Smut Still Sells

alison gordon | August 14, 2009

The difference back then was probably the timing: somehow Kyle’s arrogance and brash sense of humour was more acceptable after dark. In the breakfast zone, however, it carries a more offensive odour.

 

Sadly, their latest stunt involving a lie detector test and a teenager’s very private and sad story seems to have done little to damage the show’s popularity. I guess most of us could agree that though this is a disappointing fact, it is in no way a surprise.

 

Such a scenario demonstrates that though we like to criticise media personalities for their poor choices, these poor choices end up propelling their popularity for all the wrong reasons. Much like the footy players who have been getting themselves into serious legal troubles of late, it some sick way it seems unacceptable behaviour gets rewarded.

 

Bad press eventually equals good exposure.

 

One media commentator pointed out soon after the duo was taken off air that increased media and public attention ironically gave them a PR boost.

 

So what is wrong with this picture exactly?

 

That we don’t mind blurring the boundaries between what’s entertaining and purely humiliating and unethical? That it’s okay to sideline a person’s psychological state of mind for a laugh?

 

If nothing else, it adequately highlights the vagueness, ineffectiveness and laborious nature of our broadcasting regulation. Perhaps this is the biggest laugh in this whole saga.

 

Despite a special interest from the Department of Community Services for obvious reasons, the Australian Media and Communications Authority initially refused to investigate the case, instead making it Austereo’s (owner of the radio station) problem.

 

In such an extreme case of negligence, one assumes the appropriate government body should just step in immediately. Never mind the need for a certain amount of “official” complaints, let’s diffuse the bureaucracy for a change and just act! But no, the best that could be done was to place a “gag” order on them for a couple of weeks and say they are in “recess”.

 

What steps will be taken, internally or externally, to ensure this doesn’t happen again?

 

Will Kyle’s fall from grace as a judge on Australian Idol help to straighten his head, even just a bit? 2dayFM has introduced a seven second time delay upon their return to broadcasting, to avoid any kind of repeat incident, but isn’t the real issue stopping the stupidity from occurring in the first place?

 

But perhaps I am wrong, perhaps despite our sympathies to the innocent parties involved, we inherently just love a juicy story.

 

Such a sorry explanation could make it easier to understand how, after so much public criticism, the K&J show just won the latest ratings poll for their timeslot again.

 

Yes, such an achievement does apparently carry sizeable bonuses, though it should be noted that this kind of scandal can take its time to affect official ratings, so perhaps a downward slide will only be seen in the months ahead.

 

One can only hope!