Loveday Writing

The job of a season premiere is to establish new story arcs for the season and continue any that were established in the previous season’s finale. This premiere definitely did a great job.

The previous season ended in April 1986, with Helen and Dale’s personal and professional relationship uncertain, Geoff leaving the network and burning the bridges he spent over 30 years building on the way out, and Rob and Noelene starting a relationship. The premiere addressed this and what’s to come.

The premiere kicks off on 8 July 1987, with Helen and Dale appearing on Irish comedian, Gerry Carroll’s, talk show. They manage to talk about their relationship, with Dale being a bit awkward by trying to make it about the election and avoiding the personal questions Gerry throws at them.

Two days later, the News at Six team are preparing to make their way to Canberra for the election, when Noelene shows Dale and Helen a new promo put together on the new CEO, Charlie’s, orders, which includes a 7:45pm election results guarantee using Datamax technology, and an exclusive with Paul Keating. The promo lands like a lead balloon amongst the team, even more so when Charlie’s orders also include keeping the tone of the broadcast ‘light.’ Just before they leave, Noelene and Rob go to another office to spend private time together, with Noelene promising to take Rob to Sizzler when she returns, as they are still keeping their relationship secret at the moment.

Meanwhile, Geoff gives an interview on his past election coverage, with Evelyn and their adult daughter, Kay, posing for photos with him. When the reporter asks Geoff about his former colleagues, Geoff quickly demands he move on. As Kay leaves the house, Geoff gives her money as Evelyn watches on.

On 11 July 1987, Helen, Dale, and Noelene have arrived in Canberra at their set, where they meet the data analyst, whilst Rob, Lindsay, and Dennis watch the broadcast from Charlie’s house. Dale and Geoff run into each other backstage and whilst they are civil, there is clearly tension between them.

Whilst he’s on the air, Geoff reveals that the rival network he now works for is letting him host his own program, The Walters Report, five nights a week. During the broadcast of their own program, they realise that Paul Keating is in Bankstown, not Canberra. This leads to Dennis, Lindsay, and Noelene scrambling to find out where Keating is and trying to get him on the air.

Meanwhile, Kay and Evelyn watch the broadcast together. When Evelyn asks Kay whether her boyfriend, Scott, will be joining them, Kay tells her they broke up and he’s not paying rent. Evelyn offers to get Geoff to talk to him as Geoff is his landlord, but Kay points out that she is upset over the break-up and Evelyn only cares about the rent. Kay reluctantly agrees to Evelyn’s offer to cook her dinner. Whilst Evelyn is watching the election coverage, Kay steals jewellery from Evelyn’s drawers.

Back in Canberra, Noelene, and Helen rush to Parliament House to use their studio to do a cross with Paul Keating, whilst Geoff calls the election in favour of Hawke during his broadcast. Despite Noelene’s bad directions and the mad rush, they manage to pull it off. Lindsay, Dennis, Rob, and Charlie watch on, however Charlie tells Lindsay that he thinks Helen is being too aggressive during the interview. In contrast, Charlie enjoys Dale and Gerry’s on-air banter as they stall for time.

After the broadcasts have finished, Evelyn discovers Kay stole her jewellery after Kay leaves for the night, and Gerry propositions Dale at the hotel bar. Dale tells Helen about it when they go back to their room, and Helen asks Dale if he was interested, and he tells her no. Helen tells Dale that if he was, Gerry is a logical choice as he would be discreet. Dale and Helen tell each other that they only want each other, but Helen asks him to let her know if that changes.

When everyone returns to work on 13 July 1987, they discover that despite the issues on the night, Helen and Dale’s broadcast had more viewers than Geoff’s. Evelyn tells Geoff that it’s time that the truth about Helen emerged to the public, whilst Charlie tells Lindsay that he thinks Helen is too aggressive and gives him a couple of months to reign her in or he’ll replace her, believing that Gerry is more of a drawcard. However, Lindsay doesn’t say anything to Helen.

Overall, I felt that this was a solid start to the season with the introduction of new characters with Kay, Charlie, and Gerry, the addressing of the previous season’s story arcs such as Geoff leaving the network and Rob and Noelene’s romance, and the various tensions that were set up between Kay and Evelyn, and Helen, Dale, and Gerry.

It will be interesting to see where we go from here and I’m looking forward to reviewing the rest of the season.