Can Tony Armstrong Turn ABC's Big Swing into a Series? The Host of 'Always Was Tonight' Delivers a Bold and Controversial Satirical Special
January 22, 2026 — 3:54pm
In the promotional trailer for ABC's new satirical news show, 'Always Was Tonight', host Tony Armstrong promised a unique brand of comedy: "Black, cracked, and risking the sack." And he delivered.
The 30-minute special, timed around Australia Day (January 26), took on prominent figures like Sky News, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, and even the ABC itself. Armstrong, opening the show, humorously noted, "It's an honor to be the first black face fronting an ABC comedy show since Chris Lilley."
One of the show's highlights was Bjorn Stewart, from 'Black Comedy', playing the ambassador for White Australia, mocking events like the Adelaide Writers Festival and ABC staff meetings as examples of a "white corroboree."
The finale was a powerful rendition of 'I Still Call Australia Home' by children in prison, some wearing spit hoods, protesting Australia's low age of criminal responsibility and the reintroduction of spit hoods in NT youth detention.
This segment made Armstrong crack on air, saying, "I can't believe we're saying this on the telly." He expressed pride in the team's work, stating, "We didn't want to look back and regret not going further."
The special, a brainchild of executive producer Rowdie Walden, took six to seven months to produce. Armstrong credits Walden's persistence in pitching the idea to the ABC. With a talented cast, including Brooke Blurton from 'The Bachelorette', the show became a reality.
"We made this for ourselves, but we invited everyone to join. We wanted something we'd enjoy watching," Armstrong explained.
This show is a significant commission for the ABC, which has faced criticism for its recent programming, often seen as familiar and risk-averse, catering to older, white audiences. While the ABC has comparable shows like 'The Weekly with Charlie Pickering', it has been criticized for not nurturing new hosting talent or taking risks that might attract conservative commentators' ire.
The memory of Tom Ballard's 'Tonightly', axed in 2018, still haunts local comedians, who have called for more "radical, risk-taking" content.
However, Armstrong is optimistic that this special could evolve into a full series next year, a prospect he'd love to host. He emphasizes the importance of taking risks, especially in an era where younger audiences consume comedy and politics on social media.
"Red-hot takes always get more attention, and it's harder to achieve that with ABC guidelines and TV standards. You have to go all in and make a statement, or it's not interesting. I think the appetite for this kind of content grows when TV executives see it can work," Armstrong said.
Despite the special's modest TV audience of 261,000, compared to 'The Weekly's' 423,000, the show's fate isn't sealed. With its rewatchable gags and the ongoing discourse around January 26, the show has the potential to leave a lasting impact.
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