Brother, Germaine really does the sisterhood proud

By Lisa Wilkinson
January 16, 2005
The Sun-Herald





Germaine Greer on Celebrity Big Brother. It was surely one of the most inspired pieces of television casting since Pauline Hanson goosestepped her way onto the box and into many Australian hearts (in spite of ourselves) on Dancing With The Stars.

Leo Schofield on The Footy Show, George Pell on Sex And The City, or Amanda Vanstone on Australian Idol all seemed somehow more likely than GG on BB. But there she was - the biggest and boldest ball-breaker of her time, living in share accom with eight other members of the UK's small "c" celebritocracy, as the cameras recorded every bleary-eyed, nose-picking, loose-lipped detail.

It was only five days before one of the finest minds of her generation decided that the reality show she really should have been on was I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! And she proceeded to do exactly that, amid much gnashing of teeth and public wailing over her own foolishness.

Just what was it that finally got to her? Frankly, given her comments in the diary room, it would probably be easier to work out what didn't get to her.

But the proverbial really seemed to hit the Mistral when self-styled "Hollywood astrologer" Jackie Stallone, the woman we can blame for bringing us son Sly, became a surprise! guest in the Big Brother compound. (Never laid eyes on Jackie? Think LaToya Jackson 130 years on.)

While Mrs Stallone looked at Ms Greer the way a Beverly Hills madam might look at some dog poo that's made its way onto the heel of her stiletto, Greer looked as if she was looking for a gun.

And I know, I know ... At this point I should probably engage in some considered analysis as to just how the mighty have fallen, ask what possessed Greer, and accompany it all with some equally earnest hand-wringing about what this means for feminism and the dignity of women generally - and I freely admit that was my first reaction.

But excuse me if I do a reverse pike in the U-turn position. The more I've thought about it, the more I can't help but feel a sneaking admiration for her.

At 65, Greer must have known before she signed on for Big Brother that it would be more than merely difficult to live cheek-by-make-up-trowel alongside people with whom she - as Fran Leibowitz once said - had "nothing in common other than a right to trial by jury".

Surely she knew that commentators the world over would rip in. And there's little doubt that the whole show was designed to make headlines.

She may even have suspected that the whole thing could turn out to be a huge mistake and that she would have to bail early.

But, she did it anyway!

What a spirit this woman has! Against the backdrop of a society that has never been more youth-obsessed, and at an age when many of her peers are signing up for the retirement village, there was Our Germaine, still taking risks after all these years. As she said before she even entered the house: "I'm striking a blow for the old ladies."

Indeed, Greer is a woman who has made it clear since she very first appeared in our collective consciousness that she is not someone who will die wondering. While many of the rest of us live our lives carefully considering each chosen footstep, Greer will have gone ahead and done it, tried it, lived it to the full and, if she has a few regrets along the way and made a few mistakes, so what?

In her earlier days she was an icon of her time, and did more than just about anyone to help liberate women from the oft deadly dull limitations imposed by a male-dominated society that didn't know any better.

Now, courtesy of her and her sisters' courage and daring to challenge that system, today's young women are living her legacy and enjoying a freedom of choice in their personal and professional lives that was unimaginable just a few decades ago - a change that both women and men have benefited from.

Maybe now, in her dotage, what Greer is doing, perhaps a little clumsily, is saying the hell with dotage, she just doesn't want to dote.

And no matter what the age, aren't those who challenge, change and question along the way a whole lot more interesting that those who don't?

Her point exactly, I'm sure.

Brother, Germaine really does the sisterhood proud

By Lisa Wilkinson
January 16, 2005
The Sun-Herald





Germaine Greer on Celebrity Big Brother. It was surely one of the most inspired pieces of television casting since Pauline Hanson goosestepped her way onto the box and into many Australian hearts (in spite of ourselves) on Dancing With The Stars.

Leo Schofield on The Footy Show, George Pell on Sex And The City, or Amanda Vanstone on Australian Idol all seemed somehow more likely than GG on BB. But there she was - the biggest and boldest ball-breaker of her time, living in share accom with eight other members of the UK's small "c" celebritocracy, as the cameras recorded every bleary-eyed, nose-picking, loose-lipped detail.

It was only five days before one of the finest minds of her generation decided that the reality show she really should have been on was I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! And she proceeded to do exactly that, amid much gnashing of teeth and public wailing over her own foolishness.

Just what was it that finally got to her? Frankly, given her comments in the diary room, it would probably be easier to work out what didn't get to her.

But the proverbial really seemed to hit the Mistral when self-styled "Hollywood astrologer" Jackie Stallone, the woman we can blame for bringing us son Sly, became a surprise! guest in the Big Brother compound. (Never laid eyes on Jackie? Think LaToya Jackson 130 years on.)

While Mrs Stallone looked at Ms Greer the way a Beverly Hills madam might look at some dog poo that's made its way onto the heel of her stiletto, Greer looked as if she was looking for a gun.

And I know, I know ... At this point I should probably engage in some considered analysis as to just how the mighty have fallen, ask what possessed Greer, and accompany it all with some equally earnest hand-wringing about what this means for feminism and the dignity of women generally - and I freely admit that was my first reaction.

But excuse me if I do a reverse pike in the U-turn position. The more I've thought about it, the more I can't help but feel a sneaking admiration for her.

At 65, Greer must have known before she signed on for Big Brother that it would be more than merely difficult to live cheek-by-make-up-trowel alongside people with whom she - as Fran Leibowitz once said - had "nothing in common other than a right to trial by jury".

Surely she knew that commentators the world over would rip in. And there's little doubt that the whole show was designed to make headlines.

She may even have suspected that the whole thing could turn out to be a huge mistake and that she would have to bail early.

But, she did it anyway!

What a spirit this woman has! Against the backdrop of a society that has never been more youth-obsessed, and at an age when many of her peers are signing up for the retirement village, there was Our Germaine, still taking risks after all these years. As she said before she even entered the house: "I'm striking a blow for the old ladies."

Indeed, Greer is a woman who has made it clear since she very first appeared in our collective consciousness that she is not someone who will die wondering. While many of the rest of us live our lives carefully considering each chosen footstep, Greer will have gone ahead and done it, tried it, lived it to the full and, if she has a few regrets along the way and made a few mistakes, so what?

In her earlier days she was an icon of her time, and did more than just about anyone to help liberate women from the oft deadly dull limitations imposed by a male-dominated society that didn't know any better.

Now, courtesy of her and her sisters' courage and daring to challenge that system, today's young women are living her legacy and enjoying a freedom of choice in their personal and professional lives that was unimaginable just a few decades ago - a change that both women and men have benefited from.

Maybe now, in her dotage, what Greer is doing, perhaps a little clumsily, is saying the hell with dotage, she just doesn't want to dote.

And no matter what the age, aren't those who challenge, change and question along the way a whole lot more interesting that those who don't?

Her point exactly, I'm sure.

I think it all sounds a little pretentious. It was just a show, she wasn't changing the world or doing anything startling. She just bottled out of it, because she took it too seriously. It's a bit of fun, to raise charity for 18 days or however long it is. If she was that strong-willed, couldn't she have gritted her teeth and got on with it, like everyone else on there?

Seems to me that Germaine decided to leave when Lisa started taking the Queenly duties a little too seriously and insisted that Germaine make breakfast for everyone, rather than just the Queen herself.

Germaine started a four letter tirade about it and after that seemed to get more and more disillusioned. To be honest, although she was okay, she wasnt missed that much, due to the horrendous sight of "she of the dimensionally challenged mouth" Jackie Stallone walking thru the door saying the immortal words, "yeh its Braaaaackie....." :blink:

Never saw her on Newsnight last night, but it seems she is watching the programme, and is waiting to see Lisa out, willing her out in fact!


I wonder if she'll go to join the "Welcome, you've been Chucked" mob outside? :laugh: