Heavy interest in Kapalos’ on-screen spill freeze
Mumbrella had the third biggest day of traffic in its history yesterday, driven by Helen Kapalos’ Today Tonight on-air disaster, which has since gone global.
According to Mumbrella’s internal analytics, Mumbrella had 33,938 visitors on Thursday. This number has only been topped twice – on November 10, 2009 when we had 34,570 visitors and on October 14, 2011 when an item went viral in the US, leading to 72,137 visitors.
As Mumbrella reported, Kapalalos spent 90 seconds on screen with no item to cross to as the show broke down during a segue from coverage of the Labor leadership battle to an item about radical muslims.
Seven insiders are blaming the debacle on a communications problem with Kapalos’ earpiece.
Today’s Daily Telegraph features the embarrassing moment on its front page, while it has also gone international with British outlet the Daily Mail labelling it “excruciating” and the Daily Star “cringeworthy”.
The moment came at a bad time for Today Tonight, with questions being asked about whether Seven should extend it’s 6pm news bulletin to an hour and drop the show.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large. He returned to Mumbrella as Publisher in January 2025
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Seriously – was it really that bad? I think she handled it very well. I can’t believe this would make international news.
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Yes but did he ever become a radical?
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It sounds to me like someone is trying to make this bigger than it is.
The internet and some people’s personal tape collections are full of examples of gremlins in the system.
I understand that it is some peoples interest to continue the issue, but it is really yesterday’s news…really!
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it’s not that bad… don’t know what all the fuss is about.
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Such a professional! She doesn’t even bat an eyelid, just keeps trying to work around the mistake
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She seems good humoured and normal. What’s the problem?
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It gave the impression that unless it’s on auto cue she has nothing to say. That head nod and practiced stare to story/commercial indicate such a possibility. Shades of Frontline.
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Today Tonight, it could not have happened to a worse show.I think it was karma.
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