How media commentators saw Campbell Live

After John Campbell bid his new audience goodnight and urged all to drive carefully, a panel of watchers gave their verdicts of TV3's new current affairs show, Campbell Live:

Canterbury University school of journalism head JIM TULLY said the show had offered something serious, and a genuine investigation.

"The fact they put quite a bit of effort into a genuine story rather than planting a tree on One Tree Hill, as Paul Holmes did on his launch, showed it was a serious endeavour.

If Campbell Live can hang them [drivers' licence scamsters] with the story and see it through to fruition, I think this is a good start."

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TE RADAR, comedian, documentary-maker and Herald columnist, liked the show but not the story.

"It was like a comfy old Swanddri, with the musk of familiarity.

"The prevalence of so many current affairs shows makes me feel safer as a citizen but oddly saddened by the banality of our scandals. On any current affairs show they are banal.

"Drivers' licences? It's just not my thing, but I did like the show."

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Total Media chief executive MARTIN GILLMAN said it had a good story, the set looked good, and Campbell was "his usual professional self".

He said the website would appeal to the younger viewers.

"They broke a story, and it was a good story, although almost a 60 Minutes type of story.

"There was not much of the live element and we don't really know what the usual format will be.

"I think having Carol Hirschfeld standing outside a closed AA office was a bit unusual, but was at least an attempt to make it live."

Max Cryer's reading of Don Brash was "an odd thing to put on, though it added a bit of difference to it".

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FIONA RAE, Listener television writer and blogger.

"Good work by Melanie Reid with all her hidden cameras.

"John Campbell looked relaxed, and he's a lot more fun than Paul Holmes. I did think it was a wee bit mean to send Carol out to stand outside a closed shop in Westgate.

"The ultimate for them will be if it makes it into tomorrow's papers as a standalone story.

"It would be absolute gold if Judy, Suzy and Holmesy have to talk about it."