Comedy Festival Gala

ABC, 8.40pm

As is generally the case, the big opening bash of the Melbourne Comedy Festival was sold out more than a month in advance so if you want to actually see it, this is how. Once again the national broadcaster is a major media partner so there'll be a bunch of highlights from the festival on the telly throughout the next month, but it all kicks off with this monster variety show. Nazeem Hussain, Tommy Little, Paul Foot, DeAnne Smith, Becky Lucas and Rhys Nicholson are among the national and international stars but perhaps the most exciting news is that the host this year is the incomparable Tom Gleeson.