Rumour: Tom Ballard to host Daily Show for ABC2
New show is whispered to be planned for weeknights on ABC2 in a push to attract younger viewers.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
TV Tonight hears whispers comedian Tom Ballard is set to front a new Daily Show for ABC2.
In the US the Daily Show has enjoyed a long run with Jon Stewart doing news satire, and more recently Trevor Noah. It isn’t clear if the format is identical.
The ABC2 project is also rumoured to have comedy troupe Aunty Donna on board.
Chatter suggests the show will run weeknights in the final stretch of 2017, likely as a Sydney-based in-house ABC production but with interstate contributors. Andrew Garrett is tipped to produce.
Pauline Hanson recently suggested that ABC had offered millions to hijack The Project from TEN -denied by ABC. But her comments do nod to industry talk that ABC wants an equivalent show aimed at a young audience.
It isn’t known what timeslot the show would air, and if it avoids The Project’s hour at 6:30 on TEN, it could come up against The Feed on SBS and even ABC’s own 7:30.
AÂ Daily Show for ABC2 could lift the channel’s early evening share and generate social media attention.
ABC has been contacted for comment.
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- Tagged with 7:30, The Feed, The Project, The Weekly
8 Responses
It’s been 3 years since “The Roast” left ABC2’s Green Screen Room. It seems that “every bastion of journalism known to man” survived the daily onslaught of the “Satirical Six”. There is a niche to be filled. Success will come to Tom when Malcolm, Rupert and Pauline’s fingers are poised over their speed-dial buttons to Michelle Guthrie.
As long as they don’t ditch Spicks and Specks at 7pm.
I suppose he has some appeal, but I hope this show isn’t live as every live I have seen him on, he has come across as wooden and unprepared
He just got great reviews in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh….. where he had a script and rehearsals, I am talking about time he does live TV , ie the time he did the New Year’s Eve coverage for the ABC (car crash) and his recent hosting of Q&A (where he seemed to forget he was the host not one of the panellists)
In this enviroment Tom would be very different to his live onstage self, case in point when he hosts Q&A when they do Youth Affairs type things he shines and really is up on what is being discussed.
I love Tom too, he would be perfect for a show like the Daily Show. Hope this comes around, although being on ABC2 the ratings won’t be that great
Love Tom, this will be fantastic