The Footy Show Takes A Good Hard Look At Itself… And Axes Trevor Marmalade

After a controversy filled year, one of the highlights of which being Sam Newman remarking on air that some women were worthy of coming on (… the show, you perverts! Worthy of coming on the show!), it seems the folks at Channel Nine have examined the program thoroughly, and after much thought they’ve located the show’s weak spot – and decided to give Trevor Marmalade the boot. Wait, what?

Footy Show funnyman Trevor Marmalade has been axed by Channel 9. Marmalade leaves after 15 years with the high-rating show. The shock departure comes as Nine moves to freshen up AFL version of The Footy Show after another turbulent year.

What follows next in the Herald Sun article are four succinct but dramatic lines which almost made me burst into tears, and I don’t even care about The Footy Show.

Marmalade’s “behind the bar” role will go.

It is believed Marmalade was no longer considered important to the show.

His departure comes after several weeks of contract negotiations.

When contacted yesterday Marmalade said: “I can’t talk about this” and hung up.

Each of those little nuggets of Marmalade-related information deserved a new paragraph, didn’t they? God, poor Trevor. That last line is just so damn sad.

While things aren’t too good in the world of Trevor Marmalade, it’s all fine and dandy in Sam Newman Land (if you don’t count the prostate cancer/assorted other painful injuries).

Resident clown Sam Newman was never far from the headlines. He was condemned for a controversial sketch in which he manhandled a mannequin dressed to resemble football journalist Caroline Wilson.

Newman had surgery for prostate cancer and a shoulder injury, then spent three months on crutches after dropping a gym weight on his ankle and shattering the bone.

He also apologised after causing a storm over perceived crude remarks about Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt. Newman signed a new long-term, multi-million dollar deal with Nine in October.

Proof then for Trevor Marmalade that there is no God. I expect the rest of The Footy Show cast will spend next year dry-humping blow up dolls and making semen related gags (so to speak) whenever the camera is on them simply to ensure they keep their job for another season – and get a raise!

MORE: AFL Footy Show axes Trevor Marmalade after 15 years