Grimshaw V's Ramsay

In the blue corner we have a self-righteous ass who spends their career belittling people who may or may not have the capacity of right-of-reply and who may or may not deserve to be cast assumptions upon by an elitist holier-than-thou, self-appointed social commentator.

And in the red corner ...

we have the other one.

Basically, Tracy Grimshaw spends her career belittling people and making assumptions about their character based on mostly unfounded 'evidence' (ie. their elderly neighbour with slight Alzheimer's says they are receiving the single parent pension but are actually partnered) and portraying people in a manner that may not accurately reflect reality.

Gordon Ramsay is a rude, arrogant ass who makes a living belittling people and treating them like something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. He has no respect for anyone (not just women) and thinks that he is better than you, me and the general population.

In theory, these two should get along like a house on fire.

Fortunately for us they don't - so we get to watch the shit-fight.

I particularly enjoyed the line in Tracy's 'right-of-reply' that went "I'm not going to sit meekly and let some arrogant narcissist bully me" ... really Tracy? Well isn't it lovely for you that you have your own TV show to defend your honour. Too bad for the people you show on ACA every week that don't have a right-of-reply.

Alright, alright, her rebuttal was pretty good ... and Ramsay is a complete ass who deserves a good and proper cock-punch and a lesson in how-to-make-fun-of-people-without-showing-what-a-misogynist-prick-you-are (or even just a lesson in how to be remotely funny) ... but I like to look at the bigger picture.

On another note - Tracy made a big deal about the fact that she wasn't gay. Ummmm, not wanting to cast aspersions but I have some pretty solid sources who would suggest otherwise. Not that it should matter - but it makes my blood boil when people in the public eye *I'm looking at you Anthony Calea* go to great lengths to deny their homosexuality. It perpetuates the insinuation that there is something WRONG with being gay and that 'coming out' will ruin a persons life.

Be out and proud I say - and if being gay IS something that would jeopardise a career in current affairs perhaps that is a worthwhile story rather than another "deadbeat dad" or "bumbling bureaucrat" one.

* Please note: I am well aware that many of the people shown on current affairs programs may, in fact, be represented quite accurately as the cretin they are - they might be dole bludging, womanising, morally bankrupt pieces of human waste - but since when did I become the judge and jury?

When it comes to current affairs you need to remember - who is it that wants you to see this, and why do they want you to see it, and who is making a profit from your elitist moral outrage?

ONE MORE THING: The feminist groups are outraged by the comparison of women to animals - whilst the comments were abhorrent and definitely derogatory to women (or at least one woman) - I think if he was having a go at a male reporter he might use similar techniques - let me repeat: he's just a prick.

And finally, a few of the people at Ramsay's live show (where the comments were made) have expressed 'outrage' - commenting that the show was supposed to be for families ... Sorry?!?! Any idiot thinking they were going to get a family-friendly evening out of Gordon Ramsay deserves to be offended.

Fuck that!

CHANNEL NINE movers and shakers

Word has it that Tracy Grimshaw will be moving on up to the channel 9 elite club that is 60 Minutes after her supposed 'hard hitting' interview with Matthew Johns. I found it interesting that Nicole Brady in the Green Guide today lauded Grimshaw and suggested that she single-handedly gave the channel 9 news and current affairs division "a much needed shot in the arm".

She may have asked the 'tough' questions with Johns but as an interviewer Grimshaw's holier-than-though attitude and botox-affected emotionless face make it very difficult for her to be taken seriously in any circumstance.

And really, isn't the sign of a good interview ultimately getting the interviewee to reveal something unexpected of themselves? John's performance last week could be likened to the infamous Wayne Carey interview on Denton - in that both Johns and Carey said nothing more than what their advisors had recommended they say and displayed just the right amount of crocodile tears and 'respectful regret'.

Also, Karl Stephanovic, after his hung-over antics on Today, will supposedly be hosting A Current Affair. Rather than injuring his career the boozy post-logies rants have given him a leg-up.

The Herald Sun website suggests that Nine execs aren't happy with the imbalance of power due to Lisa Wilkinson being the dominant character of the two - god forbid that a woman have the spotlight on a supposed-news program! They are pitting Karl against Today Tonight host Matthew White (the Herald Sun called it "Bloke on Bloke" but I doubt that would get clearance for 7pm).

So poor Lisa is looking to get a 'serious older man' as her co-host ... how old's Eddie McGuire these days?