Lehmo ready to make rebooted Footy Show a success
He’s the latest host of Channel 9’s footy-tainment show, but Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann is determined not to be the last. And he says a lot about the show will change.
Fiona Byrne
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New Footy Show host Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann is encouraging fans and viewers to have an opinion of the rebooted iconic Channel 9 footy-tainment show.
“I can tell you I don’t want to be the answer to the quiz question ‘who was the last ever host of The Footy Show?’ I am determined to make this work,” Lehmann said.
“I am definitely thinking about the fact there will be a lot of eyes on the show and that the show will be heavily critiqued, but on the positive side it means that people care about this brand and they care about the show.”
“I love that people have strong opinions about The Footy Show because it means they are invested in the program. What would be a disaster is if no one had an opinion and no one cared. That, to me, would be a genuine disaster.”
The popular TV and radio host, and Hawthorn tragic, will lead the new The Footy Show team of Neroli Meadows, Brendan Fevola and Dylan Alcott when the show debuts on Wednesday (March 20) at 9pm.
Shane Crawford, who is a semi-regular member of team, will be part of the launch edition with high-profile players including Collingwood’s Mason Cox and Hawthorn’s Shaun Burgoyne joining the panel.
Lehmann said the show would focus on footy while finding the lighter side of the game.
“A lot about the show is going to change but … this is The Footy Show from start to finish and this is a show about footy,” he said.
“The show will absolutely preserve the spirit of The Footy Show which is to present a show for the fans, to be good, fun, lighthearted entertainment, and to also make stars of the players of the game.
“I am genuinely excited to be hosting an iconic football entertainment brand. I have to say as a comedian who loves footy, this is like a dream come true.”
Lehmann said he was delighted to be reunited with Alcott, who he worked with on the ABC’s Invictus Games coverage.
“He is a super bloke, he is an elite athlete, he is really into the footy, and he is a very, very funny man as well,” he said.
“I really believe in our team, I really believe in my co-hosts, I believe in our guests.”
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