memorable tv           

THE HANDS OF CORMAC JOYCE

Fielder Cook / 1x90m-e / 1972

Writer: Thomas Rickman / Novel: Leonard Wibberly / Director: Fielder Cook

Drama. A small town off the coast of Ireland is harassed by a storm.

With:- STEPHEN BOYD / CYRIL CUSACK / COLLEEN DEWHURST / DOMINIC GUARD

HANDYMAN

ABC / 16x30m-e / 1976

Producer/Director: Keith Franklin

Home improvement show presented by painter and decorator Robin Johnson also on hand with gardening tips was Harold Caulfield.

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON

9 Network / 1x75m-e / Sunday 29 November 1970 / 7.30pm

A pre-Christmas musical special based on the writings of Hans Christian Anderson, well three of his stories, The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, The Matchgirl and the Emperors New Clothes. The stellar cast included Patrick Wymark, Grant Seiden, John Fraser, Richard Deacon, Stuart Wagstaff, Carl Wellander, Morey Amsterdam, Bryan Davis, Patti McGrath, Josephine Jason, Davey Kaye and Rosie Sturgess.

HAPPENING

10 Network-Lewis Young Productions / x240m-e / 1970-72

Producer: Lesley Shaw

Saturday morning music and entertainment show (basically a continuation of Uptight) hosted by Ross D Wylie until 1971 and then Jeff Phillips. Regulars included Trevor Spry, Johnny Young, Molly Meldrum, Maggie Stewart and Megan Hicks. The show ended because of a dispute over the use of miming by the pop acts appearing.

THE HAPPY GANG See Sunnyside Up

HARD COPY

10 Network-Showboat Productions / x60m-e / 1991-94

Executive Producer: Peter Sutton

Scandal based current affairs type show presented from LA by Gordon Elliott and with local reporters Richard Willis, Renee Brack and Meni Caroutas also on hand.

A HARD DAY'S WEEK

7 Network / x30m-e / 1969 black and white

Producer: Ken Shadie / Music: Tommy Tycho

Basically this was an Aussie version of UK satire show That Was the Week That Was featuring merriment being made over the week's news, initially known as "News revue" before switching to this title. Regulars included Barry Creyton, June Salter, Sue Walker, Donald MacDonald and Willie Fennell.

THE HARP IN THE SOUTH see Ruth Park's Harp In The South

HARRY'S PRACTICE

7 Network / 100+x30m-e / 1997 - continuing

Producer: Janine MacFarlane

Dr Harry Cooper gives people vetinary advice, travelling around different parts of Australia as he did so. Also assisting Harry was Katrina Warren. In Mid 2001 the show topped the ratings and it actually began as a segment within Burke's Backyard before becoming the show Talk to the Animals and then Harry's Practice. Harry's border collie Rosie (who sadly died in 2000) would feature on most shows.

THE HAUNTED SCHOOL

ABC-Revcom / 8x30m-e / 1986

Writer: Helen Cresswell / Story: Carol Drinkwater / Music: Garry McDonald, Laurie Stone / Camera: Peter Hendry / Producer: Ray Alchin / Director: Frank Arnold

Period drama series. In the 1860's an English Governess takes on the running of a scholl in a remote gold mining town.

With:- CAROL DRINKWATER / JAMES LAURIE / EMIL MINTY / BETH BUCHANAN / LEIGH NICHOLLS / VIC HAWKINS / MERVYN DRAKE / GRANT NAVIN

THE HAUNTING OF HEWIE DOWKER

10 Network-United Telecasters / 1x75m-e / 1976

Writer: Ian Coughlan / Producer: Roger Mirams / Director: Simon Wincer

Thriller. A Sydney cop uses his psychic powers to battle evil. Failed pilot.

With:- JOHN WATERS / KATE FITZPATRICK / DONALD MacDONALD / CAMILLA ROUNDTREE / CUL CULLEN / TIM ELLIOTT / TONY BARRY / RON HADRICK

HAVE A GO

7 Network / x30m-e / 1987

Producer/Director: Tony Neilson

A gong show take off talent show broadcast in the late afternoon/early evening slot and hosted by Jonathan Coleman and Ian Rogerson.

HAYDAZE

10 Network-Barron / 12x30m-e / 1990

Creators: John Rapsey, David Rapsey / Producers: Paul Barron, Roz Berrystone / Directors: David Rapsey, Chris Langman, Paul Moloney

Children's comedy drama series. Stories of two families living in a rural area on properties next door to each other. The twist being that one was a well to do city family trying to get in touch with nature.

With:- BARTHOLOMEW JOHN / DARREN KELLY / BRAYDEN WEST / DENISE VOSE 

HEADLAND see full entry here.

HEADSTART

ABC / 40x45m-e /2001 (First Episode: Sunday March 4 at 6:10pm)

Executive Producer: Ben Gannon / Creator/Supervising Producer: Chris Roache / Producer: Michael Bourchier

Drama series. A one time high achiever in the corporate world looks after the fortunes of 7 disparate people who have been given $20,000 in order to go for their dreams.

With:- Freya Stefford as Basia Lem / David Hoflin as Patrick Gormley / Gareth Yuen as Loc Minh Vu / Garth Holcombe as Seth Wallace / Nadia Townsend as Clare Gormley / Blair Venn as Gareth Quinn / Megan Dorman as Katherine Ingram / Ryan Johnson as Kyle Richter

HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE

Ten Network / x30m-e / 1992

Travel, lifestyle (i.e: Cooking, Cars, DIY, money matters etc). Hosts included Jim Brown.

HEARTBREAK HIGH

Ten Network(1994-96)-ABC(1997-99)-Roy Barron / 210x50m-e / 1994-99

Creators / Executive Producers: Ben Gannon, Michael Jenkins

Drama series. Episodes in the lives of the students at Inner City Hartley High. Grew out of a stage play and film called The Heartbreak Kid.

With:- ALEX DIMITRIADES as Nick Poulos / CHRISTINA MILANO as Sarah Lambert / SALVATORE COCO as Con Bordino / KATHERINE HALLIDAY as Rosette Malouf / EMMA ROCHE as Danielle Miller / COREY PAGE as Steve Wiley / DORIS YOUNAME as Yola Fatoush / SCOTT MAJOR as Peter Rivers / ABI TUCKER as Jodie Cooper / TAI NGUYEN as Jack Tran / ISABELLA GUTIERREZ as Chaka Cardenes / TONY MARTIN as Bill Southgate / JAN ADELE as Ruby / NICO LATHOURIS as George Poulos

HEARTLINE

7 Network-Grundy / x60m-e / 1970 black and white

Producer: Bill Mason

An afternoon show in which Hayden Sargent attempted to help viewers with their problems.

HEART OF THE COUNTRY

ABC / 6x60m-e / 2001

Documentary series charting the new stars of the Aussie country scenes, the likes of Sara Storer and so on, with each edition looking at what inspires their music and different life landmarks.

HEAT

Barron / 1x95m-e / 1996

HELPMANN

ABC / 1x45m-e / 1970

THE HENDERSON KIDS

10 Network-Crawford / 12x30m-e / 1985

Producers: Ewan Burnett, Alan Hardy / Music: Garry McDonald, Laurie Stone / Camera: Jamie Doolan 

Children's adventure series. A pair of city teenagers have adventures when they go to stay in the country with their Uncle Ernie after the death of their mother. See also below for details of the sequel.

With:- Antoinette Byron / Diane Craig / Nicholas Eadie / Stewart Faichney / Nadine Garner as Tamara 'Tammy' Henderson / Tottie Goldsmith / Jane Hall as Regina Powell / Annie Jones as Sylvia Wheeler / Bradley Kilpatrick as Bradley 'Brains' Buchanan / Ben Mendelsohn / Kylie Minogue as Charlotte Kernow / Peter O'Brien /Paul Smith as Steve Henderson / Peter Whitford

THE HENDERSON KIDS II

10 Network-Crawford /12x30m-e / 1987

Directors: Chris Langman, Paul Moloney / Music: Garry McDonald, Laurie Stone 
 
Children's adventure series. Sequel to the above (minus Nicholas Eadie) with the kids readjusting to city life. See also above for details of the first series.

With:- Nadine Garner as Tamara 'Tam' Henderson / Paul Smith as Steve Henderson / Alex Papps as Vinnie Cerantonio / Bradley Kilpatrick as Brains Buchanan / Anita Cerdic as Carol Summers / Nathan Croft as Marty Summers / Marieke Hardy as Sally Marshall / Louise Howitt as Helen Marshall / Michael Aitkens as Walter Mullens 

HERE'S DAWN

9 Network / 56x30m-e / 1964-65 black and white

Writer: Dick Berry / Producers: Bobby Limb, Hayes Gordon, Bill Harmon / Director: Peter Bernados

Comedy, variety sketch show headlined by Dawn Lake (here minus husband Bobby Limb who took on the role of producer for this), also featured were Noel Brophy, Frank Ward, Bruce Henries and Judi Farr.

HERE'S HUMPHREY

9 Network / x30m-e / 1965-continuing

Creator: Roman Ukleja

Began on local tv in Adelaide Here's Humphrey is almost a national institution, a show for kids featuring a bowler hatted bear taking part in activities and games with young children. The show won Logies in 1970 and 1982.

THE HEROES

Network 10-TVS Films Prod / 4x60m-e / 1989

Writer: Peter Yeldham / Book: Ronald McKie / Camera: Paul Murphy / Design: Bernard Hides / Costume: David Rowe / Music: Peter Best / Producer: Anthony Buckley / Executive Producers: Graham Benson, Valerie Hardy / Director: Donald Crombie

Wartime drama serial. During world war II 14 young soldiers take part in Operation Jaywick, an attempt to hurt Japanese ships in Singapore. See also below for the sequel Heroes II. 

With:- PAUL RHYS as Ivan Lyon / JOHN BACH as Donald Davidson / JOHN HARGREAVES as Ted Carse / BILL KERR as Paddy McDowell / CHRISTOPHER MORSLEY as Bob Page / TIM ROBERTSON as Colonel Mott / JOHN EWART as Bill Reynolds / TIMOTHY LYN as 'Taffy' Morris / JASON DONOVAN as 'Happy' Huston / CAMERON DADDO as 'Joe' Jones / JEFF TRUMAN as 'Cobber' Cain / BRIONY BEHETS as Alice / GUS MERCURIO as Captain Hawes

HEROES II: The Return

10 Network-Telso / 4x60m-e / 1992 

Writer: Peter Yeldham / Camera: Roger Dowling / Design: Bernard Hides / Costume: Graham Purcell / Music: Peter Best / Producer: Anthony Buckley / Executive Producer: Graham Benson / Director: Donald Crombie

Wartime drama. Sequel to Heroes. The platoon from the first serial (see above) attempt another raid on Japanese ships in Singapore harbour (in 1945) this time called Operation Rimau.

With:- NATHANIEL PARKER as Lyon  / CHRISTOPHER MORSLEY as Bob Page / JOHN BACH as Davidson / IAN BOLT as Ross / MARK LEWIS JONES as Ingelton / KEN TERAIZUMI as Furuta / CRAIG McLACHLAN as Carey / ANNE LOUISE LAMBERT as Nancy / MIRANDA OTTO as Roma Page / SIMON BURKE as Ellis / BRETT PARTRIDGE / KELLY DINGWALL / BRENDON LUNNEY 

HEROES' MOUNTAIN

Ten Network-Columbia Tristar-Anthony Buckley Films  / 1x120m-e / 2002

Book: Survivor by Stuart Diver and Simon Bouda / Director: Peter Andrikidis

Drama based on the true story of the Thredbo distaster on 30 July 1997 when a landslide enveloped two ski cabins killing 18 people and leaving only one survivor, Stuart Diver. The show focused on both the before and after with the rescue operation and so on. Filmed in a quarry in Sydney.

With:- CRAIG McLACHLAN as Stuart Diver / TOM LONG / ANTHONY HAYES / NADINE GARNER / TIRIEL MORA 

L'HEURE ESPAGNOLE

ABC / 1x55m-e / 1970 (Broadcast: Friday 20 March / 9.10pm)

Opera. A flirtatious watchmaker's wife uses two Grandfather clocks and the services of a muleteer to smuggle her two lovers into her room then decides she prefers the muleteer.

With:- JOAN DARGAVEL / KEITH NEILSON / GINO ZANCARNARO / VICTOR FRANKLIN

HEY DAD...!

Gary Reilly Productions / x30m-e / 1984-94

Producer: Gary Reilly / Directors: Sally Brady, Robert Meillon

Archetypal suburban sitcom about the life of a widowed architect and his family (as well as his crazy secretary). A very popular show but the only cast member to stay the distance though was Julie McGregor. See also the spin off Hampton Court. 

With:- ROBERT HUGHES as Martin Kelly / MARK OWEN-TAYLOR as Greg Russell / JULIE McGREGOR as Betty Wilson / BELINDA EMMETT as Tracy Russell / PAUL SMITH as Simon Kelly (1) / CHRISTOPHER MAYER as Simon Kelly (2) / SIMONE BUCHANAN as Debbie Kelly / SARAH MONAHAN as Jennifer Kelly (1984-93) /  ANGELA KEEP as Jennifer Kelly (93-94) / CHRISTOPHER TRUSWELL as Nudge / BETH BUCHANAN as Elaine Kelly

HEY HEY IT'S SATURDAY

9 Network-Somers Carroll / x120m-e / 1971-99 (9 October 71 - 21 November 99)

A long running staple of Australian TV, Hey Hey started out as a  Saturday morning kids show it later graduated to a 6.30pm two hour slot. The show was presented throughout its run by Daryl Somers, Daryl was assisted by pink puppet Ozzie Ostrich (Ernie Carroll) from 1971-1994.  The show was a mixture of comedy, chat, sketches etc, there were regular appearances by DJ Ian 'Molly' Meldrum (from 1980 onwards) looking at the music scene in his own idiosyncratic way. The show garnered "8 best of" specials and one of the shows most popular characters was a 6 foot tall duck and a head-on-a-stick Dicky Knee. Regulars throughout the shows run included Jacqui McDonald, Red Symons, Wilbur Wilde, Russell Gilbert, Andrew Fyfe, Livinia Nixon, Jo-beth Taylor, Trevor Marmalade, Denise Drysdale, 'Plucka Duck', Des "Animal" McKenna, Gavin Wood, Peter McKenna. Character voices were provided off screen by  John Blackman (1972-1999). regular segments such as the long running Red Faces. This 'talent' contest spawned 8 high rating "Best Of" specials under the title Best and Worst of Red Faces. Other specials to emerge from the show include 4x60 minuters called Hey Hey By Request (these emerged between 1993 and 1998) and Hey Hey It's The Comedians, a pair of hour long compilations featuring the best of the stand up material from the show.  Hey Hey was a show that was known as being a place where anything could happen and was uniquely Australian.  Everybody who is anybody (from Madonna, Abba, Clint Eastwood, The Harlem Globetrotters etc) appeared as guests on the show. thanks to Barry Bits for his contribution to this entry. 

HEY YOU

10 Network-ATV / 17x30m-e / 1967 (First Episode: 12 August)

Executive Producer: Brian Wright / Producer/Director: Godfrey Phillips

Sitcom concerning the exploits of a mismatched pair, one English and one Australian, who lodged together in a boarding 
house.

With:- ERNIE BOURNE / COLIN McEWAN / SU ISRAEL / MARGARET REID 

HI-FIVE

A Kids Like Us/Nine Films and Television Production / x30m-e / 1999-continuing

HIGH FLYERS

10 Network-Southern Star / 52x30m-e / 1998-99

Creator: David Olgilvy / Executive Producer: Noel Price

Children's adventure series. Exploits of a group of kids involved in a circus.

With:- BARTHOLOMEW NASH as Trevor / ALIN ABELLA as Kyet Nguyen / KATY BRINSON as Sarah / DENISE BRISKIN as Tay / CHRISTOPHER BROWN as Steve / BRANDON BURNS as Bert / JADE BUTLER as Julianna 'Jules' Price / ZANE ELVIS DE COUVEY as Mitchell 'Mitch' Price / SERGE DE NARDO as Pablo / JANE HALL as Caz

HIGH ROLLERS

7 Network-Grundy Organisation / x30m-e / 1975

Producer: Andrew Brooke

A casino type game show based ona US original of the same name. The contestants rolled Dice to try and come up with certain combinations that would enable them to remove numbers from a board, leading to prizes. Hosted by Garry Meadows and Delvine Delaney (later replaced by Suzanne Fox just before the show's end).

HILL'S END

Revcom Prod Pty Ltd / 6x30m-e / 1989 (First Episode: 3rd April)

Writer: Noel Robinson / Camera: Danny Batterham / Design: Brian Thomson / Producer: Noel Price / Executive Producer: Geoffrey Daniels / Director: Di Drew

Period children's drama series. In a small Australian farming town during the 1950's a septet of kids get caught up in a mystery surrounding a cave containing ancient aboriginal art, but whilst on an expedition to the cave with their teacher they get caught in a storm. The serial had high production values and a budget of $2.6 million.

With:- MADGE RYAN / JOHN NOBLE / MAREE D'ARCY / CLAYTON WILLIAMSON / JASON DEGIORGIO / EMMA FOWLER / KATHERINE CULLEN / CAITLIN PROCTOR