Rebecca Gibney is gorgeous in everything she stars in, whether she’s playing a rural mechanic (The Flying Doctors), a forensic psychiatrist (Halifax f.p.), a suburban mum (Packed To The Rafters) or a bogan checkout chick (Wanted). Now she’s a hot-to-trot winemaker and her fans are going to love it.
Under The Vines is set in a winery outside Queenstown and that’s where Sydney party girl Daisy (Rebecca Gibney) finds herself with stuffy British lawyer Louis (The Crown’s Charles Edwards). It’s another odd couple scenario but in an original setting, because there have only ever been a handful of TV series set in wineries, like the short-lived Promised Land (2022) and hit nighttime soap Falcon Crest (1981-1990).
Given Packed to The Rafters co-star Erik Thomson has had his own series set in New Zealand, 800 Words (Seven), it’s about time Rebecca Gibney did too. Not surprisingly, Under The Vines has lots of wacky Kiwis in supporting roles, and that is always a good thing.
Having just celebrated International Women’s Day, how great is it that Rebecca Gibney is a nine-times producer, starting way back in 1997 with Kangaroo Palace (Seven). That’s why Under The Vines, originally made for Acorn TV, also counts her as an executive producer alongside former ABC head of programming Brendan Dahill and Richard Fletcher. Go Rebecca.
Another iconic blonde is Marilyn Monroe and last year she was subjected to the horrendous biopic Blonde (Netflix). At the time, I questioned why male director Andrew Dominik, who admitted to not even being a fan, was subjecting the movie star to the tragic victim narrative yet again.
Thankfully, we now have a brilliant CNN series Reframed: Marilyn Monroe (SBS On Demand), featuring all-female actors and authors like Joan Collins, Ellen Burstyn, Mira Sorvino and Australia’s Alicia Malone. This is the Monroe project I have always longed to see, where she finally gets credit for being a trailblazer. Bravo.
The Swap (Wednesday on SBS) is a fascinating but confronting reality series about a group of diverse teenage students. An Islamic college in Brisbane opens up its doors to students from the Catholic and public school system. It’s a massive change of pace for everyone involved, and I can’t wait to see if it’s a success.
Despite being described as one of the greats of Australian comedy, The Best Of The Russell Gilbert Show didn’t get great ratings. Now that there’s a Part 2 (Wednesday on Seven), what fresh hell will we get next from the Hey Hey archives. Dickie Knee? Plucka Duck? Animal?
Finally, viewers in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth can only see the Academy Awards live this Monday by streaming 7plus, rather than on Seven where it will be a delayed telecast. Everyone else can watch it live on Seven and true fans need to, just in case there is another slap seen all around the world.
Read more Mercado on TV columns here.
Mercado & Manning weekly TV podcast
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform for 30 minutes of TV reviews and recommendations every week from Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning. This week the hosts differ over the first episode of Under the Vines.
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