# The Cheap Seats

The Cheap Seats is an Australian comedy panel television show on Network 10, which premiered on 20 July 2021. The Cheap Seats features selected clips of the previous week's news and television shows accompanied with humorous commentary delivered by the hosts. The show returned for a second season on 26 April 2022, and a third season on 9 May 2023. Season 4 premiered on 30 April 2024. On 16 September 2024, the show announced on Instagram its return for season 5, premiering in 2025.

## Hosts

The Cheap Seats is hosted by Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. Segments are co-hosted by presenters including Mel Tracina on entertainment and Titus O'Reily on sport, however since May 2023, O'Reily has taken an extended break from the show for an undisclosed period of time.

## Recurring segments

* Entertainment: Mel Tracina talks about events which occurred in entertainment during the week.
* Sport: Rotating guests, formerly including correspondent Titus O'Reily, talk about events that occurred in sport during the week.
* Across the Ditch: Unusual news from New Zealand.
* Archipelago of Love Islands: Mel Tracina shares the funniest moments from international versions of Love Island.
* What's on What's on in the Warehouse: The hosts comment on out of context clips from the show What's on in the Warehouse, created by Australian pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse to promote its products.
* Pacific Update Update: The hosts comment on clips from the TVNZ news show, Pacific Update.
* Crop This!: Unusual tidbits from the world of gardening, usually featuring reports by Seven News reporter, Penny McKinlay.
* Mel's markets: Funny news relating to the financial market.
* Pencil it in: The hosts highlight strange and unusual events taking place across Australia
* Crime Time: Lighthearted and funny clips of minor crimes across Australia.
* House of Bracewellness: The hosts comment on clips from the Seven Network morning lifestyle show, House of Wellness.
* Reporter of the Week: Introduced in 2023, Mel and Tim recognise a reporter who has been funny, surprising, or overly dedicated in the past week.
* Regional Roundup: The hosts highlight unusual news and events that are taking place in regional towns around Australia.

## Episodes

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 19 | 19 | 20 July 2021 (2021-07-20) | 23 November 2021 (2021-11-23) |
| 2 | 30 | 30 | 26 April 2022 (2022-04-26) | 15 November 2022 (2022-11-15) |
| 3 | 30 | 30 | 9 May 2023 (2023-05-09) | 28 November 2023 (2023-11-28) |
| 4 | 30 | 30 | 30 April 2024 (2024-04-30) | 19 November 2024 (2024-11-19) |

### Season 1 (2021)

| No. overall | No. in season | Guest(s) | Original release date | AUS. viewers (thousands) |
| 1 | 1 | None | 20 July 2021 (2021-07-20) | 460 |
| 2 | 2 | Angella Dravid | 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) | 286 |
| 3 | 3 | Josh Earl & Ruby Tui | 3 August 2021 (2021-08-03) | 255 |
| 4 | 4 | Harry Garside | 10 August 2021 (2021-08-10) | 313 |
| 5 | 5 | Rachel Fairburn & Kez McGee | 17 August 2021 (2021-08-17) | 325 |
| 6 | 6 | Urzila Carlson | 24 August 2021 (2021-08-24) | 321 |
| 7 | 7 | Dilruk Jayasinha | 31 August 2021 (2021-08-31) | 348 |
| 8 | 8 | Marie Chandler & Lloyd Langford | 7 September 2021 (2021-09-07) | 305 |
| 9 | 9 | Osher Günsberg | 14 September 2021 (2021-09-14) | 324 |
| 10 | 10 | Chas Licciardello | 21 September 2021 (2021-09-21) | 358 |
| 11 | 11 | Dave Hughes | 28 September 2021 (2021-09-28) | 326 |
| 12 | 12 | Lana Murphy & Tony Martin | 5 October 2021 (2021-10-05) | 370 |
| 13 | 13 | Nina Oyama & Nath Valvo | 12 October 2021 (2021-10-12) | 330 |
| 14 | 14 | Chloë McCardel & Nate Byrne | 19 October 2021 (2021-10-19) | 368 |
| 15 | 15 | Archie Thompson | 26 October 2021 (2021-10-26) | 358 |
| 16 | 16 | Naomi Higgins | 2 November 2021 (2021-11-02) | 402 |
| 17 | 17 | Laura McGoldrick | 9 November 2021 (2021-11-09) | 391 |
| 18 | 18 | Myf Warhurst | 16 November 2021 (2021-11-16) | 358 |
| 19 | 19 | Natasha Exelby | 23 November 2021 (2021-11-23) | 361 |

### Season 2 (2022)

| No. overall | No. in season | Guest(s) | Original release date | AUS. viewers (thousands) |
| 20 | 1 | Nath Valvo | 26 April 2022 (2022-04-26) | 342 |
| 21 | 2 | Denise Scott & Jarrod James Bingham | 3 May 2022 (2022-05-03) | 340 |
| 22 | 3 | Dilruk Jayasinha | 10 May 2022 (2022-05-10) | 360 |
| 23 | 4 | Ash London | 17 May 2022 (2022-05-17) | 378 |
| 24 | 5 | Alex Dyson | 24 May 2022 (2022-05-24) | 325 |
| 25 | 6 | Archie Thompson | 31 May 2022 (2022-05-31) | 360 |
| 26 | 7 | Adam Bandt | 7 June 2022 (2022-06-07) | 394 |
| 27 | 8 | Ryan Moloney | 14 June 2022 (2022-06-14) | 383 |
| 28 | 9 | Tony Martin | 21 June 2022 (2022-06-21) | 429 |
| 29 | 10 | Gen Fricker | 28 June 2022 (2022-06-28) | 414 |
| 30 | 11 | Costa Georgiadis | 5 July 2022 (2022-07-05) | 387 |
| Note: Emma Holland replaced Tim McDonald as host. |||||
| 31 | 12 | Felicity Ward | 12 July 2022 (2022-07-12) | 396 |
| 32 | 13 | Matt Agnew | 19 July 2022 (2022-07-19) | 396 |
| 33 | 14 | Karla Lopez | 26 July 2022 (2022-07-26) | 395 |
| 34 | 15 | Nicole Livingstone | 2 August 2022 (2022-08-02) | 357 |
| 35 | 16 | Maeve Plouffe & Sam Garlepp | 9 August 2022 (2022-08-09) | 387 |
| 36 | 17 | Abbie Chatfield & Sam Garlepp | 16 August 2022 (2022-08-16) | 386 |
| 37 | 18 | Ray O'Leary & Shane "Stone Cold" Van Styn | 23 August 2022 (2022-08-23) | 357 |
| 38 | 19 | Osher Günsberg | 30 August 2022 (2022-08-30) | 268 |
| 39 | 20 | Myf Warhurst & Beth Lee-Crowther | 6 September 2022 (2022-09-06) | 290 |
| 40 | 21 | Nazeem Hussain | 13 September 2022 (2022-09-13) | 332 |
| 41 | 22 | – | 20 September 2022 (2022-09-20) | 291 |
| 42 | 23 | Jonathan Van Ness | 27 September 2022 (2022-09-27) | 301 |
| 43 | 24 | Concetta Caristo & Adam Rozenbachs | 4 October 2022 (2022-10-04) | 330 |
| 44 | 25 | Adam Rozenbachs & Daniel Doody | 11 October 2022 (2022-10-11) | 332 |
| 45 | 26 | Bill Bailey & Jo Weston | 18 October 2022 (2022-10-18) | 319 |
| 46 | 27 | Rob Mills | 25 October 2022 (2022-10-25) | 318 |
| 47 | 28 | Michael Hing | 1 November 2022 (2022-11-01) | 338 |
| 48 | 29 | Dane Simpson | 8 November 2022 (2022-11-08) | 324 |
| 49 | 30 | Sam Pang | 15 November 2022 (2022-11-15) | 343 |

### Season 3 (2023)

| No. overall | No. in season | Guest(s) | Original release date | AUS. viewers (thousands) |
| 50 | 1 | Sheldon Riley | 9 May 2023 (2023-05-09) | 365 |
| 51 | 2 | Mel Buttle | 16 May 2023 (2023-05-16) | 399 |
| 52 | 3 | Miguel Maestre | 23 May 2023 (2023-05-23) | 384 |
| 53 | 4 | Gina Chick | 30 May 2023 (2023-05-30) | 388 |
| Note: Archie Thompson replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 54 | 5 | Susie Youssef | 6 June 2023 (2023-06-06) | 379 |
| Note: James Colley replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 55 | 6 | Celia Pacquola | 13 June 2023 (2023-06-13) | 395 |
| Note: Ed Kavalee replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 56 | 7 | Santo Cilauro & Natalie Tran | 20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) | 351 |
| Note: Georgie Tunny replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 57 | 8 | Bridget Hustwaite | 27 June 2023 (2023-06-27) | 357 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 58 | 9 | Tom Cashman | 4 July 2023 (2023-07-04) | 375 |
| Note: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 59 | 10 | Robert Irwin & Zachary Ruane | 11 July 2023 (2023-07-11) | 340 |
| 60 | 11 | David Craig & Barbie cast (Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Issa Rae & America Ferrera) | 18 July 2023 (2023-07-18) | 352 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 61 | 12 | Aesha Scott | 25 July 2023 (2023-07-25) | 328 |
| Note: Ben Lomas replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 62 | 13 | Matt Agnew | 1 August 2023 (2023-08-01) | 386 |
| Note: Damien Fleming replaced Titus O’Reilly as sports correspondent. Emma Holland replaced Melanie Bracewell as host of episodes 12 and 13 due to the latter performing at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, however Bracewell made a cameo appearance in episode 13 via satellite. |||||
| 63 | 14 | Tara Rushton & Jo Weston | 8 August 2023 (2023-08-08) | 265 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 64 | 15 | Annie Louie | 15 August 2023 (2023-08-15) | 317 |
| Note: Amy Chapman replaced Titus O’Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 65 | 16 | Adam Liaw & Miguel Maestre | 22 August 2023 (2023-08-22) | 282 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 66 | 17 | Chas Licciardello | 29 August 2023 (2023-08-29) | 293 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 67 | 18 | Leigh Sales | 5 September 2023 (2023-09-05) | 340 |
| Note: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 68 | 19 | Ray O'Leary | 12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) | 330 |
| Note: Georgie Tunny replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 69 | 20 | Anthony Albanese & Concetta Caristo | 19 September 2023 (2023-09-19) | 306 |
| 70 | 21 | Nath Valvo | 26 September 2023 (2023-09-26) | 325 |
| Note: Emma Holland replaced Tim McDonald as host; Ed Kavalee replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 71 | 22 | Dylan Alcott | 3 October 2023 (2023-10-03) | 310 |
| Note: Emma Holland replaced Tim McDonald as host; Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 72 | 23 | Costa Georgiadis | 10 October 2023 (2023-10-10) | 291 |
| Note: Lizzy Hoo replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 73 | 24 | Rhys Nicholson | 17 October 2023 (2023-10-17) | 335 |
| Note: Max Rushden replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 74 | 25 | Murray Cook | 24 October 2023 (2023-10-24) | 371 |
| Note: Lydia Lassila replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 75 | 26 | Cameron James | 31 October 2023 (2023-10-31) | 350 |
| Note: Merrick Watts replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 76 | 27 | Phil Wang & Catherine Cohen | 7 November 2023 (2023-11-07) | 368 |
| 77 | 28 | Richard Osman | 14 November 2023 (2023-11-14) | 348 |
| 78 | 29 | Anna Polyviou | 21 November 2023 (2023-11-21) | 339 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 79 | 30 | Andy Lee | 28 November 2023 (2023-11-28) | 350 |

### Season 4 (2024)

| No. overall | No. in season | Guest(s) | Original release date | Australia viewers (thousands) |
| 80 | 1 | Joel Creasey | 30 April 2024 (2024-04-30) | 450 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O’Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 81 | 2 | Bron Lewis | 7 May 2024 (2024-05-07) | 465 |
| Note: Bianca Chatfield replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 82 | 3 | Poh Ling Yeow | 14 May 2024 (2024-05-14) | 508 |
| Note: Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 83 | 4 | Andrea Crothers | 21 May 2024 (2024-05-21) | 492 |
| Note: Merrick Watts replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 84 | 5 | Myf Warhurst | 28 May 2024 (2024-05-28) | 532 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 85 | 6 | Jimmy Barnes | 4 June 2024 (2024-06-04) | 540 |
| Note: Tara Rushton replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 86 | 7 | Jenny Tian | 11 June 2024 (2024-06-11) | 489 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 87 | 8 | Alexa Leary | 18 June 2024 (2024-06-18) | 534 |
| Note: Damien Fleming replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 88 | 9 | Luke McGregor | 25 June 2024 (2024-06-25) | 531 |
| Note: Georgie Tunny replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 89 | 10 | Tony Armstrong | 2 July 2024 (2024-07-02) | 499 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 90 | 11 | Anna Meares & Lana Walters | 9 July 2024 (2024-07-09) | 448 |
| 91 | 12 | Miguel Maestre | 16 July 2024 (2024-07-16) | 461 |
| Note: Ben Lomas replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 92 | 13 | Urvi Majumdar | 23 July 2024 (2024-07-23) | 448 |
| Note: Broden Kelly replaced Titus O’Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 93 | 14 | Angela Bishop & Emily Seebohm | 30 July 2024 (2024-07-30) | 303 |
| Note: Mel Tracina replaced Melanie Bracewell as co-host; Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 94 | 15 | Steven Quartermain & Nicolette Minister | 6 August 2024 (2024-08-06) | 293 |
| Note: Mel Tracina replaced Melanie Bracewell as co-host; Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 95 | 16 | Ray Martin & Andrea Crothers | 13 August 2024 (2024-08-13) | 466 |
| Note: Georgie Tunny replaced Melanie Bracewell as co-host. |||||
| 96 | 17 | Hamish Blake, Nina Kennedy & Matthew Denny | 20 August 2024 (2024-08-20) | 442 |
| Note: Julia Zemiro replaced Melanie Bracewell as co-host. |||||
| 97 | 18 | Larry Emdur & Bron Lewis | 27 August 2024 (2024-08-27) | 462 |
| Note: Celia Pacquola replaced Melanie Bracewell as co-host; Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 98 | 19 | Ray O'Leary & Sharyn Ghidella | 3 September 2024 (2024-09-03) | 399 |
| 99 | 20 | Daria Saville | 10 September 2024 (2024-09-10) | 462 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 100 | 21 | Allan Raskall | 17 September 2024 (2024-09-17) | 416 |
| 101 | 22 | Tim Minchin | 24 September 2024 (2024-09-24) | 422 |
| Note: Broden Kelly replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 102 | 23 | Romesh Ranganathan | 1 October 2024 (2024-10-01) | 431 |
| Note: Lavender Baj replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 103 | 24 | David M. Green | 8 October 2024 (2024-10-08) | 420 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 104 | 25 | Andrea Crothers | 15 October 2024 (2024-10-15) | 429 |
| Note: Bobby Macumber replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 105 | 26 | Bill Bailey | 22 October 2024 (2024-10-22) | 393 |
| 106 | 27 | Stephen Fry & Saya Sakakibara | 29 October 2024 (2024-10-29) | 472 |
| 107 | 28 | Eric Idle | 5 November 2024 (2024-11-05) | 403 |
| Note: Adam Rozenbachs replaced Titus O'Reilly as sports correspondent. |||||
| 108 | 29 | Merrick Watts | 12 November 2024 (2024-11-12) | 397 |
| 109 | 30 | Tom Gleisner & Dr. Louise Mahler | 19 November 2024 (2024-11-19) | 436 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2022 | Logie Awards of 2022 | Most Popular New Talent | Melanie Bracewell | Nominated |
| 2022 | Logie Awards of 2022 | Most Popular Comedy Program | The Cheap Seats | Nominated |
| 2023 | Logie Awards of 2023 | Most Outstanding Entertainment Program | The Cheap Seats | Won |