The Frontline office showcases and satirises the machinations of the ruthless producers, the self-obsessed airhead host, and the ambitious, cynical reporters, all of whom resort to any sort of underhanded trick to get ratings and maintain their status—including the use of hidden cameras, foot-in-the-door, bullying interview techniques, and chequebook journalism.

In particular, the Season 1 episode "The Siege" was a replay of a controversial real life incident which had occurred just a few months earlier, told as though Frontline itself had covered the story.

Sitch has claimed that none of the characters were directly based on a single person, and indeed the character of Moore was a combination of well-known characteristics of a number of high-profile television figures, including A Current Affair host Ray Martin[citation needed], Martin's predecessor Mike Willesee,[2] and Real Life host Stan Grant.

[citation needed] Frontline frequently featured celebrity cameos, unusually including major Australian politicians appearing as themselves, often but not always as interviewees.

The most memorable[citation needed] appearance is that of Pauline Hanson in "The Shadow We Cast" (series 3), in which she turns her famous "please explain?"

Harry Shearer[2] appeared in the series 2 episode "Changing the Face of Current Affairs", where he played the character of Larry Hadges.

Its rapid production schedule was inspired by UK series Drop the Dead Donkey, where each episode was written and taped in a single week and scripts were closely based on the real news stories of the preceding seven days.

It was a fully collaborative effort, with Cilauro, Kennedy, Gleisner and Sitch all sharing writing and directing duties, and the cast all contributing ideas during all stages of production.

To create a heightened illusion of grainy documentary realism, footage was shot under fluorescent lights in an actual office building set, and taped on hand-held Hi-8 camcorders usually operated by Gleisner and Cilauro.

The show was perceived by management as "too close to the bone" for a network significantly focused upon its prime-time current affairs ratings battle with rival stations.

In October 2014, Sitch reprised the role of Mike Moore and Frontline during a short sketch on the Friday Night Crack Up as part of the ABC's "MentalAs" campaign to raise money and awareness for mental health issues.