★★★★★ 0/5

Cracking start for This Week Live

Royal baby gags, schongs, Bob Katter, fake ads and genuine chemistry -TEN's new panel show is off and running.

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IMG_0816TEN’s new panel show This Week Live has burst out of the gates with plenty of laughs and chemistry from its panel of four: Tom Gleeson, Meshel Laurie, Dave Thornton and possible new network star Tommy Little.

The show, as first revealed by TV Tonight, may have borrowed some elements from Working Dog’s former The Panel, but it paid off a treat, enhanced by the comedy gift of a Royal Birth the day before.

Tom Gleeson’s rant on the baby prince was priceless stuff, capped off with Tommy Little’s “totes gyno for your vagino” gag. A Gleeson interview with Bob Katter for “I Hate You, Now Change My Mind” was equally wicked.

Little’s invention of a Schong (thong that doubles as shoe) was so popular it may well see him starting a new business on the side.

There were even fake ads screening in the middle of TEN’s ad breaks. Producer Craig Campbell told TV Tonight, “I wanted to mix it up a bit. By putting content in the breaks you kinda never know where the show’s attitude will pop up. I wanted to own the whole hour not just the show content.”

Even Hugh Jackman got in on the fun with a mock interview, pre-recorded from the US.

If Twitter is any gauge of audience reaction -and we know it isn’t always- TEN has a promising new show on its schedule:

I’m all yours #ThisWeekLive. Wednesday nights are booked up. Well done #networkten

#thisweeklive rounded out a very nice night of comedy. Welcome to my viewing schedule @thisweeklivetv

so many of my favourite comedians on one show!!!!

Sketches that go for 20 seconds… excellent! #ThisWeekLive

Flicking between #wednesdaynightfever and #thisweeklive getting a lot of laughs… Go Aussie comedy

Best segment ever “I hate you, change my mind’ #thisweeklive

A spoof ad in an actual ad. Give this show a damn Logie already!

This Week Live is actually quite funny so far. Lots of anti #royalbaby jokes. Good work. #thisweeklive

Dave & Tommy’s reaction to each other is hilarious. #ThisWeekLive

To wrap up the only thing I didnt like bout #thisweeklive is deciding which panellist I like best. Like asking a patent to choose a fave kid

65 Responses

  1. Quick, a new TV show that is showcasing up and coming Aussie talent, assisted by some very entertaining comedy workhorses, better shoot it down!

    Loved this show. By no means perfect but they will grow. Tommy Little is a genuinely funny guy who will grow into a TV role with time. He is still new to the gig. I think David is right, possibly will become a breakout star from this.

    Chemistry is already really good. I really hope it gets a great audience. Deserves a good run to find that audience too.

  2. Yeah, just seen it, not my thing. It was a bit like an open-mic night at a stand-up comedy club. Could put that down to first-night jitters but the standard of the material was pretty patchy. There were some LOL moments and a couple of good chuckles, but not enough for me to make time for this in my schedule.

    The producers also need to turn down the audio sparkle and cut down on the quick-fire camera switching. The audience “applause” was way OTT and it just looked silly when you saw a shot of the audience just sitting there while you could hear someone else wetting themselves.

    Still, hope it does well, Ten need a break.

  3. I watched half last night and just finished watching the second half on One and absolutely loved it. It was hilarious and brought back fond memories of The Panel and Good News Week. It is a shame it got such awful ratings last night but hopefully with some mass advertising it’ll pick up. Well done to TEN and all involved.

  7. I didn’t watch it but thanks David for listing the repeat episode tonight.

    Shall watch Better Man and then tune into the This Week Live.

    I guess after 2 hours of a gut wrenching drama one needs to have a laugh to keep their sanity.

    Thanks again David

  9. I saw the beginning with the 9 month baby joke & was like Ok??? Then turned it off.

    I might check out one of the replays if you guys say it gets better, but I’m not holding my breath…

  11. I thought I was just oookaaay. Not too bad, but not that good either. Got a couple of laughs, but it’s definitely not ‘must see TV.’ Will be changing over to ABC1 when The Hamster Decides starts later next month.

  14. Loved it! Definitely making this a regular thing if it keeps up the quality. Hilarious stuff and the chemistry between the four panelists was spot on. Plus I have a little crush now on Dave Thornton 😉

  15. I’m happy it’s all light-hearted stuff… If there were any catastrophe or disaster, they could always replace it with a news special or something if a show like this was inappropriate….

    Otherwise it would be too much like The Project, which still seems awkward sometimes going from serious to playful..

  16. Oh come on Qubec – it’s a comedy show, not serious news. You can’t seriously think they would be called on to report/cover some disaster unfolding somewhere in the world.

    Really.

  17. Interesting that they won’t cover anything disasters, etc. I don’t see how they can do that though. When you have a major story like the Boston bomber or 9/11 that monopolises the news and cannibalises all other stories than surely they’ll be short for content.

  20. I have to be honest. I found it so scripted and fake. I love the whole panel type show format and maybe it will be better next week. The audience laughter was way too loud. I switched channels after 15 minutes. Based on all the positive comments I might give it another go next week and see if its any better

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