a tv disgrace

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about what they call “reality television”. Programmes that have given unknown Australians their fifteen minutes of fame – as Andy Warhol once described it.

Shows like the execrable  Big Brother and Australian Idol  and all those interminable house renovation programmes. And, to be fair, I guess I should throw in Dancing With the Stars, on which I appeared but.

But Granada Productions – for whom I worked on DWTS – has  scraped the bottom of the barrel with its new planned programme “I’m a Celebrity—Get Me out of Here”.

It’s based on a British version but that’s not the problem here. That’s not my issue.

A producer for Granada, whom I know and have worked with – Helen Jackson – has approached the lawyer for a so-called “celebrity” to take part.

His name is Greg Domaszewicz. The main suspect over the death of little Jaidyn Leskie whose battered body was found weighted down in a dam.

It is true Domaszewicz was acquitted by a jury. Although he didn’t have the guts to take the stand. He also virtually said “bring it on” when a coronial inquest was planned and then not only refused to testify but tried to halt it.

That inquest continues. I mean this is bizarre. This man is not a celebrity. He certainly is notorious. It is like making Chopper Read a TV hero – as Elle McFeast tried to do.  Or turn OJ Simpson into a night time talk show host.

Helen Jackson is quoted today as saying that “none of this is in the public area yet”.

It certainly is now.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006