Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire have kicked off their new radio partnership with a light-hearted swipe at Kyle Sandilands during their first show together on Friday.
The veteran broadcasters launched The Long Weekend across the Gold Network, marking Stefanovic’s first major move into radio alongside the former AFL commentator and television personality.
Within minutes of going to air, the pair referenced the ongoing fallout surrounding The Kyle & Jackie O Show, which was previously broadcast by ARN, the former parent company of Gold FM.
Stefanovic joked he was disappointed by the lack of a signature microphone waiting for him in the studio.
“I was half expecting, even though I’ve never done radio before, a gold microphone. No gold microphone?” Stefanovic said.
When anchor Toni Tenaglia replied that there was one elsewhere in the building, Stefanovic continued the joke.
“Can someone get me that gold microphone? Is that part of the legal thing?” he said.
The comment appeared to reference Sandilands’ legal dispute with ARN following the axing of The Kyle & Jackie O Show.
McGuire quickly stepped in with his own joke.
“That’s going down like a lead balloon out there,” McGuire joked.
“We might start with an astrology segment.”
The remark referenced the widely publicised on-air clash between Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson earlier this year, which centred on an astrology discussion and preceded the show’s collapse.
The Kyle and Jackie O Show was axed by ARN after the co-hosts had an explosive on-air fallout on February 20 and Sandilands was sacked over a “breach of contract”.
While Sandilands has admitted to being tough on his former co-worker, his lawyers have argued that KIIS FM encouraged his behaviour because the material made the network money.
Henderson is claiming her dismissal breached workplace rights as she was fired after bringing up workplace safety concerns.
Sandilands is suing his former employer for up to $88 million and claiming he was unfairly dismissed after his $100 million, 10-year contract was terminated by the network.
ARN has filed a counterclaim against the former radio duo, alleging they breached their 10-year contracts, resulting in the network losing advertising revenue.
The trial is set to start on October 12 at the Federal Court and will span two weeks.
The new program with Stefanovic and McGuire promises a mix of news, sport and entertainment, airing nationally on Friday afternoons.
For their first broadcast, Stefanovic and McGuire covered the FIFA World Cup and spoke with former Socceroo Robbie Slater.
Australian basketball star Josh Giddey also joined the pair, while entrepreneur and former footballer Nick Stone appeared as a guest.