Sonic Youth Gossip - View Single Post - Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, dies in "marine accident"

atari 2600 · 11.01.2006, 01:41 PM

TV producer: Irwin just a showman

November 1, 2006

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A BBC documentaries producer has branded the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin a "showman" more interested in his own stardom than the animal kingdom, British media reports say.
"Planet Earth" producer Alastair Fothergill launched an attack on the Australian TV star in the British magazine, Radio Times. Irwin was killed by a stingray while making a wildlife program in September.
"What Steve Irwin did for a living was as different from what we do as it's possible to get," Fothergill said, according to the UK's Press Association.
"Let's face it, Steve was a showman. Yes, he introduced a lot of people to natural history, but his basic stock in trade was, 'Aren't I brave, and aren't animals dangerous?' The fact is, I'm not interested in human stars. I'm only interested in animal stars."
Fothergill went on, according to PA: "The first thing we tell our crews is that if they're in danger, then they're not doing their job.
"The first rule of natural history film-making is that you're there to film the animals' natural behavior -- and attacking humans isn't natural behavior.
"If they're doing that, it means you've intruded on their world and made them feel threatened."
His comments emerged the day after Irwin's widow Terri fought back tears on stage at the National Television Awards.
She presented a lifetime achievement award to nature documentaries star David Attenborough and said he had been her husband's inspiration.
"Of course, as a television wildlife presenter, Steve was larger than life, but his real, true love was conservation," Terri said.
Backstage Attenborough paid tribute to Irwin for introducing millions of people to natural history.
It is the second time in a week the late "Crocodile Hunter" has been the center of controversy.
Last week the comedy "South Park" lampooned the Australian wildlife star -- or, depending on how you took the episode, people's sensitivities about death and particularly celebrity death.
An episode showed Satan preparing to host a Halloween fancy dress party. Other guests include Princess Diana, Hitler and rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Full story)
Critics said the were appalled by the Irwin character's depiction in a bloodstained shirt and with a stingray still attached to his chest. (I-Report: What do you think?)
John Beyer of UK TV watchdog Mediawatch said: "This is such bad taste and the makers of 'South Park' should review their decision to show it. Steve's family are still grieving.
"To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.''
"South Park" maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesperson for the company said: "It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked."

11.01.2006, 01:41 PM	#166
atari 2600 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,213	TV producer: Irwin just a showman November 1, 2006 LONDON, England (CNN) -- A BBC documentaries producer has branded the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin a "showman" more interested in his own stardom than the animal kingdom, British media reports say. "Planet Earth" producer Alastair Fothergill launched an attack on the Australian TV star in the British magazine, Radio Times. Irwin was killed by a stingray while making a wildlife program in September. "What Steve Irwin did for a living was as different from what we do as it's possible to get," Fothergill said, according to the UK's Press Association. "Let's face it, Steve was a showman. Yes, he introduced a lot of people to natural history, but his basic stock in trade was, 'Aren't I brave, and aren't animals dangerous?' The fact is, I'm not interested in human stars. I'm only interested in animal stars." Fothergill went on, according to PA: "The first thing we tell our crews is that if they're in danger, then they're not doing their job. "The first rule of natural history film-making is that you're there to film the animals' natural behavior -- and attacking humans isn't natural behavior. "If they're doing that, it means you've intruded on their world and made them feel threatened." His comments emerged the day after Irwin's widow Terri fought back tears on stage at the National Television Awards. She presented a lifetime achievement award to nature documentaries star David Attenborough and said he had been her husband's inspiration. "Of course, as a television wildlife presenter, Steve was larger than life, but his real, true love was conservation," Terri said. Backstage Attenborough paid tribute to Irwin for introducing millions of people to natural history. It is the second time in a week the late "Crocodile Hunter" has been the center of controversy. Last week the comedy "South Park" lampooned the Australian wildlife star -- or, depending on how you took the episode, people's sensitivities about death and particularly celebrity death. An episode showed Satan preparing to host a Halloween fancy dress party. Other guests include Princess Diana, Hitler and rapper Notorious B.I.G. (Full story) Critics said the were appalled by the Irwin character's depiction in a bloodstained shirt and with a stingray still attached to his chest. (I-Report: What do you think?) John Beyer of UK TV watchdog Mediawatch said: "This is such bad taste and the makers of 'South Park' should review their decision to show it. Steve's family are still grieving. "To lampoon somebody's death like that is unacceptable and so soon after the event is grossly insensitive.'' "South Park" maker Comedy Central defended the episode. A spokesperson for the company said: "It has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked."
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