Australian television this year has been littered with both excellent, provocative and engaging moments, along with some truly dreadful “what were they thinking?” moments.

Here are the television shockers that got people talking in 2016 – for better or for worse.

The good …

Here Come the Habibs (Channel Nine)

Lebanese lottery winners from the western suburbs of Sydney gatecrashed the wealthy, white eastern suburbs – shocking the neighbourhood.

Channel Nine commissioned this without a pilot or even a script and, despite a furore before it began, they have a hit on their hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZr7gMG13wQ

The Bachelor (Channel 10)

The audience (and probably the producers) went nuts when bachelor Richie Strahan chose Alex Nation over favourite Nikki Gogan.

He told radio’s Kyle and Jackie O there was “three months of having the biggest blue balls in Australia” as he waited to bed his chosen one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0VWGkxd3kg

The Secret Daughter (Channel Seven)

The promos made you believe it was going to be a serious drama but, instead, it was a hilarious comedy of errors – with a non-blonde heroine in Jessica Mauboy, a rarity on commercial television. May there be many more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MesNOAF4cPc

Sixty Days In … (Foxtel)

Volunteers went undercover as first-timers in the Clark County Jail in Indiana to help a new governor understand what really happens in his prison. They pretended they were part of a fake documentary and not even the prison staff knew that they were plants. What they faced, experienced and revealed was shocking, scary and fascinating.

Deep Water (SBS)

Sydney’s 1970s gay hate murders were the focus for an innovative, cross-platform season from SBS, which featured a powerful, revealing drama, a well-told documentary, specifically tailored social media and online content. It’s an excellent example of contemporary storytelling.

Australian Survivor (Channel 10)

Kristie Bennett delivered a masterclass in strategy and game-playing to win the title from the underdog position. She had everyone convinced she would lose – partly because she always sided with the strongest players. She may not have had an alliance but she got $500,000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-UzZYBfX7E

Cleverman (ABC)

What! A high-end, international genre co-production with an 85 per cent indigenous cast – from the ABC! Cleverman had its weaknesses but it is bold drama and kept social media busy around the world as audiences debated racial inequality, sci-fi and, even, why not to visit Australia!

… And the bad

The Briefcase (Channel Nine)

So, you pit two amazing families up against each other (not that they know that) and play a game to see how much money their sad stories were worth. A reality format imported from the USA that, here, was labeled “poverty porn” and “the worst reality show ever”. The “contestants” thought they were in a documentary series and, frankly, deserved better.

First Contact (SBS)

Ray Martin led a group of relatively well-known white Australians into the heart of Australia to meet their first Aboriginal people. Great idea – except for David Oldfield whose obnoxious views dominated and his refusal to engage polarised the audience. He hijacked the show while the other travellers had stories that were never told.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr_qdUCsmr0

Zumbo’s Just Desserts (Channel Seven)

It just goes to show that a lookalike format (think MasterChef for desserts) isn’t always a great idea. Adriano Zumbo makes amazing cakes and desserts, but just couldn’t hold a TV show – even with Rachel Khoo at his side. Social media was merciless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2efNiie718

You’re Back in the Room (Channel Nine)

Surely this series must spell the end of Daryl Somers’ dream to bring back Hey Hey It’s Saturday. For those who missed it, British hypnotist Keith Barry made people do silly things for audience laughs. Too much of the action centred around hero-worshiping Daryl. For a moment, the ratings looked great but were halved by the end of the short run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsGF3Vpm61Y