Muzzling 'The Chaser' - the politics behind the outrage

No wonder The Chaser is so popular.

The Chaser was an important cultural aspect of the movement that brought down the right-wing government of John Howard.

The Chaser began on TV in 2001 with an election special. A highlight was Chaser member Craig Reucassel gatecrashing the Liberal Party celebration party dressed as “The Race Card” - a reference to the tactics Howard used to win the poll.

The Chaser’s first regular TV show, CNNN, mocked the corporate media and Howard’s pro-war policies.

The incredible success of The Chaser’s War on Everything has brought about a contradiction. From naughty boys upsetting the applecart, their success has catapulted them into the mainstream they mocked. One response appears to have been to become less political - and less funny.

However, they haven’t completely dropped the politics: a sketch on the same episode as the one that got them suspended featured Chaser member Julian Morrow travelling to Poland to visit a known CIA-run torture prison. The Polish authorities deny it exists, so Morrow assisted them by standing in front of its barbwire fence with a megaphone shouting “Nothing to see here!”

It isn’t hard to see why powerful forces want to tame The Chaser.

However, the APEC stunt was too popular for the right-wing media to slam. The New South Wales police tried, but it’s hard looking stern with egg on your face.

The “Make a Wish” sketch provided the excuse to unleash hostility. It has been used to give more power over The Chaser to an ABC management gutted by the former Howard government and stacked with right-wingers.

Those criticising The Chaser argue the sketch mocks sick children. In fact, the sketch was targeting the Make a Wish charity, which grants very ill children fantasy wishes and trades on the associated good will.

In a letter to the June 5 Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Suresh Viswanathan from the John Hunter Hospital said the “skit achieved what it set out to do, and that was to start debate about issues that are seen as taboo. Let us debate the role of charities such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

“As a doctor, I can tell you sick children want two things: to get better and to go home.