TV2 comedian Mike King has allegedly been disciplined by TVNZ producer Tony Holden for his recent behaviour, although Holden has no comment to make on the rumours. King lost the plot three weeks ago and left an angry message on the ansaphone of TV2 show Eating Media Lunch calling the producers “c*cksucker c**ts”. The show had run a satirical cartoon the previous evening labelling him "Mike Queen" and suggesting his homophobic humour was about as funny as a child-killing explosion in a P lab. Media commentator Russell Brown reported Friday that King had received “by all accounts, a handsome bollocking” from Holden and that King is now under instructions to “keep it zipped”. Concern was expressed about King's homophobic humour by attendees at a queer television symposium in early November, convened by TVNZ and hosted by Holden. Holden had no comment to make on the rumours when contacted, but GayNZ.com understands that King's talkshow, returning next year, has had its season slashed from twenty episodes to ten, although this decision was reached before the ansaphone tirade.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 16th December 2003 - 12:00pm