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‘Footy Show’ Surprised To Find That Acting Like Knobs Turns Off Viewers

12:34PM Clem Bastow | Could it be that after years of acting like complete twonks, The Footy Show are starting to feel the effects of their knobbishness where it hurts – in the ratings? Evidently viewers are deserting the show, particularly in Sydney, where dismal ratings are adding to Nine’s already especially dire annus horribilis. Can anyone say “suck on it”? The unexpected decline has been concentrated in the past three weeks, with the show struggling to top ABC1’s political debate program Q&A – and being beaten by it in key periods. While producers are at a loss to explain the sudden desertion, the show’s founding executive producer believes the similar opinions of panel members Paul Vautin, Matthew Johns, Paul Harragon and Laurie Daley was turning the show “a little beige”. “They’re very careful what they say about players and I understand why, but I don’t think that necessarily helps out television,” Gary Burns – now Nine’s Event TV executive producer – said. [...] The Footy Show’s Sydney audience fell to 186,000 viewers after Origin game three, a record low beaten last week when the audience plummeted to 166,000. That’s down from an average 271,000 viewers in March. Goodness, beaten by an ABC political chat show! Perhaps the whole “Ha ha, this (disabled) guy is totally blind drunk!” debacle was the straw that broke the camel’s back, ratings-wise? Then again, that would suggest that NRL fans have a conscience. So, er, in that case, top work, Tony Jones! More »