1996: September 21-27

Aussie screen successes are a window to the world
tvweek_210996Getaway reporter Lochie Daddo has got so used to reporting on his travels that a recent holiday to the NSW ski fields left him a bit disoriented. “It was weird. I kept looking for a camera to have to do something to,” he told TV Week. “It was like, ‘Where’s my 7am wake-up call to tell me to be downstairs in the foyer, ready to head off?’.” While the younger Daddo (older brother Cameron is in the US starring in the new series F/X) has had some acting experience, including Neighbours and GP and on stage, and hosted programs such as Countdown Revolution and Saturday At Rick’s, at this point he is more than happy to continue as a globetrotting reporter for Getaway. “At 26, to be able to travel the world and see all these amazing things… well, you couldn’t ask for a better job.” Meanwhile, Nine‘s newest star, former model Kate Fischer, is working hard with an increasingly busy schedule. As well as hosting cartoon show What’s Up Doc, she is also currently taping a new series of Time Out For Serious Fun for Nine and makes guest appearances on ABC‘s Good News Week.

raeleehill_0002The Rat Pack’s back!
Some cast changes are coming to Water Rats as it begins production on its second series. By the end of series one, viewers had farewelled four cast members — Bill Young, Jeremy Callaghan, Andrew Gilbert and, in dramatic scenes in the series finale, Peter Mochrie. Returning for series two are Colin Friels, Catherine McClements, Jay Laga’aia, Sophie Heathcote, Brett Partridge, Scott Burgess, Peter Bensley and Toni Scanlan. Joining the cast line-up now is Raelee Hill (pictured), formerly of Paradise Beach and Neighbours and currently appearing in Foxtel‘s Shark Bay. Also joining the series in guest roles are Paul Mercurio and Kym Wilson.

elizaszonertbernardcurryIt’s goodbye from Eliza
After two years playing the part of Danni Stark in Neighbours, Eliza Szonert (pictured with co-star Bernard Curry) has bid farewell to the show. “It was all a bit much. I had a lump in my throat and I thought I was going to cry,” she told TV Week after her last day. “But for once, I didn’t. I’m sad I’m going, but it’s time to move on. It’s the end of a chapter and I’m looking forward to the start of a new one.” Szonert’s exit, to go to air in November, sees her character Danni go to Malaysia to work for a fashion company.

johnburgessadrianaxenides_0002It’s only a game!
As part of the celebration of 40 years of television, TV Week looks at one of Australia’s favourite TV genres — game shows. Since Name That Tune started on TCN9 in September 1956, Australians have loved watching others getting quizzed — whether it be naming a tune, guessing a word or phrase, answering questions of general knowledge, finding a romantic partner or filling the blank! Shows like Pick A Box, Great Temptation (later Sale Of The Century), Wheel Of Fortune (former host John Burgess with co-host Adriana Xenides, pictured), The Price Is Right, Perfect Match and Blankety Blanks have been firm favourites with viewers. Some of the other titles that viewers may recall include Almost Anything Goes, Celebrity Tattletales, Personality Squares, Coles £3000 (later $6000) Question, Superquiz, Family Feud, The Main Event and Strike It Lucky.

Briefly…

  • The future of Nine‘s Pacific Drive now looks to be in doubt since co-producer New World was taken over by Twentieth Century Fox, and has withdrawn from the production. Village Roadshow, which partnered with New World for the series, is now frantically looking for a new partner.
  • The Seven Network is reported to be producing a new series featuring Barry Humphries. Barry Humphries Flashbacks is set to be an irreverent look at the past four decades of Australia’s history.
  • Foxtel has completed production of its first week of Beauty And The Beast. The line-up of beauties from the first five episodes includes Lisa Wilkinson, Maureen Duval, Anne Wills, Melissa Hoyer, Freda Leslie (a veteran of past BATB series), Georgie Parker, Jeanne Little and Rose Porteous. Beauty And The Beast begins on the Fox Talk channel in early October.
  • Former Seven Network sitcom Hey Dad! is beginning in re-runs this week… on Network Ten in an early afternoon timeslot.

TV’s National Top 10 (Week Commencing 1 September 1996):
Source: AC Nielsen Australia Pty Ltd

Rank Program Network Day(s) Viewers
1 Blue Heelers Seven Tue 2213000
2 The Great Outdoors Seven Tue 2045000
3 This Is Your Life Nine Thu 2040000
4 Very Best Of The World’s Worst Driver #3 Nine Mon 2007000
5 Terrible Twisters Nine Mon 1977000
6 Better Homes And Gardens Seven Tue 1945000
7 Great Aussie Bloopers Seven Wed 1859000
8 60 Minutes Nine Sun 1852000
9 A Current Affair Nine M-F 1834000
10 Getaway Nine Thu 1815000

Program Highlights (Melbourne, September 21-27):
Saturday: 
A one-hour special, Marn Grook (2pm, Seven) presents an Aboriginal perspective on Australian Rules football. The final of the Army versus Navy Challenge in Gladiators (3pm, Seven) is relegated to an afternoon timeslot to make way for Saturday Night Football, with highlights of the First Preliminary Final from Melbourne (6pm, Seven), followed by live coverage of the Second Preliminary Final from Sydney (7.30pm, Seven).

Sunday: The VFL Grand Final (2pm, ABC) is broadcast live. In Talk To The Animals (6.30pm, Seven), Sallianne Deckert travels to Alice Springs for the Camel Cup. Sunday night movies are Blue Sky (Seven), The Fugitive (repeat, Nine) and The Concierge (Ten).

kateraison_0001Monday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Toadie’s (Ryan Moloney) disappointment over leaving Erinsborough High grows. In Healthy Wealthy And Wise (7.30pm, Ten), Tonia Todman designs and makes bird boxes, Jim Brown visits the historic town of Robe, and Iain Hewitson makes delicious breads from one recipe. The Brownlow Medal Count (8.30pm, Seven) is broadcast live from the World Congress Centre, Melbourne. In Pacific Drive (11.15pm, Nine), Georgina (Kate Raison, pictured) suspects Martin (Joss McWilliam) is seeing another woman.

Tuesday: In Neighbours (6.30pm, Ten), Helen (Anne Haddy) is bored with hospital life. In the new series Wildfish (8pm, SBS), host Peter Morse is joined by Rob Sitch (Frontline) for fly fishing in the streams of New Zealand’s southern alps. In Blue Heelers (8.30pm, Seven), Dash (Tasma Walton) and Maggie (Lisa McCune) can’t escape Johnny Kowalski’s (Jack Finsterer) womanising ways. In GP (8.30pm, ABC), Maureen’s (Melissa Jaffer) favourite medical student, about to sit her final exam, is forced to admit that medicine is not for her after all.

bananasinpyjamas_0001Wednesday: Children’s series Bananas In Pyjamas (3.55pm, ABC) returns with more fun from B1 and B2 (pictured) and friends, with some help from narrator Karina Kelly. In Home And Away (7pm, Seven), Shannon (Isla Fisher) and Geoff (Martin Henderson) decide to try and live out their whole relationship in the one day. Noni Hazlehurst narrates the documentary The Edge Of Instinct (8.30pm, ABC), following the emotional journey of couples going through IVF.

Thursday: Science program Quantum (8pm, ABC) explores the arguments for and against mass vaccination campaigns for children, and asks why Australia is not adopting the safer polio and whooping cough vaccines about to be used in the US. The Footy Show (9pm, Nine) presents its lavish Grand Final edition.

Friday: The series final of children’s game show A*Mazing (4pm, Seven). In Police Rescue (8.30pm, ABC), Mickey (Gary Sweet) is forced to realise he is not invincible after the dangerous rescue of Nobby (John Flaus), a rock fisherman. With the AFL Grand Final tomorrow, That Was The Season That Was (8.30pm, Seven) with Bruce McAvaney takes a look back at the AFL Centenary season of 1996. The annual Grand Final Eve Football Marathon (11.40pm, Seven) continues overnight, featuring highlights of some of the most memorable matches of all time.

Source: TV Week (Melbourne edition), incorporating TV Times and TV Guide. 21 September 1996. Pacific Publications Pty Ltd.

 

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