Radio industry site Radio Today is dolling out the apologies after it ran an online poll asking readers to nominate the funniest person ever on Australian radio with just a single female making its top 20 list.
According to a spokesperson for the site, the poll received “several thousand” votes from people currently employed in Australia’s radio business.
The poll was won by (New Zealander) Tony Martin who snared 21 per cent of the vote, while 2DayFM’s Em Rusciano (who polled at 13) was the sole female in the top 20. Comic group The D Generation were also nominated and included Jane Kennedy. You can see the full list at the bottom of this article.
Apparently, such was the backlash, Radio Today has announced a new poll solely for female presenters. A spokesperson telling B&T: “With the new poll of The Top Funniest Women in Radio there are some great names but very few strong up and coming females.”
Comments to the Radio Today site were none too happy either. “All blokes except a couple of women on D Gen Judith and Jane and Em. That is a very sad state of affairs,” wrote one. While another added: “Aweful (sic) there’s not more females very sad.”
While another added: “Pretty narrow group of blokes listed here. Amanda Keller? Helen Razer? Judith Lucy? Wendy Harmer? Seriously, what a narrow world view.”
Here’s Radio Today’s top 20 on-air comedians ever:
1) Tony Martin
2) Marty Sheargold
3) Dave Hughes
4) Lawrence Mooney
5) Hamish & Andy
6) Sam Peng
7) The Chaser
8) Mick Molloy
9) The D Generation
10) Ed Kavalee
11) Stav Davidson
12) Matt Dyktynski
13) Em Rusciano
14) Wil Anderson
15) Ben & Liam
16) Amos Gill
17) Will & Woody
18) Shaun Micallef
19) Collective Noun
20) Doug Mulray
