Camilla: What happened?
Posted January 17th, 2012 by debritz
Just eight days ago, I predicted that the Brisbane radio sackings were not over and that another breakfast team would be shown the door.
Yesterday, Camilla Severi did not appear on the re-tooled Nova 106.9 breakfast show, and I was the first to report speculation that she was leaving the station. Today, her departure has been confirmed, and the station was quick to change the branding for the show (see above).
Severi will apparently fill another role with the DMG network, although exactly what that is has not been announced. Her departure, in the first week of the all-important ratings survey period, presumably creates an opening at Nova (it seems unlikley that they would stick with an all-male line-up).
Many pundits will have plenty to say on who will (or should) get that job. Already, 612ABC pot-stirrer Spencer Howson is putting forward the names of Lisa Kingsberry (from ABC Mt Isa), Natalie Bochenski (4BC news), Katie Clift (96.5FM) and Kat Davidson (sometime ABC announcer/producer, standup comic and wife of B105's Stav Davidson, which would make things really interesting.)
I'll throw in the possibility of a return by Meshel Laurie (perhaps on landline from Melbourne, where she hosts the national Nova drive show, maybe on a "guest" basis for, say, the 7-8am morning prime time until a permanent replacement is found), thus completing the return of the successful original Nova 106.9 line-up.
The question at hand now is: What happened that caused this parting of the ways and undid a strategy that began in the middle of last year when Nova lured Severi away from rival B105?
Without knowing the details, I feel sorry for Severi, given that her amazing career trajectory, from Big Brother "turkey-slapping" victim to radio star, to subject of a bidding war between networks, all happened at such a relatively fast pace and a young age. I hope she can and does bounce back from this.
Rival radio industry sources have suggested Severi had some personal "issues", which I'm not going to speculate on. Perhaps more to the point is that the stakes are high, and no station can afford to start the year with anything but their strongest team committed to winning at all costs.
Update: On Twitter, Lisa Kingsberry suggested an all-female radio line-up. Industry "wisdom" (i.e. the accumulated experience of the blokes running the show for decades) is that it wouldn't work. I think it just might, and would provide a real alternative to some of the manufactured commercial radio teams now on air around Australia. However, one of the major reasons shows fail is the lack of chemistry between the participants, so they'd have to get the line-up just right.
Problem with having Camilla was when she brings up topics for discussion and you open up the lines for people to ring in, no one ever rings. It's weird and bizarre! I feel bad for her, she tried hard but Nova listeners just didn't warm to her.
As with Meshel, I really doubt very much she'll come back to brekkie (unless they replace Fitzy and Wippa soon if they have another bad rating in Sydney). She's doing 2 hour shows that goes nationally, why come back to brekkie??
I'd throw Liz Cantor who filled in during the summer.
They have to get someone else Brett, you can't have the 3 boys on brekkie! Although i have to admit, they're funnier together this time those three.
Having a token female in a line-up, is completely unnecessary. What listeners want is a team of funny, smart and opinionated people who have chemistry together. The problem with Camilla, is that the rest of the team clearly had no time for her. Sure Meshel and Ash had their arguments, but Meshel always stood up for herself. Camilla was either not strong or smart enough to back herself. I heard Camilla say some genuinely stupid and offensive things on Nova & am not sad to see her go.
As for feeling sorry for her, I certainly don't. She took a risk in a risky industry and it didn't pay off.
As a big fan of the original show, I am elated that Kip has returned. The boys together are wonderful and Nova certainly doesn't need to add a woman just for the sake of it.
Camilla made a bad move leaving B105 to Nova. She was out of her depth and the chemistry was missing from the Nova team. The guys are very quick and witty - Camilla more cautious. B105 on the other hand has done well with the addition of Abby Coleman - she is just lovely. My prediction is that Meshel will go back to Nova - although I think an all male cast will work well.
I reject entirely the idea that an all female cast on radio would not work. As evidence I submit the success of Tge Circle team on Ch10 as well as the duo of Chrissie Swan and Yumi Stynes for the 3pm pickup on radio. It is not their gender that's important, it's their rapport, humour, and chemistry that's important. If you need any evidence just listen to the current crew on breakfast at Nova without a female to spice things up... In a word...BORING
When I first found out Camilla was joining Nova, I knew it was not going to go well. She just does not have the personality for Nova, nor the personality for a funny, quick witted radio show. She added nothing to the show, didn't fit in and was plain boring. Just like she was on B105.
Only B105 listeners accept that kind of radio. I feel Nova listeners don't gel with that. This is not a personal attack on Camilla, she just doesn't work. Just like Oprah didn't work out as a news reporter, she worked out a treat as a talk show host!
Nova's format is completely different to B105. Camilla took at big risk leaving B105 and unfortunately it did not work out for her. From day one she did not appear comfortable in her role and you are right - she did not fit in with the Nova boys. Sorry Camilla - you burnt your bridges when you left the radio station that nurtured you and gave you the break you needed - great job, great people to work with and heaps of hosting opportunities.
Surely its the talent of the person concerned,not their gender ? Having a token female wedged between 3 blokes whose only input into the show is to giggle on cue and look 'hot' during the station TV commercials is an insult to women?
In my humble opinion,until women in the ( FM ) radio industry are respected for their on air talent,not their off air looks,there will be many more Camilla's in the future.
Just a thought.
I think its a personal attack on camilla.
she does a great job on radio.if it wasnt for the pigs who worked with her talking over her,it would be a better work enviroment.
listen to the guys when they have something to say.you couldnt hear what camilla was trying to say.the same thing happens to mishel.
They dont care what the woman have to say.just damn ignorant.
i wish camilla all the best for the future.
i will be jumping ship.i no longer will listen to nova.
Im with you Mark..... they never gave her a chance; spoke over her and didn't work with her... their only concern is the sound of their own voice....
I think Camilla is very talented and thats why i switched from b105 to Nova... I wish camilla all the best and i hope she finds a radio station that will appreciate her
No one doubts Camilla's talent and she is very well suited to a younger demographic where she can connect with her listeners. Mud thrown is ground lost.
It sounds like they need to bring in Gary Sizzle....youtube if you dont know who I mean.
I stopped listening to Nova when Camilla was on the breakfast show. she totally ruined it and had no sense of humour and was far too sensitive to some of the quick witted quips from the boys. When I heard that she'd been cut, I went back to listening to the morning show. Thank god she's gone...even her voice put me to sleep