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sam newman kicked off tv!!!!
woah
THE Nine Network has made the right decision in ordering controversial star Sam Newman to take an extended break from television, Victorian Premier John Brumby says.
The move comes eight weeks after Mr Newman groped a lingerie-clad mannequin on the AFL Footy Show, stapling an image on the mannequin's head of The Age newspaper's chief football writer Caroline Wilson.
Mr Brumby said Mr Newman returned to television too early after undergoing life-saving prostate surgery 12 weeks earlier.
"I didn't see the show in question, my kids don't watch the Footy Show, but I occasionally do if I'm home,'' Mr Brumby told ABC radio.
"The reports I have of it, what he did was quite inappropriate, I think degrading of women in general, it was distasteful, it was not good television.''
"I think there are lots of people who have significant surgery, operations, changes in their life, and in today's world everything is hustle and bustle and you want to get back to the world, and for lots of people there is a shock to the system that I think people don't realise.
"I'm not making excuses for Sam ... but do people need time after major surgeries and operations? Yes, I think they do.
"Did he make a bad judgment on air? Yes, I think he did.
"Is it a good thing for people to have a rest? Yes, it is.''
Mr Brumby said it's a matter for Nine to decide whether Newman should return to the show.
"Lots of people have views on him, in the past when Eddie (McGuire) was there, I think he added some humour and comic relief, but I think he crossed the line.''
Mr Newman's actions caused outrage, with female viewers deserting the program and high-profile women making official complaints.
Nine executive director Jeffrey Browne told the Herald-Sun Mr Newman, 62, should not have been allowed back to work so soon after his surgery.
"In order to allow Sam to return to full health without the stress of having to perform on live television each week, I have directed him to take a break from The Footy Show,'' Mr Browne said.
He has arranged for Mr Newman to undergo counselling to address behaviour and other issues.
When asked when Mr Newman would return, Mr Browne said: "This is not about time. It is about the result.
"Once Sam has had the opportunity to have the time off he always should have had off, and once I am fully satisfied he has fully recovered, he will be back.''
The Herald-Sun reported today Mr Newman had accepted the decision and would not appear on the top-rating program tonight.
Mr Newman, Mr McGuire and Nine were not immediately available for comment.
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