Family and Friends (Australian TV series)

Family and Friends is a short-lived Australian television soap opera debuted on 7 February 1990.[1]

Family and Friends
Written byBevan Lee
Greg Haddrick
StarringRoxane Wilson,
Renato Bartolomei,
Jonathan Hardy,
Dinah Shearing,
Rachael Beck,
Simon Westaway,
Ross Newton,
Sean Myers
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerBruce Best
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkNine Network
Picture format4.3 PAL
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseFebruary 7, 1990 –
January 18, 1991

The series was intended to be the Nine Network's response to the already successful soaps on the rival channels - Neighbours and E Street on the Network Ten and Home and Away on the Seven Network.

Synopsis

Set in a suburban community the series focused on two families - the Chandler and the Italian-Australian Rossi families - who were linked by a long-standing vendetta stemming from an accidental death in the 1950s. Old enmities were renewed by the Romeo-and-Juliet style romance between Jennifer Chandler (Roxane Wilson) and Robert Rossi (Renato Bartolomei).

Despite a strong cast which included actors known for previous soap roles: Abigail (Sons and Daughters), Diane Craig (Prisoner), Anne Phelan (Prisoner), Justine Clarke (Home and Away), and Alyce Platt (Sons and Daughters), the series failed to catch on with the viewers. Episodes were initially broadcast in one-hour installments up against Ten's E Street on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 19:30–20:30, but ratings were disastrous. The show was promptly reformatted as half-hour episodes stripped at 17:30 weeknights, but ratings remained very low. And now that it was lead-in to National Nine News's 6pm bulletin its low ratings meant it remained in a precarious position.

The series then underwent a major revamp which included the loss of six cast members and addition of new cast members including Rebecca Rigg. A week's worth of episodes were produced in the new format, when the series was abruptly canceled on 26 April 1990. The final episodes went to air in a late-night timeslot during the 1990-1991 summer non-ratings period. In total 96 episodes had been produced.[2]

Cast

Notes
  1. Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 169
  2. Mercado, Andrew. Super Aussie Soaps, Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 1-86403-191-3 pp. 300–303
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