Dr Mumbo

‘It’s a weird year when Kyle Sandilands is less offensive than Sonia Kruger’

And so to the Melbourne Convention Centre and Saturday night’s star studded night of nights for the radio industry, the ACRAs.

The hosts for evening – Chasers Chris Taylor and Andrew Hanson were in typically mischevious form.

Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor stirred the pot at the ACRAS 2016

Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor stirred the pot at the ACRAS 2016

Pointing out how much “better behaved” radio stars had been compared to TV stars this year Hanson said:

It’s a weird year when Kyle Sandilands behaves more morally than Tara Brown, and it’s a really weird year when Kyle Sandilands speaks less offensively than Sonia Kruger.”

Chris Taylor chimed in: “2016 has been a great year for equality – Eddie McGuire offended both blacks and women equally – the Donald Trump of Australian radio.”

Noting the “Caroline Wilson saga” he added: “Yes, on the one hand you could say what he said was misogynistic, but on the other hand it was the first time TripleM has even acknowledged the existence of a woman in a decade.”

Former Sydney talkback station turned “lifestyle” destination 2UE also got a serve.

“2UE has a new format, going from news sport and ads, to ads, ads and ads.

“There’s something nostalgic about listening to 2UE and hearing ads disguised as content, it reminds me of the days when Alan Jones and John Laws used to work there.”

Despite a cameo appearance from singer Ellie Goulding – one so brief she actually had to run off stage in the middle of the category to go and play her Melbourne gig – the most talked about presenter was Merrick Watts.

Merrick Watts also picked up an award for Best Documentary

Merrick Watts also picked up an award for Best Documentary

The TripleM drive host wasted no time in calling out Chris Taylor on the TripleM gags, given he’s a co-host of his show, jibing he would soon be referred to as an “ex-TripleM presenter”.

But his most controversial moment was while he was presenting in the category celebrating station promotions which he described as “giving shit to bogans”, describing the Country winner as winning the award for “Best Burnout in a car park while smoking meth”.

Hit Network drive duo Hamish and Andy also came to the party with a few jibes aimed at rivals for Best On-Air Team and KiisFM Sydney breakfast hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, who were notably absent from the evening.

Hamish & Andy threw shade at Kyle and Jackie O

Hamish & Andy threw shade at Kyle and Jackie O

The duo introduced themselves as the “hosts of Brisbane’s number two drive show – FM, not overall”.

“It’s totally understandable Kyle and Jackie O can’t be here as the awards are not in LA,” quipped Hamish.

In a skit playing on the idea Kyle had been texting them through the night, asking who had won the Best Promotion and the award for engineering excellence, Blake read one ‘text’ asking if the pair could send him a selfie with Southern Cross Austereo boss Grant Blackley, “I’ve always had such a lot of respect for upper management”.

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