking responsibility for what was said.

And as for comparing it to other examples, I bet if you looked closely the scene from the Extras you mentioned, NIck, it was poking fun at the characters’ inappropriate behaviour, not making fun of the weak and ill.

LM
5 Jun 09
10:55 am



“You should never assume contempt for that which it is not very manifest that you have it in your power to possess, nor does a wit ever make a more contemptible figure than when, in attempting satire, he shows that he does not understand that which he would make the subject of his ridicule.”

Lord Melbourne

Phil Porter
5 Jun 09
12:02 pm



It’s not the funniest thing they’ve ever done, but you need to understand they ARE NOT laughing at the expense of sick kids. It’s a joke about the foundation itself. Just like the Eulegy song, the Bulldogs incident and everything involving the Sheik, the media has pounced in the name of “decency.” Get the fuck over it. Imagine how boring the world would be if Australians actually had the tight values that the media says we do. This wouldent even be a big deal if the media hadnt touched it.

paul
5 Jun 09
3:05 pm



i was amazed to see and hear wat the chase was doing in the name of comedy .wednesdays make a relastic wish sketch went beyond all compassionate boundaries.And the chaser should be axed and the so called comediansshould be Fired AND BAND FROM BEING ON TELEVISON EVER AGAIN.AND FOR CHRIS MASTERS A RECONISIED ABC REPORTER TO DEFEND THESE ANIMALS WAKE UP CHRIS AND SMELL THE CRAP YOU ARE SHOVELING.

Bec
5 Jun 09
5:20 pm



I think the point is to draw out the things that people REALLY say and think. The satire is in your own shock and disbelief that YOU have actually thought these things but would NEVER say them. The Chaser may be full of stunts… but generally these stunts serve to highlight our own bigotry. Makes you uneasy seeing yourself so clearly huh?

Anonymous
5 Jun 09
10:22 pm



Steve sounds like you should get over the fact that your friends had better toys than you did when you were younger. If you had a sick child I’d be interested in how you might feel about it all

cass
6 Jun 09
2:35 am



that is the most insulting bullshit i have ever seen how would you feel if u had a child that was ill or terminal grow a brain and think of others

Christian
6 Jun 09
9:25 am



Hello again…

just a quick search on the term “satire” — Wikipedia gives an indication of its meaning.

“In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with the intent to bring about improvement.”

You can read more under: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire

I see some benefits of the chaser’s sketch:
- The make-a-wish-foundation will receive a big boost as a result of this sketch.
- If not taken too seriously, it draws attention to some bizarre aspects of sick children’s wishes (such as how realistic and appropriate they are) .
- more…?

Also, under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire,
read the section “Misconception of satire”. Here it says:
“….it can be profoundly disturbing – because it is essentially ironic or sarcastic.”
“…responses to satire include revulsion (accusations of poor taste, or that “it’s just not funny” for instance)…”

Satire has a long history and has been exercised in many culture, and can lead to strong responses. It seems that followers of religion and dictatorial regimes are particularly uneasy with satire.

Carl
8 Jun 09
8:22 am



I’m disappointed the skit got pulled- the Chaser should be commended for it and it shows they are still a relevant force in the satire field. The skit challenges the concept of the make a wish charity- people baulk at this because its politically incorrect to do so then take the moral high ground and hide behind dying kids as their shield rather than respond to the criticism of the charity. Questions should be raised as to whether the money spent on dying last wishes could be better spent- arguably it could. The reality is there is a scarcity of resources which can be given to research for diseases/ starving children or other needy causes. The dying last wish is nice but the money could be better spent. More than anything dying kids need the love and support of family and friends, not a trip to Disneyland or to see Zac Effron.
Its incredible hypocrisy for a TV and media industry which glorifies real life underworld crimes with real victims to complain about the moral standards of the chaser skit.

mumbrella
8 Jun 09
3:59 pm



Hi Carl,

Thanks for your comment. I like your argument. I wish there was a wider, more serious point behind the satire. But there wasn’t – even The Chaser hasn’t tried to argue that they were trying to trigger a serious debate about the point you make.

Unfortunately, it was just a bad joke.

Cheers,

Tim – Mumbrella

Joe
9 Jun 09
7:34 am



Carl
Fair point, but when people know that is what their money is going to, what’s the problem? No tax income spent and they spent the money how they chose to. There are plenty of ways people choose to waste their money, and it is their business. No doubt we’ve all wasted a few dollars on ourselves (why does ANYONE want to go to Disneyland anyway, FFS?) and I don’t see why we should be holier-than-thou about it.

But using terminally ill children for a laugh while, as Tim said, they weren’t even trying to make a point or trigger debate, seems exploitative to me.

The real humour is that they have don the opposite to their goal. Instead of exposing “unrealistic” wishes, they boosted the MAWF coffers with free publicity and public discussion, mostly favourable for the foundation.

So the irony is, (just to show the satire was a failure) the debate overall supported the foundation and it received a funding boost, while the satirists were generally disliked and occasionally supported under the guise of censorship (which was a false argument in the first place).

Kylie
10 Jun 09
11:28 am



I can see that people don’t like their humour, and that it is offensive and you have a right to say so. As do others have a right to say it is not offensive to them.
There are numerous shows on TV that are offensive to different people. I love Chasers, South Park and Drawn Together, my partner hates them. So be it, I don’t watch it when his around, and he doesn’t try to stop me watching it. ABC axed The Glass House because it was deemed to have a political agenda, yet so many other shows also have political agenda and bias. We can not meet everyones tastes and we can not only focus on one style of entertainment… this is not the country we live or the country I would like to live. People who enjoy these shows are not stupid or insensitive, I personal work in the welfare industry and care for people greatly. But in the privacy of my home I can enjoy a particular humour that keeps me balanced.

Nicole
14 Jun 09
10:42 am



if it offends, dont watch! easy as that, it is well known that the show is controversial so get over it. we should feel privileged that there are people out there who have creative minds, think outside of the box and actually put real life situations in the spotlight. more people need to voice their opinions, we are all just becoming prisoners to the government, its absolutely ridiculous. so stop complaining and maybe actually look at the other angles of the story. you’ll let them pretend to sell rooms of the royal family, but as soon as it hits close to home and our “poor children” its unacceptable??

i just believe there are so many more issues that you should be concentrating and putting your effort into that ACTUALLY EFFECT YOU!
Chasers is hilarious, they should not be punished for making people laugh.

Joe
14 Jun 09
11:13 am



Stay on topic. No-one is suggesting that the Chasers should be punished for making people laugh. Some of us are saying it wasn’t funny and The Chasers are nowhere near as clever as they used to be.

And none of us are even saying they should be “punished”. We are expressing our opinion that it wasn’t funny (as their other stuff in the past occasionally was) and/or that it was offensive to us, in a way that other material they present was not offensive.

As per your example, I think it is absolutely permissible to find one skit funny and not the other, yes, and I don’t find that unusual. Sounds pretty normal to do so, yes.

Are you saying that I am not allowed to watch the Chasers if their material on occasion offends or lacks humour? I can take it, really, it didn’t make me kill myself or kick the dog. In your world, everything they do is gold and if I dislike one skit, I am not permitted to see any others? Whaaaa?

Stop seeing the world in black and white, Nicole. It’s more subtle and nuanced than you make out.

John Teeter
24 Jun 09
3:18 am



How disgusting, beyond pathetic, wholly reprehensible and altogether devoid of any humanity – propriety – ethics – morals can you get? I’ll tell you………..

Beyond the sickening “sketch”……………, read the “apology” as per the two single-helix ‘female dogs’ (do the math); Madames Dalton and Morrow.

With atavists such as these – and their cronies at the healm, poisoning your mind, be assured that life has gone to hell.

Rhetorical question…….. Where have we gone as a decent society when crap like this and those responible is allowed to exist, RESPECTIVELY?
John Teeter USA

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