Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mongrel · 06-22-2003, 06:53 PM

Ok, here it is- lately I've been watching re-runs(or more to the point, recording it, and watching later- it's on at 4am) of The Sullivans(for those overseas/too young to remember- a bad old Australian soapie from the '70s). Now, with the start of Wimbledon coming up, The Sullivans has to make way. This is the only drama show I watch, and I think I'm going to get withdrawals until(if) it comes back on.

Anybody else as sad(in more ways than one) as me?

echidna · 06-22-2003, 07:57 PM

If it gives you closure on the series, I'm sure they all died. And if you've got cable, UKTV still shows Prisoner re-runs.

mongrel · 06-22-2003, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by echidna
If it gives you closure on the series, I'm sure they all died. And if you've got cable, UKTV still shows Prisoner re-runs.

No, no cable for me.

We only just found(again) out that Anna is going to die. And Tom is in the army in Egypt, and eager to get into combat for the first time. Oh, and Grace has just started going back to church.

I have to say, I only started watching it for a laugh and out of boredom, but somehow got hooked. Some of the lines are really corny, and some of the acting really bad, but I actually like the show now. Pathetic, isn't it?

Born Free · 06-23-2003, 12:39 AM

Not really mongrel Aussie soaps have a bad habit of getting you hooked and I say this as an ex addict of (oh the shame) Prisoner Cell Block H.

He used to bring me roses, I wish he would again.......

Arggggghhhhh

I remember the Sullivans and was it not one of the better ones anyway???

echidna · 06-23-2003, 12:55 AM

Yes, at least the Sullivans was a little more substantial than those other greats from the 70's like Number 96 or The Box. And infinitely more bearable than Neighbours. But Prisoner ??? Dear oh dear, well at least you're not one of those idiot wrestling fans ... [sheepishly backs away]

mongrel · 06-23-2003, 06:22 PM

Ah, Prisoner. I remember as a kid not being allowed to watch it, so I'd sneak out of my room(it was on after my bedtime), and hide behind the couch where I could secretly watch it on our b/w telly. I haven't seen it since, though, so I don't know what I'd think of it if I saw it now.

As for The Sullivans, I guess one of the main things I like about it, is that it gives some perspective of life in the late '30s and '40s.

I don't remember ever seeing Number 96, and I've never even heard of The Box. I guess we didn't get them down here- we only had 1 commercial station until about '93-'94, so we missed out on a lot of shows.

BigBlue2 · 06-23-2003, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by echidna
But Prisoner ??? Dear oh dear, well at least you're not one of those idiot wrestling fans ... [sheepishly backs away]

Oh come on. Any show that had a character with the nickname of "Vinegar Tits" must have something going for it.

echidna · 06-24-2003, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mongrel
I don't remember ever seeing Number 96, and I've never even heard of The Box. I guess we didn't get them down here- we only had 1 commercial station until about '93-'94, so we missed out on a lot of shows.

That's a shame, they were both a key part of Aussie television's Golden Age. The buxom & not so intellectually gifted Abigail occupied the thoughts of an entire decade of males.

http://atia.coolfreepages.com/number96.html

Quote:

Number 96
Produced by Cash-Harmon Productions
Executive Producer: Bill Harmon
Aired: March 1972�December 22, 1977
Groundbreaking serial featuring high camp dramatics, sex, sin, nudity, and hilarious comic relief. Set in a block of eight flats in inner suburban Sydney, storylines dealt with the residents of the flats while the ground floor wine bar and delicatessen, and near-by Laundrette provided central meeting places for characters. Early storylines detailed the sex and sin aspects, with crime, rapes, murders and nudity. An early storyline was the dreaded 'knicker snipper', a devious intruder who ransacked the women's bedrooms and cut holes in their panties and bras. Later comedy storylines came to dominate though 1974 saw more crime with the horrific 'panty-hose' strangler killing off four young women residents, and 1975 saw four major stars killed off in the infamous 'bomb-blast' episode: a failed attempt to bolster the sagging ratings. Australia's first full frontal nude scene was added during the later episodes but nevertheless, ratings waned and the series eventually ended, with Dorrie and Don the only original characters still around at the end._

... and http://members.ozemail.com.au/~fangora/thebox.html is definitely a site worth sneaking a peak at to get a hint of 70's TV titillation.

Quote:

The Box was Crawford Productions' answer to Number 96, and it quickly emerged a worthy rival to the show that inspired it in the sex, sin and shock stakes.

Best known for producing serious police dramas of a high technical standard, Crawford Productions launched The Box, their first ever soap opera, in February 1974. Airing on Channel Ten - after Channel Seven passed on the idea - episodes were scheduled straight after Number 96 and the sexy bedfellows proved a ratings bonaza.

Like Number 96 it initially attracted curious viewers and heated publicity via its shocking elements, nude glimpses and a saucy title whose implications were not lost on the viewing public. Later it would settle into a lighter, more comic tone and the shock elements were toned down.

06-22-2003, 06:53 PM	#1
mongrel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North of the South Pole Posts: 5,177	A sad admission Ok, here it is- lately I've been watching re-runs(or more to the point, recording it, and watching later- it's on at 4am) of The Sullivans(for those overseas/too young to remember- a bad old Australian soapie from the '70s). Now, with the start of Wimbledon coming up, The Sullivans has to make way. This is the only drama show I watch, and I think I'm going to get withdrawals until(if) it comes back on. Anybody else as sad(in more ways than one) as me?

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06-22-2003, 07:57 PM	#2
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	If it gives you closure on the series, I'm sure they all died. And if you've got cable, UKTV still shows Prisoner re-runs.

06-23-2003, 12:39 AM	#4
Born Free Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,177	Not really mongrel Aussie soaps have a bad habit of getting you hooked and I say this as an ex addict of (oh the shame) Prisoner Cell Block H. He used to bring me roses, I wish he would again....... Arggggghhhhh I remember the Sullivans and was it not one of the better ones anyway???

06-23-2003, 12:55 AM	#5
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	Yes, at least the Sullivans was a little more substantial than those other greats from the 70's like Number 96 or The Box. And infinitely more bearable than Neighbours. But Prisoner ??? Dear oh dear, well at least you're not one of those idiot wrestling fans ... [sheepishly backs away]

06-23-2003, 06:22 PM	#6
mongrel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North of the South Pole Posts: 5,177	Ah, Prisoner. I remember as a kid not being allowed to watch it, so I'd sneak out of my room(it was on after my bedtime), and hide behind the couch where I could secretly watch it on our b/w telly. I haven't seen it since, though, so I don't know what I'd think of it if I saw it now. As for The Sullivans, I guess one of the main things I like about it, is that it gives some perspective of life in the late '30s and '40s. I don't remember ever seeing Number 96, and I've never even heard of The Box. I guess we didn't get them down here- we only had 1 commercial station until about '93-'94, so we missed out on a lot of shows.

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