Neighbours

When in comes to Australian television series, Neighbours is a legend. From what began as humble beginnings way back in early 1985 this program has survived the test of time. Originally broadcast on Channel Seven the show was axed after just five months and was sold to Ten in 1986. The rest is history. This program has launched the careers of many Australians most notably, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, Holly Vallance and Delta Goodrem. Whilst not as popular as its hey day in the late 1980's and somewhat unrecognisable from 1985, Neighbours continues to deliver strong story lines and keeps on keeping on. Heres to another 20 years.

I started putting this show on as "background tv" just to pacify my anxious cat ; tv would lull her to sleep. ODDLY ENOUGH , I found myself , over time, catching a glance at the people on the show and despite the cheesey soap story-line, these actors were actually RATHER INTERESTING to watch. It's not just good looks, no. These actors are actually likable people and/or good actors. So now, as the cat sleeps away, I have my guilty pleasure. Go ahead.....give in. Okay ..... editor says I need to keep talking for another 73 characters before I can say goodbye . I just don't know what else to say except that I love you all. Please sleep with me.

Neighbours is the only soap opera that doesn't live you depressed by the end of it. Although the plots are sometimes a little obscure (the whole psycho Sindi thing, for example), the characters are on the whole extremely well developed and realistic. There is a great sense of community and family about the show, both on and off set. The street is always sunny, and a great sense of comedy balances the more dramatic story lines. Neighbours is now branching out into even more dramatic stories than before, and each episode leaves the viewer on a tantalising cliff hanger. With the return of Paul Robinson, we can expect even more explosive story lines. Having said this, Neighbours is still a family show, and the stories are all character driven. Neighbours has a winning formula that will ensure it lasts another twenty years and more.

People say this show is not as good as it was. They are wrong. The standard of drama has never slipped from abysmal from day one. A sort of hybrid between 'Crossroads' and 'The Beano'.

It has always entertained me. What I like about it best, is that I get home and am not provided with any challenge to my brain whatsoever. Good. Who ever got anywhere by being forced to think?

The only regression is the theme song. Bring back the cheesy pub piano and the even cheesier line 'Next door is only a footstep away'. That's poetry that is.

Unlike many British soaps, which are all doom and gloom, Neighbors adds some much needed comedy to weekday afternoons. It is impossible for Neighbors to produce a serious event as arguments, fights, and, yes, even deaths and funerals are presented in such a way that you just have to laugh. A factor which I can conclude is largely influenced by the hilarious sound track underlying almost every event, scene opening and scene closing. It is true that much of the acting is also pretty laughable- but this is just one of the traits which makes this such a relaxed and familiar soap. Many of the story lines can, again, be pretty weak, but with so much comedy- who cares if they are a little off the wall? This is a fab soap which is highly addictive. I would, and am, seriously recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone!