Interested to know if that’s a set they’ve built or a location they’ve found somewhere. Very authentic look for a 70s-80s office style.
From TVTonight
Filming of the news studio took place at NEP Studios in South Melbourne (formerly home to Dancing with the Stars, Deal or No Deal, Man O Man ) while the newsroom offices were located in an abandoned factory in Brooklyn, west of Melbourne.
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Episode 2
Sunday 22 August 8.30pm
Helen and Dale’s new alliance has become the talk of the office as they cover the much-hyped return of Halley’s Comet. The closer Dale draws to Helen, the more he finds himself thrust into the spotlight…
In 1986, ambitious reporter Dale dreams of landing the most prized role on commercial TV: newsreader. But Helen, the network’s first female newsreader, struggles against her reputation as ‘difficult’. When their personal and professional lives collide, Dale and Helen embark on a fragile new alliance.
In episode 2, Halley’s Comet is approaching, and change is in the air. As veteran newsreader Geoff is pressured to step away from the desk, the top job’s suddenly within reach. Dale scores a break that could supercharge his career, but Helen is plagued by severe mood swings that leave her a wreck. Dale finds himself torn between his desire for privacy and his desire to support his new ally. The closer he draws to Helen, the more he finds himself thrust into the spotlight…
Episode 3
Sunday 29 August 8.30pm
When news breaks of Lindy Chamberlain’s imminent release from prison, Helen, Dale and cameraman Tim fly to Darwin. But they’ll face fierce competition as they fight to land the “interview of the century”.
Before Dale (Sam Reid) and Helen (Anna Torv) can resolve who they are to each other, news hits of Lindy Chamberlain’s imminent release from prison. Helen races to Darwin with Dale and Tim (Chai Hansen) in tow, ferociously pursuing the “interview of the century”. As she denies her oscillating mental health and ignores sobering news of her estranged father, what toll will this story have on her?
Episode 4
Sunday 5 September 8.30pm
Helen is deeply apprehensive about meeting Dale’s mother, while Dale gets lumbered with Royal Wedding puff pieces. But their everyday concerns are thrown aside when a bomb goes off on Russell Street.
A bomb has gone off on Russell Street in the heart of Melbourne… right where Dale’s been shooting. The explosion ripples through the newsroom: typist Noelene finally gets her shot at producing; Helen’s feelings for Dale come into focus; the fragile Geoff pushes his body to dangerous extremes; and Dale, standing in the wreckage of a world turned upside down, makes a choice that will transform his life for good.
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You can see some of the recreation of the Russell Street bomb in the publicity shot.
Looking forward to all. Thanks.
It would be great if they could add in the old channel 2, 7, 9 and 10 logos into the media shots. Make it look more realistic in placing the events into the real world.
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I thought Mel would enjoy it. Interesting to hear from others who worked in the industry at this time.
Terrific episode tonight.
Great re-enactment of the Russell Street Bombings.
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The news at 6 intro script seemed to be similar to David Johnston’s intro in 1986. Good authenticity.
Yep, it’s clear this clip helped path the way for tonight’s episode. Even the sets are pretty much identical.
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I remember seeing that via TEN10 on the day it happened. It was quite a novelty to get a 6pm newscast direct from Melbourne with Melbourne presenters and news presentation that differed from the Sydney Eyewitness News. TEN10 had moved on from the “Closer to Your World” theme by that time.
The IRA terrorist attacks were covered extensively on our news bulletins in the 1970s and 1980s and Sydney had experienced the Hilton Hotel bombing but it was quite something else to see bombings of that magnitude in a major Australian city at that time.
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A great episode tonight and this thread has brought back memories of the astonishing news coverage by Ten of this awful event. They would go on to win Best News Coverage at the Logie Awards the following year:
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It was also shown as the opener for TVQ 0 that night.
The only thing that was slightly different… Russell Street didn’t have trees running down the middle of it in 1986… but that’s being over critical.
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Yeah I’m not sure the council would have approved them to rip the trees out and put them back in again haha