Compiled by Andrew Bayley, Sofcom
Australian TV soap was in full swing by the turn of the eighties. It was
just about mandatory for each commercial network to have at least two hit
soaps in its prime time schedules.
Aussie soaps like
Prisoner and The Sullivans were still
doing big business overseas, but the new trend overseas was glitz and
glamour with shows like Dynasty and
Dallas. Despite some Australian attempts to copy the
formula, in the mid-eighties it took an evening soap set in middle suburban
Melbourne to once again put Australian TV on the world map.
Arcade (Ten, 1980)
Ten took the unusual path of producing this in-house, and without a
pilot episode to begin with. A fortune was spent in converting the studios
into a replica shopping mall. The results were tragic, and Ten's big-budget
new series for the decade was axed after two weeks on-air.
Holiday Island (Ten, 1981)
Set around a tropical holiday complex but filmed on location around a
mock holiday resort constructed outside Ten's Melbourne studios - during
winter. The audience wasn't fooled and production was axed after six
months.
Punishment (Ten, 1981)
A male equivalent of Prisoner, but was never as
popular. Included in the cast list was a young Mel Gibson.
A Country Practice (Seven, 1981-1993 and Ten, 1994)
For over a thousand episodes, viewers followed the lives of the
residents of rural Wandin Valley with most of the drama centred around the
local hospital. Things weren't so rosy when Ten took on the series and
changed the setting and most of the characters.
Sons And Daughters (Seven, 1982-1988)
The blossoming romance between John and Angela was stopped short when it
was discovered they were long-lost twin brother and sister! A huge hit for
Seven, initially screening five nights a week.
Starting Out (Nine, 1983)
The young cast of Nine's ill-fated university drama included Peter
O'Brien and Tottie Goldsmith.
Waterloo Station (Nine, 1983)
Another police soap/drama, but this time coming out of Sydney.
Taurus Rising (Nine, 1983)
Australia's answer to glamourous US soaps Dynasty and
Dallas was not a big success.
Carsons Law (Ten, 1983-1984)
Crawford's story of life in Melbourne in the 1920's featuring former
Sullivans star Lorraine Bayly.
Kings (Nine, 1984)
The short-lived tale of a Sydney family featured Ed Deveraux
(Skippy), Melissa Jaffer (GP) and Deborah
Lee Furness.
Neighbours (Seven, 1985 and Ten 1986 onwards)
Life in suburban Melbourne was not a big hit for Seven, who promptly
axed it. Ten picked it up, revamped it, and it went on to become a
worldwide success. Still going strong after 3000 episodes, the series has
created international stardom for the likes of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan,
Peter O'Brien, Guy Pearce, Stefan Dennis, Natalie Imbruglia and Kimberley
Davies.
Possession (Nine, 1985)
Produced by Grundy Productions, this was another in Nine's string of
ill-fated soaps.
Return To Eden (Ten, 1986)
This glitzy series was the spin-off from the popular 1983 mini-series of
the same name. Featuring Rebecca Gilling, James Smillie and Peta Toppano.
Prime Time (Nine, 1986)
Behind the scenes of a fictional current affairs program.
Richmond Hill (Ten, 1988)
Sydney's answer to Neighbours was set in a semi-rural
community. Despite promising ratings, Ten axed it after one season.
Home And Away (Seven, 1988 onwards)
Regretting the loss of Neighbours to Ten, Seven fought
back with this in-house production. Like Neighbours, it
has become an international hit.
E Street (Ten, 1989-1993)
The semi-rural setting of Richmond Hill was replaced by
the tale of life in a fictional inner-suburb Westside.
The Power, The Passion (Seven, 1989)
Yet another daytime soap attempt - again from Seven. Dismal ratings (up
against Nine's popular variety show Midday) saw this series
axed within its first year.
Coming Up: Surfs up in the Nineties!
