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Good News Week first went to air on April 12 1996 and it got off to a shaky start. At the end of '96 it looked as if it might become a victim to the ABC's budget cuts, but because of the huge backlash from it's loyal viewers, it made it into 1997.

Good News Week is a 'gameshow', with two teams of two guests each, led by Mikey Robins and Julie McCrossin. Both teams are given clues regarding a recent news story, and they have to try and get as many points as possible. Paul describes his job as "judge, jury and executioner." Paul awards the points to the teams for not only accuracy, but for creative stretching of the truth. Julie described his scoring as "just like life. It's unfair, (and) it's indiscriminate".

The concept behind GNW is not a new one. In fact, it began in Britain, with a show called "Have I Got News For You", and Ted Robinson, GNW's producer, came back from England and decided Australia needed it's own version. He approached the ABC with the idea, and pitched the idea of having Paul McDermott host it. The ABC were reluctant to take on Paul, who had been running loose since the Doug Anthony Allstars split a few years earlier, they had never had a dreadlocked host on the show before! But, Ted persisted, and they finally agreed, so he got Paul in, who had promptly cut off his dreadlocks, much to Ted's horror. Mikey Robins was brought in as one team captain, and Anthony Ackroyd was the second captain for several weeks, but it was a few months in before Julie McCrossin was chosen as the second permanent team captain.

Good News Week has a skilled team of writers, and Paul himself has little control over the writing of the show, and of what goes to air, his unique style of delivery has won the show a legion of fans and tremendous praise from their critics. In 1997 and 1998 it was a close rival to the commercial stations, occasionally beating the popular 'Burke's Backyard' in it's 8pm Friday timeslot.

After a hugely successful 1998, Good News Week was snaffled by Channel Ten, after a fierce contest between all the commercial stations and the ABC. It was originally shown at 7.30pm Sundays, right up against Sixty Minutes, and later in the year SeaChange. After several months, with ever dwindling ratings in it's slot, GNW was moved to 9.30pm Mondays. In May, the GNW team branched out and made a Good News Weekend type program, titled GNW Night Lite. Good News Week was given full creative freedom under the $6 million deal with Ten, and the show has continued to tour around Australia for special shows.

In 2000, Good News Week was re-commissioned by Channel Ten for a single hour and a half program on Saturday night. It was a combination of both of the 1999 shows and many specials were also taped, such as debates and Mikey's Pubs & Beernuts special.

The final episode of Good News Week aired in November 2000, with many of the regular stars of the show appearing, although, there were several notable absences, such as Margaret Scott.