The ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve coverage left scores of viewers underwhelmed.
Hosted by Charlie Pickering, Zan Rowe and Concetta Caristo, the show featured a variety of acts including Angie McMahon, Mark Seymour and Grent Perez.
But it was Brisbane indie electro pop band Confidence Man who inspired the wrath of several watching at home.
‘It’s like a year six talent quest performance,’ wrote one viewer on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘What is this s***e…’ wrote another, while someone else added, ‘Why are these dopes even bothering, if they are straight out lip synching horribly.’
![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 2 The ABC's annual New Year's Eve coverage left scores of viewers underwhelmed. Hosted by Charlie Pickering, Zan Rowe and Concetta Caristo, the show featured a variety of acts including Angie McMahon, Mark Seymour and Grent Perez. The hosts are pictured](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478845-12914285-image-a-75_1704026776748.jpg)
The ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve coverage left scores of viewers underwhelmed. Hosted by Charlie Pickering, Zan Rowe and Concetta Caristo, the show featured a variety of acts including Angie McMahon, Mark Seymour and Grent Perez. The hosts are pictured
‘This techno, synth, prancing, fake, lip syncing, narcissistic, vacuous crap is fkn dreadful!!! Throw them in the harbour! added another.
‘Is this a Rock Eisteddfod secondary school national comp?’ chimed in another viewer with one more saying, ‘Is that Sacha Baron Cohen punking us?’
Earlier in the broadcast, Melbourne singer Angie McMahon took to the stage to sing an inspired version of Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares To you, alongside an original track called Pasta.
It was was her weighing in on the Israel Palestine conflict which bothered some viewers.
![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 4 It was Brisbane indie electro pop band Confidence Man (pictured) who inspired the wrath of several watching at home. 'It's like a year six talent quest performance,' wrote one viewer on X](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478839-12914285-image-a-76_1704026799890.jpg)
It was Brisbane indie electro pop band Confidence Man (pictured) who inspired the wrath of several watching at home. ‘It’s like a year six talent quest performance,’ wrote one viewer on X
![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 6 'Is this a Rock Eisteddfod secondary school national comp?' chimed in another viewer with one more saying, 'Is that Sacha Baron Cohen punking us?'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478837-12914285-image-a-77_1704026805449.jpg)
‘Is this a Rock Eisteddfod secondary school national comp?’ chimed in another viewer with one more saying, ‘Is that Sacha Baron Cohen punking us?’
‘Get Angie McMahon the wannabe activist OFF!!!’ wrote one viewer, before adding, ‘WHAT A DISGRACE’.
‘Whatever happened to a fun night out for all without a painful political statement? It’s hard to believe this “unbiased” station still exists when it’s tax payer funded and costs billions each year,’ wrote another.
‘What a disgrace!! Political activism everywhere,’ commented a third.
‘Worst NYE broadcast ever, turned that crap off. ABC what a joke and whoever organized the whole NYE fireworks it is the worst I’ve ever witnessed. Turned it off immediately once I realized it was just another woke s***show,’ wrote one more.
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![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 50 Viewers had a wide array of complaints, but others enjoyed the show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478867-12914285-image-a-93_1704026971062.jpg)
Viewers had a wide array of complaints, but others enjoyed the show
Others were supportive of the political message, with one person saying, ‘Gosh. I guess the ABC will lose the rights to NYE fireworks coverage as an artist said the P word and by that I mean Palestine.
‘Everyone talks about free speech but it appears the actual snowflakes are those who can’t even tolerate a word being uttered **cough**’.
Some were bored with the acts and some complained there were too many ballads for such a celebratory event.
‘Is ABC trying to put us to sleep?!? I’ve heard better music at a funeral!’ wrote one person.
‘At the rate we are going, I think everyone is going to fall sleep and miss the fireworks this year,’ said another.
![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 52 Melbourne singer Angie McMahon (pictured) took to the stage to sing an inspired version of Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares To you. It was was her weighing in on the Israel Palestine conflict which bothered some viewers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478833-12914285-image-a-78_1704026813096.jpg)
Melbourne singer Angie McMahon (pictured) took to the stage to sing an inspired version of Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares To you. It was was her weighing in on the Israel Palestine conflict which bothered some viewers
‘Will anyone be singing some upbeat, feel good, party tunes tonight??? What’s with the ballads??’ added a third.
However, not all comments were negative.
Mark Seymour’s rousing rendition of Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads was met with a chorus of praise.
‘Oh this is inspired Mark Seymour!!! wrote one viewer.
He was met with more praise when the former Hunters & Collectors frontmen sung their most endearing hit, Throw Your Arms Around Me.
‘Mark Seymour is simply a national treasure!’ wrote another.
Elsewhere, viewers took a liking to Grent Perez’s spirited performance.
‘What a wonderful surprise it was to watch Grent Perez. Never heard of him before tonight, but he’s got some talent!’ wrote one pleased viewers.
‘Grant Perez, what a talent! Legend,’ wrote another.
![ABC's New Year's Eve Coverage Criticized for Boring Performances and Overly Political Activism: Viewers Question if it's a Rock Eisteddfod 54 Some were bored with the acts and some complained there were too many ballads for such a celebratory event. 'Is ABC trying to put us to sleep?!? I've heard better music at a funeral!' wrote one person](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/31/12/79478841-12914285-image-a-79_1704026820814.jpg)
Some were bored with the acts and some complained there were too many ballads for such a celebratory event. ‘Is ABC trying to put us to sleep?!? I’ve heard better music at a funeral!’ wrote one person