Blue Heelers

BH is broadcast in Italy by a second-class network that airs every episode three times a day (at breakfast, lunch and in the night) to make the most of it, and which recently made news because of the high ratings of their "Bonanza" repeats (go figure!!).

So, at first I wasn't surprised to find a series like this on the channel, because when you first look at it it looks poor, drab, dreary and totally 80's styled, like a bad remainder from the bargain bin.

At the same time I became totally addicted with "Murder Call", to the point of waking at 6AM during weekends just to watch it, and when it dawned on me it was the same production company I simply had to find out what was causing this gap.

After careful study, I have to say that there is no real "gap": yes, you can see more money being thrown in MC, but at the same time the series have such different settings that BH is definitely making a choice, and their choice is to be real. Yes, a lot happens in Mt.Thomas for such a small place, but you also see the policemen spending most of their days networking in the community, accompanying witnesses home and filing, and this is very real. The actors look ordinary, but this just adds to the greatness of BH, because would you believe a model serving as a PC in Mt.Thomas?

And you can see no one was hired for their looks, but for their talent instead: all the actors manage to deliver a lot, from the divertissement episodes (ie: The beauty pageant) to the more dramatic ones. Not to mention the Maggie-PJ chemistry, where their performances are perfect beyond belief.

The writing in this show is great, and the dialogues are as real as you can get. Another great point is that every few episodes there's a very "pervy" storyline, like the ones you can experience in Murder Call, and they are always a work of convoluted genius.

Need I say I became addicted to this show as well? Definitely worth a try!

The fact that it was until recently the highest rating TV series in Australia (only brought down lately by 'Seachange' after a strong fight that lasted a couple of years) should speak volumes about the quality. Based in the small town of Mt. Thomas the Heelers must constantly solve crimes and keep the peace whilst at the same time deal with each other in their small, cooped up police station. The regular addition of new cast members has also helped keep the series fresh as well as add the interesting relationshiops that develop.

The big problem however that appears to be fast catching up with the series is that despite the constant cast changes keeping the storys fresh it has also wittled down the original cast which has kept the old flavour alive. Now with the departing of Maggie (Lisa McCune) only Tom 'Boss' Croydon, PJ, and Chris at the pub are left. I have a bad feeling as to what will happen if any of the last 3 leave.

Rumours are already abounding that John Wood (Croydon) intends to retire within the next year or so. If Martin Sacks (PJ) leaves as well I think the series will have lost too much that any new cast could make up for. Characters may come and go but Croydon has always run the place his way and PJ is, well, PJ, which has kept the old feeling alive. And Chris has always been the old reliable woman at the pub for a chat. Whilst McCune's leaving may have proved that the series could survive even without it's biggest star I think anymore losses in the original cast may give the series it's deathblow.

hi blue heelers is a trully fantastic tv show it is absolutey brillant and i never miss an episode of it i think all the characters are fantastic except for the stupidblond who plays tess gallagher what an attitude problem she has got along with a fat trap she should learn to keep it shut anyway everything besides tess is great about the show maybe its time to get rid of tess she is so much a dog its not funny oh well its a great show anyway bye from phillip cole

Most of Australia has been watching blue heelers since its humble beginning 12 years ago, weather regularly or on and off. But what startles me when i sit down for the first time in weeks to catch up with the folks in Mt Thomas is new faces constantly appearing and disappearing.

It is a sad thing to see the original cast members say farewell to the show and as fast as their gone, they are replaced. But this is not a bad thing. Raise your hand if the 94 eps of Blue Heelers would still enthrall you today? Would you bite your nails in anticipation to discover who actually stole the Harris's tractor, or other such slight criminal investigations? I appreciate the nature of growth and change on Blue Heelers. The truth is, no drama can survive without it. Times change, demands change and i admire that the old dog has held on, instead of going under.

I found this online earlier this week and have only worked my way thru a few episodes so far. But I'm really enjoying it. I'm not sure what time period it's supposed to be set in. I understand that it ran from 1994-2006. But the vehicles seem a little older than that and it seems like women have a tough go of it there which kind of makes me wonder if it's supposed to be set a decade or two earlier in time.