australian television information archive

The Alice

Debut: August 01, 2004 (Nine)
Produced by Southern Star Entertainment
Executive Producer: Hugh Marks
Producer: Robert Sinclair
Director: Kate Dennis
Writer: Justin Monjo

The Alice observes a group of strangers coming together in an iconic place for a particular event, only to find themselves caught up in something else altogether. There's to be a total eclipse of the sun and the perfect spot to view it is in the desert outside Alice Springs. Planetary forces are indeed at work and they will test the will of four people, who have a date with destiny in The Alice. Drawn to The Alice all for very different reasons, each of the travellers has a part to play in the unravelling of a murder mystery and each will have cause to linger longer than they ever anticipated in The Alice.

Starring: Erik Thomson, Jessica Napier, Caitlin McDougall, Brett Stiller, Luke Colloll, Kyas Sheriff, Patrick Brammall, Simon Burke, Andrew McFarlane, Roxanne Wilson, Christopher Stollery

Telemovie and following TV series are both available on DVD

Big Reef (aka Troppo)

Debut: Sunday, October 24, 2004 (Nine)
Produced by Beyond Simpson Le Mesurier Pty Ltd
Executive Producers: Mikael Borglund, Posie Graeme Evans
Director: Steve Jodrell
Writer: Roger Simpson

A story of romance and humour set in Australia's far north east. Former journalist Tom Stopple gets more than he bargained for when he heads to Paradise near the Great Barrier Reef to escape his troubles. But a category four cyclone and a man-eating crocodile are the least of his worries—it's what Paradise has done to the people.

Starring: Angus Grant, Madeliene West, Jack Finsterer, Steve Bisley, Lisa Hensley, Damien Garvey, Catherine Moore

Blackjack—The Trilogy

Produced by: Jigsaw Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producer: Nick Murray
Executive Producers: Sue Masters, Nick Murray
Directors: Peter Andrikidis, Ian Watson
Writers: Katherine Thompson, Tim Pye, Matt Cameron

After blowing the whistle on his mates, policeman Jack Kempson was sent to the archives to rot—there with the use of a new computerised crime-tracking system he tracks down the perpetrators of long unsolved crimes. (3 x 90 min)

BLACKJACK II
Jack is asked by the sister of a dead performance artist Eva, to reopen the investigation into her death. Using new DNA sampling technology Jack determines that Eva was murdered but has to sift through a mountain of suspects. Eventually a simple game of chance leads him to the truth in spite of the technology at his finger-tips.

BLACKJACK III
In an attempt to redress the guilt he feels for blowing the whistle on former colleague Andy Margate, Jack pulls the file on a series of unsolved rapes—one of the victims was Andy's daughter.

BLACKJACK IV
An old man is locked in a stairwell for the weekend. Is someone trying to kill him and if so why. Jack must find out if this is connected to the secrets flowing from the murder of the old man's wife many years before.

Go Big

Debut: March 14, 2004 (Ten)
Produced by: Go Big Film & TV Pty Ltd
Producers: Rosemary Blight, Ellie Beaumont, Michael Miller
Executive Producer: Sue Masters
Director: Tony Tilse
Writers: Ellie Beaumont, Michael Miller

If you could change your whole life overnight, would you do it? Thirty-year-old Gina Katz, stuck in a dead end telemarketing job, is contemplating just that. Transformation for Gina means embarking upon a wild and seductive journey with two strange men she meets in a bar. Together they are going to Go Big forming the biggest, richest company in the world. They don't have an office or any employees but they do have three very sexy business cards, some good-looking suits and a knack for stretching the truth. Through an elaborate masquerade the three lovable scoundrels manage to convince society's A-list they are high flying tycoons. Go Big is a sexy, fast-paced romantic comedy of underdogs taking on the big guns, celebrity, hype, friendship, family, sibling rivalry and, most of all, love. (100 min)

Starring: Tom Long, Justine Clarke, Alex Dimitriades, Leon Ford, Geoff Morrell, Sacha Horler, Kimberley Joseph, Tony Barry and Judi Farr

Jessica

Debut: July 18 & 19, 2004 (Ten)
Executive Producers: Bob Campbell, Des Monaghan, Nick Witkowski
Producer: Anthony Buckley
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: Peter Yeldham

Jessica is the dramatisation of an extraordinary life. It is a sweeping saga of love, deceit and sacrifice set during the early years of the twentieth century in the farmlands around Narrandera — then a small frontier town in rural New South Wales. 

Jessica Bergman and her elder sister Meg are as different as their parents, Joe and Hester. Jess belongs in overalls and works the unforgiving land with her father, while Meg is a lace and frills girl whom the scheming Hester is desperate to match with the area’s most eligible bachelor, Jack Thomas.

When shearing season comes along, however, Jess tags along with Joe and lands a job as a tar-boy at the Thomas’s vast station. Jess, Jack and Billy Simon (Jack’s best mate), all quickly become firm friends. Despite Hester’s hopes that Meg may catch Jack’s eye, it is the down-to-earth Jess he finds himself attracted to.

And then, suddenly, tragedy strikes. A tragedy whose ramifications change several lives forever. It leads to a triple murder, to an act of strength and heroism from Jessica that the people of Narrandera still talk about, to two pregnancies—” one faked and one real”—that break one dynasty and begin another and, ultimately, to Hester’s complete betrayal and abandonment of Jessica. Hester coldly commits Jessica to a mental asylum in a bid to see her dreams of becoming the mistress of Thomas Station fulfilled. As a final blow, while still incarcerated, Jessica hears that Jack, her last hope for freedom and happiness, has been killed in World War One.

Through all these traumas, two wonderful friends remain true: Mary, a warm and happy Aboriginal woman, and Richard Runche, a brilliant English barrister whose penchant for claret has led to a career in the colonies instead of the Old Bailey.

From Mary, Jessica receives the unconditional support and friendship her mother could never provide, while Runche gives her life-saving help and hope when all seems lost. In return, Jessica inspires Runche to rediscover the determination and commitment to justice he thought he had drowned forever.

These three unlikely allies fight a series of terrible wrongs. First, Runche cleverly manages to secure Jessica’s release. Then they both struggle against a callous government edict that sees Mary’s children forcibly removed from their parents’ care and placed in an orphanage. Finally, Jessica and Runche have to face a heartbreaking dilemma. If natural justice for her will yield the satisfaction of revenge but shatter her son’s happiness, how far should it be pursued?

Starring: Leeanna Walsman, Sam Neill, Lisa Harrow , Megan Dorman , Tony Martin , John Howard , Oliver Ackland, Wil Traval , Heather Mitchell  , Kerry Walker , Huw Higginson , Jack Finsterer, Nikki Osborne, Peter Sommerfield, Peter Sumner, Caroline Stainsby, Simon Chilvers, John Merkel, Harrison Turke, Kyah Patten, Cecileigh Patten, Jess Flanagan, Raphael Dickson, Nicholas Papademetriou, Felix Dean, Edward Mitchell, David Baldwin, Julie Lowe, David Kerslake, Richard Healy, Ivan Clarke, John Gregg, Antony Milne, Barry Pearce, Richard Connell, Edmund Pegge

Available on DVD from chaos.com

Loot (aka Peregrine—The Dead Float)

Australia: June 25, 2004 (ABC)
New Zealand: October 09, 2005 (TV One) Produced by: Seaside Stories Pty Ltd
Producer: Sue Seeary
Associate Producers: Allen Blewitt, Catherine Lavelle
Director: Shawn Seet
Writer: John O'Brien

A man is dead, millions of dollars have been lost and a mafia boss is missing. Someone’s laughing all the way to the bank, but one man is on the hunt to find those who believe they are above accountability. Jon Peregrine (Jason Donovan) is an investigator with a difference—the trail he follows is a paper one, chasing money as it is hidden, laundered and fast-tracked around the world. When his brother-in-law commits suicide after losing thousands of dollars when a share float goes belly up, Peregrine must face his sister’s (Tara Morice) grief at losing her husband and vows to hunt down those responsible. Although mum and dad investors have lost millions, none of the corporate heavyweights have got burnt and no one from the top end of town is talking. His ex-wife Cynthia (Anita Hegh) might hold a piece of the puzzle, but she’s not giving anything away… at least, not officially… and certainly not until Jon looks at the divorce papers she’s been trying to get him to sign for the past few months. Together with his eccentric silent partner Charles (Barry Otto), and genius offsider Bruno (Russell Dykstra), Peregrine works to track down those involved in the deal and bring them to account. Jon smells blood money and he’s not about to give up the chase. Perhaps white-collar crime doesn’t pay like it used to?

Starring: Jason Donovan, Anita Hegh, Barry Otto, Tara Morice, Russel Dykstra, Mark Mitchell

Available on DVD from chaos.com

The Murray Whelan Series

Debut : June 20, 2004 (Seven)
Produced by: Ruby Entertainment Pty Ltd
Executive Producers: Mark Ruse, Steve Luby
Producer: Mark Ruse
Directors: John Clarke, Sam Neill
Writer: John Clarke

Stars David Wenham as a 30-something, divorced father of one who works as an adviser to a Labor government minister. Whelan becomes embroiled in behind-the-scenes scandals and often battles criminals. (2 x 90 min)

Telemovie 1: STIFF
A body found in the freezer of the Meatworks in Murray's boss Agnelli's electorate causes panic in the ranks. Agnelli sees it as a Machiavellian plot by his political rivals to stir up trouble with the unions and precipitate his demise.

Telemovie 2: THE BRUSH OFF
When Agnelli is demoted to Minister for Arts and Water, he decides to earn brownie points by raising funds for the next election campaign. Murray is on the case, meeting with philanthropists and arts connoisseurs. This is where the trouble begins.

Starring: David Wenham

The Brush Off and Stiff are both available on DVD from Chaos.com

Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge

Debut : November 14, 2004 (Ten)
Executive Producers:
Producer:
Director: Tom Gleisner
Writer: Tom Gleisner

Television outback adventurer Russell Coight decides to lead a fund raising trek across the Top end of Australia to raise money for the Royal Bush Nursing Service. Accompanying Russell on this ambitious undertaking will be six celebrities along with a documentary crew. For the first few days things go well but then a series of accidents involving vehicles and innocent wildlife begin to take their toll. The group get lost, bogged, food and fuel run low and tempers start to boil. It takes all Russell’s skill as ‘group leader’ to keep the expedition together. Things reach an all time low when the charity involved in the project withdraw their association after learning that Russell has wiped out a rainforest and destroyed an outback community health centre. With the trip about to collapse and several thousand miles still to go it is up the group to pull things together.

Starring: Glenn Robbins as Russell Coight, Charlie Garber as Phil, Lucy Gould as Suzie, Chad Kendrick as Ben, Tamara Searle as Laura, Andrew Startin as Craig, Nicky Whelan as Chrissie
And: Jennifer Hansen, Jessica Rowe, Marie-Louise Thiele, Celia Hirsh, David Pawsey, Yushi Nishi, Yasuko Nishi, Karen Forster, Wendy Loader

Available on DVD from chaos.com

Second Chance

Debut: 2004 (Ten)
Produced by: BBHTV in association with Network Ten, the Australian Film Finance Corporation, Screenwest and Daro Film
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: John Misto

Alec Costello has run out of options. His career as a high flying Melbourne corporate lawyer has come to a crashing halt after being caught with his fingers in the till. Word is out and no-one along the eastern seaboard will employ him. Where in the world will he find anyone crazy enough to hire someone like him?

Welcome to Broome, nestled in Australia's remote North-West. Broome is home to the world's finest pearls, the most spectacular beaches and quite possibly, the strangest mix of people—many of whom are running away from something. It is here we also find Riggleton and Marsh, the only law firm in Australia who bothered to reply to Alec's job application.

It seems Broome has given Alec a second chance after all. One Alec needed.

Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Vince Poletto, Jodie Dry, Genevieve O'Reilly, Rhys Muldoon, Tara Morice, Allyssa McClelland, Paul Pantano and Johnny Pasvolski

Small Claims

Debut: Monday, May 17, 2004 (Ten)
Produced by: RB Films Pty Ltd
Producers: Kylie Du Fresne, Ben Grant
Executive Producer: Rosemary Blight
Director: Cherie Nolan
Writers: Keith Thompson, Kaye Bendle

Chrissy is a 36-year-old ex-solicitor with three kids, a second hand Volvo and a husband who spends most of his time at high-powered meetings in Europe. Jo, 29, is an ex-Major Crime Squad detective on the rise. Since the birth of her two-year-old son and subsequent unravelling of her marriage to another detective, she now works part-time in Police Intelligence and is bored to tears. But when a young local mother with a shady past vanishes in mysterious circumstances, Chrissy and Jo form an unlikely partnership and ramp up their dormant job-skills to become a formidable pair of sleuths, exposing a simmering hotbed of drug-deals and violent murder in the suburbs. An additional 3 telemovies have been written.

Starring: Rebecca Gibney as Chrissy Hindmarsh, Claudia Karvan as Jo Collins, Robert Mammone as Todd Fehlers, Freya Stafford as Melinda Fehlers, Paul Barry as Greg Collins, Natasha Beaumont as Ginny, Wayne Blair as Detective Senior Constable Lacey, Brandon Burke as Detective Superintendent Brian Stone, Carol Burns as Pamela, Tina Bursill as Rhonda, Gyton Grantley as Detective Senior Constable Brett, Rebecca Massey as Clare Santarini, Jillian O'Dowd as Sally, David Roberts as Peter Hindmarsh, Simon Westaway as Vaughan, Tanya Yuki as Yayoi

Through My Eyes

Debut: November 23 & 24, 2004 (Seven)
Produced by: Produced by: Liberty and Beyond Pty Ltd
Executive Producer: Mikael Borglund
Producers: Simone North, Tony Cavanaugh
Director: Di Drew
Writer: Tony Cavanaugh

In the desert heart of Australia's outback, a baby vanishes into the night. The mother claims that a dingo took her baby, but as the world becomes fascinated by the mystery, suspicions are aroused. The mother, Lindy, was accused of cutting her baby's throat and at trial was found guilty of murder and put in jail for life, with hard labour, for a crime she did not commit.
The untold true story of Lindy Chamberlain is finally revealed—the culmination of years of research and interviews with hundreds of actual participants. The second inquest into the disappearance of Azaria begins and Lindy is put on trial for her baby’s murder. The Chamberlain’s demeanour and religious background did not endear them to the Australian public—or the jury. Combined with the healthy dose of Northern Territory police suspicion, the determination to prove guilt was unprecedented. A humiliated police force, bad science, revenge and a bloody-minded determination to ignore evidence proved a deadly combination for Lindy. What happened shocked, not only the Chamberlain family, but the Australian public and the elite legal community. A single, frightening moment of tragedy led to an intersection of many lives that would be changed forever.

Starring: Miranda Otto, Craig McLachlan, Peter O'Brien, Erik Thomson, Simon Westaway, Andrew McFarlane, Steve Vidler, Lorraine Bayly, Aaron Blabey, Shaun Micallef, Barry Otto, Paul Mercurio, Angie Milliken, Brian Vriends, Lucy Bell, Nadine Garner, Steve Anderton, Graeme Blundell, Wayne Pygram

Available on DVD from chaos.com