Throng

There seems to be a lot of misinformed chat about Lives so let’s try and fix some of that.

First of the cost. The crew for a live don’t cost the network anything extra as they are usually on staff. The cameraman (don’t give me grief about the “man” bit that’s just the way it is as cameraoperator is a different job) will have spent the day shooting a normal news shift, Lives are just a part of that. Who else is involved depends on what type of Live it is.

Cable Live. A cable live is where a cable is run from the studio using such high tech methods as hanging it out a window. This costs next to nothing and is used more than you would believe.

Tonight's episode of Campbell Live was one of the best episodes ever of the show - excellent reporting, insightful and moving.  Well done to all involved.

Ten things I'll remember from yesterday's TV coverage:

1. Live coverage of the fire breaking out from a building in downtown Christchurch while Prime Minister John Key and Mayor Bob Parker were there.  Hearing Bob Parker's tone as he talked about the water pressure problems in the background made it all feel so real.

2. Rawdon Christie's calm, informative manner - it was more than his British accent but Rawdon Christie brought an air of the BBC to his job yesterday.  I didn't ever hear him overhype the situation or see him get unruffled by the changing/live nature of the coverage. 

3. Joy Reid's interviews out on the street with people - she just kept going and going all day as well. 

I hope you all had a fantastic week!! Spring has finally arrived but it hasn't stopped raining in Aucks.

As I mentioned in last week's blog. We are going to have a drinking game for this week's episode and the following episodes of NZNTM to come. It may change a little week by week.

This weeks game will be good fun as it's full of tears. Every time a top model cries you have to drink, but not just a sip of your drink or a sneaky pretend skull, ladies! You must drink your whole drink! So if you are a light weight you may want to find a small glass before watching this weekss show on demand. I've chosen the easy option of Banrock. It tastes so good and is only 5.5% alc. 

We lamented this morning about the Herald on Sunday's dramatic finger pointing at TV3 for their photoshopping of the makeover images to make the girls look skinnier than they actually are.  Big deal. That's what the fashion industry is and does, is it not?

Anyway, as it turns out, the real abuse should be hurled in the direction of whoever was responsible for the amateur photoshopping of Lara's leg.

The Herald on Sunday has created another brilliant story out of nothing this morning with their claims that "Digitally altered photos of New Zealand's Next Top Model contestants have been slammed as an appalling attempt to make some of the models appear thinner than they are."

What?! Really?! You mean they photoshop those images? I thought they were 100% real, unadulterated perfection!

Slammed as appalling is fairly rich considering the quotes used.  They start off with clarification from an expert from Media Design School who confirms their hunch that, yes, the images have been doctored. Next, they move on and ask Lynda Williams, co-ordinator of the Auckland Women's Health Council, for comment. Of course, she was always going to be nothing but appalled.

Yo yo top model fans. I hope you have already seen this weeks show because if not, I am about to ruin it for you!! You'd better go watch it on demand now!

It was a great show this week. I think I speak for most of us when I say I've been really looking forward to seeing all the models after their make overs. I did think there would of been a few more drastic changes though.  Which reminds me, I just had a make over last week and have a brand new haircut. I had some warmth put into my hair, hard core layering and I now have a fringe! I've never had a fringe before and it took about five days to get used to having hair on my face! Check out the photo but I'm not sure if you will still recognise me.