★★★★★ 0/5

Gretel’s thoughts on that live moment

"Sarah (Murdoch) is too moral and empathetic for such manipulation" writes Gretel Killeen.

8
Leave a comment

Gretel Killeen’s name was mentioned quite a few times last week in reference to the fallout of Australia’s Next Top Model.

In the 8 seasons she hosted Big Brother, Killeen proved she could handle everything that was thrown at her in live television.

So it is interesting to read her comments today in the Sun Herald:

Those who’ve met Sarah Murdoch, as I have, adore her.

Those who’ve worked in live television, as I have, know that mistakes occur so relentlessly it’s half the hosting gig to hide them. So those who suggested Sarah and her execs contrived an intentional miscall of the winner of Australia’s Next Top Model were, in my opinion, talking with the television insight of a merkin.

I’ll tell you why: a) Sarah is too moral and empathetic for such manipulation; b) no TV show intentionally makes itself look incompetent or would ever spend “extra prize money” on publicity that buzzes when the season’s finished; c) no show will spend money on something they can’t promote in advance – and even TV execs can’t promote something they’re alleging they don’t know will happen; d) most TV execs aren’t smart enough to plan such a drama.

Indeed, in the words of one: “It’s TV, mate, not rocket surgery.”

8 Responses

  1. I’m with you Leigh – Gretel is one talented and able presenter. BB was a tough gig and although there were times I felt (and i’m sure she did) that the show was beneath her. She juggled many processes – and was often mother, confidante and shrink to the cavalcade of housemates, relatives and friends.
    Her writers let her down on Logie night, but she will return to the screen.

  2. Mason HellCat I completely disagree with you. Gretel handled the Merlin incident amazingly well. The problem with the Logies is the show itself, not the host. I would love to see Gretel back on our screens in a hosting role… maybe a Denton Eough Rope style show would suit.

  5. I disagree that Killeen ‘could handle everything thrown at her in live television’. She couldn’t handle Merlin going the taped mouth protest, she couldn’t handle the season 8 BB contestant that suggested BB had dodgy editing practices, and she most certainly couldn’t handle the hosting of the Logies.

    She could, however, handle reading an autocue, and staring doe eyed down a camera.

  6. Right, then, Gretel – so you didn’t watch the show. (Did you watch the actual finale?) I am one of the mugs who pay to have this channel. I did not find Sarah’s treatment as host or co-exec producer of Sophie (just as one example) throughout the season to be ’empathic’ or indeed all that ‘moral’. The entire finale was manipulative! Vote Amanda! Oh and the other ones…

    I don’t think the mistaken crowning was a set-up but I do think a lot of stinking behaviour, lies, and weird cover-up went down that night, prior, and since.

Leave a Reply