Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Light of the Bay]

I'm not sure.

He was okay on Neighbours but he seemed to focus on teens a lot (although less than Susan Bower) and the pacing of storylines was shocking at times!

I would wish for someone who is passionate about the history and spirit of Home and Away and wants to build on that and tell emotional and gripping drama.

I also hope that Home and Away cut an episode away entirely so that more effort can be put in from the writers (having one less episode should allow them to focus on the characters more and be under less pressure).

[Jamie!]

I don't think there are too many teens, I think they chose the wrong teens. Maybe should have introduced younger teens or brought back characters such as Ryan Baker or Lily Smith having teens with good history within the show. There is also Irene's grandchildren at that age group too. I think someone hit the nail on the head when they said the problem they have is they are casting older actors to play the teens. I think Will McDonald is a brilliant example of being able to find an actor that is both age appropriate and talented. VJ needs to be upgraded to a regular and given storylines. If Felix Dean isn't able to, recast him. I think we also have the problem of characters that aren't that great sticking around longer then what they should be, because of the actors 3 year contracts. Justine Clarke only stuck around for about 18 months but she was memorable as Roo because she was given the right storylines for that time and stuck around for as long as she needed to, Georgie Parker is a Gold Logie winning actress but she hasn't even been nominated for Home and Away, she's been on the show 3 years now. With a character like Roo she should be winning awards, she isn't because they aren't utilizing her the best they can.

I totally agree with what you have said about Roo. When I heard Georgie was joining I thought she would fill the void left by Kate Ritchie and would be reeling in the awards. Her initial story was good and hinted at her bad girl past and we were left wondering if the money went to Martha or did she pocket it?! Then when she returned they turned her into a sticky beak good two shoes who is quite frankly somewhat annoying. Roo has a 20 year void that we practically know nothing about apart from the time her friend came back to visit. She has roots in the show and an immense potential. But that is the problem with H&A these days, it lacks depth and insight. Sometimes I see something and I think are they trying to insult our intelligence! And I get that people mature and grow up (that is why I am glad Marilyn isn't as ditzy and as bimbo-ish as she once was as she went through a very dark time that would obviously have changed her) and that because Roo was a wild teen she shouldn't necessarily be bad now but it would be nice for it to be explained how this happened, how she coped without her daughter for such a long time etc. I liked the triangle with her Sid and Marilyn as it was a proper grown up love story and not the teen crap we are used to. But then it was forgotten about within an episode and her and Marilyn were besties. (I do like their friendship though and I think Georgie and Emily have amazing chemistry)

And Roo's super New York career has disappeared for a part time job in the diner?!!

I mentioned this in the Sally and the money thread but how would a bank give an almost 70 year old man and two part time waitresses (and pretend hair dresser and wedding organiser when the story suits) a mortgage for such a big house and caravan park? It wouldn't happen. That story was never really fully tied up anyway. It's just unrealistic that the shows three 40+ female characters are thrown together in the diner because they can't find anything else to do with them. Marilyn should open up her own salon again.

When Marilyn was first brought back three years ago, I felt she was the exact same Marilyn that we saw in the 80's and 90's. She was the same ditzy person that we all knew her for, (I think this clip shows that): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzvdswj8t0o

Nowadays, she's not as ditzy. That side of her still appears every now and again, but not nearly as much. I know she's also always had a sensible side to her, as this clip from the 90's shows, (from 2:13): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HtLFtr24nM but I just wish the ditzy side to her was shown as much as it used to be. Emily Symons is still acting out the role really well. You can tell that it's Marilyn, but not the exact same Marilyn that originally made her a successful character. Hope that makes sense.

[Blaxland 89]

I do agree with the above post but I'm glad Roo didn't come back bad as she had come good by the end of 1988 and it would of undone all her character development in 1989.

This is what they did with Gypsy, bringing back how she was most remembered rather than how the character was resolved by the time she left.

And even with Marilyn it felt like the were taking her from her first stint. With being close to Alf but no friendship with Irene. Even having her not getting on with Colleen, though in 1999 the two got on very well.

[cadyctslover]

I would wish for someone who is passionate about the history and spirit of Home and Away and wants to build on that and tell emotional and gripping drama.

I see what you mean, and that probably isn't Richard! I wonder if Julie McGauran would ever return to that sort of role. She's now Head of Drama at Seven so she might see that as a demotion!

I would suggest that for all his faults Cameron Welsh was a far better producer than Lucy Addario. At least the show still felt like it had a heart during his rein.

[Homeandawayfan.]

I notice on Wikipedia John Holmes is the executive producer of H&A. He used to work on Neighbours years ago when it first began.

Both shows have had memorable producers such as Reg Watson, Don Battye, Alan Bateman and John Holmes etc.

Maybe John Holmes should become entire producer of H&A. I actually wouldn't mind if Richard Jasek took over as H&A producer.

[ter06]

I don't think there are too many teens, I think they chose the wrong teens. Maybe should have introduced younger teens or brought back characters such as Ryan Baker or Lily Smith having teens with good history within the show. There is also Irene's grandchildren at that age group too. I think someone hit the nail on the head when they said the problem they have is they are casting older actors to play the teens. I think Will McDonald is a brilliant example of being able to find an actor that is both age appropriate and talented. VJ needs to be upgraded to a regular and given storylines. If Felix Dean isn't able to, recast him. I think we also have the problem of characters that aren't that great sticking around longer then what they should be, because of the actors 3 year contracts. Justine Clarke only stuck around for about 18 months but she was memorable as Roo because she was given the right storylines for that time and stuck around for as long as she needed to, Georgie Parker is a Gold Logie winning actress but she hasn't even been nominated for Home and Away, she's been on the show 3 years now. With a character like Roo she should be winning awards, she isn't because they aren't utilizing her the best they can.

I totally agree with what you have said about Roo. When I heard Georgie was joining I thought she would fill the void left by Kate Ritchie and would be reeling in the awards. Her initial story was good and hinted at her bad girl past and we were left wondering if the money went to Martha or did she pocket it?! Then when she returned they turned her into a sticky beak good two shoes who is quite frankly somewhat annoying. Roo has a 20 year void that we practically know nothing about apart from the time her friend came back to visit. She has roots in the show and an immense potential. But that is the problem with H&A these days, it lacks depth and insight. Sometimes I see something and I think are they trying to insult our intelligence! And I get that people mature and grow up (that is why I am glad Marilyn isn't as ditzy and as bimbo-ish as she once was as she went through a very dark time that would obviously have changed her) and that because Roo was a wild teen she shouldn't necessarily be bad now but it would be nice for it to be explained how this happened, how she coped without her daughter for such a long time etc. I liked the triangle with her Sid and Marilyn as it was a proper grown up love story and not the teen crap we are used to. But then it was forgotten about within an episode and her and Marilyn were besties. (I do like their friendship though and I think Georgie and Emily have amazing chemistry)

And Roo's super New York career has disappeared for a part time job in the diner?!!

I mentioned this in the Sally and the money thread but how would a bank give an almost 70 year old man and two part time waitresses (and pretend hair dresser and wedding organiser when the story suits) a mortgage for such a big house and caravan park? It wouldn't happen. That story was never really fully tied up anyway. It's just unrealistic that the shows three 40+ female characters are thrown together in the diner because they can't find anything else to do with them. Marilyn should open up her own salon again.

When Marilyn was first brought back three years ago, I felt she was the exact same Marilyn that we saw in the 80's and 90's. She was the same ditzy person that we all knew her for, (I think this clip shows that):

Nowadays, she's not as ditzy. That side of her still appears every now and again, but not nearly as much. I know she's also always had a sensible side to her, as this clip from the 90's shows, (from 2:13):

but I just wish the ditzy side to her was shown as much as it used to be. Emily Symons is still acting out the role really well. You can tell that it's Marilyn, but not the exact same Marilyn that originally made her a successful character. Hope that makes sense.

Emily Symoms is an amazing actress. She played Louise on Emmerdale for 8 years and got some very powerful stories including killing (and getting away with it) her boyfriend who'd been stalking her. And not once did a bit of Marilyn ever come out in Louise and vice versa. I would have rathered she won the Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards rather than Steve Peacock

[Homeandawayfan.]

Even though Neighbours and Home And Away do veer off track at times and have some woeful storylines and characters, at least they have kept to their basic format they were both made for in the 1980s. Ie H&A has always featured families at the same Summer Bay House, and has had lots of teenage characters and Neighbours has always featured families in a suburban cul de sac. Of course they have changed pace and feel a lot over the years as well but keep to their basic premise. I have watched both for many eyars and can judge that myself on watching the shows.

[alexx]

Even though Neighbours and Home And Away do veer off track at times and have some woeful storylines and characters, at least they have kept to their basic format they were both made for in the 1980s. Ie H&A has always featured families at the same Summer Bay House, and has had lots of teenage characters and Neighbours has always featured families in a suburban cul de sac. Of course they have changed pace and feel a lot over the years as well but keep to their basic premise. I have watched both for many eyars and can judge that myself on watching the shows.

I disagree that Home and Away has kept it's basic premise. I think the format has changed and so the premise of the show has changed.

[Light of the Bay]

Yes. Summer Bay House now just seems to have random people living there.

There needs to be a new family (Mum, Dad and kids) to move in there and give it a new lease of life.

Oh, and why exactly is Alf still living at the Caravan Park? What were his reasons for moving there in the first place? Could he suddenly not afford to pay the mortgage for his own place or something?

[summerbay18o]

There needs to be a new family (Mum, Dad and kids) to move in there and give it a new lease of life.

They just brought in the McGuires as a new 'family' unit but it would be nice to see a family move into the SBH.

But I do agree with homeandawayfan - the show still focuses on its original basis:

foster kids / troubled kids (Jett, Matt, Josh, Maddy and Spencer (if they count)

families (Walkers, Braxtons, John+Jett, McGuires)...