Chances (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Beyond International |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Television drama series |
| Parent | Beyond International |
Chances is an Australian prime time soap opera that was broadcast on Nine Network from 29 January 1991 until 31 December 1992. Initially created by the production company Beyond International as a drama centered on a middle-class family who wins $3 million in the lottery, the network insisted on incorporating more provocative and erotic storylines inspired by programs such as Number 96 and The Box, including compulsory nudity and sexual scenes. As the series progressed, it diverged considerably from its original premise, introducing bizarre narratives involving carnivorous plants, devil worshippers, and neo-Nazi cults.
Over time, the show has developed a dedicated cult following.
Development
Chances originated as a two-hour pilot filmed in 1988, which remained unreleased until its inclusion in a 2021 DVD release. Apart from The Flying Doctors (1986–1993), Nine Network had suffered from a decade of soap operas that failed to captivate audiences, including Taurus Rising (1982), Waterloo Station (1983), and Family and Friends (1990). Following the cancellation of Family and Friends after only eight months on air, approval was finally granted to produce Chances.
Production
Produced by Beyond International—known for the success of Beyond 2000—the series shifted its production base from Sydney to Melbourne, utilizing network studios located in Richmond, Victoria. Some cast members were replaced due to availability issues. John Sheerin and Brenda Addie (who took over from Diane Craig after the pilot) portrayed Dan and Barbara Taylor, a couple who win the lottery and decide to share their fortune with relatives and friends.
With an episode budget of $11,000, the show operated at a loss; however, Beyond International continued production to establish itself within the industry.
The cast included Jeremy Sims as their son Alex (succeeding Marcus Graham, who departed for E Street), with Natalie McCurry and Cathy Godbold playing daughters Rebecca and Nicki (replacing Mouche Phillips). Tim Robertson portrayed Dan’s brother Jack (taking over from [[Warwick Moss]), Anne Grigg appeared as Jack’s wife Sarah, while Rhys Muldoon and Leverne McDonnell played son Ben and daughter Philippa. Deborah Kennedy assumed the role of Dan’s sister Connie (replacing Sandy Gore), whose sons Chris and Sam Reynolds were played by Mark Kounnas and Simon Grey. Additional roles featured Mercia Deane-Johns, Yvonne Lawley, and Michael Caton as Dan’s close friend Bill Anderson.
Early episodes
Initially scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 pm, Chances premiered with a focus on Rebecca’s wedding to David Young (Rodney Bell), which concluded tragically with his death in a car accident. As the family dealt with this loss, Dan and Barbara’s lottery win was revealed. To improve viewership, network executives demanded the inclusion of more sexual content and provocative scenes despite creator Lynn Bayonas’ original resistance. This more daring tone was also emphasized in marketing efforts.
The debut attracted moderate success with its two-hour special but soon experienced declining ratings. Early storylines featured Connie’s estranged husband Eddie Reynolds (Dennis Miller) being murdered; the breakdown of Jack and Sarah’s marriage amid Sarah’s seduction of her nephew Chris; police officer Philippa’s affair with corrupt cop Geoff Bradbury (Gary Day) ending with his murder; and eco-activist Charlie Gibson (Kimberley Davenport) becoming pregnant by either Alex or Ben. These traditional soap opera plots were frequently interwoven with nudity and sexual scenes, often involving Alex. Jeremy Sims described the show as "Home and Away with occasional shots of some tits."
As audience numbers dropped further, plotlines intensified with revelations such as Alex being Jack’s biological son rather than Dan’s. Subsequently, an explosion aboard The Sail Away yacht leaves Dan and Bill lost at sea. Bill is rescued but assumes Dan has perished—a fact overheard by Barbara. Traumatised by these events, Barbara wanders into a hospital car park where she and Jack are struck by a vehicle, sustaining severe injuries. Dan is eventually discovered alive on a beach.
Revamp
Efforts to salvage the series were unsuccessful, and following six months of declining viewership, the budget was slashed and production scaled back to a single hour-long episode each Tuesday at 9:30 pm. Beginning with episode 61 on 27 August 1991, the narrative advanced by one year. The subsequent 16 episodes delved into Alex's "lost" year alongside Paris (Annie Jones), an enigmatic beautician who aids "Dan Mitchell" in discovering his authentic identity. Episodes adopted a self-contained format with individual titles, while the majority of the original cast gradually exited. Supporting characters Heather and Phillipa left prior to the reduction; Sarah and Charlie vanished completely. Connie and her sons shifted to recurring roles before moving to an Italian ski resort. Rebecca wed politician Steve Harland (Peter Kowitz) and departed following an extravagant wedding; Nicki left to pursue modelling studies.
In a bold attempt to increase ratings, guest performers such as Lynda Stoner, Kate Fitzpatrick, Christine Harris, Tiffany Lamb, Liz Burch, Neill Gladwin, and Briony Behets appeared in brief, provocative story arcs. The series’ sexual themes intensified, incorporating bondage and lesbianism often set against mystical or fantastical backdrops, provoking backlash from conservative viewers and condemnation from television regulators who labeled it "teleporn."
Later episodes
When Chances resumed for its second season on 26 February 1992 with episode 79, only six original cast members remained: Barbara, Dan, Jack, Bill, Sharon, and Alex—who assumed top billing with storylines focused on his new advertising firm, Inspirations. His business partner Angela Sullivan (Patsy Stephen), introduced before the time leap and elevated in prominence afterward, became the secondary lead.
New series regulars included Molly Brumm portraying party girl Stephanie Ryan; Gerard Sont as Cal Lawrence, a pool attendant and jewel thief; Ciri Thompson as the scheming Imogen Lander; Karen Richards as photographer Madeline Wolf; Abigail as television sex expert Bambi Chute; Laurence Mah playing mobster Bogart Lo; Katherine Li as Lilly Lo; Stephen Whittaker as advertising agent Sean Beckett; and Danielle Fairclough as the scatterbrained Wanda Starcross. Storylines increasingly merged elements of fantasy with reality. After Dan and Barbara departed in episode 111, plots featured man-eating plants, devil worshippers, Israeli secret agents, ghosts, laser-wielding vampires, Asian Triads, a scantily dressed angel riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and neo-Nazis hunting for Third Reich relics in Melbourne. The "Eva Braun necklace," an artifact that transforms its wearer into an Egyptian Sun Goddess, highlighted the show’s campy atmosphere.
The Age remarked that Chances had become "notorious" for these aspects. Despite the attention generated by these drastic shifts in content, audience numbers did not improve. Ultimately, the show was relegated to a late-night 11 pm timeslot with an even smaller cast before being canceled. In the concluding episode, God appears to Alex within a Melbourne library.
Original cast members
- John Sheerin as Dan Taylor (episodes 1–110)
- Tim Robertson as Jack Taylor (episodes 1–90)
- Brenda Addie as Barbara Taylor (episodes 1–111)
- Anne Grigg as Sarah Taylor (episodes 1–60)
- Michael Caton as Bill Anderson
- Jeremy Sims as Alex Taylor
- Deborah Kennedy as Connie Reynolds (episodes 1–60, recurring 61–68)
- Yvonne Lawley as Heather "Hetty" McGlashen (episodes 1–52)
- Natalie McCurry as Rebecca Taylor (episodes 1–70)
- Mercia Deane-Johns as Sharon Taylor
- Leverne McDonnell as Phillipa Taylor (episodes 1–60)
- Rhys Muldoon as Ben Taylor (episodes 1–70)
- Mark Kounnas as Chris Reynolds (episodes 1–60, recurring 61–68)
- Cathy Godbold as Nicki Taylor (episodes 1–71)
- Simon Grey as Sam Reynolds (episodes 1–60, recurring 61–68)
Subsequent additions
- Kimberley Davenport portrayed Charlie Gibson (episodes 4–60)
- Patsy Stephen featured as Angela Sullivan (episodes 61–127, recurring appearances from episodes 2–60)
- Molly Brumm played Stephanie Ryan (episodes 70–90)
- Cal Lawrence was depicted by Gerard Sont and later John Atkinson (episodes 79–127, with a recast starting episode 115)
- Karen Richards assumed the role of Madeline Wolf (episodes 88–127)
- Stephen Whittaker appeared as Sven Loader (guest role episode 63) and subsequently as Sean Beckett (episodes 92–127)
- Abigail took on the character Bambi Chute (episodes 89–113)
- Katherine Li acted as Lilli Lo (episodes 115–127, recurring from episodes 90–114)
- Lawrence Mah portrayed Japanese Man (guest appearance episode 64) and Bogart Lo (episodes 115–127, recurring between episodes 89–114)
- Danielle Fairclough played Wanda Starcross (episodes 115–127, recurring from episodes 97–114)
Recurring roles
- Margot Knight appeared as Jennifer Parsons (episodes 1–7)
- Tammy MacIntosh featured as Mandy Foster (episodes 2–4)
- Sydney Jackson portrayed Warwick Carlton (episodes 2–42)
- Dennis Miller took the role of Eddie Reynolds (episodes 3–30)
- Gary Day performed as Geoff Bradbury (episodes 6–15, guest appearance episode 60)
- Olivia Hamnett played Rhonda Scott (episodes 21–33)
- Louise Siversen and Kristen Lyons portrayed Cheryl Richards (episodes 24–25, 67–68, with a recast beginning episode 67)
- Ross Thompson appeared as Lucas Dabbs (episodes 26–36)
- Vince Martin was cast as Gordon McKinney (episodes 30–44)
- David Roberts portrayed Matt Hennessy (episodes 38–60, guest appearances episodes 62 and 63)
- Peter Kowitz played Steve Harland (episodes 45–70)
- Lynda Stoner acted as Dee Dee Nelson (episodes 46–59)
- Eric Oldfield appeared in the role of Gary Duncan (episodes 54–60)
- Annie Jones featured as Paris Watkins (episodes 61–69)
- Kevin J. Wilson and John Arnold shared the role of Sir Malcolm Watkins (episodes 69–127, with a recast from episode112 onwards)
- Barry Hill took on Crowley Lander (episodes86–127)
- Ciri Thompson portrayed Imogen Lander (episodes86–127)
- Kim Donnell appeared as Segal (episodes108–113)
- Peter Lindsay played Gerard/Utangi (episodes112–114)
Distinguished guest appearances
- Rodney Bell featured as David Young (episode 1)
- Diana Davidson portrayed Anna Novak (episodes 45–47)
- Alwyn Kurts appeared as Aubrey Nash (episodes 49–52)
- Tiffany Lamb took on the role of Brandy (episode 72)
- Anne Rigby acted as Sister Mary Luke/Genevieve Olsen (episodes 72, 86, and 92)
- Liz Burch played Sally Kirk (episode 73)
- Neill Gladwin featured as Ted E. Baer (episode 75)
- Briony Behets appeared in the role of Dr Christine Marquette (episodes76–77)
- Jeff Phillips portrayed Frankie Kelly (episode82)
- Richard Morgan acted as Michael Tranti (episode84)
- Katrina McEwan took on Faith Matthews (episode85)
- Helen Scott appeared as Carol Hawkins (episode85)
- Brett Swain played Jared in a single episode
Awards and nominations
At the APRA Music Awards of 1991, Greg Hind's rendition of the Chances theme was honored with the Television or Film Theme of the Year award.
During the 1992 Logie Awards, Jeremy Sims received a nomination for Most Popular New Talent for his performance in Chances. However, the award was ultimately given to Kym Wilson, recognized for her roles in A Country Practice and Brides of Christ. At that time, Sims and Wilson were publicly known to be dating.
International broadcasts
One year following its Australian premiere, Chances was broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky One, scheduled at 9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The network's marketing highlighted the program’s provocative themes, yet it did not achieve comparable audience figures to shows like Studs and E Street. After episode 61, the timeslot shifted to Thursdays at 10pm, continuing until mid-1993. Both initial airings and late-night repeats concluded at episode 107; Sky One opted not to acquire the final 19 episodes, likely due to their contentious nature.
In Russia, the series was also broadcast but subsequently removed following protests from the Russian Orthodox Church concerning a scene depicting nudity alongside a swastika salute.
In New Zealand, Chances aired on Channel 2 for close to a year before being relegated to a later timeslot and eventually discontinued because of poor viewer ratings.
Producer Bayonas sought to introduce Chances to the United States market; however, interest was limited solely to the Playboy Channel, an offer he declined.
Home media
Initially, Umbrella Entertainment released Chances on DVD in three two-disc sets that concentrated on the series’ later, more surreal episodes. Later, in 2021, ViaVision Entertainment issued the full series across two box sets: the first containing 16 discs and the second comprising 17.
| Release | No. of episodes |
Region 4 (Australia) | Includes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chances: Volume One | 7 | 23 June 2004 |
| |
| Chances: Volume Two | 7 | 23 June 2004 |
| |
| Chances: Volume Three | 7 | 10 July 2006 |
| |
| Chances: Collection One | 59 | 18 August 2021 |
| |
| Chances: Collection Two | 67 | 17 November 2021 |
| |
| Chances: The Complete Collection | 126 | 23 November 2022 / 23 August 2023 (Re-Release) |
|
Episode numbering inconsistency
According to release documentation from ViaVision Entertainment, there was no production of an "episode 78"; the sequence advanced directly from episode 77 to 79. This led to a misalignment in episode numbering, resulting in the last episode being identified as "127" rather than "126".