Joe Hildebrand on Craig McLachlan’s Seven interview

Craig McLachlan’s interview was perhaps the most amazing piece of television ever put to air in this country, says Joe Hildebrand.

Craig McLachlan’s blockbuster interview with Channel Seven was perhaps the most amazing piece of television ever put to air in this country. Never has something been so simultaneously unwatchable and unturnoffable. If a car crash had sex with a train wreck this is what its offspring would look like.

The first and most obvious lesson is that actors, like royals, should never say anything that hasn’t been written down for them by somebody else. The reason for this is the same reason that they keep doing it and it’s not because they’re too intelligent.

Craig McLachlan during his interview. Picture: Channel Seven

McLachlan should have had the wind at his back. He had just been acquitted of all charges laid against him and was pursuing defamation against the media outlets that made the allegations in the first place. The program had also obtained recordings of a journalist apparently coaching and cajoling complainants, which would seem damning to an outside audience even though it is often a necessary part of getting a big story up.

With all this lined up behind him, all McLachlan had to do was plainly and simply state his side of the story. He didn’t need to bring Harvey Weinstein into it, he didn’t need to make a grand political statement and he sure as hell didn’t need to sing.

However while the interview special dubbed “Horror Show” lived up to its name in more ways than one, it is hardly a hanging offence for a man who maintains his innocence to want to proclaim it, especially when a court has just found in his favour.

The interview special dubbed “Horror Show” lived up to its name, says Joe Hildebrand.

So imagine my surprise when Twitter activists started demanding the names of all the advertisers on the show so they could be targeted for not believing women or perpetuating rape culture.

“Can someone get a list of the advertisers from the @Channel7 Craig McLachlan interview so we can put together the names of companies who don’t believe women?” said one.

“Shame on @Channel7,” said another. “This is exactly how r*pe culture stays alive because it’s broadcast.”

Odd. If they really think that someone should be cancelled for this, why target good old-fashioned tabloid TV?

They should be trying to cancel the justice system.

Joe Hildebrand is on 2GB Nights with John Stanley on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8pm

Originally published as Joe Hildebrand on Craig McLachlan’s Seven interview