Frontline
Frontline is an Australian comedy television series which satirised Australian television current affairs programmes and reporting. It ran for three series of 13 half-hour episodes and was broadcast on ABC TV in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
It's the end of another successful season at Frontline, but after three years at the helm, Mike Moore is not happy. He feels the show has become lightweight, obsessed with ratings rather than serious public issues. It is time to make a stand...
After giving a talk at a school, Mike becomes concerned that Frontline is presenting a negative view of young people. He sets out to fix the problem, but runs into a small obstacle- his executive producer, Graham Prowse. As Prowsey would say, it's an episode "no parent can afford to miss..."
When an independent Queensland MP makes a controversial maiden speech, the Frontline team swings into action. "Where does she get her prejudiced views from?" demands Mike, before introducing another story on Vietnamese heroin dealers.
After attacking a dubious property developer on air, Mike starts to receive death threats. Prowsey arranges a bodyguard for Mike's protection, but Mike is less than happy about it.
Frontline attempts for save the life of a young boy with a hole in his heart. Brooke makes an announcement.
Mike attempts to play a round of golf with Ian Baker-Finch. Brooke has a decision to make.
While it is revealed that Mike is the fourth richest entertainer in Australia, Frontline profiles the unemployed Baxter family.
Mike seeks an interview with Mel Gibson.
Prowsey educates the new Sunday Forum producer in the Art of the Interview.
Frontline has a new segment producer, Mike is writing his life story and has an unfortunate accident with a sign language translator.
Mike decides to abandon publicity while Geoff's weather special is a big success.
After years of torture, Mike makes the decision to axe Elliott Rhodes while Marty begins researching Mike for an episode of ""This is Your Life""
Mike goes on an Aboriginal health crusade.
This is an episode of series three of Frontline, which aired in 1997.Several years after season 2, Frontline has become the highest-rated current affairs show in the country, under the guidance of an experienced and smooth-operating Executive Producer (Alan Dale). The show, however, still targets the lowest common denominator, and continually airs manipulative pieces instead of hard-hitting journalism. When the executive producer retires, however, his replacement Graham Prowsie Prowse (Steve Bisley) proves to be a chauvinistic manipulator who doesn't care at all for Mike's desire to focus on important issues. As a result, Mike begins considering moving to the ABC. Steve Bisley joins the cast. In most episodes he is given top billing.From this episode onwards Jase (Torquil Neilson) now speaks. In the first two seasons, he never said a word.
This is an episode of series three of Frontline, which aired in 1997.After listening to Pauline Hanson's maiden speech, the Frontline crew join a media frenzy attacking her Nativist and Protectionist policies as racist until finally Hanson agrees to be interviewed. At the same time, however, Frontline runs a swathe of stories about various ethnical groups, which clearly divide racial lines and are designed to appeal to racist prejudices. Mike's interview with Pauline Hanson parodies a 1996 interview Hanson gave on 60 Minutes with Tracey Curro.For this episode only, Steve Bisley is second in the opening credits.Although this season is supposedly set several years after the previous seasons (set in 1994 and 1995 respectively), this episode is very clearly set in 1996, as evidenced by Pauline Hanson's maiden speech.
Plot of this episode is not specified yet. Please check back later for more update.
This is an episode of series three of Frontline, which aired in 1997.As the day of Ashira's surgery nears, Marty and the team attempt to keep the story exclusive and find an entire week's storylines in what is turning out to be a relatively predictable event; and Prowsie struggles to smooth-talk his way out of not mentioning Rotary's involvement in the project. Mike's determination to be the star reporter of the story begins to wane when he is offered the chance to play golf with celebrity Ian Baker-Finch. And when Brooke informs Prowsie and Trish (Lynda Gibson) that she is pregnant, she struggles between the options of keeping her baby - which, as an unwed mother, will alienate Frontlines conservative viewership - or keeping her career.
Plot of this episode is not specified yet. Please check back later for more update.
The network is in chaos with a million things happening at once and the promo idea of ""One Big Happy Family"". New executive producers fly around until Sam Murphey arrives.
When the working class all reply to Mike as an asshole, the network tries to change it's views. Marty is stuck on a story regarding an ostrich farm.
While Mike is the beginning of a pointless racism debate, Brooke tries to make an unheroic heart surgeon look like a hero.
Mike, tiring of his job, is given the official-sounding, pointless job of ""International Story Co-ordinator"" which involves faxing stories to Britain. ""A Current Affair"" appear to be getting all the Frontline stories so Mike searches for the office mole. But when Jan begins getting irate phone calls from Britain claiming Mike isn't sending them anything, they discover HE is the mole. He has sent all their stories to ACA by mistake!
A series of problems rocks the team when Stu is bashed, Mike's thoughts on Euthanasia get in the way and Brooke is jealous of Emma due to a new boyfriend.
Mike's niece visits the office and begins to discover what really goes on. ACA screens a ""playground challenge"" where a celebrity has 24 hours to build a playground for homeless kids. Frontline borrows the idea but the playground and a story of fraudulent builders come together in a ghastly way.
Brooke interviews the victim of an acid attack while Mike appears on the cover of a gay magazine, sparking controversy in the office.
Frontline makes an issue of ethnic tension in the community
Mike is bored again and looking to get his hands dirty on a story.
An american consultant is brought in to change Frontline's image.
Mike gets arrested during a wilderness-protest
Marty bails out a Nazi. Frontline has a new legal adviser. Mike appears on Jackpot representing an unusual home viewer
Mike interviews the network head and the team attend the premiere of a new soap ""Rainbow Island""
This is an episode of series two of Frontline, which first aired in 1995.When lower-income audiences start tuning out, Jan and Sam Murphy (Kevin J. Wilson), the new executive producer, attempt to change Mike's image: to make him a more down-to-earth guy. Elsewhere, Marty tries to stop Frontline from doing an expos on a dodgy investment he's personally involved in.
This is an episode of series two of Frontline, which first aired in 1995.Mike starts tiring of his job, so Sam gives him an official-sounding but easy role as 'International Story Co-Ordinator'. A series of big stories are ruined when A Current Affair happens to do the same ones each night, leading Sam and Mike to pursue an office mole.
This is an episode of series two of Frontline, which first aired in 1995.With ratings still down, the network hires Larry Hages (Harry Shearer), an American consultant who implements a series of changes in the way that Frontline runs.
Frontline presenter Mike Moore wants to shed his image as the nice guy of current affairs, and tries to raise his status by interviewing people perceived to be soft targets, such as Dr. John Hewson, (not long after the infamous Birthday Cake Interview). Meanwhile, reporters Brooke Vandenberg and Martin DiStasio attempt to deal with more important matters.
This is an episode of series one of Frontline, which first aired in 1994.When a beautiful young aid worker is found alive after a month missing in the desert, Brian (Bruno Lawrence) and the Frontline team get into a bidding war with Channel Nine for the interview. Elsewhere, Brooke's interview with Pat Cash has the team gossiping about their relationship.
Frontline are accused of being sensationalist after they link two unrelated murders to a mythical serial killer. Meanwhile, Mike is confused over his fan mail
When Brian hires an attractive sports star because he likes her, the team (especially Emma)'s moral values come into play.
A gunman holding his children hostage is the source of Frontline's latest story. When Mike succeeds in negotiating with the gunman, he becomes a hero. Until, a few weeks later, the consequences of the action arrive...
Mike is looking to gain credibilty, so he travels to Bougainville to do a study on civil war. Back home, the group enjoy his absence and Brooke becomes host.
This is an episode of series one of Frontline, which first aired in 1994.With the show losing female viewers, Brian and Emma attempt to tailor the show to a stereotypical women's market. Mike, meanwhile, attempts to get a serious story on migrant textile workers on the air, while also trying to have 'Friday Night Funnyman' Elliot Rhodes fired, and film a new promo for the network.
Mike is planning a story but the others convince him to do a so-called expose on table-top dancing. When a crocodile victim's husband won't give a story, Marty goes to extreme lengths to get one.
A hidden camera story for Brooke backfires while Mike tries to fix up his low profile and the cameramen get an eyeful of Brooke.
This is an episode of series one of Frontline, which first aired in 1994.When a woman is dropped from an (unnamed) Australian sport team, she thinks it is because she's not a lesbian. Brooke takes the story, and attempts to transform it into a hit, but in the process ignites hatred from the sporting community. Meanwhile, Emma attempts to get Marty to take his holiday time.
Mike does an exclusive case that could ""get"" some of the country's top businessmen, and puts his job on the line at the same time.
Brooke does a series on a priest accused of rape and Mike goes up against cross-network promotion. During a story, Marty unwittingly wipes out an entire genus of butterfly.
This is an episode of series one of Frontline, which first aired in 1994.When a charity loses thousands of dollars, they ask the media to keep it quiet for the sake of their reputation. Brian and Marty, however, decide to go ahead with the story. Elsewhere, Mike and Brooke prepare for the Logie Awards, but Mike finds himself the only one without a date. This is Bruno Lawrence's last episode. He died before season 2 began filming. In the story it was explained at the start of season 2 that his character, Brian, had been fired off-screen.
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| Language | English |
| Release | 1994-05-09 |
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