Frontline (season 2)

Frontline season 2
Country of origin Australia
No. of episodes 13
Release
Original network ABC TV
Original release 24 July (1995-07-24) – 16 October 1995 (1995-10-16)
Season chronology

This is a list of the 13 episodes of series two of Frontline, which first aired in 1995. In series 2, Frontline (the fictional show-within-the-show) struggles with ratings, and the network's varying attempts to heighten the ratings. The series is shot in mockumentary style. All of the show's episodes were written and directed by Rob Sitch (Mike Moore), Jane Kennedy (Brooke Vandenberg), Santo Cilauro (Geoffrey Salter) – who also did most of the camera work – and Tom Gleisner.

Cast

Main

  • Rob Sitch as Mike Moore, Frontline's anchor
  • Kevin J. Wilson as Sam Murphy, executive producer of Frontline
  • Tiriel Mora as Martin di Stasio, reporter
  • Alison Whyte as Emma Ward, the show's producer
  • Jane Kennedy as Brooke Vandenberg, reporter
  • Anita Cerdic as Domenica Baroni, receptionist
  • Santo Cilauro as Geoffrey Salter, weatherman
  • Trudy Hellier as Kate Preston, segment producer
  • Pip Mushin as Stu O'Halloran, cameraman
  • Torquil Neilson as Jason Cotter, sound recorder
  • Linda Ross as Shelley Cohen, executive assistant to Sam

Recurring

  • Genevieve Mooy as Jan Whelan, network Head of Publicity (9 episodes)
  • Marcus Eyre as Hugh Tabbagh, editor (8 episodes)
  • Boris Conley as Elliot Rhodes, Frontline's "Friday Night Funnyman" (6 episodes)
  • Peter Stratford as Bob Cavell, Managing Director of the network (4 episodes)
  • Eung Aun Khor as Khor, cleaner (3 episodes)

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
141"One Big Family"24 July 1995 (1995-07-24)

With the ratings down, Brian is fired from his job as executive producer. Although Emma is competent in the role, she soon begins to realise that as a young woman, she has no chance, particularly when Brian's sexist temporary replacement takes all the credit. Meanwhile, Jan (Genevieve Mooy) organises the network's new promo – "One Big Family" – but behind the scenes, Mike is offended by the size of his role and Brooke is refusing to shake hands with Geoff (Santo Cilauro).

  • At the end of the credits of this episode the screen says "In memory of our dear friend Bruno Lawrence (1941 - 1995)" as a tribute to Bruno Lawrence
152"Workin' Class Man"31 July 1995 (1995-07-31)
When lower-income audiences start tuning out, Jan and Sam Murphy (Kevin J. Wilson), the new executive producer, attempt to change Mike's image: to make him a more down-to-earth guy. Elsewhere, Marty tries to stop Frontline from doing an exposé on a dodgy investment he's personally involved in.
163"Heroes & Villains"7 August 1995 (1995-08-07)

When a humble professor publishes a book of statistical analyses, the media (and Frontline) attempt to make it into a debate on racism, and Sam manipulates Mike into passionate feelings on the issue, while the Frontline staff ignore their own racial prejudices. Elsewhere, Brooke attempts to make a heart surgeon look like a hero.

  • The main storyline is a direct parallel to a contemporary book The Bell Curve.
174"Office Mole"14 August 1995 (1995-08-14)
Mike starts tiring of his job, so Sam gives him an official-sounding but easy role as "International Story Co-Ordinator". A series of big stories are ruined when A Current Affair happens to do the same ones each night, leading Sam and Mike to pursue an office mole.
185"Basic Instincts"21 August 1995 (1995-08-21)
When Stu (Pip Mushin) captures a brutal beating on film, but doesn't attempt to help the man, Frontline becomes the centre of a debate about journalistic integrity. Mike, meanwhile, attempts to get a debate about euthanasia underway, and Brooke grows frustrated with developments in Emma's lovelife.
196"Let the Children Play"28 August 1995 (1995-08-28)
Frontline sets up a community service project, having Jon English build a playground for disadvantaged inner-city youth, manipulating the audience at every step.
207"Divide the Community, Multiply the Ratings"4 September 1995 (1995-09-04)
When the team get inside information on an attack at the Serbian Embassy, Frontline gets exclusive graphic film of the attack. As they avoid the police and the public, Sam and Marty attempt to incite racial violence through a series of live debates, while an oblivious Mike tries to find a way to ease the racial tension.
218"Keeping Up Appearances"11 September 1995 (1995-09-11)
When a tragically scarred woman agrees to sell her story, the price is too high. But Sam comes up with a plan to raise the money.
229"All Work and No Fame"18 September 1995 (1995-09-18)
Mike's concerns about his role with the show are amplified when Brooke is given a series of nature documentaries. To calm him down, Sam forces Marty to take Mike along on a stakeout.
2310"Changing the Face of Current Affairs"25 September 1995 (1995-09-25)
With ratings still down, the network hires Larry Hages (Harry Shearer), an American consultant who implements a series of changes in the way that Frontline runs.
2411"A Man of His Convictions"2 October 1995 (1995-10-02)
Mike is accused of being a lightweight, so he sets out to have a strong opinion by joining an environmental protest.
2512"The Great Pretenders"9 October 1995 (1995-10-09)
Marty and Sam bail out a neo Nazi alleged murder but their attempts to pay him for his story run into trouble when they go up against the network's new legal adviser. And Mike is asked to appear on a celebrity game show special, causing the producers to worry about whether he'll look stupid.
2613"Give 'em Enough Rope"16 October 1995 (1995-10-16)

Mike is stunned when he learns that Frontline has been used for cross-promotion of other properties owned by Lloyd Walsh, the Rupert Murdoch-esque owner of the network. When Walsh is suspected of breaking the cross-media ownership laws, he decides to appear on Frontline to save his reputation. But when Mike thinks (rightly) that the interview is really a puff piece and not hard-hitting journalism, he decides to set things right – with disastrous results for Frontline.

  • This is Kevin J. Wilson's last episode.
  • This is also Genevieve Mooy's last episode. In the third season, the producers decided to go with a more down-to-earth publicist, who could conceivably be friends with the on-air talent.

References

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