Sam Newman’s bizarre The Footy Show performance leaves co-hosts, viewers stunned
UPDATE: EDDIE McGuire says The Footy Show will be rested for a few weeks “to recalibrate” before coming back to “blow everyone’s socks off” after he answered an SOS from desperate Channel 9 bosses.
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EDDIE McGuire has vowed to bring the “fun” back to The Footy Show after answering an SOS from desperate Channel 9 bosses.
“This is the rebirth of The Footy Show,” said McGuire, who will co-host it alongside Bec Maddern and controversial star Sam Newman.
“We’re gonna give it back to the people again. We’re gonna bring fun back to football. We’re gonna let Sam off the leash. He’s gonna be going full pelt.”
Friday’s shock announcement followed a tumultuous 24 hours, sparked by Newman’s bizarre protest on Thursday night’s show.
After being told he couldn’t don a dress to do a skit about the AFL affairs scandal, Newman sulked his way through the two-hour show, refusing to answer questions from Maddern and Craig Hutchison.
The fallout, including the Herald Sun’s front-page story on Friday, sparked “frenzied” calls to McGuire by Nine bosses.
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An obsession with political correctness by network bosses, producers and on-air colleagues triggered Newman’s meltdown, plunging the show into its deepest crisis.
“PC (political correctness) has nearly got us,” one colleague said.
As McGuire announced his return to the TV footy flagship he founded 24 years ago, co-host Hutchison learned he was being axed.
He said: “I am obviously very disappointed, but I respect the decision that’s been made.”
McGuire said The Footy Show would now be rested for a few weeks “to recalibrate ... then come back with a show that will blow everyone’s socks off”.
Hutchison said: “Eddie is one of the biggest stars on Australian television and it was always his show.
“I was only the custodian for a short time. As a businessman, I understand that this decision makes sense.”
Hutchison added: “I knew the risks going in, but I’m a big believer in giving things a go. I tried my best to make it work. I gave it my best shot but the ratings weren’t where they should be.
“I congratulate Eddie and wish him all the best. If the worst thing in life that happens to me is I am replaced by a star like Eddie McGuire, then that’s OK by me.”
Under Hutchison’s captaincy, The Footy Show suffered poor ratings, and it was recently beaten by Channel 7’s new AFL show The Front Bar.
McGuire said the Newman’s behaviour proved his “passion” for the show.
He added: “Sam doesn’t dial a show in. He gets up there every Thursday night and he leaves nothing behind.
“He wanted to do something (on Thursday night) — whether it was right, wrong or indifferent, he had the passion to go in there and throw himself on the grenade to make the show work.”
Maddern said: “There’s no denying it was a difficult night. (Newman) had a creative difference of opinion with us. That’s fine. That’s how you make a good show at the end of the day.”
Asked who would be in charge of controlling Newman, McGuire said: “No one. Sam is off the leash.
“I’m not there to be his dad. He’s an intelligent man. But we’re going back to saying things as they are.” He added: “The show doesn’t need saving. The show is going well. It’s been under a lot of pressure, a lot of critiques.”
McGuire said he had swapped texts with Hutchison, who will continue to appear on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“Craig Hutchison has done a wonderful job. Sometimes you come in, and circumstances don’t permit you to do what you want to do.
“He’s got so many things in his life this wouldn’t be seen as a blip. Craig has done everything he possibly can to make The Footy Show successful.”
McGuire is also contracted to Fox Footy and will continue his work on pay TV.
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Newman staged Thursday night’s on-air Footy Show protest after a plan for him to walk on set in a dress was dumped.
The Herald Sun can reveal that Newman wanted to dress up as a woman for a sketch on the AFL affairs scandal.
But producers worried about a public backlash spiked the plan.
“He wanted to come out in a dress and to do the AFL stuff,’’ one source on set said.
“It was the right call as it wasn’t even funny.”
Insiders have also claimed that the incident has caused a split at Nine between Melbourne and Sydney.
Sydney bosses are said to be keen to axe the controversial star on the back of the latest drama.
But Melbourne management are adamant he is still valuable and needs to stay.
One Footy Show insider defended Newman over what they described as just a “temper tantrum” over the proposed AFL affairs segment.
“Our mate Sam, who we love, can be a very good player and can be a petulant sook if things don’t go his way,” the source said.
Former AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean was forced to quit his job exactly a week ago over an affair with young employee Maddi Blomberg, the girlfriend of union star Kurtley Beale.
Former commercial manager Richard Simkiss was also forced to walk over an affair with Ali Gronow, legal counsel at AFL House in Docklands.
Such is the sensitivity around Newman’s situation, no-one has wanted to speak out publicly.
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But another Footy Show source who did not want to be named said: “He wanted to do something and we didn’t want it. He cracked it. Simple as that.
“I’m not going into details. That’s not my call.”
A third source described the dispute which led to Newman’s on-air meltdown as “creative differences with producers”.
“He loves a headline and will get one come hell or high water,’’ the third source said.
It is understood crisis talks are taking place at the network’s highest levels now about what to do with the wayward star.
It comes after Newman spent most of last night’s show sulking and refusing to answer questions from co-hosts Maddern and Hutchison.
A source close to the star said Newman was frustrated with being gagged by Nine in an effort to make the show more family-friendly and less controversial.
He was also unhappy with the show’s recent performance and was eager not to be part of a sinking ship.
If Newman goes, he will receive a sizeable payout as he still has a year left on his contract.
He is believed to be the highest paid star at the network, earning more than even Karl Stefanovic.
Newman’s bizarre performance last night couldn’t rescue The Footy Show’s ratings, with Channel 7 rival The Front Bar winning the head-to-head battle.
The Front Bar averaged 177,000 viewers in Melbourne last night, compared to 155,000 for The Footy Show.
In Adelaide The Footy Show triumphed with 42,000 compared to The Front Bar’s 30,000 viewers, also recording a victory in Perth with 37,000 compared to The Front Bar’s 17,000.
During last night’s show, Newman was asked about his thoughts on suggestions Eddie McGuire should step down as Collingwood president if the Magpies parted ways with Nathan Buckley at the end of the season.
“Well now, it can be controversial if you make comments on this. You can be taken aside and spoken to if you step over some imaginary line in the sand. I don’t think I’d like to make a comment on any of that.”
Late in the show Newman gave a sarcastic response when he was asked to tip a winner in the Collingwood v West Coast match.
It was clear by that stage Hutchison and Maddern had had enough.
“It’s been one of those nights, Bec,” Hutchison said.
To which Maddern replied: “Oh really.”
Panel member Dave Hughes was also sick of Newman’s behaviour.
Speaking about the resurgent Liam Jones, Hughes said: “If he can turn his career around like this, I reckon Sam can cheer up for the last 15 minutes of the show.”
The audience erupted with applause to Hughes’ comment.
Newman then raised his middle finger to someone in the crowd, which was caught on camera.
After the show, Hutchison told the Herald Sun the bizarre behaviour was “just Sam being Sam”.
“It was just one of those nights,” he said.
“I’m really proud of the whole team.
“We’re in it together and the producers did a fantastic job tonight.”
The Front Bar — with Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher — has become a serious rival for The Footy Show in recent weeks, after it was moved to the Thursday night timeslot.
Both shows air in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria, with The Front Bar also winning the timeslot nationally 232,000 to 227,000.
Richmond star Alex Rance, speaking on SEN this morning, said: “I was preparing for my piece, I didn’t take as much notice, but it was strange to not hear him have as much to say and be his humorous self.
“I have got to know him a bit better and probably more on a personal level than just what you see on screen.
“It’s definitely a persona he puts on and puts out there and I think it’s what made him so humorous and loveable in the early days was his lack of political correctness if you will, but now I think there’s been a couple of things he’s said which have been cracked down upon and maybe he feels the tide’s changing a bit and he can’t be himself as much as he was before.”
Audience member Michael Clark said Newman was “petulant” and a huge disappointment.
“He was a big sook,” he said.
“The other two carry the show and he just thinks he can do whatever he likes.
“They were all pointing fingers and getting heated during the first ad break.
“Sam wouldn’t do any of his segments, it was very disappointing.”
Another fan, Terry Hunt, who travelled all the way from Geelong to see the show, said Newman was unusually quiet.
“It was our first time at the show and he usually says so much more and tears into someone,” he said.
“He just kept saying the word ‘controversial’ whenever he was asked for comment, like he’d had a word spoken to him.
“Even on the ad breaks he was very quiet and he took off out the back.
“The others said they weren’t sure if he would come back.”
The former Geelong ruckman’s unusual antics drew a range of responses on social media:
What is wrong with Sam Newman tonight? I love the @AFLFootyShow but his behaviour is awkward.
— Shayla Chalker (@AussieRoo09) July 20, 2017
EPIC!!!!!! Sam Newman's havin' a sooky la la cause someone's told him he can't talk about something on the AFL Footy Show
— Lenny Firth (@lennyfirth22) July 20, 2017
On a scale of 1 - Sam Newman how much did you enjoy tonight's @AFLFootyShow? #gurgler
— Patrick Garschagen (@pcgarschagen) July 20, 2017
Disappointing to see Sam Newman like he is on @AFLFootyShow tonight - we need to have someone on TV who isn't afraid to speak his mind.
— Jayden Forster (@CelebrityLane1) July 20, 2017
It's better Sam Newman stayed quiet every week instead of insulting everyone and everything all time time and getting away with it.
— soph 😠(@sophdaniellex) July 20, 2017
So um....so Sam's Mailbag? Sam Newman not happy Jan. #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/HnzxRVQfOa
— Dylan (@DylanDylan2017) July 20, 2017
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