A dose of reality on Sunrise
by Tanya Westthorp
I have always wondered what it would be like to be a celebrity – making TV appearances and being treated like a star with cameras following my every move.
Little did I know an opportunity would come up before I’d even finished my journalism degree. Ah the beauty of reality TV – it plucks ordinary people from obscurity and offers exposure and an adventure of a lifetime.
My adventure came in the form of a reality segment on Channel 7’s breakfast program Sunrise which followed the activities of six young Australians vying for a job on the show. Each morning we would be on-air talking to the hosts Mel and Kochie, and watching a package of the previous day’s activities. The plan was that someone would be fired each day ‘til only one remained.
Divided into two teams of three, we were set a task of researching a topical issue. Brainstorming ideas, I suggested two issues only to be overruled by a fellow team member!
Presenting our hideously boring topic of childhood obesity to the executive producer proved a fatal step in our quest for success.
Mid-way through our presentation, he cut us off to say it was the wrong choice of topic.
The next morning, sitting on set with studio lights dimmed and a menacing security guard peering over our shoulders waiting to escort the sacked intern out; my heart momentarily failed when it was announced we were the losing team.
Struck with the humiliation of possibly being the first intern fired, I somehow managed to answer a barrage of questions hurled at me. When it became clear the topic was the afore-mentioned’s choice, he felt the full wrath of Kochie and was the first to be fired on national TV.
The second task was underway later that morning when an emergency meeting was called. Conspiracy theories began to abound between the remaining five – would our teams be reshuffled?, was someone else going to be fired? In the midst of the chaos, the recently fired intern returned with no idea why he had been called back.
Moments later the producer marched into the room and calmly read several viewer emails from that morning. Huge viewer backlash at the format of the segment and harshness of the sackings meant the segment was axed.
Shock engulfed the room as we tried to digest this unexpected turn of events. We had just learnt our first industry lesson – things can change in the blink of an eye. Instead of the segment, we would all do a day’s work experience at the show and the winner would be chosen from there.
Our days of cameras following our every move, the star treatment of having our make-up done by professionals, the celebrity of being recognised on the street by strangers, and the excitement of rubbing shoulders with stars was over. Our journey, experience and adventure however, was not.