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Chaser “Make a Realistic Wish” branded tasteless

UPDATED: The ABC has apologised to viewers for a sketch with child actors playing terminally ill patients and will delete it from a repeat tonight.

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chasersUPDATED: Statement from Kim Dalton, Director of ABC TV and Julian Morrow, Executive Producer The Chaser’s War on Everything

The Chaser’s War on Everything is a satirical program aimed at provoking debate and providing social commentary on topical issues, current affairs and public life in general.

The sketch in last night’s show called ‘Making A Realistic Wish Foundation” was a satirical sketch and black comedy.

The ABC and The Chaser did not intend to hurt those who have been affected by the terminal illness of a child. We acknowledge the distress this segment has caused and we apologise to anyone we have upset.

As a result, ABC TV will edit the segment out of tonight’s repeat screening on ABC2 and on-line.

It hasn’t taken long for The Chaser’s War on Everything to land back in hot water after a sketch last night on “terminally ill” children.

The ABC was inundated with callers outraged by the “Make a Realistic Wish Foundation” skit in which Andrew Hansen and Chris Taylor ask actors playing hospital bed-ridden children what they wish for.

ABC’s website has begun attracting criticism:

– “What on earth were the people involved with the show thinking? not only the morons that came up with the idea of the skit but also all the people down the production line who approved it.”

– “As a half decent person I can only apologise for their poor behaviour. It is a sad inditement on our society that this is entertainment and even sadder are the people that pay them to do it.”

– ‘When television entertainment has to stoop as low as these b@stards did tonight (the ‘skit’ about the Unrealistic Wish society for sick kids) for laughs, the entire thing is damaged beyond repair.”

– “The make a realistic wish skit was the most appalling thing I have ever seen on TV. Are these idiots so insensitive that they would send up children in such a sad situation.”

Last week the return of the ABC attracted considerable criticism for not being funny enough.

Source: news.com.au, ABC

130 Responses

  2. The skit was about the “Make a realistic Wish Foundation” and not of those terminally-ill patients….

    And one more thing,Those kids were Just Actors,they are not really Sick…..

    So stop lambasting The Chaser….

  4. Ann, I work, indirectly, with seriously ill kids. Some of those who work more closely with them are like you. Numbed to it all. Sad, really.

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