NPR: Australian Comedy Show Gets Through APEC Security

Australian Comedy Show Gets Through APEC Security

You know, this is like the story about the nuclear weapons that mistakenly hitched a ride on an Air Force bomber — it's something that's not supposed to happen ... until it actually does.

Today, a satirical Australian TV show, The Chaser's War on Everything, staged a fake motorcade through the streets of Sydney. Many world leaders, including President Bush, are in Sydney for this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. So there is a lot of security, about $250 million worth. But the fake motorcade of three cars and two motorcycles made it through two official checkpoints. The convoy was eventually pulled over about a block from Bush's hotel, apparently when the comics tried to turn around.

Here's the best part: One of the people in the motorcade was dressed to look like Osama bin Laden.

New South Wales Police Minister David Campbell said he didn't think the stunt was funny (the authorities had, in fact, warned the show not to try something like this, and 11 people have been charged with breaching APEC security), but a quick online poll by The Sydney Morning Herald found 86 percent of respondents saw the humor. Campbell denied he was embarrassed by the comedians getting through the checkpoints — and in an effort to make a souffle out of broken eggs, he said he was pleased the "multi-layered'' security had worked.

Actually, I completely understand how this happened. The Chaser team's vehicles were flying little Canadian flags. Who in their right mind would suspect Canadians of anything nefarious, eh?

1:44 PM ET | 09- 6-2007 | permalink

Comments

Perth, WEstern Australia - 2am Saturday 6/9. The Chaser boys got a lot of Australian public support yesterday (Friday) for their antics, although more than a few callers to the ABC - our equivilent of the UK's BBC - mentioned that it could have all ended tragically as there are snipers in many Sydney CBD rooftops, all part of the A$250m-odd bill for APEC. What's interesting is that the Canadian delegation was not to arrive until the day AFTER the prank, so they can't be very informed security guards if they let maple leag-flagged cars through can they, eh? Secondly, the Chasers had fake passes with them grinning like Cheshire cats in the mug shots, had 'insecurity' written on the card and the words 'this is a joke'.
The Chaser is de-rigeur watching in Canberra by all our politicans, not to mention the members of an Australian TC viewing public tired with the pomposity and hypocrisy of so many countries' leaders.

Sent by Jon Bassett | 2:06 PM ET | 09-07-2007

NOTE: The Chaser Team did it again yesterday in Sydney. (true)

Sent by Daryl - Melbourne Australia | 7:01 PM ET | 09-07-2007

Those security guards suck... Australian security had a couple big holes in it.

Sent by Mystique Sorcerer | 4:12 AM ET | 09-08-2007

Simply fantasic stunt. Genius!!!!!

ha h ahahah ah ah ha I am lovin it.

Sent by Loyd | 8:06 AM ET | 09-08-2007

The lads treated Howard's $250m grandiose display with the contempt it deserved.

Sent by Brian Schofield | 8:50 AM ET | 09-08-2007

I would want to dress like that everyday. This is Great!

Sent by MiStamatisis | 12:05 PM ET | 09-08-2007

The Chaser incident will be the one lasting memory I take from an otherwise boring non event. A German resident that I play on line chess with told me that the Chaser incident was the typical type of Aussie larrikinism that people love about laid back Australians. For my opinion stuff the NSW Police Commissioner and his lack of humour. No one got shot but the Commissioner has a red face because his police waved the Chasers through. The Commissioner might have missed out on an OAM in next years New Years honours list for letting them in. LOL

Sent by David Hartshorn | 2:35 AM ET | 09-09-2007

Hey, Mystique Sorcerer, it wasn't just the Aussie guards -- apparently the Secret Service was on duty at the second checkpoint because the comedians were headed for the InterContinental where W was staying. So much for the SS!

Sent by john richards | 4:43 AM ET | 09-09-2007

If a comedian dressed up like Ben Laden can get to the US President through tight US/Australian security, maybe its time for Ben Laden to dress up like a comedian, show up on Saturday Night Life and talk to the American people. It would beat us having to watch these awful videos he makes now? http://www.eu-digest.com

Sent by Rick Morren | 10:50 AM ET | 09-09-2007

My favourate chaser stunt is when they booked seats over the internet for a flight from Sydney to Melbourne.

They used the names Al Kyder and Terry Wrist, and as you can imagine when they showed up for their flight, they were allocated boarding passes without anyone being the slightest bit suspicious.

The best was yet to come. Instead of heading onto the airbridge when the flight was called they stayed put in the departure lounge and as the time to go came, the airline, concerned they would miss the flight, paged them, complete with the intended pronuncination!

Sent by Chaser fan - Sydney | 3:50 AM ET | 09-10-2007

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.