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{{Short description|Australian comedy group}}
{{Other uses|Chaser (disambiguation){{!}}Chaser}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2011}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name            = The Chaser
| image           = TheChaser-FullTeam.jpg
| image_size      = 250px
| caption         = The full Chaser team (from left to right), [[Julian Morrow]], [[Dominic Knight]], [[Charles Firth (comedian)|Charles Firth]], [[Craig Reucassel]], [[Chas Licciardello]], [[Chris Taylor (comedian)|Chris Taylor]], and [[Andrew Hansen]] appearing on the ''War on Everything'' studio together.
| medium          = Print, online, radio, television, stage & [[Christmas cracker]]s<ref name=Official>{{cite web|title=The Chaser|url=http://www.chaser.com.au|access-date=14 December 2007|archive-date=19 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019234427/http://www.chaser.com.au/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| active          = 1999–present
| genre           = [[Satire]]
| subject         = [[Politics]]
| notable_work    = ''[[The Chaser (newspaper)|The Chaser]]'' (1999–2005) <br />''[[The Election Chaser]]'' ([[2001 Australian federal election|2001]])<br />''[[The Chaser Decides]]'' ([[2004 Australian federal election|2004]] & [[2007 Australian federal election|2007]]), <br />''[[CNNNN]]'' (2002–2003) <br />''[[Cirque du Chaser]]'' (2005) <br />''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]'' (2006–2007, 2009) <br />''[[The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour]]'' (2008) <br />''[[Yes We Canberra]]'' ([[2010 Australian federal election|2010]]) <br />''[[The Hamster Wheel]]'' (2011–2012) <br />''[[The Hamster Decides]]'' ([[2013 Australian federal election|2013]]) <br /> ''[[The Chaser's Media Circus]]'' (2014–2015) <br /> ''The Chaser's Election Desk'' (2016)
| website         = {{Official website|www.chaser.com.au}}
| current_members = [[Charles Firth (comedian)|Charles Firth]] <br />[[Andrew Hansen]] <br />[[Dominic Knight]] <br />[[Chas Licciardello]] <br />[[Julian Morrow]] <br />[[Craig Reucassel]] <br />[[Chris Taylor (comedian)|Chris Taylor]]
}}

'''The Chaser''' are an Australian satirical comedy group, best known for their television programmes and satirical news masthead. The group take their name from their [[The Chaser (newspaper)|satirical newspaper]], a publication known to challenge conventions of taste. The group's motto is "Striving for Mediocrity in a World of Excellence".<ref>{{cite web |title=Chaser history: The Chaser Decides |date=16 September 2004 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/chaser/txt/s1200450.htm |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=30 April 2007 |quote=striving for mediocrity in a world of excellence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911125436/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/chaser/txt/s1200450.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=11 September 2007}}</ref>

== Founding ==
The Chaser's earliest foundation was a satirical school paper called ''The Tiger'', created by future members [[Charles Firth (comedian)|Charles Firth]], [[Dominic Knight]] and [[Chas Licciardello]] as a way to "wring as much money as [they] could out of their expensive private school" while attending [[Sydney Grammar School|Sydney Grammar]].<ref name="CuttingtotheChaser">{{cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/15/1095221647640.html | title=Cutting to The Chaser | newspaper=[[The Age]] | date=16 September 2004 | first=Michael | last=Idato | access-date=15 January 2008 | location=Melbourne | archive-date=9 August 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809191341/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/15/1095221647640.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

The three then met [[Julian Morrow]], [[Craig Reucassel]] and [[Andrew Hansen]] at the [[University of Sydney]] while working on the university newspaper ''[[Honi Soit]]''.<ref name="radiohistory" /> [[Chris Taylor (comedian)|Chris Taylor]] also attended the [[University of Sydney]] but never knew the others during that time, joining the Chaser later after volunteering as a contributor while working as a journalist in Melbourne.

In 1999, the group began their first newspaper project titled ''[[The Chaser (newspaper)|The Chaser]]'' as their time at university drew to a close, in "an attempt not to grow up" as described by Firth.<ref name="defiantChaser">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/11/1049567869118.html|title=Defiant thrill of the chase|date=12 April 2003|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=5 April 2007|archive-date=17 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017183221/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/11/1049567869118.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== The Chaser members ==

=== The "Boys" ===
The founding members of the Chaser became colloquially known as "the Chaser Boys" in the media due to their undergraduate style hijinks during the ''War on Everything''.
* [[Charles Firth (comedian)|Charles Firth]]. Firth decided in 1999 that the founding members should produce a newspaper, and was at the helm of the newspaper until its collapse in 2005.<ref name="radiohistory" /><ref name="manic">{{cite news|last=Canning|first=Simon|date=27 September 2007|title=Chaser founder loads up with new mag|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22490560-5012863,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=15 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210084012/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22490560-5012863,00.html|archive-date=10 December 2008}}</ref> Firth appeared in The Chaser's television and radio productions until 2004 when he moved to the United States so his wife could finish her PhD, instead serving as The Chaser's "American correspondent" until returning to take over the Chaser's publishing business in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=War on reality just a Great Hoax|date=25 November 2006|newspaper=[[The West Australian]]|format=Fee required|access-date=18 January 2008|url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=TWAU000020061127e2bp00042|archive-date=8 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208212417/http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=TWAU000020061127e2bp00042|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Dominic Knight]] was one of the founding members of the team. Although he initially performed in the Chaser's early TV and stage shows, Dom moved to a behind the scenes role after 2004. He regularly features in the team's podcast and radio work.
* [[Julian Morrow]]. He became the executive producer of the television series after [[Andrew Denton]] left the role in 2004.<ref name="JokeChaser">{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Brisbane Times]]|title=Joke still works for The Chaser|access-date=18 January 2008|date=22 March 2007|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/03/22/1174153220992.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|archive-date=8 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208185123/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/03/22/1174153220992.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Craig Reucassel]] was a founding member of the team, and is described by the team as "the one successful one".
* [[Chas Licciardello]] started work on ''The Chaser'' newspaper in 1999 under a pseudonym. Licciardello refers to himself as a writer and not a performer, which is why he does the "edgier" stunts in the television series.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Chaser pledge |newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21455237-5003422,00.html |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=17 January 2008 |first=Rodney |last=Chester |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070606173639/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21455237-5003422,00.html |archive-date=6 June 2007 }}</ref> Licciardello has stepped back from appearing in Chaser roles since 2016's Election Desk due to commitments with his current affairs show Planet America.
* [[Chris Taylor (comedian)|Chris Taylor]] had gone to the University of Sydney but never personally knew the four founding members. Initially a long distance contributor, Taylor spent two years emailing his articles to The Chaser, before quitting his job to do a [[The Election Chaser|television series]] based on the [[2001 Australian federal election]] with the team, eventually becoming a member of troupe.<ref name="defiantChaser" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reachout.com.au/default.asp?ti=2015|title=Reach Out! - Chris Taylor|access-date=15 January 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928135017/http://www.reachout.com.au/default.asp?ti=2015 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}</ref> Chris has not appeared in the Chaser's TV shows since 2009, stating that he thought they were "getting a bit s--t",<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Chaser : 20 years of mediocrity.|date=2019|others=Charles Firth, Chaser|isbn=978-1-76064-146-7|location=Glebe, NSW|oclc=1122631220}}</ref> though he has continued contributing to their print, radio, and online work.
* [[Andrew Hansen]] started working with the online Chaser website in 2000 writing columns as a favour to his friend Firth. After two years, he was considered for a part in the Chaser's television series due to the need for a musical performer, and joined the team permanently in after that.<ref name="radiohistory">[http://podcasts.freedigitalcontent.com/freedigital/radiohaha/radiohahaep050.mp3 Radio Ha Ha Episode 50.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227043148/http://podcasts.freedigitalcontent.com/freedigital/radiohaha/radiohahaep050.mp3 |date=27 February 2008 }} 10 November 2006. ''Accessed on 15 January 2008.''</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/11/1026185085626.html|title=Bad bunch|date=12 July 2002|access-date=15 January 2008|last=Moses|first=Alexa|archive-date=3 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203115856/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/11/1026185085626.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== The Checkout team ===
Following the end of the ''War on Everything'', a number of researchers and writers were elevated to on-screen roles for the new series ''The Hamster Wheel'', with this team growing through four seasons of ''The Checkout'', to 2016's ''Election Desk''.

* Ben Jenkins
* Zoe Norton-Lodge
* [[Kirsten Drysdale]]
* Scott Abbott
* [[Alex Lee (Australian comedian)|Alex Lee]]
* Mark Sutton
* David Cunningham
* Hannah Reilly

=== The Interns ===
{{Unsourced section|date=June 2021}}

Following the relaunch of the Chaser website in 2015, the Chaser held a competition recruiting "interns" to help execute stunts and pranks without being recognised by the public. This team took over the Chaser's social media channels in 2016 following the viral success of some Election Desk clips, with the interns now producing daily videos and satirical articles with occasional contributions by the founding team.

* Gabbi Bolt
* [[Aleksa Vulović]]
* Lachlan Hodson
* Caz Smith
* Zander Czerwaniw
* John Delmenico

== The Chaser projects ==
=== [[The Chaser (newspaper)|''The Chaser'' newspaper]] ===
{{Main|The Chaser (newspaper)}}

The newspaper, first published in 1999, was The Chaser team's first enterprise. Though the paper initially had a circulation of well under 30,000, the paper gained national infamy when their February 2003 edition published [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Howard]]'s private home number on its front page with the headline "Howard ignores the people. So call him at home on (02) 9922 6189". The prank came in response to Howard's dismissive attitude to half a million protesters marching against the invasion of Iraq. Howard's number was blocked by the afternoon after being flooded with calls, and federal police raided The Chaser's office.<ref name="defiantChaser" /><ref name="CalloffPursuit">{{cite news|last=Delaney|first=Brigid|date=2 February 2005|title=Chasers call off the pursuit as readers fail to get the joke|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/02/01/1107228700680.html|url-status=live|access-date=15 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018085005/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/02/01/1107228700680.html|archive-date=18 October 2007}}</ref>

In 2005, after six years and 91 issues, The Chaser decided to cease publication of the newspaper, due to an inability to meet production costs and the "large amount of time it takes to produce a paper nobody reads".<ref name="CalloffPursuit" /><ref name=":0"/>

The newspaper was revived in 2015 as a quarterly publication, following a successful $50,000 crowdfunding campaign. The magazine managed to last just 20 editions before folding due to financial insolvency, with founding member Firth stating "in hindsight we probably shouldn't have spent $40,000 on our bar tab".<ref name=":0"/>

=== [[The Chaser Annual]] ===
{{Main|The Chaser Annual}}

The Chaser have released yearly annuals since 2000, initially based on the best of ''The Chaser'' newspaper, and then featuring a selection of articles from The Chaser's website since 2005. This was later expanded into a live touring show ''The War On The Year'', as part of the Chaser's attempt to "squeeze some money out of the wildly successful and even more wildly unprofitable website".<ref name=":0"/>

=== Web ===
In 1999 The Chaser became one of the first independent Australian publications to launch a website, after Firth, a former computer shop owner, and Licciardello, a computer science student, built their own CMS from scratch. The site initially featured articles from The Chaser's newspaper, as well as a popular fan forum, and a directory of internet oddities run by Andrew Hansen which included stern faced reviews of all the pornography he found.<ref name=":0" />

The Chaser's web presence expanded exponentially in the year 2000 after the spinoff site ''Silly2000.com'', a parody Sydney Olympic website, went viral, gathering millions of views and international reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->s|title=Parody site wins Olympic gold|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/parody-site-wins-olympic-gold/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=ZDNet|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 September 2000|title=Of All Choice Seats to Pick, He Had to Go and Sit There|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-30-ss-29404-story.html|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010 The Chaser caused media outrage after becoming the first and only Australian news service to be approved on Apple's iPad at the time of launch.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 May 2010|title=The Chaser gets past Apple's app censors in time for Australian iPad launch|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/the-chaser-gets-past-apples-app-censors-in-time-for-australian-ipad-launch/news-story/faa468b1d3078e662604754ab0b3419c|access-date=4 May 2021|website=NewsComAu|language=en}}</ref> Though the app generated a large subscriber base, the team stopped updating it within a year due to their "frankly idiotic belief that the iPad would be a fad".<ref name=":0" />

In 2016 the largely abandoned Chaser website was relaunched with a focus on social media. By 2020 The Chaser website once again ranked as one of Australia's most successful media outlets, with the site's stories regularly topping the chart of Australia's most engaged Facebook posts.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=((FacebookTop10AU)) |user=FacebookTop10AU |number=1363606454997946369 |date=21 February 2021 |title=The top-performing link posts by Australian Facebook pages on Saturday 20 Feb were from: 1. The Chaser 2. The Chaser 3. Betoota Advocate 4. The Chaser 5. Betoota Advocate 6. The Chaser 7. Betoota Advocate 8. taste-com-au 9. NRL 10. The Chaser |language=en |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509181542/https://twitter.com/facebooktop10au/status/1363606454997946369 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''[[Cirque du Chaser|Live Tours]]'' ===
{{Main|Cirque du Chaser}}

In March 2005, The Chaser team wrote and performed a stage production ''Cirque du Chaser'', the name a parody of ''[[Cirque du Soleil]]'', performing stand-up comedy, sketches, live music, and video satire in a sell out national tour. The format was later pitched to the ABC as the show which would become ''The War On Everything''.

In 2008, the team revived the format with the nationally touring stage show, ''[[The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour]]''.

In 2016 The Chaser teamed up with satirical website The Shovel to produce a new live tour titled ''The War On The Year'', wrapping up the news headlines of the last 365 days. The show continued to tour nationally in a sell out run until 2020, when it was re-packaged as the online sketch show ''The Chaser's War On 2020'' due to the coronavirus pandemic.

=== Radio ===
Following the success of the Chaser newspaper, the Chaser team were in high demand to bring their brand of satirical news coverage to the airwaves, with the team at one point providing satirical news updates simultaneously for three rival radio networks.<ref name=":0"/> In 2002, Morrow was tapped by 2UE to provide a regular weekly comedy slot of topical news headlines. In 2004–5, Taylor and Reucassel hosted the [[Triple J]] radio drive programme ''[[Today Today]]''. From 2006 to 2007 Taylor and Reucassel returned to Triple J to host ''[[Today Today|Bloody Sunday]]'', while Licciardello and Knight also hosted a show on [[Triple M]] called ''[[Chas and Dom from 'The Chaser']]''. In 2010 Hansen performed the Aria award-winning parody show ''[[The Blow Parade]]'' on Triple J in what would be the team's final stint on youth radio.

The Chaser team returned to Triple M in 2018 with the afternoon show ''Radio Chaser'', though the group opted to move from live radio to the podcast ''The Chaser Report'' in 2019, with Firth explaining they were "sick of the high pay rates and adoring fans that come with a free to air radio show."<ref name=":0"/>

=== Television ===
After two years of running their satirical newspaper, and various radio roles, The Chaser attracted the attention of TV star [[Andrew Denton]] in 2001. Denton signed the team on with ABC, stating "They've got the talent, the work ethic, the fearlessness, the desire".

=== [[The Chaser election specials|Election specials]] ===
{{Main|The Chaser election specials}}

Denton helped the Chaser to produce their first television program ''[[The Chaser Decides|The Election Chaser]] in 2001'', a parody of the national election tallyroom. The show was nominated for the [[Logie Awards of 2002|2002 Logie]] for "Most Outstanding Comedy Program".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/02/1017206204709.html|title=Logie nominations for 2002|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=18 November 2007|date=3 April 2002|archive-date=9 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209044839/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/02/1017206204709.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

''The Chaser Decides'' returned again in 2004, winning a Logie award, and was re-commissioned in 2007 to cover the 24 November [[2007 Australian federal election|election]], winning the ratings in its timeslot.<ref name=":0" />

The team returned with a similar formats in 2010 and 2013 with ''Yes We Canberra!'' and ''The Hamster Decides''. The ABC chose not to recommission the election special in 2019, following the widely panned 2016 ''Election Desk''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cooper|first=Robert Moran, Nathanael|date=20 November 2018|title=The ABC is 'in a death spiral': The Chaser launches war on Aunty|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/the-abc-is-in-a-death-spiral-the-chaser-launches-war-on-aunty-20181120-p50h44.html|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> A podcast ''Democracy Sausage'' was instead produced by Reucassel and Taylor for the ABC, alongside a national live tour ''The War On The F*%king Election'' produced by Firth.

The team in 2022 repeated this formula, with members of the original team reforming alongside The Chaser Interns to create an election special podcast, a national election tour, and a politics themed satirical single that hit number 1 in the charts.<ref name="pedestrian.tv">{{Cite web |date=25 April 2022 |title=The Chaser's EDM Banger About Scott Morrison Just Topped The Music Charts So Cya At The ARIAs |url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/scott-morrison-the-chaser-coal-makes-me-cum/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |website=PEDESTRIAN.TV |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]'' ===
{{Main|The Chaser's War on Everything}}

In 2006 The Chaser team signed with the ABC to produce a variety comedy show based on news reviews, studio monologues and confrontations with politicians. The project would be performed in front of a live audience compared with their previous news format television productions and was named ''The Chaser's War on Everything''.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/behind-enemy-lines/2006/02/11/1139542439715.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|title=Behind enemy lines|last=Molitorisz|first=Sacha|date=14 February 2006|access-date=16 January 2008|archive-date=14 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214134935/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/behind-enemy-lines/2006/02/11/1139542439715.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|url-status=live}}</ref> The first season of ''The Chaser's War on Everything'' premiered on ABC TV on 17 February 2006.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]]|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200602/programs/LE0502H001D17022006T214500.htm|title=ABC Television: Program summary – The Chaser War on Everything|access-date=1 December 2007|archive-date=22 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222032329/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200602/programs/LE0502H001D17022006T214500.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The series aired late on Friday evenings where it developed a cult following, drawing an average national audience of between 591,000 and 821,000 viewers each episode.<ref name="primetime">{{cite news|first=Rachel|last=Browne|title=ABC pranksters slated for prime time|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/pranksters-slated-for-prime-time/2007/01/27/1169788741631.html|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=28 January 2007|access-date=14 November 2007|archive-date=19 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119103831/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/pranksters-slated-for-prime-time/2007/01/27/1169788741631.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

''The Chaser's War on Everything'' returned for a second season in 2007, regularly attracting more than a million viewers per episode, with a brief break in June to cover the Federal election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21586201-10388,00.html|title=Chaser's war wins ratings|date=20 April 2007|publisher=[[News Limited]]|access-date=20 April 2007|first=Marcus|last=Casey|archive-date=3 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603220955/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21586201-10388,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

After a hiatus in 2008 to tour a live show, the team returned for the third and final series of ''The War'' in 2009.

=== ''The Chaser's Royal Wedding Commentary'' ===
Originally set to air on 29 April 2011 on [[ABC2]], a Chaser special was to be shown based on the [[Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton]] featuring live commentary from the team members. However, a diplomatic row ensued, after the ABC were forced by the [[BBC]] and [[Associated Press Television News|APTN]] to pull the show from being aired due to concerns from Buckingham Palace. In response to the decision by the ABC, Julian Morrow from the Chaser said, "For a monarchy to be issuing decrees about how the media should cover them seems quite out of keeping with modern democratic times... but I suppose that's exactly what the monarchy is."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/royal-wedding/a/-/article/9266611/abc-forced-to-pull-chaser-wedding-coverage/ |title=ABC forced to pull Chaser wedding coverage - Yahoo!7 |access-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430093622/http://au.news.yahoo.com/royal-wedding/a/-/article/9266611/abc-forced-to-pull-chaser-wedding-coverage/ |archive-date=30 April 2011}}</ref>

=== ''[[The Hamster Wheel]]'' ===
{{Main|The Hamster Wheel}}

In 2011 the Chaser produced a new topical news show for the ABC called ''[[The Hamster Wheel]]''. The series aimed to "examine the contemporary media landscape, where everyone from journalists to political fixers is perpetually at risk of spinning out of control".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s3302821.htm|title=Chaser Admits To Attacking Hamster|publisher=ABC Media Release|date=31 August 2011|access-date=31 August 2011|archive-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907063253/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s3302821.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== The Unbelievable Truth ===
In 2012 the Chaser made their commercial TV debut with the quiz panel show ''[[The Unbelievable Truth (TV series)|The Unbelievable Truth]]'' on Channel 7. Adapted from the popular BBC radio show by the same name, the show featured guests attempting to lie about a given topic, while slipping in truths which they aim will be undetected by their fellow competitors.

=== ''[[The Chaser's Media Circus]]'' ===
{{Main|The Chaser's Media Circus}}

In 2014 The Chaser produced a panel news quiz ''The Chaser's Media Circus'' for the ABC.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Knox|first1=D|title=Airdate: The Chaser's Media Circus|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/09/airdate-the-chasers-media-circus.html|website=TV Tonight|date=19 September 2014|access-date=4 October 2014|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011013850/https://tvtonight.com.au/2014/09/airdate-the-chasers-media-circus.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hosted by Reucassel the show featured a panel of guests, and Licciardello as a 'brain's trust', interjecting occasionally with 'fact-checks'.

=== Other TV Projects ===
In 2005 the team produced ''[[Chaser News Alert]]'' ''(CNA)'', aired on [[ABC2]].

== Members involved in projects ==
=== The Chaser productions ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Type
![[Charles Firth (comedian)|Charles Firth]]
![[Andrew Hansen]]
![[Dominic Knight]]
![[Chas Licciardello]]
![[Julian Morrow]]
![[Craig Reucassel]]
![[Chris Taylor (comedian)|Chris Taylor]]
|-
|1999–2005
|''[[The Chaser (newspaper)|The Chaser]]''
|Print
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|-
|2000–2010
|''[[The Chaser Annual]]''
|Print
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|writer
|-
|2001
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2001 series (The Election Chaser)|The Election Chaser]]''
|TV
|writer, performer
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2002–2003
|''[[CNNNN]]''
|TV
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor
|-
|2004–2005
|''[[Today Today]]''
|Radio
|
|
|
|
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2004
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2004 series (The Chaser Decides)|The Chaser Decides]]''
|TV
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor
|-
|2005
|''[[Cirque du Chaser]]''
|Stage
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2005
|''[[Chaser News Alert]]''
|Online
|guest performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|
|
|-
|2006–2009
|''[[The Chaser's War on Everything]]''
|TV
|writer, guest performer
|writer, performer, composer
|writer, guest performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor
|-
|2006–2007
|''[[Bloody Sunday (radio show)|Bloody Sunday]]''
|Radio
|
|
|
|
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2007
|''[[Chas and Dom from 'The Chaser']]''
|Radio
|
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|
|
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Dead Caesar]]''
|Stage
|
|performer, composer
|
|
|
|
|writer
|-
|2007
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2007 series (The Chaser Decides)|The Chaser Decides]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2008
|''[[The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour]]''
|Stage
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|
|-
|2008
|''[[The Race Race]]''
|Radio
|
|
|
|guest performer
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2009
|''[[Lawrence Leung's Choose Your Own Adventure]]''
|TV
|
|creative consultant
|creative consultant
|creative consultant
|creative consultant, executive producer
|creative consultant
|creative consultant
|-
|2010
|''[[The Blow Parade]]''
|Radio
|
|writer, performer, composer
|bass guitar
|
|
|
|writer, performer
|-
|2010
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2010 series (Yes We Canberra)|Yes We Canberra!]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer, composer
|writer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor
|-
|(2011)
|''The Chaser's Royal Wedding Commentary''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chaser.com.au/tv/royal-wedding-commentary/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=29 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027021254/http://www.chaser.com.au/tv/royal-wedding-commentary/ |archive-date=27 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|writer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2011
|''The Chaser's Empty Vessel''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chaser.com.au/events/emptyvessel/ |title=The Chaser's Empty Vessel &#124; the Chaser |access-date=8 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170631/http://www.chaser.com.au/events/emptyvessel/ |archive-date=7 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|Stage
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2011
|''[[Lawrence Leung's Unbelievable]]''
|TV
|
|creative consultant, guest performer
|creative consultant
|script editor, producer, guest performer
|executive producer, script editor, producer, guest performer
|creative consultant
|creative consultant
|-
|2011–2012
|''[[The Hamster Wheel]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|writer, guest performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor, director
|-
|2012
|''[[The Unbelievable Truth (TV series)|The Unbelievable Truth]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|
|
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|
|-
|2013
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2010 series (The Hamster Decides)|The Hamster Decides]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|writer, guest performer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, script editor, director
|-
|2013
|''[[The Checkout]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/spicks-and-specks-returns-to-abc1-in-2013-128073|title=Spicks and Specks, Chris Lilley, Joe Hildebrand and Chaser team return to ABC TV in 2013 – Mumbrella|date=29 November 2012|website=Mumbrella.com.au|access-date=29 November 2012|archive-date=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201230722/http://mumbrella.com.au/spicks-and-specks-returns-to-abc1-in-2013-128073|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/02/18/the-chaser-hungry-beast-and-choice-team-up-for-new-tv-series/|title=The Chaser, Hungry Beast & Choice Team Up For New TV Series|website=Themusic.com.au|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221123200/http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/02/18/the-chaser-hungry-beast-and-choice-team-up-for-new-tv-series/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|TV
|
|
|
|script editor, producer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|
|-
|2014–2015
|''[[The Chaser's Media Circus]]''
|TV
|
|writer, performer
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, host
|writer, performer
|-
|2015
|''[[Story Club]]''
|TV
|
|
|
|
|executive producer
|executive producer
|
|-
|2016
|''[[The Chaser (newspaper)|The Chaser Quarterly]]''
|Print
|founder, managing editor
|contributor
|contributor
|
|
|contributor
|contributor
|-
|2016
|''[[The Chaser Decides#2016 series (The Chaser's Election Desk)|The Chaser's Election Desk]]''
|TV
|writer
|writer, performer
|
|writer, performer
|writer, performer, executive producer
|writer, performer
|
|-
|2017
|''Radio Chaser''
|Radio
|writer, performer
|writer, performer
|writer, anchor
|guest performer
|
|guest performer
|writer, performer
|-
|2017–2020
|''Extreme Vetting/The Chaser Report''
|Podcast
|writer, co-host
|writer, co-host
|writer, co-host
|guest performer
|
|guest host
|guest performer
|- style="text-align:center;"
!colspan="3"|Total:
|9
|22
|19
|20
|19
|21
|22
|}

== Controversies and well-known stunts ==
{{See also|The Chaser's War on Everything#Controversies and well-known stunts}}

In July 2006, Licciardello faced charges of "offensive conduct" from the [[New South Wales Police Force]], after turning up at a [[rugby league]] football match between the [[Canterbury Bulldogs]] and the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] dressed up as a Bulldogs fan and attempting to sell fake knives, knuckledusters and balaclavas for a ''War on Everything'' sketch.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bulldogs-prank-not-funny-police/2006/07/15/1152637906452.html | title = Bulldogs prank not funny | newspaper = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 15 July 2006 | access-date = 27 July 2006 | archive-date = 17 October 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017183242/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bulldogs-prank-not-funny-police/2006/07/15/1152637906452.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Chaser Canterbury joke gets no laughs | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/15/1152637916434.html | author1 = O'Dwyer, Erin | author2 = Dasey, Daniel | name-list-style = amp | newspaper = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 16 July 2006 | access-date = 27 July 2006 | archive-date = 17 October 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017183229/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/15/1152637916434.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

In April 2007, a 15-year-old boy duped [[YouTube]] into deleting all clips posted from ''The Chaser's War on Everything'' by claiming to be a representative of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/boy-dupes-youtube-to-delete-videos/2007/04/13/1175971361981.html|title=Boy dupes YouTube to delete videos|date=14 April 2007|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=3 May 2007|archive-date=30 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430212844/http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/boy-dupes-youtube-to-delete-videos/2007/04/13/1175971361981.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They were later reinstated.

At the [[Logie Awards of 2007|2007 Logie Awards]] some of the Chaser team were "manhandled" by [[Crown Melbourne|Crown Casino]] security staff on the red carpet before being closely supervised for the rest of the evening.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21697810-10229,00.html | title=Chased, checked, chastened | newspaper=[[The Australian]] | date=9 May 2007 | first1=Michael | last1=Bodey | first2=Amanda | last2=Meade | access-date=9 May 2007 | archive-date=16 May 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516080359/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21697810-10229,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

During [[Dick Cheney]]'s visit to Australia in 2007, members of The Chaser team were included on the official list of [[terrorist]]s, [[anarchist]]s, and [[protester]]s deemed to pose a threat to the [[US Vice-President]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21283413-2,00.html | title=Chaser team on Cheney danger list | date=25 February 2007 | publisher=[[News Limited]] | access-date=5 April 2007 | first=Joanthon | last=Moran | archive-date=6 March 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306124211/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21283413-2,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== "The Eulogy Song" ===
The Chaser team gained notoriety and considerable media attention over "The Eulogy Song", written by Chris Taylor and performed by Andrew Hansen on 17 October 2007 episode of ''The Chaser's War on Everything''. The song satirised the media's posthumous praise of deceased celebrities, regardless of their behaviour in life, and mentioned among others [[John Lennon]], [[Peter Brock]], [[Stan Zemanek]], [[Princess Diana]], [[Steve Irwin]], [[Donald Bradman]], and [[Kerry Packer]]. The song attracted comment from both the media and politicians including Prime Ministers [[Kevin Rudd]] and [[John Howard]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22612694-5005368,00.html|title=PM lashes Chaser crew when ambushed on morning walk|website=News.com.au|access-date=21 October 2007|archive-date=21 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021041920/http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0%2C21598%2C22612694-5005368%2C00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== [[The Chaser APEC pranks#Breach of APEC restricted zone|APEC arrest]] ===
{{Further|The Chaser APEC pranks#Breach of APEC restricted zone}}

Morrow and Licciardello were arrested by [[NSW Police]] on 6 September 2007 after driving a fake motorcade into the [[APEC]] security zone.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/chaser-duo-held-over-apec-stunt/2007/09/06/1188783379922.html | title = Chaser duo held over APEC stunt | newspaper = [[The Age]] | date = 6 September 2007 | access-date = 6 September 2007 | location = Melbourne | first = David | last = Braithwaite | archive-date = 6 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070906073137/http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/chaser-duo-held-over-apec-stunt/2007/09/06/1188783379922.html | url-status = live }}</ref> The Chaser crew entered a secure area by masquerading as the Canadian delegation to APEC. They were arrested by police after Licciardello emerged from the car dressed as [[Osama bin Laden]], near the hotel where [[U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] was staying.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2025910.htm | title = Police question Chaser duo over APEC stunt | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date = 6 September 2007 | access-date = 6 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070908163653/http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2025910.htm | archive-date = 8 September 2007 | url-status = dead}}</ref> They were subsequently detained and charged with "entering a restricted area without special justification" under the APEC Meeting (Police Powers) Act 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://police.nsw.gov.au/news/all_media?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZjdXN0b21zY3JpcHRzLnBvbGljZS5uc3cuZ292LmF1JTJGbmV3cyUyRmRldGFpbHNfbWVkaWEucGhwJTNGTWVkaWFJRCUzRDEwMzI0JmFsbD0x |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907015545/https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/all_media?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZjdXN0b21zY3JpcHRzLnBvbGljZS5uc3cuZ292LmF1JTJGbmV3cyUyRmRldGFpbHNfbWVkaWEucGhwJTNGTWVkaWFJRCUzRDEwMzI0JmFsbD0x |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 September 2007 |title=11 people arrested in Sydney's CBD, continuing to assist with inquiries |publisher=NSW Police |date=6 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2026372.htm | title=11 charged over Chaser APEC stunt | publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] News | date=6 September 2007 | access-date=6 September 2007 | archive-date=8 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908131150/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/06/2026372.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> The charges were dropped near the end of April 2008.

The day after the APEC stunt, police questioned Craig Reucassel, Chris Taylor and Dominic Knight and a film crew from the Chaser after they were involved in a second stunt in central Sydney.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2027186.htm | title=Police question Chasers over second APEC stunt | publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] News | date=7 September 2007 | access-date=7 September 2007 | archive-date=9 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909135748/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2027186.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> The three were released by police after being briefly questioned for carrying around black cardboard boxes dressed up as limousines.

=== The "Make a Realistic Wish" skit ===
On 3 June 2009 episode of ''The War on Everything'', Taylor and Hansen were involved in a skit which was set in a [[Terminal illness|terminally ill]] children's ward of a hospital, which centered around a spokesman portraying himself along with a doctor, from the fictional "Make a Realistic Wish Foundation" (a [[Parody|spoof]] of the real [[Make-a-Wish Foundation]]). The premise of the skit was that if the terminally ill children are only going to live for a few more months before dying, it is not worth spending money on lavish gifts for them.

The sketch received widespread negative coverage from media commentators.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} That morning, the Chaser team along with the ABC managing director, [[Mark Scott (businessman)|Mark Scott]], apologised for airing the skit, and the ABC announced the following Friday that the show would be suspended for two weeks.

In 2021, following their most successful week fundraising on social media, The Chaser team announced that they would be donating the $2000 of profits to the Make-a-Wish Foundation as a "way to mend an old bridge", raising a further $3000 for the foundation from fans.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/thechaser/photos/a.192319021229/10157437037631230/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

=== Opera House stunt ===
In October 2018, the Chaser made national headlines following a guerrilla stunt that saw the words "Advertise here, call Alan" projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House. The projection also contained the personal phone number of broadcaster Alan Jones. The stunt was conducted in response to a decision by the NSW government to force the Opera House to advertise a horse race on its sails, after Jones lambasted the Opera House CEO Louise Herron on air for refusing the ad.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clun|first=Rachel|date=8 October 2018|title=Alan Jones apologises to Opera House boss over The Everest controversy|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/alan-jones-apologises-to-opera-house-boss-over-the-everest-controversy-20181009-p508ir.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010174649/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/alan-jones-apologises-to-opera-house-boss-over-the-everest-controversy-20181009-p508ir.html|archive-date=10 October 2018|access-date=10 October 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

As the Chaser were not producing any TV shows, the entire project was crowdsourced, with the team using social media to rally together a projector, generator, volunteers and a large barge; the latter going un-used after security on the Harbour was increased in response to the Chaser's tweets.<ref>{{cite web|date=4 October 2018|title=Does height matter when you're dating?|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/10335060|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123172154/https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/hack/10335060|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=10 October 2018|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Chaser on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/chaser/status/1049218675180417029|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123172204/https://twitter.com/chaser/status/1049218675180417029|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=10 October 2018|publisher=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Chaser on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/chaser/status/1048884509976879106|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123172149/https://twitter.com/chaser/status/1048884509976879106|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=10 October 2018|publisher=[[Twitter]]}}</ref> Footage and photos of the stunt were circulated via social media before being picked up by various news programs.

The stunt caused a second uproar when broadcaster Kerri-Anne Kennerley publicly aired Chaser member Charles Firth's phone number on air in retaliation for the prank. Firth reported that his phone was "immediately inundated with texts of support and praise".<ref>{{cite web|title=We haven't seen Kerri-Anne Kennerley this fired up in a long time|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/kerrianne-kennerley-rips-into-chaser-comedian-on-studio-10-over-alan-jones-prank/news-story/7adb9cc526aa30fdde2a939474c69de0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010175741/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/kerrianne-kennerley-rips-into-chaser-comedian-on-studio-10-over-alan-jones-prank/news-story/7adb9cc526aa30fdde2a939474c69de0|archive-date=10 October 2018|access-date=10 October 2018|website=News.com.au}}</ref>

=== George Pell plaque amendment ===
The team made news in August 2019 following a spat with the Catholic Church over a plaque for cardinal [[George Pell]], who had been convicted on child abuse charges (later overturned by the Australian High Court). Following the conviction, the Chaser team affixed an amendment to a public plaque commemorating Pell as the "Eighth Archbishop of Sydney", adding the addendum "and convicted paedophile" underneath. The Church's spokesperson denied to the press the addition had been made, claiming the video was "doctored on Photoshop". The Chaser's Charles Firth responded by saying "well, this wouldn't be the first time the Catholic Church tried to cover something up for which there is overwhelming evidence."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keoghan|first=Sarah|date=27 August 2019|title=The Chaser's war on the church over Pell plaque made permanent|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-chaser-s-war-on-the-church-over-pell-plaque-made-permanent-20190827-p52l4d.html|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>

=== Twitter ban ===
In 2020, the Chaser's account was briefly banned from Twitter for election interference, after the group changed their profile to match that of President Donald Trump and encouraged the public not to vote for him on the day of the presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 November 2020|title=Amanda Knox slammed for election tweet|url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/the-chaser-lose-twitter-verification-account-briefly-suspended-after-tweet-impersonating-donald-trump/news-story/39f75a08ad6ded3e55a796fc5c924f05|access-date=4 May 2021|website=NewsComAu|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 November 2020|title=The Chaser Just Got Suspended From Twitter For Pretending To Be Donald Trump On Election Day|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/online/the-chaser-suspended-twitter-donald-trump/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Pedestrian TV|language=en-US}}</ref> This led to widespread confusion due to the Chaser's verified status on Twitter, with many members of the public thinking Trump had abandoned his campaign. Following Trump's election loss, the Chaser team claimed responsibility, stating that they "almost certainly influenced the hundreds of votes that decided crucial swing states".

The team's verified account status was restored in June 2021, only to be immediately suspended again within hours, after they impersonated Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and claimed he was deporting his daughters to [[Nauru]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 June 2021|title=The Chaser Posed As Scott Morrison, The Pope & More On Twitter Last Night And It Was Pure Chaos|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/the-chaser-twitter-scott-morrison-jk-rowling-pope-francis/|access-date=28 June 2021|website=Pedestrian TV|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Facebook news ban ===
In 2021 the Chaser website briefly took on the slogan "Australia's only news site" after a spat between Facebook and the Australian government saw all news temporarily pulled from the platform.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 February 2021|title=The day the news feed died|url=https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/analysis--comment/3208079?slug=the-day-the-facebook-news-feed-died|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Sunraysia Daily|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=19 February 2021|title=Misinformation runs rampant as Facebook says it may take a week before it unblocks some pages|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/19/misinformation-runs-rampant-as-facebook-says-it-may-take-a-week-before-it-unblocks-some-pages|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The Chaser's Facebook page was re-instated within hours of the ban, much to the consternation of the rest of Australia's media, after the team changed their Twitter profile to mirror [[Mark Zuckerberg]] and tweeted at Facebook instructing that their page be re-instated.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Haines |first=Jenny |user=Jennhain |number=1362524930290581505 |date=18 February 2021 |title=Full marks to the Chaser yesterday. They were cut off from FB like many others. So what they did was change their Twitter feed name to Mark Zuckerberg and sent FB a tweet demanding to be reconnected and the payment of a million dollars. They were reconnected within two hours. |language=en |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714231657/https://twitter.com/Jennhain/status/1362524930290581505 |archive-date=14 July 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Chaser responded to their new status as "Facebook's only news site" by publishing a 600-point list detailing every instance of the sitting government's corruption while in office, which immediately went viral.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 February 2021|title=The Chaser dropped an intensive, 7-year-long list of the Liberal Party's corruption (with receipts)|url=https://happymag.tv/liberal-partys-scandals-according-to-the-chaser/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Happy Mag|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=19 February 2021|title=The Chaser are using their Facebook freedom to rinse Liberal Party corruption|url=https://thebrag.com/the-chaser-facebook-liberal-party/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The Brag|language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== News Corp cancellation service ===
In 2018 the Chaser launched a service offering to "sit on the phone and cancel your News Corp subscription" in a campaign to force the news publisher "to stop fear mongering about trans children". By 2021, they reported having cancelled over 2000 subscriptions from customers unhappy with News Corp's journalism, reportedly costing the organisation $500,000.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 April 2021|title=The Chaser's war on News Corp has cost the media giant hundreds of thousands of dollars|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/04/22/the-chasers-war-on-news-corp/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Crikey|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cancel your News Corp subscription online|url=https://chaser.com.au/cancel-your-news-corp-subscription/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The Chaser|language=en-US|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510215626/https://chaser.com.au/cancel-your-news-corp-subscription/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Fairy bread prank ===
In April 2021 the Chaser Interns started a hoax petition calling for [[fairy bread]], a popular children's snack, to be banned, in an attempt to bait News Corp into running an obviously fake story. Despite being called out on air by talk back radio host [[Ben Fordham]], the prank was a success, with the story being picked up by multiple News Corp mastheads leading to a national outrage before being revealed as a hoax.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 April 2021|title=The Chaser Tricked A Bunch Of Murdoch News Sites Into Reporting That "Fairy Bread Is Cancelled"|url=https://junkee.com/the-chaser-fairy-bread-prank/292790|access-date=4 May 2021|website=Junkee|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=16 April 2021|title='Un-Australian': Fairy bread 'cancel' campaign dupes Australian media|url=https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/good-news/2021/04/16/fake-fairy-bread-petition/|access-date=4 May 2021|website=The New Daily|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=We faked the "fairy bread is cancelled" story and every news site ran it|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EaTNuqwQW4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/7EaTNuqwQW4 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=4 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== "Coal Makes Me Cum" ===
During the second week of the [[2022 Australian federal election|2022 federal election]], the Chaser released a song remixing Prime Minister [[Scott Morrison]]'s words from the first election debate. Titled "Coal Makes Me Cum", the track was initially created by the team in response to a dare from a user on [[Reddit]], before being released as a standalone track due to its viral popularity on social media.<ref name="pedestrian.tv"/> The song hit number 1 on the iTunes Australia chart,<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 2022 |title=The Chaser's ScoMo Parody 'Coal Makes Me Cum' Tops iTunes Chart |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/the-chasers-scomo-parody-coal-makes-me-cum-tops-itunes-chart/ |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=Music Feeds}}</ref> and peaked at number 10 on the weekly [[ARIA Singles Chart]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles Chart |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-artist-singles-chart/../charts/australian-artist-singles-chart |access-date=5 January 2023 |website=www.aria.com.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 2 May 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|issue=1678|page=4|date=2 May 2022}}</ref>

The song charted again in 2023 when it appeared at #136 in Triple J's Hottest 200 songs of 2022.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=triple j Plays |user=triplejplays |number=1618818696218308614 |date=27 January 2023 |title=The Chaser - Coal Makes Me Cum [14:49] |language=en |access-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127041510/https://twitter.com/triplejplays/status/1618818696218308614 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Countdown {{!}} Hottest 100 2022 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/22/timezones |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en}}</ref> This is despite the song not featuring in the official voting list, with Chaser fans instead staging a mass write-in campaign in an attempt to get the song to number 1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Last chance to vote for this in the Hottest 100|url=https://twitter.com/chaser/status/1614848461043826689 |access-date=27 January 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=The Chaser makes the Triple J Hottest 200 with Scott Morrison remix |url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/the-chaser-makes-triple-j-hottest-200-with-scott-morrison-remix/ }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Chris Morris (satirist)|Chris Morris]]
* [[Charlie Brooker]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.chaser.com.au|The Chaser official website}}
* [http://www.abc.net.au/tv/chaser/war/ ''The Chaser's War on Everything'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090625095246/http://www.chaserforum.net/ ''The Chaser Forum'']

{{The Chaser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaser, The}}
[[Category:The Chaser| ]]