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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Ground Up" say to its date? You're the root of all my love.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ground Up
A man in a suit holding a screeching Tasmanian devil in his left hand, and an Australian rules football in his right. He is standing on turf next to the words Ground Up spray-painted in block letters on the field.
GenreComedy
Created byGary McCaffrie
Directed byWayne Hope
Starring
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes6
Production
Production locationMelbourne
Original release
NetworkABC
Release7 June 2026 (2026-06-07) –
present

Ground Up is an Australian comedy television series broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), that premiered on 7 June 2026. Produced by Gristmill,[clarification needed] the series focuses on the development of a football club and stadium in Tasmania, fronted by Australian Football League (AFL) administrator Hugh Shen (Sam Pang). Shen must win over a divided community, wrangle together a team, and manage his overly bureaucratic organisation.

Plot

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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

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In May 2026, the extended cast for the series was announced.[3]

Production

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The series was first announced during ABC upfronts on 21 November 2025.[6] It was commissioned and financed by the public broadcaster in association with Screen Australia, VicScreen and Screen Tasmania.[1] The series was filmed in Melbourne.[7]

On 5 May 2026, ABC released the trailer for the series.[8]

Episodes

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No. Title Original Release Date iview Release Date Viewers Ref
1 Offensive Pressure 7 June 2026 7 June 2026 443,000 [9]
2 Taking Territory 14 June 2026 370,000 [10]
3 Too High 18 June 2026 219,000 [11]
4 Ins and Out 28 June 2026 319,000 [12]
5 Boundaries 5 July 2026 TBA
6 Contested Possession 12 July 2026 14 June 2026 TBA

Release and reception

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Ground Up premiered on ABC TV and was released on ABC iview on 7 June 2026.[13]

Critic from The Guardian Luke Buckmaster rated the series three stars out of five, calling the series "easily digestible", but not full of belly laughs.[14]

Critic for The Sydney Morning Herald Paul Kalina rated the series two stars of five and said the series "is eager to please" but bemoaned the lack of creativity in its comedy material.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Number 1 draft pick Sam Pang leads hilarious new ABC footy comedy". VicScreen. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Ground Up: Tasmania's $1.13 billion stadium saga becomes ABC comedy series". Pulse Tasmania. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Sam Pang leads all-star cast in new ABC comedy Ground Up". FilmInk. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "AFL fan? You don't want to miss this show". The West Australian. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Actor Profile | Fletcher Humphrys". showcast.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Quinn, Karl (20 November 2025). "New comedies from Sam Pang and Kitty Flanagan announced as ABC reveals 2026 line-up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Knox, David (5 June 2026). "Sam Pang: "I never thought I'd get to work with any of the people I'm working with"". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 21 June 2026. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  8. ↑ The IF Team (5 May 2026). "'Ground Up' (First Look)". IF Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Molk, Steve (8 June 2026). "Sunday VOZ Ratings | AFL and a repeat of THE 1% CLUB AUSTRALIA give Seven a big win". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (15 June 2026). "Huge 3.04m viewers as Socceroos blitz Türkiye". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (19 June 2026). "FIFA World Cup dominates sport, Tipping Point best in entertainment". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  12. ↑ Knox, David (29 June 2026). "Farmer, 60 Mins battle on Sunday". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (5 May 2026). "Airdate: Ground Up". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (7 June 2026). "Ground Up review – Sam Pang stars in ABC's easily digestible AFL office comedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  15. ↑ Kalina, Paul (4 June 2026). "An ABC comedy about Tasmania's new AFL team should have worked. Instead, it's an own goal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
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