Optics

Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth

are the masters of spin in ABC’s new comedy series Optics

ABC and Screen Australia are thrilled to announce filming has commenced in Sydney on Optics, a new six-part comedy series from the brilliant creative minds of Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst (The Feed, Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story) and The Chaser’s Charles Firth.

Written by and starring this dynamic trio, Optics is an Easy Tiger and Chaser Digital production, directed by the award-winning Max Miller (Aunty Donna’s Coffee Café, Australian Epic), executive produced by Firth, Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson and Ian Collie (Colin from Accounts), Owen and Zerbst, and produced by Paige Wharehinga.

Optics follows two whip-smart 20-something women (Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst) who are unexpectedly promoted to run crisis management PR firm Fritz & Randell, after the death of office patriarch Frank Fritz. As they battle weekly public relations crises from celebrities, sports stars and corporate titans, and power challenges from veteran PR flack Ian Randell (Charles Firth), they slowly come to realise that their firm might have a scandal brewing of its own, and start to wonder: have they been set up to fail?

It’s a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud workplace comedy that lifts the veil on everyday office politics and on the corporate spin that infects all the news we consume.

ABC Head of Scripted Rachel Okine said, “We’re thrilled to be working with such an incredibly talented team to bring this fast-paced and bitingly funny comedy to ABC. As well as being dazzled by their sharp comic minds, we know audiences will also be gobsmacked to learn what goes on behind the scenes in the often murky world of PR.”

Rob Gibson and Ian Collie said, “Jenna and Vic are among our brightest new comedy talents, and their intergenerational sparring with the always-hilarious Charles Firth, the middle-aged man’s middle-aged man is comedy gold. We can’t wait for Australia to see them all practising the dark arts of PR in the halls of Fritz and Randell.”

Owen, Zerbst and Firth said, “When we started, we were worried that there weren’t enough PR crises in Australia to sustain 30 minutes of television each week. As it turns out, there’s enough material for about 30 years of television each week.”

Screen Australia COO Grainne Brunsdon says, “Optics is clever, high-energy and perfectly poised to elevate Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst’s careers. With their unique style and Charles’ hilarious touch, it’s an exhilarating ride that highlights the absurdities of our digital age. I can’t wait to watch it on the ABC.”

Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth says, “Jenna and Vic are two of the most exciting and refreshing voices in comedy and I can’t wait to see them join forces with Charles Firth to put their own unique spin on the world of crisis PR. Screen NSW are thrilled to support the entire team, including Easy Tiger and Chaser Digital, in bringing this hilarious series to ABC next year.”

Optics will premiere on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2025.

Optics is an Easy Tiger and Chaser Digital production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC financed with support from Screen NSW. Optics is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios. Created and written by Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth. Executive Producers: Charles Firth, Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson and Ian Collie, Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst, and ABC’s Rachel Okine and Todd Abbott. Produced by Paige Wharehinga.

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Optics premieres on ABC TV and iView on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Episode 1

Wednesday 29 January 8.30pm

A death at PR firm Fritz & Randell sees Ian Randall, the fortysomething heir-apparent, pushed aside & the reins handed to two younger female employees, Greta Goldman & Nicole Kidman. But have these women been set up to fail?

As Greta Goldman (Vic Zerbst) and Nicole Kidman (Jenna Owen) strategise a way to spin the antics of a manchild AFL player, Bundy Gribbons (Will McNeill), the two young women sharply feel their exclusion from PR firm Fritz & Randell’s board meeting.

It’s older men only. Ian Randell (Charles Firth), son of the original Randell, desperately seeks the attention of ancient CEO Frank Fritz (Peter Carroll), while his pitiable performance amuses Bobby Bahl (Claude Jabbour), who owns the firm, and his bodyguard and personal assistant, Dod (Aaron Collins).

When Fritz suddenly slumps forward on the desk, dead, Ian assumes he will automatically take the reins. But Bobby pushes for Greta and Nicole to step up, claiming the company needs a makeover. More accurately, Frank Fritz had some skeletons which could soon be exposed – and installing the duo is all about optics.

The move sets off a power struggle. Greta and Nicole desperately try to formalise their appointment, as Ian tries to prove his relevance and staying power against his younger opponents, all the while trying to service their high-maintenance clients. The three are aided by, Cody (Bali Padda), Ian’s loyal research assistant, and Meredith (Belinda Giblin), Fritz’s long serving and suffering EA and the only individual who cared about his demise.

Optics features an impressive ensemble of guest stars including Kate Walsh, Will McNeill, Virginie Laverdure, Peter Carroll, Rhys Muldoon, Mandy McElhinney, Nakkiah Lui, Stephen Hunter, Josh Helman, Michael Hing, and Craig Reucassel

Production credit: Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Chaser Digital and Easy Tiger Production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Optics is produced in association with and distributed by ITV Studios. Created and written by Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth. Executive Producers: Charles Firth, Easy Tiger’s Rob Gibson and Ian Collie, Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst. Produced by Paige Wharehinga. Directed by Max Miller. ABC Executive Producers Rachel Okine and Todd Abbott.

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An interesting premise but strange to call your main character the same name as a famous actress. Surely that joke will wear thin quickly.

Episode 2

Wednesday 5 February 8.00pm

Ian is increasingly sidelined as Greta and Nicole push hard to make an impact in the office and on high maintenance client Hannah Halston, in advance of their promotion. Meredith stumbles upon a clue to Fritz’s secrets.

Greta (Vic Zerbst) and Nicole (Jenna Owen) are developing a taste for power. They need to restructure something, but without being formally appointed, it needs to be restrained. A visual statement that they’re in charge could work. Their ‘Best Female Newcomer Under 30 in PR’ award - a giant, metal shoe trophy - could do the job. They’ll get it delivered and installed.

Concerns for Ian’s (Charles Firth) mental health are pushed aside on the arrival of Hannah Halston (Kate Walsh) of Poche beauty products. Her once trusted offsider Laura is alleging cruelty in the workplace. The issue threatens to upend Hannah’s lucrative buyout by multinational FemmeHealth.

Hayley is not impressed by Ian and bans him from her account, but Greta and Nicole struggle to make crisis management solutions land. A six month ‘learning from my mistakes’ journey would compromise the FemmeHealth deal. Attacking accuser Laura’s mental health is dropped as an idea when Hayley reveals the number of other employees alleging harassment. Nicole and Greta’s increasingly high impact solutions panic Hannah into calling Bobby Bahl (Claude Jabbour) directly.

Meredith (Belinda Giblin) preps Fritz’s Tang dynasty horses to sell, while Ian gets wedged into a cupboard by the massive shoe trophy, which has reached the office. Bobby arrives, ecstatic that there are a dozen new clients - tax dodgers Ian has secured - but which he presumes is the work of the young women.

When Ian accidentally smashes Fritz’s horses, Meredith spies a mini camera within the debris. She pockets it.

Greta and Nicole ask Bobby for their contracts, but due diligence needs to be followed. Just don’t screw anything up for the next few weeks, he warns…

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Episode 3

Wednesday 12 February 8.30pm

While Greta and Nicole anxiously await their formal appointment, they offload a dull snack food client onto Ian, but soon realise they can make use of his years of experience to score a big win on a prestigious account.

While Greta and Nicole anxiously await their formal appointment, they offload dreg clients onto Ian, starting with Crumpy’s Triple Crunch Chips. Some smart-arse kid Leo (Kaan Guldur) has used an acoustic meter to show it ain’t technically triple the crunch.

Greta and Nicole meet with prestige client Qualitus Airways in their hyper-exclusive Captain’s Lounge. The airline’s disgruntled passengers are venting over hundreds of cancelled flights.

The real issue is that Qualitus has been selling tickets for unscheduled flights. With the regulators poised to ask more questions, Greta and Nicole’s strategy is to suggest the airline apologises, while at the same time claiming they can’t control the weather, hence the cancellations, and pointing out that complaining about it is a first world problem.

Meanwhile, Ian starts communicating with pesky kid Leo in the guise of Crocky, the cockatoo mascot of Crunchy’s chips, in an attempt to try and calm him down. It’s not working - Ian needs Cody to get him an actual talking cockatoo. Cody hands over 500 bucks for a bird that has a single catch phrase: ‘Shut up, bitch’.

When the Qualitus strategy backfires, Ian offers to help Greta and Nicole with that crisis, if they help him solve his own crisis with Leo.

Meanwhile, Meredith finds a second hidden camera and meets with Bobby and Dod, who claim the cameras were merely used as collateral by Fritz in meetings with clients, but they’re keen to know Meredith hasn’t watched the footage.

All episodes now available to stream on ABC iview

Episode 4

Wednesday 19 February 8.30pm

Journalist Anna McDowell (Virginie Laverdure) interviews a young, vulnerable woman about an alleged incident with Archie Toole (Josh Helman), one of the most successful actors in Hollywood, currently playing ‘Njord: Warrior of the Fjord’.

Archie’s panicked agent Spence Tasker (Matthew Whittet) is focused on damage control for his client but feels unsure about Greta and Nicole’s capacity to make the problem go away. He’s used to the old guys of the firm, but he’s desperate for solutions. Archie messages young women, and when they engage in sexual relations, Archie shaves off pieces of their skin as keepsakes.

A ‘lifestyle clause’ in Archie’s contract is the problem. If collecting skin ‘offends public conventions’ the studio could drop him from the movie. The studio won’t make major decisions without the sign off of director Jeb Carson (Nash Edgerton), but Jeb doesn’t care much for Archie.

Nicole suggests checking the young star into a no-phones health spa. Spence knows Archie will need a handler. A woman he’s not attracted to. Meredith - who’s on her first day off in 34 years – is assigned to the task, while Nicole and Greta work on building up the narrative that Archie has simply been a victim of kink shaming.

While Ian’s doctor makes him wear a heart monitor for 24 hours, Cody visits Greg Hogg (Stephen Hunter), CEO of StarToyzz, who has an exploding hoverboard skateboard issue. They’ve injured a bunch of kids, and one parent is holding out on signing an NDA.

Surprised they haven’t been promoting this big name guest star being on the show.

Kate is in Perth promoting the show. She was on Nova’s Nathan, Nat and Shaun yesterday morning.

She will also appear in an interview on TV Week next week.

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This week ABC also lauched new comedy series Optics, set in a chaotic PR firm, created by and starring Vic Zerbst & Jenna Owen (Nugget is Dead: A Christmas Story).

“We’re going to see a lot more of Vic and Jenna in our industry,” Collins suggests. “They’re a super talented, great satire, teaming up with Charles Firth on screen, so it’s an excellent marriage. It’s a different crisis each week, whether it’s a scandal in the sporting world or in the business world etc, but those two are wonderful comedians and writers, and we’re really looking forward to putting Optics out to audiences.”

It will be the only local scripted comedy given a Wednesday slot this year, with others to screen on Sunday nights.

Really enjoyed this one. Picks up about episode 3, and that ending….

I watched the first episode and there were a couple of laugh out loud moments but i was a bit unsure about. I felt like it moved too fast and maybe there were too many characters to introduce properly.

Anyway, I watched it a second time and when I knew who everyone was and what they did, I picked up on a lot more of the jokes.

Yeah I get that. Pacing is a bit weird early on but starts to find its way mid-season imo

TV Week interview with Kate Walsh

Episode 5

Wednesday 26 February 8.30pm

Ian almost has the best day of his life, Meredith draws closer to uncovering Fritz’s secrets, and Greta and Nicole finally get a board meeting date - but why is Anna McDowell keen to meet with them privately about Fritz?

Greta and Nicole’s phones are on the blink. Australia’s oldest telecommunications network, T-Dial, is down.

Greta and Nicole claim they can handle the T-Dial crisis, but Ian can see they don’t have a strategy. Cody, on the still functioning Nodo network, gets a call from former Premier Matthew Chamberlain (Rhys Muldoon), now CEO of T-Dial, who feels in good hands with Ian, but needs them there now.

At T-Dial HQ, Ian says the public will need a simple story with a goodie and a baddie, but that they’ll have to loop the government into the real story. Problem is, T-Dial don’t know the real story. When the Prime Minister calls into Cody’s phone, Ian pushes Greta and Nicole in front of the PM and says they’re running lead on the issue. Nicole and Greta panic for ideas.

T-Dial’s competitor, Gridcom, offers to handle their traffic until the network is back up, but Ian knows that once users see how much better the Gridcom network is, they’ll permanently jump ship. They could use the Nodo network, but it’s Saudi owned. Hospitals will need T-Dial back up soon to save lives, but Ian gives a stirring speech about T-Dial remaining Australian - which it won’t be very soon - which impresses all, especially the beautiful c-suite executive, Olivia (Mandy McElhinney). Ian is having the best day of his life.

Meredith retrieves a folder titled ‘YACHT’ from Fritz’s filing cabinet, as the girls receive word from Bobby that the board meeting is on. Anna McDowell calls. She needs to talk to Greta and Nicole tomorrow - about Fritz.

Sneak peek of tonight’s episode with guest star Kate Walsh

Episode 6 - Final

Wednesday 5 March 8.30pm

A brutal clown car disaster creates headaches for Ian and Cody, Meredith finds her yacht, and Greta and Nicole get what they always wanted - their contracts - but what will signing on the dotted line get them into?

Cameras film as clown after clown squeezes into the New Li Phoenix Nano - ‘The World’s Roomiest Small Car’. The EMCEE (Craig Reucassel) announces 30 clowns - a world record!
A terrible crunch is heard. Limp clowns begin to flop out. Ambulances are called.

Greta and Nicole have been missing front-facing events and postable moments. Disgraced AFL player Bundy Gribbons shows up to memorise a stop hate speech. Ian, sporting a black eye, is dealing with Chinese clients who thought clowns would be a fun way to connect with the Australian market, but they hadn’t factored in the wider girth of Australian clowns over Chinese ones.

Meredith is on a virtual hunt of Sydney marinas to find Fritz’s yacht. Her search activity is being fed directly to Bobby and Dod.

While Cody infiltrates an ICU to push a clown in a coma to sign an NDA as soon as he’s conscious, Ian impresses the clients with AI-generated videos showing the clown crush happening in competitors’ vehicles and has a troll farm push the narrative.

At their lunch meeting, Anna digs for what Greta and Anna know about Fritz. They don’t seem to know about the yacht, but Anna thinks Bobby wants them to take the hit when the truth about Fritz comes out.

Ian calls Bobby to talk about the girls, as Bobby, unseen by Ian, arrives in the office and puts his phone on speaker. Ian trashes the girls, as Bobby brings out their contracts. Greta and Nicole confront Bobby about the yacht, but Bobby claims that story is over and dangles the carrot of them knowing the secrets of the rich and powerful.

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