Much has been made of the violence seen in previous “International Rules” matches between Ireland and Australia. The Irish threatened to boycott all future games after they were effectively bashed up by the Australians in the last series.

The AFL have since come out and said this series would be about, and I don’t quote “peace, love and mung beans”, but take a peek at the advertising on the box and it looks like war. Australian players launching elbows and Irish players, logically, looking for cover.

Give us a break! It’s sport. The Irish come over to Australia with some silky skills and the advertising has us all expecting the silkiness to be left bloodstained on the field.

Channel 7 and the AFL should be making the most of this great event. Sure try and use the pride factor in your advertising, throw in a little nationalism but keep the bogan out of it.

We, the viewers, are not stupid. We, the viewers, love sport. Please Mr Seven AFL man, give some credit to the viewer.

Spicks and Specks is a fantastically funny show. Entertaining, to be sure. They have great team captains, terrific guests and it all gels together into a show that’s, well, great. It can be a little generic at times (music wise) but the pace is perfect for their audience.

But, I love Rockwiz more. It’s more edgy with Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis out front and an amazing band out back with the likes of Peter Luscomb as members. Overall what makes the show great is the use of audience members, some good and some showing almost autistic levels of music knowledge. It reminds me of the music quizes held at Cherry in Melbourne. With music brains, like local rock journo’s and the Polyester records team blowing us away.

But I digress. Well I’ve been digressing for some time. Rockwiz and Spicks & Specks may argue over who came first and who ripped of who but the fact of the matter is there is another. Easily the oldest of the trio with its origins dating back to 1996, Never mind the Buzzcocks is the most entertaining of the lot. It never pretends to be the musical oracle that Rockwiz is or the variety show as seen on Specks, it is just god awfully funny. With Simon Amstell out the front as the satirically scything host who has brought manufactured pop stars to tears, and Phill Jupitus and Bill Bailey as team captains the show is just out of control.

If you’ve never seen the show now’s a great time to get into it because, it’s back!

The 22nd season is now screening in Britain on BBC2 and you can get your mits on it via youtube. Do yourself a favour. Here’s a sample.