Ground Up
| Ground Up | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Gary McCaffrie |
| Directed by | Wayne Hope |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
Ground Up is an Australian comedy series for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), premiering on 7 June 2026. Produced by Gristmill, the series focuses on the development of a football club and stadium in Tasmania, fronted by AFL administrator Hugh Shen (Sam Pang). Shen must win over a divided community, wrangle together a team, and manage his overly bureaucratic organisation.
Plot
The series follows Hobart-via-Melbourne AFL administrator Hugh Shen who has been tasked with establishing Tasmania's first-ever AFL team. He must face the uninterested and angry locals who are funding the $1.13 billion stadium with their taxes.[1][2]
Cast
In May 2026, the extended cast for the series was announced.[3]
- Sam Pang as Hugo Shen
- Emma Harvie as Destiny Pitt
- Dylan Murphy as Jameson
- Josh McConville as Alistair Penfold
- Lucy Durack as Angela Linscombe [4]
- Marg Downey as Catherine la Fontaine
Production
The series was first announced during ABC upfronts on 21 November 2025.[1] It was commissioned and financed by the public broadcaster in association with Screen Australia, VicScreen and Screen Tasmania.[1]
On 5 May 2026, ABC released the trailer for the series.[5]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original Release Date | iview Release Date | Viewers | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Offensive Pressure | 7 June 2026 | 7 June 2026 | 443,000 | [6] |
| 2 | Taking Territory | 11 June 2026 | 195,000 | [7] | |
| 3 | Too High | 21 June 2026 | TBA | ||
| 4 | Ins and Out | 28 June 2026 | TBA | ||
| 5 | Boundaries | 5 July 2026 | TBA | ||
| 6 | Contested Possession | 12 July 2026 | 14 June 2026 | TBA |
Release and reception
Ground Up premiered on ABC TV and was released on ABC iview on 7 June 2026.[8]
Reviewer from The Guardian Luke Buckmaster rated the series three stars out of five, calling the series "easily digestible", but not full of belly laughs.[9]
See also
- Utopia, an Australian comedy television series satirising government infrastructure and bureaucracy
- The Games, an Australian mockumentary television series satirising government corruption in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
References
- ^ a b c "Number 1 draft pick Sam Pang leads hilarious new ABC footy comedy". VicScreen. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ "Ground Up: Tasmania's $1.13 billion stadium saga becomes ABC comedy series". Pulse Tasmania. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ "Sam Pang leads all-star cast in new ABC comedy Ground Up". FilmInk. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ^ "AFL fan? You don't want to miss this show". The West Australian. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ^ Team, The IF (2026-05-05). "'Ground Up' (First Look)". IF Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ^ Molk, Steve (2026-06-08). "Sunday VOZ Ratings | AFL and a repeat of THE 1% CLUB AUSTRALIA give Seven a big win". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ^ Knox, David (2026-06-12). "Summer Bay's ratings run continues | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
- ^ Knox, David (5 May 2026). "Airdate: Ground Up". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (2026-06-07). "Ground Up review – Sam Pang stars in ABC's easily digestible AFL office comedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-07.