How the bimbos of breakfast TV disgraced themselves and feminism

What the hell is wrong with those daft women on commercial breakfast TV! Why are they winding up the ditzy dial? And why are they so dead keen to present themselves as mindless bimbos?

As a woman who has spent 25 years on television, believe me, I ask these questions with great reluctance. And frustration.

But seriously, what on earth is going on in Samantha Armytage’s head? Not much it would seem, given the pitiful episode she and her gal pals put actress Kristin Davis through on Sunrise on Thursday. It was gender-cringe TV at its worst.

And the sanctimonious nonsense that followed was utterly shameful – with Daddy Bear Kochie sitting in the middle of the couch, flanked by his po-faced girls, pulling their best “we’ve been hurt and it wasn’t our fault” expressions. Oh please!

It was their fault. It was their blithe dismissal of Davis’ message, and the purpose of her visit, that obviously left the celebrity activist so offended. And which caused “Australia for UNHCR” to feel compelled to dump the “dumb chicks” ringleader, Armytage, as MC for their fundraising event on Friday.

For those who missed the on-air shenanigans and woefully empty interview, it helps first to know a little background; because you certainly weren’t going to get any of this on Sunrise.

Kristin Davis – who played the glamorous Charlotte on the mega popular Sex and the City for six years – is a high-profile supporter of the refugee agency UNHCR. She is energetically using that role to help raise awareness about the horrific levels of sexual violence experienced by refugees.

In her recent trips to UNHCR camps in Africa, she was “blown away” by the Australian-funded programs she witnessed that were helping to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, as well as assist victims. She reached out, via social media, to congratulate the local charity – Australia for UNHCR – and a relationship developed. Eventually the local team invited her Down Under to talk to donors and rally support. And she arrived with some encouraging stories about why Australians should be proud of their work.

So, how do I know all this? Because I interviewed Davis, the day before Sunrise. And we talked, on and off camera, at length.

(ABC Presenter, Virginia Haussegger and Kristin Davis, Actress and UNHCR Ambassador)

Over the decades, working for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel 7, I’ve done countless celebrity interviews. They are almost invariably disappointing. Celebrities are sometimes dull off camera, disengaged, or simply wedded to their PR brief. But Davis was none of these.

We discussed, among other things, the complexity of UN Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security. But we decided not to discuss it on camera, because as Davis suggested, the heavy detail can obscure her core message about the daily threat of sexual violence facing millions of women and children refugees. That’s what she desperately wants people to know about.

So what happened on Sunrise?

There are plenty of pretty women on Australian TV. But when it comes to the important stuff of the day – the stuff that makes the news – there is a screaming lack of representation of women’s knowledge, wisdom and expertise.

Here’s how I saw it. Davis is a sexy drawcard and great TV fodder. Of course. As she says, if people will listen to her more readily than read a worthy but wordy report on the work of UNHCR, then she believes she has a “moral imperative” to speak out and use her privileged position.

So, in the spirit of generosity, she turned up at Sunrise, ready to talk. But very quickly she found her hosts, Armytage and David Koch, were not really interested in listening. Well, not to issues about refugees and the rates of sexual violence. The real goal was to get giggling.

“Get on to Sex and the City,” urged Koch to Armytage, “you’ve been wanting to all morning”. And she did. With squealing gusto: “You are still so Charlotte. OMG! I’m so excited. I love it!”

And it was all downhill from there.

Soon Armytage and her two gal pals were doing a skit – a very bad one – sending up Sex and the City, as Davis sat to the side looking excruciatingly uncomfortable.

The waste of time was one thing. But the mindless treatment of Davis as little more than a girly play-thing is what the women on this show ought to be ashamed of.

Their nonsense nattering does a major disservice to feminism. If Armytage and Co. don’t give a hoot about feminism – fine. But perhaps they should think about women like themselves – glamorous, privileged women who are in positions of power and influence – and how hard others have fought for such women to be taken seriously. To be heard. And to have their views considered worthy of prime time, serious discussion.

Which only makes the Sunrise bimbo brigade’s antics all that more depressing.