All Stories FeedFans angry over Good Game host switch
ABC2 is changing hosts on Good Game with co-presenter Jeremy ‘Junglist’ Ray (pictured left) to be replaced.
He is to be replaced by Stephanie ‘Hex’ Bendixsen who will also co-host the new junior version of the show with Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell, Good Game: SP for ABC3.
Tactfully avoiding the word ‘axed,’ the ABC indicated the move ties in with a refreshing of the gaming show.
In a statement to TV Tonight, Amanda Duthie, Head of Arts and Entertainment said, “After three years, we felt Good Game needed a refresh to take the program into 2010 and beyond, and the decision was made to change the hosting team.
“Jeremy had travel plans which meant he was not going to be available to tape the final show of the season, the one hour Christmas Special, and we were announcing details of the launch of the Good Game: SP program on our new channel, ABC3. So it made sense to work in with these timings to introduce Stephanie ‘Hex’ Bendixsen as our new host.
“Understandably, Jeremy has many fans who are disappointed to see him leave the program. However, we are absolutely confident that Bajo and Hex will bring a new dimension to the show and, along with the dedicated behind the scenes team of gamers, continue to bring Australian audiences independent reviews and information about video gaming in Australia.”
Angry fans of the show have already started an online petition to keep him on the show.
On his Twitter posts, Junglist says “Cheers for the kinds words and good times….it’s been great and it’s the people that make it great. Much love to you all.”
The show airs tonight at 8:30pm on ABC2.
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She’s nice – but the other dude was seriously connected to what he did. He delivered content that showed he knew his stuff, not just like it. Stephanie is nice, but I watch your show with the volume down now. You want this to work, you need all three.
Yeah Angry Face why dont they keep bajo and jung a good team and have hex do the gg:sp thing.
ABC you have done it again you have made a bad move and now you have destroyed something loved buy so many Before
“If it works don’t fix it”
This is bull**it Hex aka Stephanie Bendixsen can kiss my a**.
Still in shock… won’t be watching Good Game any more.
Hopefully another station will catch on and pick up Junglist to make a TRUE series for Gamers and by Gamers.
such a shame! found Bajo irritating and fake for the first time. Hex meh
This comes across as complete contempt for the audience, something most gamers would be familiar with in more mainstream media, but not by their very own gaming show (or what was meant to be). Experience and integrity have been unceremoniously exhumed along with the tried and true odd couple chemistry. Now we have two homogeneous TV school fakers, with fake news reader’s voices, fake exaggerated acting and fake interest in games.
What will the ABC ‘refresh’ next? Play School? Kerry O’Brien? At the Movies? What other winning formula can they grind into the dirt simply to relieve managerial boredom?
I’m so disappointed in this clearly short-sighted and ill-researched decision. I am a sporadic watcher of Good Game; my husband WAS a devout watcher (who is also up in arms and now vowing ‘never again’). I always loved the silly banter between Junglist and Barjo, and feel that the show has now lost it’s mojo. I don’t think I’ll be the only chick now tuning out. Dumb decision, ABC.
Hot girls don’t need a resume.
The way the world operates these days.
I cannot face watching that show with a bogus host from Club Disney… “hex” …come on tell me this is just a gag!
They got rid of the better, more informative and more experienced host, keeping the younger goodlooking sidekick, all in order to bring on a random pretty blonde, and why? You do the math.
What’s worse is that the two pretty people who now host the show, both of whom are actors/presenters first, gamers second, and not really good enough at the former to justify their lack of in depth knowledge and quality at the latter, have absolutely zero chemistry with each other.
Najo always represented the more casual “for fun” gamer, while Junglist represented the hardcore, and it was that difference in attitude and style, along with a natural chemistry for playing off one another, that made the show work. Now we have two people representing the casual/fun end of the gamer spectrum, no one representing the hardcore gamer, and neither of which have the strength of personality to act as primary host. Instead we have two sidekicks who don’t have any on screen chemistry with each other. Watching this week’s show was like watching a tran wreck in slow motion.
Farewell Good Game, we’ll miss what you were, and I shall no longer bother with the generic cookie cutter dumbed down product that you are now becoming. By actors for kids and casual gamers just does not entice I’m afraid.
Nice work Amanda Duthie, you’ve just destroyed one of the ABC’s best programs.
What is this? I went on iview to watch the latest two episodes of Good Game, the first one was fine, Junglist was there to make the show what it was, that being an almost perfect chemistry between two hosts. Then I watched the newest episode, and some new girl is on there, and I don’t care for her. Where is Junglist I thought. I then had to waste a lot of time looking at facebook, and the GG forums and here to find out that for some strange reason Jung was gone and “Hex” was there (appropriate name btw). Why ruin the perfect chemistry? It’s like splitting up Wayne and Grath, Bill and Ted, Bub and Bob. I just don’t understand why this had to happen. Good Game was essentially the best show on ABC iview, I watched it religiously, but now I am losing faith. I feel so bad for Junglist and I will miss him on the show. I think the ABC made a big mistake here, but whatever it’s not like I have much respect for ABC management anyway, like after The Glass House was axed for being too “political” or when the final season of Chaser was ruined by scared execs. Fail ABC, epic fail.
Rubbish decision ABC !! Utter rubbish !! Clearly Jeremy Ray was not happy with the decision. He stated this himself. The show was great as it was. Great onscreen rapport and chemistry.
The dinosaur minds behind the big desks clearly have very little idea of what a successful show entails and what people want. Cynical move.
Hex your review sux, don’t think you can appear on screen acting like you know a things about gaming. Serious we all know why you’re there for, i hope they’ll bring back Junglist.
I cannot believe they’ve gona ahead with this… without warning no less… this is as big a slap in the face as the whole iSnack 2.0 thing… Honestly, Baj and Jung were a proven formula… I’ve actually sat by my compter and watched the entire back catalogue of GG, and never once been bored or thought “Hmm… great show, hilarious and all… if only someone could come along and destroy it… That’d be great”… I’m not saying that Hex didn’t do a good job… but this backlash was always going to happen ABC… I’m yet to see a single comment praising the move
Rage!!
This is so uncool and totally uncalled for.
I’ve even written a formal complaint to ABC2 regarding the matter. It was long, but I sure hope it’s totally worth it.
Bajo isn’t the same without Jung. They need one another.
If Top Gear (UK) wasn’t hosted by Jeremy, Shorty and Carmudgeon, who would watch it. As it is, they could be talking about amoeba and it’d still be brilliant.
Same with Good Game. The synergy is perfect with Jung & Bajo. Even when they’re reviewing another boring RPG I’m still gripped. Change that and you have a different show altogether.
Amanda Duthie was the same ABC exec that was responsible for the demise of The Chaser. Good on ya Amanda!
This decision makes me angry and disappointed with the ABC. I feel like they have completely lost their credibility. There seems to be a lot going on behind the scenes that we’re not being made aware of, and when I have been a committed viewer of a show for almost five years I feel that I deserve a better explanation than one sentence at the end of the show. It screams of unfair dismissal. Considering there is going to be GG:SP on ABC3 for kids, I dont’ understand the need to change the format. I don’t feel that there is chemisty between Hex and Bajo, and although I agree it will take her a while to find her stride, she is much too similar to Bajo in her personality and her reviews. The show has taken on a cheaper feel and I can’t trust it anymore.
I also find it offputting and sexist that people are saying that there Needed to be a ‘female perspective’ on the show. It’s the same as when people said Top Gear needed to have a female host because it was biased towards males. I have a vast amount of gamer friends, both female and male and in my experience it makes absolutely no difference what sex someone is when it comes to what games they like. It comes down to the individual, not what sex they are.
I won’t be watching Good Game until a decent explanation of events is released from ABC and Jung is back on air. Considering I highly doubt either of those things is likely to happen, I guess it’s goodbye from me and thanks for the good times. It’s a shame there won’t be any more of them. I assume Good Game will be changing it’s slogan, as it’s clearly not ‘For Gamers, By Gamers’ anymore.
Congrats Hex on your debut.
You spoke clearly and confidently and did your job well.
Clearly some of the fanboys here need to wake up to themselves.
I am 36 years old and have Never felt compelled to write to a television station before, but this is an absolute disgrace!
As a female gamer I am appalled and insulted that the ABC would think that their viewers both male and female would not see past this latest ‘marketing strategy’.
ABC have left me no option but to refrain from watching Good Game until they reinstate Jeremy Ray. In fact I cannot even bring myself to tune into ABC at all.
Poor decision ABC, poor decision!
I am astounded by what has happened.
How can any ABC executive justify this decision? It has made the program much worse. And caused a lot of shock and sadness amonst the program’s viewers. It is the type of senseless incomprehensible decision made by a commercial network.
There was no need to force Jeremy Ray from his position. There were plenty of opportunities for Stephanie Bendixsen on Good Game SP, on other ABC3 programs or as a reporter on Good Game.It does her no favours to be forced upon unwilling viewers in this way.
Jeremy Ray was a respected talented well liked presenter and a core part of the program. It did not seem to be a short term launching pad for a media career. He helped build the show and was there for the long term. Why willingly get rid of someone that talented and passionate?
I watched last night’s program. Maybe Stephanie Bendixsen will eventually become a competent presenter for ABC3. I can’t comprehend how a manager thought she would improve the program or justify all the ruthless backstabbing and sadness.
I do believe that, like usual, ABC has gone ‘Oops, I f***ed it again’ with this decision.
While I don’t watch this show religiously, I did enjoy it from time to time. I believe that it was being able to just tune in and watch these two go at it, that allowed me to continue watching every now and then.
Starting with a new cast causes change, from atmosphere to presentation method or anywhere in between. That means that I will feel that the next time I see this show, it wont be the same.
@ Jason: Did you even pay attention while watching?
Last night’s ep was a total fail.
Just a hint ABC – if you are going to force a new host on us how about you don’t shove her down our throats for 20 minutes? Let her build a slow rapport – not immediately take over the place!
Most enjoyable when Bajo’s sandwich hit her in the head!
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Junglist and Hex to compete in a round of the Roffle Cup for hosting rights.
I’d like to see that.
Junglist Rocks!
GG:SP is just a marketing gimmick anyway. It was attractive that GG was for more mature gamers, and had a really good target audience. Now, it’s going to be like Totally Wild, or any other show aimed at tweens that fails.
Now, all the hardcore fans are gone, and here comes the insert of more teenage guys flocking to the show and defending Hex because she’s attractive – not because gaming’s important.
*sigh* RIP, Junglist and a great show.
Why do they get rid of the host that’s been there for since the very beginning without any warning or goodbyes?
The previous team worked well because Jung represented the hardcore, Bajo the enthusiast noob. It was comfortable like having two mates talking to you!
However they did a great job in introducing Hex and had to laugh when they put of the anti-flame wall up. But overall it wasn’t a great episode (Have they ever reviewed so little before?). Hex comes across as a little irritating and stiff (newsreader-ish) and their opinions seemed seemed too similar instead of adding perspective. But i suppose it’s only her first show… but not happy about losing Jung!
Oh well they had a good run. So much for a show for gamers by gamers. Well done ABC you have stuffed it up yet again.
Something went on behind the scenes that they’re not going to tell us, I don’t believe for one second that he’s moved to a role behind the camera, they could have been a bit more noble with it and had a proper send off for Jung but no they had to kill him off quick and dirty.
I should point out that they still need to update their listing in ABC iView. Still lists Junglist and Bajo as the hosts in the picture and description…
Fail ABC…
Like many, i wont be tuning back in until the new host is removed. What a truly pathetic debacle. They have just killed the show.
Guess I’ll just watch something on SBS, now, instead.
Ah just like moby dick – they abc2 now has a white whale to ruin everything around
It’s ok Junglist you’ll always be our Ishmael!
Get over it nerds, she’s hot. Makes me want to watch the show now.
@ G – Judging from your response you haven’t you told your parents yet?
Bring back Jung.
This truly is a debacle. Bring Jung back now ABC!
Give Hex a job as a roving reporter so she can *earn* a place on the presenting team.
Noooo!!!!!!
The chemistry of Jung and Bajo is faultless – one of the best teams on TV. This is mortifying.
If I wanted to see a useless blond sh*tty actress, I’d go see a renee zellweger film.
I watch the show to see ‘gamers’ talk about ‘games’
Not actresses talk about what ever is written on an auto-queue
I hope the truth about Junglist comes out sooner rather than later.
Who knows – maybe ABC2 is hiring producers from ‘CyberShack’ now.
Buuuuuullllllllllssss*****ttttt
I’m sure Rei’s a nice girl, but her delivery is almost as bad as Lux, the girl she replaced. Its always stilted, read from an autocue and with no real sense of humour involved (very dry articles). Hex was really natural in her delivery and I think it would almost be awesome to have all 3 on the show and get rid of Rei to be honest.
As much as I enjoy video games and all that they entail, I can’t stand to watch more than a few minutes of this show on the account of the hosts being irritatingly emphatic. :-/
Why do they get rid of the host that’s been there for since the very beginning without any warning or goodbyes?
I think the previous eam worked well because Jung represented the hardcore, Bajo the enthusiast noob. It was like having two mates reviewing!
I thought they did a great job in introducing Hex and had to laugh when they put of the anti-flame wall up but overall it wasn’t a great episode (Have they ever reviewed so little before?). Hex comes across as a little stiff (newsreader-ish) irritating and their opinions seemed to closely mirror each other instead of adding perspective. But i suppose it’s only the first show… but not happy about losing Jung!
Anyone else notice the ‘junglist will remain with a new behind the scenes position’. Sounds like a filler job to fulfill the contract. Hex wasn’t as dull as I expected, and with time will settle in but by no means will she fill the hole left – nobody could.
But you just gotta love Margrets cameo.
Isn’t this the reason rei joined the show in the first place?
To eventually become the new co-host instead of this new blonde good looking girl.
I dont play video games but i always watch this show! Its a great show and the team are excelent because they do serious reviews that I find interesting. I am sad about them dropping him and I will complain because it is the hosting team that make it such an accessable show.
Keep the guy please!!!!
Amanda Duthie is no longer trusted to oversee comedy, so why is she still trusted to oversee Arts and Entertainment?.Within 12 months this show will be gone,bet your last buck on it.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=189532430599&v=wall
Why not join the facebook group?
Sigh. Jungy. Please come home :’(
I won’t be watching Good Game if Hex stays. Jung was by far the better host, and there’s no comparison to Bajo and Jung’s on-screen banter or chemistry.
Why “fix” something that wasn’t broken anyway? GG was rating pretty darn well before they decided to “refresh” the format.
Ah,the PC brigade have a win and inset the token female.
A bit hard to improve the show when they have no fans left.
the “eww, girls! gross!” comments are hilarious/pathetic.
For those who don’t know I set up a Facebook group to help Save Junglist!
We have gained over 830 members in about 54 hours and many of us are actively trying to help keep Junglist on the hosting team.
If you want to do your bit and help the cause, join the group.
Check out my URL for an amusing video on the situation.
Junglist will be missed, be sure to join the Facebook group if you want him back!
Yes.
Sorry to be potentially annoying – but to clarify … the parent show is still continuing next year as well as the Junior show right?
Junglist is the most knowledgeable and entertaining host on the show….Bajo is a ‘noob’.
….I hope this hasn’t anything to do with political correctness….they have Rei as a reporter anyway
What does the ABC know of gaming anyway?
Oh great, they are taking away the best presenter and replacing him with what I assume will be some dull girl reading from a prompter.
This is a bad move for the show, the only reason I watch good game is to hear what Junglist and Bajo have to say as they are experienced gamers.
Its like replacing David from At The Movies.
A new female host? Isn’t that like giving a female hosting role to Top Gear? Sure there are plenty of games females play but its nothing compared to the consumers of game magazines/media and the “hard core’ gaming crowd.
I just hope this choice wasn’t made just to put a female in the hosting seat. Time will tell. There are so many things they could try before changing the hosts!
@ snickers – the best constructive criticism you can make is you don’t like the way Bajo’s head moves? Really??
What crap. Junglist is by far the more observant reviewer of the two. His scores more accurately represent the type of player that has a past of an fps/role player gaming upbringing, but is moving through his mid-20s and has less time for certain types of gameplay. Bringing someone else younger in will lose a massive chunk of their viewers.. Bajo is fine for certain types of game reviews, and acts as a goofball quite funnily.. but they need Junglist as the main anchor for the show.
Adding another lifeless female gamer to the mix just wont cut it.. unless she is an extraordinarily likeable personality which Jung is… and bajo is (lets face it, he is, even with his robot head).
Get this ‘Hex’ person to do the kiddie show.. or hell, get a couple of 12 year olds.. they’ve probably got more experience than Jung/Bajo or Hex anyhow.. kids these days seem to be gaming even as embryos, picking up XP from mum resting the the controller on her ever-expanding pregnant belly while hammering through hours and hours of gaming to pass the time while on maternity leave…
What a mess.
I call bollocks on the “travel plans” and “refresh” excuses. If this was such a carefully-considered decision by Duthie and the ABC, then why did Junglist only hear about it on Friday, and why is he being pulled from the show immediately? Something else is going on, and it’s probably political.
I’ve watched Good Game from the start, and Junglist’s been on it from episode 1. The first season was a bit of a mess, but with the replacement of the original co-host by Bajo for season 2, the pair built up a genuinely appealing on-screen chemistry that has gotten better and better as they’re gotten more experienced at the hosting game.
What are we going to see tonight? Another token female gamer rea-ding-the-au-to-cue-like-their-rep-or-ters-did? Just to satisfy the ABC board’s ongoing commitment to “lack of bias”?
Bad, bad decision, ABC. The show’s gotten to the stage where it wins awards, and now you’re alienating the audience that took it there, all for the sake of the Wii Fit crowd.
Have to say I’m with Jason’s opinion. The show is average at best. Of the two hosts, “Junglist” was the better one; “Bajo” just looks odd the way he moves his head like his neck doesn’t move (if it’s a medical thing, sorry for the comment).
I am so mad about this. I don’t know if I want to watch the show anymore now.
“After three years, we felt Good Game needed a refresh to take the program into 2010 and beyond, and the decision was made to change the hosting team.”
What a load of crap, why does every show need “refreshing” or “revamping”?? It worked, leave it alone.
Awwww! They made a great team! I even enjoyed the injection of humour into their later episodes. Why change something that works so well? Was there really any demand? Surely people weren’t getting tired of them?
@ Jason – You’re comparing this to a different beast altogether. GG was always about reviewing the latest games and its industry/culture – not ripping to shreds games from the last century!
If I actually played video games anymore, I’d watch the show every week. As it is I only watch occasionally, but am always entertained. They’ve really turned it into a suitably silly but informative show, in ways other shows could learn from.
It’s a shame Junglist is leaving, but I figure it’s how shows evolve, and in this case it won’t be too jarring a change if Bajo remains.
Does Bajo remind anyone of an over cafeinated Andrew Hanson? and Junglist.. you will be missed
Good show that keeps getting better.
Safe travels Junglist.
No!
They’re a great team. One of the few shows on TV I watch regularly…
I too, like Goonies, am not a regular gamer but watch the show for the very same reasons.
@ Jason – I would barely crack the genre of casual gamer but I watch GG religiously every week and find their reviews entertaining and informative.
Meh – this show is a lukewarm attempt at best at video game reviewing – these guys should look at what people are doing on YouTube like the Classic Game Room or even The Angry Video Game Nerd, I watch those reviewers religiously but Good Game is most of the time boring.
How they manage to take a fun subject and bore me to tears with it is beyond my comprehension – and somehow I don’t think it’s something a simple change of hosts can fix.
When i initially read into this last Friday, i really felt as though Jung as well as the GG community were harshly done by. It felt as though my stomach just fell, like i was on a roller coaster or something. I’m still trying to come to grips with the decision.
I agree with ‘Angry Face’ in that he should have been kept for the ‘grown-up’ GG and have Hex for the ‘kiddie’ GG. I’m sure it’s all about money, everything is these days. They have just hired 6 new full-time hosts for the new channel (ABC3) so they had to cut costs somewhere and it happened to the least deserving of the axe.
Also agree with ‘rattle’ in that the show won’t be the same without him.
As much as everyone wants him to return, it won’t happen. The decision would have no doubt changed Jung’s opinion of the ABC, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons.
Anyway, good luck in your future endeavors Jung. You will be missed by all GG gamers. I sure hope it’s not he last we have seen or heard of you.
I don’t see why they couldn’t have Bajo and Junglist host the regular Good Game, and have Hex and someone else host “Good Game SP” .
As Bajo himself says – hate, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate, hate!!
Bugger! This is the first I have heard of it and I am disappointed to see him go as I think he is the better host on the show.
The thing about not being available for the final show due to travel plans is a bit dodgy though. Without know more details, I could see why he wouldn’t be brought back if he put his travel plans ahead of a final show.
Regardless of the reasons, the show won’t be the same without him.