Chaser in hot water over ill kids skit

The pranksters from the ABC series The Chaser are in familiar territory once again after their latest skit landed them in hot water.

Chasers Andrew Hanson and Chris Taylor have been the subject of scorn from many viewers after they aired the skit "Make a Realistic Wish Foundation", where they asked actors playing sick children in hospital beds what they wish for.

One little girl asked Taylor for a trip to Disneyland before he handed her a pencil case, saying they were "helping thousands of kids to lower their extravagance and selfishness in the face of death."

The ABC switchboard was swamped with angry callers, and the Daily Telegraph has reported one father was left to console his seven-year-old terminally ill son.

The Starlight Children's Foundation has issued a statement highlighting their disapproval of the sketch.

"The Chaser segment that discredited wish granting programs for seriously ill children was in poor taste and and has caused offence to many Starlight families and supporters," it said.

"We are disappointed that this television program has attempted to make a mockery of the challenges these children and families face."

The Make A Wish Foundation has also blasted the program, saying families might think twice about asking for help for their seriously ill children.

"I would hate to think there are families out there that can apply for a wish (that don't)," Foundation spokeswoman Janita Friend said.

"(The families) won't make a wish because they do feel that psychologically they are signing something that says 'Now my child will pass away'."

Chaser cast member Craig Reucassel has told the Seven Network the skit was meant to be funny and if anyone is offended they should make a donation to the Make A Wish Foundation.

The ABC has since issued an apology, saying they did not intend to hurt those who have been affected by the terminal illness of a child.

A re-edited version of the episode will run online and on ABC2.

Donna.S2 wrote:

The pranksters from the ABC series The Chaser are in familiar territory once again after their latest skit landed them in hot water.

Chasers Andrew Hanson and Chris Taylor have been the subject of scorn from many viewers after they aired the skit "Make a Realistic Wish Foundation", where they asked actors playing sick children in hospital beds what they wish for.

One little girl asked Taylor for a trip to Disneyland before he handed her a pencil case, saying they were "helping thousands of kids to lower their extravagance and selfishness in the face of death."

The ABC switchboard was swamped with angry callers, and the Daily Telegraph has reported one father was left to console his seven-year-old terminally ill son.

The Starlight Children's Foundation has issued a statement highlighting their disapproval of the sketch.

"The Chaser segment that discredited wish granting programs for seriously ill children was in poor taste and and has caused offence to many Starlight families and supporters," it said.

"We are disappointed that this television program has attempted to make a mockery of the challenges these children and families face."

The Make A Wish Foundation has also blasted the program, saying families might think twice about asking for help for their seriously ill children.

"I would hate to think there are families out there that can apply for a wish (that don't)," Foundation spokeswoman Janita Friend said.

"(The families) won't make a wish because they do feel that psychologically they are signing something that says 'Now my child will pass away'."

Chaser cast member Craig Reucassel has told the Seven Network the skit was meant to be funny and if anyone is offended they should make a donation to the Make A Wish Foundation.

The ABC has since issued an apology, saying they did not intend to hurt those who have been affected by the terminal illness of a child.

A re-edited version of the episode will run online and on ABC2.

Hmmm. I haven't seen the skit. Has anyone else seen it?

THE ABC has bowed to public pressure by pulling The Chaser's War On Everything after a storm of outrage at a skit about dying children.

The unprecedented move will see the show dropped from the ABC for two weeks.

The Herald Sun was trying to get confirmation from the Chaser team that one of its members, Chris Taylor, had received death threats following Wednesday night’s screening of the offending skit.

Was the ABC right to take Chaser off the air for two weeks? Leave your comment here
On their Facebook page, the Chaser team finally apologised for the sketch.

"We've just heard from the ABC that they're suspending the show for two weeks. We were keen to keep making the show, so were disappointed by the decision, and we dont agree with it," they said.

"But that aside, wed like to apologise. The piece was a very black sketch. Obviously too black. And were really sorry for the significant pain and anger we have caused."

"Now we've seen the impact of the piece we wish wed thought it through better. There was no value in it that justifies the impact it's clearly had on people whose grief or trauma is so great already. We should have considered that. We got it wrong. We're sorry."

ABC Managing Direct Mark Scott made the decision to drop the show following the controversy surrounding the Chaser’s sketch “Making A Realistic Wish Foundation”.

The decision, made with the ABC’s Director of Television, Kim Dalton, followed discussions with The Chaser team.

“We have decided this is the most appropriate course of action,” Scott said. “It gives the ABC an opportunity to complete a review of editorial approval processes. It also gives The Chaser a chance to regroup and review their material.

"In making the wrong judgement call we have let down our audience and the wider community. We need to fully review the ABC's approval processes for programs that deliberately challenge public attitudes."