Peeking through the studio doors, let me tell you about The Project TV Studio in Auckland. This studio was home to a popular New Zealand current affairs show. The Project aired weeknights at 7 pm on Three.
The Project TV Studio audience played a big part in the show’s success. Each weeknight, 40 lucky people could watch live TV magic. They saw how the show came together right here. The Project comedians delivered exclusive ad-break-only comedy. Audience members even volunteered to read the autocue live on national television. It was quite an experience.
The Project’s format came from the Australian version on Network Ten. It presented light current affairs and comedy. The show was filmed live. It broadcast live in front of a studio audience right here.
Each presenter had a different role. Jesse Mulligan was the anchor. Kanoa Lloyd was the newsreader. Jeremy Corbett was the comedian. A guest presenter usually joined them. They were often well-known New Zealanders. Journalists, comedians, and politicians often appeared. International guests also featured on The Project.
Episodes of The Project were thirty minutes long. Friday episodes were sixty minutes until the end of 2019. The guest presenter and live audience were briefly stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first advertisement for The Project promised something different. It launched on February 20, 2017. Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd, and Josh Thomson hosted. Guest host Rove McManus joined them for the first show. The Project became the number one trend on Twitter.
Many presenters filled in. Ben Hurley and Peter Helliar filled in for Josh Thomson. Jon Bridges and Michael Wesley-Smith filled in for Jesse Mulligan. Nadine Higgins filled in for Kanoa Lloyd. The Project season one aired 212 episodes. It ended on December 15, 2017.
The second season of The Project started on January 15, 2018. Josh Thomson left his position in March 2018. Jeremy Corbett replaced him. On May 18, 2018, Francesca Avent and Toby Gilsenan got married live on The Project. Jaquie Brown officiated. The season ended on December 14, 2018, after 238 episodes.
Season three of The Project debuted on January 21, 2019. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford was the fourth host. On March 15, 2019, they had no fourth host or live audience. This was because they covered the Christchurch mosque shootings. The season ended on December 13, 2019. It aired 232 episodes.
The fourth season began on January 20, 2020. Friday episodes were reduced to half an hour. Due to COVID-19, the show stopped having an audience in March 2020. A physically distanced studio audience returned on May 18.
Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ confirmed The Project would end in December 2023. The final episode aired on December 1, 2023. The Project TV Studio may be quiet now. Its legacy lives on in New Zealand television history.