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No Papal Chase in Sydney
by Catherine Zhao

Once again Sydney held a mass international event this July, the World Youth Day, which Pope BXVI came all the way to lead. When millions of pilgrims flew into the city, Sydneysiders might just feel the same inconvenience to that of APEC last year. Bishops shouted on TV programs, newspapers to invite residents to come out from their home to meet up with the Pope, probably once in their life time.

But there may be people who wanted to meet the pope with a special way. Some of you would wonder if the Chaser’s War would once again to show up their bravo creativity to surprise the city.

Having had the most controversial show, the APEC prank, last year, which sparkled a mass debate on how satirical comedy should draw its line, the team was certainly expected to perform another show, to give people, at least, something to talk about.

Not only you, but also the police was having the same thought. They rang up the Chaser team before the event and inquired if they were to have some action in regard to WYD. The police was well prepared this time to identify any naughty action, if there is, by the Chaser, a team member Julian Morrow, a law graduate, said in a recent public lecture he gave in USYD.

Nothing happened. Did the pope have better security protection than George W. Bush? Or the Chaser was afraid of religion? Julian’s answer in the public lecture showed the other side of the program’s logic. It is an international event; it’s religion; the police got preparation this time; and it would have been more or less the same plot if we did it again. Audience doesn’t want to see similar shows repeating.

However, there were papal chasers in Canada before, trying to meet up with the pope for a C$1000 bet. They shot it as a documentary file and won the Canadian documentary award in 2004. Kenny Hotz was the guy trying to go through all security layers to reach the then Pope (John Pope II). The movie shows Kenny’s way through millions of pilgrims, onlookers, security guards, Vatican Special Forces etc. to not only find the pope but an understanding of God.

The Chaser didn’t touch WYD probably because by nature it was not ready to shoot a right angle to encounter religion. A quick review of its episodes you can see nothing religious or has intension to make a laugh on religion. Though it has a tradition of attention to celebrities, and BXVI is one of them, there’s the whole sacred faith behind him which makes it too heavy to make fun of.

“We are an entertainment program.” Morrow said, there’s no point t to fool the police again, which the team knew it impossible. Also this time it is not only the state police is involved, there are Forces from the Vatican. Things can get way complicated if legal issues come up.

And from a psychological point of view, the public apparently have a totally different emotion on George W. Bush from what they have on BXVI. “We know it’s not that funny, and we don’t want to get into trouble.” Morrow summarized.

It is the perception of the audience that can be overcome. People are used to see funny little mistakes made by Mr. Bush, who could get confused with APEC and OPEC; making fun on him is like playing with a cowboy from Texas. That could be the potential ideology, with which the Chaser’s War team picked Bush. When it comes to the pope, he’s of generosity, warm smile; he’s called “the holly father” who believers are loyal to. Comedy has its limits too. Satire implies a laugh with a meaning behind. If not, the Chaser’s no difference to the Channel 9’s funny home made video show.