The ABC’s live New Year’s Eve broadcast has been criticized by viewers who called the show “woke up” and “an embarrassment.”
The show included singer Casey Donovan covering Lizzo’s 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) and a segment about Native artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding, who created this year’s 9 p.m. Calling Country fireworks display.
The pair centered the show around the themes of land and sea, as well as designing the projections onto the Harbor Bridge pylons.
The ABC’s live New Year’s Eve broadcast has been criticized by viewers who called the show “woke up” and “an embarrassment.” Pictured: host Charlie Pickering with singer Casey Donovan and comedian Rhys Nicholson
Dami Im also took the stage to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John who passed away this year, while the duo Vika & Linda performed songs from The Seekers in honor of the late Judith Durham, who passed away earlier in 2022.
Drag Queen Courtney act performed Olivia Newton-John and the Divinyls songs.
Not everyone who watched was happy with the variety show on offer, and some took to Twitter to share their anger.
“What an absolutely boring 9pm showing with absolutely boring, unknown ‘music’ and with what should be a party for all, being hijacked by an awake minority” one person complained.
A segment was included about Native artists Carmen Glynn-Braun and Dennis Golding (both pictured), who created Calling Country fireworks at 9 p.m. this year.
“What an absolute disgrace, a display of exclusion from the majority,” they added.
Another person wrote, “It looks like @ABCTV #SydneyNYE is trying to appeal to a younger audience this year, but they don’t seem to understand that young people don’t stay home on #NYE watching #ABC.”
“#SydneyNYE could they have done more with the fireworks music selection for kids?” someone else said.
Not everyone who watched was happy with the variety show on offer, and some took to Twitter to share their anger
‘I’m sure a lot of kids say WTF was that. It’s really not that hard – just have Bluey sing baby shark and run TikTok videos. Save the mandatory wakeful slumber party for the grown-ups’ fireworks,” they added.
“The @ABCTV is a national awakened EMBARRASSMENT,” said another, while another chimed in, “So wake up.”
Enough shaking for now. Mute…” wrote another person watching at home.
Others loved the show, with one fan writing, “Is #NewYearsEve complete without @CaseyDonovan, I don’t think so!”
“ABC definitely does the go-wake or go-brake,” someone else agreed.
“People think taxpayers’ money is being wasted on New Year’s Eve fireworks. Then #ABCNYE takes that money down the toilet to a whole new level,” one person tweeted.
Does the ABC know there are festivals outside of Sydney and the gay community? You wouldn’t know it if you saw another tweet on New Year’s Eve.
Dami Im (pictured) took the stage to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John, who passed away this year
“I think the Charter says something about all Australians – they should read it,” they added.
Others loved the show, with one fan writing, “Is #NewYearsEve complete without @CaseyDonovan, I don’t think so!”
“Dami Im still rockin it through to 2023,” another tweeted, while another added, “Casey Donovan’s performance on ABC lighthearted fun New Year’s Eve entertainment.”
The early show included singer Casey Donovan covering 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) by Lizzo
