THE AXE SWINGS ON THE PROJECT

Channel 10 has made it official. Staff at The Project have been told the show is coming to an end on June 27.

Until today, staff had been kept in the dark, left to read headlines and stories from outsiders who knew more about the future of the show than they did.

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Despite staff on the show being kept in the dark until now, TV Blackbox released details over the weekend about its replacement show, including the show name.

The new program will be called: Behind the Lines – A 10 News First Investigation.

Wow, that’s a mouthful.

10 says the new show will air Sunday - Friday at 6pm with each episode running 60 minutes. Deal Or No Deal will move to 7pm.

This backs up everything I reported in my column last week when many still believed 10’s new ‘Investigations Unit’ would only be making specials or a once-a-week show along the lines of 7NEWS Spotlight and 60 Minutes.

Author Kyle Laidlaw reports that he has seen the logo and included these marketing materials in his report:

“Go behind the headlines with 10 News First as our reporters dig deep to uncover the facts, follow every lead, and expose stories that others try to keep hidden.”

“Hosted by Denham Hitchcock, this investigation series shines a light on issues that matter to Australians – holding the powerful to account with fearless journalism.”

“Real stories. Real impact. The truth, told straight.”

Today The Australian is reporting the launch date for the new show will be Monday July 14.

DINKLAGE BACKLASH

The fallout from Disney’s failed ‘woke’ version of Snow White isn’t just being felt by lead actress Rachel Zegler, who will be lucky to secure any future roles in Hollywood.

Zegler was an outspoken critic of the 1937 animated film, particularly its depiction of women and the “stalkerish” nature of Snow White’s relationship with the Prince.

The backlash against her has been well documented.

Now, actor Peter Dinklage is facing a backlash from his own community as little people take issue with his demand little people not depict the dwarfs.

“I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White — but you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” he told Marc Maron on the WTF podcast.

“Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there. It makes no sense to me. You’re progressive in one way, but then you’re still making that f**king backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together? What the f**k are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.”

His comments in January 2022 made headlines around the world and Disney ended up using CGI characters to depict the dwarfs.

So, at the end of the day, he was loud enough.

But that’s the problem.

His ‘privileged activism’ had more power than those who would have been given jobs and made an income from the production if it had used little people to play the dwarfs.

It’s money Peter Dinklage doesn’t need, but other working little people do. In fact, many in the community were angry at Disney for using CGI characters and angry at Dinklage for pushing his agenda.

Former WWE Superstar Hornswoggle, and little person, summed it up best this past fortnight during an interview with Chris Van Vliet.

“F**k you Peter Dinklage piece of sh*t” he told Van Vilet.

“It still makes me mad. Like, he costed so many people jobs, so many people”.

“I think he wanted to make a statement and he thought he was making some cool hip thing, but it wasn’t, when he did Elf that cheque cashed just fine. Tyrion Lannister was a role for a little person. He cashed that cheque for all those years. Like, I am okay, not going out for Brad Pitts roll, give me grumpy or happy or sleepy and major Disney remake”.

But then Hornswoggle made his most important point.

“And then you’re gonna have seven dwarves. Then there’s extras, then there’s stunt doubles that are all gonna get paid”.

And when CGI was used, no-one in the little people community were paid.

So, a win for Dinklage but a big loss for workers in the little people community who would have been happy for the work.

Peter Dinklage can take the moral high ground because it doesn’t affect him. He’s not going to accept a role as Happy or Grumpy because he doesn’t need that kind of money. He can be an artist. He can do the roles that he wants to do.

That is what I’m calling ‘privileged activism’. It’s when someone can demand changes that won’t affect them.

Dinklage is not living week-to-week like many working actors in the little people community. Dinklage has his choice of roles and the financial clout to be able to turn roles down.

Others aren’t so lucky.

It’s one thing for Dinklage to demand change, it’s another when he’s taking money out of other people’s pockets.

THE BEST SHOW TO WATCH THIS WEEK

The most compelling drama series this week isn’t on television or a streaming service, it’s happening inside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts – and it’s all being beamed live.

I’m talking about the trial of Karen Read – a woman accused of fatally striking Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe and leaving him to die in the snow outside another officer’s home after a night of drinking in January 2022.

This trial has so many twists and turns it makes any fictional court drama seem tame.

Watching the clips come into my feed though, I wonder if I am getting a one-sided view of the case or whether I’m seeing a true representation of what is happening.

From what I’m seeing the prosecution is struggling, witnesses have changed their testimony and it certainly seems like a cover-up.

But is that because it is people who believe Karen Read is innocent who are posting the majority of videos?

While I’m loving the influx of moments from the trial, it reminds me of the importance of credible news – news that I can rely on to give me a complete overview of what is happening in a story, not just a one-sided view.

We are lucky in this country to have news services on every channel that deliver a quality bulletin every night. No matter which one you watch, you can have faith you are getting all the facts.

And that’s important.

Rob McKnight is a content specialist for 7NEWS and co-owner of TV Blackbox.

INSIDE MEDIA is published every Monday and Thursday on the 7NEWS website.