ABC Expands Satire: "Always Was Tonight" Premieres, Charlie Pickering Discusses Challenges
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently expanded its political satire offerings with the premiere of a new special, "Always Was Tonight," hosted by Tony Armstrong. Concurrently, Charlie Pickering, host of the ABC program "The Weekly," provided insights into the challenges and impact of political satire in a recent interview.
"Always Was Tonight" Premieres
The ABC premiered a 30-minute news satire special titled "Always Was Tonight," hosted by Tony Armstrong, on Wednesday night. The program's broadcast coincided with January 26.
The special featured satirical commentary directed at various subjects, including Sky News, mining executive Gina Rinehart, and the ABC itself. Tony Armstrong noted his position as the first Black host of an ABC comedy show since Chris Lilley.
Bjorn Stewart, known from "Black Comedy," appeared as an ambassador for "White Australia," presenting examples such as the "Adelaide Writers Festival" and "ABC staff meetings." The program concluded with a segment depicting children in prison, some wearing spit hoods, singing "I Still Call Australia Home." This segment focused on Australia's age of criminal responsibility and the reintroduction of spit hoods in Northern Territory youth detention facilities.
Developed by executive producer Rowdie Walden, the program also featured Brooke Blurton as a newsreader. Armstrong stated that the production team aimed to create content they desired to watch.
The show is an ABC commission, occurring at a time when the broadcaster has received criticism regarding its programming perceived as risk-averse and catering to older audiences. It has been described by some as a move toward more "radical, risk-taking" comedy, a style discussed since the cancellation of "Tonightly with Tom Ballard" in 2018.
The program recorded a total TV audience of 261,000 viewers, which was less than its lead-in program, "The Weekly," with 423,000 viewers. Armstrong has expressed interest in hosting a potential full series, citing the importance of producing sharp content to engage younger audiences who consume political comedy on social media platforms. The show's overall reception may also be influenced by rewatches on ABC iview and its thematic relevance to discussions surrounding January 26.
Charlie Pickering Discusses Satire and Career
Charlie Pickering, host of ABC's "The Weekly," discussed the program's content, the challenges inherent in political satire, and personal career experiences in a recent interview.
Pickering mentioned "Albo's f***ing dog," a recurring segment featuring Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's cavoodle, Toto. He noted that Prime Minister Albanese watches "The Weekly" and uses it to stay informed.
Regarding material for satire, Pickering stated that the United States, particularly the Trump presidency, consistently provides content. He characterized the Trump administration as an example of alleged corruption. He also commented on a reported $US75 million investment by Amazon to distribute "MELANIA," a documentary about the former first lady, interpreting it as an attempt to gain favor with the president.
Pickering described political satire as becoming more difficult during the Trump era. He indicated that Trump's public persona, which he characterized by a perceived lack of shame or adherence to norms, altered the baseline for satire.
Pickering explained that satire typically involves exaggeration to reach a ludicrous extreme, but with Trump, the starting point was already at a level he described as "ludicrous," complicating further comedic exaggeration.
He suggested that satire now frequently aims to contextualize events rather than amplify their absurdity.
Pickering outlined his recent schedule, which included "The Yearly," a New Year's Eve broadcast, and the 12th season of "The Weekly," in addition to the radio show "Thank God It's Friday!" He stated that his team carries the majority of the workload.
He also shared information about an ADHD diagnosis three years prior, which he stated helped him understand his cognitive processes and find focus in a studio environment. Pickering recalled an early career decision to decline a "Tonight show" offer at age 25, stating he believed he was not yet prepared, despite it being a long-held ambition.
Concluding his remarks on political satire, Pickering asserted that while comedians performing political satire should not consider their work fundamentally important, a well-timed joke can impact public discourse.