The former host ofThe 7.30 Report andFour Corners is starring in a campaign-time call-to-arms video produced and funded by the ABC Alumni speaking out about the ABC’s importance to not just democracy but life as we know it.
It starts with footage of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and points out that the US has very low levels of public broadcasting funding.
“I don’t work for the ABC these days,nor speak for it,” KO’B says in the video,released Wednesday morning on YouTube. “But at no point in my lifetime has the ABC been more important than it is today,” continues the public broadcasting icon,who retired from the ABC in 2015 after 32 years.
The Gold Walkley winner then takes aim at the IPA,and its five part podcast series,which called the ABC a “danger to democracy” and the dozen or so Coalition MPs who took part in the series,including SenatorAndrew Bragg,the chair of communications legislation committee,to whom this column owes an apology given that we haven’t mentioned the old publicity craver in nearly six weeks. Soz mate,but 2022 is all aboutDave Sharma.
O’Brien doesn’t endorse any candidates but urges “stand up and be counted” and “back the candidates who support a stronger,better-funded ABC”. B1,I don’t think he’s talking aboutPeter Dutton andBarnaby Joyce,do you?
O’Brien will be lacing up his cowboy boots to be a speaker at an ABC Friends rally on Sunday. He will be joined by Labor shadow minister for communicationsMichelle Rowland,Greens communications spokeswomanSarah Hanson-Young,Teal independent Member for WarringahZali Steggall and ABC Friends national presidentMargaret Reynolds. Comms ministerPaul Fletcher has been invited. But he’s probably watching reruns ofVerathat day.
Former ABC journalist Kerry O’Brien is starring in a campaign-time call-to-arms video.Illustration:John Shakespeare
VICTORIAN VICTORY
It’s been a big two weeks for producer extraordinaire and NSW South Coast exportMichael Cassel. Last week,the Minnamurra-born theatre executive who broughtHamiltonto Australia received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wollongong. A privilege and some major kudos for the bloke who skipped tertiary education for the express lane of live production working for Sydney’s famed late promoterHarry M. Miller.
But the academic honour wasn’t the Cassel blockbuster of the month. That title went to&Juliet the ’90s jukebox show born from the urgent question:“What if Shakespeare decided Juliet shouldn’t die,but instead should go on to live a fabulous life and sing a heap of pop songs by Swedish one-man hit factoryMax Martin,who created anthems for everyone fromBritney SpearstoKatie Perry?”
Or as event host ABC newsreaderKarina Carvalho put it,“if you prefer Britney to Beethoven,or Backstreet Boys over The Beatles,you’re going to love this announcement”.
Except of course,if you are the NSW government,which the Victorian government beat (again) for the rights to host a major production.
In the corner of Tuesday’s launch at The Forum in Melbourne,Victorian major events ministerMartin Pakuladeclined to give away how much the state paid Michael Cassel Group to secure the Australian premiere:“What we don’t want to do is give our interstate opponents a heads-up on what it would take for them to steal the theatre crown from us”. Still smarting from losing theHamilton tussle to Sydney,no doubt.
We already know,thanks toAge arts editorNick Miller‘s exhaustive reading of the Visit Victoria annual report,that Victoria paid $1.4 million to lureMoulin Rouge to Melbourne. Jayco caravan kingGerry Ryan is chair of production company Global Creatures and on the board of Visit Victoria,so they had to declare it as a related party transaction.
Britney fans rejoice,‘& Juliet’ is coming to town.Patrick Demarchelier
Asked if there were a bunch of Britney fans in the state government who’d been pushing for this one,he replied “not that I’m aware of,but I’m sure that there are many Britney Spears fans in government generally”.
Intriguing. But he quickly shut down speculation:“I can confirm that that played no role in the decision to pursue this.″
GOING STRONG
Real Housewife of Melbourne star Janet Roach.Luis Ascui
SPOTTED:Enjoying a long lunch at France Soir on a languid Tuesday,still going strong at 3.25pm,none other thanReal Housewives of MelbournestarJanet Roachwith two gal pals. The legendary South Yarra establishment was almost entirely empty,but where was the trio sitting? Yep,right in the window seat. It’s what you call prime time.
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