Will 7pm find it's feet?

The 7pm Project is becoming a rather frustrating 30 minutes. There is so much potential there for a really entertaining, not-so-serious look at news events - yet every night they run well short of the mark.

Firstly, Carrie reads the serious news items with a smirk on her face that suggests she might burst out laughing any second. Unfortunately her work on Rove is what she's most well known for, so it's difficult to take her seriously.

The 'state roundup' where the panel crosses to correspondents around Australia is very hit and miss - some of the correspondents are hilarious, others are cringe-worthy beyond belief (Hans from Perth is particularly bad).

In fact, it seems generally on the show that everyone chosen to comment or be interviewed has been slipped a valium before going to air - the Paxton-esque unemployed girl, the young woman and her mother reunited with their dog, the fat girl who's boyfriend dumped her ... need I go on?

Then there's the other end of the stick with commentators being overly opinionated. Examples include the parking infringement officer (who made a completely out of line sexual advance at the young Ruby Rose) and ex swim coach Laurie Lawrence - both of whom were raving lunatics given too much rope.

The reason for this? The panelists aren't very good at interviewing - they're asking closed questions (questions that can be answered with yes or no) and are having to ride the awkward silence when the guests respond with one word.

Dave Hughes also has a knack of answering the question in the question, eg. "So you're pretty happy to have you're dog back, aren't you?" - it doesn't exactly call for a detailed response with expressions of heartfelt emotions does it?

Then again, Dave Hughes isn't a journalist so he can be excused, however Carrie doesn't get off so easily. I don't know what Charlie Pickering is or does (besides pontificate with an elitist air of self-satisfaction) and Ruby Rose shouldn't be on the show at all.

James Matheison is still the saving grace of the piece. Tonight he made what would have otherwise been an absolute fizzer (the reunion of the shy teenager with her clearly sedated dog) into a funny little piece.

I'm still holding out hope for it but there are so many bleedingly obvious things that could make the 7pm Project better - pre-recorded interviews for example, or maybe just having a chat beforehand to ascertain whether the people you're putting to air are actually interesting?

- Oh, and ditch the Skype 'voice of the people' bit - there's a reason some people don't have a voice.

7pm Verdict

I thought I'd wait til at least night 2 to cast judgement on channel 10's news/talks program The 7pm Project. Overall I think it's good. Dave Hughes and Carrie Bickmore have a comfortable rapport and Charlie Pickering is quick-witted and generally charming - unfortunately he made a comment last night that irked me; when discussing a pair of gay penguins, he referred to one of the male penguins developing a relationship with a female penguin rather than a male as "how things should be". Considering that gay rights are being fought tooth and nail at the moment this sort of ignorance bothers me intensely. Since then, he's getting on my nerves a little bit - what can you do?

Ruby Rose is awkward and punching above her weight - but she might grow into the role. And last but not least; James Matheison - he is the dark horse in this ensemble cast - he's funny, sarcastic, naughty but nice and oh so likeable. Night one he was in studio and was being left high and dry by the rest of the panel - but tonight he really shone on location with Masterchef winner Julie - he was cracking jokes with the family and working well under pressure. I look forward to seeing him develop outside the scripted host format of Australian Idol.

Overall the show's not amazing, but then it's not altogether terrible either. I'm interested to see where it goes and how the cast develop as a team. It's night one ratings were good (of course it remains to be seen if viewers come back for more) and I'm generally happy with any program that takes viewers away from that vaccuous abyss that is Two and a Half Men.

Hughesy's Pickering Roses ...

Alright so that's a really bad pun - mainly on account of the fact the new show channel 10 has lined up for 7pm weeknights will also feature Carrie Bickmore and James Matheison.

The 7pm Project will be hosted by Dave Hughes and Charlie Pickering and will be a (hopefully) humurous look at the news of the day. (It will also star MTV's Ruby Rose - hence the post-title gag ... get it?)

Supposedly there will be a lot of viewer participation in the show and guest comedians. It's being made by Mr McManus' Roving Enterprises and channel 10 have made a 52 week commitment on this ship so let's hope it floats.

I'm just glad there is something that might take some ratings away from the abhorrent crime-against-humanity that is Two and a Half Men.