From the 2GB website…
Ray Hadley has called out Triple M panellists after a ‘distressing’ incident unfolded on-air.
Host Anthony Maroon abandoned a pre-game broadcast at the weekend after comments by panellists Paul Kent, James Hooper and Gorden Tallis.
Maroon has reportedly taken issue with a long-running joke implying he completes cash in hand jobs that aren’t reported to the ATO.
Ray said, with Maroon’s response, it’s clear the jibes have got out of hand.
“To say it’s distressing is one word, embarrassing is another,” he said.
“I have some concerns about Anthony Maroon because he stormed off-air and hasn’t been in contact with anyone since.
“The other people that had a role in this need to have an examination of themselves as well.”
When Rex Mossop(RIP) had his segment on "Controversy Corner" on ATN-7, the discussion between Rex and the panellists were on the minutiae of why a footballer or team was or was not scoring. or was not performing. In sum it was "tech talk" about Rugby League. Here is an example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMyYTqi_e-8 .
In contrast, "The Continuous Call Team" (TM) ('CCT') is more entertainment-oriented with touches of football in between. The panellists poke jokes at each other. It's radio's ad-lib banter show not only between the panellists but between the panellists and the people calling in. When Ray Hadley "chaired" the show, they had "counselling sessions" for callers with "problems". All in good humour.
However, there is a limit to "rubbing it in" by persistently asking a question about a panellist's personal affairs to the point of annoying the targeted person. I heard the segment from MMM on Ray's show. The persistence by the MMM panel jabbing Anthony Maroon about his financial affairs was unacceptable.
Similarly, Anthony Maroon reposting about the other panellists personal issues did not result in a touche moment. (repost and touche are terms in fencing)
It was not good radio listening and was not funny. Rather it was distressing.
Management should have quickly responded. I would suggest that when there is a heated issue about personal matters on air on a targeted person such as Mr Maroon, that the other co-presenters desist from persisting. Management should enforce that should a situation arise. The whole panel should calm down, go to a "commercial break" and resume what listeners like to hear, entertaining and informative talk.
Remember it is about entertaining the listeners not about personal attacks.
Thank you,
Anthony, of I don't like personal attacks on entertainment shows, Belfield in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation
I've often said at meetings in radio stations where these sorts of incidents have been discussed that in radio, if nobody had an ego it would make for some rather boring, tedious listening. Anthony Maroon and Ray Hadley clearly are quite egocentric personalities, that's why they've managed to forge careers in radio, and when it comes to dealing with egocentric people, it's a little different than dealing with tamer, more agreeable people. Every ego is different, and every ego is something you either find you like or you don't.