Neighbours AXED after 37 years (now saved and returning to screens in 2023)

[Carrie Fairchild]

strangely enough you don't read anything about it, neither positive nor negative.

I was just thinking that. It’s just kind of there, under the radar now. Beyond the return, there’s been very little chatter about it either way.

How is Mischa Barton doing on Neighbours?

She’s already left the show. Her stint was only a guest one, which I figured would be the case.

 

[AndyB2008]

I was just thinking that. It’s just kind of there, under the radar now. Beyond the return, there’s been very little chatter about it either way.

She’s already left the show. Her stint was only a guest one, which I figured would be the case.

They should have a big storyline to sort of get the viewers to watch.

Why not drop a plane on Lassiters a la Emmerdale?

 

[ChrisSumner]

How satisfied are long-time viewers with the quality of the new episodes? I was no longer a regular viewer when the show was cancelled, I just came back for the finale and I don't watch the Freevee version, but strangely enough you don't read anything about it, neither positive nor negative.

How is Mischa Barton doing on Neighbours?

I'm a new viewer, but I'll give my perspecive.

I had never seen Neighbours prior to the move to FreeVee. I was interested because the American soaps are dreadful the past few years and I wanted a replacement. I started with the Classic Episode collection and then I watched scattered episodes from 2012-2022 as FreeVee uploaded them. I wasn't able to get into the 2012-2022 episodes as much as I wanted to. My original goal was to watch the full years, but I found the drama to be very minimal and I just couldn't find an era that worked for me.

When it came time for the reboot I decided to start fresh and give it another go. I think they did a great job of setting it up as a new and familiar show. Starting out with the new Varga-Murphy family was smart because as a new viewer I felt like I got to be introduced to the show as these characters were integrated. The Rodwell family was also fairly new, as well as characters like Reese, Haz and Byron, so there wasn't a ton of backstory to learn to understand what was going on. When it came to the characters they brought back, I think it helped that they limited the number at the outset which gave them enough time to establish them in a way that I could pick up what was going on as a new viewer.

I think the first few months of the show felt like the first chapter of a book. They did a solid job of establishing the current cast while dropping hints about the mystery of where Melanie had gone and what happened to Krista Sinclair. By the time they did the flashback week and filled in the gap I felt like I was ready for the other characters like Nicollette, Melanie, David, etc. to return and get weaved into the story. Now it feels like we're delving into chapter two of the story.

I do at times wish the drama could be heavier, but I've accepted thats just not what they do on this show. But I will say it has been very entertaining and well plotted. This is a great example of how a reboot should be done and I hope FreeVee sees this and decides to add to their soap lineup.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I'm a new viewer, but I'll give my perspecive.

I had never seen Neighbours prior to the move to FreeVee. I was interested because the American soaps are dreadful the past few years and I wanted a replacement. I started with the Classic Episode collection and then I watched scattered episodes from 2012-2022 as FreeVee uploaded them. I wasn't able to get into the 2012-2022 episodes as much as I wanted to. My original goal was to watch the full years, but I found the drama to be very minimal and I just couldn't find an era that worked for me.

When it came time for the reboot I decided to start fresh and give it another go. I think they did a great job of setting it up as a new and familiar show. Starting out with the new Varga-Murphy family was smart because as a new viewer I felt like I got to be introduced to the show as these characters were integrated. The Rodwell family was also fairly new, as well as characters like Reese, Haz and Byron, so there wasn't a ton of backstory to learn to understand what was going on. When it came to the characters they brought back, I think it helped that they limited the number at the outset which gave them enough time to establish them in a way that I could pick up what was going on as a new viewer.

I think the first few months of the show felt like the first chapter of a book. They did a solid job of establishing the current cast while dropping hints about the mystery of where Melanie had gone and what happened to Krista Sinclair. By the time they did the flashback week and filled in the gap I felt like I was ready for the other characters like Nicollette, Melanie, David, etc. to return and get weaved into the story. Now it feels like we're delving into chapter two of the story.

I do at times wish the drama could be heavier, but I've accepted thats just not what they do on this show. But I will say it has been very entertaining and well plotted. This is a great example of how a reboot should be done and I hope FreeVee sees this and decides to add to their soap lineup.

I'm glad you're enjoying the new series, you don't have to be a fan of the original Neighbours in order to watch this continuation series.

What I will say is this show was written and produced by people who had worked on the original Neighbours and it certainly shows how good the show has moved on. Comparing this show to the TNT Dallas series this certainly shows how to bring back an old show and make it a hit again. With the TNT Dallas that show had a lot of potential but sadly was made by a production team which hadn't got a clue what made the original Dallas such a hit and weren't able to extrapolate that success to the here and now.

Enjoy the new series Chris.

 

[ChrisSumner]

To give y’all an update, the show was recently nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards. Best Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Star for Guy Pearce.

It’s been an exciting time for soaps in the US because for a while they were getting cancelled one by one but now in the streaming era, the studios are seeing their value. Neighbours is consistently Top Ten on Amazon FreeVee in the US and the Emmy nominations brought it a lot more attention from soap fans who didn’t know the show existed.

Days of Our Lives was also moved to streaming and is a big hit for Peacock. CBS even announced they’re picking up the first new daytime soap in 25 years, a Black led soap.

Just 5 years ago the Daytime Emmys weren’t even televised, now you have new soaps like Neighbours in the mix, it’s back on prime time tv and so much positivity with the genre.

I hope they send some of the cast to do promo when Emmy time comes. The show has gotten so good this year and it’s the perfect time to bring in more viewers. I think if they do that they’ll get a lot more nominations next year.

 

[Banana Hammock]

I watched Neighbours in the' 80s and watched it for a few weeks leading up to the axe.
I've stuck with it since its return, though not fussed if I miss an episode here and there. We're supposed to be rooting for Paul- Terese- Toadie- Melanie to get back together with the one they're meant to be with. I don't care. I'd quite happily see Toadie and Melanie killed off - they annoy me more than anyone else in the show.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Neighbours star Janet Andrewartha dies aged 72

The death has been announced of the Australian actress Janet Andrewartha, best known for her role as Lyn Scully in the soap Neighbours. She was 72.

www.rte.ie

 

[tommie]

Has there been any updates about if this is getting a rolling renewal at Amazon or not?

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I'd quite happily see Toadie and Melanie killed off - they annoy me more than anyone else in the show.

You might see your wish come through yet.

Neighbours stalwart Toadie to leave Ramsay Street after 30 years

The actor has played beloved character Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi since 1995

www.irishexaminer.com

 

[Mel O'Drama]

A channel to which I'm subscribed posted this blast from the past today. Oxford students hate-watching early Nineties Neighbours:

(I'm not really familiar with Al Murray, but I'm going to take a guess he's the guy who speaks last).

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I'm not really familiar with Al Murray, but I'm going to take a guess he's the guy who speaks last

That’s him. He seemed to be everywhere on TV for a few years in the 00’s. He looks to have shifted towards theatre work and making history programmes in more recent times (he was studying modern history in Oxford at the time when that report was shot).

 

[ChrisSumner]

Has there been any updates about if this is getting a rolling renewal at Amazon or not?

I haven't seen anything, but I don't see how it doesn't get renewed. It's #2 in the UK and usually around #10 on FreeVee in the US. They film so far in advance that we should definitely know something soon. I believe their seasons run through September, so they'll probably be done filming around May/June if they don't get a renewal.

I've been a loyal viewer during the reboot, but I do have one complaint. Amazon has a pretty extensive collection of classic episodes that I've dabbled in, but for the most part I just started with the reboot. As a result, the cast featured here is obviously what I'm here for. Right now they're in the process of writing off Toadie, Haz and Mackenzie who have led the majority of stories and had more screentime than anybody. I don't understand why they would center the reboot around those characters and give them so much screentime if they knew they were going to write them off. The Haz and Toadie actors have said they were fired. I know the Mackenzie actress planned to leave when the original show was ending, so my guess is she left on her own accord.

I wish they had handled it more like David's return. They brought him back, gave him a short arc and then wrote him off. Right now I'm left wondering how they will carry on, particularly with Toadie being gone. They've made his daughter a main character so how will they justify keeping her on without either of her parents?

I'm not going to stop watching because I know non-US soaps tend to have more turnover due to the lack of recasts, but it is a personal disappointment since these characters were some of the main reasons I was so eager to tune in.