Georgie Gardner’s farewell from the Today Show was horrifically OTT

TEARS, streamers, a message from the PM and a whole program of the Today Show dedicated to Georgie Gardner’s farewell was — in a word — sickening, writes David Campbell.

I WAS sitting and eating my Rice Bubbles this morning when I was hit by a surging wave of physical illness.

No, it wasn’t last night’s curry chicken coming back to bite me, it was the Today Show’s farewell to Georgie Gardner.

The whole process was — in a word — sickening.

Montages. Well wishes from staff, fellow presenters, former presenters and fans. Even a personal message from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

‘Holy crap,’ I thought. Is Georgie dying? Is she being forced into retirement due to some chronic illness?

Georgie Gardner signed off from the Today Show for the last time this morning.

The answer to both those questions is simply ‘no’. Gardner is merely leaving the show after a seven-year stint at the desk.

Did you get a Today-induced stomach bug or did you love every second? Comment below or join my support group on Twitter

I’m not saying the better part of a decade in one job is a small thing but surely a five-minute thanks for the memories segment at the end of the show would have sufficed. Followed by the obligatory studio party behind closed doors of course.

But no, Channel Nine’s flagship breakfast show pulled out all the stops — and then some — to dedicate the entire program to Gardner’s departure.

Georgie Gardner (centre) after announcing her departure from the Today Show to Karl Stefanovic (from left), Ben Fordham, Lisa Wilkinson and Richard Wilkins.

She isn’t even leaving the network for crying out loud.

Gardner will continue to present Nine’s evening news bulletin on Friday and Saturday nights and will work across other news programs as understudy to the stars when they are away on leave.

Granted, her departure from Today is an admirable move designed to allow her more time with her family but the people getting all worked up in the studio this morning will still see her around the Channel Nine traps for years to come anyway.

Hell, they — and we — might see her next week for all we know.

Georgie Gardner on the Today Show set with her replacement Sylvia Jeffreys.

At the end of the day I just feel sorry for Ken Sutcliffe really. The veteran Channel Nine sports broadcaster extraordinaire notched 35 years with the network this week.

A career with one network spanning four decades. Now that’s a knock worth montages and video messages aplenty.

Nine did throw a party for Sutcliffe at the Australian National Maritime Museum but he certainly didn’t have an entire show dedicated to placing him on a pedestal.

I almost recovered from my spontaneous stomach bug too ... then they serenaded Gardner with a rendition of Georgia and wheeled her children out on stage.

Georgie Gardner is leaving the Today Show after seven years at the desk. She is remaining at Nine.

Georgie Gardner with her children Angus and Bronte. She plans to spend more time with them.

To use the lingo of the kids these days, Today’s coverage of Gardner’s final show was completely OTT.

In the end I could do nothing but wish I was the giant celebratory panda cake the show ended with. As the streamers fell and champagne flowed viewers could easily see the knife sticking out of that panda’s back.

Lucky bastard.

The cast celebrate Georgie’s time on Today with champagne and a knifed panda.

####