Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted her new colleague Mark Humphries after the comedian debuted a controversial new satirical segment on 7News.
Humphries’ new comedy segment, titled The 6:57pm News, airs after the 7News bulletin on Fridays and has already stirred controversy, with many Australians calling him out.
‘It was a deplorable segment that has no place in a news bulletin,’ one said.
‘At least everyone now has time to have a crap and make a hot chocolate before Home and Away starts,’ said another.
There were fans though.
‘Made me think of Clarke and Dawe and their brilliance,’ one said in a reference to the Channel 9 and later ABC satirical news satire show that ended in 2017.
‘Loved this,’ said another.
‘Better than The Project,’ was another comment.
Comedian Mark Humphries (pictured left) appeared on Sunrise on Friday morning with Natalie Barr (pictured centre) and Matt Shirvington
‘I’m as shocked as you are,’ Humphries responded. ‘Actually, when I first arrived here, Matt, I saw your wardrobe, and Matt Carmichaels and Matt Dorans.
‘And I thought, do they hire people who aren’t cool? But then I saw Mark Beretta and I thought, okay, I think I’ll be all right.’
In a wide-ranging chat, Humphries was introduced by Barr as ‘the most talked about man in news. And no, it’s not Donald Trump.
Humphries told Barr and Shirvington he is impressed by the size of the studio at Seven compared to the studio at his last employer.
‘Because I was at the ABC, which taxpayers will be pleased to know is shot in a shoebox, but this is this is an aircraft carrier, so I’m loving that.’
Barr asked Humphries how he works out which stories to cover each week.
‘It’s quite easy. I just Google what Barnaby Joyce has done this week, and then I go with that,’ he joked.
Mark Humphries (pictured) spoke of how he is gaining new fans around the world on social media after skewering Donald Trump in a recent segment on Seven’s Friday night news bulletin
‘You’re just looking for that magic story that’s got a bit of a spark that you feel can sort of it starts percolating ideas.’
Humphries spoke of how he is gaining new fans around the world on social media after skewering Donald Trump in a recent segment.
‘I’m going to sound like an old man when I say this, but I’m blowing up on TikTok.’
‘I think we’re just about to hit a million views with the most recent segment, because I think there’s a lot of Americans out there who are not fond of Donald Trump.’
‘And so that segment’s doing all right.’
‘Better than The Project,’ was another comment.
As for the backlash, Humphries previously said he is trying to take it all in his stride.
‘The worst thing that was said about me, that stays with me is, ‘I look like a Ken Doll gone wrong!” he said with a laugh.
