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In will go down as one of the stranger things to happen on a TV Show, the moral outrage sirens went off and the internet almost shut down when thousands of Good Game aficionados overdosed on powerups upon hearing the news that one of the show’s hosts “Jung” “Junglist” – aka Jeremy Ray was given the right royal game over this week. What is amazing is that he was replaced by every fanboy’s wetdream – “Hex” Stephanie Bendixsen, and this wasn’t enough to placate the army of fans Jung has amassed during his hundred episodes.
If you watch GG like Cakes and myself have been known to, you would have noticed that Jung really does know what he is talking about, and after you get past his dirty beard and accent, you really start to enjoy his presenting style and reviews.
So it came as a shock this week to find out that Junglist had been ceremoniously deleted and replaced by the uber sexy “Hex”, afterwhich he claimed Gender Bias for his sacking. But that isn’t the crazy part, as this sort of thing happens all the time in TV land. What was ridiculous though, was the way they played out their bickering in a public forum (aka the Good Game Forum). Almost everyone involved in the show as well as the fans had their say about what did and didn’t happen, why it happened, and what’s going to happen next. I guess it kind of makes sense, as “fanboys” are generally thought to spend too much time online, playing games etc, so this would seem like the normal thing to do for them; to air their dirty linen in a public domain which makes for soap operatic reading.
What I know is this: by next week, next month, whenever; everyone will have forgotten about not just what they ate the night before, but about this whole sorry saga like it never happened, while they wait for the next event to be outraged over.
………………………………………………….
Update 23-02-10
Well it seems my prophecy has come true, and even www.savejunglist.com is now closed, poor Jung, seems his fans werent very loyal after all.
I watch GG too, and they have gone nuts about Jungs sacking, but I really feel for Stephanie, she didnt ask for all the abuse, and I am sure she will grow into the show.
That’s not an entirely accurate article. I complained directly to the ABC over Junglist’s removal, however I’m far from being a fanboy. Neither is my wife. We don’t play computer games much (no time anymore), but we’ve been watching Good Game for years. Moreover, we’re not alone; it was simply good television anyone could enjoy.
I think the author’s attitude is a rather cynical one; one of the best made television programmes I’ve seen was killed in the name of marketing, and I don’t think it will be forgotten so quickly.
No sir – it’s like getting rid of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, or one of the original loved presenters of Top Gear, for no real reason and expecting the show to be what it was before. I’d like to see him take it all the way to the courts or something… Would be great to absolutely burn some decisionmakers who have too much clout than they can use well.
ah, that is, more clout than they can use well.
While this “article” is slightly “tongue in cheek” I must take umbrage at the “best made television programmes” line as this is ridiculous! :)
Good Game is a game show for gamers and sure its good, but thats it, If the ABC wants to dump the hairy guy in favour of some hottie, we all have a simple choice, turn the channel. Nothing lasts forever.
Is there nothing that isn’t tongue in cheek nowadays? You’re sure it’s good … but you don’t really know why people love it, do you? Nothing lasts forever? Doesn’t really say anything, does it?
To correct myself: That’s not an entirely accurate piece of idle whimsy … by gosh you’ve got me bang to rights! Apologies.
What was with that jacket that Bajo was wearing on tonight’s news episode?
I’m so sorry to hear of Jung’s departure from the show but I just wanted to say I totally agree with Duchamps_Mutt. His comment isn’t ridiculous at all!
My partner & I are also far from being fanboys/girls and we’ve been watching it for years too. The format is great, it actually has loads of content (rare!) and it’s put together with so much enthusiasm that anyone really could enjoy it.
Grand Designs is my favourite TV show, and GG is not far down the list – I’m not an architect either, and I enjoy both shows for the same reasons. I’ll miss Jung but I’m yet to watch an episode with Hex so I’ll reserve my judgement til then…
Duchamps, Yes, it looks like I got you bang to rights, and your apology is accepted. There is nothing greater than when someone can admit they are wrong, and I have to applaud you on that.
What a bunch of foolz some of you people are.. WHO CARES! Some guy gets sacked and you carry on like the sky is falling. Way to get overexcited about things that arent important. I felt sorry for the dude and the new chick sux, but the way the mob is carrying on, I am almost happy.
LOOOOOOOSERS!@@!
I was searching for news on the new presenter of goodgame and came across your site. all i can say is how sad i am about jung being sacked, I think its almost a depression, this is the best show on TV and they cant do that to us, its just not fair!
It was ABC’s decision to get rid of Jung… obviously they weighed up all the options and decided it was for the best. And Hex seems to know what shes talking about too. everyone just get over it, its done.
No Dogsheart, this whole episode has sucked badly and people who have developed affection for a competent and likable presenter can rightfully be annoyed by what has happened. Removing him mid-season is just rude for one thing. I guess there was tension building over time, possibly the old talent-vs-middle-management BS, but I reckon we expect better from the ABC. I watch this show, I pay for it through my taxes and I expect it to run much better than it has. Very poor.
Yes John they can, and they are fools for making this the most important thing in the world, its a tvshow for godsake, its not like someone died. And yeh you pay your 8cents a day for “your abc” and get one bad thing happen and want to complain about it for a year. whinge whinge whinge..
I agree with Phoebe, Hex is awesome, and get over it people!!
Hex is awesome, Barge is great, but Jung was the king. Why not have all three? A panel approach would work fine, then we would have the queen, the clown prince and the king. Jung……..RIP.
Rob
I’d have to agree. Why not have all three hosts on Good Game that is Bajo, Hex and Junglist. Now all that’s need to be done is to think of a theme logo!
Add me and my daughter to people who watched the show for the great Junglist/Bajo banter and presentation, even though we play few of the games (due to time restrictions).
All that I can say is that I cannot get enough of Hex! She’s hot, cool and oh so sexy aswell! You totally rock my sox off!
antony, good game is a show for gamers not loners who play with themselves it’s cos of idiots like you that they sacked junglist, he was the King and you killed him f*** you
R.I.P Junglist
Klassic,
Its because of people like you that the world can be a scary place.
You sound like the very person you describe.
Get a LIFE!
Klassik, Junglist was dismissed from a decision made by the ABC. Hex has nothing to do with it. Take it up with the ABC. We will all miss Junglist, but what’s done has now been done!
Nothing new to see here… Closeted homosexual nerds bemoaning that a) they can’t get girls like hex or b) they refuse to admit their sexuality.
The show is fine without that other chump. did people REALLY watch for the hosts anyway? What sort of nerd are if that’s the case – it’s all about the games…
lol, nerds.
Dodge, anyone can get girls like Hex even geeky nerds! As for homosexuals gamers are both male and female participants. As for the other chump it actually provides equal sexuality from both a male and female perspective. Games don’t review themselves, the hosts review them for the gaming public to make sales!
Looks like everyone forgot about Jung, how typical!
Well well well, seems nobody cares about Jung anymore, how absolutely typical. “oh oh, Jung was sacked, lets protest in the streets” then 2 months later, “jung who”……….
Jung had his time and did a great job. Stephanie has been a great addition to the show and I always look forward to GG every week. Life moves on people, let’s just deal with it.
Dunno what all the fuss was about. Personally, I like my ABC to have Aussie presenters, not imports from other countries (that’s what SBS is for). Sounds like Jung was getting a bit too big for his boots, and learnt that no one personality is bigger than our nation’s broadcaster – besides, it’s all about the games, not the hosts. And I much prefer looking and listening to Hex, than that hairy beast. BTW – I didn’t see Jung coming in to bat for Kapowski when he originally got the arse as well!
It’s been quite a while since this whole affair starting, nearly 5 months ago i feel i need to say this to put this issue to rest for me. I am sad that Jeremy Ray aka Junglist was sacked from Good Game by the ABC because they felt he wasn’t right for them marketing the show to a wider audience. He had every right to accuse of gender bias and for unfair dismissal, because they told him of this without telling anyone else beforehand. People have every right to be angry over this and if they choose to stop watch the show, it’s there choice but i can’t share that opinion. While i am dissappointed that ABC choose to handle this decision in such a bad way, leading to a slinging match on forum boards.
It seems now that the issue has been resolved either the ABC and Junglist came to an agreement or he decided it wasn’t worth the drama to get involved in some unfair dismissal case. He now is working for PC Powerplay, i hope he is happy and content in his new job and it seems that he has moved on.
Stephanie Bendixsen aka Hex has copped some unfair criticism, she was the newbie presenter who didn’t know what was going to happen with junglist and to rag her out for replacing doesn’t seem right. She was given a pretty cool job to host the show, i don’t think many would turn that down. Unlike Junglist who was one of the original hosts with a wealth of experience from his years on GG, she is just starting out and criticising her for not being as good as jung seems unfair.
Since then i have watched GG and i have enjoyed it the quality of the episodes has improved, Bajo & Hex have good chemistry and the new phase of the show is coming along nicely. Truth is everything doesn’t last forever and while it sad and hard to accept when something changes you don’t agree with i believe it’s good to give something new a chance.
Junglist is happy is new job and GG is still enjoyable and at the end of the day that’s what does it for me. People have probably moved on now, watching it or no watching it. Sorry for going on but i needed to get this off my chest for good.
I just watch the show and had never read the forums or anything. I had no idea Junglist was sacked. Bajo said that he had taken a behind the scenes role. I had thought that he had decided for himself that he was going to take over more of the behind the scenes production work or something. I’m quite surprised to eventually find out that he had been sacked and that they basically flat out lied about it. Is he not involved in the show at all? They said he was. Anyway, I still like the show, more now that Bajo and Hex are getting used to each other. I hope Junglist’s future prospects aren’t too damaged by this.
before i start, i want to say that i have nothing against hex. but really, its not so much that jung wont be on the show thats the reason i wont watch, but because of the way it was handled. i too only found out recently, i missed the episode where baj said stuff about jung working behind the scenes and assumed that hex was just a stand in or something. and to be honest im more inclined to believe jungs version of events over the abc’s and bajo’s “thats not what happened, but we cant tell you what did” alternative. especially with the knife still bloody and their paycheck coming from the one/s holding the handle. so its not that jung is gone, its that the abc decided it was time to drop a well respected and experienced presenter like a bad habit, so they can pick up some more female viewers.