Newlyweds (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | February 20, 1993 |
| Defunct | March 16, 1994 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Sitcom |
| Parent | Seven Network |
Newlyweds is an Australian sitcom broadcast on the Seven Network over two seasons, running from 20 February 1993 until 16 March 1994. The series was created by Ian McFadyen and produced by David Taft, with writing contributions from McFadyen, Mary-Anne Fahey, and Graeme Farmer.
The narrative centers on the lives of a young married couple, Allie Carter (portrayed by Annie Jones) and Peter Roberts (Christopher Gabardi), as they deal with the challenges of marriage while frequently being interrupted by their family and friends.
Cast
- Annie Jones as Allie Carter
- Christopher Gabardi as Peter Roberts
- Sandy Gore as Irene Carter
- Cathy Godbold as Jules Carter
- Joseph Clements as Simmo
- Sandie Lillingston as Marnie Phelps
- Valentina Levkowicz as Bev Roberts
- Denis Moore as Ross Roberts
- Ross Williams as Eric Kaufman
- Rod Mullinar as Kirby Hacker
- Elisha Hall as Kelly
- Jason Torrens as Duncan
- Matthew Turner as Matt (season 1)
- Brendan McAlpin as Matt (season 2)
- Caitlin McDougall
- David Argue
- Jansen Spencer
- Tiriel Mora as Delivery Man (1 episode)
Production
Early in 1992, a pilot episode was developed in Melbourne by Crawford Productions. This initial script, penned by Ian McFadyen and Mary-Anne Fahey, featured actors including Lisa McCune, Katrina Foster, Richard Healey, Cathy Godbold, Rhys Muldoon, Stewart Faichney, and Tenley Gilmore. The role eventually played by McCune was initially offered to Georgie Parker, who declined due to scheduling conflicts. By April 1992, Crawfords intended to reshoot the pilot for the Seven Network, recasting several roles. After producing a second pilot, Seven showed interest but awaited further scripts before granting full approval, with production provisionally scheduled for August 1992.
Reception
Peter Holmes from The Sydney Morning Herald initially criticized Newlyweds for its flawed execution reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, yet he recognized moments that elicited genuine laughter, particularly noting Gore’s portrayal of an "ice-bitch" character. Mark Lawrence of The Age considered it the most promising recent domestic sitcom, commending Gabardi’s comedic timing and his rapport with Jones, while also emphasizing Gore’s compelling performance as Irene.
In contrast, Geoff Slattery condemned the series as "a fatuous, demeaning, anti-intellectual" show that depended heavily on clichés and failed to offer insightful commentary on newlywed life or Australian society in the 1990s.