Mind you, there was one great quote on the final Parkinson, from Dame Edna Everage: “I think I’m bringing a squirt of much-needed oestrogen to the show.” Indeed, apart from Dame Judi Dench and some dodgy comedian, it was just a bunch of old farts talking about their once-great pasts.
Leaving room for elephants: a chat with David Attenborough
Last night’s final episode of Michael Parkinson‘s long-running TV chat show should have been much better, given the stellar cast. The one stand-out for me was David Attenborough. Something he said reminded me of a conversation we had 24 years ago. I’ll share that episode shortly. But first, here’s the interview we did…
Sir David Attenborough hardly needs an introduction. He was in Australia promoting the TV series and book The Living Planet when I spoke with him. His previous series Life on Earth was the UK’s highest-rating ever at that time. The Living Planet looked to be heading in the same direction.
Attenborough has been a TV producer almost as long as the medium has existed.
From 1965 to 1969 he was Controller of the then-new BBC 2, followed by four years in another executive position. After 8 years behind a desk he decided he’d had enough of computers, accounting and unions, and returned to life as a producer — a decision, he says, that wasn’t hard to make.
Continue reading “Leaving room for elephants: a chat with David Attenborough”Corey t-shirts available, website traffic doubles
Yes, Corey t-shirts are now available from BustedTees.
While it’s a day since Alex Willemyns posted this, one still wonders what took them so long. They had hours! Will Corey demand a cut of the profits. Or are the shirts are already courtesy of his agent?
Alex also posts what I agree is one of Corey’s best quotes.
Over the past couple of days, traffic to this website has doubled thanks to people eager for Corey news.
I’d particularly like to commend the 48 people who were searching for “corey delaney naked”. Class act, folks.
Arrest of “teen party host” highlights stupidity of law
Yesterday a Melbourne teenager was charged with creating a public nuisance and producing child pornography. Reuters tells us he “became a controversial media star after a wild party at his parents’ house became a near riot, forcing police to call in a helicopter and the dog squad”. Hands up if you think you know his name.
Now, keep your hands up if you’re completely bloody sure you know his name.
OK, hands down.
Yet again we see how Australia’s laws have failed to adapt to the Internet age.
Everybody and their dog, globally, has been reporting the rise to fame of glamorous Melbourne socialite Corey Worthington Delaney. I’ve written two essays already [1, 2], and this third one probably won’t be the last. My friends at Crikey published The Corey Timeline yesterday (republished by Peter Black too, if the Crikey original is behind their paywall).
Now, under Victorian law, as in many other democracies, the media cannot identify minors charged with criminal offences. Nor can they identify who’s brought before the children’s court. Fair enough. Once upon a time we all agreed that youthful indiscretions shouldn’t mar our reputation for life.
So now we have the ludicrous situation where National Nine News and The Age and everyone else is talking about “a 16-year-old boy” as if we haven’t noticed a flood of media reports about a specific, named 16yo who — in an amazing coincidence — held a wild party on the weekend where the police were called, including a helicopter and the dog squad.
Happens all the time. Could well be someone else.
Continue reading “Arrest of “teen party host” highlights stupidity of law”
Where is Melbourne, AFP?
Why is this news agency illustrating a story about an event in Melbourne with a photo of a helicopter in Sydney? Daft bastards.
New Matilda returns, looking spiffy
The very fine public policy website New Matilda returns today with a great new design. It’s all free to read. It’s wonderful. And I’m not just saying that because I wrote an article for them in 2004.