Summer Love

Summer Love

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One holiday house. Eight love stories.
New comedy Summer Love checks in to the ABC in 2022.

ABC, Screen Australia and Film Victoria are pleased to announce the enchanting new eight-part anthology series, Summer Love will air in 2022.

Produced by Gristmill and created by award-winning duo Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope , Summer Love sees eight very different sets of people rent the same beachside holiday house, capturing the collision between the dreamy enchantment of the beach and the clumsy reality of humans on holiday. It explores the anonymity, the possibility, and the escape that we all feel on holidays, alongside the ever-present threat of sand in the sheets.

Creators/Producers Butler & Hope said, “Were thrilled to have developed our recipe for post pandemic/lockdown (also works for hangovers, lost cats, breakups): Take 1 holiday house, add 11 stupidly talented writers, line the base with an excellent love story, throw in warmth, hope, jokes, and finish with a sizzling cast. Serve with confetti rice.”

Eight diverse and exciting writing teams will bring eight different stories to life, each connected through the house and through the theme of love. They include Kodie Bedford ( Mystery Road , All My Friends are Racist ) & Bjorn Stewart ( At Home Alone Together ); Alison Bell ( The Letdown ); Patrick Brammall ( No Activity ) & Harriet Dyer ( No Activity ); Robyn Butler & Wayne Hope ( Upper Middle Bogan , Very Small Business , The Librarians ); Nazeem Hussain ( Orange is the New Brown ); Kate Mulvany ( Upright , The Seed ); Miranda Tapsell ( Top End Wedding , Get Krack!n ) & James Colley ( Gruen , The Weekly with Charlie Pickering ); Nath Valvo ( Comedy Next Gen , The Shambles ) & Jayden Masciulli ( The InBESTigators ).

ABC Head of Comedy Todd Abbott says “When two of Australia’s most revered comedy creators bring you a series with beaches, romance, family squabbles, dirty weekends, fish and chips and a baby kangaroo, how could you say no? Robyn and Wayne have pulled together a brilliant group of writers, each at very different stages of their careers, and helped them fashion stories that are authentic, relatable, moving, insightful and – most importantly – very funny.”

Screen Australia’s Head of Content Sally Caplan said: “We’re thrilled to support the powerhouse creative team of Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler in delivering this irrepressibly Australian series. They have assembled a stellar array of emerging and established diverse writing and acting talent and we look forward to seeing this well written and inclusive drama brought to life.”

CEO of Film Victoria Caroline Pitcher said, “We are excited to support the latest work from Victoria’s own Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope to film in our state. There’s something so relatable about the contrast of our state’s stunning coastal locations mixed with family holiday antics and romantic adventures, and we know this charming anthology series will strike a chord with audiences.”

Melissa Myers, President of Kinetic Content Scripted said “As Kinetic Content launches into scripted programming, we are thrilled that our 1st show will be partnering with Gristmill in Australia as Wayne & Robyn’s track record speaks for itself, always on the forefront of creating enthralling, emotional and hilarious comedy dramas. We are thrilled to be coproducing Summer Love which is exactly the type of romantic and fun escapist series that will resonate with audiences worldwide.”

Filming will commence in Victoria early 2022 and air on ABC TV and ABC iview later in the year.

Production Credit: A Gristmill Production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Film Victoria, the ABC and with support from Kinetic Content. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott.

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One holiday house. Eight love stories.

ABC heats up Wednesdays in August with
Summer Love

The ABC is thrilled to announce that the new eight-part comedy series Summer Love premieres Wednesday 31 August at 9pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Created and produced by Upper Middle Bogan’s Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope, Summer Love is a laugh-packed anthology of eight very different summer holiday stories. Starring an impressive line-up of Australian talent, including Miranda Tapsell, Patrick Brammall, Harriet Dyer, Nazeem Hussain, Stephen Curry, Sibylla Budd, Tim Draxl, Alison Bell, Bjorn Stewart and Annie Maynard, the only thing the episodes have in common is the setting – the same dream holiday house by the beach.

Our Summer Love stories and characters include: old friends Jules (Sibylla Budd) & Tom (Patrick Brammall) & Jonah (Stephen Curry) & Steph (Harriet Dyer), who discover their friendship may have reached its expiry date; surprise instant parents Kelly (Miranda Tapsell) & Craig (Richard Davies); aspiring rapper Imran (Nazeem Hussain) and his surgeon girlfriend, Nabilah (Sana’a Shaik), who grapple with Imran’s abandonment issues; chalk-and-cheese couple Luke (Tim Draxl) & Olly (Harry McNaughton), whose one-year anniversary brings a surprise interloper into their relationship; strangers Marion (Robyn Butler) & Eddy (Wayne Hope), who find themselves forced to stay together after a double booking; Charlie (Chenoa Deemal) & Zeke (Bjorn Stewart) whose trial separation is not going to get in the way of their annual beach weekend; sisters Hannah (Alison Bell) & Alex (Annie Maynard), who leave their chaotic family lives behind for a holiday recharge; and troubled teenager Frankie (Charlotte Maggi) is surprised when unknown visitor Trevor (Keith Robinson) suddenly arrives on the front lawn.

Production Credits: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Written by: Kodie Bedford, Alison Bell, Patrick Brammall, Robyn Butler, James Colley, Harriet Dyer, Wayne Hope, Nazeem Hussain, Jayden Masciulli, Kate Mulvany, Bjorn Stewart, Miranda Tapsell & Nath Valvo. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Series 1, Episode 1

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Wednesday 31 August 9.00pm

Jules & Tom & Jonah & Steph

Two couples travel to the house for their traditional summer holiday. The difference this year is that Steph (Harriet Dyer) and Jonah (Stephen Curry) have Molly: their toddler who takes up more space than she did last year.

The tension builds between the judgemental childless couple, Jules (Sibylla Budd) and Tom (Patrick Brammall), and the helicopter parents until it explodes into all the unexpressed grievances, dormant in the friendship until now.

Series 1, Episode 2

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Wednesday 7 September 9.00pm

Kelly & Craig

30-something couple Kelly (Miranda Tapsell) and Craig (Richard Davies) are enjoying their Christmas break. Deeply in love and seemingly carefree, it’s soon apparent that there is one unspoken concern: Kelly is Aboriginal and Craig is white, and Craig never seems to register the racism Kelly experiences.

When they hit a kangaroo and are forced to look after her joey, Kelly’s grievances come to the surface. The joey becomes a metaphor for the baby Kelly and Craig might have; how will Craig protect his Aboriginal child from something he can’t see?

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 2 written by Miranda Tapsell and James Colley. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Shame this is up against After The Verdict on Nine.

Series 1, Episode 3

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Wednesday 14 September 9.00pm

A Muslim man grapples with the consequences of his Dad’s abandonment - one of them being him running away from his girlfriend this weekend. Stars Nazeem Hussain.

Imran (Nazeem Hussain) escapes to the coast, partly for a gig at the pub with his hip hop trio, but mostly to avoid meeting his girlfriend’s family and the weighty expectations of Muslim marriage.When Imran’s estranged father turns up out of the blue, Imran grapples with the consequences of his Dad’s abandonment - one of them being him running away from his girlfriend this weekend.

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 3 written by Nazeem Hussain. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content
Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Series 1, Episode 4

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Wednesday 21 September 9.00pm

After a double booking forces them to stay together, Marion and Eddy find themselves challenging the behaviours that led to each of their divorces. Stars Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope.

Marion hires the house to spend a few days alone before her 25 year old son arrives, but when newly-avid cyclist Eddy turns up, they realise the house has been double booked.

Forced to stay together, Marion and Eddy find themselves challenging the behaviours that led to each of their divorces.

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 3 written by Nazeem Hussain. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Commences Wednesday

Just watched this and it didn’t really do it for me. It seems confused about what it wants to be at least in the first episode. It wasn’t that Funny if it was supposed to be a comedy and the story didn’t make much sense if it is supposed to be drama…

Reviews described it as “exploring the line between comedy and drama”.

Too many shows trying to do that and failing at both

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Series 1, Episode 5

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Wednesday 28 September 9.00pm

Luke and Olly confront societal expectations of being gay men versus what they actually want as a happy couple. CAST: Tim Draxl, Harry McNaughton.

When odd couple Luke (Tim Draxl) and Olly (Harry McNaughton) book a romantic weekend away at the house for their three-year anniversary, they are forced to confront societal expectations of being gay men versus what they actually want as a happy couple.

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 5 written by Nath Valvo and Jayden Masciulli. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

I liked it. Its obviously like little short films with different characters each one (they prob intertwine down the track) but giving each story authenticity by asking someone else to write it from their perspective.

The first Ep really hit home especially with the 2 guys sitting having beers and realising they haven’t spoken in so long and no nothing about each other. Also the judgement of people in different circumstances to themselves.

I think it’s more UK type humour of comedy basked it realism. As opposed to making jokes and slapstick humour like the US

It probably wasn’t the highest quality opening episode. I’ve seen several more and there were better options. Though I did enjoy the joking about Coast FM at the start as well :grinning:

Series 1, Episode 6

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Wednesday 5 October 9.00pm

While on a trial separation, Charlie and Zeke both come to the house for their traditional anniversary weekend and neither is willing to give it up. CAST Chenoa Deemal and Bjorn Stewart

Eternally fighting couple Charlie (Chenoa Deemal) and Zeke (Bjorn Stewart) separately come to the house for their traditional anniversary weekend and neither is willing to give it up.

Cousins Ben (Jarron Andy) and Finlay (Shakira Clanton), each there for black-up, are not convinced that this fight is any different from all the others Charlie and Zeke have had. But when a storm forces the holiday makers to bunker down for the night, it seems something is different about this ‘trial separation’.

Charlie and Zeke must now reckon with their future; even if they split up, can they ever find peace?

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 6 written by Kodie Bedford and Bjorn Stewart. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Nazeem Hussein was on The Cheap Seats tonight, and discussed (among other things) his role in this week’s episode. They also showed a sneak peek in which Nazeem’s character recorded a rap song.

Episode 7

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Wednesday 12 October 9.00pm

Two sisters (Alison Bell and Annie Maynard) leave their chaotic family lives behind for a recharge night together. One sister gets held up - dings the car on the way. Meanwhile the other sister gets tipsy on the courtesy wine waiting at the house. When they finally have their reunion, exhaustion takes over and they explode into a well-worn sisterly fight.

When they’re turfed out by the cleaners at check-out time, Hannah and Alex find themselves quietly on the beach, finally finding the recharge they need.

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 7 written by Alison Bell. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.

Episode 8

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Wednesday 19 October 9.00pm

The cleaners of the holiday house are interrupted by their troubled niece who comes to stay and the sudden arrival of a disabled man on the front lawn.

Struggling with her parents’ stormy divorce, 16 year old Frankie is sent to stay with her aunt and uncle, Becky and Dan - the cleaners of the holiday house.

After Frankie vandalises the property, Becky and Dan desperately try to repair the damage before they owners find out - a task doubly hampered by the discovery of a squatter on the front lawn. Trevor is wheelchair bound, strapped to an oxygen tank, very grumpy, and claims to be Poseidon, God of the Sea.

While Becky and Dan fretfully try to fix the house, Frankie and Poseidon Trevor strike up a surprising connection, oddly becoming each other’s solace and salvation.

Production credit: A Gristmill Production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, the ABC and Kinetic Content. Episode 8 written by Kate Mulvany. Produced by: Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Associate Producer: Louisa Kors. Executive Producers: Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope and Greg Sitch. ABC Executive Producer: Todd Abbott. Kinetic Content Executive Producers: Chris Coelen and Melissa Myers.