The Chaser's War on Everything

[CoombellKid]

On the ABC at 9pm tonight, should be gooood :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

regards,CS

[Jarrod]

it's going to be soooooooooooooo funny!!!! :rofl:

i can't wait to hear their opinion regarding what happened last week. all the money spent to create a "secure area", and they get beaten by some comedians in black cars!!!

[CoombellKid]

ooooh yeeeah!

regards,CS

[Omaroo]

I sincerely hope that they serve jail time for this. Most found it funny - I'm afraid that I didn't. trust "our" ABC to be behind this sort of idiocy.

Just me...

[acropolite]

It will be one to watch, personally I believe they should be on the Queens birthday honours list. :rofl:

[Omaroo]

The sad part is that they probably will be. :screwy:



Uhmm.. right.

[leon]

They were lucky they didn't get shot, I reckon.

Leon

[matt]

Hmmm.

I'm a little ambivalent about this whole business.

I think I've just grown out of them. Earlier on I found them amusing and sometimes clever.

These days I find them mostly irritating, in an undergraduate university student "look at me....look at me!" kind of way.

I'm with Omaroo on this one.

[davidpretorius]

i found it funny, but then thought, that they could have been actually shot by the secret service in real life

[ferret]

Jail time?!? That's a little harsh.

Is it because they irritate you? If so, I want people who walk slowly at peak hour executed and their names erased from all records, 1984-style.

All people are irritating.

Or is it because they showed that the government flushed $160M on 'security' from which the only tangible results were a 100 pound woman thrown violently to the ground and an accountant having been charged for jaywalking?

Exposing deceit and pointlessness is what public broadcasters the world over do best.

[astroron]

I am not a fan of the show , but it showed that the security services where not doing their job properly.
If you think they should go to jail for that, maybe you should go and live in a totalitarian state where that would happen.

[Omaroo]

China? - They would have been shot.

Russia? - They would have been shot.

USA? - They would have been shot.

Masquerading as Osama Bin Laden near the president? They might have been shot.

Matt said it just right - "look at me. look at me!!" childish crap undergraduate university left-wing television..

[ferret]

Surely you aren't using China, Russia or the USA as examples of 'sensible' countries?

You're giving mixed messages here. :shrug:

You seem to be saying that the Australian reaction is too hard and too soft at the same time. That, my friend, is an oxymoron...

[Omaroo]

Those idiots, dressed as the number-one wanted man in the world, could have started the secret service reacting - justifiably some may say - and our own police (and others) could have been hurt by being in the way - their mistake or not. they have never had such a job to do as this, so cut them some slack. If you don't appreciate their effort then I surely do.

USA - not a sensible country? Where's this coming from? Your obvious dislike for one president and you toss the whole nation in with him? Pffftt.:rolleyes:

Mike - probably time to close this thread already.

[seeker372011]

the show was quite funny but I thought the Steve Irwin Bindi segment was in appalling taste

but thats the show-uneven , edgy, funny, undergadtuate humour ..and only in australia

cant imagine it in or an equivalent anywhere else-except maybe in the UK

[GrahamL]

I thought it was funny as :)... what isn't .. is the fact that despite 170 mil
(our money) getting p##### up against the wall on "security"
with a bit of nouse you can drive up to the front door of the venue :mad2:
As has been pointed out before this junket could of been held at a much smaller secure isolated location with little cost in comparrison.

[Ric]

It was a purely Australian reaction to a overblown situation. we are not Americans, we are Australians.

Cheers

[ferret]

It seems that someone is making an assumption.

Let me make one:



Therefore you think babies should be shivved in the shower of a maximum security jail.

Absurd isn't it?

Actually, I don't have a problem with Bush. He is no better or worse that any other survivor of the brutal US presidential preselection process.

Intelligent design taught alongside Evolution - not sensible
Invading the country next to the one with the real danger to the US - not sensible
Leaving the poor to drown during a hurricane - not sensible
Bill O'Reilly getting massive ratings- not sensible

I was talking about the country, not the president.

[h0ughy]

yes it was funny that they showed a gaping hole in security, they can be humorous sometimes, but I agree its a stunt too far. Take the mickey out of anyone and get away with it - priceless

but pay a heap of money and get these loonies to show it up in a few minutes - disastrous - that only means they haven't spent enough and they will plough more money into "water trucks" and thats not for road construction or watering plants in either.

well that does me......

[norm]

I hope we Australians haven't lost our sense of humour. We all need to lighten up.

That said, it will be interesting when they go to court. Throw Pat O'shane as the magistrate and wait for the fireworks and the police uproar!:P

[Nevyn]

Sorry norm, but do people really find offensive behaviour funny? I'm with Omaroo on this one, I don't find them funny at all! Never have!

[dugnsuz]

UP YOURS GRANDAD!!!!

PS: Hoping that people find offensive behaviour funny!!?

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P: P:P:P:P:P:P:P

[Nevyn]

LOL! Haven't been called grandad before :P been called many other things though ;)

[dugnsuz]

Onya mate - you see that's what makes this dirty brown rock worth living on...our sense of humour!:lol:
All the best
Doug:thumbsup:

[astro_nutt]

Spend a fortune on security to protect World Leaders visiting our wonderful country full of warm friendly people..with the exception of a minority...and then to have a few guys breach security..heads will roll over this I'm sure..not to mention the embarrassment to the Police Force...not a good way to prove a point...

[csb]

Re: the individual security staff who let the Chasers' group through - we are all human (the weakest link in any plans of man).

All Chasers did was expose the fallibility on those men & women.

It must be so numbing to stand guard all day and soon it becomes rote to even look at who is in the car and perhaps their credentials.

I'm with Omaroo and others.

When will this liberal downward spiral of standards and morals stop.

[citivolus]

Better that the security holes be brought to light by those who are well meaning, than those who are not.

[iceman]

Whether or not you like or dislike what happened, it's your opinion. It's not appropriate for anyone to attack or have a go at someone else for their opinion.

Keep it civil or take it to PM.

[OneOfOne]

I didn't see the show, I was doing better things at the ASV meeting listening about planetary imaging!

Never really been a fan, only seen a couple of shows. When they were exposed as setting up a number of their gags it removes the sponteneity from much of their humour. Now you don't know what is real and what is contrived. Their style of humour is largely like a "candid camera" gone too far, so where's Allan Funt when you need him?

Yes, they did point out serious flaws in the security, however, if those flaws were not there, maybe they would have been shot. It would have been interesting to see if the footage had been aired then! Would they be sitting back laughing at themselves as a bullet passes through their back and they fall to the ground? I think not. The security would have been canned again, I guess they were in a loose loose situation.

I for one find placing people in situations which they may consider very dangerous (like holding up a 7-11) in the name of humour is a very sad observation of our society. I think the funniest thing would be to watch their show die, I think they have proved a point, we are a bit sick, "time for them to go". Let's move on.

[CoombellKid]

well we hope the secret service are intelligent enough to think hmmmm
Osama Bin Ladin in sydney, driving up to the Apec conference to jump out of a car hmmm does't quite compute.

I get good chuckle out of these guy's, admittingly some of it haven't quite
gotten a laugh out of me, but I still watch it (one of the few thingS i do watch on TV)

regards,CS

[Omaroo]

Oh... I forgot to add the UK... where I remember a Spanish-speaking bloke was shot not long ago because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn't even provoke his particular situation (apart from running)....

[Omaroo]

Anyone looking at him wouldn't say he resembled OBL very closely at all. What they couldn't know for sure is that someone dressed as a fundamentalist Muslim pushing their way through into a secure area holding the President wasn't one - intending to be "funny" or not.

[acropolite]

Sadly, I believe the flaws are in our democracy. The security aspects of the event were over the top and infringed on our civil liberties. Those who deliberately sought to cause trouble at demonstrations (there are obviously a handful of violent add ons who delight in causing trouble) could be dealt with in accordance with existing laws. The chaser team were brutally honest, well prepared (their documentation clearly showed who they were) and gave something back to the community (entertainment) WITHOUT causing anyone inconvenience, financial loss or physical or emotional harm, let alone shutting down a whole city, none of which APEC or it's associated security arrangements delivered.

[CoombellKid]

Then in that case, they showed massive holes inthe security. you have to
remember the police allowed them in. Right or wrong they should of been
picked up. still i dont think it warrents jail time, it would only be revenge
from a embarrassed government, not justice.

Another thing, we have a lot of people who dress like that and live in Sydney
not all of them hold those fundamentalist views, so we shouldn't be stereo typing

It does not matter what party wins the next election, the Chaser boy's should
be given the Entertainment Portfolio ;)

regards,CS

[mickoking]

Chasers...that is something I miss here in China.The APEC meeting was broadcast extensively here in China and it did seem like an overblown event, a long way removed from the image of laid back Australia. As norm said "I hope we Australians haven't lost our sense of humour".

[CoombellKid]

You can go onto the ABC's website and download podcasts :thumbsup:

More worrying I hear the beer is terrible over there:help:

regards,CS

[Satchmo]

The sketch showed up what dubious huge expense of tax payers money on security for a dubious political shindig. A quintissentially Australian pisstake. Pure gold IMHO. :thumbsup:

[astroron]

The person who was shot was from Brazil;)
If one carn't run for a train without being shot tells me maybe the terrorist have us mightaly scared:( and not thinking properly.
The security services of this country and others should take this as a lesson, that the enemy will not always come in with guns blazing.
Somtimes stealth and subtifuge work better.

[astroron]

What was offensive about the prank?
AS Pauline Hanson would say "please explaine":shrug:

[casstony]

Whether you like Chaser or not, I like the fact that they are allowed to do what they do. It's an indication that democracy is still alive and kicking.

Overall I like the show but they do go where they shouldn't at times. Topics such as child sexual abuse or someone's death should be left alone.

[shredder]

Well I thought the stunt was quite funny, and I would agree that they probably didnt expect to get as far as they did. I also hope they get off, it was just a bit of a lark.

I also agree that some of the rest of the show was in bad taste, such as the Bindii thing.

Though I feel most for are all those police they passed who were also just doing the Ausie thing (of not giving a damn), and probably also thinking the security was a massive overkill, who are now going to be investigated. I am sure any checkpoint would have fallen for that stunt, but these officers are going to suffer for it.

They would have been far better booking out Hamilton Island for a week and having it (APEC) there. Very easy to keep secure. Why was there a need to have it in Sydney at all, and what a complete waste of money.

[DJVege]

Well, everyone's giving their 2c, so I may as well give mine.

What's worrying is that terrorists that watched the chasers are probably hitting themselves over the head saying, "What? It was that easy!!"

I agree the Chaser's could be charged with trespassing, but that is all I think they should be charged with. Trespassers don't usually get jail time. And I don't think police anger stems from "the possibility that they could have been shot". I think they were made to look foolish, so obviously will retaliate angrilly.

EDIT: Probably not trespassing as they were allowed in by the police...but that's for the courts to argue.

[janoskiss]

It was the highest rating show for the ABC for about a decade with 2.3m viewers! Outrated everything else on TV. That in itself is very impressive for a show on the ABC! I don't have a TV so did not see it but will do when the dvd comes out which i'm sure it will. From what I've seen of the Chaser in the past: when they are funny they are really funny.

[robin]

Then only thing that truly offended me during APEC was the image of the female press photographer being thrown full force on the ground by the police. Lucky her head didnt split open.
I have VERY strong views on the US president & our PM's adoration of him but I'll keep 'em private:whistle:

[CoombellKid]

I have to say I agree with every point you make :thumbsup:

regards,CS

[robin]

Thanks CS

[glenc]

I don't watch them, but I think the Chaser's crimes are small compared to the crimes committed by some of the world leaders.

[sailormoon]

yup they got off free, they not sure did a lot of views that night.

[Louwai]

When I lived in China the only Australian TV show I could get was Aerobics Oz Style. :) Funnily enough, all of my male Chinese friends (& some female) new it was on & watched it. And it wasn't on CCTV 9 (or 4, whichever the English one is. I forget) it was on a Chinese channel.:D

Oh, & the other topic in this thread. I'm not into the show or the pranks, but I think they did a good job of highlighting a flaw in the system. Everyone involved, including the police who watched them drive past, should accept it for what it was. Better it was these guys than a car loaded with explosives.

[Stevo69]

I'd be happy watching Aerobics Oz Style!

Well, My two cents worth on Chaser, and I respect every comment before and after this:

1. I personally believe their was no danger in getting shot by snipers. I've worked with these sort of trained personnel - they are smarter than that. For people to comment "If this was China/Russia/USA etc etc, they'd have been shot!" Fundamental point - this is NOT China/Russia/USA etc etc.. this is Australia.

2. From the footage inside the motorcade last Wednesday, I was clear that they did not expect to get that far, and as was explained by Chas on radio earlier in the day, the Green and Red zones were not clearly defined and they only realised they had driven into the Red zone after the event. Then they tried to do a U-turn to get out and end the sketch.

3. I wonder how many people object to the "stunt" considered watching the extra footage on Wednesday night?

4. Enough has been said about what flaws it opened up in a multi-million dollar security operation.

5. After Chas alighted from the vehicle as Osama Bin Laden to join Julian, the security flanked and arrested Julian, leaving "Osama" trailing behind them, unescorted?

6. Footage and still photographs of "Osama" leaning against a barrier laughing with 3 security/police members together?

7. My personal objection to these sort of events which do little in the practical sense to solve many major issues in the world.

8. Any show which exposes to the TV masses the reality of Today/Tonight and ACA is worth every cent> Previously working for a major TV network, I used to cringe at the tactics of these shows (Frontline proved this). Chaser is the comedic version of Media Watch.

9. What an ABC line-up on Wednesdays !!!!: New Inventors, Spicks and Specks; Chasers; Summer Heights High; Margaret and David. All my interests all on one night!

10. nuff said, getting of the soapbox now

hoo roo,
Steve

[mickoking]

When I was in Yangshuo one of the bars had an Aussie satellite TV station and we could watch the AFL. Here in Xintian the only English channels I can get are CCTV9, The Asian News Channel and Aljazeera.
BTW some Chinese beer is very good but you have to search for it.