Channel 10 reveals the fate of Sam Pang’s late night show after lukewarm reception from critics

After a lukewarm reception from viewers and critics, Channel 10 has revealed the fate of Sam Pang’s attempt at late night success.

The fate of Sam Pang’s new late night talk show has been revealed by Channel 10.

Despite a lukewarm reception from critics upon its debut last month, Sam Pang Tonight will be returning to screens for a second run later this year, it’s been announced.

The variety-comedy show will return for another eight-episode run after delivering Network 10’s biggest new show launch since 2022.

Ratings for the show kicked off with a whopping high of 799,000, however, the latest episode dipped to a series low of 467,000.

Sam Pang Tonight will be returning. Picture: Supplied / Ten

“I’m thrilled to be coming back for Season 2. I’m very grateful to Channel 10 for their support and commitment to the show and giving me the opportunity to continue doing something I love,” Pang said in a statement.

Daniel Monaghan, Senior Vice President Content & Programming said: “It’s always a thrill to share a fresh new format with viewers, and we’re absolutely delighted with the success of Sam Pang Tonight.”

“Aussies are loving Sam’s signature comedy style so it’s no surprise Sam Pang Tonight was 10’s biggest new show launch since 2022. We’re excited to keep the laughs rolling with a second season confirmed for the back end of 2025.”

Pang and Network’s 10 big late night show gamble launched last month, but viewers were initially sceptical about its debut episode.

It marked the return of the late night format to screens for the first time in years, with no one managing to achieve success since Rove vanished from the airways in 2009.

Pang is a beloved comedian. Picture: Supplied / Ten

Pang is a beloved Aussie comedian and has made numerous appearances on panel shows over the years to great success, but some fans labelled the first show “awkward” and “stiff”, with many baffled by the decision to have movie icon Jack Thompson as his first guest.

“Feeling the awkwardness that is #SamPangTonight,” commented one viewer as a noticeably nervous Pang kept pausing to glance at his cue cards multiple times throughout the show.

A second unimpressed viewer remarked: “I don’t understand why they’ve started with this old bloke for the first episode of this show.”

“Hardly starting the show off with a bang, this really isn’t entertaining at all,” insisted a third.

Others were more hopeful, suggesting that it’s just first show nerves, tweeting: “Sam is a bit stiff in his delivery but this has promise!”

The current season of Sam Pang Tonight continues tonight at 8.40pm on 10 and 10 Play.