Michael Carrington is leaving ABC after six years with the public broadcaster.
During his tenure as director of entertainment and special programming, Mr. Carrington commissioned a number of original hit shows including Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, Fisk and The Newsreader.
But arguably his greatest legacy at ABC was green-lighting the children’s television show Bluey, which has become an international phenomenon.
Michael Carrington (pictured) is leaving ABC after six years with the public broadcaster
Bluey, a colorful animation about a family of blue heels from Brisbane, has become so successful that some American parents have noticed that their children speak with an Australian accent, like the characters on the show.
Mr Carrington will leave ABC in July to return to the production sector, reports TV Tonight.
“In my four years as Director Entertainment & Specialist, I have been grateful to lead E&S in executing ABC’s five-year plan to transform us from a 90-year-old traditional broadcaster into the nation’s most trusted and valuable content provider across all platforms,” Carrington wrote in one Memo to staff.
“The ABC has always been and always will be an inspiration to me and I’m grateful to have had that experience and be able to share it with all of you,” he added.
Bluey, a colorful animation about a family of blue heels from Brisbane, has become so successful that some American parents have noticed that their children speak with an Australian accent, like the characters on the show
Jennifer Collins, ABC’s head of factual, will step in as acting director of entertainment and special programming following Mr. Carrington’s departure.
Mr Carrington’s departure comes after Karl Stefanovic recently addressed a public controversy over an ABC article criticizing gender and family dynamics at Bluey.
The Today Show host explained earlier this week that “two academics [had] attacked the children’s television show Bluey and accused Bandit of being a bad father.
Bandit is the animated blue heeler father of the series’ title character.
Mr Carrington’s departure comes after Today host Karl Stefanovic (left) addressed a public controversy over an ABC article criticizing gender and family dynamics in Bluey
The debate over Bandit’s parenting skills began with an article published Monday by ABC on the academic blog The Conversation.
According to the article, “Bandit censors himself from engaging in imaginative play under the gaze of other men.”
They complained that “Bandit is also surprisingly conservative when it comes to gender values,” citing an episode in which he “reluctantly submits to wearing makeup” for the sake of his children.
Stefanovic explained earlier this week that “two academics [had] attacked the children’s television show Bluey and accused Bandit of being a bad father. Bandit is the animated blue heeler father of the series’ title character
Education Advisor Dr. Mark Lopez joined Today to offer his take on the criticism of the hit kids’ TV.
“It’s the advance, the steady advance, of postmodernism in the universities, and after it takes over the universities, it spreads through society,” said Dr. Lopez.
“And they have this insatiable desire to politicize everything.”
The uproar over Bandit’s (centre) parenting skills began with an article published by the ABC on Monday on academic blog The Conversation
Stefanovic appeared to agree, responding to Dr. Lopez with “Hear, Hear”.
He also wryly noted that “It was a quick downfall for Bluey’s dad, Bandit. You may remember, he was named Father of the Year [by the Shepherd Centre, an organisation for hearing-impaired children] in 2019.’
This ironic comment made Brooke laugh.
Stefanovic remarked wryly: “It was a quick fall for Bluey’s dad Bandit. You may remember, he was named Father of the Year [by the Shepherd Centre] in 2019′