Sunrise presenter Nat Barr confronted her new colleague Mark Humphries after the comedian debuted a controversial new satirical segment on 7News.
Humphries’ new comedy segment, titled The 6:57pm News, airs after the 7News bulletin on Fridays and has already caused controversy, with many Australians criticising him.
“It was a regrettable piece that has no place in a news bulletin,” said one.
‘At least everyone has time to have a poo and make a hot chocolate before Home and Away starts,’ said another.
There were fans.
“It reminded me of Clarke and Dawe and their genius,” one person said, referring to the satirical news program on Channel 9 and later the ABC, which axed it in 2017.
“I loved it,” said another.
“Better than The Project,” was another comment.
Comedian Mark Humphries (pictured left) appeared on Sunrise on Friday morning with Natalie Barr (pictured centre) and Matt Shirvington
“I’m just as shocked as you are,” Humphries replied. “When I first got here, Matt, I saw your wardrobe, and Matt Carmichael’s and Matt Doran’s.
“And I thought, are they hiring people who aren’t cool? But then I saw Mark Beretta and I thought, OK, I think it’ll be OK.”
In an extended conversation, Humphries was introduced by Barr as “the most talked about man in the news. And no, it’s not Donald Trump.”
Humphries told Barr and Shirvington that he is impressed with the size of the studio at Seven, compared to the studio at his previous employer.
“Because I was at the ABC, and taxpayers will be happy to hear that the film was shot in a shoebox, but this is an aircraft carrier, so I think that’s great.”
Barr asked Humphries how he decides which stories to cover each week.
“It’s pretty simple. I just Google what Barnaby Joyce did this week and then I go from there,” he joked.
Mark Humphries (pictured) has told how he is gaining new fans worldwide on social media after he took a dig at Donald Trump in a recent segment on Friday night’s Seven news bulletin
“You’re just looking for that magical story that has a spark in it and you feel like it’s going to spark ideas.”
Humphries said he is gaining new fans worldwide on social media after recently poking fun at Donald Trump.
“I’m going to sound like an old man saying this, but I’m going absolutely crazy on TikTok.”
“I think we got almost a million views on the most recent segment because I think there are a lot of Americans who don’t like Donald Trump that much.”
‘And that segment is doing very well.’
“Better than The Project,” was another comment.
As for the negative reactions, Humphries previously said he tries to leave it all alone.
“The worst thing that’s ever been said about me, and the one that’s always stuck with me, is, ‘I look like a failed Ken Doll!'” he said, laughing.