Network Ten's new light news program The 7PM Project made a solid TV ratings debut, but its future isn't assured after failing to impress viewers and critics.
Even co-host Dave Hughes doubted his own performance.
About 1.2 million Australians watched the show on Monday night, easily beating rivals Home and Away on the Seven Network, and US sitcom Two And A Half Men on Nine.
Hosted by Hughes, Charlie Pickering, James Mathison, Ruby Rose and Carrie Bickmore, Monday's episode featured MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin and British actress Sienna Miller.
Viewers took to social networking sites Twitter and Facebook to give their verdict.
While there was some positive feedback, most people were scathing, complaining about jokes falling flat, awkward chemistry and shaky camera work.
"My problem with The 7pm Project was the lack of a point. Jokes or news would be good. Neither is a problem," hughmility wrote on Twitter.
Another jasaretta described it as "Poor mans The Panel".
Hughes admitted he could've done better.
"Thought everyone did great on 7pm tonite, personally I need to chill, everytime I spoke I thought I was ruining my career," he said on Twitter.
"That's not healthy."
Industry news bulletin Mediaweek gave the program the thumbs down.
"Despite a week of rehearsals, the cast seemed to be unsure of who should be talking," it said.
"Carrie Bickmore kept looking like she'd start laughing reading the serious headlines.
"However the most unsettling thing was the camera work which kept moving around and cutting people in half."
"MTV's Ruby Rose was perhaps the highlight, but she only got a minute or two of airtime."
The program, produced by Roving Enterprises, is Ten's big ratings hope following the end of the first series of MasterChef Australia, which broke viewing records on Sunday when almost four million people tuned into the finale.
Last week, Pickering admitted the show was a risk but was confident of doing well.
"The success of shows like MasterChef and Your Generation have shown that the viewing audience like new ideas - they do want to give new things a go," Pickering told AAP.
Ten's head of programming David Mott signalled before its premiere they would give the show time to build, said Pickering.
"I think they (Ten) have been very kind and said they'll give us time to find our audience and build on it and we'll hold them to that," Pickering said.
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