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Nine sharpens its act with Underbelly: Razor

The stars of Underbelly: Razor turn out for a media launch in Sydney with Nine hoping it will lead its programming when The Block concludes.

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The stars of Underbelly: Razor joined with producers, Nine Execs and media for the show’s official launch in Sydney last night.

Richard Wilkins hosted the event which included Chelsie Preston Crayford, Danielle Cormack, John Batchelor, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Felix Williamson, Khan Chittenden, Lincoln Lewis, Rob Mills, Conrad Coleby, and Anna McGahan.

Screentime’s Des Monaghan noted the venue, a Pott’s Point bar, was adjacent to the 1920s scene of the Kellett Street riots.

“That street ran with blood. That’s how tough it was in those days. The overlords of this operation were two very tough broads, extraordinary characters who make some of our contemporary villains look complete villains. And I don’t mean that as a challenge,” he said.

The thirteen part series is based on the book Razor by writer Larry Writer.

“One of the other great attractions of Larry’s book is that everyone who features in it is dead. So it saves us a fortune in legal bills and it also means for the first time in Underbelly‘s history we’re not limited to what people have been convicted for. We can actually talk about what we know they did,” he said.

“We also weren’t besieged with calls from villains who can make us offers that we must accept as to how how the show would be. They also badger us about who should play them.”

Monaghan told the crowd Nine leapt at the opportunity of a period version of the hit crime series.

“Michael Healy and Jo (Horsburgh) bought it before I’d even finished the pitch -which was an unusual experience but one I hope to repeat,” he said.

Nine is counting on the show to lead its programming when The Block concludes. A sizzle reel played to the crowd looked like it was set to do the trick.

Underbelly: Razor starts 8:30pm Sunday August 21st on Nine.

 

23 Responses

  2. @ justin, how can you possibly say that Lincoln Lewis is the personification of whats wrong with Australian TV and Australian Youth in gerneral. Lincoln is a young actor who in my opinion is quite good. He is also a very well mannered young man who comes from a good family. Get your facts right mate

  3. What’s weird and frustrating is that Nine’s drama used to be pretty successful last century when it was female led and/or female skewed – Halifax in particular, Stingers (the 3 girls were the heart of this show), McLeods of course, and Water Rats had Goldie. Since the current regime took over they see female led or skewed drama as a problem – but they think putting Lisa McCune or Kate Ritchie in the central role will wallpaper over the deep misogyny which is at the core of everything they do – not just drama. Two tough female crime bosses at the centre of this series will either be very good or very bad, depending on how much network interference there was and how much salacious T&A is in it. Wait and see it and then lets all reconvene for further discussion on this matter! Should be fun.

  7. Thirteen parts? Drag it out 9! From all accounts it’s production standards look great, much like the other UB’s (great art dept). I for one do hope that the focus is on the “two very tough broads” as 9 always have a way to twist the focus back to the blokes and for the life of me I can’t think why. See the comment Donald left regarding McCleods – spot on. Personally…I’m waiting for Underbelly 2256 Jupiter, where ruthless aliens are holding the galaxy ransom, with a new drug created from water found within mars. A motley crew of hardened non/ and humanoid characters cruise in an intergalactic freighter. They are feverishly outrunning the corrupt galactic law enforcers and doing all they can to avoid incarceration at a nearby moon. Blood will be spilled in space…where no-one can hear you scream. Allegedly.

  8. I was talking about this century, but Stingers was the start of the real decline. There was not one female guest who wasn’t a mole. The fact is, the way females are portrayed in drama in this country (in the world, see Geena Davis’s institute) is a real problem and 9 are the worst offenders. Every thinking person knows its a boys club. It remains to be seen how the Razor story about prostitution unfolds, but judging by the promos it seems to be an excuse to show that women satisfying men sexually, rather than a well told and character driven story.

  13. @ walter, I agree with the other commenters here, how about you wait until you’ve seen it before criticising it in such a harsh way. I hope thought that it isn’t going to be up against Wild Boys because I really want to watch both.

  15. Someone left our TV on Nine last night. When I switched it on at 11:10am there was a 4-minute promo for UR masquerading as a “news” item” followed by a promo for Myers masquerading as a “news item”. How do I get 24 again??….ah, there we go.

  16. Even if it’s utter trash.. the seniors will love this for the set and costumes and see how things were in the ‘good old days’

    I love how he’s glad everyone mentioned by the series is dead, therefore if there any inaccuracies they won’t be called up on it…

  18. @walter these women ran Sydney in the 20s and if anything, demonstrate the differences in society and how women are treated. I suggest you google to find out what the story is about before making such uneducated comments

  20. Channel 9’s idea of what constitutes a ‘tough broad’ differs from the liberated public’s. It’ll be interesting to see 9’s portrayal here, but I doubt they’ll ever put women in the driver’s seat, unless she uses her sexuality to get there.

  21. A beautifully produced Aussie period drama, who cares if it’s a bit steamy? Fact is, back in the day many women did have to “hump, worship or fear men”. This description is hardly representative of “a typical 9 show” so Walter- just don’t watch it…

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