grodscorp@grods.comDinosaur extinction imminent
 | Posted by Bridgit Gread on Tuesday 5 August 2008, 12:40 am Categories: AFL, Bogans, Politics, Television Tags: Tags: FootyShow, PaulaWriedt, SamNewman, sexism, suicide |
Together, let us sit upon the ground, sing sad songs and chronicle the end of John ‘Sam’ Newman’s television career:
Thursday - Newman sees footage of Tasmanian tourism minister Paula Wriedt, finds her attractive and expresses a desire to “come on her”. He is pulled into line and castigated by James Brayshaw, who Newman tells to “shut up”. He writes off the incident as a misinterpretation.
Friday - Nine defends Newman for the umpteenth time. The producer of The Footy Show suggests he’s done “nothing wrong”, and that Newman is “horrified” his comments might have been taken in a sexual context. Despite apparently having nothing to apologise for, Newman ‘phones Wriedt to apologise.
Saturday - Female MPs predictably call for Newman’s removal from the show. Wriedt’s father admits that she was upset by the incident.
Monday - Wriedt attempts to take her own life and is rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Now, nobody in their right mind would suggest that ‘Sam’ Newman is directly responsible for Wriedt’s suicide attempt. Reports suggest that Wriedt had many more pressing issues in her life than a single smutty remark: a second marriage breakdown, separation from her two children, the burden of being a state minister, a failed bid for the deputy leadership and declining voter support. But it cannot have helped. The crass comment drew unwanted media attention to Wriedt at what was obviously a difficult time in her personal and professional life. Newman was not aware of Wriedt’s personal situation but that’s precisely why more respectful and circumspect commentary or ‘comedy’ is necessary.
This could be the last straw for Nine, which has ridden with Newman over many blips and freefalls but has probably had about enough. To use a term from one of ‘Sam’s own personal obsessions, he may find himself ejaculated from television forever.
