‘I’ve been completely addicted’: Joel Creasey can’t stop watching Covid press conferences

Covid press conferences have become must-watch TV. And they have a strong emotional hold over comedian Joel Creasey.

I’ve been completely addicted to a TV show these past 18 months. Not sure if you’ve heard of it? Sometimes it’s long. Sometimes it’s short.

At times it makes you feel hopeful and excited … at times delivering much-anticipated news.

But for the most part it makes you feel depressed, hopeless and worried.

No, I’m not talking about Married At First Sight re-runs. I’m talking about the “daily Covid presser”.

I’ll begin with the Victorian edition, sadly, the longest-running of them all, clocking up more than 200 days in lockdowns this past week.

Comedian Joel Creasey says he is ‘addicted’ to watching Covid press conferences.

Premier Dan Andrews has shifted locations a few times. There was the much-dreaded purple backdrop of last year and in recent months, a cold and wet looking alley outside Parliament House, complete with a staircase behind for any stranger to walk down and heckle, which has spiced things up.

Since then, they’ve had yet another set change to another branded backdrop reading “Voices For Vaccine”. Catchy.

Dan is usually flanked by chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton and Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar. I don’t mind me a bit of Jeroen, that’s for sure.

In New South Wales they’ve stuck with a consistent backdrop but a more changeable speaking line-up.

Victoria’s daily coronavirus press conferences are fronted by Premier Daniel Andrews – and thoroughly enjoyed by Joel Creasey. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Most days it’ll feature leading lady Gladys Berejiklian, who, regardless of your thoughts on her leadership, is very impressive with her fact retention.

The NSW press conference is always full of flavour.

Brad Hazzard operates like an insult comic doing crowd work with the front row of the comedy club; Dr Kerry Chant is a delight but probably never expected to be addressing the national media each day; and, they don’t mind wheeling out a police chief who has an intimidating sounding name and the face of a cartoon character.

Annastacia and Jeanette in Queensland always have a lush green setting in true sunshine state style.

Their press conferences normally involve lockdown restrictions being lifted.

And as happy as I am for the people of Queensland, there’s only so much an isolated Victorian can take.

South Australian and West Australian pressers are even more rare. Stephen and Mark head these up.

Mostly reading out the daily Covid numbers. They’re over pretty quickly as it doesn’t take long to read out “0”.

Oh god. I’ve just written my entire column on the daily press conferences. If there ever were a sign that this pandemic needs to be over it’s this. Someone help me, please.