You can watch the video version of Media McKnight in the player below:
Nat Bass and Rob Mills are facing a major backlash from the musical theatre community after being cast as the leads in the upcoming Australian production of Waitress.
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The issue stems from claims the pair represent “stunt casting” – with some serious musical theatre aficionados arguing producers should have cast performers known primarily for stage work.
People on TikTok and other social media platforms have been ruthless, calling out producers for not casting “authentic” musical theatre performers.
I have seen this musical. It is beloved. But it is not a guaranteed box office smash.
And that is the real problem.
Without recognisable names attached, Waitress would be unlikely to draw mainstream audiences. Promoters and producers need to sell tickets. They need bums on seats.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte has plenty of musical theatre experience. There has been criticism about her age – but she is only four years older than Sara Bareilles, who has also played the role of Jenna (Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics for the show).
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I genuinely don’t understand why this cast announcement is causing outrage within the musical theatre community — especially considering musical theatre in this country is fraught with danger.
Just last year Back to the Future: The Musical was canned, with plans for a national tour dropped after poor ticket sales.
The show starred Roger Bart as Doc Brown and Axel Duffy as Marty McFly. I don’t mean to be rude when I say this, but they’re not exactly household names.
Maybe people should actually watch the musical when it launches in Melbourne on May 1. Then you’re free to judge.
It seems Channel 9’s online hit Love Island Australia could be on the move.
Word has reached Media McKnight – from a very trusted source – that production is planning to move away from its current filming location in Mallorca (Majorca).
The most likely new location – although not yet confirmed – is Fiji, where Love Island USA is filmed.
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A move to Fiji would allow the Australian production to be closer to home while still leveraging infrastructure already used by other international versions of the franchise.
The show has been a massive digital success for Nine, and Sophie Monk shines as host. She is expected to remain with the franchise — regardless of where it is filmed.
The ABC is under fire over how it handled an inquiry from a reporter at The Australian, after internal emails were released in response to questions on notice during Senate Estimates last week.
The controversy dates back to September last year when ABC reporter Isabella Higgins made the following comments on Insiders:
“This was an important moment for the Liberal Party to say, do we want to be a party that has rhetoric that’s based in hate and exclusion, which is what comments from Jacinta Nampijinpa Price were. They were discriminatory, they were racist.”
While her comments sparked debate and heavy criticism, the issue now centres on how ABC News Director Justin Stevens responded.
According to Steve Jackson in The Australian’s Media Diary, Stevens sent an email to senior news editors and the communications team stating:
“Hi Sam et al … I was at a function this morning and haven’t seen the show yet. Can you let us know your thoughts? Supporting Isabella’s journalism and work for the ABC regardless will be important.”
That email was sent just six minutes after journalist James Madden sent his inquiry.
The concern is obvious.
Stevens told his team to back Higgins “regardless” – despite admitting he had not seen the comments in question.
Peter van Onselen, writing in the Daily Mail, took particular issue with the word “regardless”.
As he put it:
“Regardless? Regardless of what? As in, regardless of the facts of the complaints being made? Or regardless of what any investigation might ultimately determine?”
“It is hard to overstate how damning that one word is. It’s what you say when the priority isn’t whether the journalism was sound or not, but whether the institution looks united to repel criticism, however fair or unfair it might be.”
And he’s right.
To determine that you will support a journalist no matter what they have said is problematic.
If Stevens had watched the clip and concluded Higgins was expressing an opinion on an opinion-based program, that would be one thing.
But that’s not what happened.
He said they would back her regardless.
Anyone who has dealt with the ABC won’t be shocked.
The staff at the Aunty Broadcaster can be defensive. Every inquiry is often viewed as an attack.
I’m not an ABC hater. I do regular slots on ABC radio stations around the country. I’m not here to defund it.
I believe in the ABC.
But I also believe it must be held to the highest standards.
And situations like this matter.
Around 450 ABC staff are preparing to strike after union members rejected management’s latest pay offer.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the ABC offered a 10 per cent pay rise over three years – 3.5 per cent in year one, followed by 3.25 per cent in years two and three.
The union is demanding 5.5 per cent per year – totalling 16.5 per cent – plus improved pay band progression.
What planet are they living on?
The media industry is contracting. Ask anyone in commercial television whether they’ve had a pay rise in recent years and the answer will likely be no.
Many commercial media workers have been made redundant due to declining advertising revenue, and would happily take a job at the ABC.
I’m not saying workers should be underpaid.
But there is a time and place.
If ABC staff aren’t happy with their salaries and superannuation conditions, there are plenty of experienced journalists currently out of work who would take those roles tomorrow.
Last week I announced the launch of Video Podcast Services – designed to help podcasters upgrade to professional video production.
The concept is simple: use the technology and industry experience I have built over 30 years in television and radio to create polished, professional video podcasts.
Because video is now how audiences consume content.
And the better it looks, the more engaged your audience becomes.
There was just one problem.
I outpriced the independent producers I was trying to help.
So here’s the deal.
If you’re an independent podcast producer – not part of a big network – I’ll offer the basic package for just $80 per recording.
The normal price is $250.
And I’ll even include livestream capability.
This technology has already been used on major productions, including a special digital-only edition of 7NEWS Spotlight covering the Greg Lynn case – with a reporter in Melbourne, two-way talent in Byron Bay, clips rolled in and supers added live during recording.
A special digital-onlyl edition of 7NEWS Spotlight was made using technology from Video Podcasting Services
If you’re thinking about upgrading your podcast to video, your timing couldn’t be better.
Apple has just announced it is expanding video functionality within Apple Podcasts.
Interestingly, Apple is prioritising widescreen video – not vertical.
Despite experiments with vertical drama and Netflix dabbling in vertical formats, the industry appears to be backing widescreen video podcasts as the future.
Whichever way you look at it, video podcasting is happening.
If you want a leg up – including livestreaming – head to videopodcast.online.
Honestly, $80 is a steal.
Have a look at the opening shot of 9 News Queensland from Monday night.
A shot during the opening of 9NEWS Queensland with Melissa Downes and Joel Dry on Monday 16 February 2026
Beautiful set.
But in the bottom right-hand corner during the “big hello”? Make-up, tissues and general clutter sitting on a portable table.
A close up of the mess under the 9NEWS Queensland set visible every night
Every night.
It bothers me.
It’s such a slick set – and then there’s the mess.
Channel 9, please either push it out of frame or add a small set piece to hide it.
Am I being picky?
Probably.
But details matter.
What is the media’s role in politics?
Last week on 7.30 (yes, I still call it the 7.30 Report), Liberal MP Melissa Price suggested Sussan Ley had not received “full support” from much of the media before being deposed as Liberal leader.
“I think that, from the very beginning, she hasn’t had the full support of the party room. And dare I say, she hasn’t had the full support of much of the media either.”
When pressed for examples, Price couldn’t provide any.
Is she serious?
It is not the media’s job to support politicians.
It is the media’s job to report on them.
Report – not support.
Blaming the media for not “getting behind” Sussan Ley is a copout.
Leaks? That’s a different conversation.
But the media did not depose her.
The party room did.
I don’t just focus on what’s wrong in the media.
Sometimes it’s worth celebrating what’s done well.
This week, instead of “Sh*t I Just Don’t Care About,” here’s a tip of the hat.
Go and watch the latest 60 Minutes promo (included in the video version of Media McKnight at the top of this page).
A screenshot of the 60 Minutes promo, which you can see in full in the video player at the top of this article
You don’t often see promos that genuinely pull you in anymore.
This one does.
It makes 60 Minutes feel bigger than a once-a-week program. It positions it as a powerhouse news brand.
It highlights its history, its major interviews, its podcast presence, its YouTube success — and what’s coming next.
It ticks every box.
I mean it.
If I were still producing 7NEWS Spotlight promos, I would have watched that and thought: we need to lift our game.
That is a brilliant promo.
Media McKnight streams every Tuesday night at 9pm AEDT at YouTube.com/@McKnightTonight and the article is published on the TV Blackbox website every Wednesday morning.
Send your tips to [email protected]
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