apec shenanigans

Well, That Certainly Wasn’t A Waste Of Time And Money

1:47PM Jess McGuire | The Chaser team come out on top! The NSW Department of Public Prosecutions has dropped charges against the ABC’s Chaser team arising from a TV stunt at last year’s APEC Summit. During the stunt, a fake motorcade was waved through two APEC security checkpoints in Sydney. Giles Hardie, a video producer who was one of the extras running alongside the Chaser limousine, said he was relieved at the news. He was charged with entering an exclusion zone under laws enacted specifically for the summit in Sydney. Ten men – including two of the show’s stars, Julian Morrow and Chas Licciardello – and one woman were charged. “I think relief is a word that springs to mind,” Hardie said. … “This is just a great relief, it’s a great weight off our shoulders that’s been hanging over us,” Chaser cast member Chris Taylor said. The dropping of the charges would allow the comedy team to better focus on upcoming projects. “We’ll now be in a position to block out the rest of diaries knowing a couple of us won’t be serving time in a jail cell,” he said. “We’d been treading water until this matter has gone away. We’re looking at returning to the ABC in some form either by late this year or early next year.” Huzzah, bravo, etc! More »

The Lads From The Chaser Arrested After Osama Bin Laden Stunt Is Unappreciated By APEC Security

2:40PM Jess McGuire | Oh, you crazy buggers. Chas Licciardello and Chaser executive producer Julian Morrow are in custody at Surry Hills police station, after being arrested for breaching the APEC restricted zone. About 10 other crew members have also been arrested. Chaser team member Chris Taylor told smh.com.au that the motorcade comprised “three cars, a couple of motorbikes, and a lot of crew”. “It was a motorcade trying to get into the exclusion zone,” he said. The motorcade is understood to have passed through at least one police checkpoint in the declared zone. And what canny ruse did The Chaser gang come up with to fool APEC security? Blame Canada. The Chaser convoy had been dressed up to look like an official Canadian motorcade, with Canadian flags attached to the cars and “Canada” signs visible in the front windscreen. “No particular reason we chose Canada,” said Taylor. “We just thought they’d be a country who the cops wouldn’t scrutinise too closely, and who feasibly would only have three cars in their motorcade – as opposed to the 20 or so gas guzzlers that Bush has brought with him.” Just what was it that tipped off eagle-eyed APEC security to the joke? It is believed police pulled the vehicles over near the corner of Bridge and Macquarie streets, after Licciardello emerged from one of the cars dressed as Osama Bin Laden. That’d probably do it. We eagerly await the police statement to the media. More »