Tonight Live with Steve Vizard
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | January 29, 1990 |
| Defunct | November 26, 1993 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Steve Vizard (host), Paul Grabowsky (band leader) |
| Products | Comedy talk show |
| Parent | Seven Network |
Tonight Live with Steve Vizard was an Australian nightly comedy talk show broadcast on the Seven Network, featuring live musical acts.
Synopsis
Broadcast nationally five evenings per week from 29 January 1990 until 26 November 1993, Tonight Live generally aired at 10:30 pm. The program was hosted by Steve Vizard, an Australian who transitioned from law to comedy and writing. It followed a conventional late night talk show structure but incorporated unconventional elements such as airing rehearsals, utilizing studio staff as on-camera personalities, and engaging the audience instead of relying solely on prominent guest stars.
Awards
The series dominated late night television ratings throughout Australia and received numerous accolades from the Television Society alongside multiple Logie honors. Among these was the prestigious 1991 Gold Logie awarded to Steve Vizard for Most Popular Person on Australian Television. Vizard also garnered three further nominations during the show's run.
Guest star appearances
One of the program’s hallmarks was its extensive array of over 2,000 interviews with both domestic and international figures. Episodes typically featured a minimum of three interviews that often revealed significant insights.
Noteworthy guests included Peter Allen, Kylie Minogue, Michael Caine, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Clint Eastwood, Paula Yates, as well as various prime ministers and political leaders.
Peter Allen was the first prominent guest, while Kylie Minogue appeared in the third episode. In 1990, Milli Vanilli performed shortly before their infamous lip-syncing controversy emerged.
Vizard was occasionally known to doze off during broadcasts, notably during a conversation with designer Pru Acton. Prior to tapings, he frequently entertained guests at Lynch's restaurant in Melbourne, sometimes arriving just as filming commenced.
A memorable 1991 broadcast featured Vizard alongside actor Gérard Depardieu and director Peter Weir sampling local wines prior to the show; Depardieu famously opened bottles of Grange live on air.
The puppet character Agro, recognized for risqué humor, regularly appeared as both guest and guest host.
The show helped launch careers such as that of Eric Bana. In 1992, guest host Paula Yates conducted a surreal satellite interview with her husband, Bob Geldof, as a surprise segment.
Music
For its initial three years, Tonight Live showcased an in-house band called The Groovematics, a jazz ensemble led by esteemed pianist and composer Paul Grabowsky. Vizard and Grabowsky, longtime acquaintances since their days at the University of Melbourne, affectionately nicknamed him "the Count." Each episode featured live musical performances by both Australian and international artists, frequently accompanied by the Count and The Groovematics. Distinguished performers included Stephan Grappelli, Harry Connick Jr. and his Big Band, George Benson, ZZ Top, Randy Crawford, Spinal Tap, Buddy Guy, Duran Duran, Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Cleo Laine, Alice Cooper, Dionne Warwick, John Williamson, B. B. King, Phil Collins, John Farnham, and Kylie Minogue.
News and weather
The Seven Network mandated that Tonight Live incorporate a concise news segment, originally anchored by Jennifer Keyte—whom Vizard affectionately called the "Hostess with the Mostess"—and subsequently by Naomi Robson. This news portion also included weather reports, frequently presented by notable guest personalities such as Bob Geldof, Ben Elton, Kylie Minogue, The Georgian Knife Throwers, and entrepreneur Dick Smith.
Stunts, pranks and mishaps
Tonight Live became well-known for spontaneous incidents that took advantage of its live broadcast nature:
• In 1991, when rain caused Wimbledon coverage to be canceled on a rival channel, Vizard orchestrated a staged indoor rainstorm using effects and props to humorously mimic the interruption.
• That same year featured Mr Lifto from the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow performing extreme body piercings live on air; an accidental exposure of nudity prompted network demands for censorship. Vizard later re-broadcast the footage to stir controversy.
• During the 1990 Australian Federal election, Vizard put forward writer Mitchell Faircloth as a Senate candidate in Western Australia, utilizing the program to air his campaign addresses.
• A studio audience member with distinctive tattoos was identified during the broadcast by a police officer watching from home as a wanted criminal, leading to an immediate arrest on set.
• One episode aired rehearsal clips containing uncensored language and informal banter, concluding with the standard pre-live countdown.
• While filming in London, Vizard interviewed a taxi driver who turned out to be Tony Walker, an original subject of the Seven Up documentary tracking life progress every seven years.
• Vizard installed a television monitor on set to keep track of competing broadcasts; during intense Wimbledon matches on rival channels, he would switch viewers over to live score updates.
• To celebrate its 100th episode, Vizard hosted a live dinner party in the studio featuring celebrities and executives from the Seven Network.
• A lottery-themed installment randomly selected guests and segments via a mechanical device, introducing an element of unpredictability to the show's structure.
• A stunt involving guest Terry Willesee sealing off rival host Derryn Hinch's dressing room sparked considerable tension within the network.
• One entire hour was devoted to showing an unedited amateur wedding video of a crew member, which left audiences puzzled and network executives displeased.
• The show acquired and trained its own greyhound racer named Tonight Live.
• An episode condensed an audience member’s actual wedding day—including stag party and reception—into a single hour-long segment.
• A week-long feature titled Nudie Hobbies showcased actors engaging in hobbies while nude; despite public criticism and network warnings, it succeeded in pushing ratings above 20%.
• An on-set fax machine enabled Vizard to interact directly with viewers by reading their faxes and phone calls; he occasionally invited audience members into the studio or requested food deliveries and services for guests.
• Following a 1991 set redesign, guest chairs were changed every night; one episode had singer Eddie Fisher interviewed while undergoing a dental examination in a dentist’s chair.
• During its first week on air, with parent company Qintex under receivership, Vizard joked: "Welcome to Tonight Live, or item number 731 in the Qintex catalogue."
• Guest hosts were introduced as 'playing the role of Mister Stephen Vizard,' reinforcing his concept of his on-screen persona as a character.
Outside broadcasts and non-studio productions
Tonight Live frequently transmitted from a wide array of unusual and unexpected venues, often without prior arrangement. Remote broadcasts took place in locations such as London, New York, Spain, Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, a bowling alley, an aircraft carrier, Vizard’s residence, and even at an Italian viewer’s backyard barbecue.
Memorable episodes included one filmed from an open-top convertible in St. Kilda, where prostitutes were picked up and Japanese tourists were given city tours. Another featured Vizard hosting while seated on the back of a motorcycle driven by World Motorcycle champion Mick Doohan. The show also aired from within a Melbourne tram.
In 1992, despite expert warnings, Tonight Live broadcast an episode live from the maximum-security H-Division of Pentridge Prison in Melbourne’s Coburg suburb. The program included performances by Dannii Minogue and Ally Fowler before an audience of convicted murderers.
During a week-long series in London in 1992, episodes originated from various locations. One installment at the Ritz Hotel showcased UK talk show personalities including Terry Wogan, Michael Parkinson, Ben Elton, Alexi Sayle, Joanna Lumley, Kylie Minogue, Michael Caine, and Jane Seymour. Another episode set in a Cotswolds village featured Oliver Reed sharing explicit British SAS anecdotes while intoxicated.
An episode filmed at Blenheim Palace included appearances by Spike Milligan and Gary Glitter and captured the near-fatal crash landing of regular Glenn Robbins during a live ultra-light aircraft incident on Blenheim lake. In Barcelona, Spain, Vizard was unexpectedly involved in a bullfighting stunt; dressed as a matador, he was charged by the bull and had to flee.
On-air team and regular contributors
Tonight Live cultivated an "on-air family," which included Dutch cameraman Jack Degenkamp, recognized for his clog dancing demonstrations and levitation acts. In 1993 he was featured in a special titled Jack Degekamp, This Is Your Life.
Floor manager Merv Ford gained popularity on camera; his recognition extended beyond the program to events such as the Australian Open Tennis coverage. During one stunt, he suffered a minor injury when Vizard accidentally threw a dart into his finger.
Band leader Paul Grabowsky was regularly featured on air. Later floor manager Dane Clarke also took part in various stunts. Production assistant Leanne Rollins (known as Leanne from Yarck) appeared early in the series when a guest canceled last minute, sharing amusing anecdotes including one about her father’s donkey.
Historian Magnus Clarke served as an emergency guest during the first three months, ready to step in if necessary. Other recurring personalities included veteran entertainer Philip Brady, who appeared weekly during the first year due to his chemistry with Vizard, alongside Glenn Robbins, Steve Bedwell, and others.
Influence and controversies
Tonight Live proved to be a major success for the Seven Network amid financial struggles and receivership. The show extended prime-time revenue streams into late-night hours, generating significant income for the network. Throughout its run, Tonight Live dominated Australian ratings with an average viewer share of 42.6% in 1990—almost double that of Channel 9’s 26% and Network 10’s 20%. It sustained strong ratings thereafter: 35% in 1991, 32.24% in 1992, and 31.22% in 1993.
Commissioned to rival Nine Network’s late-night leader Graham Kennedy’s Coast to Coast, Tonight Live effectively challenged its competitor. Following Seven’s announcement to schedule the show opposite Coast to Coast, Kennedy declared he would not return the following year.
In later seasons, Friday episodes often featured guest hosts such as Richard Stubbs, with more than 100 guest hosts including Ben Elton, Bob Geldof, and entrepreneur John Singleton. Vizard regularly took nights off by utilizing this rotating host format.
During its final two years, up to two episodes per week were pre-recorded rather than live, which led to some viewer complaints about the program’s "live" authenticity. At one point, disclaimers were added clarifying that not all broadcasts were live.
The production was broadcast live from Seven’s South Melbourne studios (Studios 7 and 8), which also housed shows like Dancing with the Stars, Rove, and Blue Heelers. After cancellation, the Tonight Live set was donated to RMITV for use on community channel C31, where components have been extensively reused due to limited resources.