Guest Blog: Not Strictly Boring

-------Introducing guest blogger Martyn Bradbury--------

Big Norm won the dancing with the stars TV competition. So what? Well his win ended up saying more about NZ than any talkback host or academic could ever attempt to articulate. By voting Norm the winner we spoke as a nation about who we are and what we like, and apparently we like heavy bald guys who have cried in public and say sorry lots. We also said that we weren't impressed with blonde showy wankers who take off their shirt every chance they can get, or more simply put, we hate Aucklanders and Nicky Watson.

It also showed us the ugly side of NZ. Tim Shadbolt only stayed in because the entire South Island kept voting for him. They have a saying down south, 'One eyed and proud of it'. Not only are they biased, they are proud of their bias (not even Alabama goes that far). But in bred southern rednecks and shallow Aucklanders aside, the winner of course was Wellington. Stormin' Norm epitomises the flavour of man in favour with NZ woman. Now the cynic would suggest that Norm is the type of saddle-worn bloke who understands his subservient role in the world and wearily follows with the obedience of the whipped, which of course is his appeal. Others would declare it's his soft cuddly side that make woman swoon, telling us that the days of the macho men are numbered and as NZers we ain't swayed by flashy types or Tim Shadbolt.

Unlike NZ Idol, Dancing with the stars has a credibility and accidentally reflects our values and tastes, it's a light weight entertainment program with no pretension, whereas NZ Idol is swamped with the showy pretension of launching a 'pop career'. Dancing has never shown us so much.