The Newsreader (Sunday on ABC) is an excellent new Aussie drama about a newsroom in 1986. It is the latest in a long line of TV series about news, from comedies like The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) to dramas like The Newsroom (2012). The Newsreader is more drama than comedy and it’s also a show that could only have been made by our public broadcaster.
That’s because commercial TV executives believe that TV shows about TV do not rate in Australia. For example, Seven always aired 30 Rock at 11.30pm even after it started winning multiple Emmy Awards. They just refused to even try it any time earlier.
And yet, two Aussie-made shows about TV, The Box (1974) and Frontline (1994), were both massive hits. Those shows were timely and so is The Newsreader as it perfectly recreates the history and the era.
The cast is magnificent with complicated newsreader Helen Norville (Anna Torv), new rookie reporter Dale Jennings (Sam Reid), struggling sports reporter Rob Rickards (Steve Peacocke) and bearish boss Lindsay Cunningham (William McInnes).
Sam Reid and William McInnes in The Newsreader
There is also veteran newsreader Geoff Walters (Robert Taylor) and his society wife Evelyn (in a scene-stealing performance from Marg Downey), but don’t bother trying to figure out if it’s based on anybody real because it’s not. Instead, there is a whole other vibe going on if you pay close attention.
See also: How The Newsreader brought the news of 1986 to modern screens
Creator, Michael Lucas, on what drew him to the world of 80’s newsrooms
One of the best series about TV was Beggars and Choosers (1999) and it should be on Paramount+ given they now own the Showtime library. Rather than just having shows that were already available on other sites, how about digging into that library for some earlier series like Huff (2004) and Fat Actress (2005).
Heels (Sunday on Stan) is a small-town sporting drama hoping to be the next Friday Night Lights. It’s about wrestler brothers Jack (Stephen Amell) and Ace (Alexander Ludwig) so you will either stick with it for the wrestling or the eye candy.
What Does Australia Really Think About (Wednesday on SBS) begins with an episode about disability. Hidden cameras reveal how people with disabilities are treated in public and watching on in real time is host Kurt Fearnley who can’t help but drop the F-bomb at what they uncover. One to watch.
Four Corners is celebrating its 60th Anniversary (Monday on ABC) which makes it the longest running series in Australia. I have been hearing its theme music all my life, first via my parents and now by choice. Congratulations to all.
See also: Four Corners looks back at the last six decades to mark its 60th anniversary
Listen to the new Mercado and Manning on TV here. This episode reviews The Newsreader, Mr Corman, Hacks, the best streaming platforms and Foxtel’s drama drought.