While American viewers of the 2010 Olympics are treated to arguably terrible coverage on NBC, Australian sports fans are being treated to something even worse: Dickhead Channel 9 newscasters Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy joking about how faggy Johnny Weir is.
Well, someone was going to do it. The saddest part: They couldn’t even find any original lines.
The controversial exchange occurred when Molloy said, “They don’t leave anything in the locker room, these blokes, do they?.”
McGuire replied by adding: “They don’t leave anything in the closet, either, do they?”
Molloy briefly warned McGuire he could get into trouble.
The network then cut to footage of a skater wearing a tuxedo-style costume, which Molloy was critical of.
The footage then showed a skater wearing a costume of overalls and a flannelette shirt.
McGuire suggested it was “a bit of ‘Brokeback.'”
Molloy agreed, saying: “A bit of ‘Brokeback Mountain‘ exercises, you can’t wear that.”
But don’t get too upset. There was an apology. Of sorts.
“I made a joke that was a bit off-colour. Some of the crew here didn’t like it either,” he said.
“I suggested that there was a disaster happening at the ice skating rink because organisers had found out one of the male ice dancers wasn’t gay.
“And I apologise for that really sincerely.”
Molloy’s apology seemed insincere, however, as he added “But it definitely wasn’t this guy” before cutting to a shot of champion American figure skater Johnny Weir.
Cue the Facebook group “Eddie McGuire is ruining the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage”, complaints to Channel 9, and demands for firings.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Our suggestion? Get these two men on skates and, on live television, have them each attempt a mere double loop. Until they land one.
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I pliss
I am a fan! He was amazing! Sucks that he didn’t place. He is amazing and I hope he keeps it up.
Cam
Ok, I hate macho shithead commentators, and I HATE the skating associations fear of ever admitting that there may be some homosexual skaters out there. But in the face of the Skating associations hypocricy I have to admit that this comment kind of cracked me up
“”I suggested that there was a disaster happening at the ice skating rink because organisers had found out one of the male ice dancers wasn’t gay.””
It is just like in that show “So You Think You Can Dance” where they keep attacking the dancers for not being masculine enough because they are so overly defensive about dancers being seen as gay. It just gets ridiculous.
nikko
i like him too, but his outfits are atrocious! Sorry, but tacky gay excess is not attractive!
Q
way to be original commentators. “OMG – There are gays in figure skating!” – UM…even the straight guys where some pretty ridiculous outfits. Why are these douches even covering figure skating?
Jaroslaw
I’ve been trying to think of something clever to say and I can’t. I’m just tired of all this anti-Gay crap. If M/M don’t know by 2010 that you can’t make snide remarks about ANY group of people then they need to be taken off the air.
Judy
Johnny is controversial and politically incorrect but he is also the best male figure skater in the world right now. Evan and the Russian preened themselves and pranced around thinking they out did him but the judges there revealed their own pettiness when they did not give Johnny the proper score. His performance was breathtaking. Get over this gay bashing. People who do it point a finger at their own insecurities.
Taylor Siluwé
I guess the thing today is not so much discriminating against gay people, just VERY gay people – or people who refuse to leave it “in the locker room”, as that meathead said. How exactly do you leave your sexuality in the locker room anyway? Do you hang it on a hook? Do you keep it on ice?
I felt even the ‘official’ figure skating announcers were just shy of busting on Weir. When the announcer said after his short program about Johnny, in his best Zsa Zsa voice, “I vant to seeelll myself” – I took offense. They weren’t stupid enough to be as overt as those Aussie meatheads, but the vibe was the there, the underlying disdain was there. I heard it in his voice.
Maybe I was being too sensitive, maybe because I thought his outfits were over the top (and that last one with the plunging neckline I really really hated). But that’s okay. Except for Evan’s and Takahashi’s, I hated most of the outfits.
Johnny was discriminated against from all directions for being apologetically gay. DADT is still alive and well in sports. But still, the grace of Weir’s performance should have given him the silver. Plus, since Plushenko has been bitching since he lost, I would LOVE to hear his rant if Johnny had beat him too.
That would be priceless.
Taylor Siluwé
That should have been UN-apologetically. Oops.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Gay Australians which just bemoan that they were “ripped off” and go off to the bar.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
CORRECTION: Gay Australians WILL just bemoan that they were “ripped off” and go off to the bar.
Need coffee…
Cindy C Cox
Give me a break! The boy is cute as hell with a great flair for style and he skates VERY well. Who cares what he does or does not do off the ice. The boy has class.
ossurworld
They were witless idiots, but Weir is no prize.
jason
Australia’s gay community is a disorganized rabble. There is no focal gay organization there that will criticize Mr McGuire or Mr Molloy. You might get one or two individuals who will criticize them but there is nothing in the way of a weighty organization.
Australia is a basket case in terms of gay representation and gay assertiveness. The gay community there is more interested in dance parties and drugs.
adam
The guy Mick Molloy is actually a failed Australian TV personality who was given a gig to comment at the Games.
TheAwfulTruth
Well, Weir invites controversy, and he hates animal rights activists and flaunts fur costumes and makes fun of it. He IS a major, flamboyant queen after all, and I am sure PLENTY of gay men ridicule him. So what if two straight men did so? Please, get over it.
BigDaddyKane
Quick, call GLADD!!!
adam
The Awful Truth,
I don’t agree with you at all. An Olympics competition is not the place for juvenile, frat boy commentary on an ice skater’s clothing.
alan brickman
the outfit were bad….
alan brickman
Yeah!!… Glaad will know what to do …. (basically nothing)…..
Dasher
You’ve going to get some homophobic remarks out of Australian homophobes; it’s only natural.
And Johnny Weir sometimes seems to go out of his way to be controversial and politically incorrect (another reason I like him I guess; he sure isn’t boring, and keeps the pot well stirred). His costumes are outrageous but not that much more OTT than some of the others.
But talent is talent. The judges’ votes were political votes of disapproval for a GP in a sport that’s in denial.
patric
cmon, they were just saying what all straight men are thinking when they see that funny little guy.
Patrick
channel 9 is a horribly backwards broadcaster trying to claim television supremacy based on their historical standing in the polls. They havent done anything good or inventive in about 15 years. hence the reason their sense of humour is this dated.
Eddie McGuire is just a pain to watch and the majority of australians think so. I think in Mick molloys defence, he isnt a sportscaster or presenter at all, hes a standup comedian, so i dont really think that its his fault that channel 9 sees the figure skating as a joke. i think he is usually a funny guy but i dont think you expect standup comedy when you are watching olympic athletes competing.
channel 9 is the pits
Michael
Who would have guessed an overweight, physically repulsive man would be so homophobic?
Sami
As a Vancouver resident, I quite like the NBC coverage of Vancouver 2010; its far better, in my opinion, than hometown CTV’s coverage. I also love NBC’s commercials more than I do CTV’s!
romeo
Lysacek ( the, ahem, straight one) via Wang looked like the evil queen in Snow White both nights. Johnny looked like Cinderella. I’ll go with Cinderella any time.
Donna King
I guess the Aussie Comentators don’t have much real news.
B
QUEERTY: “Our suggestion? Get these two men on skates and, on live television, have them each attempt a mere double loop. Until they land one.”
… alas it is unconstitutional – cruel and unusual punishment given that their fat asses would be so black and blue that they wouldn’t be able to sit down for 6 months.
Artie Morty
Eddie McGuire is an irritating football commentator, and Mick Molloy a failed comedian. Both are an embarrassment to Australia. McGuire makes a living being a controversial ass, and Molloy had his so called comedy show axed (half way through its live screening) by the head of Channel 9 TV, Kerry Packer. Why these two clowns are even in Vancouver is a wonder – there are so many decent, talented Aussie commentators that would do a great job bring the games to Australia. Unfortunately we have to endure the dim witted, unfunny comments of Molloy, and watch that stupid grin of McGuire’s, with his immature comments, between moments of sheer greatness from the athletes. On their comments about Johnny Weir – what else would you expect from two untalented buffoons like this. Neither have any talent, so they simply go for the cheap shot. Johnny should slap Eddies face.
InscrutableTed
Bring back Roy and HG.
romeo
See that Lysacek is buying himself an Aston Martin. They start at around a quarter mil. Had no idea that skaters got those kinds of endorsements.
gollygeegaygoy
@ judy What a stupid comment. To point out ‘gay bashing’, as you describe it, is not to point out your own insecurities, but the insecurities of the person doing the bashing. Bit of a ‘blame the victim’ mentality you have. Hope you don’t work with people.
Bianca
I’ve been a Johnny fan for almost a decade. If the last Olympics proved anything it’s that Johnny isn’t only a great, one of a kind skater but has evolved into a young man of substance and integrity.
The way he’s dealt with the pressure, with all the hate and mockery, is awe inspiring. He’s dealt with everything with composure, grace, humor and intelligence – on and off the ice.
I admire you, kid. You’re accumulating very good Karma.
thatgirlinnewyork
@Sami: hope you’re kidding about nbc. their coverage was awful. scott hamilton and sandra bezic did nothing but comment on weir’s statements and persona well off the rink, and said little about his skating technique, which is job one! they decided to take the tact of catty, jealous freaks, rather than bring meaning to the performance on screen. how could you have missed that? they owe viewers an apology.
Ross Rankin
I’m from Vancouver, but watched the Olympics from Australia. These guys were great!!! Far better than the US & Canadian commentators. If there comments offend you don’t watch & crawl back in your hole. If Johnny Weir wasn’t offended, why should you! Don’t let political correctness destroy a wonderful country. It is already erroding what makes Canadians- Canadians!There comments were not malicious or cruel. Just entertaining. Lighten up.