The Verdict Is In: Channel Nine’s New Show Is A Stinker
Mark Latham opened with the line “Its very clear that we have a Muslim problem in Western Sydney” and that set the tone for what would become one of most inane hours of Australian television ever.
It got no better… We had Campbell Brown giving his thoughts on extremism, Jacqui Lambie speaking with the elegance of a ten year old bogan, and lots and lots and lots of Mark Latham speaking over people.
Twitter reacted but not as Channel 9 would have hoped. Most viewers took to twitter to express how ridiculously stupid the show was.
Karl Stefanovic is awesome. Other than that, 'The Verdict' is a poor man's 'Q&A'. #qanda #theverdict
— Stefan Popović (@stefan_popovic) October 8, 2015
So cruel – from the comments section on The Verdict: "It's like Q&A. For Queenslanders."
— Sir Hornbag (@hornery) October 8, 2015
Watching the first episode of ch9s the verdict stupid trash
— busdriver johnny (@johncpocock) October 8, 2015
And it wasn’t just Latham’s blata
nt attacks on the mentally ill. There was racism and stupidity for all.
One thing was very clear. There wasn’t an informed discussion to be had. Experts like Anne Aly struggled to get a word in each way, while Jamilia Rizvi struggled to be heard over Mark Latham’s constant interrupting.
The entire show descended into a Fox News-style shouting match, the kind of which are condemned almost worldwide. Whilst channel 9 hoped for a Q&A style discussion both by the panel and those on social media, what it got was what it deserved; A backlash against ridiculed self-indulgen ‘Media Stars’ and there uneducated opinions.
Turns out it doesn’t matter which side of the political
spectrum you lean towards, a room of Idiots shouting is a room of Idiots shouting.
Words by Johnathon Salamon
Header image via: Channel Nine