The Big Night In with John Foreman

Australian television series

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "The Big Night In with John Foreman" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Big Night In With John Foreman

The Big Night In with John Foreman was an Australian variety show airing on Network Ten and Ovation. It premiered on 3 December 2005 and concluded its first series 6 January 2006 then returned for another season in October 2006.[1]

It ran overnight, usually starting at either 11.30pm or past 12am. The show's premise is based on having musical acts perform and give interviews in a late-night chat show format with a bigger focus on musical guests and interviews with those guests. It was hosted by John Foreman, a renowned Australian musician who has appeared on shows such as Good Morning Australia and Australian Idol as a musical director.[2][3]

The show was notable for its premiere when an in-depth and engaging interview was featured with Russell Crowe. Crowe later performed two songs for the show. This episode also featured guests Tina Cousins and Deborah Conway. It often included ad lib promotions by the cast and guests, in a style reminiscent of Graham Kennedy's variety programs.

## Episode guide

[edit]

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 | Previous Guests' Highlights

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 | Previous Guests' Highlights
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

Jade MacRae

Jemma Gawned

Maria Venuti

Mig Ayessa

Matt Hollywood

Jamie Brooksby

Matthew Newton

## Burt Bacharach Special

[edit]

On 10 October 2007, ‘John Foreman Presents Burt Bacharach’, a special presentation of The Big Night In, was broadcast on Network Ten.[4] It was taped at the State Theatre in Sydney, and featured a line-up of Australian artists performing songs composed by Bacharach, accompanied by the Sydney Sinfonia. Bacharach appeared on the show, was interviewed by Foreman and performed his composition, “Alfie”.[5]

Performer | Musical Number

|

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

[edit]

On 31 December 2006, a special episode was broadcast on the Ten Network featuring Anthony Callea, John Paul Young, Matthew Newton, New Zealand band Dragon, Jade MacRae and cabaret performer Maria Venuti. It was meant to be different from the telecasts that the Nine Network had provided in past years in that it was mainly aimed at a younger audience.

Despite that clear focus, older viewers and families complained about the content on the programme, calling talkback radio stations such as 2GB to complain the programme had strong language and sexual references; and that Newton was intoxicated, though there was little to none of the alleged content in the programme. Based on the talkback reaction, The Daily Telegraph, along with the daily tabloid programmes on competing networks (Today Tonight and A Current Affair)[6] attacked Ten's broadcast. It is thought that those viewers and media sources may have been confused by another televised presentation the same night involving the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The show aired from 9:30pm until 11:30pm, and was the lead-up to Network Ten's coverage of the New Year's Eve Sydney Fireworks.

The show was one of the last variety productions to be taped at Global Television's studios in North Ryde, NSW (Network Ten's former Sydney headquarters).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Big Night in with John Foreman (TV Series 2005–2006) - IMDb". IMDb.
2. ^ "On the Couch with John Foreman". 16 December 2015.
3. ^ "John Foreman: Musical ambassador". 8 June 2015.
4. ^ "John Foreman Presents Burt Bacharach". IMDb. 19 October 2007.
5. ^ "About John".
6. ^ Ten's smutty party an insult | NEWS.com.au Entertainment

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* The Big Night In MySpace Page
* Series 1 Official Site