TALKBACK CALLER - GREG TINGLE, COMMENTS REGARDING JERRY SPRINGER AND REALITY TELEVISION - 31^ST JULY, 2002  

JOHN LAWS – PRESENTER:

Yeah.

GREG:

This is Greg Tingle speaking.  How are you doing?

LAWS: 

I’m okay, Greg.  How are you?

GREG:

I’m very well thanks.

LAWS:

Good.

GREG:

This is actually the second time I’ve had the opportunity to speak to you.

LAWS:

Well, that’s wonderful.

GREG:

A couple of years ago I spoke to you when the Olympic Games were going on.

LAWS:

Yeah.

GREG:

Remember that?  I gave you the story about the French-Greek connection and all that stuff happening…

LAWS:

I do, I do remember.

GREG:

That’s it.  That was (indistinct).  I was listening to the tape this morning.

LAWS:

Yeah, well that was a long time ago.  Well, it was two years ago.

GREG:

A lot’s happened since then.

LAWS:

A lot has happened since then.  A lot of whales have gone under the Harbour Bridge since then.

GREG:

Amongst other things.

LAWS:

Yeah.

GREG:

I was listening to Bob Mansfield before, a very smart man.

LAWS:

Very smart man, very nice man too.

GREG:

And you’re actually speaking to former Telstra and Optus sales person of the month.

LAWS:

Really?

GREG:

Yeah, and can I say if I prefer one of those companies?

LAWS:

You can say whatever you like.

GREG:

I prefer Telstra.

LAWS:

Well, that’s good news.  Can you tell me why you prefer Telstra?

GREG:

Yes.  Because a lot people that have … you know, they’ve always been there, basically, and you know they’re not going to disappear tomorrow.  I mean, I’m from an IT background, the dot com-ers, and I mean they just disappear.  You don’t know who’s going to be around the next day, but we …

LAWS:

Well that’s very true, very true.  Witness some of the activity of late, what you’re saying is quite right.

GREG:

That’s right.  And they run an excellent network as well.

LAWS:

Well, that’s all good news.  Thank you very much for telling us that that’s your belief.

GREG:

That’s right.  And the reason I’ve called you this morning specifically, it’s to talk to you about reality TV.

LAWS:

Yeah.

GREG:

Okay?  I’m actually doing a course at TAFE at the moment, which is News, Media and Journalism and the assignment I have chosen is reality TV.

LAWS:

Why?

GREG:

Why?  Because it’s so controversial, and one of the titles of my assignment, I’ve called it Jerry Springer, Reality TV, Has He Gone Too Far?  Murders – What Next?

LAWS:

Yeah, well, has he gone too far?

GREG:

I don’t know and I’m not sure I’m qualified to actually say.  I think he has gone a little bit too far but, I mean, I am not really the judge.  Basically, I mean, people are going on there, they’re getting their emotions all wound up.  And, I mean, there’s been cases where less than twelve hours later you’ve got, you know, a husband murdering the wife because their relations have been exposed to a nationwide audience.

LAWS:

That’s right.  But they do it, I mean, they voluntarily go there, idiots.

GREG:

That’s true too.  That’s right.

LAWS:

But, I mean, you’ve got to … your bust size would have a bigger number than your IQ to go on that show.

GREG:

I would suggest people had problems before they went on if they’re going to…

LAWS:

I would suggest they have too (laughs).

GREG:

If they’re going to air their dirty laundry before they go on TV, they’ve probably got big problems to start with.

LAWS:

Well, I would think that they would.  And I think that in a way, Jerry Springer, who I have been told is a very nice man, I think he exacerbates the problem.  I think he is totally irresponsible and I think the show’s ridiculous and almost obscene, and I would be shocked if anybody for whom I had respect and regard told me that they watched it.

GREG:

Right.  You feel that strongly about it?

LAWS:

I do.  And I think it’s tampering with people’s emotions.

GREG:

It is.

LAWS:

And I think it’s tampering with stupid people’s emotions, which is even worse.

GREG:

It’s a money-spinner though, isn’t it?  They’ve got a niche market there, it’s made them a lot of money.

LAWS:

It probably has.

GREG:

Mind you, I mean, money can be a bad thing in this world as well.  I mean, money and sometimes bad things going on in the world are closely related cousins.

LAWS:

Yeah, well that’s true.  You know, money can’t buy you friends.  It buys you a very good class of enemy, however.

GREG:

(Laughs) That’s true.  I was … can I tell you about the reality TV shows I was originally going to cover?

LAWS:

If I were you, I would change your Masters Degree or whatever it is you do.

GREG:

What do you suggest I should do?

LAWS:

I don’t know.  But … well, I suppose that’s interesting enough.  Okay, well quickly tell me about the other reality shows.

GREG:

All right.  I was … at first I was going to do Temptation Island, which is basically just as controversial.

LAWS:

So, that’s where they expose some weak-minded individual to some sex siren?

GREG:

Let me give you the inside scoop on that show.  There are people going on to that show which [sic] they’re saying are couples, where they are not couples at all.  That is a fact.  I’m in the position to know these things, John.

LAWS:

Say that again?

GREG:

There are people going onto that show.

LAWS:

As couples and they’re not couples?

GREG:

Who are positioned or presented as couples, but they are not couples at all.  They’re going on there for the good old buck.

LAWS:

So, why am I not surprised to hear this?

GREG:

Because you’ve been around for a long time and you’re a very smart man.

LAWS:

Not very smart, been around for a while though.

GREG:

(Laughs) Okay … I don’t know.  I was also interested, before I was looking at doing MTV WWF’s Tough Enough.  That’s about the one where people audition to become professional wrestlers, okay?

LAWS:

(Laughs)

GREG:

I know, we all have a laugh about it, but do you know what I say?  If it was so damned easy, everybody in the world would be a pro wrestler and we’d all be earning five millions dollars a year like The Rock and Hulk Hogan, wouldn’t we?

LAWS:

Well, I suppose we would.  I don’t know, that’s another program I don’t watch.  I like the man who produces it, because he’s quite honest and says its all BS.

GREG:

Vince McMahon?

LAWS:

Yeah.

GREG:

Smart man, one of the best marketers of all time.

LAWS:

Yeah, he’s very clever.

GREG:

He runs a tight ship.

 

LAWS:

Yeah.  And he’s quite honest when he says the whole thing’s a lot of … (laughs).

GREG:

That’s right.  And I think that’s why it more popular.  Are you going to Melbourne for the show?  I am.

LAWS:

No (laughs).

GREG:

They sold…

LAWS:

No.  I’ve got more important things to do, Greg, like brush my teeth.

GREG:

I know you do.  Yes, they broke a record, they sold around fifty-five thousand tickets.

LAWS:

I’m not surprised.

GREG:

In twenty-four hours.

LAWS:

I’m not surprised.

GREG:

Mate, it’s good business isn’t it?

LAWS:

Very clever.

GREG:

All right.  Well, I know you’ve got other people to speak to.

LAWS:

Well, it doesn’t matter.  You’re a good talker, if you want to keep talking.

GREG:

(Laughs)  The last time I spoke to you, I said, oh John, just another minute, John, please, you know, but I was absolutely … it’s always a pleasure to speak to you, John.

LAWS:

That’s very nice of you.  You’re a very polite young man.  I hope you do well with whatever it is you’re going to do.

GREG:

Thank you very much.

LAWS:

Good to talk to you, Greg.

GREG:

Catch up again in the future.

LAWS:

Bye. 

[musical sting]

LAWS:

He’s a nice young man, good communicator actually, good communicator, nice and friendly.

END OF SEGMENT