NOT FUNNY!
In my late twenties I stopped listening to commercial radio. It was ‘breakfast radio’ that turned me off. As a bit of a fan of music in all its forms, all I wanted to hear was the next song. Inevitably I arrived (at my destination) long before any music did. But worse it was the nonsense proffered as humour by some amateur comedian hosting the breakfast show that was the last straw.
Spend a bit of time listening to comedians and the very best make you laugh at no-one’s expense. Its a special skill that not many have. The very worse do the opposite. With the exception of a few, breakfast hosts are simply not funny and so the only way they can attract an audience is to make fun of others. It is puerile.
I was seven in 1977 and it was around this time that we had the phone connected at home. Being only seven, I thought it was great fun to invite my friends over, call random numbers and ask the receiver of my call whether Mr Wall, Mrs Wall and Nana Wall “was there?” When I was told they weren’t home I would – in a very high pitched voice that only a seven year old can muster – politely ask the person on the other end of the line who was holding up their roof? Of course, being so uncontrollably excited about this ability to outwit the unsuspecting receiver of my call, I promptly hung up to then receive that special brand of encouragement that only rapturous laughter of a bunch of seven year olds can muster.
But like most men and women, we eventually grow up. As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things”
It strikes me that the prank calls made and condoned by commercial radio is simply an example of people failing to grow up and put away childish things. The radio hosts who engage in it probably don’t find it funny themselves, but a rapturous audience of equally immature people encourage the behaviour.
Humour and laughter are wonderful drugs upon which overdosing should be encouraged. We could all do with more. When was the last time you laughed so hard that it it hurt or so hard that it made you weep? My guess is too long ago.
In an attempt to make people laugh and save money at the same time, commercial radio hire cheap, fifth-rate presenters (the most recent trend is to hire two idiots that bounce off each other’s stupidity while masking their individual lack of knowledge) whose only brand of humour is the type that shocks (for example, body parts, bodily function, other’s ethnicity), or the type that offends someone’s dignity or self esteem (someone’s (dis)ability, appearance or relationships).
Most people grow up and get tired of the rubbish on commercial radio but plenty don’t. And sadly for one Indian family, Sydney got a laugh at their very great expense.
Roger Montgomery is the Founder and Chairman of Montgomery Investment Management. Roger has over three decades of experience in funds management and related activities, including equities analysis, equity and derivatives strategy, trading and stockbroking. Prior to establishing Montgomery, Roger held positions at Ord Minnett Jardine Fleming, BT (Australia) Limited and Merrill Lynch.
This post was contributed by a representative of Montgomery Investment Management Pty Limited (AFSL No. 354564). The principal purpose of this post is to provide factual information and not provide financial product advice. Additionally, the information provided is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion about any financial product. Any commentary and statements of opinion however may contain general advice only that is prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances or needs. Because of this, before acting on any of the information provided, you should always consider its appropriateness in light of your personal objectives, financial circumstances and needs and should consider seeking independent advice from a financial advisor if necessary before making any decisions. This post specifically excludes personal advice.
Jim Hasn
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Hi Roger
Agree with everything you said except that Sydney got a laugh because I believe that most of Sydney didn’t laugh.The big question here is what were those responsible thinking and by that I mean management,lawyers etc.
You play with matches, sometimes you get a fire. Sometimes that fire turns into a raging bushfire.
Nathan Manzi
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I do not disagree and add that the owner of the radio station is now happy to pay “blood money”…how’s that for corporate governance!
bob johnson
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Thoe’s comments deserve a standing ovation. Long live government and community radio.
Colin
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Unfortunately the greater population don’t possess the skill to enjoy quality wit. In the absence of those skills they stoop to the lowest form of humour which is sarcasm and ridicule. The people presenting themselves on morning shows as comedians, are really just clowns.
Wayne Major
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Well said, Roger!
Edward V
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I just want to get on my soap box and also comment on the 2Day FM radio prank which resulted in the death of a nurse working at King Edward VII Hospital in London recently.
For a start, death or no death of an employee of the hospital, this call was way out of line and failed to respect the privacy of the patient. The so-called radio presenters also failed to consider any of the potential lesser consequences which could have included a severe reprimand by her supervisor, or loss of employment by the nurse due to the revealing of private patient information to this radio station (even worse that it was a member of royalty) – not a great situation for the employee when you look at the state of the employment market in the UK at the moment. I don’t think I’d like to be looking for a job there.
The current photo of these two radio presenters shows a couple that are cocky smart-asses who are constantly reminded by their peers (and deranged listeners) they’re wonderfully funny, intelligent, good looking and street-savvy professionals who know how to draw a laugh or two (all in the name of ratings for Austereo). Unfortunately, their self-centredness failed to consider anything other than attracting attention to how witty and humouous they are. Of course, they’re anything but. The promotional photo I’m referring to repulses me given what has happened. In last night’s interview on Channel 7, their tears of sorrow for what happened fails to convince me. They were obviously instructed by their lawyers to repeat certain spiels and reflect the anger on to 2DayFM management (“don’t blame me, it was their fault”).
The whole culture of 2DayFM is obviously rank (Kyle Sandilands was/is an employee – enough said). From the CEO down, everyone is responsible. Yes, I’ve never liked these stations as they appeal to the lowest common denominator (and music seems to be such a small part of the program meaning listeners are forced to listen to these dolts for way too much of the time), but now that this happened I’m convinced that not only should 2DayFM lose its license to broadcast it should also be closed down.Certainly the careers of everyone involved should be at an end now in the media industry.
The radio presenters’ remorse may or may not be sincere, but it’s beside the point and completely irrelevant. A woman has lost her life, a husband and children have lost their wife/mother, and the rest of the family in India (the nurse was of Indian descent) have a gaping hole in their lives all due to the selfishness of this radio station and these two idiotic, brainless radio presenters. Yes, it’s fair to say the death was well and truely unforseen, but the lack of respect shown by this radio station to not only the patient in question but especially the staff of the hospital is deplorable.
There’s nothing that can be done to fix what’s happened, so it would be good if the two radio presenters just resigned and disappeared from public view and all of management should be asked to leave short of a wind up of the station (which would be the best outcome anyway, but unlikely).
Good on you 2Day FM, now the world is talking about that AUSTRALIAN radio station.
Ric Jay
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Re “not funny”. Love the Blog, Roger, but as my Aunty used to say – “stick to your knitting.” ’nuff said. Cheers.
Roger Montgomery
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Thanks Ric,
We have the option of investing in commercial radio. Should we? Is there now an ethical question? These are all questions worth considering.