The Big Night In with John Foreman
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television entertainment |
| Founded | 3 December 2005 |
| Fate | Ended |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Variety show |
The Big Night In with John Foreman was an Australian variety show that aired on Network Ten and Ovation. The series debuted on 3 December 2005, wrapping up its initial run on 6 January 2006, before returning for a second season in October 2006.
Typically broadcast late at night, starting around 11:30 pm or later, the program combined musical performances with interviews, adopting a late-night talk show style that highlighted its musical lineup. The show was hosted by acclaimed Australian musician John Foreman, recognized for his musical director roles on Good Morning Australia and Australian Idol, utilizing his extensive industry background.
The opening episode stood out with a comprehensive interview and two live performances by Russell Crowe, accompanied by appearances from Tina Cousins and Deborah Conway. The series frequently featured impromptu promotional segments by both the cast and guests, reminiscent of the approach seen in Graham Kennedy's variety shows.
Episode guide
Series 1
| Episode N° | Guests |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Tina Cousins, Deborah Conway, Russell Crowe, Jade McCrae |
| Episode 2 | The Cat Empire, End of Fashion, The Living End, Vanessa Lambrou, John Michael Howson |
| Episode 3 | Melissa Tkautz, Taxiride, Alice Russell, Radio Dogs, John Michael Howson |
| Episode 4 - Christmas Special | Human Nature, Sarah McLeod, Kate DeAraugo, Magic Dirt, The Harlequin Smile, John Michael Howson |
| Episode 5 | Renee Geyer, Patrizio Buanne, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Mia Dyson, True Live |
| Episode 6 | Youth Group, Casey Donovan, Tania Doko, Dan Kelly, Describe Eliza, Michelle Anderson |
| Episode 7 - Best Of | Highlights from previous guests |
Series 2
| Episode N° | Guests |
|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Ronan Keating, Guy Sebastian, Tim Freedman, Lior, Val Lehman, Sam Mac |
| Episode 2 | Sarah McLeod, The Spazzys, Evermore, Kamahl, Sam Mac |
| Episode 3 | Don Lane, Chris Murphy, Kid Courageous, Gang Gajang, Sam Mac |
| Episode 4 | Dean Geyer, Bree Amer, Mike Goldman, Sarah Blaskow, Kate Alexa, Sam Mac |
| Episode 5 | Osher Günsberg, Jessica Mauboy, Damien Leith, Patrizio Buanne, The Whitlams, Maria Venuti, Matthew Newton |
| Episode 6 | Diesel, TV Rock, The Young Divas, Sam Mac |
| Episode 7 | Marcia Hines, Tania Doko with She Said Yes, Dallas Crane, Barry Crocker, Michelle van Raay & the Deb Johnson Dancers, Matt Hollywood, Sam Mac |
| Episode 8 - Best of | Highlights from previous guests |
| Episode 9 - Christmas Special | Peter Garrett, Sick Puppies with Juan Mann, Mig Ayesa, Maria Venuti, Sam Mac |
| Episode 10 - NYE Party Mix | Anthony Callea, John Paul Young, Kid Courageous, Dragon (band), Jade MacRae, Jemma Gawned, Maria Venuti, Mig Ayessa, Matt Hollywood, Jamie Brooksby, Matthew Newton |
Burt Bacharach Special
On 10 October 2007, Network Ten aired a special edition titled John Foreman Presents Burt Bacharach, recorded live at Sydney’s State Theatre as part of The Big Night In series. The show showcased Australian performers interpreting Bacharach’s classic songs, accompanied by the Sydney Sinfonia orchestra. Burt Bacharach himself made an appearance, engaged in an interview with Foreman, and delivered a rendition of “Alfie”.
| Artist | Song Performed |
|---|---|
| Paulini | Say A Little Prayer |
| Diesel | Walk On By |
| Katie Noonan | The Look Of Love |
| Kate Ceberano | I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself |
| Dean Geyer | Arthur's Theme |
| Leo Sayer | "Always Something There to Remind Me" |
| Ricki-Lee Coulter | What The World Needs Now |
| Burt Bacharach | Alfie |
New Year's Eve 2006 special
Network Ten broadcast a New Year's Eve program on 31 December 2006 featuring performances by Anthony Callea, John Paul Young, Matthew Newton, the New Zealand band Dragon, Jade MacRae, and Maria Venuti. Designed to appeal primarily to a younger demographic, this special diverged from the traditional style of earlier celebrations aired by the Nine Network.
Despite its youth-oriented approach, some older viewers and families expressed dissatisfaction through talkback radio, citing concerns over explicit language, sexual content, and allegations of intoxication by Newton—criticisms that were mostly unsubstantiated by the actual footage. Media outlets such as The Daily Telegraph, along with rival shows, also voiced criticism, potentially confusing this program with another televised event featuring the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
The broadcast ran from 9:30pm until 11:30pm, serving as a prelude to Network Ten's coverage of Sydney's New Year's Eve Fireworks. It was among the final variety productions recorded at Global Television’s North Ryde studios, which formerly served as Network Ten’s Sydney headquarters.