I haven’t done a Videos of the Week in a very long time. Having my weekends planned for me behind my back are a major factor. But let’s do one right now.
With us being in the vacuum of the US, it’s easy to be unaware of international TV, but thanks to the internet and YouTube, it’s easier to monitor shows from elsewhere. Some of the funnier clips on YouTube belong to Australian morning television.
Just like here in the US between Good Morning America on ABC and Today on NBC, there’s an intense rivalry between two Aussie shows, Sunrise on 7 Network and Today on Nine Network. Interestingly enough, Today in Australia is not affiliated with Today on NBC. Australia’s Today is affiliated with ABC’s Good Morning America and 7 Network has a relationship with NBC even using NBC News’ theme, The Mission by John Williams.
And just like the American morning TV shows, the Australian Breakfast shows (or “Breakie” in some cases as they’re called Down Under) are a mix of news, entertainment, gossip, and lifestyle features. Of course, they follow in the American tradition of trying to be your neighbors or your TV family.
Similar to NBC’s Today, Sunrise on 7 has been the long dominant morning program in Australia, but has been losing ground to Today to the point where it’s been overtaken in the ratings. Sunrise has had its own controversy like NBC’s Today had with Ann Curry, as its long-time anchor Melissa Doyle is either being pushed out or being promoted to anchor a late-afternoon news program while a younger co-anchor takes her place.
Now that you have some background, let’s provide some of the funnier clips from the two shows over the last few years. You’ll see they’re a bit looser than their American versions.
Here are the Today show’s co-anchors Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson, news reader Georgie Gardner and sports guy Ben Fordham discussing breast feeding with Stefanovic losing it over a discussion of a “long stabby thing.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFTxoNMjmiQ&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
One of the funnier clips anywhere. Karl talks with a farmer who saved a wedding ring which was sucked off a guy’s finger by a calf. Hilarity ensues.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJckjhkG_4o&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Stefanovic barely made it through that interview. So funny.
Karl’s brother, Peter so happens to be the European correspondent for Nine Network and in this clip, they discuss former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Bunga Bunga parties.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBk1T7dqOpM&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
And from earlier this year, Karl pranks sports anchor Roz Kelly in some anchor-on-anchor TelePrompTer crime.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-byfKGQkbA&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
I hope you managed to catch the weed reference to Amsterdam there. Speaking of which, count how many weed references Karl makes in this interview with two New Zealand men who constructed the world’s longest waterslide. It appears Karl feels the men are stoners.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/W17UAUpth4s&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Now to Sunrise where news reader Natalie Barr starts to laugh over a “Weekend at Bernie’s”-type story. Co-host David “Kochie” Koch tries to save her.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbKUfjX8Ls8&rel=0&w=560&=315]
Here’s Natalie, sitting in for Melissa Doyle, caught eating at the anchor desk.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uK68Sn9SNE&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
This is Sunrise embarrassing Sam Armytage over a tabloid catching her making out with her then-boyfriend in public.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acljKWz7LzA&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
And here’s Sunrise’s original co-host Melissa Doyle tearfully announcing her departure from the show. Unlike the Ann Curry goodbye, there was no hostility, but it led to plenty of media coverage.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=721iKFVj8Cs&rel=0&w=560&h=315]
That is all.
