B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Pinterest
  • WPP
  • AFL
  • Anthony Albanese
  • Cannes Lions
  • Thinkerbell
  • NRL
  • Federal Election
  • State of Origin
  • B&T Women in Media
  • AI
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • ARN
  • Channel 10
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: Em Rusciano & Other Female Broadcasters Rage Over Ten’s All-Male ‘Pilot Week’ Line-Up
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > Em Rusciano & Other Female Broadcasters Rage Over Ten’s All-Male ‘Pilot Week’ Line-Up
Media

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

Staff Writers
Published on: 23rd July 2018 at 12:53 PM
Staff Writers
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

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

 

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: Em Rusciano, Jane Kennedy, meshel laurie, Network Ten, Pilot Week, Ten
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

ActewAGL Appoints AFFINITY As Its Full-Service Agency
24/06/2025
David Hovenden On B&T’s Women In Media In The Australian
24/06/2025
“That Night Nearly Destroyed Me, But It Also Lit A Fire Inside”: What UnLTD’s Adland Bail Out Taught Me About Justice, Hope & Shame
24/06/2025
Vale Dominic Proctor, A Giant Of Adland Who Set Up Mindshare & Transformed The Industry 
24/06/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?