The Panel (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | Working Dog Productions |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Television talk show |
The Panel was an Australian television talk show that aired on Network Ten and was simultaneously broadcast on the Triple M radio network. Created by Working Dog Productions, the program featured performers from former comedy ensembles D-Generation and The Late Show.
This series showcased a group of five panelists (initially six) who engaged in discussions and comedic critiques of news, current events, and pop culture. It was scheduled for Wednesday evenings at 9:30 pm, typically lasting around an hour but often extending beyond the 10:30 pm live news broadcast. Debuting in 1998, it quickly attracted a dedicated audience. Between 2003 and 2007, special Christmas episodes were produced annually.
Panelists
The regular lineup consisted of Glenn Robbins, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Kate Langbroek, and Santo Cilauro, arranged from left to right. The original sixth member, Jane Kennedy, eventually left the show. Usually, Gleisner took on the role of host, introducing guests and segments, with Cilauro occasionally stepping into this position.
Guest panelists frequently included Australian comedians, actors, as well as international personalities like American actor Harry Shearer. In 2004, during Langbroek’s maternity leave, Jo Stanley served as her temporary replacement.
The audience warm-up duties were performed by Brian Nankervis, while Annie Maver managed floor operations.
Guests
The program welcomed a diverse array of guests including musicians, film stars, athletes, politicians, and individuals with compelling personal stories such as sailor Jesse Martin and sexual health expert Dr. Cindy Pan. Regular contributors featured sports journalist Stephen Quartermain, film critic Lawrie Zion, and Hollywood correspondent Jeff Stilson.
In 2000, international singer Anastacia appeared to promote her debut album Not That Kind, delivering an a cappella rendition of I'm Outta Love.
A notably awkward interview took place in 2002 with actors Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith during their promotion of Men in Black II, where Jones remained largely unresponsive to the show’s humor.
Glenn Robbins made appearances in character as Russell Coight from All Aussie Adventures in one episode and later portrayed both himself and Kel Knight from Kath & Kim during the 2007 Christmas special.
Christmas specials
Starting in 2003, a Christmas-themed episode aired on Christmas night outside the usual season schedule. These specials were promoted under names such as The Panel Christmas Special or The Panel Christmas Wrap. These extended broadcasts, lasting two to three hours, combined regular segments with live musical performances, celebrity appearances, and year-end summaries. Cast members also performed live sponsored advertorials, with all proceeds donated to charitable causes. Each special concluded with an intentionally low-budget pantomime depicting the birth of Jesus.
These holiday specials continued even after the main series concluded, with the final installment airing in 2007. There was no special produced in 2008 due to Working Dog’s focus on The Hollowmen.
Spin-offs
The program's popularity resulted in adaptations in Ireland, where it was presented by Dara Ó Briain, and in New Zealand, hosted by Cal Wilson. Additionally, a purported version aired in Afghanistan during the 2005 Christmas special.
The show also gave rise to a series of albums titled Music – Live from the Panel, which showcased performances by both local and international musicians, typically featuring acoustic or lightly accompanied arrangements.
Controversy
The Panel and Network Ten have been engaged in several prominent legal disputes related to media law. One notable case involved a prolonged conflict with the Nine Network in the Federal Court of Australia concerning the use of footage owned by Nine. This legal battle extended through multiple appeals at various Federal Court levels and ultimately reached the High Court of Australia.
Among early controversies was an incident where Rob Sitch used the term "fuck" on live television—a word considered taboo at the time—during a discussion involving presenter Donna Gubbay, attracting public attention.
In 2003, panel member Kate Langbroek received criticism after breastfeeding her newborn child live on air shortly following delivery.