No sign of devilish plot in 'Week of it’

Press, 1 May 1978, Page 15

No sign of devilish plot in 'Week of it’

Someone wrote in complaining that “A Week Of It” was a devilish plot designed to make flagrant and thinlyveiled attacks against our present worthy political leaders. Having missed McPhail and his merry men several times lately, it seemed a good idea to examine Saturday night’s effort for sinister ' and overt political propaganda. There could hardly have been a more diverse range of targets, and politically speaking, everyone copped it—left, right and Social Credit centre. There were, "tis true, a couple of references to the man who continues to dominate New Zealand politics

even when be is consorting with the gnomes of Zurich, but this time even television interviewers in the person of "Gordon Drygin” came in for a grilling. The “Week” could not be accused even by the most ardent of blue ribboners to

By I

KEN COATES

aiming its barbs at those of any one political hue. In fact, the look at the personalities and leading player in the “Labour revue, 1978” was carefully balanced with an appeal for support for the president of the National Party. And smiling Bruce Beetham w'as fair game when interviewed during a busy

day of trying to be noticed in the House of Representatives. What some of we viewers tend to forget sometimes is that McPhail and his team of writers and actors are about the only practitioners in the wilderness of New Zealand television who regularly take tilts at those in authority. Probing interviews of politicians are few and far between and so it is “The Week” which tends to be taken far more seriously by some than it should be. ” Saturday night’s effort, thank goodness, looked beyond the pious platitudes of politicians. In a “special report” it even took a look at Bastion Point and “the vexed question of Maori land.” There is a thin dividing line between satirical comment and ridicule. Here and there the “Week” team could have stenned over that

There is a thin dividing line between satirical comment and ridicule. Here and there the “Week” team could have stepped over that

line, but the real test is whether Maori New Zealanders involved in the land march thought the item good value. The versatile McPhail and the director Tony Holden seem to be trying out the talents of all the cast in roles other than those for “set pieces.” For example John Gadsby was prominent in several sketches.

But why can’t we have more of the talented Annie Whittle? After avidly reading the cover story in “The Listener,” after she won a Feltex award, many viewers say they have switched to “A Week Of It” just to see more of the able Annie. Dudley Moore is okay in his way, but he has a nerve trying to upstage our Sharleen in the Gluepot'