The Cheap Seats: Season 5, Episode 23 - September 30th, 2025 (2025)

The episode "September 30th, 2025," Season 5, Episode 23 of The Cheap Seats opens with hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald introducing the show from their studio, setting the tone for a comedic review of the week's news and viral moments. They are joined by regular contributor Mel Tracina, comedian Tom Walker, and iconic weather presenter Peter Murphy, who each bring their unique perspectives to the discussion.

The first segment focuses on a viral news story involving a controversial escalator incident. Melanie and Tim humorously dissect footage showing Melania Trump narrowly avoiding a fall on a sharp-edged escalator, joking about the potential dangers and the media frenzy that followed. They highlight the absurdity of the situation by referencing a forensic examination conducted on the escalator to check for "orange fingerprints," a satirical nod to conspiracy theories. The hosts mimic a mock investigation, complete with exaggerated seriousness and playful banter, emphasizing the comedic nature of the segment.

Next, the show transitions to entertainment news with Mel Tracina presenting highlights from the week's celebrity events and gossip. She shares clips and commentary on various happenings, including a segment called "Archipelago of Love Islands," where she humorously reviews moments from popular island dating shows like Love Island and FBoy Island. This sequence includes Mel's witty observations and playful critiques of contestants' behavior, adding levity to the entertainment roundup.

Following this, the hosts shift to sports coverage, featuring rotating guests who discuss recent sports events with a comedic twist. In this episode, the conversation includes a memorable moment for Lions supporters, described as beautiful and exciting, though the hosts also inject humor by downplaying the significance in a lighthearted manner. The sports segment includes clips, jokes, and playful analysis, maintaining the show's signature blend of humor and commentary.

The episode then moves into a series of shorter, recurring segments. These include "What's on in the Warehouse," where the hosts comment on out-of-context clips from a promotional show by Chemist Warehouse, and "Crop This!," featuring unusual gardening news reported by Seven News reporter Penny McKinlay. Each segment is presented with quick-witted remarks and humorous insights, keeping the pace lively and engaging.

A notable part of the episode is the "Reporter of the Week" segment, where Melanie and Tim recognize a reporter who stood out for being funny, surprising, or overly dedicated during the past week. This segment includes clips showcasing the reporter's work, accompanied by the hosts' comedic commentary and appreciation.

Throughout the episode, the hosts frequently interact with their guests, exchanging jokes and reactions that highlight their chemistry and comedic timing. The show concludes with a "Regional Roundup," spotlighting unusual news and events from regional towns across Australia, followed by closing remarks from Melanie and Tim, who thank the guests and viewers for joining them.

The episode maintains a consistent structure of reviewing the week's news, entertainment, and sports with humor and satire, using a mix of video clips, guest contributions, and scripted comedy. There are no dramatic plot twists or confrontations; instead, the episode's progression relies on the hosts' and guests' comedic interpretations of current events, culminating in a lighthearted and entertaining wrap-up of the week.

The ending of The Cheap Seats, Season 5, Episode 23 ("September 30th, 2025") features the hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald wrapping up their comedic review of the week's news and events with their usual humorous commentary, joined by Mel Tracina and special guests. The episode concludes on a lighthearted note, emphasizing the show's signature blend of satire and entertainment without any dramatic plot resolution, as it is a comedy news recap format.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The final segment begins with Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald seated in their studio, exchanging witty banter about the most absurd and amusing news stories from the past week. Their tone is playful and irreverent, maintaining the show's comedic style. Mel Tracina joins them, adding her perspective on entertainment news, contributing to the lively discussion.

As the episode progresses, the hosts highlight a particularly quirky story involving an escalator incident, joking about the sharp steel edges and the potential for mishaps, weaving in satirical remarks about political figures and forensic investigations. This segment showcases the show's approach to blending current events with humor, using exaggerated scenarios to entertain the audience.

The conversation shifts to sports and other unusual news items, with the hosts and guests riffing on the week's highlights. The camaraderie among the hosts is evident, with each contributing their unique comedic style. The episode maintains a fast pace, moving through various topics with quick, punchy commentary.

In the closing moments, Melanie and Tim thank their guests and viewers, reflecting briefly on the week's events with a humorous twist. There is no traditional narrative closure or character fate to resolve, as the show is structured as a topical comedy review rather than a scripted drama. The episode ends with the hosts signing off, promising to return with more laughs and insights in the next installment.

Regarding the fate of the main participants at the end of the episode:

• Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald remain the central hosts, continuing their roles as comedic commentators.
• Mel Tracina, as a recurring entertainment correspondent, concludes her segment and remains part of the show's ensemble.
• Special guests such as Tom Walker and Peter Murphy participate in the episode but do not have ongoing narrative arcs to conclude.

Since The Cheap Seats is a comedy news show rather than a narrative drama, the "ending" is essentially the conclusion of the episode's topical commentary, with no character arcs or storylines resolved beyond the humor and satire presented throughout.

The episode titled "September 30th, 2025," which is Season 5, Episode 23 of The Cheap Seats, does not have any publicly documented information indicating the presence of a post-credit scene. Available sources including IMDb, Paramount+, and episode summaries do not mention or describe any post-credit content for this episode.

Therefore, based on the current detailed episode information and official streaming descriptions, there is no known post-credit scene in this episode.

In the episode, the hosts focus on a viral news story where Donald Trump and Melania Trump were seen on an escalator, with commentators exaggerating the danger of the sharp steel edges. The segment humorously highlights how the incident was blown out of proportion, with jokes about the supposed risk of assassination and a forensic examination of the escalator for 'orange fingerprints.' The hosts mock the media's overreaction and the absurdity of the situation, turning it into a comedic centerpiece of the show.

This episode features several recurring segments, including 'Entertainment' with Mel Tracina discussing celebrity news, 'Sport' with guest Tom Walker covering recent sporting events, and 'Regional Roundup' highlighting unusual stories from regional Australia. The hosts also include 'Crop This!' with gardening tidbits, 'Crime Time' with lighthearted crime clips, and 'Pencil It In' for strange events. Each segment is punctuated with the hosts' signature comedic commentary, focusing on specific, quirky news items from the week.

The hosts react with a mix of disbelief and humor to a viral clip of a child reciting pre-written lines, calling it 'appalling' yet also acknowledging it as a 'beautiful moment' for those involved. Their commentary oscillates between mocking the artificiality of the scene and finding genuine amusement in the child's earnest delivery, reflecting their style of finding comedy in both the absurd and the heartfelt.

The forensic examination of the escalator serves as a satirical device in the episode, symbolizing the media's tendency to overanalyze and sensationalize minor incidents. The hosts joke about investigators searching for 'orange fingerprints' and mock the idea that such a routine event could be treated as a major investigation. This segment underscores the show's theme of poking fun at media hysteria and the exaggeration of everyday occurrences.

Guest contributors in this episode include Mel Tracina, who covers entertainment news, comedian Tom Walker, who discusses sports, and iconic weather presenter Peter Murphy, who adds commentary to various segments. Each guest brings their unique comedic perspective to the stories, engaging in banter with hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald and contributing to the episode's lively, ensemble-driven humor.

The TV show "The Cheap Seats," including Season 5, Episode 23 ("September 30th, 2025"), is generally a comedic clip show that humorously reviews news, viral videos, and entertainment stories with lighthearted banter by hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. It is designed as a fun, satirical take on current events without mean-spiritedness.

Regarding family-friendliness, the show is typically rated M in Australia, indicating it is recommended for mature audiences. This suggests it may contain material not suitable for young children. Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers could include:

• Mild to moderate profanity or coarse language, as the humor often involves casual banter and jokes about news stories.
• Some satirical or sarcastic humor that might be misunderstood or seem edgy to younger viewers.
• Possible references to alcohol or smoking, though not in a glorifying way.
• Occasional intense or surprising news clips or viral videos that might be unsettling, depending on the week's content.

There is no indication of explicit sex, nudity, or graphic violence in the show, and the tone is generally light and comedic rather than frightening or intense. However, because the show comments on real-world news and viral content, some segments might touch on sensitive topics in a humorous context, which could be upsetting for very young or sensitive children.

In summary, "The Cheap Seats" Season 5, Episode 23 is best suited for older children, teens, and adults who can appreciate satirical humor and understand the context of news parody. Parents should consider the M rating and the nature of topical humor when deciding if it is appropriate for younger or sensitive viewers.