Tara Ward watches the emotional last episode of Three’s morning show.
The final episode of AM began with the words “game over” sprawled across the studio’s big screen and Daft Punk’s ‘One More Time’ blasting into our living rooms. It may have been six o’clock in the morning, but presenters Melissa Chan-Green, Lloyd Burr and Michael O’Keefe were dancing like they hadn’t slept. They shook their heads, they waved their arms, Burr did some kind of intriguing horse-riding move. “Thank you for joining us one last time,” Burr said with a cheery grin, while Chan-Green declared that this would be a day of celebrations for the Newshub team.
Amid the hip thrusts and the hijinks, the message was clear: it might be the end of an era, but AM was going to “truck on through,” as Burr put it. Four months ago, Warner Bros. announced the closure of Newshub news operations, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs and the end of shows like AM and Newshub at 6pm. After 35 years of 3 News in various forms, this was the last day of the early morning news and current affairs show, but AM was putting on a brave face.
They’d already received plenty of supportive viewer feedback, presumably sent in during the Tevo Swing Heater infomercial curtain raiser. Jamie emailed to say she’d had taken annual leave today so she didn’t miss a minute of the last show. “I live by myself and it’s been like having a buddy here at the start of each day,” viewer Jason wrote, while Sue and Dean were lying in bed (“ooh!” Chan-Green said) wondering what they’d do without AM. “A lot of people are watching us in their underwear,” Burr mused thoughtfully.
It really was business as usual, for a bit. The show began with a serious interview about screen time guidelines in schools, which made me wish Burr would bust out some more Daft Punk finger guns. There were stories about the cost of living, the British election and the upcoming All Black test. MPs Willie Jackson and Erica Stanford joined the final political panel and came bearing gifts. Stanford bought some autographed structure literacy reading books for Chan-Green’s children, and a box of Lego for Burr that she’d forged the prime minister’s signature on. Jackson handed out three jumbo boxes of Roses chocolates, a fitting final come box for one and all.
As the sun rose across the motu, former AM show presenters Amanda Gillies and Ryan Bridge popped by to reminisce. “My heart breaks today, because I know so many people want it to continue. It’s been a wild ride,” Gillies said, who spent the last 23 years at Three. Bridge revealed he only got a job on TV once he got his terrible teeth fixed, and then dropped the bombshell that former AM Show presenter Mark Richardson now takes a bus to his new corporate job. “He doesn’t want to pay for parking,” Gillies confirmed.
There were plenty of show bloopers, including Hilary Barry’s emergency defecation situation, before European correspondent Lisette Reymer reflected on her own emergency defecation situation moments before a live cross. “Mike McRoberts in my ear, outside Westminster, in the bushes,” she revealed. It was a welcome moment of lightness before the tough stuff began. O’Keefe delivered his final news bulletin, the studio filled with people and the names of the behind-the-scenes crew filled the breaking news ticker across the screen. The tears began to fall for Chan-Green, while Burr made another poo joke to break the tension.
“It’s getting to that time where we have to say goodbye,” Burr said, as presenters NIcky Styris and William Waiirua joined the couch and Burr and Chan-Green made their own emotional farewells. “I’m sorry we couldn’t save it,” Burr began. “We really did try.” Chan-Green thanked her colleagues and family, and finally, paid tribute to AM’s loyal viewers. “We may be turning the lights out here, but we’re still in this together,” she said, her voice breaking. “Thank you for being important to us.”
AM was determined to go out on a high, ending with a montage of happier moments from the year. It was an uplifting celebration of a team who clearly love their job, and a reminder of everything that morning television means to people: connection, familiarity, belonging. Then, at two minutes past nine, the lights really did go out. The last sunrise for AM, the final sunset for Newshub still to come. Game over, indeed.