A real Hot Potato.

(I know, I know, but it is the obvious pun for this story, isn't it?)

(smh.com.au)

The news of the week in the world of children's entertainment is that

Greg Page has returned to reclaim his yellow skivvy.

While the medical condition that sidelined him is still present,

he says that it is manageable and that he should be able to

meet the commitments necessary to return to the super group.

Sam Moran,

after 5 years as the Yellow Wiggle

and part of the Wiggles "family" for nearly 10 years,

has gone.

A usually media savvy group of men,

there was some uncomfortable pauses and responses in interviews

given on this morning's entertainment shows here in Australia.

When other groups members were asked (in Sam's absence)
 how Sam feels and what he is doing now,

well, Anthony, Jeff and Greg just didn't seem to know.

...his contract was up,

he'll do his thing,

 haven't spoken to him since he left,

you'd better ask him...

They just didn't know.

How does that happen?

I have always liked the Wiggles.

There was worse stuff to listen to with your toddlers,

they had worked their way up from a questionable pop group

and they are, while very wealthy, philanthropic.

Unlike Hi-5, the group didn't get upgraded to ever younger personalities

every few years.

(Indeed, we are all asking what succession management the Wiggles have in place.

Old men in skivvies is not the most marketable commodity for the kids' entertainment market)

Basically, they seemed like nice guys.

But today I feel like I have just found out that the Wiggles

aren't my friends anymore.

I am not commenting on media reports that Sam was called the "salaried" Wiggle around the office.

The founding members of the Wiggles worked hard for a long time

to get where they are

and they essentially run a business.

(The emotional business of kids' entertainment, admittedly)

The kids will bounce back.

When Greg was sick 6 years ago,

the stand-in was a short blonde guy

and my then 3 year old was still very excited to see "Greg Wiggle" on stage.

(blackman.com.au)

But I wonder if us parents will cope anywhere near as well.

Sure, the basic facts are that Sam was on a contract,

Greg was asked back

and the deal has been done.

I don't know what else may have gone on behind the scenes.

But surely the PR department would have been well aware of the inevitable questions

that were going to be asked this week.

The cold, dismissive and impersonal nature of the Wiggles in the media interviews so far

has left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

After spending 5 year recording and touring with an associate,

unless he is a complete wanker,

why wasn't Sam offered some respect from his peers?

Really, calling him a "hired hand"?

My love for the Blue Wiggle just disappeared in an instant.

Sam did the best job...well, the best job that any grown man

wearing a bright coloured skivvy in public

can be expected to do...

and kept the Wiggles Big Red Car moving smoothly.

I am glad that my youngest is 4 and has really outgrown them

so that I don't have to wrestle my conscience at the moment.

For once, I am glad that my daughter is Fairies-mad.

Let's hope that they all have long contracts.