Death and disasters
I’m allowed to have a rave. Television news, especially at the weekend, is just dreadful.
While there’s an audience for conflict, drama, anarchy and mayhem, there’s also a growing interest in lifestyle and storytelling. People love stories about people but a backgrounder on an event or milestone or achievement seldom occurs on TV.
Newspapers are gradually evolving into publications that provide a mix of information, human interest and entertainment, but not TV news. They are still fixated on death, demonstrations and disasters. The reason is that it’s easy to find and, if you’re a lazy, Auckland-based news editor, then you believe it’s what the rest of New Zealand wants.
When I was a television journalist I was given a maximum of two minutes to tell my story. Nothing’s changed. How about five minutes instead? A reporter could then package the event, the people involved, the back story, and analysis from a commentator.
I’d be better informed, able to make a judgment, and add my perspective around the water cooler. But it’s not going to happen. It would deny telling another trivial conflict story about a teenager who was pepper-sprayed because her stupid father resisted arrest.
Only when ratings dramatically drop or revenue plummets will something be done and the same news editor, fearing for his or her job, might then ask if there’s a backgrounder on Malcolm Turnbull and what his elevation means to New Zealand and our access to Australia.
Until then we’ll hear more about disgraced ACDC drummer Phil Rudd and his love of prostitutes.
One of the clever ways to dip your toe into the swirling water of TV drama is to produce a standalone episode then assess the reaction. Winter (TV One, Sundays) started as an orphan. It was full of holes but it starred Rebecca Gibney.
Together with pavlova and Phar Lap, she’ll soon be claimed as one of Australia’s treasures. However, the one-off received positive reviews and the orphan has joined a family of six episodes.
Gibney, as Detective Sergeant Eve Winter, investigates the death of Carly Johansen. The homicide appears to be linked to a hit and run where sex worker, Indiana Hope, ends up in hospital. Luke Thompson, who was once accused of killing his wife, tops himself, leaving Eve and Detective Sergeant Lachlan McKenzie still on their blocks instead of at the sprint finish.
Why they didn’t concentrate on Carly’s death instead is never explained but there are five further episodes in which to unravel the mystery. The acting is assured, the pace relentless, the dialogue convincing and viewers are left with enough intrigue to find out more.
Rebecca Gibney appears effortless in the role as if she’s destined for sainthood. Kanye is coming . . . only not in person and not to New Zealand.
The Love Lockdown singer announced Yeezy Season 2 on Twitter with a series of six tweets listing cities that the show is coming to.
They include Melbourne and Sydney and several spots in Europe.
Live fans should cool their jets, however, the destinations are getting live cinema broadcasts, not live shows.
‘‘Season 2 will be live streamed to