"Cut this rubbish out": Channel 7's fresh "news" segment slammed
Channel 7's major bulletin shake up has not been well received by some viewers.
On Friday night, they kicked off their new comedy segment with Mark Humphries, whose satirical humour was intended to be used to "cut through political spin and translate current affairs in the universal news language of taking the piss” according to appointed news director Anthony De Ceglie.
Humphries’ three minutes comedy segment premiered under the banner The 6.57pm News, and was made to look like a continuation of the news.
That night, they were discussing US President Joe Biden's press conference which aired earlier in the day.
“His press conference was delayed for over an hour, presumably because the President was running late … or more likely waddling late,” Humphries said in the segment.
“Biden who is 81 – but doesn’t look a day over 90 – spoke smoothly on a variety of issues and allayed voters fears about his age … is what I wish I could tell you.
“Instead, this happened …”
He then played a clip of Biden confusing Kamala Harries with Donald Trump, followed by another clip of him whispering on the lectern.
“Very reassuring and not weird at all,” the comic said.
Humphries then tried to make a joke out of it saying that Biden was suffering from a condition called “that guy old” with symptoms including confusing names, long pauses, “and keeping your mouth just that little bit open with that slightly disappointed look like Bunnings just told you the sausage sizzle is closed”.
“But if you think that’s bad, wait till you find out the condition the other candidate has ‘that guy convicted felon’,” he concluded.
While some Channel 7 viewers "loved" it and thought it was “better than The Project,” a few others were less impressed.
“This was an appalling segment … hire, rather than sack, journos,” read one comment on social media.
“It was a deplorable segment that has no place in a news bulletin,” another added.
"It was absolutely ridiculous. I hope channel 7 cut this rubbish out," wrote a third.
"This was cringe," another said.
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