GrodsCorp

End of an era

Thursday 7 February 2008, 9:45 pm

The Editor

Categories: Media

Tags: ACurrentAffair, JohnSafran, journalism, MikeMunro, RayMartin

After three decades at the network Ray Martin has quit Channel Nine.

Despite Martin’s apparent goodwill, his departure comes as a black cloud hangs over the Sunday program, which he was to host when it returns this Sunday morning.

Sources say Martin has clashed with network bosses over changes to the Sunday format in the last two weeks, which Martin felt would “gut” the 25 year old program of its journalistic gravitas.

The “gravitas” of which Martin speaks has been a hallmark of his contribution to Australian journalism over the past 39 years. How could any self-respecting Australian forget the kind of hard-hitting investigative reports, arse-licking John Howard “interviews”, Commonwealth Games commentary, and celebrity pap that Martin used to bring us on A Current Affair during his six years hosting the program?

And of course there’s the legendary John Safran confrontation after Martin’s filthy ethics-neutral journalistic tactics were turned back on him.

No matter how bad Martin’s journalism was it was never as bad as his fashion sense.

Ray Martin

Blue, pink and yellow: together at last

And no matter how bad Martin’s fashion sense was it was never as bad as Mike Munro’s.

Mike Munro

For the love of God, are they Tasmanian tigers?

Ray Martin: good fucking riddance.

14 Comments

Mikey (Thursday 7 February 2008, 10:50 pm) #

Any news on whether the hair followed suit?
Magic Bellybutton (Thursday 7 February 2008, 10:58 pm) #

The problem now is that you could turn on any television channel and Mr Gappy could be there.

Why? What did we ever do to deserve that?
John Surname (Thursday 7 February 2008, 10:58 pm) #

He seems to crave journalistic credibility these days. How late he’s realised that hosting Carols By Candlelight won’t win him a Walkley Award.

Incidentally, I read an interview recently in which said he agreed with most of the views of John Pilger. Am I the only one surprised by this?
Bruce (Friday 8 February 2008, 1:01 am) #

Incidentally, I read an interview recently in which said he agreed with most of the views of John Pilger. Am I the only one surprised by this?

Any possible surprise is being drowned out by the echoing of two words in my head; who cares?
Damian (Friday 8 February 2008, 7:03 am) #

Ray Martin is one of the reasons I don’t own a TV. Maybe I can get one now - although I do like the “we don’t have a telly so I’d better watch the footy down the pub” aspect.

I’m already looking forward to the next GrodsCast.

Ray Martin: Fuck you!
The Editor (Friday 8 February 2008, 7:09 am) #

I was actually going to write that in the post but thought I should save it for John.
Damian (Friday 8 February 2008, 7:15 am) #

Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t steal his thunder. It’s like Lisa Simpson saying “Aye carumba”. Can you edit that out for me?
Wah (Friday 8 February 2008, 7:52 am) #

I wonder if Ray will go grovelling back to the ABC. I don’t know what he could host though, apart from maybe Friday night presenter of 7.30 Report and Lateline - though the ABC seems adamant that sheilas do this.

Maybe he can be The Stig in the Aussie version of Top Gear - “some say his hair survived the British nuclear testing at Woomera, and is so dense, it has stealth properties.”
The Editor (Friday 8 February 2008, 8:24 am) #

I reckon he’s a shoe-in for the next season of SBS’s shit-com* Marx And Venus.

* Thanks, Ant.
Steve D (Friday 8 February 2008, 9:57 am) #

The Herald Sun story had this quote (taken completely out of context by me, can I be a columnist now?):

it doesn’t hurt to jump off the edge of a carport

Oh please please please…
Wah (Friday 8 February 2008, 12:17 pm) #

It’s probably safe to jump off a carport if you have your own permanent crash helmet on your head.

He’s making an anology about the lessons chilsren learn through experience. The headline, upon consulting child safety campaigners should have been - Parent fury as TV hack encourages child injury, death
Bridgit Gread (Friday 8 February 2008, 12:57 pm) #

The story about Ray lining up with Pilger are not surprising - I know a couple of people who have worked with the Leggo-haired one, and they found him more radical and anti-establishment than his TV persona suggests. The problem with Ray was that his principles were never as important as his bank account, so while working at the ABC or SBS might have seemed idyllic, they never paid enough. Plus I suspect he liked being the darling of the blue-rinse set and schmoozing with Tom Cruise and Michael Crawford.
krypto (Friday 8 February 2008, 1:15 pm) #

you’ll forgive me I’m sure Bridg if it takes more than rumours of Ray Martin’s alleged integrity to convince me he’s anything more than a mouthpiece for the unthinking void.
I guess now that the shackles of conformity that commercial TV represent are off he has the opportunity to prove me wrong.
silpheed (Friday 8 February 2008, 5:56 pm) #

hahahahhaaha