AACTA Awards to salute Neighbours
"AACTA this year will make a point of giving Neighbours the farewell it so richly deserves," says Foxtel's Brian Walsh.
- Published by David Knox
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Cast, critics and fans were roundly disappointed at the poor acknowledgement of Neighbours last week at the Logie Awards.
But the AACTA Awards, sponsored by Foxtel, plans to pay their respects to 37 years of television drama.
Foxtel Executive Director of Drama Brian Walsh told Mediaweek, “It was a major disappointment for me particularly because we had the cast of Neighbours in the room. What would it have taken to let them come up on stage and have their moment?
“After 37 years a show that has generated so much employment in Melbourne for technicians, camera operators, writers, directors, and actors. That show has given so much to the Australian industry over its 37 years. One of the first shows to export successfully to the UK, and it was given a 30 second sizzle reel on TV’s night of nights?
“I was shocked and I know the cast are very upset about the fact that it was just so dismissive. If we’re going to celebrate success on a night like the Logies then for goodness sake, please let a show that’s entertained audiences for 37 years have its moment and take a bow.”
TV historian Andrew Mercado, who criticised the table seating and “one of the laziest clip packages I’ve ever seen,” said “I know for a fact that one of the Best Actress nominees turned to the person next to her during the clip package and said, ‘When the cast of Neighbours walk out on stage we’re giving them a standing ovation.’ It was just assumed in the room that they were going to come out and get a curtain call. It was disgraceful the way Neighbours was treated after 37 years. The longest running drama in Australian TV history.”
Walsh, who was famously a publicist for the soap in the 1980s, added, “I completely agree and I can tell you that AACTAs this year will make a point of giving Neighbours the farewell it so richly deserves. That was a huge mistake on Sunday night.”
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5 Responses
Brian Walsh and Andrew Mercado are absolutely spot about this and at least something sounds like it’s in the planning for the AACTAs.
Brian Walsh knows how to read the room, whereas his counterpart at Nine doesn’t seem to be able to.
Good to read that the AACTA’s will honour Neighbours. And well done to Foxtel’s Brian Walsh for agreeing with us all that the Logies should have done more for Neighbours. Especially for a show that has won many Logies over the last couple of decades.
If not for Brian, we may not have got to two years of Neighbours. Thanks Brian!
I’m surprised both TV Week – or even the None Network – have made a statement regarding this. I’m sure next year will have a big farewell as the show will have broadcast final episode. And that will be their lame attempt at redemption 1 the probably when the cast aren’t even invited or able to attend. Too little too late. The show wrapped so soon before the Logies, this was there moment.