Cringe-inducing banter on Jim Mora’s show (Dec. 13, 2012)

13 December 2012 at 4:58 pm

Cringe-inducing banter on Jim Mora’s show
National Radio, Thursday 13 December 2012, 4:15 p.m.

At the start of each episode of The Panel, that ever more dire and dismal Jim Mora vehicle, a valuable seven or eight minutes is squandered by preambulatory banter, which is almost always dull, and often excruciatingly dull. And sometimes, as happened on today’s programme, things get said that must make Mora wonder why the hell he bothers with the irksome chitchat regime foisted on him by his producers….

Jim Mora: Michelle Boag and Brian Edwards, two of the smartest operators in the tangled worlds of media and public relations!

Brian Edwards: I just LOVE coming on this programme. You always say the nicest things about me.

Michelle Boag: Jim’s obviously full of the festive spirit. *

Jim Mora: Yes I am actually.

Edwards: Good, otherwise we’d think you were just a CRAWLER.

Mora: [feigning hurt feelings] That’s defamatory.

Boag: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

After the 4:30 news, it’s time for the SOAPBOX, where the panellists talk about “what they have been thinking about”. Let’s see what Boag and Edwards—“two of the smartest operators”—have been occupying their minds….

Brian Edwards: I’m just getting so annoyed with table-hoggers in cafes and restaurants.

A long, uninteresting and unenlightening discussion ensues.

Later, Jim brings up the story of a man who has been sacked (allegedly) for criticizing Auckland Transport. This provokes Michelle Boag into a display of illiterate fury….

Boag: I find this INCREDULOUS!

Edwards: No you don’t. You find it incredible. You are incredulous.

Boag: [impatiently] Yes, all RIGHT!

* Here’s a video clip of Boag doing her key schtick—trying (unsuccessfully in this case) to intimidate….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7094218/Boag-keeps-eagle-eye-on-ACC-story

• QoTViper24.1

  13 December 2012 at 8:54 pm

  On this we may eternally agree, Morrissey: Jim Mora is shit. RNZ could replace him with a Speak-and-Spell operated by a Dobermann and you’d get more insightful, better-researched questions out of it.
  • Morrissey24.1.1

    14 December 2012 at 8:46 am

    I think the problem is mainly to do with his producers. They insist on the obligatory “pleasantries” at the start of each show. Jim often sounds weary and bored when going through these deadly opening remarks.
    
    And it’s the producers, not Jim himself, who lump him with guests who are often dull and inarticulate.