The show featured a panel of five (originally six) people who discuss and joke about items in the news, current affairs, and pop culture.
The regular panelists are Glenn Robbins, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Kate Langbroek, and Santo Cilauro (usually sitting in this order from screen left to right at the desk).
Guests include music and movie stars, sports heroes and political figures, but also many lower profile individuals who have interesting stories to tell, such as round-the-world sailor Jesse Martin, or sexual health physician Dr. Cindy Pan.
These include sports reporter Stephen Quartermain, film reviewer Lawrie Zion and Hollywood correspondent Jeff Stilson.
The international superstar Anastacia also made an appearance while her promoting her debut album Not That Kind, back in 2000, where she sang exclusively the song I'm Outta Love in an a cappella version.
One of the most "excruciating" interviews, as Tom Gleisner described it, was in 2002 when Tommy Lee Jones was in the studio with Will Smith to promote their film Men in Black II.
The extended length episode (usually two to three hours long) combines regular segments of the show, including live music performances and celebrity guests, with retrospectives on the past year.
It has also led to the release of several albums in the Music – Live from the Panel series, consisting of songs performed on the show by local and international artists.