Hey Hey 'racist' skit offends star

8 Oct 2009, 6:33 am   -   Source: AAP
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TV host Daryl Somers. (AAP)

TV host Daryl Somers. (AAP)

Nine's Hey Hey It's Saturday was forced to aplogise after a blackface skit offended guest star, American singer Harry Connick Jr.

Hey Hey It's Saturday went into unexpected damage control after a blackface skit brought condemnation and forced an on-air apology by the show's host Daryl Somers.

US crooner Harry Connick Jr, who made a guest appearance on the Nine Network show, took offence to the skit and forced an apology during Hey Hey's second reunion special on Wednesday night.

During the show's Red Faces talent segment, five men were covered in black face paint and black wigs and re-enacted their skit Jackson Jive, which appeared years ago when Hey Hey was originally on air.

The Michael Jackson character this time had his face painted white.

Connick Jr was one of the judges of the segment and took offence to the act, giving it a score of zero.

He said if the skit appeared on television in the US the show's broadcast would have been terminated, labelling it the "hey hey no show".

A backstage source told AAP that after the segment Connick Jr expressed his disgust and negotiated an on-air apology at the end of the live broadcast between him and Somers.

"I think we may have offended you with that act and I deeply apologise on behalf of all of us - because I know that to your countrymen, that's an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologise to you," Somers said.

Connick Jr responded, saying he would not have participated if he know beforehand about the Jackson Jive skit.

"I feel like I am at home here and if I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably, I definitely wouldn't have done it," he said.

Online bloggers went into action immediately following the show, expressing varied responses on the opinion website The Punch.

"Can't believe the producers of the show let this happen - Australia, I quit," one person wrote.

Another viewer said: "Would you find a satirical sketch about dying children funny?", referring to a skit on The Chaser's War on Everything which caused public outrage when it was aired on ABC Television in June.

On the flipside, a person put Connick Jr up against Australian viewers.

"As for Harry Connick - a storm in a tea cup. Until Harry made the point I do not think anyone would have given a hoot."

Wednesday's broadcast was the second of two reunion shows for Hey Hey, which went off air in 1999, and talk has circulated about bringing the show back.

Last Wednesday's reunion broadcast peaked at 2.640 million across the five major city markets.

The Nine Network did not return phone calls when contacted for comment.

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What a loada huey

Kate - from Sydney, 3 years ago

I don't get why there's such an uproar about this - how on earth is it racist? The group doing the skit were a mixture of racial groups in Australia, coming together to pay a tribute to the Jackson 5, and it was purely just that. I agree with a quote in the article - if harry hadn't brought it up, there wouldn't be so much hoohaa. The hey hey artist ought to be the one to be cut down - many of his drawings have been incredibly offensive within the past couple of weeks. What do you think?

Pure ignorance

Jeremy - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

I don't think that the men who put on the act were trying to offend people, but I am apalled at the fact that so many people are saying "Get over it". I am an Australian but right now I'm a bit ashamed. To the people who are saying "Get over it", do you know the history of "Blackface" characters? You should probably look it up. This sort of act is banned in many countries now. If this is Aussie Humour then I think that our humour is crap.

oh my

Mark - from Brisbane, 3 years ago

Below are official definitions of 'Racist'. 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Now ask yourself, was this act any of the above? No of course it wasnt!

Who really cares?

Alex - from Sydney, 3 years ago

There are far more important things going on in the world. The federal government is introducing the biggest economic legislation change ever, NATO is losing ground in Afghanistan, people die every day from preventable disease, earthquakes & tsunamis are devastating Southeast Asia, and what do we want to read? We want to read what some foreign actor thinks about a short skit on a lame show which has been briefly rehashed. Not about politics. Not about academic. About an actor. Seriously?

High level or ignorance

Patricia - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

I read some of the comments and I shake my head at some of the insults leveled at Harry Connick Jnr, It's very sad that people can't just accept that the skit was highly offensive to a group of people, good on Harry for not just laughing along but standing up for what he believes in. I'm a Canadian moved to Australia 5 years ago and often I am mortified by the level of racist comments and acts that are just considered main stream and acceptable here. Sad that most Australians don't recognize it

Racist, not 'retro'

Sarah - from Sydney, 3 years ago

I am completely horrified, both by this awful skit, and by some of the comments appearing on the stories about it. How can you possibly claim this was not racist? The guys were in 'blackface' for goodness sake! What on earth were the producers of this show thinking? And as for Daryl Somers' claims that the show was meant to be 'retro', Australia is behind the times enough, without needing to hark back to the bad old days when a sketch like this would have been considered even vaguely funny.

GET THE STUFF OVER IT, HARRY

kylie - from central coast AUSTRALIA, 3 years ago

Oh and not to mention, the kids in the world that are still missing from being kidnapped, or the children that are getting abused over and over each day, where is there broadcast to show people what happening to them?
And all we can broadcast on our tv and radios is the stupid stunt on hey hey get the stuff over it, it wasnt even racist, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE WORLD THEN POOR OLD HARRY BEING OFFENED BOO HOO BUDDY GROW UP AND GET OVER MENOPAUSE.

Sorry WRONG! Melanaie

Bob - from Sydney, 3 years ago

Try growing up being spat at bashed and tormented by teachers for your country of origin yes it happened years ago to me but Australia is a racist country. NOT all but a lot of people are ignorant in this (mostly) great land. I still experience racism occasionally even now and I was born here.

Huge carry on is ridiculous

Geoff - from Sydney, 3 years ago

People are no longer able to make joke in society in fear of offending someone, if not everyone.
Very interesting how the touted self-professed tolerant society we live in so quickly rears its ugly intolerant head when confronted with humour or just a slight knock at character.
Comedians and Impressionists beware.
The World is either becoming a bunch of whingers or politically censored zombies, excepting of all things and trying so hard not to tread on any ones toes or offend the masses.

Mr

Luke - from Melbourne, 3 years ago

I agree but it doesnt matter what race the performers were, they too are still capable of being racist, just not in this instance.

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