1995: October 28-November 3

Cover: Adam Willits, Tempany Deckert (Home And Away)

Steven’s towering stunt!
Police Rescue star Steve Bastoni is set to cap off his five years with the show by dangling off Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower. “It’s by far the scariest stunt I’ve performed,” Bastoni told TV Week. “I can’t describe the excitement. I’m buzzing!” In the scene, Bastoni’s character, Angel, has to bring down a heart attack victim from the tower the quick way — off the edge and down the side! Even though the jump was rehearsed by the show’s stunt team over and over, it was still fraught with danger. “If it had been too windy the ropes could have been tangled,” stunt team head Richard Booie told TV Week. “It wasn’t an easy stunt, especially with the wind spinning Steve and then pushing him into the tower.” The stunt is to feature in an episode in the upcoming final series of the ABC drama.

The calm before the storm
Getaway reporter Lochie Daddo (pictured) came up with the idea for a drive in a Ferrari along Italy’s Amalfi Coast for the travel show’s World Best Drives special. “But Rebecca Harris got the Italy trip, and I got bad weather in New Zealand and Far North Queensland,” Daddo told TV Week. The World’s Best Drives special includes stories from around the world, featuring road journeys from the US, Australia’s Nullabor Plain, the Kruger Wildlife Park in South Africa and England’s Lakes District.

Mimi’s job in doubt
Discovery channel presenter Mimi Macpherson is in danger of losing her job as a result of a recent drink-driving charge. Discovery (which is available in Australia via Foxtel), a family-oriented network, has a strict code of conduct for their on-screen stars. “The situation is still in discussion,” a spokesperson for Discovery told TV Week. “They are still reviewing Mimi’s case.”

Briefly…

• Plans to feature pop superstar Kylie Minogue for an episode of This Is Your Life have been dropped following advice by her family and friends, who insist that she would hate the concept.
• Melissa Jaffer is the latest addition to the cast of ABC‘s long-running drama GP, following the recent departure of original cast members Denise Roberts and Michael Craig. Jaffer joins the series as Dr Maureen Riordan as GP gets a new look in 1996.
• John Blackman, Colleen Hewett and Tracy Harvey have taped a pilot at Nine‘s Melbourne studios for a Nineties version of Beauty And The Beast.
• Healthy Wealthy And Wise producer Gavan Disney earlier this year produced a pilot for a new lifestyle show featuring Tonia Todman. The concept was put on hold but now Network Ten is set to revisit the idea.

TV’s Top 20 (Week Commencing 8 October): 

Program Highlights (Melbourne, October 28-November 3):
Saturday: Beyond 2000 (5.30pm, Ten) reports on a car with an electric motor in each wheel; new hope for children with leukaemia; and unlocking the secrets of Aboriginal bush medicine to create new drugs. Sydney’s Ten News presenter Ron Wilson (pictured) presents the special Pets (7.30pm, Ten), to commemorate world animal week, featuring reports by Sydney weatherman Tim Bailey and Alexandra Brunning (Heartbreak High).

Sunday: The Mercantile Mutual Cup (11am, Nine) is live from Brisbane, featuring Queensland versus South Australia. In Heartbreak High (5.30pm, Ten), the teachers are on strike, while Con’s (Salvatore Coco) plan to spend more time with Katerina (Ada Nicodemou) turns into a raging party. Tamworth’s famous Country Music Festival is the focus of this week’s True Stories (8.30pm, ABC) documentary — taking a look behind-the-scenes at the 11 day festival held in January and which attracts more than 70,000 visitors to the rural town. Sunday night movies are Extreme Justice (Seven), Basic Instinct (repeat, Nine) and Sea Of Love (repeat, Ten).

Monday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Sam (Richard Grieve) pursues a friendship with Stonie (Anthony Engelman), still unaware of Annalise (Kimberley Davies) and Stonie’s secret affair. In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Michael (Dennis Coard) tries to keep Jack (Daniel Amalm) and Sally (Kate Ritchie) apart.

Tuesday: In GP (8.30pm, ABC), love is in the air when Sonia (Zoe Carides) falls for a motorbike paramedic while attending an accident. In Blue Heelers (8.30pm, Seven), when Chris’ (Julie Nihill) niece runs away, abuse is suspected. The local priest becomes the suspect when he is named by the young girl’s boyfriend.

Wednesday: In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Sally (Kate Ritchie) leaves Summer Bay. Prime Minister Paul Keating is interviewed by Andrew Denton in the half-hour special, Andrew Denton’s Paul Keating Unplugged (8pm, Seven). In Bordertown (8.30pm, ABC), Dom (Jamie Croft, pictured), a young gypsy boy, reminds Hungarian Mihaly Bassa (Alex Menglet) of the son he left behind the Iron Curtain.

Thursday: In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Fisher (Norman Coburn) gives up hope of going out with Marilyn (Emily Symons). Getaway (7.30pm, Nine) presents a special episode on some of the world’s great road journeys, including Jeff Watson taking his 1958 Morris Minor across the Nullabor. Comedy special World Series Debating (8.30pm, ABC) debates the topic That There Is Life Beyond Earth.

Friday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Jen’s (Alyce Platt) next publicity stunt could cost Lou (Tom Oliver) his job at the radio station. Jennifer Keyte’s World Around Us (7.30pm, Seven) presents the documentary Australia’s Endangered Species, hosted by Darren McDonald.

Source: TV Week (Melbourne edition), incorporating TV Times and TV Guide. 28 October 1995. Southdown Press