Tonightly with Tom Ballard


Tonightly with Tom Ballard was an Australian comedy entertainment show presented by comedian Tom Ballard and regular contributors Bridie Connell, Greg Larsen, Greta Lee Jackson and Nina Oyama. It aired on ABC Comedy from 4 December 2017 until 7 September 2018. The show was described as an "irreverent, fast-paced" look at the day in news and culture, with Ballard calling it "undergraduate filth". Tonightly with Tom Ballard was filmed a few hours before broadcast in Ultimo, a suburb in Sydney's inner-city.

Reception

An early review of Tonightly with Tom Ballard was positive, saying "the writing is top notch, the performances strong and getting stronger, and the filmed inserts are beautifully realised."
The show was criticised after a skit called Kevin Bailey, the candidate for the Australian Conservatives in the Batman by-election, 2018, a cunt, with the leader of the party, Cory Bernardi, and the Education Minister, Simon Birmingham calling for someone to lose their job over it, and the Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield asking for an investigation and an apology to Mr Bailey. The ABC later personally apologised to Mr Bailey, but defended the decision to air the segment, while expressions of support for the show were made by Joe Hildebrand, Wil Anderson and Annabel Crabb.
In August 2018, the show received criticism for a musical segment which highlighted perceived contradictions between Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Christian faith and his actions as a politician. The ABC rejected the suggestion that the segment "attack" Morrison's religion or religious beliefs, stating that "ost viewers would understand the skit to be a satirical way of examining the relationship between such beliefs and government policies on asylum seekers".
'Sex Pest', a song from the series performed by Bridie Connell and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd, won the 2018 ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release. Tonightly Albumly, a collection of original songs from the series' run, was released on all digital services via ABC Music.

Discontinued

In mid-August 2018 it was announced that Tonightly with Tom Ballard would be dropped from the ABC line up and would air for the last time on 7 September 2018.

Episodes

This is a list of episodes for Tonightly with Tom Ballard which aired on ABC Comedy from December 4, 2017, to September 7, 2018.
Ep.Date airedGuestsSegments
1Monday, December 4, 2017Gardening with Greta
2Tuesday, December 5, 2017Tom looks at the Parliament House fence
3Wednesday, December 6, 2017Year In Review: Same Sex Marriage
4Thursday, December 7, 2017Tracey Spicer
5Friday, December 8, 2017Best of the week.
6Monday, December 11, 2017Year in Review: WA-XIT
7Tuesday, December 12, 2017Tom goes to the Australian Christian Lobby conference. Christmas song.
8Wednesday, December 13, 2017Warren MundineTom interviews Senators Derryn Hinch, Sam Dastyari, Eric Abetz, Sarah Hanson-Young, David Leyonhjelm
9Thursday, December 14, 2017Year In Review: Trump
10Friday, December 15, 2017Best of the week.
11Monday, December 18, 2017Year in Review: The World
12Tuesday, December 19, 2017Omar MusaBridie's Goon commercial.
13Wednesday, December 20, 2017Tom looks at the Australian Constitution.
14Thursday, December 21, 2017Year in Review: Indigenous issues.
15Friday, December 22, 2017Best of the week.
16Monday, January 8, 2018
17Tuesday, January 9, 2018Explainsly: Centrelink robo-debt
18Wednesday, January 10, 2018Greg crashes Mark Latham's 'Save Australia Day' campaign launch. Bridie investigates Queensland's racist place names.
19Thursday, January 11, 2018Jimmy Carr
20Friday, January 12, 2018Masha Alyokhina from Pussy RiotBest of the week.
21Monday, January 15, 2018
22Tuesday, January 16, 2018Explainsly: 2018 preview part 1
23Wednesday, January 17, 2018Explainsly: 2018 preview part 2
24Thursday, January 18, 2018Panti Bliss
25Friday, January 19, 2018Best of the week.
26Monday, January 22, 2018Izzy Ali looks at Victorian African gangs.
27Tuesday, January 23, 2018Demi LardnerExplainsly: NZ refugee policy.
28Wednesday, January 24, 2018Comedian Trygvie.
29Thursday, January 25, 2018Jacinta PriceCraig Quatermaine looks at Australia Day.
30Friday, January 26, 2018Best of the week.
31Monday, January 29, 2018Senator Jacqui Lambie
32Tuesday, January 30, 2018NSW Greens Senator Mehreen FaruqiAndrew McClelland goes to the Parkes Elvis Festival in NSW.
33Wednesday, January 31, 2018Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten
34Thursday, February 1, 2018Liberal MP Tim Wilson
35Friday, February 2, 2018Best of the week.
36Monday, February 5, 2018Mark Bonanno from Aunty Donna looks at Melbourne's tram car restaurants
37Tuesday, February 6, 2018Wolf AliceCandy Bowers looks at nude underwear
38Wednesday, February 7, 2018Harley Breen
39Thursday, February 8, 2018Alex CameronWyatt Nixon-Lloyd looks at the 200 Treasures exhibition at the Australian Museum.
40Friday, February 9, 2018Best of the week.
41Monday, February 12, 2018Tom Walker
42Tuesday, February 13, 2018Dr Chris SarraWyatt & Bridie go to the Tamworth Country Music Festival
43Wednesday, February 14, 2018Sharri MarksonValentines Day song.
44Thursday, February 15, 2018Explainsly: Renewables
45Friday, February 16, 2018Best of the week.
46Monday, February 19, 2018Danielle WalkerAaron Chen goes to Tropfest.
47Tuesday, February 20, 2018Musical act Jade Bird
48Wednesday, February 21, 2018
49Thursday, February 22, 2018Musical act Vance Joy
50Friday, February 23, 2018Best of the week.
51Monday, February 26, 2018Imam Nur Warsame
52Tuesday, February 27, 2018Courtney Act
53Wednesday, February 28, 2018Writer of the 2018 TV movie Riot Greg Waters & LGBTQI activist Meredith KnightGreg interviews John Boyega
54Thursday, March 1, 2018Geraldine Hickey, Zahra StardustCassie Workman's segment So You Think You Can Trans.
55Friday, March 2, 2018Best of the week.
56Monday, March 5, 2018Lea DeLariaFelicty Ward interview Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan
57Tuesday, March 6, 2018Gillian Triggs, standup from Nina Oyama
58Wednesday, March 7, 2018The PreaturesBridie interview New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters
59Thursday, March 8, 2018Ioan GruffuddBridie and Greta host.
60Friday, March 9, 2018Best of the week.
61Monday, March 12, 2018Henry Rollins
62Tuesday, March 13, 2018Dr Jordan Peterson
63Wednesday, March 14, 2018Musical act Lauv
64Thursday, March 15, 2018Musical act Vera BlueGreg wants to rename the electorate of Batman & famously calls Conservative Kevin Bailey the c-word.
65Friday, March 16, 2018Best of the week.
66Monday, March 19, 2018Tessa WatersNina goes to Adelaide to cover the South Australian election
67Tuesday, March 20, 2018Brian Greene
68Wednesday, March 21, 2018Hip hop act HorrorshowFelicity Ward interviews Leslie Mann, Kay Cannon & John Cena. Strayans Divided: Young Politicians.
69Thursday, March 22, 2018Michael HingExplainsly: Endometriosis.
70Friday, March 23, 2018Best of the week.
71Monday, March 26, 2018Chuck D and Tom Morello from the band Prophets of Rage, Tommy DassaloScott Dooley goes to the anti-gun March For Our Lives in Washington.
72Tuesday, March 27, 2018Paul McDermott, Nikki Britton
73Wednesday, March 28, 2018Loyiso GolaStrayans Divided: Economists
74Thursday, March 29, 2018Phil WangExplainsly: Crime and Punishment
75Friday, March 30, 2018Best of the week.
76Monday, April 2, 2018Frida DeguiseCassie Workman talks pronouns in the segment So You Think You Can Trans.
77Tuesday, April 3, 2018Marcel Lacont Tom goes to the Victorian Marxism conference.
78Wednesday, April 4, 2018Jack RiverStrayans Divided: The Republic vs Monarchists, featuring Peter FitzSimons. Greg reports from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
79Thursday, April 5, 2018Former Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne SwanGreta goes to the Taroom B&S Ball.
80Friday, April 6, 2018Best of the week.
81Monday, April 9, 2018Fin Taylor
82Tuesday, April 10, 2018Patrick Wolf
83Wednesday, April 11, 2018Fern BradyGreg is at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
84Thursday, April 12, 2018Doug Stanhope, Didirri
85Friday, April 13, 2018Best of the week.
86Monday, April 16, 2018Guy Montgomery
87Tuesday, April 17, 2018Apollo Jackson, Damien Power
88Wednesday, April 18, 2018Missy HigginsTom looks at refugee art.
89Thursday, April 19, 2018Cassie Workman
90Friday, April 20, 2018Best of the week.
91Monday, April 23, 2018Dane BaptisteTom looks at Camp Gallipoli.
92Tuesday, April 24, 2018Veteran Mick Bainbridge, Michael Goldstein
93Wednesday, April 25, 2018Dami ImBridie looks at laws protecting university colleges
94Thursday, April 26, 2018Takashi WakasugiJames Colley goes to Federation Square in Melbourne
95Friday, April 27, 2018Best of the week.
96Monday, April 30, 2018Bill McGibben, DMA's
97Tuesday, May 1, 2018Musician Dean LewisStrayans Divided: Religion
98Wednesday, May 2, 2018Author Stanley Johnson, Musical act Tropical Fuck Storm
99Thursday, May 3, 2018Journalist Johann HariMonty Franklin tries to find a new US Ambassador. Cam Knight stars as swearing teacher Kunst.
100Friday, May 4, 2018Best of the week.
101Monday, June 18, 2018Explainsly: Refugee sponsorship
102Tuesday, June 19, 2018Anyier YoulGreta proposes lock in laws for men. Greg looks at psychic sniffer dogs.
103Wednesday, June 20, 2018Standup from Squidsy MulliganGreta Investigatesly: Refugees.
104Thursday, June 21, 2018Hip hop artist DyspOra, performing "Open Road" with Elsy WameyoHome 'n Hosed's Declan Byrne chats to three refugees making music in Australia.
105Friday, June 22, 2018Best of the week.
106Monday, 25 June 2018Hypnotist John Edward
107Tuesday, June 26, 2018Standup from Alice Fraser
108Wednesday, June 27, 2018Alex WardHannah Reilly sets up a safe space for right wing journalists and broadcasters.
109Thursday, June 28, 2018The RubensExplainsly: Facial recognition.
110Friday, June 29, 2018Best of the week.
111Monday, July 2, 2018NT Labor MP Luke Gosling
112Tuesday, July 3, 2018Body hacker Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow
113Wednesday, July 4, 2018Comedian Ashwin SegkarStrayans Divided: Feminism
114Thursday, July 5, 2018Musical group Polo Shirt
115Friday, July 6, 2018Best of the week.
116Monday, July 9, 2018Steph TisdellBridie goes to UK Labor Live concert and interviews Jeremy Corbyn
117Tuesday, July 10, 2018Shireen Morris
118Wednesday, July 11, 2018Ngaree Ah KitAndy Saunders' Aboriginal Mythbusters
119Thursday, July 12, 2018Musicians Alice Skye & Emily Wurramara
120Friday, July 13, 2018Best of the week.
121Monday, July 16, 2018Actor Danny Glover, Comedian Kristy Webeck
122Tuesday, July 17, 2018Musical group BullyStrayans Divided: Greens vs One Nation.
123Wednesday, July 18, 2018Bianca "Bam Bam" ElmirGreg goes to the NT to look at the crocodile cull.
124Thursday, July 19, 2018Musical act Mansionair
125Friday, July 20, 2018Best of the week.
126Monday, July 23, 2018Interview with Albert Hammond Jr from The StrokesDamien Power looks at guns in America - a co-production with The New York Times opinion section.
127Tuesday, July 24, 2018Comedian Jack DruceStrayans Divided: Big Australia
128Wednesday, July 25, 2018Comedian Tom CashmanRosie Waterland parodies Netflix's Insatiable. Greg goes to the Longman by-election in Queensland.
129Thursday, July 26, 2018Interview with Franz Ferdinand. Musical performance by OdetteNina goes to the Braddon by-election in Tasmania.
130Friday, July 27, 2018Best of the week.
131Monday, July 30, 2018Comedian Rose Piper
132Tuesday, July 31, 2018Economist Stephen KoukoulasCarlo Ritchie looks at health in country.
133Wednesday, August 1, 2018
134Thursday, August 2, 2018Band Cash Savage and the last drinksCarlo Ritchie looks at infrastructure in country. Bridie looks at abortion rights in Ireland and Tasmania.
135Friday, August 3, 2018Best of the week.
136Monday, August 6, 2018Hamish Blake, Andy Lee, Dave Eastgate
137Tuesday, August 7, 2018Musicians D.Minor & Libby IngelsTom looks at racism in Townsville
138Wednesday, August 8, 2018Skye LeckieNina's Alternatively looks at homelessness
139Thursday, August 9, 2018Comedian Bonnie TangeyExplainsly: Homelessness and housing first
140Friday, August 10, 2018Best of the week.
141Monday, August 13, 2018Author Douglas Murray, Comedian Craig QuartermaineThe Embassy episode 1
142Tuesday, August 14, 2018Musician Peter BibbyThe Embassy episode 2
143Wednesday, August 15, 2018Musician/Comedian Sarah GaulTonightly gets axed. Mr Oily debuts in new segment "Why The Fuck Not?". The Embassy episode 3.
144Thursday, August 16, 2018Professor Toby Walsh
145Friday, August 17, 2018Best of the week.
146Monday, August 20, 2018Comedian Zoe Coombs MarrKamahl reads the Gettysburg address for "Why The Fuck Not?"
147Tuesday, August 21, 2018Courtney BarnettDay of the Liberal leadership spill against Turnbull.
148Wednesday, August 22, 2018Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, musical comedy act SongtourageGreg & Nina host.
149Thursday, August 23, 2018American Peter Dutton. Comedian Sian SmithBridie and Greta host day Turnbull announces another spill.
150Friday, August 24, 2018Best of the week.
151Monday, August 27, 2018Andrew WKWyatt & Bridie do a song about new PM Scott Morrison's Christianity.
152Tuesday, August 28, 2018Gillian Cosgriff, Jess Perkins, Ahmed ZubbSpecial standup comedy episode
153Wednesday, August 29, 2018Interview with singer Troye Sivan, Comedian Michael Chamberlin
154Thursday, August 30, 2018Comedian Sam TauntonComedian Andy Matthews looks at DIY DNA kids. Tom Cashman stars in Emotional Jackass.
155Friday, August 31, 2018Best of the week.
156Monday, September 3, 2018Greens leader Richard Di Natale, comedian Chris FlemingSpecial Conservative-themed show, "Conservatively". James McCann looks at modern art. Jazz Twemlow looks at everything that's wrong the left.
157Tuesday, September 4, 2018Musical comedy act These New South WhalesSpecial future show set in 2068
158Wednesday, September 5, 2018Comedian John CruckshankExplainsly: Tom explains Australia's Environmental policy failures. Rodney Todd looks at heightism.
159Thursday, September 6, 2018Final Original Episode, ran 51 minutes. Nina's Alternatively looks at African gangs. Greg looks at Australia Post. Monica Zanetti looks at moving to the country for queer people.
160Friday, September 7, 2018The Best Ever - hour long special.