Wildside (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Michael Jenkins, Ben Gannon |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Crime drama television series |
Wildside is an Australian crime drama television series that aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1997 through 1999. Conceived by director Michael Jenkins and producer Ben Gannon, it initially premiered as a 180-minute miniseries broadcast over two consecutive nights on November 23 and 24, 1997. The series resumed on February 4, 1998, transitioning into a one-hour episode format.
The narrative centers on Tony Martin portraying Bill McCoy, an ex-detective who is drawn back into police work while pursuing leads regarding his missing son. The storyline distinctively weaves traditional police procedural themes with the activities of a crisis centre managed by Dr. Maxine Summers (Rachael Blake) located in Sydney’s red-light district.
Shot on location in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Wildside is recognized for its improvisational dialogue and the use of handheld camera techniques. The series earned widespread critical praise, securing several Logie Awards—including the Most Outstanding Miniseries award in 1998—and Silver Logies awarded to both Tony Martin and Rachael Blake in 1999, along with multiple accolades from the Australian Film Institute Awards.
Starring
The principal cast members credited as regulars throughout the series are:
- Tony Martin as Bill McCoy, a former detective who returns to law enforcement while searching for his lost son
- Rachael Blake as Dr. Maxine Summers, head of the crisis centre
- Aaron Pedersen as Vince Cellini, an Italian-Australian attorney working at the crisis centre who uncovers his Aboriginal roots (miniseries, 1.01–2.10)
- Jessica Napier as Gerry Davis, receptionist at the crisis centre and ex-street worker (miniseries, 1.01–1.36)
- Alex Dimitriades as Detective Charlie Coustos, McCoy’s partner (2.01–2.20; also starring 1.09–1.36)
- Abi Tucker as Detective Kate Holbeck, Coustos’ colleague and eventual spouse (2.11–2.20; also starring 2.01–2.10)
Also starring
These actors receive credit at the conclusion of every episode in which they appear, prior to the preview of the upcoming episode, and are listed separately from guest stars:
- John Howard as Detective Frank Reilly, McCoy’s former partner involved in corruption (miniseries, 1.01)
- Victoria Longley as Inspector Virginia King
- Tammy MacIntosh as Detective Kim Devlin, initially Reilly’s partner and later partnered with McCoy (miniseries, 1.01–1.08)
- Richard Carter as Detective Brian Deakin, colleague to McCoy and Coustos
- Mary Coustas as Louise Arden, succeeding Vince Cellini as the crisis centre’s lawyer (2.11–2.20)
Recurring characters
- John O'Hare as Rob Summers, Maxine’s husband before their eventual divorce (miniseries, 1.01–1.08)
- Abbie Cornish as Simone Summers, daughter of Maxine
- Jim Holt as Sergeant Graham Holbeck, father of Kate (1.26–2.16)
- Mitchell McMahon as Nick McCoy, Bill’s son (miniseries, 1.39–2.04)
The series employed former detective John Haas as its police consultant; he also made frequent appearances portraying Detective Mark Doyle, a colleague of McCoy and Deakin.
Only Tony Martin and Rachael Blake appeared across every episode; during the production period they developed a personal relationship off-screen and eventually wed in 2003.
Production and broadcast
Wildside was developed by Michael Jenkins and Ben Gannon, initially launched as a miniseries. Its debut broadcast occurred on November 23–24, 1997. Subsequently, 36 additional episodes were released from February through September 1998. Following the initial series, the character played by Jessica Napier was removed due to limited narrative opportunities.
A second season, comprising 20 episodes, was broadcast between February and July 1999. However, the series was discontinued in December 1998, primarily because of high production expenses and difficulties in securing international distribution.
For syndication purposes, the miniseries was restructured into the first four episodes of the 40-episode initial season.
The production approach echoed Jenkins' previous projects Scales of Justice and Blue Murder, utilizing numerous hand-held cameras alongside partially improvised dialogue. Several cast members had prior collaborations with Jenkins and Gannon on Blue Murder and Heartbreak High, including regular actors Tony Martin, Alex Dimitriades, and Abi Tucker, as well as guest appearances by Hugh Baldwin and Doris Younane. The role of dramaturg and acting coach was fulfilled by Nico Lathouris, who maintained his ongoing partnership with Jenkins and Gannon.
Controversy
The series sparked debate due to several episodes drawing inspiration from actual criminal cases. One example is the thirteenth episode of the first season, which centered on a cab driver stabbing; this episode was initially withheld from broadcast in New South Wales because of an active legal proceeding. Another installment portrayed a Muslim teenager being struck by a vehicle, accompanied by a disclaimer and modifications to some characters for dramatic purposes.
An episode featuring a far-right female politician resembling Pauline Hanson was removed by ABC in June 1998, citing concerns about its appropriateness just before the Queensland election. Actor Aaron Pederson resigned in response but later returned after discussions with producers. The episode was eventually aired the following week.
Miniseries (1997)
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Title | Original air date |
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Series 1 (1998)
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Season number |
Episode Title | First Broadcast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EpisodeNumber = 14 | EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | Title = Episode 14 | OriginalAirDate = April 1, 1998 | ShortSummary = Bill looks into the murder of a prominent gay physician and reconnects with his estranged sister, Kate.
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Series 2 (1999)
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{{Episode list |"EpisodeNumber"=48 |"EpisodeNumber2"=8 |"Title"= Episode48 |"OriginalAirDate"=Error: All values must be integers (help) |"ShortSummary"= Vince faces legal difficulties after the strangulation death of a young sex worker.
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{{Episode list
"EpisodeNumber"=49 "EpisodeNumber2"=9 "Title"= Episode49 "OriginalAirDate"=Error: All values must be integers (help) "ShortSummary"= McCoy, Kate, and Charlie probe the murder of an affluent importer's wife, suspecting her husband. ---- {{smalldiv "notable guest stars": Liz Burch}} "LineColor"#dabc9b }}
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"EpisodeNumber"=50 "EpisodeNumber2"=10 "Title"= Episode50 "OriginalAirDate"=Error: All values must be integers (help) "ShortSummary"= Vince confronts his Indigenous heritage after receiving results from blood tests.
NOTE: Marks Aaron Pedersen's final appearance.
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{{Episode list
"EpisodeNumber"=51 "EpisodeNumber2"=11 "Title"= Episode51 "OriginalAirDate=Template:Start date" "ShortSummary= Maxine experiences friction with Louise Arden, an ambitious lawyer from an affluent background who replaces Vince.
NOTE: Abi Tucker joins main credits, succeeding Aaron Pedersen.
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{{smalldiv "notable guest stars": Tara Morice, Erik Thomson, Kieran Darcy-Smith}}
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"EpisodeNumber"=54 "EpisodeNumber2"=14 "Title"= Episode54 "OriginalAirDate=Template:Start date" "ShortSummary=Wilt Bolton's car dealership is burglarized overnight; both his BMW and security guard disappear. ---- {{smalldiv "notable guest stars": Kick Gurry}} "LineColor"#dabc9b }}
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"EpisodeNumber"=55 "EpisodeNumber2"=15 "Title"= Episode55 "OriginalAirDate=Template:Start date" "ShortSummary=Charlie tracks down a sexual predator targeting young males. ---- Template:Smalldiv Julian Garner "LineColor"#dabc9b }}
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DVD release
ABC distributed the series on DVD in three separate sets, each comprising 20 episodes spread over 5 discs.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actor in a Series | Tony Martin | Template:Won |
| Most Outstanding Mini-series or Movie Made for Television | Wildside | Template:Won | ||
| Most Outstanding Actress in a Series | Rachael Blake | Template:Nom | ||
| AFI Awards | Best Screenplay in a Television Drama | Tim Pye (episode 17) | Template:Won | |
| Best Direction in a Television Drama | Peter Andrikidis (episode 17) | Template:Won | ||
| Best Mini-Series or Telefeature | Steve Knapman | Template:Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Rachael Blake | Template:Won | ||
| Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | Steve Knapman (episode 17) | Template:Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Tony Martin | Template:Nom | ||
| APRA Awards | Best TV Theme | Peter Best | Template:Won | |
| Australian Screen Sound Guild | Best Sound in a Television Drama Series | Episodes 35 and 36 | Template:Won | |
| 1999 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actor in a Series | Tony Martin Tied with David Wenham |
Template:Won |
| Most Outstanding Actress in a Series | Rachael Blake | Template:Nom | ||
| Most Outstanding Drama Series | Wildside | Template:Nom | ||
| AFI Awards | Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | Steve Knapman (episode 59) | Template:Won | |
| Young Actor's Award | Abbie Cornish (episode 59) | Template:Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Samuel Johnson (episode 59) | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Screenplay in a Television Drama | Kris Wyld (episode 59) | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Direction in a Television Drama | Peter Andrikidis (episode 59) | Template:Nom | ||
| Australian Screen Sound Guild | Best Achievement in Sound in a TV Drama Series | Episode 59 | Template:Won |
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages using Module:Date time with invalid values
- 1997 Australian television series debuts
- 1999 Australian television series endings
- 1990s Australian crime television series
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Television shows set in Sydney
- Australian English-language television shows
- 1990s Australian drama television series