As our regular readers know, we here at Bis-Serjetà take news reporting very seriously.
But sometimes, we take it so seriously that we forget to relax and have fun.
That’s why this week’s very public spat between Saviour Balzan and Ivan Camilleri, two of Malta’s finest satirical journalists, was a breath of funny fresh air.
It all started when Balzan wrote an article on Maltatoday accusing Camilleri of shoplifting from a supermarket in Naxxar.
Camilleri hit back by vehemently denying the accusation, before hilariously claiming he had a good reputation and integrity. Gold!
Balzan then countered by saying he was going to sue Camilleri for libel, despite the fact it was he who accused Camilleri of theft. We can’t wait to find out what the latter’s next absurd move will be.
We realise that Camilleri and Balzan have very busy lives – making things up on their respective news websites or ingratiating themselves with the government, depending on who happens to be in power at the time.
But we really think they should drop everything else and continue this comic fight forever – an eternal battle between two clowns locked in chortle combat. All we need is Karl Stagno Navarra (no relation) to provide snide, childish commentary, and we’re sorted.
What’s more – who can possibly get tired of Lovin Malta’s reaction piece on the reaction to the reactions on the story?
Because humour writing must be hard, we’ve taken the liberty of coming up with a few suggestion on how Balzan and Camilleri could stretch this feud out a bit more:
- Camilleri sneaks into Balzan’s office and props a bucket of water on top of his door. Balzan walks in, gets soaked and takes out his anger on the Maltatoday staff.
- Balzan puts a potato in the exhaust pipe of Camilleri’s car. Camilleri claims to have been the victim of an attempted assassination because he thinks he’s an important journalist.
- Camilleri pretends to forgive Balzan and offers him a handshake. But he has an electric buzzer that shocks Balzan!
- Balzan prank calls Camilleri, pretending to be a government mole with inside information. Camilleri writes a story that’s only slightly more fantastical than usual.
- Camilleri then prank calls Balzan, pretending to be an advertising agent selling government ads for €1 million. Balzan sells out only slightly more than usual.
Like we said, we’re serious journalists, not comedians. But we really would like to see this carry on forever. And we’re sure the government would too, if for entirely different reasons.
