The Dismissal to Dynasty | Memorable TV Australian Shows

THE DISMISSAL to DYNASTY | AUSTRALIAN TV SHOWS

THE DISMISSAL

10 Network-Kennedy Miller / 3x120m-e / 1983

Writers: Ron Blir, George Miller, Philip Noyce, Terry Hayes, Sally Gibson, Daphne Paris / Design: Owen Williams / Costume: Robyn Schuurmans / Camera: Dean Semler / Producer: Terry Hayes / Executive Producers: Byron Kennedy, George Miller / Directors: George Miller, Philip Noyce, George Olgilvie, Carl Shultz, John Power

Drama serial. The events surrounding the sacking by Governor General Sir John Kerr of the Whitlam Labor Government and then replacing it with Malcolm Frasers Liberal one.

With:- MAX PHIPPS as Gough Whitlam / JOHN HARGREAVES as Dr Jim Cairns / BILL HUNTER as Rex Connor / JOHN STANTON as Malcolm Fraser / STEWART FAICHNEY as Billy Snedden / JOHN MEILLON as Sir John Kerr / ED DEVEREAUX as Phil Lynch / PETER SUMNER as Bill Hayden / NEELA DAY as Junie Morosi / HARRY WEISS as Tirath Khemlani / DAVID DOWNER as Tony Staley / PETER CARROLL as Narrator

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AZARIA CHAMBERLAIN

10 Network / 1x90m-e / 1984

Producer: Errol Sullivan / Director: Michael Thornhill / Writer: Frank Moorhouse / Music: Chris Neal

Drama. A look at the infamous events in which the parents of the baby of the title said she had been taken by Dingoes whilst they were camping near Ayres Rock. Also made into a feature film with Meryl Streep and Sam Neill.

With:- John Hamblin / Elaine Hudson / Max Phipps / John Clayton / Jim Holt

DISCOVER AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PARKS

7 Network / 15x60m-e / 1976-77

Producer: Robert Raymond

Natural History. Robert Raymond takes an indepth look at some of Australia's most beautiful National Parks.

THE DI TRASK SHOW

9 Network-NLT Productions / 14x30m-e / 1965 black and white

Writer/Producer/Director: Tom Ewen

Variety series headlined by singer Di Trask (hence the title). Producer Tom Ewen was Trask's husband. Produced in Melbourne.

THE DIVINERS

ABC / 1x30m-e / 2000 (Broadcast: Tuesday 11 July / 8.00pm)

Documentary. A profile of the Rosentrieler family, specialists in water divining for over four generations.

DIVISION 4

Nine Network-Crawford / 300x60m-e / 1969-?

Creator: Ian Jones

Crime drama series. Cases of the uniformed cops of Yarra Central Police Station. The cast and crew would work on three separate shows at any one time. Working titles included Saints and Sinners and Police File.

With:- DIANE CRAIG / CLIVE DAVIES / TERENCE DONOVAN as Detective Mick Peters / CHUCK FAULKNER as Detective Sgt Vickers / TED HAMILTON as Kevin Dyer / JOHN HANNAN / PETER KAVANAGH / GERARD KENNEDY as Detective Sgt Frank Banner/ ANDREW McFARLANE / PATRICIA SMITH / FRANK TAYLOR / ROWENA WALLACE as police woman Jane Bell

DIVORCE COURT

NLT Productions / 210x30m-e / 1967-?

Executive Producer: Bob Huber / Producer: Mary Nelson, Robert Peach

A courtroom drama series often shown five times a week with the title really saying it all with couples sorting out their woes in the divorce court. Real lawyers were used as the prosecution and the defence, the basis for the show was an American original.

DOCTOR DOWN UNDER

7 Network / 13x30m-e / 1979-80

Creator: Richard Gordon / Producer: William G. Stewart / Director: William G. Stewart, John Eastway

Sitcom. A continuation of the long running UK Doctor series that saw Duncan Waring and Dick Stuart-Clark relocate to St Barnabus Hospital in Australia.

With:- ROBIN NEDWELL as Duncan Waring / GEOFFREY DAVIES as Dick Stuart-Clark / FRANK WILSON as Norman Beaumont / JOHN DERUM as Maurice Griffin / JOAN BRUCE as Sister Cummings / JENNIFER MELLET as Linda / KEN WAYNE as Professor Wilkinson

DOG EAT DOG

7 Network / x60m-e / 2002 (First Episode: Saturday 6 April / 6.30pm)

Challenge type game show hosted by Simone Kessell that saw a sextet of contestants spending 24 hours getting to know each others strengths and weaknesses. The group then had to nominate each other for the various rounds and challenges, failure meant a trip to the losers bench until only the "top dog" remained. Prize was $50,000.

DOG'S HEAD BAY

ABC-McElroy-Barking Mad / x60m-e / 1999

Creator: David Williamson / Executive Producer: Hal McElroy / Producer: Peter Askew / Director: Simon Phillips

Comedy drama series. To try and stop their marriage falling apart barrister Alex Santorini buys a weekend retreat for himself and his wife Vicki in the less than vibrant village of Dog's Head Bay. They soon have problems dealing with the antagonism of the locals and the fact that their new next door neighbour is Vicki's cousin Jenny whom Vicki is less than enamored with.

With:- GARY SWEET as Alex Santorini / SUSAN LYONS as Vicky Santorini / SEBASTIAN GOLDSPINK as Nicholas Santorini / SARAH PEIRSE as Jenny Grant / SHANE WITHINGTON as Bob Grant / JAMES FORD as Mingus / VIC ROONEY as Bert / KATE FITZPATRICK as Trish Fairweather / JULIE HERBERT as Grace McDonald

A DOG'S LIFE

ABC / 20x30m-e / 1992-93

Producer: Michael McKay

Sheepdog trials from around the world. Hosted by John Waters and then Peter Gee.

DOG WOMAN

10 Network-Simpson Le Mesurier-Beyond-Magnetic Prod. / 3x95m-e / 2000 (First Episode: 19 April)

Creator: Magda Szubanski / Executive Producers: Kris Noble, Mikael Borgland / Producers: Roger Le Mesurier, Roger Simpson, Magda Szubanski

Comedy drama series. Using her strange skills of being able to think like a dog, trainer Margaret O'Halloran finds herself involved in the solving of mysteries.

With:- MAGDA SZUBANSKI as Margaret O'Halloran / TARA MORICE as Pauline O'Halloran / RAD RYAN as Brian Jayasinghe / SANDY WINTON as Jeremy Maitland / ANTHONY SIMCOE as Andrew Bell / STEPHEN SHANAHAN as Gavin

DON LANE PRESENTS

9 Network / x30m-e / 1970 (First Episode: Wednesday 15 April / 10.00pm)

A variety series hosted by Don Lane and broadcast from the Caprice restaurant in Rose Bay. Guests were both big name domestic and overseas stars. Guests on the first show were Gale Sherwood and Hope & Keen. Regulars included Tony Gaha and the In People.

THE DON LANE SHOW

9 Network / 700+x30m-e / 1975-82 (First Episode: 12 May 1975)

A popular variety show headlined by the man of the title. In a 1980 show Lane stormed off the set during an interview with Canadian magician James Randi because Randi made comments about the "skills" of psychic Doris Stokes whom Lane happened to admire. Bert Newton was pretty much a regular on the series.

DON'T ASK US

7 Network / 13x25m-e / 1980

Director: Julian Pringle / Creator/Producer: Austin Steele

Comedy sketch series based on a UK original called "What's on Next?" With:- Brian Hannan, David Whitford, Doug Scroope, Helen Hough, Julie McGregor and Liddy Clark.

DON'T LISTEN LADIES

ABC / 1x80m-e / 1963 black and white

Producer/Director: James Upshaw / Writers: Stephen Powys and Guy Bolton

Comedy farce about a Parisian antiques shop owner in trouble with both his wife and his ex-mistress.

With:- Alexander Archdale / Margo Lee / Brigid Lenihan / Neva Carr Glyn / Noel Brophy / Neil Fitzpatrick

DO OR DIE

Sky One-Southern Star-John Edwards-Warner Sisters / 2x110m-e / 2001

Writer: Christopher Lee / Design: Murray Picknett / Camera: Martin McGrath / Music: Edmund Butt / Producers: John Edwards, Lavinia Warner / Director: Rowan Woods

Thriller serial. Doctor Sam has her life turned around when her son falls ill and she has to trace his Australian crook father who she had a brief fling with whilst backpacking in Australia with her friend Claire some years before. The show was heavy on the flashbacks, beginning in present day England and moving in back in time to the mid 1990's and Australia. A UK-Australia co-production. Original working title of this production was Rubicon. Winner of an Awgie for best original mini series.

With:- PATSY PALMER as Claire / KATE ASHFIELD as Sam / HUGO SPEER as Nicholas / TOM LONG as Joey / WILLIAM McDOWELL as William

DOUBLE DARE

10 Network / x30m-e / 1989-90

Generally messy children's game show involving challenges that all seemed to feature copious amounts of "gunk". Based on a US original and hosted by Gerry Sont and then Tom Jennings. A primetime version "Family Double Dare" was mounted (very very briefly) in 1989.

DOUBLE SKULLS

9 Network-PBL Productions / 1x94m-e 1986

Producer: Richard Brennan / Director: lan Gilmour / Writer: Chris Peacock / Music: Chris Neal / Camera: Vincent Monton

Drama. A friend teams up with his alcoholic mate (to try and help him out of his troubles) in the Australian Double Sculls rowing competition.

With:- John Hargreaves / Chris Haywood / Angela Punch-McGregor / Bill Kerr / Judi Farr / Mercia Deane-Johns / Vincent Ball

DOUBLE YOUR DOLLARS

13x30m-e / 1965 black and white

Producer: Ron Blaskeff

General knowledge style quiz with a double your money outcome for answering questions correctly. Hosted by Patrick Francis with Lynette Williams assisting.

DRAMA SCHOOL

7 Network / x30m-e / 2001 (First Episode Broadcast: Monday 20 August / 9.30pm)

Fly on the wall type documentary following the 26 actors on the first year of their three year NIDA course in Sydney. (NIDA is the National Institute of Dramatic Arts where Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett amongst many others both studied). Because of poor ratings later episodes were shown 2 at a time.

THE DREAM FACTORY

9 Network / 12x30m-e / 2000

Docusoap about a bunch of Australians trying to make the big time in Los Angeles, the wannabes included 21 year old actor and singer Priscilla and actor Warwick.

DREAMHOME

9 Network / x60m-e / 2000

Lifestyle series hosted by Marie Patane and giving the families the chance to design and create their own dream home with a big budget and all the help they need.

DREAMTIME TO DANCE

ABC / 1x30m-e / 2002 (Tuesday 2 July / 8.00pm)

Documentary about a pair of Aboriginal dance students studying at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association.

THE DREAM WITH ROY AND H.G.

7 Network / x30m-e / 2000

This was a comedy show hosted by Roy and H.G. (aka known as John Doyle and Greg Pickhaver) that ran throughout the length of the Olympics and featuring the duo taking pot shots at the games.

DUKE BLUEBEARDS CASTLE

ABC / 1x60m-e / 1970

Opera by Bartok and based on an old legend telling the story of a woman whose possessiveness leads to tragedy. Three other operas followed over successive weeks, La Boix Humaine (by Poulenc), Marriage Contract by Rossini and The Fall of the House of Usher by the Australian born Larry Sitsky.

With:- ARIANTHE GALANI as Judith / NEIL WARREN-SMITH as Duke Bluebeard

THE DULUX SHOW

7 Network / x30m-e / 1957 black and white

Game style quiz show with a world trip as the top prize. Hosted by Jack Davey.

THE DUNERA BOYS

10 Network-Jethro-Australian Film Commission / 2x120m-e / 1985 3-10 October

Writer/Director: Ben Lewin / Camera: Vincent Monton / Costume: Rose Chong / Music: Greg Sneddon / Design: Tracy Watt / Producer: Bob Weis

Wartime drama serial. During World War II two thousand Jewish refugees are sent to Australia aboard the ship HMT Dunera, whilst the government decides what to do with them they set up their own community in the outback, later some of the men end up becoming soldiers.

With:- BOB HOSKINS as Morrie Mendellsohn / JOSEPH SPANO as Alexander Engelhardt / WARREN MITCHELL as Mr Braun / JOSEPH FURST as The Baron / JOHN MEILLON as Brigadier Templeton / SIMON CHILVERS as Colonel Berry / MARY-ANNE FAHEY as Naomi Mendellsohn / STEVEN VIDLER as Tropp / MOSHE KEDEM as Rabbi Aronfeld / MARK LITTLE as Private Dunstan / PAUL VANE-MASON as Friedkin / KIRK ALEXANDER as Captain Webber / JULIA BLAKE as Mum / SALLY COOPER as Kath / KIM GYNGELL as Private Bruce / JANE HOPKINS as Bernice Slattery

THE DUNSTAN DOCUMENTARIES

ABC / 10x30m-e / 1981

Documentary series that saw Don Dunstan (a one time premier of South Australia) taking an idiosyncratic tour around modern Australia.

DUSTY

10 Network-Dusty / 12x30m-e / 1988

Writers: Patricia Johnson, John Misto, Graeme Farmer / Novels: Frank Dalby Davison / Music: Paul Grabowsky / Camera: Jamie Doolan / Producer: John Richardson / Director: Colin Budds

Drama series. Tim Lincoln trains his part dingo dog Dusty into a champion sheepdog. Also done as a movie in 1982.

With:- JOHN HEYWOOD / BRENTON WHITTLE / KRIS McQUADE / MATTHEW STEVENSON / JOHN JARRATT / ASHER KEDDIE / DUSTY

DYNASTY

ABC / 20x60m-e / 1970-71 (Two seasons)

Creators: Tony Morphett, Glyn Davies / Producers: Eric Taylor, Alan Burke

Drama series. Media tycoon Jack Mason finds his business empire being attacked on all sides. Based on a 1969 play of the same name that starred Brian James and Mark McManus which in turn was based on co-creator Morphett's own novel. A spin-off called Catwalk also appeared. Season one was one of the big hits of Australian TV in 1970 winning a logie award (for best new drama), it was full of boardroom backbiting and manoeuvring with most of the characters having villainous qualities. The old man of the company Jack Mason would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, his son David was having an affair with his brother's wife.
Season two saw quite a few changes with Jack mason not appearing (having disappeared over botany bay somewhere) and crucially the producers moved away from the boardroom and out into the real world.
British scriptwriter Glyn davies was responsible for assembling the four Australian writers (along with himself) who made up the script team. Glyn claimed that "the result was the first Australian TV series based on character and dialogue".

With:- JOHN TATE (1970) / NICK TATE / KEVIN MILES / ANNE HADDY / SERGE LAZAREFF / BEN GABRIEL / MAX MELDRUM / RON GRAHAM / LYN JAMES / OWEN WEINGOTT / PAT BISHOP

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THE DISMISSAL to DYNASTY | AUSTRALIAN TV SHOWS