On New Year’s Eve, we look back at Australia’s TV bloopers in 2018

The pressure is on Charlie Pickering with tonight’s New Year’s Eve live coverage. But there have been other cringeworthy on-air fails in 2018 that we will remember forever.

New Year’s Eve live coverage in Australia is a notorious fail. Every. Single. Year.

Last year was touted as the ABC’s shot at redemption following a string of embarrassing gaffes over the years, with comedian Charlie Pickering assuming the hosting gig.

And while it seemed to be going well for the most part, Pickering finished off the telecast with one faux pas.

As he counted down to New Year, he said to the assembled crowd: “Are you ready to count down to the magical moment, the only time it’s OK to kill ... ah, kiss a police officer without asking?”

Viewers were quick to point out the awkward comment on social media.

“Feeling bad for Charlie Pickering right now. Maybe the worst gaffe of 2017, with 10 seconds to go. Happy new year Charlie. #SydNYE #NYEABC,” wrote one.

Pickering will be back this year alongside Zan Rowe in the lead up to the midnight fireworks, while Rove McManus will lead the way with hosting duties before the 9pm family fireworks.

Charlie Pickering’s on-air gaffe last year surprised viewers. Picture: ABC

In recent years, the coveted rights to air the midnight fireworks have been passed between Nine, Network Ten and ABC — but none of them ever seem to please everyone.

Ten’s turn at it in 2006 took a turn for the worst when Bert Newton’s famously controversial son, Matthew, simulated oral sex.

Nine won back the rights in 2009 and held onto them until 2012 when an error in judgment enraged Queensland viewers after the Sydney fireworks aired an hour after they happened.

ABC are in the hot seat with coverage again this year and there’s a lot of pressure on the broadcaster.

But while we sit back and countdown till midnight, here are some of the most awkward live TV fails this year.

MORE: Most controversial Aussie celebs of 2018

MORE: The losers of 2018 in politics, entertainment and sport

BERT NEWTON’S LOGIES GAFFE

Bert Newton at the 2018 Logies. Picture: Channel 9

Iconic entertainment identity Bert Newton had a shocker when he spoke onstage at this year’s Logies.

Presenting the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer at the 60th Logie Awards on the Gold Coast in July, Newton spoke of the man the honour was named after, joking about his penchant to mentor young people.

And in the #MeToo era, it fell very, very flat.

“Graham Kennedy was always the sort of man who nurtured young talent. He enjoyed giving young people a chance on television, he was a great mentor, he mentored a lot of young people,” the veteran Australian entertainer told the awards night.

“You knew if you went to his dressing room it was locked, he will be inside doing some mentoring. Don Lane was a mentor too.”

Newton was asked to clarify his remarks in the media room where he was pressed on what exactly he meant by the words.

“I was just referring to the fact that it was totally innocent as far as I’m concerned. But in fairness these days everything is jumped on but I’m not that sort of person I don’t mean anything untoward,” he said.

His comments raised eyebrows on social media, with TV commentator Andrew Mercado tweeting: “I suspect that is going to be Bert’s last ever appearance at the Logies.

“He will always be a legend. But that was just sad tonight.”

Another Twitter user, Steven George, said Newton’s performance “was like one of those awkward wedding speeches where you snatch the mic off the best man”.

WINTER OLYMPICS ‘RACIST’ COMMENTARY

Australian champion aerial skier and five time world champion Jacqui Cooper.

Legendary Aussie skier Jacqui Cooper made a seemingly ‘racist’ remark about Chinese athletes during Olympics coverage in February.

Channel Seven were forced to explain after the former Olympian, who was part of the Winter Olympic coverage team in PyeongChang, was slammed on social media after she said Chinese competitors“look the same” during the women’s aerials.

“Very Chinese,” Cooper said of competitor Yan Ting’s first jump.

”They all look the same, they’re very hard to tell who’s who.”

Seven defended the statement, saying Cooper was referring to the Chinese style of aerials and not their physical appearance.

Twitter quickly turned into a frenzy after the comment, with users lashing out at the mother, who represented Australia for 20 years.

“Did Jacqui Cooper really just say that all the Chinese athletes look the same? #7Olympics’ one listener wrote, while another said “Jacqui Cooper, I love you. But saying Chinese aerial skiers “look the same” is kinda racist.”

THE PROJECT PRODUCER STACKS IT LIVE

The Project hosts were left in tears of laughter when an unfortunate producer fell victim to an embarrassing moment helping out with a cheap gag by Peter Helliar.

Carrie Bickmore had just finished her ‘Good News’ segment, which delved into a heartwarming story about a man who knitted clothes for his pet chook. It was at its conclusion that Helliar rolled out his joke, which would ultimately have unexpected consequences.

“I’ve been inspired by that story to create my own (clothing) line,” he said,

“So I’d like you all to give it up for... the MOOKINI!”

Suddenly, a cow-suit wearing producer emerged from backstage, waving their arms in delight before taking a spectacular fall onto the floor behind the presenters’ desk.

While managing to quickly get back on their hoofs, it was all too much for hosts, who were all left cackling uncontrollably.

ABC’S ON AIR FAIL WITH MAKEUP ARTIST

Hmmm... Don't think the makeup artist is supposed to be in the shot. Picture: ABC

Tamara Oudyn was unimpressed she went to air a minute earlier than expected. Picture: ABC

An ABC newsreader was caught in an awkward moment earlier this month when a makeup artist was forced to rush off screen as the program went to air.

Victorian ABC newsreader Tamara Oudyn was having her hair touched up when she realised she was about to go to air for the 7pm bulletin.

Oudyn told the makeup artist to get out of shot before looking down the barrel of the camera and asking: ‘Can you jump out please? Jump out, hurry.’

The stylist was not quick enough, appearing in the live shot as she collected her beauty tools and ran off set. Oudyn was clearly unimpressed.

‘Are you kidding,’ the annoyed newsreader then said to the camera.

The Project made fun of the embarrassing gaffe on its program afterwards, replaying the clip, before abruptly cutting to Peter Helliar, who was in the middle of getting his makeup touched up.

TODAY SHOW ‘PUNCHING CONES’ DISASTER

Today weather reporter Natalia Cooper was lost for words when a tradie made a shock confession on live TV during a live cross.

Cooper was in Sydney’s Parramatta giving commuters $50 notes to “top up” their Opal cards during a segment in January.

She offered a tradie the cash before casually asking him how his Australia Day weekend was.

“What did you get up to?,” Cooper asked.

The man replied: “Punched a few cones”.

For those who don’t know, “cone” is a slang term for marijuana.

“Oh wow OK, we’ll just leave you there, all right,” a shocked Cooper said as she moved on.

The clip went viral around the world after it went to air.

FEDERAL MP’S AWKWARD SELFIE MOMENT

Fadden MP and Gold Coast-based Federal Coalition assistant treasurer Stuart Robert blunders his way through Sky News interview with Kieran Gilbert

Newly-minted Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert couldn’t appear to get anything right when he appeared on Sky News with presenter Kieran Gilbert

Seemingly unprepared for his live cross, the Liberal MP for the Queensland seat of Fadden was busted snapping a selfie. An incident that would leave others embarrassed, the minister miraculously managed to continue straight-faced.

But it wasn’t long before Mr Robert – who had spent more than two years on the backbench under Malcolm Turnbull - stumbled again, tripping over his economic terminology when he confused Australia debt with deficit, suggesting the country was $332 billion better off than it actually was.

It didn’t take Labor long to pounce on him, with the Opposition’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers labelling it as an “extraordinary gaffe”.

“Is it any wonder Scott Morrison describes his own government as a Muppet show when you have a treasury minister who can’t even tell the difference between debt and deficit?” Mr Chalmers said.