In an Australian television first, Network Ten will bring the unique and innovative concept of Pilot Week to Australian television audiences from Sunday August 19 on TEN and WIN Network.
Pilot Week will premiere eight original pilots of domestically produced television programs, across a number of different genres, broadcast in primetime across one week.
The programs Skit Happens, Dave, Kinne Tonight, Drunk History, Taboo, Trial By Kyle, Disgrace! and Bring Back… Saturday Night are the programs that will premiere during Pilot Week with the channel hoping some of them will find a permanent home in the schedule.
Viewers will be encouraged to participate and share their feedback via tenplay and social media.
Audience reaction, social buzz and ratings will help decide what shows will return to Australian television screens in 2019.
Beverley McGarvey (pictured top), chief content officer Network Ten, said: “We are excited to be broadcasting such a fantastic array of unique and entertaining programs under the banner of Pilot Week.
“Involving Australian audiences in whether or not a program gets the green light via tenplay and other social initiatives provides a fantastic opportunity for Australian audiences to have their say in what they want to see on our screens in 2019.
“Pilot Week for us, represents a substantial investment in unique and local production, and further cements Network Ten’s role as the innovator of Australian commercial television,” she said.
Network Ten’s executive general manager, revenue & client partnerships Rod Prosser said: “We are the first commercial broadcaster to be doing anything like this. Pilot Week is an exciting initiative that propels Ten’s position as an innovator. With Pilot Week, we are actively taking audiences beyond broadcast, creating a path for them to continue their engagement with the programs across our digital and social channels.
“It continues our commitment to offering creative, multiplatform and innovative opportunities for advertisers and brands, and makes up part of our strongest schedule of programming over the coming months. It is a fantastic way for us to be supporting the local industry on and off screen.”
Network Ten’s TV Week Gold Logie Winner Grant Denyer and Studio 10 co-host Angela Bishop will be on hand to introduce the audience to each pilot as it premieres across the week.
TEN’s pilot week lineup:
Skit Happens
Nothing is safe from a Skit Happens parody, when the nations up-and-coming comedians join forces for Network Ten’s first sketch comedy in 12 years. Skit Happens is produced by CJZ.
Dave
Funny-man Dave O’Neil opens the doors to his crazy life in a half-hour narrative comedy. Expect laughter, tears and the appreciation of not being Dave. Dave is produced by Studio Bento.
Kinne Tonight
Comedian Troy Kinne ditches the stress of modern life, bringing hard-working Australians a fast-paced half-hour of laughter. Kinne Tonight is produced by Kinne Productions and Big Yellow Taxi Productions.
Drunk History
Rhys Darby and Stephen Curry pour themselves a drink in the international hit comedy format that takes Australia’s rich, and often surprising, history and re-tells it through the words of our most loved comedians and entertainers. Drunk History is produced by Eureka Productions.
Taboo
Taboo has broken audience records in its country of origin, Belgium. The premise is as confronting as it is simple. The very funny Harley Breen spends five days and nights with members of a disadvantaged group in society and uses the experience to perform a stand-up routine about them – with the subjects sitting in the front row. Taboo is produced by Lune Media.
Trial By Kyle
The toughest cases, biggest celebrities and genuine disputes can only be settled by one man, radio shock jock Kyle Sandilands. As Kyle carefully unravels each case, former The Bachelor Australia star and criminal lawyer Anna Heinrich is on hand to assist in forensically analysing the evidence. Trial By Kyle is produced by Screentime Australia.
Disgrace!
The world is full of disgrace and outrage. Shunned politician Sam Dastyari and the team behind Gruen and The Chaser manage the latest outbreak of outrage in a half-hour of opinion, insight and laughs. Disgrace! is produced by CJZ.
Bring Back… Saturday Night
Rove McManus is on a mission to bring back Saturday night entertainment.
A chance to reflect on what Saturday night means to Australia – then and now. Young performers will bring back the best of the past and performers of the past are challenged with reinvention. Sketches, guests, music and nothing but feel good moments as Rove finds the comedy and laughs by breaking down the conventions of entertainment and variety television. Join his quest to reunite Australia’s greatest acts, bands, and television faces in a generation-bending live television show. Bring Back… Saturday Night is produced by Roving Enterprises.