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Now, for a dose of reality.
The highest-rating non-Grand Final episode of The Footy Show in six years.
On Thursday, an astonishing 686,000 viewers watched Rebecca Maddern's debut on Channel Nine's long-running AFL series. (This reflects audiences in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania only. Other states get the NRL version.)
Compare this to the collective uproar last week from hundreds of Australian man-babies. Incensed by Maddern joining the show, they rolled out their predictable complaints. Political correctness gone mad! She'll spoil our fun! And how many AFL games has she actually played? (As many as co-host James Brayshaw and former panellist Eddie McGuire, thanks for asking.)
Of course, Maddern hadn't been on the program yet. Not that this discouraged the trolls.
Finally, she made her first appearance. And she knocked it out of the park.
Confident, a good interviewer, knew her stuff inside out. Gave better than she got ("Sam, what was it like playing with my great-grandfather?") When Billy Brownless suggested she'd twerk to Salt-N-Pepa on their Grand Final show, she brushed him off: "That won't be happening."
All those complaints last week? They seemed even sillier as we watched her in action.
Viewers seemed to agree. Overwhelmingly, they praised Maddern on social media.
The worst many could say was that she had scrawled a few words on her palm (what a scandal!). Others continued their sexist carping. Unusually, there was a greater proportion of negative comments on Facebook than Twitter. But for most, it seems, she was a refreshing change.
The fans drowned out the trolls, and it was a beautiful thing.
"Thought she was awesome! Brought a new side to it!" wrote Daniel on Facebook.
"Go Bec you're a breathe of fresh air!" said Melissa.
Here's a taste of their applause on Twitter:
@RebeccaMaddern9 not an AFL fan as such but came across the show last night and thought you were great, well done.— Tony Martin (@itone62) April 7, 2016
Love @RebeccaMaddern9 s questions...no fear about hurting those precious petals feelings with razor sharp relevant questioning.Superb.— Glenn Hampson (@Glenny3972) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 keep asking the hard questions bec...good start— sonia perichon (@myfevola) April 7, 2016
I find myself watching the @AFLFootyShow for the first time in a while.....! Love your work @RebeccaMaddern9 ! #9AFLFootyShow @Channel9— Sam Robinson (@SamRobinson_1) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 you bloody star your first night on @AFLFootyShow going great guns— Stephen Potter (@stevey_pots_Aus) April 7, 2016
@kevinperry @RebeccaMaddern9 Certainly totally non-deserving of the all flack she's been copping!— Jake Thompson (@JMThompson95) April 7, 2016
Cracking debut from @RebeccaMaddern9 on @AFLFootyShow tonight. Confident and relaxed. #welldone #greatappointment— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 you are doing a great job just like you've always been there @AFLFootyShow— Lucy Smith (@smith_lucypeta) April 7, 2016
Nailing it @RebeccaMaddern9 #aflfootyshow— Aaron Rich (@AaronRichOnAir) April 7, 2016
Very talented @RebeccaMaddern9. Coming in like that on episode one and smash it out of the park was impressive. Well done. #9AFLFootyShow— Youngsta (@adrianjyoung) April 7, 2016
I've been watching the @AFLFootyShow for as long as I can remember & @RebeccaMaddern9 is smashing it! Such a great addition to the panel.— Cassie De Conno (@cassie_deconno) April 7, 2016
I love @RebeccaMaddern9 I think she's gonna save #9AFLFootyShow imho— Amber Williams (@pvnkskywalker) April 7, 2016
Oh @RebeccaMaddern9 you're a star.. #9AFLFootyShow— Craig Hall (@craighall01) April 7, 2016
Channel 9 have done seriously well with @RebeccaMaddern9 on the @AFLFootyShow #becisbest— Brad Wiedmann (@Brad_Wiedmann) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 opens up by roasting Sammy Newman, love it! @AFLFootyShow #9AFLFootyShow— Ty Blackaby (@ty24official) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 Thought you did a brilliant job on The Footy Show last night. Keep it up!— Beni Halvorsen (@DrBeniH) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 First time I have watched Footy Show to the end.Great job Rabecca#theyneededawoman#congrats#keepitup— cateh (@catster4) April 7, 2016
Nice work on the show @RebeccaMaddern9 - you did a sterling job!— Victor Leung (@victorleung) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 Well done last night, too many critics ready to jump but you did as well (or better) than any first timer could! Go get em!— Hayley Bishop (@HayleyBishop) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 amazing job last night. #inspirational #womeninafl— Behind Closed Doors (@bcdwomen) April 7, 2016
How good was @RebeccaMaddern9 last night on @AFLFootyShow! She came out firing shots. #9Today https://t.co/u9hfWW0PYO— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) April 7, 2016
Awesome job @RebeccaMaddern9 perfect fit! #9AFLFootyShow— James Smart (@jamessmartLP) April 7, 2016
The guys thought @RebeccaMaddern9 was very accomplished in her #9AFLFootyShow debut - what did you think?— SEN Breakfast (@SENBreakfast) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 well done Bec great show .. Great improvement to the footy show— Heather van Dort (@vannie5355) April 7, 2016
Great to see @RebeccaMaddern9 on the AFL #footyshow. I'll be watching more often.— Emily Harridge (@EmilyHarridge) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 you've nailed it. Stand your ground. Never seen Sam Newman so quiet— Belinda (@belindawallin) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 was awesome tonight! Looking forward to what is to come in the future!! #9AFLFootyShow— Matthew Diacono (@MattyJayDee69) April 7, 2016
@AFLFootyShow was a pleasure to watch tonight thanks largely in part to @RebeccaMaddern9
Big name guests r back in vogue & panellists talk— Tony Sheahan (@TonySheahan) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 you did a great job well done ......— Bill koutsoumbas (@BillKoutsoumbas) April 7, 2016
There's gonna be haters, but I think @RebeccaMaddern9 did a great job on the @AFLFootyShow. #itwastimeforchange— Jason Soultan (@JasonSoultan) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 Well done Bec, you were brilliant tonight, wish you all the success going forward :)— Fahad Ahmad (@Fahad_PAKFan) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 Well done on your first show. You've improved the Footy Show by 1000%— Drew (@DrewD_ATC) April 7, 2016
@AFLFootyShow I enjoyed watching the show tonight seeing the first female co-host @RebeccaMaddern9 debuting, she was amazing! #9AFLFootyShow— Jake Bozinovski (@k1ngb0y14) April 7, 2016
Love ya work @RebeccaMaddern9 on the @AFLFootyShow - the guys have a bit to go (no gender put downs pls) but she'll be right! #playlikejane— Melissa Montang (@yankeevagabond) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 great first show impressed with the way you asked questions— darrin edwards (@68Daz) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 absolutely killed it tonight. Fantastic show. Can't wait for new week @AFLFootyShow. #stickthatupyouhaters #soproud— HayleyC (@h3ychy) April 7, 2016
FFS people! I typically don't give a shit about the AFL, but watching @RebeccaMaddern9 hosting tonight and she's doing a great job!— Iggy Damiani (@iggydamiani) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 you were a star on the footy show, well done!— Damo Peiper (@damopeiper) April 7, 2016
Don't listen to the losers @RebeccaMaddern9 you are awesome on the @AFLFootyShow #9AFLFootyShow— Suzanne Olsen (@Soozsartwork) April 7, 2016
@RebeccaMaddern9 killing it tonight. Refreshing @AFLFootyShow great inclusion #nochanges— Chris Brooking (@sparrabrooking) April 7, 2016
Definitely fell out of love with @AFLFootyShow in recent years but @RebeccaMaddern9 doing an awesome job. Much needed change! #keepitup— Ryan (@kenraq) April 7, 2016
Liking the addition of @RebeccaMaddern9 to @AFLFootyShow ! Breath of fresh air— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) April 7, 2016
I reckon @RebeccaMaddern9 is a great addition to the show, good stuff! #aflfootyshow— Jake Lynch (@jlynx1) April 7, 2016
A seemingly small step in modern society but one giant leap forward for the @AFL with @RebeccaMaddern9 joining the @AFLFootyShow #overdue— Brenton Humphreys (@bd_humphreys) April 7, 2016
Judging gospel of Twitter, on balance it's all good for @RebeccaMaddern9 Well done, the dynamic has loosened up in < hour. I'll watch again.— Stephanie Asher (@StephanieAsher1) April 7, 2016