The Back Side of Television

The show was conceived after McTaggart lacked the airtime in The Last Year of Television to explore themes and topics that had emerged during research, saying "a year in television is never just a year. It’s always everything that’s come before... and so The Back Side of Television is all about how we got to where we are." Back Side explores the history of Australian television (predominantly focused on free-to-air) with long form criticism and analysis. == Format ==

Described as "an anti-clipshow", The Back Side of Television avoids nostalgia and discussion of well-known TV moments. McTaggart explained that we already see "Molly dying on A Country Practice... every five years." McTaggart presents clips from Australian television programmes, adding humorous commentary, sometimes described as "savage" and "bitchy". Supporting information such as archived newspapers, academic papers and government reports are also used to contribute to a larger argument or discussion. McTaggart describes the series approach as "more of a video essay presenting a case". Episodes usually contain three or four unconnected subjects, and can include program reviews, discussion of TV scandals or industry incompetence, or the long-term cultural effects of TV. Episodes occasionally focus on single topics, such children's programming or depictions of police corruption. Episodes can take months to put together, as the research can include manually looking through newspapers on microfilm. == Series overview ==

The first series originally aired on SBS Viceland in 2021, before moving to Binge from 2022 for its second series. In 2024, it was renewed for a third series. == Episodes ==

Series 1 (2021) Series 2 (2023) Series 3 (2025) == Reception ==

The series has received highly positive reviews. David Knox of TV Tonight called it "must see TV", Glen Humphries of The Canberra Times described it similarly as "the best show on TV", while noting the show's level of "serious research". The Sydney Morning Herald also observed the "labour-intensive" nature of the show, and describing McTaggart as a "kind-hearted cynic". Writing in Metro Magazine, Dr Liz Giuffre wrote the series is "a joy to watch and relive – and, perhaps, to google furiously in order to check whether what we’re seeing genuinely happened". Anthony Morris wrote in Screenhub that the series is "quick-witted, thoughtful and incisive, this is a thoroughly entertaining look at the bizarre and fatally flawed side of Australian television." Clare Rigden of The West Australian noted the series' distinction from other clip-focused shows The Cheap Seats and 20 to One, saying "this is neither of those things" while also adding "do not miss this show!" The third series in particular has been compared favourably to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, with Gloss Australia writing that "McTaggart isn't afraid to pull punches or lose any friends in the industry" and that the show is the "kind of TV that makes subscription streaming services worthwhile." In 2022, the series was nominated for an ATOM Award in the category Best Factual Television Series. In December 2025, Screenhub featured Back Side in the 5 best Australian TV series of 2025, shared jointly with The Last Year of Television. == See also ==