Glass House Axed

The Glass House has been Axed (or is that Shattered?)

The ABC has just announced that the irreverent political and cultural panel show, The Glass House, has been axed after five years on the air.

Corinne Grant, Wil Anderson and Dave Hughes from The Glass House

Apparently the show has been axed due to its anti-Howard Government bias. Now, perhaps I’m mistaken, but isn’t the whole premise of a panel show to have people with strong opinions? When was the last time a gregarious group of fence-sitters and flip-floppers made for enlivened political debate? (No, parliamentary debates don’t count – they aren’t entertaining in the slightest.)
I agree that the Howard Government is lampooned a huge amount on the show, but it’s only natural that the party in government will be the one that receives the majority of the criticism. The Opposition party will generally receive less condemnation because everyone already knows that they have problems – it’s the reason why they didn’t get voted to power in the first place.

For the record, I often don’t agree with much of the left-wing stance of the presenters, particularly Wil Anderson and Corinne Grant. However, I always find it interesting to hear the views of other people, even if they don’t mesh with my own. Perhaps the Government would do well to take a leaf out of the same book – looking to oppress opposing viewpoints just indicates they have something to hide. While it would have been nice to see some more centrist or right-wing views to counterbalance the left on the show, I realise this may have been difficult – those in the entertainment industry are notoriously known for leaning to the sinister side (used in the context of definition 4, of course!).

Frankly though, I’m not that surprised that the show has been axed. Although ratings have been at their highest, the show itself has become less and less entertaining, with many long-time viewers (myself included) often tuning out. The guests were also becoming more and more pedestrian, while the material discussed had actually gravitated away from political to the more superficial.

Anderson claimed in the above article that they would be having a much better time if Mark Latham were Prime Minister. A country run by Mark Latham is something I just don’t want to think about. Frankly, I think Latham probably would have beat Wil to a pulp by now if he received the sort of ridicule that John Howard does.

So The Glass House will depart the ABC on November 29 to a mixed farewell. With one less scathing political satire on our screens, however feeble it had become, I can only hope that something will arise and fill this much-needed niche position. Where for art thou, Jon Stewart?

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November 1st 2006 @ 00:30

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1. November 1st 2006 @ 00:56. TonyK Says:

Oh, thats a shame I loved that show, sorry to see it go. Blatant example of censorship by the goverment.

2. November 1st 2006 @ 01:27. Nina Says:

TonyK: It certainly is a shame, we need more of those types of shows on Australian TV. I hope the censors don't go after the Chaser's War on Everything next!

Chatterpillar

3. November 1st 2006 @ 02:01. Big Cat Says:

Bastards! I loved the irreverence of that show.

Isn't irreverence supposed to be one of the Aussie national traits that John Howard wants immigrants to embrace? He should be howling, "Not true, we ARE amused" (as opposed to Queen Vic's famous "We are not amused").

I see poor ratings aren't the reason for The Glass House axing, stoning, shattering, whatever, coz it averaged audiences of 728,000 - consistently outrating commercial programs on at the same time.

Heaven forbid that being precious, not being able to take a kidding, should become a national trait. People who take offence are a real pain in the arse. Personally, I believe real people can laugh at anything.

Like the good example US Jews showed by voting with their tickets to the Broadway show The Producers, for which Mel Brooks wrote "Springtime for Hitler" and the show's jailhouse finale, "Prisoners of Love."

Now a classic, the comedy is about a down-and-out Broadway producer teamed with a nerdy accountant (Gene Wilder's character) to make a musical based on the life of Hitler, with the intention of running off with the surplus of cash once the show inevitably flops because of the outcry about making fun of the Holocaust.

But unlike in the plot , the actual show didn't flop. Breaking all records, it won 12 Tony Awards, besting the 10 won by Hello, Dolly! in 1964.

Originally no theatrical producer would touch it, excusing themselves that there were too many scenes, too many characters and too many musicians. Funny how ignoring the fuddie duddies who surreptitiously pander to perceived political sensitivities produces a better Broadway.

And hopefully a better Australia.

Where for art thou Mel ..

4. November 1st 2006 @ 02:22. Nina Says:

Big Cat: Your comment is very insightful and totally spot on. Irreverence, the ability to laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves too seriously are traits that I love about this country. I'd hate to see that lost to national oversensitivity, and the beginning of a culture that doesn't question its leaders or itself.

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5. November 1st 2006 @ 04:29. Cibbuano Says:

WHAT!?

I'm not even Australian and I think that's horrendous... it's one of the few local shows that I really enjoyed for its wit and scathing commentary.

And that reason: for being anti-Howard? That's ridiculous!

What the hell!

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6. November 1st 2006 @ 05:53. KylieW Says:

I love the Glasshouse. But more to the point, how can a show be taken off air because of it's political views? What happened to having an opinion? I thought that was what the ABC was about.

If John Howard doesn't want to be continually attacked, then perhaps the Liberal party could try and do something right for a change. I thought the ability to laugh at ourselves was one of the finest of Australian traits. Along with the fact that we let everyone have their own opinion....even if we don't agree with it.

I'm actually really angry about this. Honestly, in a time when politicians manipulate so much of the media to generate fear in people......we need all the shows we can have on tv that show a different opinion.

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7. November 1st 2006 @ 05:58. KylieW Says:

One more thing I forgot to put in my comment was, when Wil Anderson made the comment about how the Glasshouse would be having a great time if Latham was in power. I actually saw that show and the context of the comment was that they would be having a great time if Latham was in power, because he does so many stupid things that they would hardly have to do anything at all to come up with political satire. Not that the country would be better with Latham in power.

Whichever political party is in power is always going to take a hammering from shows like this. And there's nothing wrong with that.

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8. November 1st 2006 @ 06:49. Lilla Says:

This is precisely why I gave up mainstream journalism...

9. November 1st 2006 @ 07:07. Yolanda Says:

Waking up to that in the paper wasn't cool, ABC will be sorry.

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10. November 1st 2006 @ 07:08. DuskDevi Says:

Is this for real? It's not April 1st is it?

I thought the reason politics and politicians exist is to provide material for panel shows...

As always, excellent post Nina, agree with all your points.
Although Wil Anderson's and Corinne Grant's humour can be a bit base, this has always been a favourite but it has lost its lustre...now it's all bluster.

But still...

DuskDevi

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11. November 1st 2006 @ 08:32. edward Says:

That show was so funny, I can't believe it'll be gone. Now who is gonna lampoon Howard?

12. November 1st 2006 @ 09:00. Nina Says:

Cibbuano: I know, I could hardly believe it either! I"m afraid wit and scathing commentary are mostly absent from our screens, which is something I'd definitely like to see changed.

13. November 1st 2006 @ 09:09. Nina Says:

KylieW: Thanks for giving the context of the Latham quote. It definitely puts it in a different perspective, and does support the idea that it is always the party in power that will receive the most criticism.

14. November 1st 2006 @ 09:12. Nina Says:

Lilla: It's a shame that this sort of thing does go on, and I'm sorry that these attitudes forced you out of journalism. It's just not the way things should be done.

15. November 1st 2006 @ 09:14. Nina Says:

Yolanda: I can imagine that the ABC will face a backlash because of this, even from those who aren't fans of the show.

16. November 1st 2006 @ 09:18. Nina Says:

DuskDevi: I really wish I could say it was fake. I just don't get it. Panel shows are supposed to have opinions. How are opinions supposed to be heard when this sort of censorship goes on?

17. November 1st 2006 @ 09:22. Nina Says:

edward: That's the question, isn't it? With commercial networks shying away from anything vaguely political, the ABC has always been the last bastion of scathing satirical commentary. With these sort of 'anti-bias' measures in place the chance of any new or existing shows being able to lampoon the Howard Government has dropped significantly.

yourblackpumps

18. November 1st 2006 @ 09:29. yourblackpumps Says:

it actually makes me sad to type this. i doubt how much this has to do with political views. most people i know, even those ones who were obsessed with wil anderson, have stopped watching. it once at least had some social commentary, now most of the time it was composed of crass humor.

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19. November 1st 2006 @ 12:08. Ahmed Says:

I wish Mark Latham was PM right now, if you think he wasn't suited then I guess its your democratic right to prefer a smelly old man instead.

However that has nothing to do with the Glass House, I can't believe they cancelled it.. Now there are like only 2 good local Australian TV shows left, one is 'Thank God you're here' and hte other I cna't even remember anymore!

Curse you who cancelled this witty show! I don't care if it got boring, it deserved to lose ratings like any other boring show and drift into oblivion!

BTW who here agrees the one with the sex therapist really sucked? It got like 3 segments from it put on the 'best of' show...

Oh, the other one was 'the chaser'...

20. November 1st 2006 @ 12:26. Nina Says:

yourblackpumps: I definitely agree that the show had gone downhill, but the fact is that the ratings were still good - although a lot of the old viewers had stopped watching, there must have been new ones tuning in. I watched the show tonight for the first time in ages. While it was fairly funny (due to having comedians on instead of sports stars) it just went back to the crass instead of actual issues.

21. November 1st 2006 @ 12:29. Nina Says:

Ahmed: Personally I prefer neither, but I guess that really isn't an option! I agree with your notion that the show should have been allowed to come to it's natural end, rather than being forced from the air. I bet they will go all out over the next few weeks with the anti-Howard stuff. They'd already started tonight.

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22. November 1st 2006 @ 12:31. Ahmed Says:

Its why I like the show bashing conservatists is always fun... if a bit cheap, kind of easy to make fun of them you see? BUt the fact of the matter is they are living jokes (well some of them).

I think there was some sort of external, *evil*, element that shut off the show, probably from a conservatist source...

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23. November 1st 2006 @ 21:23. Cibbuano Says:

I watched the Glass House again last night, and there was an air of tragedy on the show. The audience was almost misty-eyed.

They even cracked a joke about the ABC, which drew howls of laughter.

It's a really entertaining show, and it's not THAT political.

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24. November 1st 2006 @ 21:25. Cibbuano Says:

25. November 1st 2006 @ 23:01. Nina Says:

That's what I don't get, Cibbuano. The show really isn't that political anymore - it was much moreso a few years ago, but now it is more odd news stories than anything. Though I'd say there will be a few more jokes at the ABC's expense over the coming weeks.

26. November 2nd 2006 @ 05:18. Joanna Says:

those who don't take criticism well shouldn't be politicans in the first place. As a resident alien in Australia I have to say this news is particuarly sad, because 1) even my silly president can laugh at his own expense now and again and 2) AND THIS IS A BIG ONE!! this was one of the best shows on Australian television which is notorious for not having very good television, so all of us used to entertaining TV are distraught!

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27. November 2nd 2006 @ 05:44. Ahmed Says:

Well theres always 'The Chaser' and 'Thank god your here' keeping us alive

28. November 2nd 2006 @ 05:53. Nina Says:

Joanna: Imagine if every show in America that criticised President Bush was taken off the air - there certainly would be a lot of holes in the schedule! It's funny, I can just see Dubya having a chuckle when Will Forte parodies him on Saturday Night Live.

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29. November 2nd 2006 @ 05:57. Ahmed Says:

you can imagine georgebush laughing? Wow, you must have an imagination to rival the likes of... of the most imaginative people on earth.

I don't htink it would be that bad, Fox news would stay for sure...

30. November 2nd 2006 @ 06:03. Nina Says:

George Bush does laugh - in fact, it's usually one of the attributes that impersonators pick up on. His shoulders move a lot and he makes a 'heh heh heh' sound. It's actually quite amusing!

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31. November 2nd 2006 @ 06:05. Ahmed Says:

Well he's a clown I guess, so thats understandable.

32. November 2nd 2006 @ 06:45. Joanna Says:

I don't like the man, and I'm sure I'm going to be slammed for saying so, but of all Bush's ridiculous qualities that make him unfit for the office he holds, his sense of humor might be his most redeeming (despite is unredeemableness) quality. And yes, if every show that lambasted him was pulled US television might be as boring as Australian television

Hopefully Dubya can talk Howard into having a little chuckle at his own expense and we can bring back the glass house

33. November 2nd 2006 @ 08:51. Stanley Says:

i agree that satire and the powerful will always will be the targets of comedy and it is a shame that a show like this has disappeared. i am from the left of the spectrum but i also believe that free speech is a fundamental basis for a functional democracy. free speech in oz - r.i.p.

34. November 2nd 2006 @ 09:09. Nina Says:

Stanley: It certainly is a bit worrying for free speech when this sort of censorship goes on. However, I'm glad so many people have made their way over here to express their opinions on the topic - through the internet, free speech will live for at least another day.

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35. November 2nd 2006 @ 11:08. Ahmed Says:

Pah, I wish but it seems even 14 year old girls aren't safe using the internet

36. November 2nd 2006 @ 13:04. Justin Says:

This is so disappointing.
It's not as if the anti-Howard stance was indictable or even took seriously. It is a comedy show! Full of comedians!
I attribute the ABC broadcasting of trying to pass the buck onto blaming the Howard government of pulling the pin.
Anyway, I seriously doubt the Glasshouses' audience could be swayed back by the Howard policies, even after axing the show..

37. November 2nd 2006 @ 13:40. Nina Says:

That sure is one scary post, Ahmed.

Justin: The fact is that audiences will watch what appeals to them. If a viewer feels a show has an unjustified anti-Howard bias, they will simply switch off. It's their right to have that choice, rather than the government tell them that they can't watch a show.

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38. November 2nd 2006 @ 14:34. Whatever Says:

It is such crap - the fact that it was axed - the show was great. R.I.P Glass House.

Before we know it there will be a curfew and it will be revealed that John Howard is the real Big Brother, and any comedy will incur the death sentence.

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39. November 2nd 2006 @ 21:58. Vixter Says:

I didn't realise it was due to the anti howard stance that the glass house was being axed...that sad really - there is no sanity in a country without political satire...being able to laugh at such things is part of what makes us Australian....
that is a shame indeed.

As for the panelists...I will sure miss will and dave...especially dave - and on that note you have inspired me to write a post about dave and his "rising star"...
I'll hop to it.

40. November 2nd 2006 @ 22:55. Nina Says:

Whatever: With the worrying things that are going on in the world, your theory may not be so far fetched.

41. November 2nd 2006 @ 22:57. Nina Says:

Vixter: Dave has always been my favourite of the panelists. I'll have to hop over your way and read your post about him.

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42. November 3rd 2006 @ 03:49. MattH Says:

yet another indication of the direction Howard has been steering us over the past decade..

New media laws pass and THIS is the only show to go?
c'mon

Oh look, James Packer selling his shares THE DAY the laws were passed...not brought into effect but passed..

Odd all these conflicting interests innit..

43. November 3rd 2006 @ 04:56. Nina Says:

MattH: It certainly is worrying. We need more enjoyable local shows on the air, not less.

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44. November 3rd 2006 @ 06:26. Ahmed Says:

ok, just to confirm, did the show actually get axed directly becuase of some new media law?

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45. November 6th 2006 @ 00:22. Ragin Cajun Says:

I think ABC said it was because of budget constraints. What a load of crap. Speaking of which, that's exactly what most of the remaining shows on TV are: a load of crap.

46. November 6th 2006 @ 09:10. Nina Says:

Ahmed: As far as I'm aware it's due to the ABC cracking down on bias - I suppose since it is goverment owned it is supposed to take on a neutral tone.

47. November 6th 2006 @ 09:11. Nina Says:

Ragin Cajun: The ABC are notorious for their budget issues, but I hardly think that the Glass House would have been particularly expensive to make. And yes, there is a lot of crap on TV.

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48. November 6th 2006 @ 10:35. Ahmed Says:

bias? if the federal government doesn'twant bias it could simply friggin start giving a damn about the ABC, then the ABC would have no reason to prefer the opposition over it.

Next thing they'll start axing news stories becuase of 'bias'. Hey guess what idiiots, but when John Howard is an idiot and lies, he is an idiot and lies, yuou cannot report that in a non-bias way.

This is called censorship, end of story.

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49. November 6th 2006 @ 11:20. Vixter Says:

that is very scary...but you know I am not surprised - i think there might be some truth to that comment...sadly.
Oh and PS have you ever watched FOX news...if that isn't censorship of all things antibush, I don't know what is

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50. November 6th 2006 @ 11:21. Ahmed Says:

It is, they have a dvd doco about fox news' censorship. I cant recall its name but it really showed how biased fox was.

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51. November 6th 2006 @ 11:26. Vixter Says:

I remember watching the last election and I flicked channels to compare the vote counts...and guess where bush happened to be leading the way by a LONG shot

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52. November 6th 2006 @ 11:27. Ahmed Says:

not on the ABC I bet...

Yeah, tahts fox news for you. OPen bias and inaccuracies in the media, yet people in the united states would rather sue mcdonalds for the temperature of their coffee...

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53. November 6th 2006 @ 11:47. Vixter Says:

I know - It almost makes me afraid to go there...sometimes I think to myself that somethings are so loco that if I were to accidentally tread on someones foot I'd be sued...and it's so easy to go to such a ridiculous effort for such a ridiculous thing BUT try to do soemthing beneficila to the world, like I don't know pay attention! and no...too hard...
wow that was a rant - sorry it side tracked censorship but i hope you get it

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54. November 6th 2006 @ 11:49. Ahmed Says:

Yeah I get it. Its ridiculous, while george bush is legalizing torture here, everyoens watching dancing ith the stars over there...

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55. November 6th 2006 @ 12:04. Vixter Says:

Oooo nice one...I don't think I could have summed it up better!

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56. November 6th 2006 @ 12:06. Ahmed Says:

Heh, I didn't say that, a democrat senator did.