Channel Ten has dropped the axe on The Project, and as the South Yarra studio goes dark, many words have been written about the show’s impact on news and culture. But for me, a former head writer, the greatest loss will be felt by Aussie comedy. For 16 years, The Project has platformed comedy on-screen and behind the scenes, and its cancellation is nothing but bad news for those of us who make a career out of playing silly buggers.

Hunter Smith, a former head writer on The Project.Credit: Simon Schluter

On air, The Project’s commitment to comedy was plain to see. Every night the show featured at least one comic at the desk who was tasked with keeping things light, even when the news was dark. The comedy on The Project was like punctuation, allowing the panel to tackle the big issues and still get out on a laugh. Some days this was easier to achieve than others. I always felt for comics who made their desk debut on days dominated by bushfires or bombs.

Perched on the far left of the desk, it was the comic’s job to keep things interesting and to lob a few curveballs into the guest interviews. That guest chair was a welcoming spot for different voices, too. Multiple times each week, local and international comedians would drop by The Project desk to plug their stand-up, movies or podcasts. These chats resulted in thousands of hilarious moments and only one or two national scandals. In an age when our tastes are curated by the all-powerful algorithm, 6.30pm........

© Brisbane Times