Eating Media Lunch
{{short description|New Zealand satirical television series}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{use New Zealand English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = News parody
| creator = Jeremy Wells, Philip Smith, Paul Casserly
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Paul Casserly
- Jeremy Wells
- Philip Smith
- Graeme Hill
- Lee Baker
- Steve Braunias
- Wendyl Nissan
}}
| director = {{Plainlist|
- Paul Casserly
- Lee Baker
- Jonathan Brough
}}
| presenter = Jeremy Wells
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = New Zealand
| language = English
| num_series = 8
| num_episodes = 52
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Philip Smith
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Cass Avery
- Paul Casserly
- Claire Logan
}}
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Phil Green
- Jonathan Brough
- John Cleave
}}
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera =
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Great Southern Television
- TVNZ Production
}}
| runtime = 30 min (including commercials)
| channel = TV2
| first_aired = {{Start date|2003|11|18|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2008|11|21|df=y}}
}}
Eating Media Lunch (EML) was a satirical New Zealand news show hosted by Jeremy Wells. It aired on TV2 from 2003 to 2008. The show was frequently controversial during its run.
Notable episodes
In 2005 it shocked some viewers when it depicted two newsreaders fornicating{{cite web | title =Eating Media Lunch | work = TVNZ | url = http://tvnz.co.nz/content/427620/6198330.xhtml}} (a parody of Naked News). It frequently caused complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, ranging from complaints about the show's treatment of New Zealand celebrities{{cite web | title = TVNZ and Wolf | work = Broadcasting Standard Authority | url = http://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/2006/2006-001.htm | date = 2006-02-22 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100522085349/http://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/2006/2006-001.htm | archivedate = 2010-05-22}} to complaints about an episode which showed a cat in a microwave oven (S4, E3, "Life After Death").{{cite web | title = TVNZ and Panasiuk | work = Broadcasting Standards Authority | url = http://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/2005/2005-060.htm | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100522091406/http://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/2005/2005-060.htm | archivedate = 2010-05-22 | date = 2005-08-18}} Producer Paul Casserly noted that portrayals of violence against animals were certain to attract complaints, such as the show which claimed to feature famous sheep Shrek being slaughtered, while the spoof Māori porn movie 'Anal Mana' saw no complaints.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/167515/Content-may-offend |title=Content may offend |work=The Press |accessdate=29 September 2011}}
Innovations
The show features a regular animated segment by Anthony Ellison titled Media Dog which was available online. Since 2004 the series had included an annual 'awards' show which "honour[s] the absurd and the unusual as seen on television, radio and newspapers" categories include: "Services to Scaremongering, Worst Moment on Reality TV, The Inappropriate Touching Award and the much coveted New Zealander of the Year trophy."
The 2006 season featured former Close Up reporter Hugh Sundae as well as Matt Heath and Chris Stapp from Back of the Y. According to TVNZ the 2006 season tackled "racism, reality TV and the country's best-known protesters". The 2008 season won best comedy at the Qantas Film and TV Awards.{{cite web | title =Media lunch off the telly menu | work = New Zealand Herald | date = 2009-04-05 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10565288}}
Last season
In 2009 when TVNZ faced $25 million in budget cuts as a result of the recession and declining advertising revenue, the network made the decision not to commission a 2009 season of Eating Media Lunch.
See also
- The Unauthorised History of New Zealand, satirical series also hosted by Wells
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0454652}}
- [http://images.tvnz.co.nz/tvnz_video/windows/one_news/jeremy_200905_56k.asx Video extract from the show]{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10565288 Report on the Cancellation of EML]
Category:2003 New Zealand television series debuts
Category:2008 New Zealand television series endings
Category:New Zealand satirical television shows
Category:Television shows filmed in New Zealand
Category:Television shows funded by NZ on Air