John Clarke

[morepork]

Deed. At 68. Sharp mind, will be missed.

Fred Dagg FTW.

[Lizard]

Ironically, there's already a Fred for this. Can mods merge?

[Doorzetbornandbred]

RIP

[Spy]

Sad news. Great comedian. Really liked The Games, terrific deadpan comedy that was obviously the basis for the also good British show before the London Olympics, and I still regularly go through his Clarke and Dawe sketches. I've always liked this one:

[morepork]

Ironically, there's already a Fred for this. Can mods merge?

This one can't. If there is a means by which I could do this, I am not initiate to it's mysteries. Plus, I have some lumber to haul.

[J Dory]

Ironically, there's already a Fred for this. Can mods merge?

This one can't. If there is a means by which I could do this, I am not initiate to it's mysteries. Plus, I have some lumber to haul.

Building a treehouse?

[morepork]

Very witty.

Pig phuquer.

[rowan]

I was a kid in short pants at the time but seem to recall the Dagg left NZ under somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

Our Dirty Secret.
So sad at John Clarke's passing and really enjoying all the tributes to him these past few days. But fellow folks who work in the biz there’s a key part of John’s story that’s missed out in every story I’ve seen so far. Watching TVNZ tribute to him a bit like watching a FOX News Tribute to a Civil Rights leader.
JOHN CLARKE DID NOT JUST DECIDE TO LEAVE NZ. The reason that John Clarke is not only one of our greatest comics, but Australia’s too is that he was forced to leave NZ by New Zealand television management. Relentless interference in his shows, complaints from within the organisation that he was getting too political. Legend has it (someone closer to the time may shed light on this) that the final straw for the powers-that-be was John's request for a more producorial role on his show - a blasphemy which effectively ended his career in this country.
So we lost John to the other side of the ditch. And kept the shit bags who sent him there, to manage the great cultural flowering that was TV in the 80’s and 90’s and 2000’s – not.
This is not a historical story. Its a contemporary one.
My SUGGESTED TRIBUTE TO JOHN - GET UP AND STAND UP and get rid of this horrible system of thinking. Its not just about public v commercial imperatives. It's about culture of bureaucracy that can't stand difference and is prepared to act to get rid of it.

Matthew John Horrocks

[rowan]

TVNZ was a truly vile organization (probably still is, for all I know). Led a cultural genocide by largely ignoring native language, culture and history for the first few decades of its existence, and imposed various other prejudices on New Zealand society into the bargain, along with blind nationalism. I guess that's what state broadcasters do. I also had a relative who took legal action against them for asbestos poisoning after many years' service in the set production department. The state broadcaster just kept finding ways to delay the case until he finally passed away. Total assholes.

[morepork]

TVNZ was a truly vile organization (probably still is, for all I know). Led a cultural genocide by largely ignoring native language, culture and history for the first few decades of its existence, and imposed various other prejudices on New Zealand society into the bargain, along with blind nationalism. I guess that's what state broadcasters do. I also had a relative who took legal action against them for asbestos poisoning after many years' service in the set production department. The state broadcaster just kept finding ways to delay the case until he finally passed away. Total assholes.

State broadcaster in name only. There are a vehicle for endless advertising and shit journalsim. RNZ is the only real one left.