Home » Em Rusciano & Other Female Broadcasters Rage Over Ten’s All-Male ‘Pilot Week’ Line-Up

23 July, 2018

Em Rusciano & Other Female Broadcasters Rage Over Ten’s All-Male ‘Pilot Week’ Line-Up

Network Ten’s ‘Pilot Week’ doesn’t kick off until next month, but already the critics are out in force, namely due to its gender imbalance.

Ten unveiled eight new pilot programs for Australians to watch, with the network using their feedback to help it form its content slate for 2019.

However, it’s become obvious that Skit Happens, Dave (Dave O’Neil), Kinne Tonight (Troy Kinne), Drunk History (Rhys Darby and Stephen Curry), Taboo (Harley Breen), Trial by Kyle (Kyle Sandilands), Disgrace! (Sam Dastyari) and Bring Back…Saturday Night (Rove McManus) are all set to be captained by males.

Three female industry personalities were quick to savage Ten for the lack of gender diversity in its Pilot Week line-up.

Triple M drive host Jane Kennedy appeared to have spotted the imbalance while reading the paper:

Oh Look!! How very exciting for all these men!!! And look! … There’s a lady in this picture with the remote control so she can watch all the clever funny men who have the opportunity to pilot their own shows @channelten @Colvick @theheraldsun @DailyMailUK @dailytelegraph pic.twitter.com/amzX7N9EJv
— Jane Kennedy (@Jane_L_Kennedy) July 22, 2018

Kennedy was backed up by comedian, TV personality and former KIIS FM breakfast host Meshel Laurie:

We’re so lucky we have so many funny men to laugh at.
— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) July 22, 2018

Here’s the thing. I DO have so many funny men in my life. And the guys in this photo (with the exception of Sam Dastyari) are all funny buggers. I am curious to know if any women were given the opportunity to propose a show ??? I’m also not counting “Co-hosts” btw. X
— Jane Kennedy (@Jane_L_Kennedy) July 22, 2018

To be honest babe, I’m over it. Can’t be bothered spending my time and energy begging for a seat at a table where I’m not valued. I put my efforts into other places now.
— Meshel Laurie (@Meshel_Laurie) July 22, 2018

Then came 2Day FM brekkie host Em Rusciano, who labelled Ten’s Pilot Week line-up “poor form”.

My love for @jane_l_kennedy has just reached fever pitch. Channel 10 have a pilot week coming up, of the EIGHT shows they’re trying exactly ZERO are fronted by women and exactly EIGHT are straight, white, men. I’ve got a show idea, so do about FIFTEEN other funny women I know. POOR FORM.
A post shared by E m R u s c i a n o (@emrusciano) on Jul 21, 2018 at 10:37pm PDT

Dave O’Neil, who will host one of Ten’s pilot programs, pleaded with Kennedy to give it a chance, but it seems he may have missed her point:

I’m in that photo! After doing Comedy for 30 years I decided to have a crack at doing my own show. So I wrote it, produced it, acted in it and paid for it myself. I shopped it around and Ch10 said they would show it in pilot week. I was sooo happy. Please give it a chance.. https://t.co/pjhsjfO9md
— Dave O’Neil (@itsdaveoneil) July 22, 2018

Dave my issue was not about the talented and funny guys in the photo. It was the strange image of seeing 8 blokes and a woman with the remote control. I made it clear I had no beef with the talent and I urge everyone to get behind your show as you know I’m an enormous fan https://t.co/OFH8rIdUpJ
— Jane Kennedy (@Jane_L_Kennedy) July 22, 2018

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Heidi McElnea says:
08/08/2019 at 9:47 am
Poignant illustration of the lack of diversity in broadcasting. Same same same.

Em Rusciano Jane Kennedy meshel laurie Network Ten Pilot Week Ten