Chaos broke out on Channel 10 on Wednesday night when a fire alarm forced the sudden cancellation of The Project.
But this dramatic incident is not the first disaster to befall the network’s news panel program.
Many recent controversies, gaffes and awkward moments have led some to believe the long-running program is cursed.
At 6:49 p.m. on Wednesday night, viewers at home were left scratching their heads when the news program hosted by Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Sam Taunton suddenly disappeared from the air during the commercial break.
This was replaced by an episode of The Dog House Australia.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, please enjoy this screening of The Dog House,” the text read vaguely.
It wasn’t long before The Project’s feed was launched on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Is there a power outage in the studio?” asked one surprised viewer.
Channel 10 was thrown into chaos on Wednesday night when a fire alarm caused the sudden cancellation of The Project. Pictured: The Project panellists
But the dramatic incident isn’t the first disaster to befall the network’s news panel show. Pictured: Sarah Harris
“Unforeseen circumstances? A little more explanation is warranted. Broken camera? Medical incident?” asked another, before someone else asked, “Did the power go out?”
‘WTF just happened? Your show just disappeared. Now I’m watching a dog adoption show,’ another commented.
In a message shared with X by the program, it was revealed that a fire alarm went off in the studio, causing the show to come to an abrupt halt and forcing the presenters and crew to evacuate the Como Centre in South Yarra, where the show was being filmed.
Another recent disaster was the interview in which a guest went on a profanity-laced tirade about pandas.
On Wednesday, viewers at home were left scratching their heads at 6:49 p.m. when the news show hosted by Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Sam Taunton suddenly disappeared from the screens during the commercial break. Pictured: Waleed Aly (left) and Sarah Harris (right)
“Please enjoy this screening of The Dog House, due to unforeseen circumstances,” it read vaguely when programming resumed.
Chinese-born Australian journalist and author Vicky Xu was a guest on the program in June to discuss Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s current visit to Australia and his recent announcement of a panda swap meet at Adelaide Zoo.
Panellist Sam Taunton asked Ms Xu if she was happy that Adelaide Zoo was getting new pandas.
“I think… no, I’m not… I’m not,” Ms. Xu admitted. “I think pandas are too lazy to fuck and they’re on the verge of extinction.”
“And look, look at this outfit… I’m so much cuter than those giant fat, not fucking pandas,” she added.
Ms Xu’s comment was met with bewilderment and laughter from The Project hosts.
Another recent disaster was the train wreck interview with Chinese-born Australian journalist and author Vicky Xu (pictured) when she launched into a profanity-laced tirade about pandas
The Project later received a lot of criticism online, with people on social media calling the segment “cringe-worthy” and sarcastically calling the show a “very normal” show.
In February last year, the program also attracted controversy when gay comedian Reuben Kaye made a joke about Jesus Christ live on the radio.
“I love Jesus, I love all men who can get fucked for three days and come back for more,” Kaye joked.
Waleed Aly was left speechless by his comment, but Sarah Harris and the rest of the cast happily laughed along with the gay comedian’s joke.
In February last year, the program also caused controversy when gay comedian Reuben Kaye (pictured) made an X-rated joke about Jesus Christ live on the radio
However, the controversial comment sparked angry reactions online, with many feeling the joke went ‘too far’.
The panel program has also been struggling with a decline in viewership since the format change.
The poor viewing figures come amid mounting criticism of The Project’s left-wing bias and the departure of several high-profile presenters, including Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar and Lisa Wilkinson.
The show relaunched last year with a new panel featuring Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton, Michael Hing and long-standing host Waleed Aly.
However, recent reports suggest Harris is struggling with the gruelling weekly commute from Sydney to Melbourne as the talk show’s new programming fails to catch on.
Recent reports suggest Harris is struggling with the gruelling weekly commute from Sydney to Melbourne as the talk show’s revamped line-up fails to take off. (Photo: Harris and Waleed Aly)
Channel 10 insiders told Ny Breaking Australia that the “novelty” of travelling to Melbourne – where The Project is filming from Sunday to Thursday – is “starting to wear off a bit” for Harris, a single mother of two young children.
The former Studio 10 presenter joined The Project following the shock departures of Bickmore, Helliar and Wilkinson at the end of 2022. The panel show’s costs could also be an issue, with Ten recently embarking on a round of cost-cutting, axing both The Masked Singer and The Bachelors.
The future of the network, owned by Paramount Global, is uncertain as it continues to air television programs amid declining ratings and a crisis in advertising revenue, news.com.au reported.
In May, Dave Hughes and Osher Günsberg publicly confirmed that two of Channel Ten’s biggest reality shows, The Masked Singer and The Bachelor, had been axed, with the network currently in talks over a possible merger.
This has led to speculation that The Project will soon be taken off the air. However, the network has consistently denied that the series is going to be canceled anytime soon.
