Is Wells too sharp for 7?
So TVNZ’s one-time Newsboy is becoming its key current-affairs man, but is TVNZ1’s demographic ready for his brand of humour?
After all, Jeremy Wells is the man who ‘‘introduced the world’’ to A.. l Mana (via his outrageous satirical show Eating Media Lunch), caused havoc and outrage in places like Gore with his mate Mikey and upset Ben Stokes’ mum.
Having him co-host Seven Sharp alongside the current ‘‘mother-of-the-nation’’ Hilary Barry is a bold move by the state broadcaster – and perhaps an admission that Three’s The Project‘s formula just feels that little-bit fresher (even if it isn’t a ratings hit).
It also seems a hilariously meta move to have the man who has famously parodied Mike Hosking replace him.
But what can we expect from Wells?
Surely not a straight-man routine.
Who will they let him interview?
Will he be allowed to editorialise in the same way Hosking did?
More importantly, how will anyone who has ever encountered his previous TV shows be able to tell when he’s making a joke or not?
Part of the brilliance of Eating Media Lunch was Wells’ ability to sell ‘‘fake news’’ with a straight face, but as the past has shown (Peter Jackson’s Forgotten Silver, the occasional Country Calendar jape) Kiwis don’t like to be fooled – especially traditional TVNZ1 viewers.
Then there’s his penchant for being somewhat risque.
Anyone, who tuned into what was arguably his audition, the ‘‘This Was the Year That Was‘‘ panel show Quizmas, would have been treated to some rather raunchy and more in keeping with 7 Days‘ 9pm slot than a 7pm current affairs show.
Still, it probably provided more entertainment than the show that helped rule John Campbell out of the running for the job (if he had wanted it at all), the dire What Next?
And there is a precedent – Jono and Ben have ‘‘sort-of’’ been able to make the transition from a 10pm show to 7.30pm – but not without a few wobbles.
At the very least, TVNZ have guaranteed a solid opening night audience on Monday and, for once, something else to talk about on Waitangi Day.