Number 96

This series broke new ground. It had regular boob shots and saucy story lines. A bit like those cheeky seaside postcards that the Brits were famous for. The characters were stereotypical and overdrawn, from the whinging pom Alf through to the cod 'foreign accent' of Aldo the shopkeeper and not forgetting the prissy Arnold Feather or linguistically challenged Dorrie Evans.

Never to be taken seriously, this series was a harmless way to spend a bit of time in front of the box. The problems began when the writers began to take it seriously and ever more strained and complicated story lines were introduced and the series ending dying a long, slow and painful death.

If ever there is an opportunity to watch any episodes, avoid any that took up the story after the bombing of the delicatessen. It would have a blessed relief for all concerned if the bomb had removed the entire building with all its characters and not just the one or two that were written out of the series.

In the 70's there were some good Australian TV soaps made that reflected a changing society especially when it came to relationships. Or perhaps it was just that people were able to show for real what had been happening previously but never shown on conservative 1960's TV.

No 96 will stand the test of time because gave viewers first full frontal (I think) seen by Abigail.

It will seem a bit cheap and nasty but you must remember that they would make at least 1-2 one hour episodes per week over a 40 week season.

I think the late 1970's series-SOAP with Billy Crystal is similar in that it mentions society changes like gays and infidelity-in a campish , funny way.