As if it needed anything to prove at all, The Feed easily showed that its success and ease in the half hour format was no flash in the pan with its second 2014 episode. The Feed has clearly got its format down-pat with an opening few minutes dedicated to what’s gone down in the day’s news despite, by its very nature, this being a somewhat mixed endeavour.
Presenter Marc Fennell is at his best when allowed full access to his snarky and witty repartee, and serious notes about Australian death in Syria, whilst more than worthwhile in news reporting, certainly lay a sombre tone on the evening’s opening monologue segment.
In further proof that any news related to robots is always needed, the first main story for the second episode of 2014 sees The Feed looking at the jobs of the future. In simple yet enticing reporting, the team showed a snapshot of the future- focusing on the kinds of skills we’ll need and those we won’t. Whilst repetitive and mundane tasks (such as those in construction and retail) may be on the drop off, jobs requiring a human touch (as in sales, child and aged care, communications and therapy) are only set to rise. So don’t fret too much about the hours you waste on Twitter.
The award for most fascinating story of the night though, goes out to host Fennell himself- with him covering ‘real life video games’ that require much more than a typical frustrating round of Flappy Bird. So called ‘live action video games’, such as IRL Shooter, have players engaging in real life areas, holding actual equipment and hunting down actual zombies (well, actual actors at any rate). Needless to say, it looks ridiculously fun and the sooner this Melbourne start-up company expands the better. Check out their Sydney Pozible online here: http://www.pozible.com/project/176333
Closing with the ever amusing haik-news, an interesting news story delivered in 5-7-5 syllable haiku format, is an easy and charming note to end on. If tonight’s show wasn’t as warm a return as the premiere, it was still a welcome reminder of excellent television.
Review Score: THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Feed airs weeknights, 7:30 (repeated 10:30) on SBS2
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