News of the demise of Channel Nein’s Logies boastwagon Footy Show has now been circulated, with Erin Molan being blamed for a chunk of it, but is it really her fault for the Footy Show Axe. Not really, it’s been rubbish for a while.
First up, we must admit we don’t watch the Channel Nein Footy Show much these days for a couple of reasons. One, who would watch the dreadful Channel Nein rugby league coverage when there’s Fox League to be had, plus by 10pm on a Thursday you reach a saturation point of rugby league. Neither post game program excites.
We were regular watchers of the show until one new season they unveiled Michael Slater as Co-host. Manly supporter of course, making him just that little more hateable. But for Channel Nein to crowbar one of the most disliked broadcasters in the history of Australian sport showed they were struggling for ideas then. Not much improved since.
So I guess, you could blame Michael Slater for the Footy Show Axe a little. And we will. He’s off to ruin cricket for Channel Seven this summer.
You could blame the axing of Paul Vautin, and in reality when they did, they should have canned the show and started again under a new name. No matter how little you liked the show, Vautin was likeable and synonymous with it. Him going was certainly a contributing factor.
It may have been getting stale, but removing Fatty was never going to be the answer.
You could blame the format, and you should.
Tired old shit, by people who loved themselves just a little too much.
Beau Ryan was funny for a while, but found it hard to switch to decent analysis as the clown, unlike Matty Johns. Maybe it was because he was a winger.
Then they tried to talk seriously, it was usually about just their favourite players or something Channel Nein sanctioned.
Much like the pants man in your group who brings a new girlfriend to a function with a temporary shift in life focus, we too saw through Channel Nein’s Footy Show when they attempt to talk serious rugby league. As soon as the required couple of minutes of anything useful has expired it was back to self-serving rubbish.
The worst example that highlights the level of Channel Nein rubbish featured Dave Taylor.
Although not the Thursday version, the Sunday Footy Show’s disgraceful coverage of Dave Taylor for the Central Capras during the season showed just how pathetic they really are.
This was a major downside for Erin Molan to declare how outraged she was on social media afterwards (after the public and Capras outcry) was just as bad. If she was that horrified then she should show some integrity and refuse to be a part of it in the beginning.
It showed a side of Erin Molan that was as unlikable as the distasteful segment. But that’s not a reason for the Footy Show axe.
You could blame the timeslot, and that is probably the main reason for the declining viewership and eventual Footy Show axe.
Thursday night football is here to stay, whether people like it or not.
However if Channel Nein weren’t so insistent on showing the worst television on Australian TV – A Current Affair – they could kick off by 7:15pm at the latest and the Footy Show could have started around 9pm. Not far off their prime timeslot.
So in the end, Channel Nein only have themselves to blame for the demise of their own show. And they got what they deserved.
