Green Guide letters: TV viewers bite back
Genius a let-down
While we glimpsed some of the complexities of the children's backgrounds on Child Genius (SBS), the formulaic nature of the program reduced their "genius'' to the levels of Trivial Pursuit. Recall, the very odd anagram exercise and decontextualised spelling of arcane terms were undefended measures of putting young children under emotional pressure. For what? No analysis, problem solving, collaborative understanding or other hallmarks of current ways of learning. Another reality program that could have offered far more.
Julie Faulkner, Brighton East
Mind the Gap
The standard of Pine Gap deserves 10 for concept and five for execution. Half the dialogue was inaudible – hint, words matter and the American/Australian ownership of Pine Gap and Australian/American/Chinese political interplay was most unsubtle to say the least, the latter delivered in large gulps as though taken from print media reports. The technical references were most obscure and not meant to be understood. Let's hope this is not going to be the future of Australian "quality" television scripts.
Shirley Videion, Hampton
Everything old is News again
Thank goodness SBS news has at last given up on the ridiculous charade of the news reader walking across a darkened news room before standing and holding a few pieces of paper and then announcing the news. Normal news reading etiquette of sitting at a desk appears to have resumed with the return of Anton Enus.
Charles Scott, Harcourt North.
We're in for fairy weather
Why does Jane Bunn report the weather like a Sugarplum Fairy?
Peter Drum, Coburg
Honest cricket
Thanks, Foxtel, for around-the-world cricket coverage. I often wonder why I pay my subscription to Foxtel. Being a cricket fan I now know why. No best mates love-in like on Nine, just honest cricket coverage.
Paul Jefferies, Point Cook
Listening pleasure
I am not a gamer but I have been amazed by the quality of the interesting, original music I have been hearing on Game Show, on Friday afternoons on Classic FM. Who knew there was more to this genre than repetitive, mind numbing tripe (Mario Kart, I'm looking at you). What I have heard is right up there with the best movie scores and I don't mind admitting this is a pleasant surprise.
David Rabl, Ocean Grove
More Games, please
With program planning for 2019 under way, now is the time to repeat my request for a repeat of The Games, starring the late John Clarke and Gina Riley.
Marjorie Humm, Croydon North
The Mad effect
The political advisers in ABC's comedy Mad as Hell do such an exquisite job of skewering their subjects, I wonder if other viewers have the same problem I experience whenever the real-life subjects hit the airwaves now – how to repress the irresistible urge to focus on the quirky mannerisms and the humbug, instead of the substance/gravity of the message?
John O'Hara, Mount Waverley
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