When the Fever Breaks

Remember Fever Pitch? The ABC’s marginally-hyped new “live comedy sports show” that was… well, let’s let the press release explain:

Nicole Livingstone and Tegan Higginbotham to host new live comedy sport show on ABC

Wednesday, May 24, 2017 — Olympic champion and media all-rounder Nicole Livingstone and comedian Tegan Higginbotham have joined forces on Fever Pitch, a new one-hour live comedy sport panel show which will premiere on Friday, June 30 at 6pm (AEST) on ABC and ABC iview.

(you can find the rest of our thrilling coverage here)

One thing we’re sure you don’t remember is watching it last week, because it never went to air. So what happened? Well, a disastrous string of pre-launch bungles almost certainly didn’t help: first a wacky comedy press release was sent out then redacted, then the team were given a dry run during a minor soccer match only to discover that sports fans don’t enjoy comedians making fun of them and their hobby:

“Like many fans, FFA is disappointed with some aspects of the ABC’s broadcast of the Sydney FC v Liverpool FC match last night,” A-League’s official twitter account tweeted.

We’ve since heard – from someone who read it in The Herald-Sun – that Fever Pitch has been dumped. Well, kinda: the ABC now has a new and very similar-sounding show titled The Sidelinders lined up for debut later this month. In fact, we’d go so far as to say it’s going to be the exact same show – it definitely features the exact same hosts:

Last night was pretty special. We shot the first @Sideliners pilot and had the best time. The audience, guests and crew were all incredible. pic.twitter.com/wfSeIHjix4

— Tegan Higginbotham (@TeganMH) June 30, 2017

Look for it July 21st at 6pm.