Rewatching The Early Years

[nenehcherry2]

Another trend I've noticed from the early/mid 90s (given this thread's conversation is beautifully evolving since certain TV networks recently f****d around with our minds RE 88 repeats!) were what I like to call the "testie guesties"... Guest characters who appeared for several weeks or even months with little to no storyline purpose and were either bought back months later as permanents or never seen again. In the latter case, they were clearly testing the audience engagement with the character / actor but decided they weren't right.

"Testie Guesties" who made it:

- Sam

- Irene #2

- Selina

- Travis 

- Chloe 

(not counting Tug as his first couple of stints felt more like genuine guest stints for specific stories & Tristan has confirmed that).

 

Ones who didn't:-

- Paul & Mullet Jensen 

- Jane Holland 

- Patricia (maybe or just filler for Grant's break?)

- Kelly Chan

- Bill Cunningham (maybe? Or maybe a genuine story for Luke? Always felt bit open ended to me)

- Kevin 

- James (I know this for a fact; Simon got a better offer so never came back when offered)

- Sonia (and maybe Frankie?) 

- Nelson (he did nothing of note in his second stint & even had an exit storyline; were they testing both him and Chloe with only one perm role on the table?)

- Kylie?

Probably way more I'm missing! 

[CaptainHulk]

Bill was ostensibly a plot device for Luke. As were the Brothers Jensen for Emma and Sally, respectively.

Nelson was a decoy to cover up Jack/Chloe which Max saw through. His thing with Sal gained traction until the accident.

As for The Artist Later Known as the Mentalist, Word was he and Howie/Webb butted heads.

 

[adam436]

10 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

"Testie Guesties" who made it:

Justine, Tegan, Ken and possibly even Vinnie were another characters too. It's definitely the better way to go sometimes - it gives the producers a chance to test chemistry with other actors in the cast and depending on the gap between filming and transmission, gauge their popularity from the audience. 

 

10 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Probably way more I'm missing! 

Another one is possibly Teresa and Joe Lynch. They may have just been a plot device for Fisher's work life and the teen gang, but the fact they had them live with Irene and made an effort to develop Joe beyond two-dimensional bully suggests to be they were testing the waters there. 

Had Donna not been axed to make way for Marilyn, Gus Bishop may have made the list too: he would have been the latest wayward-teen-comes-good story arc and a love interest for Sally. 

 

[cymbaline]

What was the story with Damian? He was in one or maybe two episodes in 1991 but wasn't seen again for months. 

[j.laur5]

I wonder if Colleen was brought in to replace Marilyn as a comedy relief character even though they were not near the same age. However they both were characters that brought in comedy and Marilyn was bit gossip and perhaps not as bad as Colleen or Celia.  
 

Eventually Irene kind of replaced both Ailsa and Pippa with Irene eventually becoming the owner of the Diner and becoming the voice of reason giving advice to her customers. Also acting as the central Foster mother as Natalie  and Shelley had their own kids with a few Foster kids on side with Natalie looking after Justine and Peta and Jesse daughter and Shelley looked after Brodie and her and Rhys nephew Max and Irene even took over Pippa job as school secretary for while.

[nenehcherry2]

9 hours ago, cymbaline said:

What was the story with Damian? He was in one or maybe two episodes in 1991 but wasn't seen again for months. 

Good point. I assume he was just bought in as an insignificant guest to support the Irene / Fin story & they then decided to bring him back in 92 as one of the latest "bi-annual reset year 10 teens". Especially given his links to Fin and established abuse backstory. Since the original actor was available again, Matt was bought back. All guess work of course. 

Bringing in siblings of established characters was quite the trend in 92: Damo, Shane & Roxy. 

Irene 2's first stint was one of the most random H&A guesties ever in my opinion. Sure, she brings a lot of comedy to the Bay but, other than that & a few touching moments with her kids in their journey of reconciliation, she's just "there" for 3 months. And a total characterisation rewrite at that. It makes sense that they needed a long term guest or two to fill the numbers up at that point with so many actors out (especially Debra's maternity but also Mat, Tristan, Ray, Nicolle & Bruce taking time off / doing panto here & there) plus it's that time gap between Sophie / Blake and Angel. But Irene of all people?! 

Lynne's autobio would suggest that Jacqy was initially asked back. So perhaps an "Evil Irene: part 3!" sequel was initially planned but Lynne's comedy  edge changed things. Whatever happened, it was enough to impress them long term and the "rest is history".

Edited June 10 by nenehcherry2

[cymbaline]

I don't think Bill was a "Testie Guestie" (love that phrase, by the way!). He added some depth and poignancy to Luke's story but they were never going to keep somebody with an intellectual disability around for long. Wheelchairs are as far as they go in Summer Bay.

Wes Patten who played Kevin was at the start of his professional rugby league playing career. Would he have tossed that aside for a role in a soap? 

[Bobby Forever Missed]

12 minutes ago, cymbaline said:

I don't think Bill was a "Testie Guestie" (love that phrase, by the way!). He added some depth and poignancy to Luke's story but they were never going to keep somebody with an intellectual disability around for long. Wheelchairs are as far as they go in Summer Bay.

 

Yeah and they don’t even do that right 

[cymbaline]

 

 

17 hours ago, adam436 said:

Had Donna not been axed to make way for Marilyn, Gus Bishop may have made the list too: he would have been the latest wayward-teen-comes-good story arc and a love interest for Sally. 

 

I had never thought about that but I think you could be right. Gus had the potential to be a good ongoing character and it felt a bit rushed when they sent him back home. We'd seen Donna resume her relationship with Andrew - something she'd have advised other people not to even think about. Then we had her dad more or less telling her "Here's your bratty kid brother. You, with all your fancy qualifications, let's see if you can fix him."

Then there are a couple of guesties who arrived with expiry dates already over their heads - the most obvious examples being Alan and Meg. Alan is somebody I would've liked to have seen more of and he had plenty of potential. Meg I'm not so sure about. She's mostly remembered now for her doomed romance with Blake, and perhaps for the tragic life imitating art aspect of Cathy Godbold's story. Would Meg have been interesting enough to keep around if she wasn't terminally ill? 

[adam436]

13 hours ago, nenehcherry2 said:

Irene 2's first stint was one of the most random H&A guesties ever in my opinion. Sure, she brings a lot of comedy to the Bay but, other than that & a few touching moments with her kids in their journey of reconciliation, she's just "there" for 3 months. And a total characterisation rewrite at that. It makes sense that they needed a long term guest or two to fill the numbers up at that point with so many actors out 

I assumed it was Debra's maternity leave and them needing a "mum" at Summer Bay house - given she was the biological mother of two (of three?) of the foster children, it made sense logistically. Who else would there have been? Ailsa and Bobby had their own homes/families. 

 

On the subject of "testie guesties", do we think Jane Hall as Rebecca was another one? I only ask because just a few months later, Viv Newton was introduced: Viv moved into the Fisher household, was the same age, similar personality (studious, quiet) and also had a relationship with Steven. 

It's possible the original plan was for Rebecca to fill that gap, but for whatever reason, opted for a new character.